Bronchoalveolar Lavage as a Diagnostic Tool in an Atypical Pulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is an uncommon diffuse cystic lung disease that occurs almost exclusively in young adult smokers. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest allows a confident diagnosis of PLCH in typical presentation, when nodules, cavitating nodules, and cysts coexist and show a predominance for the upper and middle lung. Atypical presentations require histology for diagnosis. Histologic diagnosis rests on the demonstration of increased numbers of Langerhans cells and/or specific histological changes. PLCH is one of the few diseases in which bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has a high diagnostic value and can in some circumstances replace lung biopsy. We present a case of PLCH in an elderly non-smoker. Chest imaging revealed the presence of advanced interstitial lung disease with a fibrocystic pattern. BAL cellular analyses disclosed a macrophage pattern with CD1a phenotype that strongly supports the PLCH diagnosis, even in the setting of atypical clinical presentation and a lack of smoking exposure. PLCH is extremely rare in non-smokers and could represent a distinct phenotype

Association between alpha 1 -antitrypsin (α 1 -AT) levels, lipid profile and ventilatory pulmonary function in predicting the cardiovascular risk in simptomatic smokers

Background Cigarette smoke oxidants can cause oxidative inactivation of methionine residues of α 1 -AT, leading to lipid binding, with dyslipidemia, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, the early stage of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between serum α 1 -AT levels, pulmonary function and lipids in predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease among symptomatic smokers adult subjects in an Out-patient Pulmonology Health Unit. Methods 100 respiratory symptomatic adults mean aged 53.34±9.69 year-old, were grouped in smokers (current and former heavy smokers) (n=64) and nonsmokers (n=36). Demographic, anthropometric, pack-years smoking, serum α 1 -AT, plasma lipid profile {(total cholesterol-TC, low density lipoprotein cholesterol-LDLc, high density lipoprotein cholesterol-HDLc, triglycerides-TG, nonhigh density lipoprotein cholesterol-nonHDLc, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol-VLDL), by which were calculated lipid indices}, were performed. All subjects underwent spirometry according to the international recommendations. Lung function was expressed as forced vital capacity (FVC% predicted), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1% predicted), Forced Expiratory volume in 1 second/Forced Vital Capacity ratio (FEV1/FVC% predicted). Cardiovascular disease risk was evaluated through Framingham Risk Score (FRS). Statistical analysis included Spearman correlations tests and one-way ANOVA test. Results α 1 -AT (p=0.008), FEV1 (p=0.008), FVC (p=0.03) was significantly lower, while LDLc/HDLc ratio (p=0.01), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) (p=0.04), FRS (p=0.003) increased in smokers versus nonsmokers. In smokers, statistically significant correlations were found between α 1 -AT and FVC (r=-0.26;p=0.03); FEV1/FVC ratio (r=0.30;p=0.01); TC (r=0.35;p=0.003); LDLc (r=0.27; p=0.02); nonHDLc (r=0.26;p=0.03). Conclusions α 1 -AT interacts with lipid oxidation pathways, decreasing in smokers. A better understanding of the relationships between smoking, oxidative modifications of α 1 -AT, lung function and, lipid profile can better predict the risk of heart disease. Smoking is a modifiable health risk factor and tobacco cessation may prevent the occurence of cardiovascular diseases

Balance impairment and systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Emanuela Tudorache,1 Cristian Oancea,1 Claudiu Avram,2 Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu,1 Lucian Petrescu,3 Bogdan Timar4 1Department of Pulmonology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 2Physical Education and Sport Faculty, West University of Timisoara, 3Department of Cardiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, 4Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Timisoara, Romania Background/purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially in severe forms, is commonly associated with systemic inflammation and balance impairment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact on equilibrium of stable and exacerbation (acute exacerbation of COPD [AECOPD]) phases of COPD and to investigate if there is a connection between lower extremity muscle weakness and systemic inflammation.Methods: We enrolled 41 patients with COPD (22 stable and 19 in AECOPD) and 20 healthy subjects (control group), having no significant differences regarding the anthropometric data. We analyzed the differences in balance tests scores: Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) questionnaire, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Single Leg Stance (SLS), 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), isometric knee extension (IKE) between these groups, and also the correlation between these scores and inflammatory biomarkers.Results: The presence and severity of COPD was associated with significantly decreased score in IKE (P<0.001), 6MWD (P<0.001), SLS (P<0.001), and BBS (P<0.001), at the same time noting a significant increase in median TUG score across the studied groups (P<0.001). The AECOPD group vs stable group presented a significant increase in high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels (10.60 vs 4.01; P=0.003) and decrease in PaO2 (70.1 vs 59.1; P<0.001). We observed that both IKE scores were significantly and positive correlated with all the respiratory volumes. In both COPD groups, we observed that fibrinogen reversely and significantly correlated with the 6MWD, and FES-I questionnaire is correlated positively with TUG test. Hs-CRP correlated reversely with the walking test and SLS test, while correlating positively with TUG test and FES-I questionnaire.Conclusion: According to this study, COPD in advanced and acute stages is associated with an increased history of falls, systemic inflammation, balance impairment, and lower extremity muscle weakness. Keywords: balance, COPD, inflammation, muscle, fall

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotypes and balance impairment

Alina Sorina Voica,1 Cristian Oancea,1 Emanuela Tudorache,1 Alexandru F Crisan,2 Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu,1 Voicu Tudorache,1 Bogdan Timar3 1Department of Pulmonology, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, Hospital of Pneumoftiziology and Infectious Diseases “Dr Victor Babeş”, 3Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania Background/objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease that results in airflow limitation and respiratory distress, also having many nonrespiratory manifestations that affect both function and mobility. Preliminary evidence suggests that balance deficits constitute an important secondary impairment in individuals with COPD. Our objective was to investigate balance performance in two groups of COPD patients with different body compositions and to observe which of these groups are more likely to experience falls in the future.Methods: We included 27 stable COPD patients and 17 healthy individuals who performed a series of balance tests. The COPD patients were divided in two groups: emphysematous and bronchitic. Patients completed the activities balance confidence scale and the COPD assessment test questionnaire and afterward performed the Berg Balance Scale, timed up and go, single leg stance and 6-minute walking distance test. We analyzed the differences in the balance tests between the studied groups.Results: Bronchitic COPD was associated with a decreased value when compared to emphysematous COPD for the following variables: single leg stance (8.7 vs 15.6; P<0.001) and activities balance confidence (53.2 vs 74.2; P=0.001). Bronchitic COPD patients had a significantly higher value of timed up and go test compared to patients with emphysematous COPD (14.7 vs 12.8; P=0.001).Conclusion: Patients with COPD have a higher balance impairment than their healthy peers. Moreover, we observed that the bronchitic COPD phenotype is more likely to experience falls compared to the emphysematous phenotype. Keywords: body composition, obese, cachexia, falls, bronchtic, emphysematous, muscle wastin

Cognitive impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially in severe forms, is commonly associated with multiple cognitive problems. Montreal Cognitive Assessment test (MoCA) is used to detect cognitive impairment evaluating several areas: visuospatial, memory, attention and fluency. Our study aim was to evaluate the impact of stable COPD and exacerbation (AECOPD) phases on cognitive status using MoCA questionnaire.We enrolled 39 patients (pts), smokers with COPD group D (30 stable and 9 in AECOPD) and 13 healthy subjects (control group), having similar level of education and no significant differences regarding the anthropometric measurements. We analyzed the differences in MoCA score between these three groups and also the correlation between this score and inflammatory markers.Patients with AECOPD had a significant (p<0.001) decreased MoCA score (14.6±3.4) compared to stable COPD (20.2±2.4) and controls (24.2±5.8). The differences between groups were more accentuated for the language abstraction and attention (p<0.001) and delayed recall and orientation (p<0.001) sub-topics. No significant variance of score was observed between groups regarding visuospatial and naming score (p = 0.095). The MoCA score was significantly correlated with forced expiratory volume (r = 0.28) and reverse correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = -0.57), fibrinogen (r = -0.58), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r = -0.55) and with the partial pressure of CO2 (r = -0.47).According to this study, COPD significantly decreases the cognitive status in advanced and acute stages of the disease

Balance Impairment in Patients with COPD

<div><p>Background/Purpose</p><p>Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory disease that results in progressive airflow limitation and respiratory distress. Physiopathological features of COPD suggest that people who suffer from this disease have many risk factors for falls that have been identified in older individuals. The aim of the study was to compare and quantify functional balance between COPD patients and healthy subjects; to investigate the risk of falls in acute stages of the disease and to identify risk factors that could lead to falls.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We studied 46 patients with moderate-severe COPD (29 stable and 17 in acute exacerbation - AECOPD) and 17 healthy subjects (control group) having similar demographic data. We analyzed the difference in Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Single Leg Stance (SLS) and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) between these three groups and the correlation of these scores with a number of incriminatory factors.</p><p>Results</p><p>The presence of COPD was associated with significant worsening of balance tests: BBS (55 control, vs. 53 COPD, vs. 44 AECOPD points p<0.001), TUG (8.6 control vs. 12.3 COPD vs. 15.9 AECOPD seconds. p<0.001), SLS (31.1 control vs. 17.7 COPD vs. 7.2 AECOPD seconds p<0.001) which may be associated with an increased risk of falls. Anxiety and depression were significantly associated with decreased balance test scores; anxiety (2 control vs. 6 COPD vs. 9 AECOPD points p<0.001) depression (2 control vs. 7 COPD vs. 12 AECOPD points p<0.001).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>According to our results COPD patients in moderate-severe stages and especially those in exacerbation have a high risk of falls.</p></div

Balance parameters, anxiety and depression in the three studied groups.

<p>Variables are not-Gaussian distributed. Values are presented as median and [interquartile range].</p><p>* Differences are significant.</p><p>^§ p value was calculated using Kruskal-Wallis test.</p><p>^¥ p value was calculated using Mann-Whitney U test.</p><p>Balance parameters, anxiety and depression in the three studied groups.</p