Obesity-Hypoventilation Syndrome: Baseline Hemodynamic Status and Impact of non-Invasive Ventilation.

Introduction: Obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a risk factor for heart failure (HF). Some studies associate the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) with changes in hemodynamic parameters. Our objective was to describe the hemodynamic status of a group of patients with OHS and to study the effect of NIV.

Noninvasive ventilation for severely acidotic patients in respiratory intermediate care units : Precision medicine in intermediate care units.

Background: Severe acidosis can cause noninvasive ventilation (NIV) failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF). NIV is therefore contraindicated outside of intensive care units (ICUs) in these patients. Less is known about NIV failure in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS).

Elevated carboxyhemoglobin: sources of carbon monoxide exposure.

Introduction: Inhalation of carbon monoxide (CO) can result in poisoning, with symptoms ranging from mild and nonspecific to severe, or even death. CO poisoning is often underdiagnosed because exposure to low concentrations goes unnoticed, and threshold values for normal carboxyhemoglobin vary according to different authors. The aim of our study was to analyze carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels in an unselected population and detect sources of CO exposure

Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive study, we analyzed consecutive arterial blood gas levels processed in our laboratory.

Home mechanical ventilation through mask: monitoring leakage and nocturnal oxygenation at home.

Background: Leakage is common in patients receiving home mechanical ventilation (HMV) via a face mask. Although pressure ventilators have partial compensatory capacity, excessive leakage can compromise the effectiveness of treatment. Home ventilators are equipped with built-in software which provides information on leakage.

Chacinero's lung - hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to dry sausage dust.

Objective: Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) comprises a large group of diseases that occur secondary to inhalation of a variety of antigens. This report describes a little-known cause of HP, previously unreported in the English literature.

Methods: Five patients (three women) with a mean age of 41 years who fulfilled the criteria for HP due to exposure to dry sausage dust were studied.

[Pleural effusion and pulmonary hypertension in a patient with Parkinson disease treated with cabergoline].

Cabergoline is a synthetic dopamine agonist used to treat Parkinson disease. The drug occasionally induces pleuropulmonary adverse effects, which manifest as pleural thickening or effusion, interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary infiltrates, or fibrosis. We report a rare case of pleural effusion and severe pulmonary hypertension in a 79-year-old man with Parkinson disease who had been treated with cabergoline for 1 year.

Anti-inflammatory effects of high-dose inhaled fluticasone versus oral prednisone in asthma exacerbations.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the kinetics of high doses of inhaled steroid fluticasone in comparison with oral steroid prednisone on plasma protein leakage and bronchial eosinophilia in adults with moderate asthma exacerbations. The study design was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective trial. In total, 45 patients treated at the emergency department for moderate asthma exacerbations were recruited and 39 were assigned to receive fluticasone and placebo of prednisone (19 patients), or prednisone and placebo of fluticasone (20 patients).

[Bronchial exudate of serum proteins during asthma attack].

Objective: Although altered vascular permeability and edema of the bronchial mucosa are associated with asthma attack, their influence on its severity remains unknown. We address this issue by comparing relative indices for the concentration of albumin (RIAlb) and alpha2-macroglobulin (RIalpha2M) in induced sputum and peripheral blood from patients with exacerbated asthma, patients with stable asthma, and control subjects.

Patients And Methods: Forty-six volunteers participated in the study: 14 with exacerbated asthma (forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] 74.