Transitioning from hospital to home with non-invasive ventilation: who benefits? Results of a cohort study.

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is effective in a variety of acute respiratory illnesses in hospitalised patients. Home NIV is effective for stable patients with hypercapnia due to neuromuscular or chronic pulmonary disease. However, there are little data to guide which patients may benefit from NIV immediately following hospitalisation with hypercapnia.

Step oximetry test: a validation study.

Introduction: Step climbing is a potentially useful modality for testing exercise capacity. However, there are significant variations between test protocols and lack of consistent validation against gold standard cycle ergometry cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). The purpose of the study was to validate a novel technique of exercise testing using a dedicated device.

Tacrolimus Levels Are Not Associated with Risk of Malignancy in Lung Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND Lung transplant (LTx) recipients suffer from high rates of malignancy. Exposure to immunosuppressive medication such as tacrolimus has been proposed as a risk factor for tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that chronically high levels of tacrolimus would be associated with risk of malignancy.

The Prognostic Role of Ventilatory Inefficiency and Exercise Capacity in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and fatal interstitial lung disease associated with poor prognosis and limited effective treatment options. Reliable predictors of outcome in daily clinical practice are needed to determine high-risk patients for urgent lung transplantation referral. This study aimed to identify practical prognostic predictors of mortality using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in IPF subjects.

Physiological Profile and Limitations in Exercise in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the physiological profile and limiting factors during exercise among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods: A descriptive study involving 34 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (22 men) aged 68 ± 8 years was conducted. All patients completed a pulmonary function test, cardiopulmonary exercise test, Doppler echocardiography, 6-minute walk test, and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea evaluation.

Short-Term Improvement in Physical Activity and Body Composition After Supervised Exercise Training Program in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Objective: To examine the effect of participating in a 12-week supervised exercise training (ET) program on physical activity and body composition in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Design: Randomized controlled trial assessing physical activity and body composition at baseline, after 12-week intervention, and at 11 months follow-up.

Setting: Outpatient hospital.

Exercise training in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic devastating interstitial lung disease associated with exercise intolerance, dyspnea, hypoxemia, diminished quality of life and poor prognosis. A growing body of evidence with respect to short-term effects of exercise training has demonstrated clinical benefits in IPF patients. A recent systematic review showed significant improvements in 6-min walking distance, peak aerobic capacity, reduced dyspnea and improved quality of life.

Long-term effects of a 12-week exercise training program on clinical outcomes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Purpose: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, devastating, lung disease, with few therapeutic options. Data are limited with respect to the long-term effect of exercise training (ET) in IPF. This study sought to evaluate the long-term effects of a 12-week ET program on clinical outcomes in IPF patients.

Limitations in exercise and functional capacity in long-term postpneumonectomy patients.

Introduction: Pneumonectomy results in impairments of pulmonary function and exercise intolerance associated with respiratory limitations. However, exercise capacity and functional capacity are less known at long-term followup. The aims of this study were to assess exercise tolerance and functional capacity among long-term postpneumonectomy patients and to identify the limiting factors in exercise related to comorbidities and which lung was involved.

Exercise training-based pulmonary rehabilitation program is clinically beneficial for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, devastating, interstitial lung disease, with few therapeutic options. IPF is characterized by pulmonary restriction, dyspnea, hypoxemia, exercise intolerance and poor quality of life (QOL).

Objectives: We aimed to examine the effect of exercise training (ET) on clinical outcomes in IPF patients.

Step climbing capacity in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) typically have exercise intolerance and limitation in climbing steps.

Objectives: To explore the exercise physiology of step climbing in PH patients, on a laboratory-based step test.

Methods: We built a step oximetry system from an 'aerobics' step equipped with pressure sensors and pulse oximeter linked to a computer.

Prevalence and impact of coronary artery disease in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The occurrence and impact of coronary artery disease (CAD) among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are unknown. We aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical correlates, and effect of CAD in patients with PAH. We reviewed the medical records of consecutive patients diagnosed with PAH at a university-based referral center for pulmonary vascular disease from January 1990 to May 2010.

Pandemic influenza (H1N1): impact on lung transplant recipients and candidates.

Background: The year 2009 was notable for the outbreak of a novel strain of influenza A (H1N1). We report the outcomes of H1N1 infection in a large cohort of lung transplant (LTx) recipients and candidates.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of 22 suspected cases of H1N1 influenza screened using real-time polymerase chain reaction from nasal secretions.