Longitudinal Lung Volume Changes in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Lung. 2013 May 29;

Authors: Lee JS, Kim SO, Seo JB, Lee JH, Kim EK, Kim TH, Kim WJ, Lee JH, Lee SM, Lee S, Lim SY, Shin TR, Yoon HI, Lee SW, Huh JW, Oh YM, Lee SD

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The progression of lung hyperinflation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been studied in a long-term prospective cohort. We explored the longitudinal changes in lung volume compartments with the aim of identifying predictors of a rapid decline of the inspiratory capacity to total lung capacity ratio (IC/TLC). METHODS: The study population comprised 324 patients with COPD who were recruited prospectively. Annual rates of changes in pulmonary function, including forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), functional residual capacity (FRC), residual volume (RV), vital capacity (VC), IC, and IC/TLC, were estimated using the random coefficient models. RESULTS: The mean annual rates of changes in pre- and post-bronchodilator FEV1 were -23.0 mL/year (p < 0.001) and -26.5 mL/year (p = 0.004). The mean annual rates of changes in VC, IC, TLC, and IC/TLC were -33.7 mL/year (p = 0.007), -53.9 mL/year (p < 0.001), -43.7 mL/year (p = 0.012), and -0.65 %/year (p = 0.001), respectively. RV, FRC, and RV/TLC did not change significantly during the study period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a high modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea scale score, a high Charlson comorbidity index value, and low post-bronchodilator FEV1 were associated with rapid decline in IC/TLC. CONCLUSION: MMRC dyspnea scale, post-bronchodilator FEV1, and the Charlson comorbidity index at baseline were independent predictors of a rapid decline in IC/TLC.

PMID: 23715996 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Evolution of the subsolid pulmonary nodule: a retrospective study in patients with different neoplastic diseases in a nonscreening clinical context.

Radiol Med. 2013 May 28;

Authors: Attinà D, Niro F, Stellino M, Ciccarese F, Mineo G, Sverzellati N, Zompatori M

Abstract
PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features of subsolid pulmonary nodules (SSN) detected in cancer patients to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, to assess their evolution during the follow-up, and to determine which neoplastic diseases are most frequently associated with the growth in size and/or density of SSN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with a total of 146 subsolid nodules [140 pure ground-glass opacities (pGGOs) and six mixed ground-glass opacities (mGGOs)] were retrospectively recruited. Two chest radiologists independently reviewed the HRCT features of the nodules (location, shape, size, density) and the patients' clinical characteristics (sex, age, smoking and cancer history). Mean duration of follow-up was more than 2 years. RESULTS: During follow-up, 58% of SSN remained stable, 10% disappeared. An increase in size and/or density was seen in 32% of SSN, and in particular in partly solid (mGGOs), large (≥10 mm) and irregular nodules. The majority of small-size (<5 mm) rounded SSN remained stable. SSN growth was more frequent in patients with advanced age and a history of smoking, and occurred even after a long period of stability (39% of pGGOs "changed" over 3 years). The neoplastic diseases most frequently associated with SSN growth were cancers of lung (34%), breast (15%), colon (15%) and bladder (10%). CONCLUSIONS: The observation of a sample of cancer patients has shown that SSN may frequently grow in size and/or density in these patients, especially if associated with cancers of lung, breast, colon and bladder. As the majority of SSN showed a very slow development time, a follow-up period longer than 3 years is warranted even in cancer patients.

PMID: 23716282 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

A Plant Extract of Ribes nigrum folium Possesses Anti-Influenza Virus Activity In Vitro and In Vivo by Preventing Virus Entry to Host Cells.

PLoS One. 2013;8(5):e63657

Authors: Ehrhardt C, Dudek SE, Holzberg M, Urban S, Hrincius ER, Haasbach E, Seyer R, Lapuse J, Planz O, Ludwig S

Abstract
Infections with influenza A viruses (IAV) are still amongst the major causes of highly contagious severe respiratory diseases not only bearing a devastating effect to human health, but also significantly impact the economy. Besides vaccination that represents the best option to protect from IAV infections, only two classes of anti-influenza drugs, inhibitors of the M2 ion channel and the neuraminidase, often causing resistant IAV variants have been approved. That is why the need for effective and amply available antivirals against IAV is of high priority. Here we introduce LADANIA067 from the leaves of the wild black currant (Ribes nigrum folium) as a potent compound against IAV infections in vitro and in vivo. LADANIA067 treatment resulted in a reduction of progeny virus titers in cell cultures infected with prototype avian and human influenza virus strains of different subtypes. At the effective dose of 100 µg/ml the extract did not exhibit apparent harming effects on cell viability, metabolism or proliferation. Further, viruses showed no tendency to develop resistance to LADANIA067 when compared to amantadine that resulted in the generation of resistant variants after only a few passages. On a molecular basis the protective effect of LADANIA067 appears to be mainly due to interference with virus internalisation. In the mouse infection model LADANIA067 treatment reduces progeny virus titers in the lung upon intranasal application. In conclusion, an extract from the leaves of the wild black currant might be a promising source for the development of new antiviral compounds to fight IAV infections.

PMID: 23717460 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles

Prognostic significance of the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification in Chinese patients-A single institution retrospective study of 292 lung adenocarcinoma.

J Surg Oncol. 2013 Apr;107(5):474-80

Authors: Gu J, Lu C, Guo J, Chen L, Chu Y, Ji Y, Ge D

Abstract
BACKGROUND: A new classification of pulmonary adenocarcinoma has been recently proposed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ATS/ERS). This study was undertaken in an attempt to explore the clinical implication of this new classification in Chinese patients.
METHODS: Two hundred ninety-two lung adenocarcinomas were reclassified strictly according to the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification by two pathologists, independently. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to analyze the correlation between the new classification and patients' prognosis.
RESULTS: We confirmed three groups with different outcomes. Both AIS and MIA had 100% 5-year disease-free survival rate and 100% 5-year overall survival rate. Lepidic, acinar, and papillary as well as variants of invasive adenocarcinoma had intermediate prognosis. Solid and micropapillary cases had poor prognosis (DFS: P < 0.001, OS: P = 0.002). After controlling the clinicopathological factors, the new classification was identified as an independent prognostic factor in patients' disease-free survival and overall survival.
CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated a valuable prognostic role of the new classification in Chinese patients. This new classification is valuable of screening out patients with high risk of recurrence to receive postoperative adjuvant therapy.

PMID: 22952152 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]