Markers of inflammation and oxidative stress during lower respiratory tract infections in COPD patients.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) occur frequently in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and are a major cause of morbidity, mortality and health care utilization. The aim of this study was to investigate if non- or less invasive markers of inflammation and oxidative stress can predict the course of the infections.

Methods: Twenty-five COPD patients who were admitted to hospital with a LRTI were included.

Fluorimetric analysis of hydrogen peroxide with automated measurement.

Unlabelled: In the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) oxidative stress plays an important role, which can be determined by measuring hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can be measured fluorimetrically in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), however, not standardized. The objective of this study was to investigate the sensitivity and reproducibility of measuring the hydrogen peroxide concentration in EBC of COPD patients using an automated flow injection device with varying flow rates and measurements.

Effects of inhaled corticosteroids with different lung deposition on exhaled hydrogen peroxide in stable COPD patients.

Background: The effects of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) on markers of oxidative stress in patients with stable COPD are unclear.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the effect of ICS on exhaled H(2)O(2) in stable COPD patients and to compare ICS with different lung deposition.

Methods: Forty-one stable patients with moderate COPD (FEV(1) approximately 60% predicted) were randomized to sequence 1; first HFA-134a beclomethasone dipropionate (HFA-BDP, an ICS with more peripheral deposition) 400 microg b.

Impact of allogenic blood transfusions on temperature, platelet count and differential leukocyte count of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting.

We compared the median values of temperature, platelet count, white blood cell count and differential leukocyte count (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and monocytes) just before and after coronary artery bypass grafting of patients transfused with packed red cell units (n = 119), and not transfused with packed red cell units (n = 98). Just before surgery and at 7 h, 13 h, 22 h, 46 h and 142 h after surgery, blood samples were taken. In the patient group undergoing transfusion lower median values at a significance level of alpha = 0.

Variability of exhaled hydrogen peroxide in stable COPD patients and matched healthy controls.

Background: Because inflammation induces oxidative stress, exhaled hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), which is a marker of oxidative stress, may be used as a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There are no data on the circadian variability of exhaled H(2)O(2) in COPD patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the variability of the H(2)O(2) concentration in breath condensate of stable COPD patients and of matched healthy control subjects.