Low inspiratory capacity to total lung capacity ratio is a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Introduction: Air trapping because of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to a reduction in inspiratory capacity/total lung capacity (IC/TLC) ratio. We hypothesize that COPD patients with a low IC/TLC ratio suffer more frequent COPD exacerbations.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with COPD, aged 30 years or older with forced expiratory volume in 1 second <70% predicted and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced expiratory volume (FEV1/FVC) ratio <70% treated in our ambulatory care clinic for 3 years (2003-2006).

Clinical course and outcome of cocaine-induced pneumomediastinum.

Background And Objectives: Cocaine inhalation has been linked to the development of pneumomediastinum. The aim of this review was to identify the clinical course and outcome of spontaneous pneumomediastinum caused by cocaine use.

Material And Methods: We performed a literature search in English language using PubMed.

Concurrent smoking-related interstitial lung diseases in a single patient.

The three smoking-related interstitial lung diseases (ILD) include desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP), respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD), and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH). They are considered discrete entities, yet it is not unusual to find a mixture of pathologic features rendering the histopathologic diagnosis difficult. It is uncommon to have overlap in the different radiologic findings between these diseases.