Articles

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

Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism: a multidisciplinary approach

The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is frequently considered in patients presenting to the emergency department or when hospitalized. Although early treatment is highly effective, PE is underdiagnosed and...

Authors: Federico Lavorini, Vitantonio Di Bello, Maria Luisa De Rimini, Giovanni Lucignani, Letizia Marconi, Gualtiero Palareti, Raffaele Pesavento, Domenico Prisco, Massimo Santini, Nicola Sverzellati, Antonio Palla and Massimo Pistolesi

Comparison of reducing effect on lung injury of dexamethasone and bosentan in acute lung injury: an experimental study

Different medical therapies are employed in acute lung injury (ALI) but there is still a debate about the efficacy of these drugs. Among these therapies steroids are clinically applied and bosentan is experime...

Authors: Omer Araz, Elif Demirci, Elif Yilmazel Ucar, Muhammet Calik, Didem Pulur, Adem Karaman, Muhammed Yayla, Eren Altun, Zekai Halici and Metin Akgun

CT-guided needle lung biopsy is possible during apneic oxygenation: a case series

It can be difficult to perform CT guided biopsy of small pulmonary nodules especially if the position is behind a costa or close to the diaphragm and respiratory movements may hamper the procedure. During apne...

Authors: Benedict Kjaergaard, Peter R Zepernick, Annette Bergmann, Henrik K Jensen, Milka Mladenovic and Bodil S Rasmussen

Clinical variability of respiratory pulmonary hypertension: implications for diagnosis and management

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) associated to chronic respiratory diseases is currently classified in the 3^rd group, as a mild to moderate form of pre-capillary PH that progressively complicates the prognosis of asso...

Authors: Lucio Casali, Pierluigi Carratù and Matteo Sofia

Geriatric study in Europe on health effects of air quality in nursing homes (GERIE study) profile: objectives, study protocol and descriptive data

Indoor air pollution (IAP) constitutes a major global public health problem requiring increasing efforts in research and policymaking that may have special significance for elderly that are likely to spend mos...

Authors: Isabella Annesi-Maesano, Dan Norback, Jan Zielinski, Alfred Bernard, Cristina Gratziou, Torben Sigsgaard, Piersante Sestini and Giovanni Viegi

Pulmonary function testing and chest tomography in patients with acromegaly

Despite the gradual improvement in treatment procedures and cure rates of acromegaly, a steady increase in the mortality rate due to respiratory disease has been documented in recent decades. In this study, ou...

Authors: Gustavo Bittencourt Camilo, Fernando Silva Guimarães, Débora Pedroza Guedes Silva, Roberto Mogami, Leandro Kasuki, Mônica Roberto Gadelha, Pedro Lopes Melo and Agnaldo José Lopes

The maximum standardized FDG uptake on PET-CT in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80% of new diagnoses of pulmonary carcinoma. This study investigated the correlation between 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in computerized tomogra...

Authors: Mehmet Akif Özgül, Gamze Kirkil, Ekrem Cengiz Seyhan, Erdoğan Çetinkaya, Güler Özgül and Mahmut Yüksel

Predictors of seasonal influenza vaccination in chronic asthma

Guidelines advise annual influenza vaccination in chronic asthma. The aim of this study was to determine uptake of the influenza vaccine in a group of patients (n = 146) with moderate to severe chronic asthma ...

Authors: Rachelle Asciak, Martin Balzan and Jesmar Buttigieg

Oxytocin: an unexpected risk for cardiologic and broncho-obstructive effects, and allergic reactions in susceptible delivering women

Oxytocin (Sintocynon) is considered an uncommon cause of severe allergic reactions during delivery. We have recently shown that allergic sensitization to latex might constitute an important predisposing risk f...

Authors: Gennaro Liccardi, Maria Beatrice Bilò, Ciro Mauro, Antonello Salzillo, Amedeo Piccolo, Maria D’Amato, Annabella Liccardi and Gennaro D’Amato

Erectile dysfunction and sex hormone changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with COPD is high and its significance has not been sufficiently stressed. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) an...

Authors: Hasan Kahraman, Bilal Sen, Nurhan Koksal, Metin Kilinç and Sefa Resim

CD24⁺/CD38^- as new prognostic marker for non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among cancers in the world. The annual death toll due to this disease exceeds the combined deaths caused by colon, breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. As a resul...

Authors: Feridoun Karimi-Busheri, Aghdass Rasouli-Nia, Victoria Zadorozhny and Habib Fakhrai

Effect of thyroid function on COPD exacerbation frequency: a preliminary study

Frequent exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have negative effects on quality of life and survival. Thus, factors related to exacerbations should be determined. We aimed to evaluate t...

Authors: Sevinc Sarinc Ulasli, Serife Savas Bozbas, Zeynep Erayman Ozen, Berna Akinci Ozyurek and Gaye Ulubay

The relationship between C-reactive protein and prognostic factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and prognostic factors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Authors: Reshu Agarwal, Mohammad Shoaib Zaheer, Zubair Ahmad and Jamal Akhtar

Leptin, ghrelin and calprotectin: inflammatory markers in childhood asthma?

Appetite-modulating hormones ghrelin and leptin might be relevant to asthma with their pro-inflammatory effects, and calprotectin has been recognized as a promising marker of inflammation. The purpose of this ...

Authors: Nazan Cobanoglu, Nilufer Galip, Ceyhun Dalkan and Nerin Nadir Bahceciler

Metabolic syndrome and carotid intima-media thickness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), carotid intima media thickness (IMT), and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with chronic obstructive pulmona...

Authors: Aylin Ozgen Alpaydin, Isin Konyar Arslan, Selim Serter, Aysin Sakar Coskun, Pinar Celik, Fatma Taneli and Arzu Yorgancioglu

Obesity can influence children’s and adolescents’ airway hyperresponsiveness differently

Literature is still arguing about a possible relationship between airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and body mass index (BMI). This study aimed at evaluating the influence of BMI on AHR and pulmonary function i...

Authors: Bruno Sposato, Marco Scalese, Maria Giovanna Migliorini, Maria Piera Riccardi, Massimo Tosti Balducci, Luigi Petruzzelli and Raffaele Scala

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an infection often occurring in neutropenic patients and has high mortality rates. In recent years, it has been reported that the incidence of IPA has also increased i...

Authors: Nuri Tutar, Gokhan Metan, Ayşe Nedret Koç, Insu Yilmaz, Ilkay Bozkurt, Zuhal Ozer Simsek, Hakan Buyukoglan, Asiye Kanbay, Fatma Sema Oymak, Inci Gulmez and Ramazan Demir

Predictors of cardiovascular disease in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common comorbidity in patients with chronic airway obstruction, and is associated with systemic inflammation and airway obstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ...

Authors: Michela Bellocchia, Monica Masoero, Antonio Ciuffreda, Silvia Croce, Arianna Vaudano, Roberto Torchio, Monica Boita and Caterina Bucca

A critical analysis of sarcoidosis incidence assessment

Valid sarcoidosis incidence assessment is contingent on access to medical care, thoroughness of reportage, assiduity of radiographic interpretation, employment and health care screening policies, misclassifica...

Authors: Jerome M Reich

Clinical significance of incidental thyroid nodules identified on low-dose CT for lung cancer screening

Incidental thyroid nodules (ITNs) are defined as newly encountered nodules identified on imaging performed for an unrelated purpose. In practice, ITNs are often detected on chest computed tomography (CT). We i...

Authors: Jong Hoo Lee, Sun Young Jeong and Yee Hyung Kim

The role of chest ultrasonography in the management of respiratory diseases: document II

Chest ultrasonography can be a useful diagnostic tool for respiratory physicians. It can be used to complete and widen the general objective examination also in emergency situations, at the patient’s bedside. ...

Authors: Andrea Smargiassi, Riccardo Inchingolo, Gino Soldati, Roberto Copetti, Giampietro Marchetti, Alessandro Zanforlin, Rosangela Giannuzzi, Americo Testa, Stefano Nardini and Salvatore Valente

The role of chest ultrasonography in the management of respiratory diseases: document I

Chest ultrasonography can be a useful diagnostic tool for respiratory physicians. It can be used to complete and widen the general objective examination also in emergency situations, at the patient’s bedside. ...

Authors: Alessandro Zanforlin, Rosangela Giannuzzi, Stefano Nardini, Americo Testa, Gino Soldati, Roberto Copetti, Giampietro Marchetti, Salvatore Valente, Riccardo Inchingolo and Andrea Smargiassi

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the need for early diagnosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic fibrosing lung disease of a progressive nature and unknown etiology, has the largest epidemiological impact and the worst prognosis among the idiopathic interstit...

Authors: Gaetano Cicchitto and Claudio M Sanguinetti

Volcanic ash in the air we breathe

Authors: Bernadette M Longo and Anthony A Longo

A retrospective study on acute health effects due to volcanic ash exposure during the eruption of Mount Etna (Sicily) in 2002

Mount Etna, located in the eastern part of Sicily (Italy), is the highest and most active volcano in Europe. During the sustained eruption that occurred in October-November 2002 huge amounts of volcanic ash fe...

Authors: Daniele Lombardo, Nicola Ciancio, Raffaele Campisi, Annalisa Di Maria, Laura Bivona, Venerino Poletti, Antonio Mistretta, Annibale Biggeri and Giuseppe Di Maria

The value of FeNO measurement in childhood asthma: uncertainties and perspectives

Asthma is considered an heterogeneous disease, requiring multiple biomarkers for diagnosis and management. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide in exhaled breath (FeNO) was the first useful non-invasive marker of a...

Authors: Giuliana Ferrante, Velia Malizia, Roberta Antona, Giovanni Corsello and Stefania La Grutta

Diagnostic usefulness of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A in suspected pulmonary embolism

The role of biomarkers for prognostication and diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) is increasing. It has been reported that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) can be used as a proatherosclerotic m...

Authors: Serdar Berk, Omer Tamer Dogan, Eylem Itir Aydemir, Asli Bingol, Sefa Levent Ozsahin and Ibrahim Akkurt

Evaluation of association between airway hyperresponsiveness, asthma control test, and asthma therapy assessment questionnaire in asthmatic children

Achieving asthma control is a major challenge in children, otherwise symptoms perception remain poor especially at this age. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between Asthma Control Test (ACT^T...

Authors: Daniele Rapino, Marina Attanasi, Nicola P Consilvio, Alessandra Scaparrotta, Anna Cingolani, Marzia Cerasa, Angelika Mohn, Sabrina Di Pillo and Francesco Chiarelli

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of lung with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation and co-expression of adenocarcinoma markers: a case report and review of the literature

A high rate of response to treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) has been observed in certain patients (women, of East Asian ethnicity, with non-smoking history a...

Authors: Yasuhiro Sakai, Takashi Yamasaki, Yoshito Kusakabe, Daisuke Kasai, Yoshikazu Kotani, Yoshihiro Nishimura and Tomoo Itoh

Functional maturation of nasal mucosa: role of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA)

Secretory IgA (SIgA) plays an important role in defending the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory airways from common infection. Studying and comparing the values and the daily variation of SIgA in nasal...

Authors: Luisa Bellussi, Jacopo Cambi and Desiderio Passali

Lung cancer epidemiology in North Sardinia, Italy

The aim of this study was to analyze and describe the epidemiological characteristics and trends of lung cancer in North Sardinia, Italy, in the period 1992–2010.

Authors: Panagiotis Paliogiannis, Federico Attene, Antonio Cossu, Mario Budroni, Rosaria Cesaraccio, Francesco Tanda, Mario Trignano and Giuseppe Palmieri

Expiratory CT scan in patients with normal inspiratory CT scan: a finding of obliterative bronchiolitis and other causes of bronchiolar obstruction

Expiratory CT scan is usually obtained as supplement to normal inspiratory CT scan to recognize air-trapping, which is expression of small airways obstruction. In some patients the air-trapping may be the only...

Authors: Michele Gaeta, Fabio Minutoli, Giuseppe Girbino, Alessandra Murabito, Caterina Benedetto, Rosario Contiguglia, Paolo Ruggeri and Salvatore Privitera

Clinical significance in COPD patients followed in a real practice

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an important public health issue in many countries which is estimated to become the fifth cause of disability and the third cause of mortality in the world withi...

Authors: Júlio César Mendes de Oliveira, Isabella de Carvalho Aguiar, Ana Carolina Negrinho de Oliveira Beloto, Israel Reis Santos, Fernando Sergio Studart Leitão Filho, Luciana M Malosa Sampaio, Claudio F Donner and Luís Vicente Franco de Oliveira

Tracheal pseudo-tumor caused by herpes simplex virus

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been shown to cause respiratory tract infections mostly in severely immunocompromised patients. Endobronchial tumor-like lesions have been described very rarely as HSV pulmonary ...

Authors: Stamatis Katsenos, Dimitrios Sampaziotis and Stavros Archondakis

A pulmonary rehabilitation program reduces levels of anxiety and depression inCOPD patients

The presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in COPD patients has beenacknowledged for many years. The preponderance of recent studies supportsthe utility of pulmonary rehabilitation programs to reduce the ...

Authors: Athanasios Tselebis, Dionisios Bratis, Argiro Pachi, Georgios Moussas, Ioannis Ilias, Maria Harikiopoulou, Elpida Theodorakopoulou, Silvia Dumitru, Epaminondas Kosmas, Alexandros Vgontzas, Nikolaos Siafakas and Nikolaos Tzanakis

Effects of nutraceutical diet integration, with coenzyme Q₁₀ (Q-Ter multicomposite) and creatine, on dyspnea, exercise tolerance, and quality of life in COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure

The protein-calorie malnutrition, resulting in muscle mass loss, frequently occurs in severe COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF), causing dyspnea, reduced exercise tolerance and impaired quali...

Authors: Stefano Marinari, Maria Rosaria Manigrasso and Fernando De Benedetto