Obstructive sleep apnea,CPAP therapy and Parkinson's disease motor function: A longitudinal study

IntroductionWe aimed to assess, in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), progression of motor dysfunction and the effect of OSA treatment.MethodsData were analysed from a prospective cohort study of idiopathic PD patients from a movement disorders clinic. Patients found to have OSA on polysomnography (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥15 events/h, OSA+) were offered treatment using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP+ was defined as an average ≥ 2 h/night use at each follow-up. Motor symptoms were assessed using the motor section of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (mUPDRS) and the Timed-Up-And-Go (TUG). Follow-up times were 3, 6 and 12 months. Mixed models were constructed, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, levodopa equivalent dose and comorbidities.ResultsWe studied 67 individuals (61.2% male) of mean age 64.7 years (SD = 10.1). Baseline mUPDRS was higher in OSA+ compared to OSA- (24.5 [13.6] vs. 16.2 [7.2], p < 0.001). Motor dysfunction increased at comparable rates in OSA- and OSA+CPAP-. However, in OSA+CPAP+, mUPDRS change was significantly lower compared to OSA- (β = −0.01 vs. 0.61, p = 0.03; p = 0.12 vs. OSA+CPAP- [β = 0.39]) and TUG change was lower compared to OSA+CPAP- (β = −0.01 vs. 0.13, p = 0.002; p = 0.05 vs. OSA- [β = 0.02]).ConclusionsIn this PD cohort, OSA was associated with higher baseline mUPDRS. In those with OSA, CPAP use was associated with stabilization of motor function (mUPDRS and TUG) over 12 months. These observations support further research to clarify the role of OSA in PD pathophysiology and motor dysfunction.     

Fragmentation of care as a barrier to optimal ESKD management

Caring for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in the United States is challenging, due in part to the complex epidemiology of the disease's progression as well as the ways in which care is delivered. As CKD progresses toward ESKD, the number of comorbidities increases and care involves multiple healthcare providers from multiple subspecialties. This occurs in the context of a fragmented US healthcare delivery system that is traditionally siloed by provider specialty, organization, as well as systems of payment and administration. This article describes the role of care fragmentation in the delivery of optimal ESKD care and identifies research gaps in the evidence across the continuum of care. We then consider the impact of care fragmentation on ESKD care from the patient and health system perspectives and explore opportunities for system-level interventions aimed at improving care for patients with ESKD.     

Fractal dimension in CT low attenuation areas is predictive of long-term oxygen therapy initiation in COPD patients: Results from two observational cohort studies

BackgroundSome chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients develop hypoxemia with disease progression, with some even requiring long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT). Lung function, especially diffusing capacity, and the annual decline in PaO₂, are reported to be predictive factors of chronic respiratory failure. However, the association between lung morphometry evaluated using computed tomography (CT) images and LTOT initiation is unknown.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the relationship between clinical indices, including pulmonary function, body mass index (BMI), and CT parameters, at baseline and LTOT initiation in two prospective COPD cohorts. In the Nara Medical University cohort (n = 76), the low attenuation area (LAA) and its fractal dimension (fractal D) were adapted as the indices for parenchymal destruction in CT images. The association between these CT measurements and LTOT initiation was replicated in the Kyoto University cohort (n = 130).ResultsIn the Nara Medical University cohort, lower BMI (hazard ratio [HR]:0.70, p = 0.006), lower % diffusing capacity (%DLCO) (HR: 0.92, p = 0.006), lower %DLCO/VA (HR, 0.90, p = 0.008), higher RV/TLC (HR, 1.26, p = 0.012), higher LAA% (HR: 1.18, p = 0.001), and lower fractal D (HR: 3.27 × 10^?8, p < 0.001) were associated with LTOT initiation. Multivariate analysis in the Kyoto University cohort confirmed that lower %DLCO and lower fractal D were independently associated with LTOT initiation, whereas LAA% was not.ConclusionFractal D, which is the index for morphometric complexity of LAA in CT analysis, is predictive of LTOT initiation in COPD patients.     

莫西沙星联合信必可都保对AECOPD疗效及免疫炎症反应的影响

目的探讨维生素D(VitD)联合鱼油对糖尿病前期(PDM)患者糖脂代谢、胰岛β细胞功能的影响。 方法选取PDM患者132例,随机均分为联合组(VitD+鱼油)、VitD组(VitD)和对照组(不干预)。比较各组糖脂代谢、胰岛β细胞功能、炎症反应、血管内皮功能等指标。 结果与干预前比较,干预后联合组甘油三酯降低,白细胞介素-10增高(P＜0.05),联合组和VitD组低密度脂蛋白胆固醇、肿瘤坏死因子-α、胰岛素抵抗指数、前列腺素E2、瘦素、抵抗素降低(P＜0.05),空腹胰岛素、胰岛β细胞功能指数、脂联素增高(P＜0.05),且联合组改善更为明显(P＜0.05)。 结论维生素D联合鱼油治疗PDM患者可改善其脂代谢和胰岛功能相关指标,具有一定临床应用价值。     

空间频域成像在皮肤病定量评估中的研究

利用空间频域成像技术搭建的成像系统检测多种皮肤病组织的光学参数和生理参数信息，并对比分析讨论不同类型的皮肤病与光学参数、生理参数之间的关系。实验结果表明，病变皮肤组织与正常皮肤组织之间在光学参数、生理参数上存在较大差异，这将为临床医生对皮肤病诊治提供一种新颖、可靠、科学的评估方法。     

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for Stage I lung cancer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: special reference to survival and radiation-induced pneumonitis

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate radiation-induced pneumonitis (RIP) and a related condition that we define in this report—prolonged minimal RIP (pmRIP)—after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for Stage I primary lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We assessed 136 Stage I lung cancer patients with COPD who underwent SBRT. Airflow limitation on spirometry was classified into four Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grades, with minor modifications: GOLD 1 (mild), GOLD 2 (moderate), GOLD 3 (severe) and GOLD 4 (very severe). On this basis, we defined two subgroups: COPD-free (COPD −) and COPD-positive (COPD +). There was no significant difference in overall survival or cause-specific–survival between these groups. Of the 136 patients, 44 (32%) had pmRIP. Multivariate analysis showed that COPD and the Brinkman index were statistically significant risk factors for the development of pmRIP. COPD and the Brinkman index were predictive factors for pmRIP, although our findings also indicate that SBRT can be tolerated in early lung cancer patients with COPD.     

Use of a dual lumen port for automated red cell exchange in adults with sickle cell disease

Red cell exchange (RCE) is a common procedure in adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Implantable dual lumen Vortex (DLV) ports can be used for RCE in patients with poor peripheral venous access. We performed a retrospective cohort study of RCE procedures performed in adults with SCD. The main objective of the study was to compare the inlet speed, duration of procedures and rate of complications performed through DLV ports to those performed through temporary central venous and peripheral catheters. Twenty‐nine adults with SCD underwent a total of 318 RCE procedures. Twenty adults had DLV ports placed and 218 procedures were performed using DLV ports. Mean length of follow‐up after DLV port placement was 397 ± 263 days. Six DLV ports were removed due to infection and 1 for malfunction after a mean of 171 ± 120 days. Compared to temporary central venous and peripheral catheters, DLV port procedures had a greater rate of procedural complications, a longer duration, and a lower inlet speed (all P < 0.01). When accounting for the maximum allowable inlet speed to avoid citrate toxicity, 40% of DLV port procedures were greater than 10% below maximum speed, compared to 7 and 14% of procedures performed through temporary central venous and peripheral catheters (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, DLV ports can be used for RCE in adults with SCD, albeit with more procedural complications and longer duration. The smaller internal diameter and longer catheter of DLV ports compared to temporary central venous catheters likely accounts for the differences noted. J. Clin. Apheresis 30:353–358, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.