Chest
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Multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs) streamline care of adults with life-threatening pulmonary embolism (PE). Given rarity of pediatric PE, developing a clinical, educational, and research PERT paradigm is a novel and underused concept in pediatrics. ⋯ The pediatric PERT paradigm was successfully created and adopted locally. Our PERT enhanced access to experts, facilitated timely advanced therapies, and held value for low-risk PE. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health System of Texas pediatric PERT may serve as a best practice model for streamlining care for pediatric PE.
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Although it is generally accepted that aerobic exercise training does not change lung structure or function, some work suggests that greater pulmonary vascular structure and function is associated with higher exercise capacity (peak oxygen consumption [Vo2peak]). ⋯ Our results suggest that pulmonary vascular structure and Dlco are independently associated with Vo2peak, regardless of severity of airflow limitation and emphysema, suggesting that these associations are not limited to COPD.
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Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide. OSA is an independent risk factor for stroke and is associated with multiple vascular risk factors. Poststroke OSA is prevalent and closely linked with various stroke subtypes, including cardioembolic stroke and cerebral small vessel disease. Observational studies have shown that untreated poststroke OSA is associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke, mortality, poorer functional recovery, and longer hospitalizations. ⋯ There is a need for high-quality randomized controlled trials in poststroke OSA that may provide evidence to support the utility of CPAP (and/or other treatment modalities) in reducing recurrent vascular events and mortality. This goal may be achieved by examining treatment strategies that have yet to be trialed in poststroke OSA, tailoring interventions according to poststroke OSA endotypes and phenotypes, selecting high-risk populations, and using metrics that reflect the physiologic abnormalities that underlie the harmful effects of OSA on cardiovascular outcomes.