Nocturnal CPAP improves walking capacity in COPD patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

BACKGROUND: Exercise limitation is an important issue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it often co-exists with obstructive sleep apnoea (overlap syndrome). This study examined the effects of nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on walking capacity in COPD patients with or without obstructive sleep apnoea. METHODS: Forty-four stable moderate-to-severe COPD patients were recruited and completed this study. They all underwent polysomnography, CPAP titration, accommodation, and treatment with adequate pressure. The incremental shuttle walking test was used to measure walking capacity at baseline and after two nights of CPAP treatment. Urinary catecholamine and heart rate variability were measured before and after CPAP treatment. RESULTS: After two nights of CPAP treatment, the apnoea-hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index significantly improved in both overlap syndrome and COPD patients, however these changes were significantly greater in the overlap syndrome than in the COPD group. Sleep architecture and autonomic dysfunction significantly improved in the overlap syndrome group but not in the COPD group. CPAP treatment was associated with an increased walking capacity from baseline from 226.4 ± 95.3 m to 288.6 ± 94.6 m (P < 0.05), and decreased urinary catecholamine levels, pre-exercise heart rate, oxygenation, and Borg scale in the overlap syndrome group. An improvement in the apnoea-hypopnoea index was an independent factor associated with the increase in walking distance (r = 0.564). CONCLUSION: Nocturnal CPAP may improve walking capacity in COPD patients with overlap syndrome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT0091426

Endobronchial ultrasound increases the diagnostic yields of polymerase chain reaction and smear for pulmonary tuberculosis

ObjectivesOur objective was to determine the contribution of endobronchial ultrasound in the diagnostic yields of acid-fast bacillus smear, nucleic acid amplification tests, and culture in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for pulmonary tuberculosis.MethodsDuring a 1-year interval, 99 patients who had initial sputum-negative acid-fast bacillus smears or no sputum but were later proven to have a positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in their sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were retrospectively studied. Among them, 56 patients underwent bronchoscopy with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS group) and 43 patients received conventional bronchoscopy for bronchoalveolar lavage (non-EBUS group).ResultsThe diagnostic yields of the nucleic acid amplification tests (89.3%, 50/56; P = .006), acid-fast bacillus smear (30.4%, 17/56; P = .013), and M tuberculosis culture in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (67.9%, 38/56; P = .041) were significantly higher in the EBUS group of patients. The results of those who underwent conventional bronchoscopy were 65.1% (28/43), 9.3% (4/43), and 46.5% (20/43), respectively. Combining bronchoalveolar lavage fluid smear and nucleic acid amplification tests, we made a rapid diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in 51 (91.1%) of the 56 EBUS patients and 29 (67.4%; P = .004) of the 43 non-EBUS patients.ConclusionsThe introduction of endobronchial ultrasound increases the diagnostic yield of the nucleic acid amplification tests, acid-fast bacillus smear, and M tuberculosis culture from bronchioalveolar lavage fluid in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis who have negative sputum smear or no sputum production

Energy types of snoring sounds in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: a preliminary observation.

BACKGROUND: Annoying snore is the principle symptom and problem in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, investigation has been hampered by the complex snoring sound analyses. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to investigate the energy types of the full-night snoring sounds in patients with OSAS. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty male OSAS patients underwent snoring sound recording throughout 6 hours of in-lab overnight polysomnogragphy. Snoring sounds were processed and analyzed by a new sound analytic program, named as Snore Map®. We transformed the 6-hour snoring sound power spectra into the energy spectrum and classified it as snore map type 1 (monosyllabic low-frequency snore), type 2 (duplex low-&mid-frequency snore), type 3 (duplex low- & high-frequency snore), and type 4 (triplex low-, mid-, & high-frequency snore). The interrator and test-retest reliabilities of snore map typing were assessed. The snore map types and their associations among demographic data, subjective snoring questionnaires, and polysomnographic parameters were explored. RESULTS: The interrator reliability of snore map typing were almost perfect (κ = 0.87) and the test-retest reliability was high (r = 0.71). The snore map type was proportional to the body mass index (r = 0.63, P = 0.003) and neck circumference (r = 0.52, P = 0.018). Snore map types were unrelated to subjective snoring questionnaire scores (All P>0.05). After adjustment for body mass index and neck circumference, snore map type 3-4 was significantly associated with severity of OSAS (r = 0.52, P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Snore map typing of a full-night energy spectrum is feasible and reliable. The presence of a higher snore map type is a warning sign of severe OSAS and indicated priority OSAS management. Future studies are warranted to evaluate whether snore map type can be used to discriminate OSAS from primary snoring and whether it is affected by OSAS management

The Potential Regimen of Target-Controlled Infusion of Propofol in Flexible Bronchoscopy Sedation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>Target-controlled infusion (TCI) provides precise pharmacokinetic control of propofol concentration in the effect-site (Ce), eg. brain. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and optimal TCI regimen for flexible bronchoscopy (FB) sedation.</p><p>Methods</p><p>After alfentanil bolus, initial induction Ce of propofol was targeted at 2 μg/ml. Patients were randomized into three titration groups (i.e., by 0.5, 0.2 and 0.1 μg/ml, respectively) to maintain stable sedation levels and vital signs. Adverse events, frequency of adjustments, drug doses, and induction and recovery times were recorded.</p><p>Results</p><p>The study was closed early due to significantly severe hypoxemia events (oxyhemoglobin saturation <70%) in the group titrated at 0.5 μg/ml. Forty-nine, 49 and 46 patients were enrolled into the 3 respective groups before study closure. The proportion of patients with hypoxemia events differed significantly between groups (67.3 vs. 46.9 vs. 41.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.027). Hypotension events, induction and recovery time and propofol doses were not different. The Ce of induction differed significantly between groups (2.4±0.5 vs. 2.1±0.4 vs. 2.1±0.3 μg/ml, <i>p</i> = 0.005) and the Ce of procedures was higher at 0.5 μg/ml titration (2.4±0.5 vs. 2.1±0.4 vs. 2.2±0.3 μg/ml, <i>p</i> = 0.006). The adjustment frequency tended to be higher for titration at 0.1 μg/ml but was not statistically significant (2 (0∼6) vs. 3 (0∼6) vs. 3 (0∼11)). Subgroup analysis revealed 14% of all patients required no further adjustment during the whole sedation. Comparing patients requiring at least one adjustment with those who did not, they were observed to have a shorter induction time (87.6±34.9 vs. 226.9±147.9 sec, p<0.001), a smaller induction dose and Ce (32.5±4.1 vs. 56.8±22.7 mg, p<0.001; 1.76±0.17 vs. 2.28 ±0.41, p<0.001, respectively), and less hypoxemia and hypotension (15.8 vs.56.9%, p = 0.001; 0 vs. 24.1%, p = 0.008, respectively).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Titration at 0.5 μg/ml is risky for FB sedation. A subgroup of patients required no more TCI adjustment with fewer complications. Further studies are warranted to determine the optimal regimen of TCI for FB sedation.</p><p>Trial Registration</p><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01101477" target="_blank">NCT01101477</a></p></div

Patient disposition.

<p>Patient disposition.</p

Subgroup analysis of patients requiring no adjustment or at least one adjustment of Cet during whole procedures.

<p>Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number and percentage in parentheses.</p><p>Abbreviations: ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; BMI, body mass index; Ce: effect-site concentration; Cet: target setting of Ce.</p

Bronchoscopy and sedative outcomes of the patients receiving complete intervention.

<p>Data are presented by mean (standard deviation) unless otherwise indicated. Abbreviations: A, alfentanil; P, propofol; Ce: effect-site concentration; Cet: target setting of Ce.</p><p>#From starting propofol infusion to Observer Assessment of Alertness and Sedation scale 3∼2.</p>*<p>From insertion of bronchoscope to its removal.</p>†<p>From bronchoscope removal to patients could open eyes spontaneously, correctly recall date of birth, and perform finger-nose test.</p><p>Turkey post hot test. & p = 0.007; ⊕ p = 0.034.</p>¶<p>Data is presented by median (range).</p

Proportions of hypoxemia and hypotension during bronchoscopic sedation of the intent-to-treat group^#.

<p>Data are presented as number and percentage.</p><p>Abbreviations: SpO₂: oxyhemoglobin saturation; MAP: mean arterial pressure; SBP: systolic blood pressure.</p>#<p>The proportions of patients with at least one event of hypoxemia (SpO₂<90%) or hypotension (MAP<65mmHg or SBP<90mmHg) during the entire procedure.</p>*<p>From alfentanil administration to Observer Assessment of Alertness and Sedation scale less than 3.</p>†<p>From insertion of bronchoscope to its removal.</p

Potential Therapeutic Benefit of Combining Gefitinib and Tamoxifen for Treating Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma

Introduction. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are known as oncogene driver mutations and with EGFR mutations exhibit good response to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor Gefitinib. Some studies have shown that activation of estrogen and estrogen receptor α or β (ERα/β) promote adenocarcinoma. We evaluated the relationship between the two receptors and the potential therapeutic benefit with Gefitinib and Tamoxifen. Methods. We assessed the association between EGFR mutations as well as ERα/β expression/location and overall survival in a cohort of 55 patients with LAC from a single hospital. PC9 (EGFR exon 19 deletion mutant; Gefitinib-vulnerable cells) and A549 (EGFR wild type; Gefitinib-resistant cells) cancer cells were used to evaluate the in vitro therapeutic benefits of combining Gefitinib and Tamoxifen. Results. We found that the cytosolic but not the nuclear expression of ERβ was associated with better OS in LAC tumors but not associated with EGFR mutation. The in vitro study showed that combined Gefitinib and Tamoxifen resulted in increased apoptosis and cytosolic expression of ERβ. In addition, combining both medications resulted in reduced cell growth and increased the cytotoxic effect of Gefitinib. Conclusion. Tamoxifen enhanced advanced LAC cytotoxic effect induced by Gefitinib by arresting ERβ in cytosol