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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory. This is page number 23.

Electron tomography of respiratory cilia
Cilia are organelles present on almost every cell within the body. In the respiratory tract, motile cilia line the epithelial surface and beat in a coordinated fashion to clear mucus from the airways. Mucociliary dysfunction is implicated in a number of lung diseases including cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis and primary ciliary dyskinesia. Recent microscopy advances such as electron tomography have developed our understanding of the structure and function of these important organelles. In this review we discuss electron tomography and its relevance to respiratory cilia.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Shoemark, A., Hogg, C. Tags: Cystic fibrosis, Radiology (diagnostics), Ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology Chest clinic Source Type: research

Author's response to Persson letter
Dr Persson raises excellent points regarding the potential for epithelial cells to contribute to the clearance of eosinophils from tissue. We are in agreement that eosinophils can migrate from bone marrow to blood to submucosa to epithelium to lumen. However, the speed of the process, the role and response of each compartment, the stimulus for it and its overall control remain poorly understood. Dr Persson suggests that previous reports show an inverse relationship of tissue compared with luminal/epithelial eosinophils following allergen challenge such that the accumulation of eosinophils in the lumen equates to resolution...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Wenzel, S. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research

Eotaxins may contribute to both accumulation and elimination of eosinophils in asthma
I read with interest the study by Coleman et al1 on lumen eotaxins and eosinophils, and epithelial brushing eotaxins in chronic asthma. Authors conclude that eotaxin-2 and -3 may contribute to luminal migration of eosinophils.1 However, potential roles of such transepithelial cell traffic are not discussed. In a recent editorial, Rosenberg highlights the possibility that luminal migration of eosinophils importantly eliminates these cells from diseased bronchial tissues.2 (Coleman et al1 cite an earlier review by Rosenberg et al, dealing with the complex regulation of eosinophil trafficking). A resolving role of luminal mig...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Persson, C. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research

Surgical resection of lung cancer in England: more operations but no trials to test their effectiveness
We appreciate the interest of the Leicester team and their co-authors.1 2 Their contributions to thoracic surgical service provision are internationally recognised. We agree with them that when variation in clinical practice is discovered, it merits critical examination. The discovery of variation provides the impetus to resolve the uncertainty that often underlies it. When there is good evidence for the effectiveness of surgery in particular patient groups, we can take an evidence based stance on which patients are being disadvantaged by variation in practice, but in the absence of evidence we should not assume that more ...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Treasure, T., Russell, C., Morton, D., Macbeth, F., Utley, M. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research

Lung cancer resection rate is related to survival
Treasure and colleagues1 provided a welcomed counterpoint to the belief that resection rate should go up in England. However, we feel the editorial is intentionally controversial and biased against the role of surgery. In particular, the authors question the relationship between resection rate and outcome but fail to cite the recent evidence that relates resection rate to survival in the UK: that the small excess mortality from operating in higher-risk groups was more than justified by the increase in overall survival from lung cancer.2 In terms of treatment, two factors affect overall survival: effectiveness of the treatm...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Lau, K. K. W., Waller, D. A., Rathinam, S., Page, R., Peake, M. D. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research

Interstitial lung disease in patients with mixed connective tissue disease
This cross-sectional study evaluates the prevalence and severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD), with particular emphasis on CT evaluation, in an unselected, nationwide cohort of 126 Caucasian patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Overall, high-resolution CT (HRCT) abnormalities were seen in half the number of patients. Although MCTD is characterised by overlap features between scleroderma (SSc), polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the HRCT findings appeared remarkably homogenous. Reticular patterns were the most common, present in a third of patients, with coars...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Lota, H. K. Tags: Miscellaneous Source Type: research

Critical role of fractalkine (CX3CL1) in cigarette smoke-induced mononuclear cell adhesion to the arterial endothelium
Conclusions These results suggest that CS induces functional CX3CL1 expression in arterial endothelium and leukocytes from patients with COPD show increased CX3CL1-dependent adhesiveness. Therefore, targeting the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis might prevent COPD-associated cardiovascular disorders.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Rius, C., Company, C., Piqueras, L., Cerda-Nicolas, J. M., Gonzalez, C., Servera, E., Ludwig, A., Morcillo, E. J., Sanz, M.-J. Tags: Health education, Smoking, Health effects of tobacco use, Tobacco use Source Type: research

Risk of pneumonia and pneumococcal disease in people with severe mental illness: English record linkage studies
Conclusions Severe mental illness is a risk factor for lobar pneumonia, pneumococcal pneumonia, pneumococcal septicaemia and meningitis. Possible explanations for the elevated risk include factors relating to lifestyle and health-risk activities. If our findings are replicated elsewhere, there would be a case for considering routine pneumococcal immunisation for people with severe mental illness.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Seminog, O. O., Goldacre, M. J. Tags: Pneumonia (infectious disease), TB and other respiratory infections, Vaccination / immunisation, Pneumonia (respiratory medicine) Respiratory epidemiology Source Type: research

Lung-protective mechanical ventilation may be associated with a long-term survival benefit for patients with acute lung injury
Volume and pressure-limited (‘lung-protective’) mechanical ventilation decreases short-term mortality in patients with acute lung injury (ALI). This multicentre prospective cohort study from the USA evaluated the association of lung-protective mechanical ventilation with a 2-year survival period in patients with ALI. The study included 485 mechanically ventilated patients with ALI diagnosed according to the American-European Consensus criteria. After onset of ALI, twice-daily records of ventilator settings were measured yielding 6240 settings for evaluation. Those with tidal volumes ≤6.5 ml/kg and a pla...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Bryant, T. Tags: Miscellaneous Source Type: research

The impact of benzodiazepines on occurrence of pneumonia and mortality from pneumonia: a nested case-control and survival analysis in a population-based cohort
Conclusions Benzodiazepines were associated with an increased risk of, and mortality from, CAP. These hypothesis generating data suggest further research is required into the immune safety profile of benzodiazepines.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Obiora, E., Hubbard, R., Sanders, R. D., Myles, P. R. Tags: Epidemiologic studies, General practice / family medicine, Pneumonia (infectious disease), TB and other respiratory infections, Pneumonia (respiratory medicine) Respiratory epidemiology Source Type: research

Correction
This article's citation information in the pdf should read: To cite Bush A, Pavord ID. Thorax 2013;68:7–8. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2012-202969
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: Corrections Source Type: research

Treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with the addition of co-trimoxazole: a randomised controlled trial
Conclusions The addition of co-trimoxazole therapy to standard treatment for fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia had no effect on lung function but resulted in improved quality of life and a reduction in mortality in those adhering to treatment. ISRCTN22201583
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Shulgina, L., Cahn, A. P., Chilvers, E. R., Parfrey, H., Clark, A. B., Wilson, E. C. F., Twentyman, O. P., Davison, A. G., Curtin, J. J., Crawford, M. B., Wilson, A. M. Tags: Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, Editor's choice, TB and other respiratory infections, Airway biology, Interstitial lung disease, Lung function Source Type: research

Longitudinal association between lung function and health-related quality of life in cystic fibrosis
Conclusions HRQoL and FEV1% predicted decline slowly; nevertheless, a decrease in lung function predicted a decrease in HRQoL over time.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Abbott, J., Hurley, M. A., Morton, A. M., Conway, S. P. Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Cystic fibrosis Source Type: research

TNF{alpha} antagonists for acute exacerbations of COPD: a randomised double-blind controlled trial
Conclusions Etanercept was not more effective than prednisone for treatment of acute exacerbations of COPD. Efficacy of prednisone was most apparent in patients who presented with serum eosinophils >2%. Clinical Trials gov number NCT 00789997.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Aaron, S. D., Vandemheen, K. L., Maltais, F., Field, S. K., Sin, D. D., Bourbeau, J., Marciniuk, D. D., FitzGerald, J. M., Nair, P., Mallick, R. Tags: Clinical trials (epidemiology), Drugs: infectious diseases Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Source Type: research

Aberrantly activated EGFR contributes to enhanced IL-8 expression in COPD airways epithelial cells via regulation of nuclear FoxO3A
Conclusions In COPD airways, aberrant EGFR activity increases PI 3-kinase/Akt-mediated phosphorylation of FoxO3A, thereby decreasing nuclear FoxO3A and increasing chemokine expression. Quercetin restores nuclear FoxO3A and reduces chemokine expression partly by modulating EGFR/PI 3-kinase/Akt activity.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Ganesan, S., Unger, B. L., Comstock, A. T., Angel, K. A., Mancuso, P., Martinez, F. J., Sajjan, U. S. Tags: Inflammation Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Source Type: research

Airway inflammation in patients with chronic non-asthmatic cough
Conclusions CC is a condition presenting with different disease phenotypes. High sputum MCP-1 levels are present in a large group of patients with CC and a majority of these patients with CC have increased sputum TSLP levels, most likely produced by damaged airway epithelial cells.
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Grabowski, M., Seys, S., Decraene, A., Kasran, A., Dilissen, E., Barg, W., Medrala, W., Dupont, L. J., Panaszek, B., Bullens, D. M. A. Tags: Inflammation Cough Source Type: research

Co-trimoxazole for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: time for TIPAC-2?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease with an average life expectancy from diagnosis of 2.5 years with 5 year survival of between 20% and 40%. Currently there are no therapies proven to reduce mortality and only one drug, pirfenidone, is licensed for use in Europe that may slow the progression of the disease. Cleary developing effective therapy for IPF is a major unmet health need. Shulgina et al present the results of TIPAC- a randomised placebo controlled trial of co-trimoxazole in patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease.1 This was a National Institute for Health Research, Resear...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Mujakperuo, H., McGrath, E. E., Thickett, D. R. Tags: Clinical trials (epidemiology), Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: infectious diseases, TB and other respiratory infections, Inflammation, Airway biology, Interstitial lung disease, Lung function Editorials Source Type: research

Weighing up risk factors for pneumonia: the role of mental illness and benzodiazepine use
Pneumonia causes a significant public health burden in the UK in terms of morbidity and mortality. Historically, the annual incidence of community acquired pneumonia has been reported to be between 5 and 11 per 1000 adult population,1–3 estimated more recently to be between 207 and 233 per 100 000 in England.4 In 2010, influenza and pneumonia were responsible for 4.5% of all male deaths, and 5.8% of all female deaths ranking them 5th and 4th in terms of causes of mortality in men and women respectively in England and Wales.5 With such a huge mortality burden, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors t...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Quint, J. K., Brown, J. S. Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: infectious diseases, Influenza, Pneumonia (infectious disease), TB and other respiratory infections, Vaccination / immunisation, Child health, Inflammation, Pneumonia (respiratory medicine), Health education, Smoking, Tobacco Source Type: research

Restriction of LABA use to combination ICS/LABA inhaler therapy in asthma
In 2011 the British asthma guidelines recommended for the first time that long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) should be prescribed in fixed dose combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/LABA inhalers in the treatment of asthma.1 This represented a revision to the 2009 BTS guidelines in which LABAs were recommended if used with ICS, either as separate inhalers or as a combination ICS/LABA inhaler.2 The revision was based on the evidence that LABAs have the potential to increase the risk of asthma mortality when used by patients with unstable asthma without concomitant ICS therapy or scheduled medical review,3 that there is no...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Beasley, R., Fingleton, J., Weatherall, M. Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Asthma, Drugs: respiratory system Editorials Source Type: research

Highlights from this issue
Beyond the ‘how are you, dear’ We all want the patient to tell us how they feel, but assessing quality of life has gone way beyond this. Quality of life questionnaires are increasingly important clinical trial end-points, and, in cystic fibrosis in particular, where FEV1 is often too stable to be useful to be used as a clinical trial end-point, the use of questionnaires is assuming increasing prominence. In this issue, Abbott et al report longitudinal data on Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cystic fibrosis over a 12 year period and correlated this with clinical outcomes. Surprisingly, both FEV1 a...
Source: Thorax - January 15, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Bush, A., Pavord, I. Tags: Airwaves Source Type: research

Prophylaxis Against Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalized Medically Ill Patients [Original Articles]
Conclusion— The majority of at-risk hospitalized medically ill patients do not receive VTE prophylaxis.
Source: Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes - January 15, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Pendergraft, T., Liu, X., Edelsberg, J., Phatak, H., Vera-Llonch, M., Liu, L. Z., Oster, G. Tags: Health policy and outcome research, Deep vein thrombosis, Heparin, Other anticoagulants Original Articles Source Type: research

Cycle-by-cycle assembly of respiratory network activity is dynamic and stochastic
Rhythmically active networks are typically composed of neurons that can be classified as silent, tonic spiking, or rhythmic bursting based on their intrinsic activity patterns. Within these networks, neurons are thought to discharge in distinct phase relationships with their overall network output, and it has been hypothesized that bursting pacemaker neurons may lead and potentially trigger cycle onsets. We used multielectrode recording from 72 experiments to test these ideas in rhythmically active slices containing the pre-Bötzinger complex, a region critical for breathing. Following synaptic blockade, respiratory ne...
Source: Journal of Neurophysiology - January 15, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Carroll, M. S., Ramirez, J.-M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Patterns of inspiratory phase-dependent activity in the in vitro respiratory network
Mechanistic descriptions of rhythmogenic neural networks have often relied on ball-and-stick diagrams, which define interactions between functional classes of cells assumed to be reasonably homogenous. Application of this formalism to networks underlying respiratory rhythm generation in mammals has produced increasingly intricate models that have generated significant insight, but the underlying assumption that individual cells within these network fall into distinct functional classes has not been rigorously tested. In the present study we used multiunit extracellular recording in the in vitro pre-Bötzinger complex t...
Source: Journal of Neurophysiology - January 15, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Carroll, M. S., Viemari, J.-C., Ramirez, J.-M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Bioenergetics of murine lungs infected with respiratory syncytial virus
In this study, lung fragments from RSV-infected BALB/c mice were evaluated for cellular O2 consumption, ATP content and caspase activity. The disease was induced by intranasal inoculation with the RSV strain A2 and lung specimens were analyzed on days 2--15 after inoculation. A phosphorescence O2 analyzer that measured dissolved O2 concentration as a function of time was used to monitor respiration. The caspase-3 substrate analogue N-acetyl-asp-glu-val-asp-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (Ac-DEVD-AMC) was used to monitor intracellular caspases. Results: O2 concentration declined linearly with time when measured in a sealed vial c...
Source: BioMed Central - January 15, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Ahmed R AlsuwaidiSheela BenedictJose KochiyilFarah MustafaStacey M HartwigSaeeda AlmarzooqiAlia AlbawardiTahir A RizviSteven M VargaAbdul-Kader Souid Source Type: research

Hepatic abscess: presentation in a previously healthy teenager
A previously healthy 13-year-old boy presented to his local Accident and Emergency department with a 1 week history of fevers, rigours and a swelling in the right, posterior, lower rib cage. He had been experiencing right sided abdominal pain for 1 month prior to his presentation and had received two courses of oral antibiotics for a suspected lower respiratory tract infection. On examination, the patient was found to have a 12x10 cm, superficial, fluctuant mass extending from the right, posterior, ninth rib to the flank (figure 1). An ultrasound scan showed a 6x6 cm abscess in the right lower lobe of t...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Hegarty, R. M., Sanka, S., Bansal, S. Tags: Miscellanea Source Type: research

Neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy: a prospective follow-up of nine children
We describe the clinical course of nine infants with radiologically and histologically confirmed NEHI. Host or environmental factors were not associated with the disease development. All infants with lung function tests demonstrated findings consistent with severe irreversible peripheral airway obstruction, assessed with whole body plethysmography (6/6) or the rapid thoracoabdominal compression technique (5/5). While the symptoms abated in all infants, six infants developed a non-atopic asthma during the follow-up. Systemic or inhaled corticosteroid treatment did not affect the duration of the symptoms. NEHI may mimic seve...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Lukkarinen, H., Pelkonen, A., Lohi, J., Malmstrom, K., Malmberg, L. P., Kajosaari, M., Lindahl, H., Fohr, A., Ruuskanen, O., Makela, M. J. Tags: Immunology (including allergy), Child health, Asthma, Drugs: respiratory system Case reports Source Type: research

Bronchial balloon occlusion in children with complex pulmonary air leaks
Pulmonary air leaks in children are most commonly due to infection or barotrauma. While cases of severe barotrauma are falling because of advances in neonatal care, the incidence of necrotising pneumonia is rising. The majority of air leaks can be managed conservatively, but more severe cases pose a significant challenge to the clinician. The use of occlusive endobronchial balloons is an established anaesthetic technique for a number of indications, but is not widely used in children. We conducted a review over a 12-year period, and report six cases of complex air leaks in which balloon occlusion was used. Balloon occlusio...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Hathorn, C., Armitage, N., Wensley, D., Seear, M. Tags: Pneumonia (infectious disease), TB and other respiratory infections, Pneumonia (respiratory medicine), Trauma, Injury Case reports Source Type: research

Chronic effects of ambient air pollution on lung function among Chinese children
Conclusions Long-term exposure to higher ambient air pollution levels was associated with lower lung function in Chinese schoolchildren, especially among boys. Adverse effects were observed on large and small airways, with a stronger effect on the latter.
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Gao, Y., Chan, E. Y. Y., Li, L. P., He, Q. Q., Wong, T. W. Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Immunology (including allergy), Child health, Airway biology, Asthma, Air pollution, Environmental issues Original articles Source Type: research

Deaths in childhood from cystic fibrosis: 10-year analysis from two London specialist centres
Conclusions The number of deaths in children with CF was small but often unpredictable, so active management was continued until late in the majority, reflected by the fact that almost all were in hospital, and more than half were ventilated. If death from respiratory failure is anticipated following a steady decline, palliative care should be instituted well in advance, with attention to appropriate end of life care.
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Urquhart, D. S., Thia, L. P., Francis, J., Prasad, S. A., Dawson, C., Wallis, C., Balfour-Lynn, I. M. Tags: Pancreas and biliary tract, Immunology (including allergy), Child health, End of life decisions (palliative care), Hospice, Cystic fibrosis, Artificial and donated transplantation, End of life decisions (ethics) Original articles Source Type: research

Bronchodilator responsiveness using spirometry in healthy and asthmatic preschool children
Conclusions BDR can be assessed reliably using FEV0.75 in wheezy preschoolers, provided within-subject variability and responsiveness in health are taken into consideration.
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Borrego, L. M., Stocks, J., Almeida, I., Stanojevic, S., Antunes, J., Leiria-Pinto, P., Rosado-Pinto, J. E., Hoo, A.-F. Tags: Immunology (including allergy), Child health, Asthma, Drugs: respiratory system Original articles Source Type: research

Asthma in Swedish children conceived by in vitro fertilisation
Conclusions This study verifies an association between IVF and asthma in children. This can be partly explained by neonatal morbidity and by maternal asthma acting as mediators, but the main risk factor is parental subfertility. The mechanism for this is unclear.
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Kallen, B., Finnstrom, O., Nygren, K.-G., Otterblad Olausson, P. Tags: Epidemiologic studies, Immunology (including allergy), Pregnancy, Reproductive medicine, Child health, Asthma, Mechanical ventilation Original articles Source Type: research

Maternal and infant outcome after caesarean section without recorded medical indication: findings from a Swedish case–control study
ConclusionsCaesarean sections without medical indication as well as emergency caesarean sections were associated with higher risks for maternal and infant morbidity.
Source: BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - January 15, 2013 Category: OBGYN Authors: A Karlström, H Lindgren, I Hildingsson Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Two new cases of anti-Ca (anti-ARHGAP26/GRAF) autoantibody-associated cerebellar ataxia
In conclusion, testing for anti-Ca/anti-ARHGAP26 should be included in the diagnostic work-up of patients with ACA, and an underlying tumour should be considered in patients presenting with anti-Ca/ARHGAP26 antibody-positive ACA.
Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation - January 15, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Sven JariusPedro Martínez-GarcíaAdelaida HernandezJan BraseKathrin BorowskiJens RegulaHans MeinckWinfried StöckerBrigitte WildemannKlaus-Peter Wandinger Source Type: research

Site‐specific survival rates for cancer of unknown primary according to location of metastases
Abstract Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is diagnosed at the metastatic stage and despite extensive diagnostic work‐up the primary tumor often remains unidentified. Limited population‐based survival data are available for metastatic location and none are available that link the location with the cause of death, which might give clues about the tissue‐of‐origin. A total of 9,306 CUP patients with extranodal metastases of adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated histology were identified from the Swedish Cancer Registry. Hazard ratios (HRs), mean survival times and Kaplan–Meier survival curves were provided according to...
Source: International Journal of Cancer - January 15, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Kari Hemminki, Matias Riihimäki, Kristina Sundquist, Akseli Hemminki Tags: Epidemiology Source Type: research

Differential Effects of Dexamethasone and Itraconazole on Aspergillus fumigatus-Exacerbated Allergic Airway Inflammation in a Murine Model of Mite-Sensitized Asthma
Respiration (DOI:10.1159/000345861)
Source: Respiration - January 14, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research

Scimitar syndrome and the lung
The respiratory morbidities and lung function tests associated with scimitar syndrome were investigated in a series of 81 children followed by Chemin et al. A high rate of pulmonary infections and wheezing was observed during the last 12 months of follow-up, and one-third of children had been re-hospitalized for respiratory cause. Lung function tests in 20 children showed reductions in total lung capacity and FEV1. Significantly lower total lung capacity values were observed in children with the infantile form of the syndrome or a history of thoracic surgery. These results show that respiratory complications are quite com...
Source: The Journal of Pediatrics - January 14, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Robert W. Wilmott Tags: The Editors' Perspectives Source Type: research

Relative exposure to swine animal feeding operations and childhood asthma prevalence in an agricultural cohort.
This study is the first to investigate children's cumulative relative exposure to smaller AFOs and adds to the growing volume of literature supporting a link between proximity to swine AFOs and adverse respiratory health. PMID: 23332647 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Environmental Research - January 14, 2013 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Pavilonis BT, Sanderson WT, Merchant JA Tags: Environ Res Source Type: research

Effect of hypobaric storage on quality, antioxidant enzyme and antioxidant capability of the Chinese Bayberry Fruits
Conclusion: Hypobaric storage improved the metabolism, antioxidant system and postharvest quality of Chinese bayberry fruit and provided an effective alternative method to prolong the storage life of this fruit.
Source: Chemistry Central Journal - January 14, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Hangjun ChenHailong YangHaiyan GaoJie LongFei TaoXiangjun FangYueming Jiang Source Type: research

Determinants of Exposure to 2-Butoxyethanol from Cleaning Tasks: A Quasi-experimental Study
Conclusions: Our results suggest that quantitative exposure assessment for an epidemiologic investigation of cleaning health effects may be feasible even without performing integrated sampling and analytic measurements.
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - January 14, 2013 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Bello, A., Quinn, M. M., Milton, D. K., Perry, M. J. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Cognitive Symptoms and Welding Fume Exposure
Conclusions: In conclusion, cognitive sympomatology was not related to retrospectively assessed measures of welding fume exposure or diving experience. In addition, the levels of cognitive symptomatology, even in PDW, did not exceed normative values.
Source: Annals of Occupational Hygiene - January 14, 2013 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Ross, J. A. S., Macdiarmid, J. I., Semple, S., Watt, S. J., Moir, G., Henderson, G. Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

Pulmonary focal fibrosis associated with microscopic arterio-venous fistula manifesting as focal ground-glass opacity on thin-section CT
Conclusion: We speculate that the focal fibrosis was produced by a prolonged congestion due to the AVF and that the dilated vessels and thickening of interlobular septa on thin-section CT related to the AVF. Microscopic AVF may be one of the etiologies of focal fibrosis showing focal GGO on thins-section CT. Dilated vessels and thickened interlobular septa around the GGO might offer a clue to the diagnosis of this disease entity. In addition, it should be noted that focal fibrosis may increase in size.
Source: BMC Pulmonary Medicine - Latest articles - January 14, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Noriko SudoAtsushi NambuTakana YamakawaMasashi KawamotoShozo FujinoMasato WatanabeKunio MizuguchiMasao Tago Source Type: research

Clinical experience with low-dose itraconazole in chronic idiopathic cough
Conclusions: At present, it is not possible to conclude whether ITCZ therapy provides sufficient relief in CIC patients. However, this study suggested both the possible applicability of low-dose ITCZ therapy for treatment of CIC patients with regard to BM allergy and the necessity of development of a new assessment questionnaire for cough-associated respiratory symptoms.Trial registration: UMIN-CTR (reference number R000005872; UMIN000004933).
Source: Cough - January 14, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Haruhiko OgawaMasaki FujimuraYasuo TakeuchiKoichi Makimura Source Type: research

Fasting substrate oxidation in relation to habitual dietary fat intake and insulin resistance in non-diabetic women: a case for metabolic flexibility?
We examined fasting substrate oxidation in relation to dietary macronutrient intake, and markers of insulin resistance in otherwise healthy women, with and without a family history of diabetes mellitus (FH DM). Methods: We measured body composition (dual x-ray absorptiometry), visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue area (VAT, SAT, using Computerised Tomography), fasting [glucose], [insulin], [free fatty acids], [blood lipids], insulin resistance(HOMA-IR), resting energy expenditure (REE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and self-reported physical activity (PA) in a convenience sample of 180 women (18-45 yrs). A food fre...
Source: Nutrition and Metabolism - January 14, 2013 Category: Nutrition Authors: Madelaine CarstensJulia GoedeckeLara DugasJuliet EvansJacolene KroffNaomi LevittEstelle Lambert Source Type: research

Morbidity and Outcome of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
ConclusionsEarly recognition of risk factors for complicated RSV disease on admission draws attention for early interventions and early ICU admissions for these children.
Source: Pediatrics International - January 14, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Amani A. El Kholy, Nadia A. Mostafa, Seham A. El‐Sherbini, Aliaa A. Ali, Reem I. Ismail, Rania I. Magdy, Mona S. Hamdy, May S. Soliman Tags: Original Article Source Type: research