Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Little is known about long-term survival of patients surviving the first episode of type II respiratory failure requiring non-invasive ventilation (NIV). We aimed to determine the 1-, 2- and 5-year survival, cause of death and potential prognostic indicators in this patient cohort. ⋯ The 2- and 5-year mortality rates for patients with COPD surviving their first episode of respiratory failure requiring NIV are high. Physiological measures of the severity of respiratory failure at presentation do not predict subsequent survival and nor does the time interval between first and second admissions requiring NIV. Age, BMI and prior need for domiciliary oxygen are the main predictors of mortality at 5 years.
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Several features of OSA syndrome suggest that it is a manifestation of the metabolic syndrome (MS). In this study, we investigated the prevalence of the MS among male Japanese patients with OSA, as well as the relationship between OSA in non-obese patients and components of the MS other than obesity (hypertension, dyslipidaemia and glucose intolerance). ⋯ Although Asians are generally less obese than Caucasians, the prevalence of the MS was high among Japanese patients with OSA, and even among non-obese patients, OSA was associated with risk factors for the MS.
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High MW hyaluronan (HMW HA) as opposed to low MW hyaluronan (LMW HA) has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. We hypothesized that treatment with HMW HA would block smoke inhalation lung injury by inhibiting smoke-induced lung inflammation and airway epithelial cell apoptosis. ⋯ High MW hyaluronan (1600 kDa) may prove to be a beneficial therapy for smoke inhalation through inhibition of smoke-induced inflammation, lung oedema, airway epithelial cell apoptosis and airway mucous plugging.
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Development and organization of an interventional pulmonology department requires careful consideration of many elements, including personnel, equipment, logistics, procedures performed, practice management, institutional vision and biases, practice setting, continued medical education, risk management, communication and fiscal responsibility. In this paper, a patient-centric approach is used to begin addressing these issues and present the strengths, weaknesses, advantages and disadvantages of an interventional pulmonology department.