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BMC Pulmonary Medicine Mar 2024In the early literature, unintentional vitamin C deficiency in humans was associated with heart failure. Experimental vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs caused...
BACKGROUND
In the early literature, unintentional vitamin C deficiency in humans was associated with heart failure. Experimental vitamin C deficiency in guinea pigs caused enlargement of the heart. The purpose of this study was to collect and analyze case reports on vitamin C and pulmonary hypertension.
METHODS
We searched Pubmed and Scopus for case studies in which vitamin C deficiency was considered to be the cause of pulmonary hypertension. We selected reports in which pulmonary hypertension was diagnosed by echocardiography or catheterization, for any age, sex, or dosage of vitamin C. We extracted quantitative data for our analysis. We used the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) as the outcome of primary interest.
RESULTS
We identified 32 case reports, 21 of which were published in the last 5 years. Dyspnea was reported in 69%, edema in 53% and fatigue in 28% of the patients. Vitamin C plasma levels, measured in 27 cases, were undetectable in 24 and very low in 3 cases. Diet was poor in 30 cases and 17 cases had neuropsychiatric disorders. Right ventricular enlargement was reported in 24 cases. During periods of vitamin C deficiency, the median mPAP was 48 mmHg (range 29-77 mmHg; N = 28). After the start of vitamin C administration, the median mPAP was 20 mmHg (range 12-33 mmHg; N = 18). For the latter 18 cases, mPAP was 2.4-fold (median) higher during vitamin C deficiency. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) during vitamin C deficiency was reported for 9 cases, ranging from 4.1 to 41 Wood units. PVR was 9-fold (median; N = 5) higher during vitamin C deficiency than during vitamin C administration. In 8 cases, there was direct evidence that the cases were pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). Probably the majority of the remaining cases were also PAH.
CONCLUSIONS
The cases analyzed in our study indicate that pulmonary hypertension can be one explanation for the reported heart failure of scurvy patients in the early literature. It would seem sensible to measure plasma vitamin C levels of patients with PH and examine the effects of vitamin C administration.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Guinea Pigs; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Scurvy; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Vascular Resistance; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Heart Failure; Ascorbic Acid
PubMed: 38504249
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-02941-x -
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Mar 2024Down syndrome (DS) is associated with multiple comorbid conditions and chronic immune dysfunction. Persons with DS who contract COVID-19 are at high risk for... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Down syndrome (DS) is associated with multiple comorbid conditions and chronic immune dysfunction. Persons with DS who contract COVID-19 are at high risk for complications and have a poor prognosis. We aimed to study the clinical symptoms, laboratory and biochemical profiles, radiologic findings, treatment, and outcomes of patients with DS and COVID-19.
METHOD
We systematically searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library using the keywords COVID-19 or coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 and DS or trisomy 21. Seventeen articles were identified: eight case reports and nine case series published from December 2019 through March 2022, with a total of 55 cases.
RESULTS
Patients averaged 24.8 years (26 days to 60 years); 29 of the patients were male. The most common symptoms were fever, dyspnea, and cough. Gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract symptoms were commonly reported for pediatric patients. The most common comorbidities present in patients with DS were obesity (49.0%), hypothyroidism (21.6%) and obstructive sleep apnea (15.6%). The patients were hospitalized for a mean of 14.8 days. When the patients were compared with the general COVID-19 population, the mean number of hospitalized days was higher. Most patients had leukopenia, lymphopenia, and elevated inflammatory markers (d-dimer and C-reactive protein). Bilateral infiltrations and bilateral ground-glass opacifications were frequently seen in chest radiographs and chest computed tomographic imaging. Most of the patients were treated with methylprednisolone, macrolides, and hydroxychloroquine. Of the 55 patients, 22 died. The mean age of the patients who died was 42.8 years. Mortality rate was higher in individuals with DS over 40 years of age.
CONCLUSION
More studies are needed to better understand COVID-19 infections among persons with DS. In addition, the study was limited by a lack of statistical analyses and a specific comparison group.
Topics: Adult; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Cough; COVID-19; Down Syndrome; Lymphopenia; SARS-CoV-2; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Child, Preschool; Adolescent; Young Adult
PubMed: 38501534
DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1219 -
Cureus Feb 2024Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which shares a radiographic pattern with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), is a specific form of chronic and progressive... (Review)
Review
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which shares a radiographic pattern with the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), is a specific form of chronic and progressive interstitial lung disorder resulting in persistent fibrosis and impaired lung function. Most of the patients suffer from dyspnea which adversely affects health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The underlying etiology of the disease is not yet understood, but research done on the subject reveals that aberrant repair mechanisms and dysregulated immune responses may be the cause. It can affect any age group but predominantly affects patients who are above 50 years of age. It has been observed that in addition to age, the reasons are also related to smoking, pollution, and inhalation of harmful elements. As the cause of IPF is still unknown and there is no cure yet, presently, it is treated to delay lung function loss with antifibrotic medications, nintedanib, and pirfenidone. However, both nintedanib and perfenidone have side effects which affect different patients in different ways and with different levels of severity, thereby making the treatment even more challenging for medical practitioners. The present systematic review aims at studying the efficacy of pirfenidone and nintedanib in relieving symptoms and in extending survival in patients. A detailed search was done in relevant articles listed in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the New England Journal of Medicine between 2018 and 2023. It was observed that the most accepted way of measuring the progression of IPF is the evaluation of pulmonary function by assessing the forced vital capacity (FVC). Several studies have shown that the decline in FVC over a period of 6-12 months is directly associated with a higher mortality rate. The outcomes were similar in both male and female irrespective of age, gender, and ethnicity. However, some patients being treated with pirfenidone and nintedanib experienced various side-effects which were mainly gastrointestinal like diarrhea, dyspepsia, and vomiting. In the case of pirfenidone, some patients also experienced photosensitivity and skin rashes. In cases where the side-effects are extremely severe and are more threatening than the disease itself, the treatment has to be discontinued. The survival rate in patients with IPF is marked by a median of 3-5 years that is even lower than many cancers; hence, the treatment should be started as soon as the disease is detected. However, further research is needed to establish the etiology of IPF and to establish treatments that can stop its progression.
PubMed: 38500898
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.54268 -
International Journal of Chronic... 2024The effect of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) was controversial. Thus, we aimed to evaluate... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
PURPOSE
The effect of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) was controversial. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effects of acupuncture for treating AECOPD.
METHODS
Eight databases were searched from database inception to July 30, 2023. All RCTs compared acupuncture plus conventional western medicine with conventional western medicine alone were included. Outcomes were quality of life, lung function, blood oxygen condition, exercise capacity, daily symptoms, duration of hospitalization, and adverse events. The statistical analyses were conducted using Stata 17.0, and methodological quality was measured by the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to assess the quality of evidence.
RESULTS
Twelve studies including 915 patients were included. Compared with conventional western medicine alone, acupuncture combined with conventional western therapy significantly improved quality of life (CAT: MD: -3.25; 95% CI: -3.73 to -2.78, <0.001) and arterial blood gas (PaCO: MD: -1.85; 95% CI: -2.74 to -0.95, <0.001; PaO: MD: 5.15; 95% CI: 1.22 to 9.07, = 0.01). And for lung function, statistical benefits were found in FEV/FVC (MD: 4.66; 95% CI: 2.21 to 7.12, <0.001), but no difference was seen for FEV% (MD: 1.83; 95% CI: -0.17 to 3.83, = 0.073). There was no significant improvement in exercise capacity (6MWD: MD: 96.69; 95% CI: -0.60 to 193.98, = 0.051), hospitalization duration (MD: -5.70; 95% CI: -11.97 to 0.58, = 0.075), and dyspnea (mMRC: MD: -0.19; 95% CI: -0.61 to 0.63, = 0.376) between two groups. Overall bias for CAT and mMRC was in "high" risk, FEV1%, FEV/FVC, PaCO, and PaO was in "some concern" and 1 RCT assessing hospitalization duration was in "low" risk. And the overall assessments were either moderate, low or very low certainty. Seven trials performed safety assessment of acupuncture, and no serious adverse events were reported.
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture might have auxiliary effects on AECOPD. However, the quality of the evidence is limited, and more high-quality RCTs are needed to be performed in the future.
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Acupuncture Therapy; Dyspnea; Respiratory Function Tests
PubMed: 38495215
DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S450257 -
BMC Palliative Care Mar 2024Children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions can experience high levels of suffering due to multiple distressing symptoms that result in poor quality of...
BACKGROUND
Children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions can experience high levels of suffering due to multiple distressing symptoms that result in poor quality of life and increase risk of long-term distress in their family members. High quality symptom treatment is needed for all these children and their families, even more so at the end-of-life. In this paper, we provide evidence-based recommendations for symptom treatment in paediatric palliative patients to optimize care.
METHODS
A multidisciplinary panel of 56 experts in paediatric palliative care and nine (bereaved) parents was established to develop recommendations on symptom treatment in paediatric palliative care including anxiety and depression, delirium, dyspnoea, haematological symptoms, coughing, skin complaints, nausea and vomiting, neurological symptoms, pain, death rattle, fatigue, paediatric palliative sedation and forgoing hydration and nutrition. Recommendations were based on evidence from a systematic literature search, additional literature sources (such as guidelines), clinical expertise, and patient and family values. We used the GRADE methodology for appraisal of evidence. Parents were included in the guideline panel to ensure the representation of patient and family values.
RESULTS
We included a total of 18 studies that reported on the effects of specific (non) pharmacological interventions to treat symptoms in paediatric palliative care. A few of these interventions showed significant improvement in symptom relief. This evidence could only (partly) answer eight out of 27 clinical questions. We included 29 guidelines and two textbooks as additional literature to deal with lack of evidence. In total, we formulated 221 recommendations on symptom treatment in paediatric palliative care based on evidence, additional literature, clinical expertise, and patient and family values.
CONCLUSION
Even though available evidence on symptom-related paediatric palliative care interventions has increased, there still is a paucity of evidence in paediatric palliative care. We urge for international multidisciplinary multi-institutional collaboration to perform high-quality research and contribute to the optimization of symptom relief in palliative care for all children worldwide.
Topics: Humans; Child; Palliative Care; Quality of Life; Terminal Care; Pain; Family
PubMed: 38481215
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01367-w -
Cancers Feb 2024Lung cancer is a very common disease and leads to a series of sequelae such as reduced lung capacity or reduced functional capacity in patients, which are associated not... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Lung cancer is a very common disease and leads to a series of sequelae such as reduced lung capacity or reduced functional capacity in patients, which are associated not only with the disease itself, but also with medical treatment. Thus, physiotherapeutic interventions are needed to improve quality of life and reduce these symptoms.
OBJECTIVES
To find out the effects of physiotherapy on functional capacity, lung capacity, dyspnea, pain, and quality of life in lung cancer patients.
METHODS
A systematic review was carried out in five databases. Randomized clinical trials published between 2019-2023 were selected, in which the physiotherapeutic treatment was physical exercise and/or respiratory physiotherapy.
RESULTS
Nine articles were included, in which the total sample consisted of 635 lung cancer patients. When combined, respiratory physiotherapy and physical exercise improved functional capacity and lung capacity ( < 0.05). Dyspnea also improved, but less significance was shown in the included studies.
CONCLUSIONS
Multimodal physiotherapy interventions may offer benefits for some lung cancer patients, but the extent and nature of these benefits may vary depending on the intervention applied. Therefore, it would be of great interest to carry out further scientific research to support this conclusion.
PubMed: 38473286
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050924 -
Cell Journal Feb 2024Exposure to phosgene, a colourless poisonous gas, can lead to various health issues including eye irritation, a dry and burning throat, vomiting, coughing, the...
Exposure to phosgene, a colourless poisonous gas, can lead to various health issues including eye irritation, a dry and burning throat, vomiting, coughing, the production of foamy sputum, difficulty in breathing, and chest pain. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the clinical manifestations and treatment of phosgene toxicity by systematically analyzing available literature. The search was carried out on various scientific online databases to include related studies based on inclusion and exclusion criteria with the use of PRISMA guidelines. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Thirteen articles were included in this study after the screening process. Inhalation was found to be the primary health problem of phosgene exposure with respiratory symptoms such as coughing and dyspnea. Chest pain and pulmonary oedema were also observed in some cases. Furthermore, pulmonary crackle was the most common reported physical examination. Beyond respiratory tract health issues, other organs involvements such as cardiac, skin, eye, and renal were also reported in some studies. The symptoms can occur within minutes to hours after exposure, and the severity of symptoms depends on the amount of inhaled phosgene. The findings showed that bronchodilators can alleviate symptoms of bronchoconstriction caused by phosgene. Oxygen therapy is essential for restoring oxygen levels and improving respiratory function in cases of hypoxemia. In severe cases, endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation are used for artificial respiration, along with the removal of tracheal secretions and pulmonary oedema fluid through suctioning as crucial components of supportive therapy.
PubMed: 38459726
DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2024.2011864.1405 -
PloS One 2024Long COVID is a devastating, long-term, debilitating illness which disproportionately affects healthcare workers, due to the nature of their work. There is currently...
BACKGROUND
Long COVID is a devastating, long-term, debilitating illness which disproportionately affects healthcare workers, due to the nature of their work. There is currently limited evidence specific to healthcare workers about the experience of living with Long COVID, or its prevalence, pattern of recovery or impact on healthcare.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to assess the effects of Long COVID among healthcare workers and its impact on health status, working lives, personal circumstances, and use of health service resources.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic rapid review according to current methodological standards and reported it in adherence to the PRISMA 2020 and ENTREQ statements.
RESULTS
We searched relevant electronic databases and identified 3770 articles of which two studies providing qualitative evidence and 28 survey studies providing quantitative evidence were eligible. Thematic analysis of the two qualitative studies identified five themes: uncertainty about symptoms, difficulty accessing services, importance of being listened to and supported, patient versus professional identity and suggestions to improve communication and services for people with Long COVID. Common long-term symptoms in the survey studies included fatigue, headache, loss of taste and/or smell, breathlessness, dyspnoea, difficulty concentrating, depression and anxiety.
CONCLUSION
Healthcare workers struggled with their dual identity (patient/doctor) and felt dismissed or not taken seriously by their doctors. Our findings are in line with those in the literature showing that there are barriers to healthcare professionals accessing healthcare and highlighting the challenges of receiving care due to their professional role. A more representative approach in Long COVID research is needed to reflect the diverse nature of healthcare staff and their occupations. This rapid review was conducted using robust methods with the codicil that the pace of research into Long COVID may mean relevant evidence was not identified.
Topics: Humans; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; COVID-19; Health Facilities; Health Resources; Health Personnel; Chronic Disease; Dyspnea
PubMed: 38442116
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299743 -
International Journal of Chronic... 2024Due to shared symptoms, acute heart failure (AHF) is difficult to differentiate from an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). This systematic review aimed to identify... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Due to shared symptoms, acute heart failure (AHF) is difficult to differentiate from an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). This systematic review aimed to identify markers that can diagnose AHF underlying acute dyspnea in patients with COPD presenting at the hospital.
METHODS
All types of observational studies and clinical trials that investigated any marker's ability to diagnose AHF in acutely dyspneic COPD patients were considered eligible for inclusion. An AI tool (ASReview) supported the title and abstract screening of the articles obtained from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and CINAHL until April 2023. Full text screening was independently performed by two reviewers. Twenty percent of the data extraction was checked by a second reviewer and the risk of bias was assessed in duplicate using the QUADAS-2 tool. Markers' discriminative abilities were evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the area under the curve when available.
RESULTS
The search identified 10,366 articles. After deduplication, title and abstract screening was performed on 5,386 articles, leaving 153 relevant, of which 82 could be screened full text. Ten distinct studies (reported in 16 articles) were included, of which 9 had a high risk of bias. Overall, these studies evaluated 12 distinct laboratory and 7 non-laboratory markers. BNP, NT-proBNP, MR-proANP, and inspiratory inferior vena cava diameter showed the highest diagnostic discrimination.
CONCLUSION
There is not much evidence for the use of markers to diagnose AHF in acutely dyspneic COPD patients in the hospital setting. BNPs seem most promising, but should be interpreted alongside imaging and clinical signs, as this may lead to improved diagnostic accuracy. Future validation studies are urgently needed before any AHF marker can be incorporated into treatment decision-making algorithms for patients with COPD.
PROTOCOL REGISTRATION
CRD42022283952.
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Dyspnea; Predictive Value of Tests; Heart Failure; Artificial Intelligence
PubMed: 38414719
DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S437899 -
International Journal of Clinical... 2024Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) features transient left ventricular apical dysfunction or ballooning. The underlying mechanism remains elusive; however, evidence suggests...
INTRODUCTION
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) features transient left ventricular apical dysfunction or ballooning. The underlying mechanism remains elusive; however, evidence suggests the role of different physical and psychological stressors. We systematically reviewed patients presenting with TCM and autoimmunity to explore the link between the two conditions.
METHODS
We applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) to report this review. Using keywords related to autoimmune/immune-mediated diseases and TCM, we searched PubMed, Scopus, and WOS in March 2022. The final results were added to a data extraction sheet. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 26.0.
RESULTS
Our search yielded 121 studies, including 155 patients. Females were considerably predominant. Most patients had a history of autoimmune disease, and almost a third had a history of cardiovascular disease. Dyspnea and chest pain were the most common chief complaints. More than 70% of patients had experienced physical stress. Myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis were the most frequently reported autoimmune diseases.
CONCLUSION
There were similarities in age and sex compared to classic TCM. TCM should be considered as a differential diagnosis for ACS, especially in patients with a positive background of autoimmunity. A precise reporting system is required for further studies.
Topics: Humans; Autoimmune Diseases; Chest Pain; Stress, Psychological; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 38414580
DOI: 10.1155/2024/7259200