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Epidemiological trends in invasive mechanical ventilation in the United States: A population-based study.

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Epidemiological trends for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) have not been clearly defined. We sought to define trends for IMV in the United States and assess for disease-specific variation for 3 common causes of respiratory failure: pneumonia, heart failure (HF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS: We calculated national estimates for utilization of nonsurgical IMV cases from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1993 to 2009 and compared trends for COPD, HF, and pneumonia.

RESULTS: We identified 8309344 cases of IMV from 1993 to 2009. Utilization of IMV for nonsurgical indications increased from 178.9 per 100000 in 1993 to 310.9 per 100000 US adults in 2009. Pneumonia cases requiring IMV showed the largest increase (103.6%), whereas COPD cases remained relatively stable (2.5% increase) and HF cases decreased by 55.4%. Similar demographic and clinical changes were observed for pneumonia, COPD, and HF, with cases of IMV becoming younger, more ethnically diverse, and more frequently insured by Medicaid. Outcome trends for patients differed based on diagnosis. Adjusted hospital mortality decreased over time for cases of pneumonia (odds ratio [OR] per 5 years, 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88-0.90) and COPD (OR per 5 years, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.97-0.98) but increased for HF (OR per 5 years, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.09-1.12).

CONCLUSION: Utilization of IMV in the US increased from 1993 to 2009 with a decrease in overall mortality. However, trends in utilization and outcomes of IMV differed markedly based on diagnosis. Unlike favorable outcome trends in pneumonia and COPD, hospital mortality for HF has not improved. Further studies to investigate the outcome gap between HF and other causes of respiratory failure are needed.

A Distress Protocol for Respiratory Emergencies in Terminally Ill Patients With Lung Cancer or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

A combination of opioid, midazolam, and scopolamine (that we call "distress protocol" [DP]) is used to induce transient sedation when emergencies occur in palliative care. We wished to describe the prescription and administration of DP in terminally ill patients with either lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a retrospective study, 96 of 100 patients with cancer and 85 of 100 patients with COPD had a DP prescribed.

Thirty patients with cancer and 29 with COPD received at least 1 DP. All patients receiving a DP for an appropriate indication were sedated within 30 minutes. There was no difference in survival from DP administration among patients who received it and those who did not.

Reactive Oxygen Species in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Aging: Implication to Lung Diseases.

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MSCs have become an emerging cell source with their immune modulation, high proliferation rate, and differentiation potential; indeed, they have been challenged in clinical trials. Recently, it has shown that ROS play a dual role as both deleterious and beneficial species depending on their concentration in MSCs. Various environmental stresses-induced excessive production of ROS triggers cellular senescence and abnormal differentiation on MSCs. Moreover, MSCs have been suggested to participate in the treatment of ALI/ARDS and COPD as a major cause of high morbidity and mortality.

Therapeutic mechanisms of MSCs in the treatment of ARDS/COPD were focused on cell engraftment and paracrine action. However, ROS-mediated therapeutic mechanisms of MSCs still remain largely unknown. Here, we review the key factors associated with cell cycle and chromatin remodeling to accelerate or delay the MSC aging process. In addition, the enhanced ROS production and its associated pathophysiological pathways will be discussed along with the MSC senescence process.

Furthermore, the present review highlights how the excessive amount of ROS-mediated oxidative stress might interfere with homeostasis of lungs and residual lung cells in the pathogenesis of ALI/ARDS and COPD.

Quantifying the shape of the maximal expiratory flow-volume curve in mild COPD.

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Maximal expiratory flow-volume (MEFV) curve evaluation using absolute and percent predicted values of flow and volume are used to diagnose respiratory disease, but the shape of the curve is rarely used. Three mathematical methods were used to quantify shape of MEFV curves in subjects with mild COPD (n=19) and matched healthy controls (n=15).

Those with mild COPD had a significantly greater slope-ratio (SR) (1.90±0.24 vs. 1.28±0.32) and Beta-angle (160±6.7 vs. 186±15.0) compared to healthy individuals (p<0.05). The flow-ratio method showed no difference between groups. A significant positive SR-volume relationship during expiration was observed in a greater number of mild COPD subjects (94%) compared to controls (20%) (p<0.001). With its increased spatial resolution and the potential to discern etiology behind specific curvature, we suggest using the SR method when available.

The change in SR throughout expiration could help identify those who fall within the lower limit of normal lung function and those who may have pathological obstruction.

Characteristics of COPD in never-smokers and ever-smokers in the general population: results from the CanCOLD study

Background

There is limited data on the risk factors and phenotypical characteristics associated with spirometrically confirmed COPD in never-smokers in the general population.

Aims

To compare the characteristics associated with COPD by gender and by severity of airway obstruction in never-smokers and in ever-smokers.

Method

We analysed the data from 5176 adults aged 40 years and older who participated in the initial cross-sectional phase of the population-based, prospective, multisite Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Never-smokers were defined as those with a lifetime exposure of <1/20 pack year. Logistic regressions were constructed to evaluate associations for ‘mild’ and ‘moderate-severe’ COPD defined by FEV1/FVC <5th centile (lower limits of normal). Analyses were performed using SAS V.9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA).

Results

The prevalence of COPD (FEV1/FVC<lower limits of normal) in never-smokers was 6.4%, constituting 27% of all COPD subjects. The common independent predictors of COPD in never-smokers and ever-smokers were older age, self reported asthma and lower education. In never-smokers a history of hospitalisation in childhood for respiratory illness was discriminative, while exposure to passive smoke and biomass fuel for heating were discriminative for women. COPD in never-smokers and ever-smokers was characterised by increased respiratory symptoms, ‘respiratory exacerbation’ events and increased residual volume/total lung capacity, but only smokers had reduced DLCO/Va and emphysema on chest CT scans.

Conclusions

The study confirmed the substantial burden of COPD among never-smokers, defined the common and gender-specific risk factors for COPD in never-smokers and provided early insight into potential phenotypical differences in COPD between lifelong never-smokers and ever-smokers.

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