The methylation patterns of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 gene (ADAM33) in adult asthma.

Background: Asthma is a common chronic inflammatory respiratory disease. Previous studies have suggested that the pathogenesis of asthma may be affected by epigenetic regulation. The purpose of this study is to characterize the effect of the methylation of each CpG site in the ADAM33 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33) gene in adult asthma.

Outcomes of the patients in the respiratory care center are not associated with the seniority of the caring resident.

Although many studies show that the experience level of physicians is significantly associated with the outcomes of their patients, little evidence exists to show whether junior residents provide worse care than senior residents. This study was conducted to analyze whether the experience level of residents may affect the outcomes of patients cared for in a well-organized setting. We conducted a 7-year retrospective study utilizing statistical data from a respiratory care center (RCC) in a medical center between October 2004 and September 2011.

The association between adult asthma and superoxide dismutase and catalase gene activity.

Background: Adult asthma is caused by interaction effects of multiple genetic and environmental factors. Some studies have suggested that antioxidant enzyme activity and gene polymorphisms may play important roles in the context of asthma. Therefore, our study objectives were to investigate the association between asthma, antioxidant activities and the polymorphisms of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) or catalase (CAT).

Aortobronchial fistula after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer -- a very rare complication.

Most aorto-respiratory fistulas are related to aortic pathology or procedures, but fistula formation after esophageal resection has never been reported in the literature. We are now reporting a case of hemoptysis that occurred after esophagectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer. Aortobronchial fistula was detected by computed tomography scan.

The effects of the self-efficacy method on adult asthmatic patient self-care behavior.

Background: The prevalence of asthma and associated mortality is higher among adults than among children, as are associated morbidity and hospital readmission rates. The literature shows that promoting patient self-care behaviors and self-efficacy helps reduce recurrence and hospital readmission rates. Therefore, self-care behaviors and self-efficacy represent critical issues in successful asthma management.

Outcome of physical therapy intervention on ventilator weaning and functional status.

Our study aimed to understand the characteristics of ventilator dependence in patients at a respiratory care center and the potential effects of physical therapy on ventilator weaning and patients' functional status. Prospective data collection consisted of the following: (1) demographic data, including name, gender, age, diagnosis, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation as a severity of the disease, modified Glasgow Coma Scale, mobility at the time of admission, and days of hospitalization; (2) Rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) as a predictive indicator of ventilator weaning, including indicators of ventilator weaning were collected from the respiratory flow sheet; and (3) Barthel index. Between July 1 and December 31, 2007, 126 patients were admitted to the respiratory care center, and those who required mechanical ventilation for more than 14 days were enrolled.

Management of a nosocomial outbreak of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing/W genotype in Taiwan: an emphasis on case tracing with high-resolution computed tomography.

A nosocomial outbreak of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing/W genotype infected 15 healthcare workers (HCWs) in a medical center in Taiwan, where there is a high prevalence of tuberculosis and a high rate of positive tuberculin skin tests. An index patient with laryngeal cancer and a lung abscess was identified by epidemiological investigation and it was found that an M. tuberculosis isolate from his lung tissue sample had an identical IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern to the isolates from 3 HCWs.

Effect of carbon dioxide on pulmonary vascular tone at various pulmonary arterial pressure levels induced by endothelin-1.

There have been contradictory reports suggesting that CO(2) may constrict, dilate, or have no effect on pulmonary vessels. Permissive hypercapnia has become a widely adopted ventilatory technique used to avoid ventilator-induced lung injury, particularly in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). On the other hand, respiratory alkalosis produced by mechanically induced hyperventilation is the mainstay of treatment for newborn infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension.

Antiproliferative and antitumorigenic activity of Toona sinensis leaf extracts in lung adenocarcinoma.

Toona sinensis is a traditional Chinese herb, and the extracts of T. sinensis leaf possess a variety of biological functions. This study attempted to test the antiproliferative effect of TSL-1 (a bioactive fraction of T.

Successful weaning predictors in a respiratory care center in Taiwan.

Respiratory care centers (RCCs) provide effective care for patients who have been in intensive care and have undergone prolonged mechanical ventilation. Between February 2002 and December 2005, 891 patients who met the admission criteria of RCCs were referred to our RCC at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital in southern Taiwan for attempted weaning. We recorded demographic and clinical data, including variables identified previously as predictive of weaning success among highly selected populations.

Gastro-intestinal metastasis of primary lung carcinoma: clinical presentations and outcome.

Symptomatic gastro-intestinal (GI) metastasis in lung carcinomas is extremely rare and only a few case reports have been published. Here we review all of the cases of lung cancer from January 2003 to April 2005 in a tertiary teaching hospital in Taiwan. A total of six patients (1.

Clinical and radiographic presentations of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is often noted in immunocompromized patients, especially in HIV-seropositive patients and post-transplant patients. Only a few case reports and small-scale studies on pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients have been published in the English literature. However, there are several areas of uncertainty in this group of patients including image presentations and management strategy.

Spontaneous pneumothorax as a complication of septic pulmonary embolism in an intravenous drug user: a case report.

Infective endocarditis has been the major cause of morbidity and mortality among intravenous drug users (IDUs) with infections, mostly involving the tricuspid valve and presenting multiple septic pulmonary embolisms. Numerous pulmonary complications of septic pulmonary embolism have been described, but only a few have reported spontaneous pneumothorax. Our patient, a 23-year-old heroin addict, was hospitalized for tricuspid endocarditis and septic pulmonary embolism.

Do pulmonary hemodynamics change after effective lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema?

The improvement in lung function, exercise test, blood gas levels, and symptoms in emphysema patients after volume reduction surgery is a result of improvements in breathing mechanics. The question is, is the improvement in the condition related to pulmonary hemodynamics? Few studies have examined pre- and postoperative pulmonary pressure. This paper examines whether there is any significant change in systolic and diastolic pulmonary pressure after effective volume reduction surgery.

A subset of clinical status of pulmonary tuberculosis in Southern Taiwan.

The aims of this study were to present the clinical status of pulmonary tuberculosis in Southern Taiwan and to analyze the reasons for failure of antituberculosis treatment in order to achieve a higher rate of success after treatment. Two hundred and senventeen adult patients, aged 15 to 90 years old who presented to the Chest Division, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital from 1999 to 2002 with a diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, were retrospectively studied. We compared the rate of recurrence of pulmonary tuberculosis by dividing the cases into 2 groups: those who completed treatment and those who did not.

Expression and regulation of the macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha gene by nicotine in rat alveolar macrophages.

Cigarette smoking causes inflammation mainly confined to the airway and lung. Nicotine is one of the primary constituents in cigarette smoke. Alveolar macrophages apparently play a pivotal role in mediating pulmonary inflammation via the production of chemokines.