Pulmonary rehabilitation is a comprehensive intervention based on a thorough patient assessment followed by patient-tailored therapies, which include, but are not limited to, exercise training, education, and behavior change, designed to improve the physical and psychological condition of people with chronic respiratory disease and to promote the long-term adherence of health-enhancing behaviors. It has been proven beneficial in reducing dyspnea and improving functional capacity and quality of life for patients with stable chronic respiratory disease. However, recent randomized clinical trials reported conflicting results on the timing of intervention, protocol and effectiveness of acute exacerbation or intensive care unit pulmonary rehabilitation to improve patient outcomes. We should find a balance between " dynamic” and " static” to maximize the benefit of patients from early pulmonary rehabilitation.
ObjectiveTo explore the relevance of the ratio of pulmonary arterial diameter to aortic diameter exceeding one (PA:A>1) with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and inflammatory factor levels in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). MethodsFrom August 2013 to December 2013,95 inpatients with AECOPD in West China Hospital were divided into two groups according to the ratio of pulmonary arterial diameter to aortic diameter. The clinical data of the patients were collected. Meanwhile,arterial blood gas,plasma levels of BNP,C-reactive protein (CRP),and interleukin-6 (IL-6) within 24 hours were measured. ResultsThe plasma BNP level was 2005(483-4582)ng/L in the group with PA:A>1,and 404(137-1224)ng/L in the group with PA:A<1. There was significant difference in plasma BNP level between two groups (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in CRP or IL-6 level between two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe ratio of pulmonary arterial diameter to aortic diameter is correlated with BNP level in patients with AECOPD,but is not correlated with CRP or IL-6.
Objective To improve the awareness of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ( AEIPF) and discuss its clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Methods The clinical data of patients with AEIPF from June 2006 to June 2011 in 11 hospitals in Jiangsu were collected and analyzed. Resluts There were 18 males and 3 females in the AEIPF patients with mean age of ( 67.4 ± 8.1) years. The duration from IPF diagnosis was ( 7.4 ±8.2) months. The duration of acute symptom before admission was ( 7.0 ±5.3) days. The distribution pattern of new groud-glass opacity was peripheral in 3 patients,multifocal in 5 patients, and diffuse in13 patients. All patients were treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy. Nine patients survived and 12 patients died. The mortality rate was 57.1% . Conclusions AEIPF progresses quickly and the mortality rate is very high. Corticosteroid pulse therapy is the mainstay of therapy in AEIPF patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical phenotype of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by cluster analysis and provide a basis for individualized treatment.MethodsA total of 515 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD admitted to this department from January 2014 to December 2016 were enrolled. The age, duration, smoking index, number of hospitalizations in the past 1 year, hospitalization days, treatment costs and other information were collected for cluster analysis.ResultsThe patients were divided into three categories of phenotype: " mild-glucocorticoid resistance-antibiotic dependent”," mild-glucocorticoid sensitive”, and " serious complication”. The patients with the first two phenotypes had a milder condition and lower hospitalization costs. There were differences in the time and cumulative dose of glucocorticoids in different pathways, antibiotic use time and usage rate. The third phenotype was the most serious, with the highest cost of hospitalization, and may merge or co-exist with other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and digestive tract disease.ConclusionCluster analysis may identify different phenotypes of acute exacerbation of COPD to provide a reference for clinical individualized treatment.
Objective To evaluate the effects of indoor temperature and relative humidity on acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（AECOPD）.Methods A total of 70 moderate to very severe COPD patients were recruited.The data including indoor temperature and relative humidity twice daily，increase over their stable symptoms in "major" symptoms（dyspnea，sputum purulence，sputum amount） and "minor" symptoms（nasal discharge/congestion，sore throat，cough），and adjustment of medication were recorded on diary cards.All data were collected from Jan 2005 to Dec 2005 by telephone inquiring or home visiting.Furthermore，the corresponding median outdoor temperature，relative humidity and air pressure from atmosphere bureau were compared with indoors parameters to examine the different effects on AECOPD.Results Fifty-five cases completed the whole investigation.Indoor temperature and relative humidity were both risk factors when logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect.Our research showed that AECOPD was significantly related to indoor and ourdoor environment factors.The correlation coefficient of all factors were r=－0.686（indoor temperature），r=－0.671（outer temperature），r=0.105（indoor humidity），r=－0.115（outer humidity），r=0.545（atmospheric pressure） respectively.Conclusions The indoor temperature and relative humidity，especially low temperature and high relative humidity，had important effects on AECOPD of moderate to very severe patients.It may be helpful to prevent AECOPD by adjusting the indoor temperature and relative humidity.
Objective To investigate the prognostic factors related to in-hospital mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( AECOPD) . Methods A prospective cohort study was carried out in AECOPD patients admitted in three district general hospitals of Jiangyou city, Sichuan province from February 2007 to February 2008. The clinical and epidemiological data at admission and all-cause death in hospital were recorded. The in-hospital mortality rate and potential determinants of mortality of AECOPD were analyzed using Logistic regression method. Results 257 AECOPD inpatients with AECOPD were recruited into the cohort study. The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.84% (15/257) . Univariate analysis showed in-hospital mortality was significantly associated with age, FEV1% pred, arterial oxygen tension ( PaO2 ) , arterial oxygen saturation ( SaO2 ) , pH, and Charlson’s complication index. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that lower arterial oxygen tension ( OR 4.775;95%CI 1.545 ～14.757; P =0.007) and higher Charlson’s complication index ( OR 4. 608; 95% CI 1. 330 ～15. 966; P =0. 016) were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality after adjustment by age. Conclusion For in-patients with AECOPD, PaO2 and Charlson’s complication index are independent risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality.
ObjectiveTo investigate the association between serum thyroid hormone levels and prognosis for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) without thyroid disease, and explore the prognostic value of serum thyroid hormone levels for patients with AECOPD.MethodsThe clinical data of 239 hospitalized cases of AECOPD [149 males, 90 females, aged 42-92 (77.7±8.9) years] from January 2013 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Serum thyroid hormone levels including total tetraiodothyronin (TT4), total triiodothyronin (TT3), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free tetraiodothyronin (FT4) and free triiodothyronin (FT3) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. All patients were divided into a survival group and a death group according to the prognosis. Serum thyroid hormone levels were compared between two groups. Correlations of serum thyroid hormone levels with the occurrence of death in AECOPD patients were analyzed. The prognostic value of serum thyroid hormone levels for AECOPD patients was explored by receiveroperating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. And the best cut-off value of serum thyroid hormone level in predicting the risk of death was calculated.ResultsSerum TT4, TT3, FT4 and FT3 levels in the survival group were significantly higher than those in the death group [TT4: (89.35±21.45) nmol/L vs. (76.84±21.33) nmol/L; TT3: (1.05±0.34) nmol/L vs. (0.72±0.19) nmol/L; FT4: (16.17±2.91) pmol/L vs. (14.45±2.85) pmol/L; FT3: (3.06±0.81) pmol/L vs. (2.24±0.72) pmol/L; all P<0.05]. The differences of serum TSH level between two groups were not statistically significant [0.98 (0.54-1.83)vs. 0.57 (0.31-1.84), P>0.05]. Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum TT4, TT3, FT4 and FT3 levels were significant correlated with the occurrence of death (r values were 0.226, 0.417, 0.220, 0.387, respectively, P<0.05). And there was no significant correlation between serum TSH level and the occurrence of death (P>0.05). ROC curve analysis was done between serum thyroid hormone levels (TT4, TT3, TSH, FT4 and FT3) and the occurrence of death in the AECOPD patients. The areas under ROC curve were 0.659, 0.793, 0.588, 0.655 and 0.772, respectively. Serum TT3 was the best indicator for predicting the occurrence of death. When serum TT3 level was 0.85nmol/L, the Youden index was the highest (0.486), with a sensitivity of 70.2%, and a specificity of 78.3%. It was the best cut-offl value of serum TT3 to predict the risk of death in AECOPD patients.ConculsionsSerum thyroid hormone levels are significant associated with the prognostic for AECOPD patients. There is certain value of serum thyroid hormone levels in prognostic evaluation of AECOPD patients.
Objective To analyze the risk factors of treatment failure by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), and explore the best time that NPPV be replaced by invasive ventilation when NPPV failure occurs. Methods The data of patients with ARF due to AECOPD who were treated with NPPV from January 2013 to December 2015 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups: the NPPV success group and the NPPV failure group (individuals who required endotracheal intubation or tracheotomy at any time). The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ score was analyzed; the Glasgow Coma Scale score, respiratory rate (RR), pH value, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), PaO2/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide were also analyzed at admission, after 2 hours of NPPV, and after 24 hours of NPPV. Results A total of 185 patients with ARF due to AECOPD were included. NPPV failed in 35.1% of the patients (65/185). Multivariate analysis identified the following factors to be independently associated with NPPV failure: APACHEⅡscore≥30 [odds ratio (OR)=20.603, 95% confidence interval (CI) (5.309, 80.525), P<0.001], RR at admission≥35 per minute [OR=3.723, 95%CI (1.197, 11.037), P=0.020], pH value after 2 hours of NPPV<7.25 [OR=2.517, 95%CI (0.905, 7.028), P=0.070], PaO2 after 2 hours of NPPV<60 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) [OR=3.915, 95%CI (1.374, 11.508), P=0.010], and PaO2/FiO2 after 2 hours of NPPV<200 mm Hg [OR=4.024, 95%CI (1.542, 11.004), P=0.010]. Conclusion When patients with ARF due to AECOPD have a higher severity score, have a rapid RR at admission, or fail to improve in terms of pH and oxygenation after 2 hours of NPPV, the risk of NPPV failure is higher.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) plus bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation in the treatment of acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM) in rats.MethodsMSCs were isolated from male Wistar rats and cultured in vitro. Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The NC group was intratracheally injected with normal saline; the BLM group, the MSC group and the DGMSC group were intratracheally injected with BLM for 7 days; then the MSC group was injected with 0.5 mL of MSCs solution (2.5×106 cells) into the tail vein; the DGMSC group was intraperitoneally injected with DG for 21 days in a dose of 150 mg·kg–1·d–1 on the base of the MSCs injection. The rats were sacrificed on the 28th day and the lung tissue was extracted. Pathological examination was performed to determine the degree of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the number and distribution of alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells. Alkali hydrolysis method was used to determine the content of hydroxyproline (HYP) in lung tissue; thiobarbituric acid method was used to measure the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in lung tissue; colorimetric method was used to determine the superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC); enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in lung tissue homogenates.ResultsThe DG combined with MSCs injection can reduce the degree of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis in BLM model rats. The content of HYP and TGF-β1 in lung tissue homogenate of the DGMSC group were significantly lower than those in the MSC group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, DG combined with MSCs injection significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of the BLM model rats. MDA content decreased, SOD activity and T-AOC ability improved significantly in the DGMSC group compared with the MSC group (P<0.05). The alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells were significantly increased and the cell morphology was maintained in the DGMSC group compared with the MSC group.ConclusionsDG has a synergistic effect with MSCs in treatment of acute exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis. The mechanism may be related to reducing inflammatory factors during pulmonary fibrosis, attenuating oxidative stress and promoting MSCs migration into lung tissue and transformation to alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells.
ObjectiveTo assess the mortality, acute exacerbations, exercise capacity, symptoms and significant physiological parameters (lung function, respiratory muscle function and gas exchange) of patients with severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with respiratory failure treated by noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV).MethodsA meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was carried out by searching PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, OVID, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and the bibliographies of the retrieved articles up to February 2017. Studies of patients with severe stable COPD with respiratory failure receiving long-term noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and comparison with oxygen therapy were conducted, and at least one of the following parameters were reviewed: frequency of acute exacerbations, mortality, lung function, respiratory muscle function, gas exchange, 6-minute walk test.ResultsSix studies with 695 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The PaCO2 was significantly decreased in patients who received long-term NPPV. No significant difference was found between long-term NPPV and oxygen therapy in mortality, frequency of acute exacerbations, gas exchange, lung function, respiratory muscle function and exercise capacity. The subgroup analysis showed that NPPV improves survival of patients when it is targeted at greatly reducing hypercapnia.ConclusionCurrent evidence suggests that there is no significant improvement by application of NPPV on severe stable COPD with respiratory failure patients, but NPPV may reduce patients’ mortality with the aim of reducing hypercapnia.