Search results for "Chronic Obstructive"
showing 10 items of 321 documents
Vascular effects of sildenafil in patients with pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension: an ex vivo/in vitro study
2015
Sildenafil improves the 6-min walking distance in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and right-sided ventricular systolic dysfunction.We analysed the previously unexplored role of sildenafil on vasoconstriction and remodelling of pulmonary arteries from patients with IPF and pulmonary hypertension (PH) ex vivo. Pulmonary arteries from 18 donors without lung disease, nine IPF, eight PH+IPF and four PH patients were isolated to measure vasodilator and anti-contractile effects of sildenafil in isometric organ bath. Ventilation/perfusion was explored in an animal model of bleomycin lung fibrosis.Sildenafil relaxed serotonin (5-HT) pre-contracted pulmonary arteries in healthy dono…
Association of increased CCL5 and CXCL7 chemokine expression with neutrophil activation in severe stable COPD
2009
BACKGROUND: Increased numbers of activated neutrophils have been reported in the bronchial mucosa of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly in severe disease. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of neutrophilic chemokines and adhesion molecules in bronchial biopsies from patients with stable COPD of different severity (GOLD stages I-IV) compared with age-matched control subjects, smokers with normal lung function and never smokers. METHODS: The expression of CCL5, CXCL1, 5, 6, 7 and 8, CXCR1, CXCR2, CD11b and CD44 was measured in the bronchial mucosa using immunohistochemistry, confocal immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative polymerase chai…
Asthma control in elderly asthmatics. An Italian observational study
2014
SummaryBackgroundThe exponential increase of individuals aged >64 yrs is expected to impact the burden of asthma. We aimed to explore the level of asthma control in elderly subjects, and factors influencing it.MethodsA multicenter observational study was performed on consecutive patients >64 years old with a documented physician-diagnosis of asthma. Sixteen Italian centers were involved in this 6-month project.FindingsA total of 350 patients were enrolled in the study. More than one-third of elderly asthmatic patients, despite receiving GINA step 3–4 antiasthmatic therapy, had an Asthma Control Test score ≤19, with a quarter experiencing at least one severe asthma exacerbation in the previo…
Time Required to Rectify Inhaler Errors Among Experienced Subjects With Faulty Technique
2017
BACKGROUND: Regardless of the device used, many patients have difficulty maintaining proper inhaler technique over time. Repeated education from caregivers is required to ensure persistence of correct inhaler technique, but no information is available to evaluate the time required to rectify inhaler errors in experienced users with a baseline faulty technique and whether this time of re-education to restore inhaler mastery can differ between devices. METHODS: This was a multicenter, single-visit, open-label, cross-sectional study in a large group of 981 adult subjects (mean ± SD age 64 ± 15 y) experienced with inhaler use, mainly suffering from COPD and asthma, who showed faulty inhaler tec…
Discriminative and predictive properties of disease-specific and generic health status indexes in elderly COPD patients
2008
Abstract Background The association between bronchial obstruction severity and mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is well established, but it is unknown whether disease-specific health status measures and multidimensional assessment (MDA) have comparable prognostic value. Methods We analyzed data coming from the Salute Respiratoria nell'Anziano (Respiratory Health in the Elderly – SaRA) study, enrolling elderly people attending outpatient clinics for respiratory and non-respiratory problems. From this population we selected 449 patients with bronchial obstruction (77.3% men, mean age 73.1). We classified patients' health status using tertiles of the Saint George Respi…
Indacaterol vs tiotropium in COPD patients classified as GOLD A and B
2015
SummaryIntroductionAccording to current GOLD strategy, patients with COPD classified as groups A and B may be treated with inhaled bronchodilators, either long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) or long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). However, there is little guidance on which class of agent is preferred and a lack of prospective data to differentiate the two.MethodsIn this study, we performed post-hoc analyses of pooled data from two prospective, controlled clinical trials comparing the LABA indacaterol and LAMA tiotropium in 1422 patients with moderate airflow limitation and no history of exacerbations in the previous year. This population fits the definitions of GOLD A and B groups and could …
High-resolution computed tomography quantitation of emphysema is correlated with selected lung function values in stable COPD
2012
<b><i>Background:</i></b> The literature shows conflicting results when high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scores of emphysema were correlated with different indices of airflow obstruction. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> We correlated HRCT scores of emphysema with different indices of airflow obstruction. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We performed HRCT of the chest in 59 patients, all smokers or ex-smokers, with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of different severity [GOLD stages I–IV; mean age ± SD 67.8 ± 7.3 years; pack/years 51.0 ± 34.6; percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV<sub>1</su…
Patterns and predictors of low physical activity in patients with stable COPD: a longitudinal study
2020
Background: Despite the frequency and negative impact of low physical activity among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), little is known about how it persists and remits over time or the factors predicting new states of low physical activity. The aim of the study was to determine the probability of a transition between states of low and nonlow physical activity in a cohort of patients with stable COPD followed for 2 years. We also investigated different potentially modifiable factors to determine whether they can predict new states of low physical activity. Methods: We prospectively included 137 patients with stable COPD (mean age 66.9 ± 8.3 years). Physical activity…
Decreased FOXP3 expression in small airways of smokers with COPD
2008
CD4+CD25+ FOXP3-positive T-regulatory cells have an important role in controlling immune and inflammatory reactions. The present authors hypothesise that these cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to characterise the expression of FOXP3 in large and small airways of nonsmokers, smokers with normal lung function and COPD patients. A total of 19 nonsmokers, 20 smokers with normal lung function and 20 smokers with moderate COPD, undergoing lung resection for a solitary peripheral nonsmall cell carcinoma, were enrolled in the study. Immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate FOXP3 expression in large a…
Upregulation of basic fibroblast growth factor in smokers with chronic bronchitis
2006
The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and its receptor, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-1, in the central airways of smokers with chronic bronchitis. The lobar bronchi from 17 subjects undergoing thoracotomy for solitary nodules were examined. All had a history of cigarette smoking, nine had symptoms of chronic bronchitis and airflow limitation, and eight were asymptomatic with normal lung function. Using immunohistochemical methods, bFGF and FGFR-1 expression in the total airway wall and the different airway compartments, i.e. bronchial glands, submucosal vessels and smooth muscle, was quantified. Moreover, to investigate t…