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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology, which is associated with the histopathologic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and leads to a progressive decrease of respiratory function.
The present article describes a case of a 62-year-old ex-smoker referred to our hospital because of IPF. After 2 years of follow-up, the subject experienced a significant worsening of pulmonary function and was enrolled in a lung transplantation program. Afterward, a pharmacological treatment with pirfenidone was started, achieving a stabilization of respiratory function. The patient underwent a single lung transplantation by means of a normothermic ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) approach according to the Toronto model. At 20-month evaluation the subject's respiratory function was significantly improved, and quality of life was considerably ameliorated.
We believe that an integrated multidisciplinary approach should be considered a key option for the treatment of individuals with IPF.
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Exhaled breath contains thousands of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gaseous form, which may be used as markers of airway inflammation and lung disease. Electronic noses enable quick and real-time pattern analysis of VOC spectra. It has been shown that the exhaled breath of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) differs from that of non-obese controls.
We aimed to assess the influence of obesity in the composition of exhaled VOCs by comparing obese subjects with and without OSA. Moreover, we aimed to identify the discriminant VOCs in the two groups.19 obese patients with established OSA (OO; age 51.2 ± 6.8; body mass index (BMI) 34.3 ± 3.5), 14 obese controls without OSA (ONO; age 46.5 ± 7.6; BMI 33.5 ± 4.1) and 20 non-obese healthy controls (HC; age 41.1 ± 12.6; BMI 24.9 ± 3.8) participated in a cross-sectional study. Exhaled breath was collected by a previously described method and sampled by using an electronic nose (Cyranose 320) and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Breathprints were analyzed by canonical discriminant analysis on principal component reduction. Cross-validation accuracy (CVA) was calculated.
Breathprints from the HC group were separated from those of OO (CVA = 97.4%) and ONO (CVA = 94.1%). Breathprints from OO were moderately separated from those of ONO (CVA = 67.6%).The presence of OSA alters the exhaled VOC pattern in obese subjects.
The incomplete separation of breathprints between OO and ONO may be due to the same underlying inflammation caused by obesity.
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Deficiency of serum levels of vitamin D3 (se vitD), magnesium (se Mg) and calcium (se Ca) may be associated with increased exacerbation risk in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, associations with other aspects of COPD, e.g. lung function and quality of life (QoL), have been studied less extensively.
AIM: To investigate se vitD, se Mg and se Ca in COPD and their associations with both forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV1) and QoL.
METHODS: FEV1 and se vitD (assessed by 25-(OH)-D3), se Mg and se Ca were measured during summertime. Generic and health related QoL were characterized.
RESULTS: This cross-sectional study included 143 participants with COPD. Women had a significantly higher se vitD than men (P = 0.0028), and 27% of participants were se vitD deficient. FEV1 was not correlated with se vitD, se Mg or se Ca in COPD. Mg deficiency group reported significantly impaired mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort and COPD-related QoL. Se vitD and se Ca were not associated with QoL.
CONCLUSION: Serum levels of vitD, Mg and Ca were not related to FEV1. Most participants in this study were vitD-, Mg- and Ca sufficient. Women had higher se vitD than men. Se Mg, but not se vitD and se Ca, was associated with QoL in COPD. Prospective randomized studies are needed to substantiate these finding. Clinical trials ID at www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01564953.
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BACKGROUND: This study assessed the long-term safety and efficacy of tiotropium Respimat, a long-acting inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator, in asthma, added on to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with or without long-acting β2-agonist (LABA).
METHODS: 285 patients with symptomatic asthma, despite treatment with ICS±LABA, were randomised 2:2:1 to once-daily tiotropium 5 μg, tiotropium 2.5 μg or placebo for 52 weeks (via the Respimat SoftMist inhaler) added on to ICS±LABA, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study (NCT01340209).
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: to describe the long-term safety profile of tiotropium. Secondary end points included: trough forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) response; peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) response; seven-question Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-7) score.
RESULTS: At Week 52, adverse-event (AE) rates with tiotropium 5 μg, 2.5 μg and placebo were 88.6%, 86.8% and 89.5%, respectively. Commonly reported AEs with tiotropium 5 μg, 2.5 μg and placebo were nasopharyngitis (48.2%, 44.7%, 42.1%), asthma (28.9%, 29.8%, 38.6%), decreased PEFR (15.8%, 7.9%, 21.1%), bronchitis (9.6%, 13.2%, 7.0%), pharyngitis (7.9%, 13.2%, 3.5%) and gastroenteritis (10.5%, 3.5%, 5.3%). In the tiotropium 5 μg, 2.5 μg and placebo groups, 8.8%, 5.3% and 5.3% of patients reported drug-related AEs; 3.5%, 3.5% and 15.8% reported serious AEs. Asthma worsening was the only serious AE reported in more than one patient. At Week 52, adjusted mean trough FEV1 and trough PEFR responses were significantly higher with tiotropium 5 μg (but not 2.5 μg) versus placebo. ACQ-7 responder rates were higher with tiotropium 5 μg and 2.5 μg versus placebo at Week 24.
CONCLUSIONS: The long-term tiotropium Respimat safety profile was comparable with that of placebo Respimat, and associated with mild to moderate, non-serious AEs in patients with symptomatic asthma despite ICS±LABA therapy. Compared with placebo, tiotropium 5 μg, but not 2.5 μg, significantly improved lung function and symptoms, supporting the long-term efficacy of the 5 μg dose.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01340209.