A multicenter trial found that a tiny implanted coil called the Lung Volume Reduction Coil (LVRC) significantly improves pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema. The treatment is considered safe and effective, particularly for those with severely hyperinflated lungs.
Prior ICS treatment before CAP diagnosis is associated with lower incidence and severity of parapneumonic effusion. Patients treated with ICS had a significantly lower risk of developing this complication, regardless of their baseline chronic respiratory condition.
A new study found that weight loss significantly improved both sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and metabolic dysregulation in obese children. After a six-month weight loss program, mean BMI was reduced to 29.2 kg/m2, leading to improvements in ASAT, ALAT, HDL-cholesterol levels.
A new study from researchers in the Netherlands found no association between viral infections during infancy and later childhood wheezing symptoms. However, children with reduced neonatal lung function were more prone to experience wheezing during viral infections.
Researchers found that P. aeruginosa infection is associated with worse clinical outcomes, including more hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and exacerbations in COPD patients. The study suggests that addressing P. aeruginosa infections may be crucial in managing COPD.
A study found that children with mild persistent asthma benefit from ICS treatment, but some groups benefit more than others. Younger children, non-Hispanic kids, those with eczema and high IgE levels experience greater benefits from ICS treatment.
Researchers found that nearly three-quarters of asthma patients with well-controlled symptoms can safely reduce their ICS dose by half. However, common respiratory measurements are not effective in determining which patients will tolerate lower doses without risk of flare-ups or exacerbations.
Research has found that inhaled anticholinergics are associated with an increased risk of potentially dangerous heart arrhythmias among young asthma patients. The use of these medications for routine asthma management may be linked to a higher risk of arrhythmias, particularly among active users of ipratropium.
A study found that critically ill patients taking antidepressants in ICU had higher mortality rates, with risk increasing by 73% compared to those not on the medication. The risk was highest among patients with acute coronary syndrome and those who had undergone cardiac surgery.
A new study has found that vitamin C supplementation in pregnant women who are unable to quit smoking significantly improves pulmonary function in their newborns. Daily use of vitamin C (500 mg/day) improved peak tidal expiratory flow and respiratory compliance, returning them nearly to the levels seen in non-smokers.
Inhibition of PBEF has been shown to prevent and reverse monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats, suggesting its potential as a therapy. The study's findings imply that targeting PBEF activity could provide a new approach to treating patients with PH.
A new study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that residents of Lower Manhattan who suffered home damage following the 9/11 attacks are more likely to report respiratory symptoms and diseases. The study analyzed data from over 71,000 survivors of the World Trade Center attacks, including those with ...
A recent study has found that sarcoidosis accounts for 25% of all deaths among black women with the disease, emphasizing the need for early detection and treatment. The study also highlights the severity of pulmonary disease in black women with sarcoidosis, with respiratory failure being a leading cause of death.
Seven late-breaking clinical trials presented at ATS 2012 examined treatments for ventilator-associated pneumonia, cardiac surgery associated kidney injury, septic shock, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, smoking cessation, malignant pleural effusion, and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Results showed that shorter courses of doripenem...
A new study suggests that a significant proportion of children with asthma failing Step 4 or greater therapy may have severe asthma with fungal sensitization. Children with this condition were found to be older, have higher serum IgE levels, and perform worse on pulmonary function tests compared to those without the condition.
A significant percentage of COPD patients (44%) report troublesome dyspnea during sexual activity, limiting their sex life. Depression and poor well-being are also prevalent among both COPD and heart failure patients, with high levels reported in the study.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that nighttime intensivist physician staffing is associated with reduced mortality in ICUs with a low-intensity daytime staffing model. However, this benefit was not observed in ICUs with high-intensity daytime staffing models.
A new study from the UK shows that completion of pulmonary rehabilitation significantly improves survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients who completed rehabilitation had a higher level of response in exercise capacity and a significant survival advantage compared to those who did not complete re...
A study found that older adults with asthma have a higher proportion of airway inflammation compared to younger patients, despite similar treatment regimens. This could be due to underlying airway inflammation being relatively resistant to current anti-inflammatory therapies.
A new study found that nearly all COPD patients have two or more comorbidities, with most having four or more. The presence of these comorbidities can complicate treatment and affect patient outcomes. Future guidelines should address the management of comorbidities in COPD patients.
A new study found that active tuberculosis is an independent predictor of lung cancer death in the elderly. The research analyzed data from 61,239 subjects aged 65 years or older and found a significant association between tuberculosis and lung cancer mortality.
A study found that in-hospital mortality measures can be biased due to discharge practices, which may disadvantage large academic hospitals and those with a high proportion of commercial HMO patients. Discharge bias was greater in small hospitals and non-teaching hospitals, affecting hospital rankings.
A new study by the University of Arizona reports that exposure to parental smoking in childhood increases the risk of persistent respiratory symptoms, including cough and chronic cough, into adulthood. The study found that 52.3% of children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke had persistent respiratory symptoms.
A recent study found that male patients with pulmonary disease have a very high risk of osteopenia/osteoporosis, which can be reduced by routine screening and early intervention. The study included 46 patients, most of whom were male, and showed that those with more severe lung disease are more likely to also have bone disease.
A new study reveals that prenatal exposure to air pollution can have persistent effects on lung function development in children with asthma. The research found associations between nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter exposure during pregnancy and lower pulmonary function growth in childhood.
Researchers found that primary care-based management was comparable to specialist care in terms of ESS scores, FOSQ scores, and CPAP compliance. Home auto-titrating CPAP usage was also similar between the two groups. The study suggests a lower-cost alternative for OSA treatment, particularly beneficial for rural and remote regions.
A new study found that treating childhood OSA normalizes brain disturbances responsible for attention and executive function. Brain imaging showed improvements in verbal memory, attention, and frontal cortex metabolites after treatment.
A study from researchers in Sweden found that frequent asthma exacerbations are associated with higher doses of glucocorticosteroids, worse asthma control, and increased inflammatory markers. The study identified several risk factors for frequent exacerbations, including smoking history, lower quality of life, and body mass index >25.
A study by the University of Wisconsin found an association between sleep disordered breathing and increased cancer mortality. The researchers analyzed data from 1,522 subjects and found that those with mild, moderate, or severe SDB had a higher risk of cancer mortality compared to those without SDB.
A new study found that comorbidities are independently associated with an increased mortality risk in COPD patients. The study identified 12 comorbidities, including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and congestive heart failure, as significantly increasing the risk of death.
A new study found that long-term survivors of acute lung injury (ALI) experience significant neuropsychological impairment, including cognitive decline and mental health issues. The study suggests that hypoxemia may be a contributing factor to these impairments.
Children with asthma by age seven already had significant airflow deficits and increased bronchial responsiveness as neonates, according to a new study. Lung function deficits also progressed throughout childhood in the study, suggesting potential for early intervention.
A study published by the American Thoracic Society found that low serum adiponectin levels are associated with a higher risk of developing asthma in middle-aged women. The research also suggests that raising systemic adiponectin concentrations could potentially prevent asthma in women who smoke.
A recent study found that adding inflammatory biomarkers improves the clinical prediction of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The addition of a panel of selected biomarkers significantly improved the ability of clinical variables to predict mortality, with a C-statistic of 0.726.
External cooling in sedated septic shock patients decreases vasopressor requirements and early mortality, increasing the rate of shock reversal and decreasing day-14 mortality. The study's findings suggest that fever control using external cooling is safe and may improve patient outcomes.
A new study published by the American Thoracic Society found that PAP therapy significantly improves neurobehavioral function in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Despite suboptimal adherence, patients showed improvements in attention deficits, behavior, and quality of life.
A new study found that breastfeeding improves lung function at school age, particularly in children of asthmatic mothers. Breastfed children showed significant improvements in forced mid-expiratory flow and vital capacity, but not in peak expiratory flow rates.
A new study found that the CAT questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing COPD exacerbation severity, reflecting both exacerbation length and reduction in lung function. The CAT scores were also weakly related to systemic inflammatory markers and elevated in stable patients with a history of frequent exacerbations.
A new study has found that the lung clearance index (LCI) is a sensitive non-invasive marker of early lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis. LCI was elevated in children with CF, especially in those with airway inflammation and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.
A study of 100 intubated patients found no significant differences in pulmonary gas exchange, immunologic status, or coagulation status between fresh and standard-issue red blood cells. The findings challenge previous observational studies linking RBC storage duration to respiratory complications.
A new study found that accelerated growth in the first three months of life increases the risk of asthma symptoms in preschool-age children. The study of over 5,125 children suggests that early infancy may be a critical period for the development of asthma.
A new study suggests that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support in awake, non-intubated patients may be an effective strategy for bridging patients to lung transplantation. The study found a higher six-month survival rate among awake ECMO patients compared to conventional mechanical ventilation.
A large cohort study found that statin use was associated with an increased risk of interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) in smokers, with a 60% higher odds of ILA compared to non-statins users. Statins also exacerbated lung fibrosis in mice and enhanced Nlrp3-inflammasome activation.
A large percentage of patients with mild-to-moderate asthma have persistently non-eosinophilic disease, which does not respond to current treatments. Repeated sputum analysis revealed that only 36% of asthmatics without inhaled corticosteroids and 17% using ICS had eosinophilia.
The American Thoracic Society has recommended that critical care research become less fragmented and account for patient heterogeneity. Key areas of focus include basic science, translational research, clinical research, health service delivery, and education.
A new study found that adding inhaled dry powder mannitol to standard therapy for cystic fibrosis improved lung function over 52 weeks. The treatment showed a significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and fewer pulmonary exacerbations compared to the control group.
A comprehensive study found that maternal use of inhaled glucocorticoids for asthma during pregnancy is not associated with most diseases in childhood, but may increase the risk of endocrine and metabolic disorders. The study followed 65,085 mother-child pairs from early pregnancy to childhood.
A study found that commercially-available tests for latent TB infection have high false-positive rates in low-prevalence populations, with 77% of subjects having positive results with only one test. The findings suggest that risk stratification may increase the predictive value and reduce false positives.
A UK-wide cohort study found a significant increase in tuberculosis (TB) diagnoses among postpartum women, with a higher risk of TB in the six months following pregnancy. The study suggests that targeted screening of pregnant and post-partum women in high-risk groups may be necessary to prevent poorer outcomes.
A new study found depressive symptoms were a frequent and persistent risk factor for impaired physical function in ALI survivors. The two-year incidence of depressive symptoms was 40%, while the cumulative incidence of impaired physical function was 66%.