Evaluating pharmacological treatments for excessive daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea: A comprehensive network meta-analysis and systematic review.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Pharmacotherapy offers a potential treatment approach for EDS in OSA patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for alleviating EDS in patients with OSA.

Pneumatic stenting in the surgical candidacy assessment for cough variant expiratory central airway collapse.

Expiratory Central Airway Collapse (ECAC) is a multifactorial, underdiagnosed entity that poses unique challenges. Airway stenting is used as a predictor for successful outcomes after central airway stabilization surgery via tracheobronchoplasty (TBP). This approach may pose suboptimal performance in certain ECAC variants.

Occult lymph node metastasis in radiologic stage I non-small cell lung cancer: The role of endobronchial ultrasound.

Rationale: The use of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is currently recommended for staging non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in centrally located tumors, tumors >3 cm, or with radiologic evidence of lymph node (LN) metastasis. Current guidelines do not recommend staging EBUS-TBNA in patients with stage I NSCLC who do not have any of the aforementioned conditions.

Objective: We hypothesize that using EBUS-TBNA is useful for detecting occult metastasis in radiologic stage I NSCLC.

A comparison of 2 visual methods for classifying obstructive vs central hypopneas.

Study Objectives: Rules for classifying apneas as obstructive, central, or mixed are well established. Although hypopneas are given equal weight when calculating the apnea-hypopnea index, classification is not standardized. Visual methods for classifying hypopneas have been proposed by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and by Randerath et al (Sleep.

Disseminated Infection with Bacteremia, Hepatic and Pulmonary Involvement Associated with a Long-Term Catheter Infection.

We present a 49-year-old female with one year of intermittent fevers, chills, night sweats, and significant weight loss. Liver and lung biopsy showed evidence of a granulomatous process. Blood and liver biopsy cultures yielded growth of presumed , thought to be related to a disseminated long-term central venous catheter infection.

Survey of restless legs syndrome in a pulmonary hypertension population.

Introduction: The prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) varies from 5% to 24% in the general population and is associated with a variety of medical disorders. However, the association between RLS and pulmonary hypertension (PH) is unknown.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of RLS in PH patients.

A prospective, comparative trial of standard and breath-actuated nebulizer: efficacy, safety, and satisfaction.

Background: Nebulized drug delivery is a cornerstone of therapy for obstructive lung disease, but the ideal nebulizer design is uncertain. The breath-actuated nebulizer (BAN) may be superior to conventional nebulizers. This study compared the BAN to standard nebulizer with regard to efficacy, safety, and patient and respiratory therapist (RT) satisfaction.

Correlation of pulmonary function variables with hemodynamic measurements in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Introduction: A reduced diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) measured during a pulmonary function test can suggest pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The DLCO has been reported to weakly correlate with pulmonary hemodynamics.

Objective: To determine whether the relationship between the DLCO and pulmonary arterial pressures can be strengthened by normalizing the DLCO to spirometric variables.

Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in blood donors.

Iron deficiency anemia has been linked to restless legs syndrome (RLS) and regular blood donation may lead to iron deficiency. It has been reported that blood donations may be associated with RLS. A recent study from Sweden found that 25% of the women donors were affected by RLS.

Prevalence of acute vasoresponsiveness in patients with pulmonary hypertension: treatment implications.

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious and often progressive disorder that results in right ventricular dysfunction. The general reported rate of patients who are responders is 10%-26%. More recently, using the current criteria, the rate of acute vasodilator response was as low as 6%.

Utility of d-dimer in the diagnosis of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an important cause of severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). D-dimer, a degradation product of fibrin, has been used as a marker for various diseases. In patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension there is evidence to suggest that D-dimer levels are associated with disease severity; however, data regarding D-dimer in patients with CTEPH are lacking.

Catamenial pneumothorax with umbilical and diaphragmatic endometriosis: a case report and review of the literature.

A 44-year-old female presented with a history of recurrent right-sided pneumothoraces, uterine fibroids, and a palpable lump in her navel. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO) and resection of the umbilical nodule was performed. Intraoperative inspection of the right hemidiaphragm revealed adherent brownish-blue nodules without any associated diaphragmatic defects and a similar-appearing nodule at the umbilicus.