Arterial Duct Stenting Versus Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt in Patient with Ductal-Dependent Pulmonary Circulation: Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis

Objective:Patients with ductal-dependent pulmonary circulation require alternative bloodflow to provide and maintain adequate oxygenation.Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt(MBTS)has been the standard for providing such a result.Currently,less invasive methods such as Arterial Duct(AD)stenting have been performed as alter-natives.This study aims to compare the outcome of AD stenting and MBTS.Method:Systematic research was performed in online databases using the PRISMA protocol.The outcomes measured were 30-day mortality,com-plication,unplanned intervention,oxygen saturation,duration of hospital,and ICU length of stay.Any compara-tive study provided with full text is included.The outcome of each study was analyzed using a trandom effects model with relative risk and mean difference as the effect size.Bias risk assessment was conducted using the New-castle-Ottawa Scale.All analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4.1.Result:A total of 11 studies with 3154 samples included in this study.There is no significant difference in 30-day mortality between the two groups(p-value=0.10).However,there is significantly less complication(RR 0.53[0.35,0.82];p-value=0.004)and unplanned intervention(RR 0.59[0.38,0.92];p-value=0.02)in the AD stent group.Comparison of the Nakata index showed no significant difference(p-value=0.88).Post-operative oxygen saturation was measured signifi-cantly higher in the AD stenting(MD 1.80[0.85,2.74];p-value=0.0002).However,AD stent group shows sig-nificantly lower long-term oxygen saturation(MD-8.43[-14.38,-2.48];p-value=0.005).Both hospital and ICU length of stay was significantly shorter in the AD stent group(MD-8.30[-11.13,-5.48];p-value<0.00001;MD-5.09[-7.79,-2.38];p-value=0.0002).Conclusion:AD stenting provides comparable outcomes relative to MBTS as it provides less complication and unplanned intervention and higher post-procedural O2 saturation.However,MBTS proved its superiority in maintaining higher long-term oxygen saturation and still became the preferred option to manage complex cases where stenting is either challenging or unsuccessful.

The effect of traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation exercise(pulmonary Daoyin)in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective:Previous research has demonstrated that pulmonary Daoyin could be an efficacious way to ameliorate the physical and psychological state of sufferers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and bolster the quality of life.However,the results are not consistent.Thus,the objective of this research is to assess the impacts of pulmonary Daoyin in individuals with COPD.Methods:Relevant articles were searched in Web of Science,Cochrane Library,PubMed,EMBASE,SinoMed,CNKI,Wanfang,and VIP from database inception to January 2024.Results:There were a total of 15 randomized controlled trials(RCTs)included in this meta-analysis involving 1732 patients,of which 864 participated in the intervention group and 868 in the control group.When comparing with the control group,the COPD patients practicing pulmonary Daoyin demonstrated a significant improvement in 6 min walking distance(mean difference[MD]=24.53,95%confidence interval[CI][18.55,30.52],P<0.00001),forced expiratory volume in the 1 s(FEV_(1))(MD=0.39,95%CI[0.18,0.59],P=0.0002),percentage of FEV_(1)to the predicted value(FEV_(1)%)(MD=5.35,95%CI[3.22,7.48],P<0.0001),the forced vital capacity(FVC)(MD=0.39,95%CI[0.06,0.73],P=0.02),percentage of FVC to the predicted value(FVC%)(MD=7.52,95%CI[4.91,10.13],P<0.00001),the ratio of FEV_(1)/FVC(MD=4.95,95%CI[0.91,8.99],P=0.02),peak expiratory flow rate(standardized MD=0.98,95%CI[0.74,1.22],P<0.00001),modified Medical Research Council(mMRC)scale(MD=-0.47,95%CI[-0.89,-0.04],P=0.03),and Borg scale(MD=-0.65,95%CI[-0.75,-0.55],P<0.00001).Conclusions:Our findings may illuminate the influence of pulmonary Daoyin on exercise ability,breathlessness,and pulmonary function in COPD patients.More rigorous RCTs with larger samples and longer-term interventions will be required moving forward.

Impact of diabetes mellitus on mortality in pulmonary hypertension:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension(PH)is a progressive disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling and is a leading cause of mortality worldwide.Although it is independently associated with multiple comorbidities,the impact of diabetes mellitus(DM)on mortality in patients with PH remains uncertain.To address this issue,we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of DM on survival in patients with pulmonary hypertension.AIM To investigate the impact of diabetes mellitus on mortality in pulmonary hypertension patients.METHODS We conducted a comprehensive search of four major electronic bibliographic databases like PubMed,Google Scholar,Scopus,and Embase,and identified 106 relevant studies,out of 1561 articles,published since the year 2000 for full-text review.Fourteen retrospective and prospective cohort studies that compared survival between patients with DM and those without DM in the context of PH were deemed eligible for inclusion in our meta-analysis.The study was registered on PROSPERO with the identifier CRD42023390232.RESULTS A total of 116455 patients with PH were included in the meta-analysis,of whom 41228 suffered from DM and 75227 did not.The results of our meta-analysis indicate an elevated mortality rate among PH patients with diabetes mellitus in comparison to those without DM[odds ratio(OR)=1.40,95%CI:1.15–1.70,P=0.0006].The metaregression analysis unveiled a statistically significant negative association between mean age and effect size(coefficient=-0.036,P value=0.018).Conversely,a statistically significant positive association was detected between female proportion and effect size(coefficient=0.000,P value<0.001).CONCLUSION Our meta-analysis,which included approximately 116500 PH patients,revealed that the presence of diabetes mellitus was associated with increased odds of mortality when compared to non-diabetic patients.The metaregression analysis indicates that studies with older participants and lower proportions of females tend to exhibit smaller effect sizes.Clinically,these findings underscore the importance of incorporating diabetes status into the risk stratification of patients with PH with more aggressive monitoring and early intervention to improve prognosis potentially.

Effects of combined aerobic,resistance and inspiratory training in patients with pulmonary hypertension:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension(PH)is a serious progressive disorder of the modern world,characterized by endothelial dysfunction and impaired vasoreactivity.Patients with PH usually present exercise intolerance from the very early stages and reduced exercise capacity.Exercise training has been shown to have beneficial effects in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.However,data regarding the effects of combined exercise training programs in patients with PH still remains limited.AIM To investigate the effects of combined exercise training programs on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with PH.METHODS Our search included all available randomized controlled trials(RCTs)regarding combined aerobic,resistance and inspiratory training programs in patients with PH in 4 databases(Pubmed,PEDro,Embase,CINAHL)from 2012 to 2022.Five RCTs were included in the final analysis.Functional capacity,assessed by peak VO_(2)or 6-min walking test(6MWT),as well as quality of life,assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire,were set as the primary outcomes in our study.RESULTS Peak VO_(2)was measured in 4 out of the 5 RCTs while 6MWT was measured in all RCTs.Both indices of functional capacity were significantly increased in patients with PH who underwent combined exercise training compared to the controls in all of the included RCTs(P<0.05).Quality of life was measured in 4 out of 5 RCTs.Although patients improved their quality of life in each group,however,only 2 RCTs demonstrated further improvement in patients performing combined training compared to controls.CONCLUSION By this systematic review,we have demonstrated that combined aerobic,resistance and inspiratory exercise training is safe and has beneficial effects on aerobic capacity and quality of life in patients with PH.Such exercise training regimen may be part of the therapeutic strategy of the syndrome.

Pulmonary artery stent thrombosis and symptomatic pulmonary hypertension following COVID-19 infection in Alagille patient:A case report

BACKGROUND Alagille syndrome is a multisystem disease that results in various vascular anomalies,commonly involving the cardiac and pulmonary systems.To the best of our knowledge,there is no literature regarding the cardiovascular outcomes of these patients in association with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).CASE SUMMARY A 34-year-old woman with a history of Alagille syndrome who underwent successful atrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary veins and patent ductus arteriosus repair,as well as left pulmonary artery catheterization and stenting in childhood due to pulmonary stenosis.The patient was without any respiratory symptoms and was a dancer prior to contracting COVID-19.Several weeks after her COVID-19 infection,she developed left pulmonary artery stent thrombosis and subsequent symptomatic pulmonary hypertension.A treatment strategy of anticoagulation alongside pharmacological agents for pulmonary hypertension for 3 months followed by balloon pulmonary artery angioplasty to reopen the stenosis was unsuccessful.CONCLUSION In the era of COVID-19,patients with pulmonary vascular malformations and endovascular stents are at an increased risk for chronic thromboembolic disease.Patients may benefit from prophylactic antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy.Stent thrombosis is a devastating phenomenon and should be treated urgently and aggressively with balloon pulmonary angioplasty,and/or a thrombolytic agent.

Pulmonary embolism after shoulder surgery:Is it a real threat?

Pulmonary embolism(PE)is a rare but devastating complication of shoulder surgery.Apart from increased morbidity and mortality rates,it may significantly impair postoperative recovery and functional outcome.Its frequency accounts for up to 5.7%of all shoulder surgery procedures with a higher occurrence in women and patients older than 70 years.It is most commonly associated with thrombophilia,diabetes mellitus,obesity,smoking,hypertension,and a history of malignancy.PE usually occurs secondary to upper or lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis(DVT).However,in rare cases,the source of the thrombi cannot be determined.Prophylaxis for PE following shoulder surgery remains a topic of debate,and the standard of care does not routinely require prophylactic medication for DVT prophylaxis.Early ambulation and elastic stockings are important preventative measures for DVT of the lower extremity and medical agents such as aspirin,low-molecular-weight heparin,and vitamin K antagonists are indicated for high-risk patients,long-lasting operations,or concomitant severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.The most common symptoms of PE include chest pain and shortness of breath,but PE can also be asymptomatic in patients with intrinsic tolerance of hypoxia.Patients with DVT may also present with swelling and pain of the respective extremity.The treatment of PE includes inpatient or outpatient anticoagulant therapy if the patient is hemodynamically unstable or stable,respectively.Hemodynamic instability may require transfer to the intensive care unit,and cardiovascular arrest can be implicated in fatal events.An important issue for patients with PE in the postoperative period after shoulder surgery is residual stiffness due to a delay in rehabilitation and a prolonged hospital stay.Early physiotherapy and range-of-motion exercises do not adversely affect the prognosis of PE and are highly recommended to preserve shoulder mobility and function.

Thrombolysis and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for cardiac arrest due to pulmonary embolism:A case report

BACKGROUND Cardiac arrest caused by acute pulmonary embolism(PE)is the most serious clinical circumstance,necessitating rapid identification,immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR),and systemic thrombolytic therapy.Extracorporeal CPR(ECPR)is typically employed as a rescue therapy for selected patients when conventional CPR is failing in settings where it can be implemented.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of a 69-year-old male who experienced a prolonged cardiac arrest in an ambulance with pulseless electrical activity.Upon arrival at the emergency department with ongoing manual chest compressions,bedside pointof-care ultrasound revealed an enlarged right ventricle without contractility.Acute PE was suspected as the cause of cardiac arrest,and intravenous thrombolytic therapy with 50 mg tissue plasminogen activator was administered during mechanical chest compressions.Despite 31 minutes of CPR,return of spontaneous circulation was not achieved until 8 minutes after initiation of Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)support.Under ECMO support,the hemodynamic status and myocardial contractility significantly improved.However,the patient ultimately did not survive due to intracerebral hemorrhagic complications,leading to death a few days later in the hospital.CONCLUSION This case illustrates the potential of combining systemic thrombolysis with ECPR for refractory cardiac arrest caused by acute PE,but it also highlights the increased risk of significant bleeding complications,including fatal intracranial hemorrhage.

Effect of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt on pulmonary gas exchange in patients with portal hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome

AIM: To assess the impact of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) on pulmonary gas exchange and to evaluate the use of TIPS for the treatment of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS).METHODS: Seven patients, three of them with advanced HPS, in whom detailed pulmonary function tests were performed before and after TIPS placementat the University of Alabama Hospital and at the Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, were considered.RESULTS: TIPS patency was confirmed by hemodynamic evaluation. No changes in arterial blood gases were observed in the overall subset of patients. Transient arterial oxygenation improvement was observed in only one HPS patient, early after TIPS, but this was not sustained 4 mo later.CONCLUSION: TIPS neither improved nor worsened pulmonary gas exchange in patients with portal hypertension. This data does not support the use of TIPS as a specific treatment for HPS. However, it does reinforce the view that TIPS can be safely performed for the treatment of other complications of portal hypertension in patients with HPS.

Chitosan and β-cyclodextrin Microspheres as Pulmonary Sustained Delivery Systems

Chitosan and β-cyclodextrin were used to prepare microspheres with theophylline for pulmonary delivery by spray drying method. The characteristics, mucociliotoxicity, permeation rate and drug release were studied. The drug entrapments of microspheres Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ were from 35.70% to 21.09% and 13.33%, while yields and encapsulation efficiencies were higher than 45% and about 90% respectively. The microspheres possessed low tap densities （0.34-0.48 g/cm^3）, appropriate diameters （3.35-3.94 μm） and theoretical aerodynamics diameters （2.20-3.04 μm）. SEM images showed the microspheres were spherical with smooth or wrinkled surface surfaces. FT-IR demonstrated theophylline had formed hydrogen bonds with chitosan and fl-cyclodextrin. The microspheres could effectively reduce the ciliotoxicity and easy to penetrate the memberine. The in vitro release of the microspheres was related to the ratio of drug/polymer and microspheres Ⅱ had a prolong release, providing the release of 72.00% in 12 h. The results suggestes that chitosan/β-cyclodextrin microspheres Ⅱ are a promising carrier as sustained release for pulmonary delivery.

Association of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with mild cognitive impairment and dementia risk:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)is a common public health issue that has been linked to cognitive dysfunction.AIM To investigate the relationship between COPD and a risk of mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and dementia.METHODS A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed,Embase,Google Scholar,and Cochrane Library electronic databases was conducted.Pooled odds ratios(OR)and mean differences(MD)with 95%confidence intervals(CIs)were calculated using a random or fixed effects model.Studies that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for quality using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale.RESULTS Twenty-seven studies met all the inclusion criteria.Meta-analysis yielded a strong association between COPD and increased risk of MCI incidence(OR=2.11,95%CI:1.32-3.38).It also revealed a borderline trend for an increased dementia risk in COPD patients(OR=1.16,95%CI:0.98-1.37).Pooled hazard ratios(HR)using adjusted confounders also showed a higher incidence of MCI(HR=1.22,95%CI:-1.18 to-1.27)and dementia(HR=1.32,95%CI:-1.22 to-1.43)in COPD patients.A significant lower mini-mental state examination score in COPD patients was noted(MD=-1.68,95%CI:-2.66 to-0.71).CONCLUSION Our findings revealed an elevated risk for the occurrence of MCI and dementia in COPD patients.Proper clinical management and attention are required to prevent and control MCI and dementia incidence in COPD patients.

Effects of 3，4－Dihydroxyacetophenone （3，4－DHAP） on Hypoxic Pulmonary and Systemic Vascular Response in Dogs

The effects of 3,4-DHAP on hypoxic pulmonary and systemic vascular responses were studied in anaesthetized dogs. The percentage change in pulmonary vascular resistance(△PVR%)and that in systemic vascular resistance(△SVR%)induced by 5 min hypoxia decreased significantly.3,4-DHAP in doses of 1 mg/kg,3mg/kg,and 10 mg/kg i.v caused a decrease in b PVR% from the control value of 47.27±22.27% to 24.62±21.76%,18.15±18.73%,and 24.10±19.76% respectively, and a decrease in △SVR% from the control value of 12.91±7.39% to -0.34±12.7%,-2.11±12.76%,and -2.37±15.52% respectively.The results showed that 3,4-DHAP could decrease the hypoxic responses of pulmonary and systemic blood vessels.But it did not change △PVR% or △SVR% in dose of 30mg/kg,neither did it influence the heart rate,cardiac output or cerebral blood flow during hypoxia in all the doses used.

A systematic review of the effectiveness of clinical nurse specialist interventions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)

Objective： This review aimed to examine the effectiveness of clinical nurse specialist （CNS） interventions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. COPD significantly affects people＇s health worldwide. With the development in nursing, CNSs are playing increasingly important roles in different departments. However, the studies on the effectiveness of CNSs in COPD are not as well organized as the studies on the effectiveness of CNSs in bronchiectasis and asthma. Therefore, this review aims to find some updated evidence on the CNS interventions for patients with COPD and on whether these interventions are effective.Methods： A narrative analysis of the data was performed for the eligible studies. Four databases were chosen： CINAHL, MEDLINE, British Nursing Index, and Cochrane Library. Other websites such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, National Health Service Evidence, Association of Respiratory Nurse Specialists, and National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist were searched as well. Two reviewers performed study identification independently, and all the retrieved articles were stored using the EndNote X7 software. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration＇s risk of bias tool. Results： A total of nine studies were included in this review. There were five current interventions by CNSs for patients with COPD. These interventions were home nursing support, CNS]s supported discharge, multidisciplinary cooperation programs, nurse-led care programs, and self-care management education. The effectiveness of these five interventions was evaluated individually. There is low- to moderate-quality evidence indicating that home nursing support interventions may have a positive effect on mortality and quality of life. No significant difference in quality of life has been found between the CNS-supported discharge intervention and the usual service. The multidisciplinary cooperation program probably had a positive effect on quality ot life in patients with COPD. Both nurse-led care and self-care management education intervention had a positive effect on mortality of patients with COPD.Conclusions： The findings of this review provide updated evidence on the effectiveness of CNS interventions for patients with COPD. Although nine trials were included and five types of interventions were identified, there is still lack of high-quality evidence.

Gender Differences in Pulmonary Inflammation Following Systemic Cadmium Administration in Rats

Objective To examine the presence of gender differences in pulmonary inflammation evoked by acute systemic cadmium administration in rats. Methods Presence of basic indicators of lung inflammation （inflammatory cytokine lung content, leukocyte infiltration and activity of cells recovered from lungs by enzyme digestion） was analyzed and compared in animals of the two sexes. Results Intraperitoneal administration of cadmium （1.0 mg/kg） resulted in higher cadmium content in lungs of female rats. Higher tumor necrosis factor （TNF） content was noted in lung homogenates of male rats, while interleukin-6 （IL-6） content was slightly, but signifaicantly greater in lungs of female rats. Increased leukocyte infiltration was observed in lungs of male rats, mainly due to neutrophils. Increased responsiveness to phorbol myristate acetate （PMA） stimulation was noted in cells recovered from lungs of male rats. Rise in intracellular content of myeloperoxidase （MPO） was noted in lung cells from cadmium-treated rats of both sexes, but higher in cells from male rats. Conclusion Presented data documented a more intense pulmonary inflammatory response to systemic cadmium administration in males, with higher IL-6 levels in lungs of female individuals. These sex differences in proinflamatory activity of cadmium in lungs should be taken into consideration in studying the remote toxicity of this heavy metal.

Role of MexA-MexB-OprM Efflux Pump System in Chronic Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Pulmonary Infection in Mice

In order to investigate the role of the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump system in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA)-induced pulmonary infection,pulmonary infection models were established by intratracheal injection of K767(wild type),nalB(MexA-MexB-OprM up-regulated mutant),and △m exB(knockout) strains,separately.All mice were treated with Meropenem(intraperitoneal injection,100 mg/kg body weight,twice every day),and strain-related pathology,bacteria count,cytokine level,myeloperoxidase(MPO,indicator of neutrophil recruitment) activity,and macrophage inflammatory protein-2(MIP-2) expression were evaluated at early(3rd day post-infection) and late(7th and 14th day post-infection) stages of infection.E-test showed that △mexB was more significantly sensitive to panipenan(ETP),meropenem(MP) and imipenem(IP) than K767 and nalB strains.There was no significant difference in sensitivity to cefepime(TM) among the three stains.In contrast to the K767 and nalB groups,the △ mexB group showed decreased bacteria burden over time and less extensive pathological change.Additionally,MPO activity and levels of inflammatory cytokines(IL-1b,IL-12,and TNF-α) were increased at the early stage(day 3) and decreased at the later stage(day 14).Serum MIP-2 expression level was steadily increased in all three groups from early to late stages,but significantly higher in △m exB group than in K767 and nalB groups(P<0.05).In conclusion,the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump system might play an important role in PA-induced chronic pulmonary infection.High expression of the MexA-MexB-OprM efflux pump could increase antibacterial resistance and promote infection.

Tanreqing injection auxiliary in the treatment of heart failure with pulmonary infection:A systematic review

Objective:To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Tanreqing injection in the treatment of heart failure complicated with pulmonary infection.Methods:The database of CNKI,SinoMed,VIP full text database,Wanfang database,Cochrance Library,Web of Science and PubMed were searched.The retrieval time was from the inception to August 2021.Clinical randomized controlled trial of Tanreqing injection in the treatment of heart failure complicated with pulmonary infection was collected,and two researchers independently screened the document data.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4.1 software.Results:A total of 10 documents were included,including 862 cases of heart failure complicated with pulmonary infection,including 431 cases in the test group,and 431 cases in the control group.The Meta analysis showed that compared to the control group,the test group increased clinical efficiency[OR=4.56,95%CI(2.79,7.52),P<0.00001],reduced the value of C-reactive protein[MD=-7.55,95%CI(-11.40,-3.69),P=0.0001],reduced the time required to correct heart failure[OR=-4.04,95%CI(-4.59,-3.49),P<0.00001],reduced the number of days of the average hospitalization[MD=-4.78,95%CI(-6.67,-2.89),P<0.00001],and there were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of adverse reactions.Conclusion:Tanreqing injection,as an auxiliary treatment for heart failure complicated with pulmonary infection,has significantly effective effect on improving efficiency.Tanreqing injection has a certain advantage in reducing C-creative protein values,shortening the time of correcting heart failure,and reducing the number of days of the average hospitalization,and the adverse reactions are smaller.However,the overall quality of the included studies is low,and more high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to increase the evidence-based basis.

Effect of sequential assist-control ventilation on cardio-pulmonary function and systemic inflammatory state of chronic pulmonary heart disease complicated with respiratory failure patients

Objective:To discuss the effect of sequential assist-control ventilation on cardio-pulmonary function and systemic inflammatory state of chronic pulmonary heart disease complicated with respiratory failure patients.Method: A total of 90 cases of chronic pulmonary heart disease complicated with respiratory failure patients, who were treated in our hospital between May, 2012 and Feb., 2016, were selected, and were divided into study group (n=45) and control group (n=45) based on random number table. Patients in control group were given auxiliary - control ventilation. (A/C) treatment during the whole course, while patients in study group were given A/C+BiPAP treatment. Cardio-pulmonary function and serum inflammatory factor content difference was compared inboth groups before and after operation.Results: Before treatment, difference ofcardiac function indicator, ABG level and inflammatory factor content in both groups had no statistical significance. After treatment, cardiac function indicator (PASP, RVd) levels in both groups were lower than before treatment, and EFRV levels were higher than before treatment, and changes in study group were more obvious than that in control group;ABG indicator (PaO2) levels in both groups were higher than before treatment, and PaCO2 levels werelower than before treatment, and changes in study group were more obvious than that in control group;serum inflammatory factor (hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) content in both groups was lower than before treatment, and changes in study group were more obvious than that in control group.Conclusion: sequential assist-control ventilation could optimize the cardio-pulmonary function of chronic pulmonary heart disease complicated with respiratory failure patients and reduce the systemic inflammatory response.

Home versus centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: To evaluate the effects of home versus centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation on exercise capacity, quality of life, and dyspnoea scores in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by meta-analysis. Methods: We searched the Cochrane library, Embase, PubMed and CINAHL (EBSCO) up to April 2020 without language restriction to collect randomized controlled trials of home versus centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Literatures screening, risk of bias assessment and data extraction for the included studies were conducted by two reviewers independently. The data analysis was carried out by RevMan 5.3 software. Results: A total of 9 studies, which comprised a total of 859 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Centre and home-based pulmonary rehabilitation were equally effective at improving exercise capacity (MD = 2.30, 95% CI: 12.02 to 7.42, P > 0.05) and dyspnoea scores (MD = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.17, P > 0.05). They were also equally effective at improving health-related quality of life on the chronic respiratory questionnaire (dyspnea: MD = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.13, P > 0.05;fatigue: MD = 0.19, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.07, P > 0.05;emotional function: MD = 0.18, 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.40, P > 0.05 and mastery: MD = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.38 to 0.11, P > 0.05), and on the St George's respiratory questionnaire (MD = 1.77, 95% CI: 4.54 to 0.99, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Home and centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation has similar effects on exercise capacity, quality of life, and dyspnoea scores in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation has the potential to be an alternative to centre-based pulmonary rehabilitation.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension among children with Down syndrome:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension(PH)has serious short-and long-term consequences.PH is gaining increasing importance in high risk groups such as Down syndrome(DS)as it influences their overall survival and prognosis.Hence,there is a dire need to collate the prevalence rates of PH in order to undertake definitive measures for early diagnosis and management.AIM To determine the prevalence of PH in children with DS.METHODS The authors individually conducted a search of electronic databases manually(Cochrane library,PubMed,EMBASE,Scopus,Web of Science).Data extraction and quality control were independently performed by two reviewers and a third reviewer resolved any conflicts of opinion.The words used in the literature search were“pulmonary hypertension”and“pulmonary arterial hypertension”;“Down syndrome”and“trisomy 21”and“prevalence”.The data were analyzed by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 2.Risk of bias assessment and STROBE checklist were used for quality assessment.RESULTS Of 1578 articles identified,17 were selected for final analysis.The pooled prevalence of PH in these studies was 25.5%.Subgroup analysis was carried out for age,gender,region,year of publication,risk of bias and etiology of PH.CONCLUSION This review highlights the increasing prevalence of PH in children with DS.It is crucial for pediatricians to be aware of this morbid disease and channel their efforts towards earlier diagnosis and successful management.Community-based studies with a larger sample size of children with DS should be carried out to better characterize the epidemiology and underlying etiology of PH in DS.

Systemic Inflammatory Markers and Disease Severity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease—The Effect of Acute Exercise and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Background: Decreased physical capacity and increased systemic inflammatory response are frequently observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The relationship between the inflammatory response and disease severity and the immunological response to exercise were addressed in COPD. Objective: The first objective was to identify systemic biomarkers and their relationship with COPD severity. The second objective was to examine the effect of both acute exercise and pulmonary rehabilitation on these biomarkers. Methods: Forty subjects participated in the study. Thirty-two patients with moderate or severe COPD and 8 healthy non-smokers completed the study. Spirometry was preformed. Physical capacity was determined by a progressive symptom-limited cycle ergo meter (incremental) test. Blood samples were analyzed for C-reactive protein (CRP), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α), pro-fibrotic cytokines (TGF-β) and oxidative burst in circulating leukocytes before and after exercise, and before and after pulmonary rehabilitation. Results: IL-6, CRP, WCC and TGF-β were higher in COPD (p α, CRP and TGF-β were negatively related to forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (r = 0.4054, 0.3221, 0.1528, 0.1846 and 0.1187, respectively). Acute exercise increased circulating leucocytes and oxidative stress in both groups (p = 0.000, 0.0049 respectively), while IL-6 was increased in COPD group ((p = 0.0115) and circulating TNF-α in healthy control (p = 0.0369). Pulmonary rehabilitation didn’t modify the levels of inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: Reduced lung function is associated with increased levels of systemic inflammatory markers and acute exercise can further increase this inflammatory response. However pulmonary rehabilitation is unlikely to exacerbate systemic inflammation in COPD.

Study on the efficacy of early treatment with pirfenidone on the lung function of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)is classified under fibrotic interstitial pneumonia,characterized by a chronic and progressive course.The predominant clinical features of IPF include dyspnea and pulmonary dysfunction.AIM To assess the effects of pirfenidone in the early treatment of IPF on lung function in patients.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on 113 patients with IPF who were treated in our hospital from November 2017 to January 2023.These patients were divided into two groups:control group(n=53)and observation group(n=60).In the control group,patients received routine therapy in combination with methylprednisolone tablets,while those in the observation group received routine therapy together with pirfenidone.After applying these distinct treatment approaches to the two groups,we assessed several parameters,including the overall effectiveness of clinical therapy,the occurrence of adverse reactions(e.g.,nausea,vomiting,and anorexia),symptom severity scores,pulmonary function index levels,inflammatory marker levels,and the 6-min walk distance before and after treatment in both groups.RESULTS The observation group exhibited significantly higher rates than the control group after therapy,with a clear distinction(P<0.05).After treatment,the observation group experienced significantly fewer adverse reactions than the control group,with a noticeable difference(P<0.05).When analyzing the symptom severity scores between the two groups of patients after treatment,the observation group had significantly lower scores than the control group,with a distinct difference(P<0.05).When comparing the pulmonary function index levels between the two groups of patients after therapy,the observation group displayed significantly higher levels than the control group,with a noticeable difference(P<0.05).Evaluating the inflammatory marker data(C-reactive protein,interleukin-2[IL-2],and IL-8)between the two groups of patients after therapy,the observation group exhibited significantly lower levels than the control group,with significant disparities(P<0.05).Comparison of the 6-min walking distance data between the two groups of patients after treatment showed that the observation group achieved significantly greater distances than the control group,with a marked difference(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Prompt initiation of pirfenidone treatment in individuals diagnosed with IPF can enhance pulmonary function,elevate inflammatory factor levels,and increase the distance covered in the 6-min walk test.This intervention is conducive to effectively decreasing the occurrence of adverse reactions in patients.