To assess the effect of heliox, a helium-oxygen mixture, on respiratory distress symptoms in young infants.

Whether computerized autoadjusted continuous positive airway pressure (aCPAP) is effective or even superior to constant continuous positive airway pressure (cCPAP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is still controversial. We performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled, cross-over trial comparing efficacy of sleep apnea home therapy by a novel aCPAP machine (REMStarAuto; Respironics; Murrysville, PA) operated in autoadjusted or constant mode. Thirty sleep apnea patients were recruited consecutively. Mean baseline Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score was 12.7 +/- 0.6 (+/- SD), mean sleep resistance time was 26 +/- 2 min (Osler test; Stowood Scientific Systems; Oxford, UK), and mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 41.1 +/- 3.6 h. Patients were randomly assigned to 1 month of home therapy with aCPAP followed by 1 month with cCPAP, or vice versa. After 1 month with treatment, the mean ESS score, sleep resistance time, and AHI were significantly improved (6.6 +/- 0.6, 37 +/- 1 min, and 4.6 +/- 0.7 h, respectively; all p < 0.05 vs baseline). Similar effects were achieved with cCPAP (p = not significant vs aCPAP). Twenty-six patients preferred aCPAP, and 4 patients preferred cCPAP (p < 0.001). We conclude that patients with OSAS preferred aCPAP over cCPAP in the initial phase of therapy. The effectiveness aCPAP in improving major outcomes was equivalent to cCPAP. Since aCPAP does not require initial titration, it is a simple and promising modality for sleep apnea home therapy.

Lymphocyte alterations have been associated with an increased prevalence of acute respiratory infections in COPD patients. AM3 is an oral immunomodulator that normalizes the defective functions of peripheral blood natural killer and phagocytic cells in COPD patients and improves their health-related quality of life.

The combination of short-acting beta(2)-agonists and anticholinergics in the treatment of COPD has been well documented, but data on combination of long-acting agents are lacking.

To examine the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary intervention for pediatric asthma.

To present additional analysis of data from a previously published study showing that biofeedback training to increase heart rate variability (HRV) can be an effective component in asthma treatment. HRV and intervention-related changes in HRV are negatively correlated with age. Here we assess the effects of age on biofeedback effects for asthma.

Emergency department (ED) visits for asthma are frequent and may indicate increased morbidity and poor primary care access. Our objective was to compare the effect of two interventions on primary care follow-up after ED treatment for asthma exacerbations.

To compare a novel asthma management strategy--budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler for both maintenance therapy and symptom relief--with a higher dose of budesonide plus as-needed terbutaline.

In vitro data suggest that the S-enantiomer of albuterol can induce mucociliary dysfunction. This clinical study assesses the clinical significance of standard doses of the S-enantiomer on airway secretions in long-term intubated patients by comparing a racemic formulation of albuterol, an R-enantiomer formulation, and normal saline solution.

COPD is a relentless, progressive disease. This study evaluated the efficacy of cilomilast, a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4 inhibitor, in the treatment of COPD.

Previous research has demonstrated that fish oil supplementation has a protective effect on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in elite athletes, which may be attributed to its antiinflammatory properties. Since EIB in asthma involves proinflammatory mediator release, it is feasible that fish oil supplementation may reduce the severity of EIB in asthmatic subjects.

The primary objective was to determine whether high-dose formoterol, 24 mug bid, was associated with more asthma exacerbations compared with lower formoterol doses in patients with stable persistent asthma. Serious asthma exacerbations (life threatening or requiring hospitalization) were the primary end point. Secondary end points included significant exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids, all exacerbations, and changes in FEV1.

To compare the safety of salmeterol xinafoate or placebo added to usual asthma care.

Few studies have examined the effects of caregiving on the caregivers of chronically critically ill (CCI) patients, and no one has examined the impact of a disease management program (DMP) on physical and psychological outcomes for the caregivers of CCI patients. The purposes of this study of caregivers of CCI patients were as follows: (1) to describe the characteristics of CCI patients and caregivers and to examine the frequency of depression, subjective burden, and physical health; (2) to examine factors related to depression after hospital discharge; and (3) to examine the effects of a DMP on the physical health, depression, and burden of caregivers 2 months post-hospital discharge.

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) is beneficial for patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) when added to medical treatment. However, its role as an alternative to conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) remains controversial. Our aim was to compare the efficacy and resource consumption of NIMV against CMV in patients with ARF.

To investigate the response to interval exercise (IE) training by looking at changes in morphologic and biochemical characteristics of the vastus lateralis muscle, and to compare these changes to those incurred after constant-load exercise (CLE) training.

COPD, the fifth-leading cause of death worldwide, is characterized by chronic inflammation. However, no available agent can effectively cure this inflammation. A dietary supplement containing omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we hypothesized that nutritional support with omega-3 PUFA-rich diets may be useful for treating COPD, and we compared the clinical features and inflammatory mediator levels between the COPD patients who received an omega-3 PUFA-rich supplement and those who received a nonrich supplement.

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an established treatment in patients with chronic lung disease but is not widely utilized. Most trials have been conducted in single centers. The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) provided an opportunity to evaluate pulmonary rehabilitation in a large cohort of patients who were treated in centers throughout the United States.

The aim of our study was to compare the diagnostic yield of two bronchoscopic procedures: endobronchial ultrasound-driven transbronchial biopsy (EBUS-TBB) and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in peripheral pulmonary lesions.

In 1996, researchers in Sweden initiated a collaborative randomized study comparing lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) and physical training with physical training alone. The primary end point was health status; secondary end points included survival and physiologic measurements.