Increased brachial intima-media thickness is associated with circulating levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in patients with COPD.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. However, the mechanisms for this association are yet unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between brachial intima-media thickness (B-IMT), an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk, systemic inflammation, and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, in patients with COPD and respective controls.

Dornase alpha inhalations as a treatment option for recurrent lower respiratory tract infections in a child with Sotos syndrome.

Recurrent episodes of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a rare complication of muscular hypotonia in patients with Sotos syndrome. We report on a male child suffering from repeated LRTIs including bronchitis, pneumonia, and atelectasis during infancy despite inhalations with salbutamol and fluticasone combined with manual chest percussion therapy. After initiation of dornase alpha inhalations in addition to the current treatment, we observed an improvement in the respiratory symptoms as well as a reduction in the rate of hospitalizations and in the occurrence of LRTIs.

Soluble receptor of advanced glycation end-products and endothelial dysfunction in COPD.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is accompanied by an increased cardiovascular risk which is aggravated by the incidence of acute exacerbations (AE). Endothelial function, as well as the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), both markers of cardiovascular risk, has been shown to be decreased in stable COPD.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate a possible link between sRAGE and endothelial function in AE of COPD.

Insulin resistance may contribute to vascular dysfunction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at an increased cardiovascular risk; however, the underlying mechanisms for this relationship are ill defined. Altered glucose metabolism may increase cardiovascular risk via impaired endothelial function.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal pilot study to assess the interrelationship between systemic vascular function, glucose metabolism, and lung function in patients with COPD.

Lessons learned from a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study with a iota-carrageenan nasal spray as medical device in children with acute symptoms of common cold.

Background: Common cold is caused by a variety of respiratory viruses. The prevalence in children is high, and it potentially contributes to significant morbidity. Iota-carragenan, a polymer derived from red seaweed, has reduced viral load in nasal secretions and alleviated symptoms in adults with common cold.

Prevalence and clinical course of viral upper respiratory tract infections in immunocompromised pediatric patients with malignancies or after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTI) in immunosuppressed pediatric patients with malignancies or after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Prospective data on the incidence and clinical role of infections by respiratory viruses in this population have been lacking.

Methods: In this prospective study, 191 children between 0 and 18 years of age were investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction for the presence of 8 common respiratory virus types in transnasal aspirations.

Mitral valve endocarditis caused by ulcerative colitis followed by septic embolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery.

Acute endocarditis is a rare complication of ulcerative colitis. We report on a young woman, who initially presented with fever, elevated inflammatory markers, and symptoms of ulcerative pancolitis but without any cardiac co-morbidity. A few days after total colectomy, the patient complained of acute abdominal pain which led to the suspected diagnosis of mesenteric ischaemia caused by a septic embolus.

Determinants of systemic vascular function in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Impaired vascular reactivity is an important factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: We sought to assess vascular reactivity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and respective control subjects, and to investigate the relation between vascular function and airflow obstruction and systemic inflammation.

Methods: We studied 60 patients with stable COPD; 20 smokers with normal lung function matched for age, sex, and body weight; and 20 similarly matched nonsmokers.

Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and systemic inflammatory markers in patients with stable and exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The aim of the present study was to assess circulating levels of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a biomarker with prognostic significance in cardiovascular disease, and markers of systemic inflammation in patients with stable and exacerbated COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Lung function parameters, arterial blood gas analysis and circulating levels of VEGF, IL-6 (interleukin-6), TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor-alpha), CRP (C-reactive protein), fibrinogen and the peripheral blood neutrophil cell count were assessed in 30 patients on admission to the hospital for acute exacerbation of COPD, in 30 age-, gender- and BMI (body mass index)-matched patients with stable COPD, and 30 matched controls with normal lung function. Patients with acute exacerbated COPD had higher circulating concentrations of VEGF (P<0.