Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is present in 40-80% of patients with cardiovascular morbidity and is associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular health. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) maintains airway patency during sleep and is hypothesised to improve cardiac function. In the present study, we report on the impact of 12 weeks of CPAP and improvements in echocardiographic parameters of the right ventricle (RV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS-CoV-2 infection causes a wide spectrum of disease severity. Identifying the immunological characteristics of severe disease and the risk factors for their development are important in the management of COVID-19. This study aimed to identify and rank clinical and immunological features associated with progression to severe COVID-19 in order to investigate an immunological signature of severe disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP), a birth occurring within 33 months of a previous birth, is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes. RRP occurs among 25%-35% of adolescents who become pregnant. The current study examines trends in and outcomes of adolescent RRP in the Canadian context.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Respir Crit Care Med
August 2018
Rationale: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major burden to public health in Europe. Reported treatment success rates are around 50% or less, and cure rates are even lower.
Objectives: To document the management and treatment outcome in patients with MDR-TB in Europe.
Drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is challenging elimination of tuberculosis (TB). We evaluated risk factors for TB and levels of second-line drug resistance in M. tuberculosis in patients in Europe with multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Depletion of T cells following infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) impairs disease resolution, and interferes with clinical test performance that relies on cell-mediated immunity. A number of mechanisms contribute to this T cell suppression, such as activation-induced death and trafficking of T cells out of the peripheral circulation and into the diseased lungs. The extent to which Mtb infection of human macrophages affects T cell viability however, is not well characterised.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF