An Observational Study Assessing Changes in Health and Functional Status in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) During Therapy with Spiolto Respimat in Everyday Clinical Practice: The Greek ELLACTO Study.

Introduction: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often report deteriorated functional status and poor health-related quality of life, both core aspects of their overall health status. The study objective was to assess tiotropium/olodaterol Respimat effects on health and functional status of COPD patients requiring long-acting dual bronchodilation treatment in the real world.

Methods: ELLACTO was an open-label, observational, prospective study conducted in Greece, measuring changes on health and functional status of COPD patients treated with a fixed dose of tiotropium/olodaterol Respimat for approximately 6 weeks.

Strategies to improve anxiety and depression in patients with COPD: a mental health perspective.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease characterized by progressive and only partially reversible symptoms. Worldwide, the incidence of COPD presents a disturbing continuous increase. Anxiety and depression are remarkably common in COPD patients, but the evidence about optimal approaches for managing psychological comorbidities in COPD remains unclear and largely speculative.

Changes in BODE Quartiles After Pulmonary Rehabilitation Do Not Predict 2-Year Survival in Patients With COPD.

Purpose: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has well documented positive effects in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise) index reflects the multicomponent nature of COPD. We aimed to determine whether changes in BODE quartiles after a PR program might affect 2-year survival and which characteristics drive changes in BODE quartiles after PR intervention.

Contribution of psychological factors in dropping out from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease rehabilitation programs.

Significant positive effects, particularly on psychological state in patients who completed the follow-up pulmonary rehabilitation programs, are indicated by a large number of studies. Yet, a remarkable proportion of selected patients drop out from these programs. In this study, we investigated existing differences on psychological variables among COPD patients who complete and those who drop out from pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

A pulmonary rehabilitation program reduces levels of anxiety and depression in COPD patients.

Background: The presence of anxiety and depressive symptoms in COPD patients has been acknowledged for many years. The preponderance of recent studies supports the utility of pulmonary rehabilitation programs to reduce the levels of depression and anxiety in these patients. The aim of this study is to investigate possible changes in levels of anxiety and depression among patients enrolled in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, along with the role of disease severity in these changes.

Driving-Related Neuropsychological Performance in Stable COPD Patients.

Background. Cognitive deterioration may impair COPD patient's ability to perform tasks like driving vehicles. We investigated: (a) whether subclinical neuropsychological deficits occur in stable COPD patients with mild hypoxemia (PaO(2) > 55 mmHg), and (b) whether these deficits affect their driving performance.

Psychological symptom patterns and vital exhaustion in outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Several studies have reported high prevalence of anxiety and depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outpatients. Moreover, these patients share psychological or psychopathological characteristics that inhibit their ability to cope with the disease. In the present study we aimed to record the prevalence of psychological symptom patterns in a sample of Greek COPD outpatients and to assess which psychological factors (and to which degree) contribute to vital exhaustion (VE).

Pathophysiology of evolution of small airways disease to overt COPD.

Background: The slope of phase III (single breath nitrogen test), an index of ventilation inhomogeneity, has been used for early detection of COPD. Tidal airway closure (cyclic opening and closure of the peripheral airways during tidal breathing; AC(T)) and expiratory flow limitation (attainment of maximal expiratory flow during tidal expiration; EFL(T)) cause small airways disease (SAD). The relationships of these indices with COPD severity may reflect the progress from SAD to overt COPD.

Prevalence of alexithymia and its association with anxiety and depression in a sample of Greek chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outpatients.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem, especially in adults over 40 years of age, and has a great social and economic impact. The psychological morbidity of COPD patients with regard to anxiety and depressive symptoms has been extensively studied in the past. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence of alexithymia in these patients, as well as its association with this comorbidity.

A phase II study of sequential docetaxel and gemcitabine followed by docetaxel and carboplatin as first-line therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.

Our study involves a preliminary phase II trial, which evaluates the activity, feasibility and tolerability of a sequential combination of docetaxel and gemcitabine followed by docetaxel and carboplatin, as first-line treatment for inoperable NSCLC. Twenty-six chemo-naïve patients aged less than 75 years with histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable stage IIIB, IV or relapsed post-operative metastatic NSCLC were included in the study. Gemcitabine 1,250 mg/m(2) was administered and was followed by docetaxel 65 mg/m(2).

Effects of exercise-induced arterial hypoxaemia and work rate on diaphragmatic fatigue in highly trained endurance athletes.

Diaphragmatic fatigue occurs in highly trained athletes during exhaustive exercise. Since approximately half of them also exhibit exercise-induced arterial hypoxaemia (EIAH) during high-intensity exercise, the present study sought to test the hypothesis that arterial hypoxaemia contributes to exercise-induced diaphragmatic fatigue in this population. Ten cyclists ( : 70.

Respiratory kinematics by optoelectronic plethysmography during exercise in men and women.

Gender differences in resting pulmonary function are attributable to the smaller lung volumes in women relative to men. We sought to investigate whether the pattern of response in operational lung volumes during exercise is different between men and women of similar fitness levels. Breath-by-breath volume changes of the entire chest wall ( V(.