‘Normal’ lung function in rural Australian Aborigines*

Abstract Background: Although lung diseases are a leading cause of premature mortality in Australian Aborigines, little is known about normal lung function in these people. Aim: To develop models for ‘normal’ spirometric function in rural Australian Aborigines. Method: A cross-sectional population-based study of four rural Aboriginal communities was performed in Queensland, Northern Territory and South Australia, Australia. We studied 261 children aged seven-19 years and 332 adults aged 20–80 years who were free of symptoms and had no clinical signs of chronic lung disease. The outcome measures were forced expiratory volume in one second (FEVj) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Multiple linear regression was used to develop models for FEVj and FVC and comparisons were made with Caucasians and indigenous people from other countries. Results: The Aboriginal people studied had FEVi and FVC values that were lower (20% and 30% respectively) than those found in Caucasians of the same height, age and gender. As a consequence, they had relatively high FEVi/FVC ratios. Those studied also had forced expiratory volumes that were lower than those found in African Americans and other indigenous peoples. Conclusions: Apparently healthy rural Aboriginal people have low forced expiratory volumes when contrasted with Caucasians and indigenous peoples such as African Americans. More research is required to determine if this is ‘normal’ or a product of the suboptimal environment into which many Aboriginal people are born.     

Evolution of Functional Exercise Capacity in Lung Transplant Patients With and Without Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome: A Longitudinal Case–Control Study

Introduction

Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) is a debilitating disease with limited treatment options that threatens both the quality of life and long-term survival of lung transplant (LTx) recipients. This retrospective longitudinal case–control study was performed to compare the long-term functional evolution of LTx recipients with and without BOS.

Normativa SEPAR sobre disfunción muscular de los pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), skeletal muscle dysfunction is a major comorbidity that negatively impacts their exercise capacity and quality of life. In the current guidelines, the most recent literature on the various aspects of COPD muscle dysfunction has been included. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) scale has been used to make evidence-based recommendations on the different features. Compared to a control population, one third of COPD patients exhibited a 25% decline in quadriceps muscle strength, even at early stages of their disease. Although both respiratory and limb muscles are altered, the latter are usually more severely affected. Numerous factors and biological mechanisms are involved in the etiology of COPD muscle dysfunction. Several tests are proposed in order to diagnose and evaluate the degree of muscle dysfunction of both respiratory and limb muscles (peripheral), as well as to identify the patients’ exercise capacity (six-minute walking test and cycloergometry). Currently available therapeutic strategies including the different training modalities and pharmacological and nutritional support are also described.     

Respiratory function in healthy ever-smokers is impaired by smoking habits in a dose-dependent manner

Background

There is limited information about the respiratory function of ever-smokers without lung disorders. We sought to assess the effects of smoking habits on respiratory function in subjects without lung disorders.

补肺活血胶囊联合四联抗结核疗法治疗结核性胸膜炎的临床研究

目的观察补肺活血胶囊联合四联抗结核疗法治疗结核性胸膜炎的疗效。方法选取2015年4月—2020年9月在新乡医学院第一附属医院诊治的96例结核性胸膜炎患者为研究对象,随机分为对照组(48例)和治疗组(48例)。对照组患者口服利福平片,0.6 g/次,1次/d;异烟肼片,0.3 g/次,1次/d;吡嗪酰胺片,1.25 g/次,1次/d;盐酸乙胺丁醇片,0.75g/次,1次/d。治疗组在对照组的基础上口服补肺活血胶囊,4粒/次,3次/d。两组患者连续治疗6周。观察两组患者临床疗效,比较治疗前后两组患者胸水吸收时间、住院时间、临床症状缓解时间、胸膜厚度,炎症因子白介素-6(IL-6)、C反应蛋白(CRP)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平及肺功能第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV1)和用力肺活量(FVC)。结果治疗后,治疗组的总有效率明显高于对照组(91.67%vs 72.92%,P0.05)。治疗后,治疗组的胸水吸收时间、住院时间、临床症状缓解时间明显短于对照组,胸膜厚度小于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者IL-6、CRP、TNF-α水平均较治疗前显著下降(P0.05),且治疗组明显低于对照组(P0.05)。治疗后,两组患者FEV1、FVC均较治疗前升高(P0.05),且治疗组高于对照组(P0.05)。结论补肺活血胶囊联合四联抗结核疗法治疗结核性胸膜炎,可有效阻止疾病进展,缓解临床症状,促进肺功能改善,疗效可靠。     

乌美溴铵维兰特罗联合阿奇霉素治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期的临床研究

目的 探讨乌美溴铵维兰特罗联合阿奇霉素治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期的临床疗效。方法 选取2019年3月—2021年3月在汉中市中心医院治疗的118例慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期患者,随机分为对照组（59例）和治疗组（59例）。对照组口服阿奇霉素片,第1天服用0.5 g,第2～7天服用0.25 g,1次/d。治疗组患者在对照组的基础上吸入乌美溴铵维兰特罗吸入粉雾剂,1掀/次,1次/d。两组患者连续治疗7 d。观察两组患者临床疗效,比较治疗前后两组患者临床症状缓解时间,肺功能指标第1秒用力呼气容积（FEV1）、用力肺活量（FVC）和FEV1/FVC,血清炎性因子白细胞介素（IL）-6、IL-8、IL-1β和超敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）水平及不良反应情况。结果 治疗后,治疗组患者总有效率明显高于对照组（98.31%vs 83.05%,P<0.05）。治疗后,治疗组临床症状缓解时间均早于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组患者FEV1、FVC、FEV1/FVC明显升高（P<0.05）,且治疗组明显高于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后,两组IL-6、IL-8、IL-1β、hs-CRP水平显著降低（P<0.05）,且治疗组明显低于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗期间,治疗组患者不良反应发生率为6.78%,显著低于对照组的13.56%（P<0.05）。结论 乌美溴铵维兰特罗联合阿奇霉素治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期效果确切,可有效改善患者临床症状,能降低炎性反应及恢复肺功能状态。     

Altered Th1/Th2 commitment contributes to lung senescence in CXCR3-deficient mice

Aging is an inevitable process associated with immune imbalance, which is characterized by a progressive functional decline in major organs, including lung. However, effects of altered Th1/Th2 commitment on lung senescence are largely unknown. To examine effects of altered Th1/Th2 balance on lung aging, we measured proportions of Th1 and Th2 cells and expression of cytokines, chemokines, collagen deposition and other relevant physiological and pathological parameters in 2- and 20-months-old (mo) CXCR3-deficient (CXCR3^−/−) C57BL/6J mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. There was a significant weight-loss observed in 20-mo CXCR3^−/− mice compared with the same aged WT group. Although lung function and structure changed with age in both groups, central airway resistance (Rn), tissue elastance (H) and damping (G) were significantly lower in 20-mo CXCR3^−/− mice than those of WT mice. In contrast, the whole lung volume (V_L), the mean linear intercept length of alveolar (L_m), and the total lung collagen content were significantly elevated in 20-mo CXCR3^−/− mice. With aging, the lungs of WT mice had typical Th1-type status (increased population of Th1 cells and concentrations of cytokine IFN-γ and CXCR3 ligands) while CXCR3^−/− mice showed Th2-type polarization (decreased proportion of Th1 cells and concentrations of CXCR3 ligands but increased level of IL-4). Our data suggest that Immunosenescence is associated with lung aging, and that altered Th1/Th2 imbalance favors Th2 predominance in CXCR3^−/− mice, which contributes to the process of accelerated lung aging in this model.