Articles

COPD: maximization of bronchodilation

The most recent guidelines define COPD in a multidimensional way, nevertheless the diagnosis is still linked to the limitation of airflow, usually measured by the reduction in the FEV₁/FVC ratio below 70%. Howeve...

Authors: Stefano Nardini, Gianna Camiciottoli, Salvatore Locicero, Rosario Maselli, Franco Pasqua, Giovanni Passalacqua, Riccardo Pela, Alberto Pesci, Alfredo Sebastiani and Alessandro Vatrella

A novel biomarker in the diagnosis of parapneumonic effusion: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin

The protein neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a mediator synthesized and released by neutrophils. Its physiological function is as yet unclear. Levels in blood increase in several inflammato...

Authors: Aziz Gümüs, Sevket Ozkaya, Songul Ozyurt, Halit Cınarka, Aynur Kirbas, Unal Sahin and Ferah Ece

Diagnostic delay of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection in China

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection is an emerging, but neglected public health concern in China.

Authors: Hui Jing, Wanming Tan, Yunfeng Deng, Dachuan Gao, Liang Li, Zhiming Lu, Edward A Graviss and Xin Ma

CAT correlates positively with respiratory rate and is a significant predictor of the impact of COPD on daily life of patients: a cross sectional study

The pathophysiological changes of COPD tend to worsen with progression, triggering limiting symptoms and implying the decrease in the activities of daily living and quality of life. The COPD Assessment Test (C...

Authors: Cíntia Becker, Janaína Schäfer, Lisiane L Carvalho, Isabel P Vitiello and Andréa LG da Silva

The AIMAR recommendations for early diagnosis of chronic obstructive respiratory disease based on the WHO/GARD model*

Respiratory diseases in Italy already now represent an emergency (they are the 3^rd ranking cause of death in the world, and the 2^nd if Lung cancer is included). In countries similar to our own, they result as the...

Authors: Stefano Nardini, Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Mario Del Donno, Maurizio Delucchi, Germano Bettoncelli, Vincenzo Lamberti, Carlo Patera, Mario Polverino, Antonio Russo, Carlo Santoriello and Patrizio Soverina

Sedation and weaning from mechanical ventilation: time for ‘best practice’ to catch up with new realities?

Delivery of sedation in anticipation of weaning of adult patients from prolonged mechanical ventilation is an arena of critical care medicine where opinion-based practice is currently hard to avoid because rob...

Authors: Giorgio Conti, Jean Mantz, Dan Longrois and Peter Tonner

Evaluation of reactive oxygen metabolites in patients with non-small cell lung cancer after chemotherapy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) after chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its association with response to treatment.

Authors: Toru Wakabayashi, Tatsuo Kawashima and Yasuo Matsuzawa

Obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary function in patients with severe obesity before and after bariatric surgery: a randomized clinical trial

The increasing prevalence of obesity in both developed and developing countries is one of the most serious public health problems and has led to a global epidemic. Obesity is one of the greatest risk factors o...

Authors: Isabella C Aguiar, Wilson R Freitas Jr, Israel R Santos, Nadua Apostolico, Sergio R Nacif, Jéssica Julioti Urbano, Nina Teixeira Fonsêca, Fabio Rodrigues Thuler, Elias Jirjoss Ilias, Paulo Kassab, Fernando SS LeitãoFilho, Rafael M Laurino Neto, Carlos A Malheiros, Giuseppe Insalaco, Claudio F Donner and Luis VF Oliveira

Erratum to: Evaluation of pulmonary dysfunctions and acid–base imbalances induced by Chlamydia psittaci in a bovine model of respiratory infection

Authors: Carola Ostermann, Susanna Linde, Christiane Siegling-Vlitakis and Petra Reinhold

A new tuning fork with different vibration frequencies as an aid to bronchopulmonary hygiene physiotherapy

The main function of the mucociliary system is the removal of particles or substances that are potentially harmful to the respiratory tract. The tuning fork therapeutic for the purpose of bronchial hygiene has...

Authors: José Roberto de Alcântara, Roberta Munhoz Manzano, Maicon Gabriel Gonçalves, Rodrigo Leonel dos Santos, Daniel Donaire Albino, Nadua Apostólico, Nina Teixeira Fonseca, Jéssica Julioti Urbano, Célio Guilherme Lombardi Daibem, Claudio F Donner, Camila Gimenes, Alexandre Ricardo Pepe Ambrozin and Luis Vicente Franco de Oliveira

Audit on the appropriateness of integrated COPD management: the “ALT-BPCO” project

Non communicable chronic diseases (including respiratory ones) are the leading cause of death and disability. To cope with them we need to redesign the health system, improving primary prevention, screening, a...

Authors: Stefano Nardini, Gaetano Cicchitto, Fernando De Benedetto, Claudio F Donner, Mario Polverino, Claudio M Sanguinetti and Alberto Visconti

On the ethics of withholding and withdrawing medical treatment

A general rationale is presented for withholding and withdrawing medical treatment in end-of-life situations, and an argument is offered for the moral irrelevance of the distinction, both in the context of pha...

Authors: Massimo Reichlin

Bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: research activity in Arab countries

Chronic respiratory diseases, like bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are a worldwide health problem. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of asthma and COPD-related research...

Authors: Waleed M Sweileh, Samah W Al-Jabi, Sa’ed H Zyoud and Ansam F Sawalha

Association between peripheral muscle strength, exercise performance, and physical activity in daily life in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Resistance training of peripheral muscles has been recommended in order to increase muscle strength in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However, whether peripheral muscle strength is...

Authors: Anne-Kathrin Rausch-Osthoff, Malcolm Kohler, Noriane A Sievi, Christian F Clarenbach and Arnoldus JR van Gestel

Swallowing disorders in tracheostomised patients: a multidisciplinary/multiprofessional approach in decannulation protocols

Safe removal of tracheal cannula is a major goal in the rehabilitation of tracheostomised patients to achieve progressive independence from mechanical support and reduce the risk of respiratory complications. ...

Authors: Giancarlo Garuti, Cristina Reverberi, Angelo Briganti, Monica Massobrio, Francesco Lombardi and Mirco Lusuardi

Pneumocafé project: an inquiry on current COPD diagnosis and management among General Practitioners in Italy through a novel tool for professional education

Symptoms of COPD are frequently disregarded by patients and also by general practitioners (GPs) in early stages of the disease, that consequently is diagnosed when already at an advanced grade of severity. Und...

Authors: Claudio M Sanguinetti, Fernando De Benedetto, Claudio F Donner, Stefano Nardini and Alberto Visconti

The influence of active and passive smoking on the cardiorespiratory fitness of adults

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of active and passive smoking on cardiorespiratory responses in asymptomatic adults during a sub-maximal-exertion incremental test.

Authors: Andresa Thier de Borba, Renan Trevisan Jost, Ricardo Gass, Fúlvio Borges Nedel, Dannuey Machado Cardoso, Hildegard Hedwig Pohl, Miriam Beatris Reckziegel, Valeriano Antonio Corbellini and Dulciane Nunes Paiva

A novel diagnostic algorithm for chronic and subacute cough

Cough remains the most common reason for patients to seek medical attention. We practised a novel diagnostic algorithm for chronic and subacute cough.

Authors: Peng Lu, Dan Zhou and Chengzhen Jin

Look at the lung: can chest ultrasonography be useful in pregnancy?

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of chest ultrasound (US) in the detection, diagnosis and follow-up of pathologic processes of both peripheral lung parenchyma and pleural space in pregnant women.

Authors: Riccardo Inchingolo, Andrea Smargiassi, Flaminio Mormile, Roberta Marra, Sara De Carolis, Antonio Lanzone, Salvatore Valente and Giuseppe M Corbo

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and coronary artery disease

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is defined as a chronic fibrosing interstitial disease of unknown cause, limited to the lungs, and associated with the histopathologic and/or radiologic pattern of usual int...

Authors: Gaetano Cicchitto, Valentina Musella, Maria Acitorio, Nicola Capuano, Giuseppe Fiorenzano, Caroline A Owen, Mario Polverino and Francesca Polverino

Does zafirlukast reduce future risk of asthma exacerbations in adults? Systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of asthma management is to achieve a total asthma control that involves current control and future risk. It has proven efficacy in reducing asthma exacerbations, but the effect size of zafirlukast ...

Authors: Chao Feng Chen, Yan Lv, Hong Ping Zhang and Gang Wang

Expression of aquaporins in bronchial tissue and lung parenchyma of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Aquaporins AQP1 and AQP5 are highly expressed in the lung. Recent studies have shown that the expression of these proteins may be mechanistically involved in the airway inflammation and in the pathogenesis of ...

Authors: Carmen Calero, Jose Luis López-Campos, Lourdes Gómez Izquierdo, Rocío Sánchez-Silva, Jose Luis López-Villalobos, Francisco J Sáenz-Coronilla, Elena Arellano-Orden, Ana Montes-Worboys and Miriam Echevarría

ISMAR-study presentation: in-hospital epidemiology and clinical management of respiratory and cardiac comorbidities in cardiac and respiratory disease units

Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are leading causes of morbidity and their co-occurrence has important implications in mortality and other outcomes. Even the most recent guidelines do not reliably addre...

Authors: Roberto Tramarin, Mario Polverino, Maurizio Volterrani, Bruna Girardi, Claudio Chimini, Nicolino Ambrosino, Fernando De Benedetto and Cesare Proto

Integrating COPD care in Italy

Authors: Peter MA Calverley

The clinical and integrated management of COPD. An official document of AIMAR (Interdisciplinary Association for Research in Lung Disease), AIPO (Italian Association of Hospital Pulmonologists), SIMER (Italian Society of Respiratory Medicine), SIMG (Italian Society of General Medicine)

COPD is a chronic pathological condition of the respiratory system characterized by persistent and partially reversible airflow obstruction, to which variably contribute remodeling of bronchi (chronic bronchit...

Authors: Germano Bettoncelli, Francesco Blasi, Vito Brusasco, Stefano Centanni, Antonio Corrado, Fernando De Benedetto, Fausto De Michele, Giuseppe U Di Maria, Claudio F Donner, Franco Falcone, Carlo Mereu, Stefano Nardini, Franco Pasqua, Mario Polverino, Andrea Rossi and Claudio M Sanguinetti

Ultrasonography in lung pathologies: new perspectives

Nowadays, ultrasound techniques have not gained importance in the diagnosis and monitoring of lung pathologies yet because of the high mismatch in acoustic impedance between air and intercostal tissues. Howeve...

Authors: Libertario Demi, Marcello Demi, Andrea Smargiassi, Riccardo Inchingolo, Francesco Faita and Gino Soldati

Ambulatory pulse oximetry monitoring in Japanese COPD outpatients not receiving oxygen therapy

It remains unknown whether desaturation profiles during daily living are associated with prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Point measurements of resting oxygen saturation...

Authors: Seigo Minami, Suguru Yamamoto, Yoshitaka Ogata, Takeshi Nakatani, Yoshiko Takeuchi, Masanari Hamaguchi, Taro Koba and Kiyoshi Komuta

Treating severe allergic asthma with anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (omalizumab): a review

Increased asthma severity is not only associated with enhanced recurrent hospitalization and mortality but also with higher social costs.

Authors: Gennaro D’Amato, Anna Stanziola, Alessandro Sanduzzi, Gennaro Liccardi, Antonello Salzillo, Carolina Vitale, Antonio Molino, Alessandro Vatrella and Maria D’Amato

Effect of β₂ -adrenergic receptor gene Arg16Gly polymorphisms on response to long-acting β₂-agonist in Chinese Han asthmatic patients

To evaluate the effect of variation of the Arg16Gly polymorphism of the β₂-adrenergic receptor gene on clinical response to salmeterol administered with fluticasone propionate in Chinese Han asthmatic patients.

Authors: Yuying Qiu, Deping Zhang, Yu Qin and Kai-Sheng Yin

Lung, not only heart

Authors: Annalisa Cogo

Ventilatory response to exercise of elite soccer players

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of ventilatory parameters in maximal exercise performance in elite soccer players.

Authors: Adriano Di Paco, Giosuè A Catapano, Guido Vagheggini, Stefano Mazzoleni, Matteo Levi Micheli and Nicolino Ambrosino

The lungs need to be deflated: effects of glycopyrronium on lung hyperinflation in COPD patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation caused by bronchial alterations, small airways disease and parenchymal destruction. In patients with COPD the stru...

Authors: Claudio M Sanguinetti

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on alveolar macrophage gene expression: preliminary results of a randomized, controlled trial

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated as a factor in a number of infectious and inflammatory lung diseases. In the lung, alveolar macrophages play a key role in inflammation and defense of infection, but th...

Authors: Alicia K Gerke, Alejandro A Pezzulo, Fan Tang, Joseph E Cavanaugh, Thomas B Bair, Emily Phillips, Linda S Powers and Martha M Monick

The association of human leukocyte antigen polymorphisms with disease severity and latency period in patients with silicosis

Denim sandblasting may cause silicosis as a result of free crystalline silica inhalation. Its pathogenesis remains unclear, but autoimmunity may play a role in the development of silicosis. The present study a...

Authors: Hasan Dogan, Metin Akgun, Omer Araz, Elif Yilmazel Ucar, Ozgur Yoruk, Eda Diyarbakir, Omer Atis, Fatih Akdemir, Hamit Acemoglu and Ibrahim Pirim

AIMAR survey on COPD phenotypes

COPD is characterized by considerable diversity in terms of clinical signs and symptoms, physiopathological mechanisms, response to treatment and disease progression. For this reason, the identification of dif...

Authors: Maria Sandra Magnoni, Andrea Rizzi, Alberto Visconti and Claudio F Donner

Sensitivity of the COPD assessment test (CAT questionnaire) investigated in a population of 681 consecutive patients referring to a lung clinic: the first Italian specific study

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality at global level even if still underestimated. The insufficient use of specific tools for an objective definition and sta...

Authors: Roberto W Dal Negro, Luca Bonadiman and Paola Turco

The ethics of forgoing life-sustaining treatment: theoretical considerations and clinical decision making

Withholding or withdrawing a life-sustaining treatment tends to be very challenging for health care providers, patients, and their family members alike. When a patient’s life seems to be nearing its end, it is...

Authors: Jos VM Welie and Henk AMJ ten Have

The withholding/withdrawing distinction in the end-of-life debate

Authors: Virginia Sanchini, Cecilia Nardini and Giovanni Boniolo

Diagnostic utility of serum and pleural levels of adenosine deaminase 1–2, and interferon-γ in the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis

To evaluate and compare the diagnostic efficiency of serum (s) and pleural (p) levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA)-1, ADA-2, total ADA, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) for the differential diagnosis of pleural tu...

Authors: Sibel Yurt, Canan Küçükergin, Burcu Arpinar Yigitbas, Şule Seçkin, Hüseyin Cem Tigin and Ayşe Filiz Koşar

Mean platelet volume as an inflammation marker in active pulmonary tuberculosis

The mean platelet volume (MPV) reflects the size of platelets. It has been shown to be inversely correlated with level of the inflammation in some chronic inflammatory diseases. This prospective study aims to ...

Authors: Gulsah Gunluoglu, Esra Ertan Yazar, Nurdan Simsek Veske, Ekrem Cengiz Seyhan and Sedat Altin

Evaluation of pulmonary dysfunctions and acid–base imbalances induced by Chlamydia psittaci in a bovine model of respiratory infection

Chlamydia psittaci (Cp) is a respiratory pathogen capable of inducing acute pulmonary zoonotic disease (psittacosis) or persistent infection. To elucidate the pathogenesis of this infection, a translational large...

Authors: Carola Ostermann, Susanna Linde, Christiane Siegling-Vlitakis and Petra Reinhold

Effectiveness of pharmacologic therapies on smoking cessation success: three years results of a smoking cessation clinic

Pharmacologic therapies have an important role in the success of interventions for smoking cessation. This study aims to determine the efficacy of several pharmacologic treatments in patients who applied to a ...

Authors: Elif Yilmazel Ucar, Omer Araz, Nafiye Yilmaz, Metin Akgun, Mehmet Meral, Hasan Kaynar and Leyla Saglam

The safety of beta-blocker use in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with respiratory failure in the intensive care unit

The safety of beta-blockers as a heart rate-limiting drug (HRLD) in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) has not been properly assessed in the intensive ...

Authors: Feyza Kargin, Huriye Berk Takir, Cuneyt Salturk, Nezihe Ciftaslan Goksenoglu, Can Yucel Karabay, Ozlem Yazicioglu Mocin, Nalan Adiguzel, Gokay Gungor, Merih Kalamanoglu Balci, Murat Yalcinsoy, Ramazan Kargin and Zuhal Karakurt

A combination of predispositions and exposures as responsible for acute eosinophilic pneumonia

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is a rare febrile illness which is characterized by respiratory failure and often requires mechanical ventilation. The causes and sequence of events of this disease at a bioc...

Authors: Simona Amiconi and Bertrand Hirl

Re-admissions to hospital and patient satisfaction among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after telemedicine video consultation - a retrospective pilot study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of acute hospital admissions. The main object of our study was to evaluate the effects of telemedicine video-consultation (TVC) on the frequency of...

Authors: Safaa Saleh, Jan Petter Larsen, Johannes Bergsåker-Aspøy and Heidi Grundt

Reviewer acknowledgement 2013

The editors of Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine would like to thank all of our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 8 (2013).

Authors: Fernando De Benedetto, Claudio F Donner and Claudio M Sanguinetti

Increased circulating obestatin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Some peptides, which regulate the metabolic balance, are thought to play important roles in nutritional disorders and systemic inflammation in COPD. Treatment of rats with obestatin decreased body-weight gain....

Authors: Yi Lei, Yasha Liang, Yifan Chen, Xiaojing Liu, Xiaoyang Liao and Fengming Luo

Extravascular lung water and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure for fluid management in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Extravascular lung water (EVLW) is a sensitive prognostic indicator of pulmonary edema. Thus, EVLW may be an advantageous method of fluid management. This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of using EVLW and ...

Authors: Wei Hu, Chang-Wen Lin, Bing-Wei Liu, Wei-Hang Hu and Ying Zhu

Prevalence of allergen sensitization among patients with allergic diseases in Guangzhou, Southern China: a four-year observational study

The distribution of allergens may vary with different geographic areas, suggesting the importance of local epidemiological data to support evidence-based prevention and management of allergic diseases. We inve...

Authors: Bao-qing Sun, Pei-yan Zheng, Xiao-wen Zhang, Hui-min Huang, De-hui Chen and Guang-qiao Zeng

Clinical findings in 19 cases of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis with liver cirrhosis

Aspergillus infection was mostly reported with high mortality rates and a bad prognosis in immunocompromised patients, but data were lacking on the clinical characteristics of aspergillus infection in liver cirrh...

Authors: Jiajia Chen, Qing Yang, Jianrong Huang and Lanjuan Li