Progression parameters for emphysema: a clinical investigation.

In patients with airflow limitation caused by cigarette smoking, lung density measured by computed tomography is strongly correlated with quantitative pathology scores of emphysema, but the ability of lung densitometry to detect progression of emphysema is disputed. We assessed the sensitivity of lung densitometry as a parameter of disease progression of emphysema in comparison to FEV(1) and gas transfer. At study baseline and after 30 months we measured computed tomography (CT)-derived lung density, spirometry and carbon monoxide diffusion coefficient in 144 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in five different centers.

Densitometry for assessment of effect of lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema.

To explore if change in the extent of emphysema correlated with change in lung function, the effect of resection of emphysematous tissue was studied by computed tomography (CT) densitometry. In addition, the current authors studied how surgery-induced change in emphysema related to lung density in control subjects. In total, 30 patients (14 females; mean+/-sd age 59+/-10 yrs) with severe emphysema before and 3 months after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS), 48 patients with moderate emphysema and 76 control subjects were investigated.

Iron accumulation in lung allografts is associated with acute rejection but not with adverse outcome.

Background: Iron content in lung allografts is increased after transplantation. It was hypothesized that this may lead to fibrosis and posttransplant bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS).

Methods: In a prospective study, we evaluated 399 BAL fluid (BALF) and transbronchial lung biopsy samples obtained concurrently from 72 consecutive lung transplant recipients.

Acupuncture and bronchial asthma: a long-term randomized study of the effects of real versus sham acupuncture compared to controls in patients with bronchial asthma.

Background: Acupuncture has traditionally been used in China in the treatment of bronchial asthma and is being increasingly applied in Western countries. Although there are many published studies on acupuncture and asthma, few meet the scientific criteria necessary to prove the effectiveness of acupuncture.

Objective: To examine the short- and long-term effects of real versus sham or no acupuncture in patients with bronchial asthma.