Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation programme including either O inhalation or noninvasive ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is crucial in managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and enhancing functional capacity and health status. Oxygen therapy and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) may be needed to be incorporated into rehabilitation to augment the effectiveness of physical training.

Objectives: To compare and assess the impact of the PR programme alone and with augmentation with O or NIV on COPD patients.

NOD2 expression, DNA damage and oxido-inflammatory status in atopic bronchial asthma: Exploring their nexus to disease severity.

Background: Allergic asthma is a chronically relapsing inflammatory airway disease with a complex pathophysiology.

Aim: This study was undertaken to investigate the potential contribution of NOD2 signaling, proinflammatory cytokines, chitotriosidase (CHIT1) activity, oxidative stress and DNA damage to atopic asthma pathogenesis, as well as to explore their possible role as surrogate noninvasive biomarkers for monitoring asthma severity.

Methods: Sixty patients with atopic bronchial asthma who were divided according to asthma severity into 40 mild-moderate, 20 severe atopic asthmatics, in addition to thirty age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study.