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Substance Abuse Jul 2023The prevalence of marijuana use and its derivatives has surged over the past century, largely due to increasing legalization globally. Despite arguments advocating its... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of marijuana use and its derivatives has surged over the past century, largely due to increasing legalization globally. Despite arguments advocating its benefits, marijuana smoking exposes the lungs to harmful combustion byproducts, leading to various respiratory issues such as asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
METHODS
We embarked on an extensive literature search, utilizing PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, identifying 200 studies. After the elimination of duplicates, and meticulous review of abstracts and full texts, 55 studies were included in our analysis.
RESULTS
Current literature demonstrates that marijuana use negatively impacts lung function, triggering symptoms like chronic cough, sputum production, and wheezing, and diminishing FEV1/FVC ratio in spirometry tests. Moreover, prolonged or chronic marijuana use augments the risk of respiratory function impairment. While the carcinogenic effects of marijuana are still contested, a weak correlation between marijuana use and lung cancer has been observed in some studies. Additionally, instances of other pathologies linked to marijuana use have been reported, including the development of COPD, pulmonary bullae, spontaneous pneumothorax, pleuritic pain, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, hemoptysis, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The evidence underscores that marijuana use is detrimental to respiratory health. In light of the escalating trend of marijuana use, particularly among the youth, it is imperative to advocate public health messages discouraging its consumption.
PubMed: 37728136
DOI: 10.1177/08897077231186228 -
Respiratory Care Nov 2016This systematic review focuses on respiratory effects of inhalational marijuana. The systematic review of the literature was conducted using a comparative method between... (Review)
Review
This systematic review focuses on respiratory effects of inhalational marijuana. The systematic review of the literature was conducted using a comparative method between 2 researchers. Abstracts were reviewed for inclusion of respiratory effects related to inhalational marijuana. Relevant abstracts were collected, and full text articles were retrieved for review. Articles were removed if they did not contain burning marijuana; were animal studies; or were editorials, systematic reviews, commentaries, non-English language, or non-respiratory-related articles. Forty-eight articles were collected and categorized by respiratory effects. In particular, lung cancer, bullous emphysema/COPD, and other respiratory symptoms were the primary categories. Articles were noted by study population country, sample size, age distribution, and findings that were pertinent to respiratory health. The research indicates that there is a risk of lung cancer from inhalational marijuana as well as an association between inhalational marijuana and spontaneous pneumothorax, bullous emphysema, or COPD. A variety of symptoms have been reported by inhalational marijuana smokers, including wheezing, shortness of breath, altered pulmonary function tests, cough, phlegm production, bronchodilation, and other symptoms. It is important to stay current with research findings to educate patients on this smoking behavior.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cough; Dyspnea; Female; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Marijuana Smoking; Middle Aged; Pneumothorax; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Pulmonary Emphysema; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Sounds; Young Adult
PubMed: 27507173
DOI: 10.4187/respcare.04846 -
Respiratory Research Apr 2022Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by irreversible airflow limitation, ranking the third highest...
BACKGROUND
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by irreversible airflow limitation, ranking the third highest cause of death worldwide. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important intercellular communication mediators released by cells into their extracellular environment with the capacity to transfer biological signals. EVs involved in COPD hold great potential to understand disease pathogenesis and identify important biomarkers. This systematic review aims to examine all available research on EVs in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of COPD to identify existing knowledge and support further research within the field.
METHODS
Publications were searched using PubMed and EMBASE with the search terms (Exosomes or extracellular vesicles or microvesicles or microparticles or ectosomes) AND (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD or emphysema or bronchitis).
RESULTS
Initial search yielded 512 papers of which 142 were manually selected for review and 43 were eligible for analyses. The studies were divided into groups according to the role of EVs in pathogenesis, EV origin and cargo, their role in COPD exacerbations and their diagnostic utility. EVs were found to be involved in the mechanism of pathogenesis of COPD, derived from various cell types, as well as containing modified levels of miRNAs. EVs also varied according to the pathophysiological status of disease, therefore presenting a possible method for COPD diagnosis and progress monitoring.
CONCLUSION
The current findings show the limited but good quality research looking at the role of EVs in COPD, demonstrating the need for more studies to better define and provide further insight into the functional characteristics of EV in COPD pathogenesis.
Topics: Cell Communication; Cell-Derived Microparticles; Exosomes; Extracellular Vesicles; Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
PubMed: 35382831
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-022-01984-0 -
Chronic Respiratory Disease 2022Computed tomography (CT) is commonly utilized in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for lung cancer screening and emphysema characterization. Computed... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Computed tomography (CT) is commonly utilized in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for lung cancer screening and emphysema characterization. Computed tomography-morphometric analysis of body composition (muscle mass and adiposity) has gained increased recognition as a marker of disease severity and prognosis. This systematic review aimed to describe the CT-methodology used to assess body composition and identify the association of body composition measures and disease severity, health-related quality of life (HRQL), cardiometabolic risk factors, respiratory exacerbations, and survival in patients with COPD.
METHODS
Six databases were searched (inception-September 2021) for studies evaluating adult COPD patients using thoracic or abdominal CT-muscle or adiposity body composition measures. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
Twenty eight articles were included with 15,431 COPD patients, across all GOLD stages with 77% males, age range (mean/median 59-78 years), and BMI range 19.8-29.3 kg/m. There was heterogeneity in assessment of muscle mass and adiposity using thoracic ( = 22) and abdominal ( = 8) CT-scans, capturing different muscle groups, anatomic locations, and adiposity compartments (visceral, subcutaneous, and epicardial). Low muscle mass and increased adiposity were associated with increased COPD severity measures (lung function, exercise capacity, dyspnea) and lower HRQL, but were not consistent across studies. Increased visceral adiposity ( = 6) was associated with cardiovascular disease or risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes). Low muscle CSA was prognostic of respiratory exacerbations or mortality in three of six studies, whereas the relationship with increased intermuscular adiposity and greater mortality was only observed in one of three studies.
CONCLUSION
There was significant variability in CT-body composition measures. In several studies, low muscle mass was associated with increased disease severity and lower HRQL, whereas adiposity with cardiovascular disease/risk factors. Given the heterogeneity in body composition measures and clinical outcomes, the prognostic utility of CT-body composition in COPD requires further study.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular Diseases; Early Detection of Cancer; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 36223552
DOI: 10.1177/14799731221133387 -
Radiology Aug 2022Background Given the different methods of assessing emphysema, controversy exists as to whether it is associated with lung cancer. Purpose To perform a systematic review... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Background Given the different methods of assessing emphysema, controversy exists as to whether it is associated with lung cancer. Purpose To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between chest CT-defined emphysema and the presence of lung cancer. Materials and Methods The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched up to July 15, 2021, to identify studies on the association between emphysema assessed visually or quantitatively with CT and lung cancer. Associations were determined by emphysema severity (trace, mild, or moderate to severe, assessed visually and quantitatively) and subtype (centrilobular and paraseptal, assessed visually). Overall and stratified pooled odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% CIs were obtained. Results Of the 3343 screened studies, 21 studies (107 082 patients) with 26 subsets were included. The overall pooled ORs for lung cancer given the presence of emphysema were 2.3 (95% CI: 2.0, 2.6; = 35%; 19 subsets) and 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.02; six subsets) per 1% increase in low attenuation area. Studies with visual (pooled OR, 2.3; 95% CI: 1.9, 2.6; = 48%; 12 subsets) and quantitative (pooled OR, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.8, 2.8; = 3.7%; eight subsets) assessments yielded comparable results for the dichotomous assessment. Based on six studies (1716 patients), the pooled ORs for lung cancer increased with emphysema severity and were higher for visual assessment (2.5, 3.7, and 4.5 for trace, mild, and moderate to severe, respectively) than for quantitative assessment (1.9, 2.2, and 2.5) based on point estimates. Compared with no emphysema, only centrilobular emphysema (three studies) was associated with lung cancer (pooled OR, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.5, 3.2; < .001). Conclusion Both visual and quantitative CT assessments of emphysema were associated with a higher odds of lung cancer, which also increased with emphysema severity. Regarding subtype, only centrilobular emphysema was significantly associated with lung cancer. Clinical trial registration no. CRD42021262163 © RSNA, 2022 . See also the editorial by Hunsaker in this issue.
Topics: Emphysema; Humans; Lung; Lung Neoplasms; Odds Ratio; Pulmonary Emphysema; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 35503012
DOI: 10.1148/radiol.212904 -
Revue Des Maladies Respiratoires Jan 2020Cocaine can be responsible for many psychiatric and/or somatic disorders. The aim of this systematic literature review of data was to expose relations between cocaine...
Cocaine can be responsible for many psychiatric and/or somatic disorders. The aim of this systematic literature review of data was to expose relations between cocaine use and pulmonary complications. Cocaine can be responsible for acute respiratory symptoms (cough, black sputum, hemoptysis, dyspnea, wheezing, chest pain) and for various pulmonary disorders including barotrauma (pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumopericardium), airway damage, asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia, acute pulmonary edema, alveolar hemorrhage, alveolar pneumonia with carbonaceous material, bullous emphysema, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, pulmonary granulomatosis caused by talc or cellulose, interstitial pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, vasculitis, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism and pulmonary infarction, mycotic pulmonary arterial aneurysms, septic emboli, aspiration pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia, HIV-related opportunistic infections, latent tuberculosis infection, pulmonary tuberculosis, lung cancer and crack lung. Some of these complications are serious and may have a fatal outcome. Pulmonary function tests, thoracic tomodensitometry, bronchial fibroscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and lung scintigraphy may be an aid to the diagnosis of these pulmonary compications. Cocaine use must be sought in case of respiratory symptoms in young persons.
Topics: Cocaine; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Drug Users; Humans; Lung Diseases
PubMed: 31883817
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2019.11.641 -
Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory... 2019Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a syndrome characterized by the coexistence of upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis. However, whether CPFE... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a syndrome characterized by the coexistence of upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis. However, whether CPFE has a higher or lower mortality than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) alone is still not clear. In this study we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the survival rate (SR) of CPFE IPF alone in clinical trials.
METHODS
We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for trials published prior to 31 March 2018. Extracts from the literature were analyzed with Review Manager version 5.3.
RESULTS
Thirteen eligible trials were included in this analysis (involving 1710 participants). Overall, the pooled results revealed that no statistically significant difference was detected in the 1-year [relative risk (RR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-1.03, = 0.47], 3-year (RR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.68-1.01, = 0.06), and 5-year (RR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.59-1.07, = 0.14) SRs of CPFE IPF alone.
CONCLUSIONS
CPFE exhibits a very poor prognosis, similar to IPF alone. Additional studies are needed to provide more convincing data to investigate the natural history and outcome of patients with CPFE in comparison to IPF.
Topics: Humans; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis; Prognosis; Pulmonary Emphysema; Survival Rate
PubMed: 31722622
DOI: 10.1177/1753466619888119 -
International Journal of Chronic... 2018The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between computed tomography (CT) densitometry and routine clinical markers in patients with chronic obstructive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between computed tomography (CT) densitometry and routine clinical markers in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency (AATD).
METHODS
Multiple databases were searched using a combination of pertinent terms and those articles relating quantitatively measured CT densitometry to clinical outcomes. Studies that used visual scoring only were excluded, as were those measured in expiration only. A thorough review of abstracts and full manuscripts was conducted by 2 reviewers; data extraction and assessment of bias was conducted by 1 reviewer and the 4 reviewers independently assessed for quality. Pooled correlation coefficients were calculated, and heterogeneity was explored.
RESULTS
A total of 112 studies were identified, 82 being suitable for meta-analysis. The most commonly used density threshold was -950 HU, and a significant association between CT density and all included clinical parameters was demonstrated. There was marked heterogeneity between studies secondary to large variety of disease severity within commonly included cohorts and differences in CT acquisition parameters.
CONCLUSION
CT density shows a good relationship to clinically relevant parameters; however, study heterogeneity and lack of longitudinal data mean that it is difficult to compare studies or derive a minimal clinically important difference. We recommend that international consensus is reached to standardize CT conduct and analysis in future COPD and AATD studies.
Topics: Aged; Chi-Square Distribution; Densitometry; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Proportional Hazards Models; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Pulmonary Emphysema; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Spirometry; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vital Capacity; alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
PubMed: 29445272
DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S143066 -
Revue Des Maladies Respiratoires 2023Heroin use can cause respiratory complications including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis (BD). (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Heroin use can cause respiratory complications including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis (BD).
OBJECTIVES
A general review of the literature presenting the data on the relationships between heroin consumption and bronchial complications, while underlining the difficulties of diagnosis and management.
DOCUMENTARY SOURCES
Medline, 1980-2022, keywords "asthma" or "bronchospasm" or "COPD" or "bronchiectasis" and "heroin" or "opiate" or "opiates", with limits pertaining to "Title/Abstract". Concerning asthma, 26 studies were included, as were 16 for COPD and 5 for BD.
RESULTS
Asthma and COPD are more prevalent among heroin addicts, who are less compliant than other patients with their treatment. The authors found a positive association between frequency of asthma exacerbations, admission to intensive care and heroin inhalation. Late diagnosis of COPD worsens the course of the disease; emphysema and BD are poor prognostic factors.
CONCLUSION
Bronchial diseases in heroin users can be identified by means of respiratory function exploration and chest CT scans. These tests should be performed frequently in view of optimizing their care, which includes their weaning themselves from addictive substances.
Topics: Humans; Heroin; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Asthma; Pulmonary Emphysema; Bronchiectasis
PubMed: 37925326
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2023.09.006 -
Journal of Health & Pollution Sep 2021There is fast-growing epidemiologic evidence of the effects of environmental chemicals on respiratory health. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been linked... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
There is fast-growing epidemiologic evidence of the effects of environmental chemicals on respiratory health. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been linked with airway obstruction common in asthma and/or asthma exacerbation, and chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
OBJECTIVES
A systematic review of the association between exposure to PAHs and obstructive lung diseases is not yet available. The present systematic review aims to evaluate the evidence available in epidemiological studies that have associated PAHs with obstructive lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases using relevant keywords and guided by predesigned eligibility criteria.
RESULTS
From the total of 30 articles reviewed, 16 articles examined the link between PAHs and lung function in both adults and children. Twelve articles investigated the association between PAHs and asthma, asthma biomarkers, and/or asthma symptoms in children. Two articles studied the relationship between PAHs and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a biomarker of airway inflammation and the relationship between PAHs and obstructive lung diseases and infections, respectively. One study assessed exposure to daily ambient PAHs and cough occurrence.
DISCUSSION
Twenty-seven studies found an association between PAHs and asthma and reduced lung function. In children it is reinforced by studies on prenatal and postnatal exposure, whereas in adults, reductions in lung function tests marked by low forced expiratory volume in 1 second, (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow (FEF) were the major health outcomes. Some studies recorded contrasting results: insignificant and/or no association between the two variables of interest. The studies reviewed had limitations ranging from small sample size, to the use of cross-sectional rather than longitudinal study design.
CONCLUSIONS
The literature reviewed in the present study largely suggest positive correlations between PAHs and obstructive lung diseases marked mainly by asthma and reduced respiratory function. This review was registered with PROSPERO (Registration no: CRD42020212894).
COMPETING INTERESTS
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
PubMed: 34434595
DOI: 10.5696/2156-9614-11.31.210903