Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · May 2016
Characterisation of fatigue and its substantial impact on health status in a large cohort of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).
Fatigue is a prominent disabling symptom in several pulmonary diseases. Its impact on health status in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) has not been investigated. ⋯ Fatigue is a major component of impaired health status of CPA patients.
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Respiratory medicine · May 2016
Comparative StudyDecreased prevalence of moderate to severe COPD over 15 years in northern Sweden.
The burden of COPD in terms of mortality, morbidity, costs and prevalence has increased worldwide. Recent results on prevalence in Western Europe are conflicting. In Sweden smoking prevalence has steadily decreased over the past 30 years. ⋯ Changes in both prevalence and risk factor patterns of COPD were observed between surveys. Following a continuing decrease in smoking habits over several decades, a decrease in the prevalence of moderate to severe COPD was observed from 1994 to 2009 in northern Sweden.
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Respiratory medicine · May 2016
Comparative StudyImpact of angiopoietin-1 and -2 on clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Angiopoietin (Ang) -1 and -2 are glycoproteins that play roles in vascular development, angiogenesis, and lung vascular permeability. Although the serum concentrations of Ang-1 and -2 have been evaluated in patients with sepsis, those in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have received less attention. ⋯ Increases in the serum Ang-2 concentration were associated with disease progression and poor prognosis in patients with IPF.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2016
Meta AnalysisNintedanib in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Combined evidence from the TOMORROW and INPULSIS(®) trials.
The Phase II TOMORROW trial and two Phase III INPULSIS(®) trials investigated the efficacy and safety of nintedanib versus placebo in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). To obtain an overall estimate of the treatment effect of nintedanib 150 mg twice daily (bid), pooled and meta-analyses of data from these three trials were conducted. ⋯ Nintedanib has a beneficial effect on slowing disease progression in patients with IPF.
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Respiratory medicine · Apr 2016
ReviewThe three tiers of screening for sarcoidosis organ involvement.
Sarcoidosis may involve any organ in the body. Organ involvement with sarcoidosis may go undetected. This manuscript addresses a suggested approach to screening for sarcoidosis organ involvement. ⋯ The third tier of screening is complex and involves the performance of multiple tests/algorithms or examinations by subspecialists to search for specific organ involvement. The third tier of screening is used to evaluate eye sarcoidosis, vitamin D dysregulation associated with sarcoidosis, and cardiac sarcoidosis. It is hoped that this approach to screening for sarcoidosis organ involvement will be a springboard for rigorous examination of this process that is likely to benefit sarcoidosis patients.