Effectiveness of manual therapy interventions in cystic fibrosis care: a pilot study.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a severe genetic condition that affects multiple organ systems and imposes a substantial treatment burden. Regarding the lungs and airways, the progressive pathophysiological changes place a significant strain on the musculoskeletal components of the respiratory system for people with CF. This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of manual therapy interventions (MTIs) on thoracic mobility, respiratory muscle strength, lung function, and musculoskeletal pain.

Musculoskeletal aspects of respiratory function in cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional comparative study.

Background: Respiration is an intricate interaction between visceral and musculoskeletal structures. In cystic fibrosis (CF), the airways and lungs are subject to progressive obstruction and destruction. However, knowledge about the musculoskeletal aspects of respiratory function and symptoms is still limited in this patient group.

Variations in respiratory and functional symptoms at four months after hospitalisation due to COVID-19: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Much remains unknown about complex respiratory symptoms after COVID-19. Here we aimed to describe and analyse patients' various respiratory symptoms 4 months after discharge from hospitalisation for COVID-19, focusing on sex, previous pulmonary disease, and prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved five hospitals and included 52 patients with self-assessed respiratory dysfunction at 4 months after discharge from hospitalisation for severe COVID-19.

Thoracic configuration in patients ageing with cystic fibrosis: A retrospective single-blinded cohort study.

Background: In patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), thoracic morphology and its role in respiratory function is conditioned by anthropometric factors, as well as by pathological changes. While the lungs are continuously monitored, examinations of potential thoracic cage adaptations to the disease are rare. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate thoracic configuration, and its correlation to spirometry measures over time.

Technical Aspects of Devices and Equipment for Positive Expiratory Pressure With and Without Oscillation.

Background: Breathing exercises with positive expiratory pressure (PEP) and oscillating PEP are common treatments for patients with respiratory impairments. There are several trials evaluating the clinical effects of a variety of commercially available and self-made devices. There is a lack of evaluation concerning technical aspects and construction of the devices.

The neutrophil-recruiting chemokine GCP-2/CXCL6 is expressed in cystic fibrosis airways and retains its functional properties after binding to extracellular DNA.

Infections in cystic fibrosis (CF), often involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa, result from a dysregulated airway immunity where one hallmark is the accumulation of necrotic and apoptotic immune cells, in particular neutrophils. In addition, neutrophils actively release DNA, forming neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that contain antimicrobial proteins. Altogether, free DNA in complex with actin accumulates in the airway lumen, resulting in highly viscous sputum that provides an anionic matrix, binding cationic antimicrobial proteins.

Positive expiratory pressure - Common clinical applications and physiological effects.

Breathing out against resistance, in order to achieve positive expiratory pressure (PEP), is applied by many patient groups. Pursed lips breathing and a variety of devices can be used to create the resistance giving the increased expiratory pressure. Effects on pulmonary outcomes have been discussed in several publications, but the expected underlying physiology of the effect is seldom discussed.

European Cystic Fibrosis Society Standards of Care: Framework for the Cystic Fibrosis Centre.

A significant increase in life expectancy in successive birth cohorts of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) is a result of more effective treatment for the disease. It is also now widely recognized that outcomes for patients cared for in specialist CF Centres are better than for those who are not. Key to the effectiveness of the specialist CF Centre is the multidisciplinary team (MDT), which should include consultants, clinical nurse specialist, microbiologist, physiotherapist, dietitian, pharmacist, clinical psychologist, social worker, clinical geneticist and allied healthcare professionals, all of whom should be experienced in CF care.

Lung function in the aging Swedish cystic fibrosis population.

Swedish Cystic Fibrosis (CF) care follows international guidelines in general. The only difference in our CF care package since 25 years is the physiotherapy regimen. Airway clearance therapy has since the early 1980s, from the day of diagnosis, been based upon daily physical exercise in conjunction with techniques for transporting and evacuating mucus.

Guidelines for the management of pregnancy in women with cystic fibrosis.

Women with cystic fibrosis (CF) now regularly survive into their reproductive years in good health and wish to have a baby. Many pregnancies have been reported in the literature and it is clear that whilst the outcome for the baby is generally good and some mothers do very well, others find either their CF complicates the pregnancy or is adversely affected by the pregnancy. For some, pregnancy may only become possible after transplantation.

Demographic transition of the Swedish cystic fibrosis community--results of modern care.

Assessing the results of modern cystic fibrosis (CF)-care and estimating the future population and its demography is important to evaluate the treatment regimens and to calculate the future needs of health-care resources. This paper updates previous incidence calculations. It assesses the results of modern CF-care in terms of survival and changing demography in Sweden.

Identification of MUC5B, MUC5AC and small amounts of MUC2 mucins in cystic fibrosis airway secretions.

To investigate the genetic identities of the mucins secreted in cystic fibrosis (CF) airways, sputum was collected from five individuals. Samples were separated into gel and sol phases by high-speed centrifugation and the gel phase was extracted in 6 M guanidinium chloride. The 'insoluble' residue remaining after extraction of the gel phase was brought into solution by reduction/alkylation.

Mild cystic fibrosis mutations in Southern Sweden with special reference to S549I and T338I.

In this study of cystic fibrosis (CF) gene mutations in Southern Sweden we found missense mutations in 12 out of 110 patients. These patients, as a group, differed from deltaF508 homozygotes by a higher frequency of pancreatic sufficiency and an older age at diagnosis as has been indicated in previous studies. In addition, lung function (vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)) tended to be better although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.

Mucus clearance with three chest physiotherapy regimes in cystic fibrosis: a comparison between postural drainage, PEP and physical exercise.

The effects of three different regimes of chest physiotherapy were compared in this cross-over study. Mucus clearance was monitored in nine clinically stable cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The patients performed: 1) postural drainage with thoracic expansion exercises + forced expiration technique (FET) in the left decubitus position; 2) positive expiratory pressure (PEP)-mask breathing + FET; and 3) physical exercise on a bicycle ergometer + FET.