The 2015 British Thoracic Society (BTS) Home Oxygen Guidelines provides detailed evidence-based guidance for the use of oxygen by patients in their own homes or other non-acute hospital settings.

Prenatal and peri-natal events play a fundamental role in health, development of diseases and ageing (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)). Research on the determinants of active and healthy ageing is a priority to: (i) inform strategies for reducing societal and individual costs of an ageing population and (ii) develop effective novel prevention strategies. It is important to compare the trajectories of respiratory diseases with those of other chronic diseases.

Non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of COPD.

Thorax. 2015 May 20;

Authors: De Smet EG, Mestdagh P, Vandesompele J, Brusselle GG, Bracke KR

Abstract
A large part of the human genome is transcribed in non-coding RNAs, transcripts that do not code for protein, including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). MiRNAs are short single-stranded RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They play an important regulatory role in many biological processes. Consequently, altered expression of these non-coding RNAs has been shown to lead to inflammation and disease. In contrast, lncRNAs, can both enhance or repress the expression of protein-coding genes. COPD is typically caused by tobacco smoking and leads to a progressive decline in lung function and a premature death. Exaggerated pulmonary inflammation is a hallmark feature in this disease, leading to obstructive bronchiolitis and emphysema. In this review, we discuss the miRNA expression patterns in lungs of patients with COPD and in mouse models and we highlight various miRNAs involved in COPD pathogenesis. In addition, we briefly discuss a specific lncRNA that is upregulated upon cigarette smoke exposure, providing a short introduction to this more recently discovered group of non-coding RNAs.

PMID: 25995155 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles

Longitudinal changes in hand grip strength, hyperinflation and 6-minute walk distance in COPD patients and a control group.

Chest. 2015 May 21;

Authors: Cortopassi F, Celli B, Divo M, Pinto-Plata V

Abstract
Introduction: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a decreased inspiratory/total lung capacity ratio (IC/TLC), is associated with dynamic hyperinflation (DH) and poor exercise capacity. The association to upper extremity force measured by handgrip strength (HGS) and 6 minute walk distance has not been described. We hypothesized that IC/TLC affects muscle strength of upper and lower extremities affecting HGS and the six minute walk test (6MWD) performance.
Methods: We prospectively measured lung function, HGS and 6MWD in 27 patients with COPD and 12 healthy nonsmoking individuals twice, 1 year apart. The patients were classified according to level of hyperinflation in 2 groups, IC/TLC > or ≤ 25%.
Results: Patients with COPD had reduced lung function, static hyperinflation, reduced HGS and 6MWD compared to the controls on both evaluations (p < 0.01). There was a statistically significant deterioration in HGS, IC/TLC and 6MWD after 1 year follow up in the COPD compared to the control group (p < 0.001). More hyperinflation (IC/TLC < .25) was associated with lower HGS and 6MWD (p < 0.001). Changes in IC/TLC correlated with changes in HGS (r = 0.429, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis determined that IC/TLC was an independent factor associated to HSG and to 6MWD.
Conclusion: Handgrip strength and 6MWD are reduced in patients with COPD, particularly in patients with hyperinflation with evidence of longitudinal deterioration not seen in controls. This suggests that resting hyperinflation may exert a detrimental effect on cardiac function and play a role in the reduced exercise performance in COPD patients.

PMID: 25996450 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]