Tanaffos Respiration Journal
Volume:14 Issue: 2, Spring 2015

Challenges in the assessment,diagnosis and management of severe,difficult-to-control asthma are increasingly regarded as clinical needs yet unmet. The assessments required to determine asthma severity,comorbidities and confounding factors,disease phenotypes and optimal treatment are among the controversial issues in the field. The respiratory care experts’ input forum (RC-EIF),comprised of an Iranian panel of experts,reviewed the definition,appraised the available guidelines and provided a consensus for evaluation and treatment of severe asthma in adults. A systematic literature review followed by discussions during and after the forum,yielded the present consensus. The expert panel used the appraisal of guidelines for research and evaluation-II (AGREE-II) protocol to define an initial locally-adapted strategy for the management of severe asthma. Severe asthma is considered a heterogeneous condition with various phenotypes. Issues such as assessment of difficult-to-control asthma,phenotyping,the use of blood and sputum eosinophil count,exhaled nitric oxide to guide therapy,the position of anti-IgE antibody,methotrexate,macrolide antibiotics,antifungal agents and bronchial thermoplasty as well as the use of established,recently-developed and evolving treatment approaches were discussed and unanimously agreed upon in the panel. A systematic approach is required to ensure proper diagnosis,evaluate compliance,and to identify comorbidities and triggering factors in severe asthma. Phenotyping helps select optimized treatment. The treatment approach laid down by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) needs to be followed,while the benefit of using biological therapies should be weighed against the cost and safety concerns.

The first decision confronting clinicians in the management of patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is whether the patient is to be hospitalized or not. We sought to validate the pneumonia scoring system and assess the power of procalcitonin (PCT) level to predict in-hospital mortality (IHM) and intensive vasopressor and respiratory support (IVRS) requirements in patients with CAP. A total of 120 patients with CAP were evaluated for severity of illness based on the defined scoring systems including pneumonia severity index (PSI), confusion, urea, respiratory rate, blood pressure, age>65 (CURB-65), confusion, respiratory rate, blood pressure, age>65 (CRB-65), infectious diseases society of America/American thoracic society 2007 criteria (IDSA/ATS 2007) and systolic blood pressure, multilobar infiltrate, albumin, respiratory rate, tachycardia, confusion, low oxygen, low pH (SMART-COP).Demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiographic data were collected prospectively. The accuracy of each scoring system in predicting IVRS requirement and IHM was assessed from the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Level of PCT was determined by semi-quantitative PCT-Q method (BRAHMS). The accuracy of the defined scoring systems, PCT levels and each scoring system plus PCT levels in prediction of IHM and IVRS requirement was analyzed. The accuracy of PCT levels in predicting IHM and IVRS requirement based on AUC was 0.542 and 0.658, respectively and the best threshold was ≥ 2ng/mL for both of them. Adding the level of procalcitonin to different scoring systems (based on the defined scoring systems) improved the accuracy of all systems. We do not suggest using the PCT level alone as a predictor for mortality and IVRS requirement. Instead, we suggest PSI plus PCT and IDSA/ATS 2007 plus PCT as accurate predictors for IHM and SMART-COP plus PCT for IVRS requirement in patients who presented with CAP.

Oral mucosal pigmentation is among the most common findings in smokers, affecting smile esthetics. Passive smoking significantly compromises the health of non-smoker individuals particularly women. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of passive smoking with oral pigmentation in non-smoker women. This historical-cohort study was conducted on a case group of 50 married women who were unemployed, not pregnant, non-smoker, had no systemic condition causing cutaneous or mucosal pigmentation, were not taking any medication causing cutaneous or mucosal pigmentation and had a heavy smoker husband. The control group comprised of 50 matched females with no smoker member in the family. Both groups were clinically examined for presence of gingival pigmentation and the results were analyzed using chi-square and logistic regression tests. Gingival pigmentation was found in 27 (54%) passive smokers and 14 (28%) controls (P=0.01). The odds ratio (OR) of gingival pigmentation in women exposed to secondhand smoke of their husbands (adjusted for education and having a smoker parent at childhood) was 3 (95% confidence interval; CI: 1.26 – 7.09). House floor area was correlated with gingival pigmentation in female passive smokers (P=0.025). This study was the first to describe the relationship between secondhand smoke and gingival pigmentation in women and this effect was magnified in smaller houses.

Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is a fatal disorder with a prevalence of 8.6 per million. We introduce a registry website for IPAH and PAH patients (www.IPAH.ir) for access and efficient delivery of government-aided and subsidized antihypertensive medications. The IPAH registry was opened in November 2009. Information of IPAH and PAH patients with a username and password were uploaded in the site. Data entry was possible only via the physicians and healthcare organizations via internet that were given a personalized username and password for entry. Following the patients’ profile submission, a scientific committee composed of a cardiologist and a pulmonologist who were selected by the Ministry of Health of Iran (MOH), evaluated the data. The eligibility of the patient to receive the medications was confirmed after evaluation. If the patient was eligible, 82% of the Bosentan cost was paid by MOH. To date, one hundred and sixteen patients (82 females, 34 males) have been registered. The mean pulmonary artery pressure by right heart catheterization was 69.24±17 mmHg (ranging from 35 to 110 mmHg). The first online Iranian registry program for IPAH and PAH patients is believed to supply essential information for health care providers in the field.

Muscle weakness especially weakness of the respiratory muscles is a complication of chronic kidney disease. The cause of muscle weakness is the accumulation of excessive amounts of urea and other toxins. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of hemodialysis on respiratory muscle strength by measuring maximum inspiratory (PI max) and expiratory pressure (PE max). A cross sectional study was carried out on 31 patients with chronic kidney disease at Modarres hospital in 2012. Before hemodialysis,patients had their PI max and PE max taken by using a manovacuometer. After that,the patients were connected to the dialysis machine. At the end of the hemodialysis,the patients had their PI max measured again. Data were assessed by the multivariate regression test. Before dialysis,PI max and PE max were lower than normal levels. After the hemodialysis session,repeat PFT revealed an increase in PE max and no significant change in PI max. There were strong correlations between hypoalbuminemia,anemia,hypercalcemia,hyperphosphatemia,hyperparathyroidism and decreased respiratory muscle strength. Also,the respiratory muscle strength decreased in the elderly and women. Respiratory muscle weakness is a complication of chronic kidney disease; hemodialysis can improve muscle strength and PI max.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a non-specific inflammation,which involves the airways,lung parenchyma and pulmonary vessels. The inflammation causes the activation of inflammatory cells and the release of various inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-8 (IL-8),IL-6 and tumor necoris factor alpha (TNF-a). The purpose of the present study was to measure serum IL-6,C-reactive protein (CRP) (as a positive phase reactant) and albumin level (as a negative phase reactant) in COPD patients (only due to cigarette smoking not bio-mass),non COPD smokers and healthy subjects using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); we compared the differences in inflammatory factors among groups. A total of 180 males were enrolled in this study and divided into three equal groups. The first group was 60 smokers who had COPD. The second group included 60 smokers without COPD and the third group consisted of people who were not smokers and did not have COPD; 5 mL of venous blood was taken from all participants and it was collected in a test tube containing anticoagulant and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 minutes. Serum was separated and used to measure the amount of IL-6,CRP and albumin. Spirometry was performed according to the criteria set by the American Thoracic Society. The mean serum level of IL-6 was 83.2±7.5 pg/mL in group I,54.9±24.3 pg/mL in group II and 46.9±10.4 pg/mL in group III. There was a significant difference among the three groups (P<0.001). The mean serum level of CRP was 28.9±14.9 mg/dL in the first group,19.9±8.5 mg/dL in the second group and 4.2±2.3 mg/dL in the third group (P=0.02). But by controlling the confounding effects of age,this difference was not significant (P=0.49). The mean serum level of albumin was I 4.1±0.57 mg/dL in group I,4.3±0.56 mg/dL in group II and 4.1±0.53 mg/dL in group III. There was no significant difference among the three groups in this regard (P=0.099).There was a significant inverse relationship between serum levels of IL-6 and FEV 1 (r=-0.341,P<0.001). Moreover,there was a significant inverse relationship between serum levels of IL-6 and FEV1/FVC (r=-0.309,P<0.001). Serum albumin level was not different among various stages. Level of CRP and IL6 increased as the stage of COPD got worse in smokers. Our study showed that serum level of IL-6 predicts development of COPD in smokers with a high sensitivity among all inflammatory factors namely CRP,IL-6,and albumin.

Airborne pathogens play an important role in a hospital air quality. Respiratory infections are the most common occupational disease among the health care staff. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ventilation system parameters and patient bed arrangements on concentration of airborne pathogens in indoor air of an isolation room. A single-bed room was considered in which a patient diagnosed with tuberculosis had been admitted. Five different ventilation types, each at four different capacities were installed in the room while two different locations for the patient’s bed were assessed. A direct-impact sampling method (blood agar plate) was used in order to determine the intensity of the bio-aerosols in indoor air of the isolation room. The results showed that when the air was supplied through a circular vent located on the northern wall and the vented air was exhausted via a linear vent located on the southern wall, the average concentration of the bio-aerosols in the air, (with 12 air changes per hour) was reduced to 25 colonies per cubic meter (cfu/m3) (in the range of 25-88 cfu/m3 and a 95 percent confidence interval). In accordance with the analysis applied upon the two different locations of the bed, no significant difference was observed (P>0.05). Installation of ventilation systems as determined by the study is recommended for tuberculosis isolation rooms.

Pulmonary mucormycosis is a rare but fatal condition that frequently occurs in immunocompromised patients. Correct diagnosis and rapid start of preferred antifungal treatment need clinical suspicion. Patient’s symptoms may be confluent with other conditions such as bacterial and other fungal infections. We present a case of pulmonary mucormycosis in a patient with end stage renal disease successfully treated with a long course of amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmB) and upper lobectomy of the left lung despite of low pulmonary capacity. Key words: Mucormycosis; Kidney Transplantation; Chronic; Amphotericin B

Mediastinal cavernous lymphangioma is a rare mediastinal lesion and its association with lupus erythematosus has not yet been reported in the literature. We present a 25 year-old female with lupus erythematosus who had bilateral massive refractory and recurrent pleural effusion as well as ascites for a long period of time. During surgery, a huge multicystic lesion with a thick wall, covering the entire parietal and visceral pleura was found, which was subsequently proven to be a cystic cavernous lymphangioma. Key words: Pleural effusion; Mediastinum; Lupus Erythematosus

Acremonium spp. cause human superficial infections including mycetoma, onychomycosis and keratitis. There are a few reports of systemic involvement in immunocompromised patients. However, isolated pulmonary infection in otherwise healthy hosts has never been reported in the literature. Herein, we report a 59 year-old diabetic man with non-resolving pneumonia due to Acremonium spp. and provide a consensus review of the published clinical cases of systemic and respiratory tract infections. Key words: Acremonium, Pneumonia, Diabetes, Immunocompromised host, Systemic infection