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Biomedical subjects

Michael Pfeifer

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Pfeifer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation improves lung volumes in the obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to study the long-term effects of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) on lung function and gas exchange in patients with the obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). DESIGN: Prospective observational study in OHS patients performing NPPV over a period of 24 months. RESULTS: We studied 35 clinically stable OHS patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) 45.9+/-8.8 kg/m(2) and daytime PaCO(2) at room air of 6.92+/-0.48 kPa at baseline. Nocturnal NPPV was initiated with pressure-cycled devices on IPAP 24+/-3 cm H(2)O, EPAP 6+/-2 cm H(2)O and respiratory frequency of 18.8+/-3.7/min. After 12 and 24 months of NPPV hypercapnia was persistently normalized and hypoxemia was markedly improved while no changes in calculated alveolar-arterial oxygen difference occurred. Augmented ventilation was followed by a significant reduction in hemoglobin and hematocrit (P<0.001 each). Daily duration of ventilator use significantly correlated with the decrease in PaCO(2) after 12 months (r = 0.37; P<0.05) and 24 months (r = 0.47; P<0.05). Vital capacity (VC) and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) significantly increased after 12 and 24 months NPPV compared to the baseline values, though BMI was only slightly reduced. The 2-year survival rate was 91% with three patients (9%) discontinuing NPPV during the study period. CONCLUSION: Long-term domiciliary NPPV normalizes hypercapnia and markedly improves hypoxemia as well as polycythemia in OHS patients. In addition, NPPV leads to a significant reduction in restrictive ventilatory disturbance, predominantly by increasing ERV. Application of high inspiratory pressures and good adherence to therapy are presumed to be the basis for the beneficial effects of NPPV in OHS.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

[COPD-nonpharmacological treatment].

The modern concept of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) goes far beyond pure medical therapy. Solely treating obstruction and inflammation of the airways does not correspond to the complexity of this illness which now is considered a systemic disease. Therapeutic planning comprises prevention, early physiotherapy and physical training, educational measures, and, in advanced stages, long-term oxygen therapy, mechanical support of the ventilatory muscular system by noninvasive ventilation and surgical measures. To stop smoking is the most important preventive measure which succeeds in up to 40% when carried through consequently. COPD will eventually lead to a steadily decreasing cardiopulmonary performance. Physical training therefore is of utmost importance. Physical training will be accompanied by ventilatory and physiotherapy, a sophisticated dietary treatment, as well as education and motivation of the patient in order to develop competence in self-management. Further treatments in advanced stages consist of long-term oxygen therapy and intermittent noninvasive ventilation. The latter is the treatment of choice for acute respiratory insufficiency. Operative treatments like lung volume reduction and lung transplantation are only indicated in selected cases.

Breathing Exercises↗
PubMed2006

[The role of vitamin D in the treatment of osteoporosis in the elderly].

During the last 5 years several randomized, prospective, placebo-controlled clinical trials have documented that a supplementation with vitamin D (400-1,200 IU per day) together with calcium (800-1,500 mg per day) may reduce the risk of falls and fall-related fractures in the elderly. This is especially the case in elderly women >or= 65 years of age with a serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D(3) level < 50 nmol/l. Based on the results of a recently published meta-analysis involving more than 10,000 participants, the grade of evidence according to the Oxford Centre of Evidence-based Medicine is Ia with respect to the primary prevention of falls in the elderly population.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2006

Respiratory muscle training in restrictive thoracic disease: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of respiratory muscle training (RMT) in patients with restrictive thoracic disorders and intermittent noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV). DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Home-based RMT, with assessment in a primary care pulmonary center. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients with restrictive thoracic disorders; 28 patients completed the trial. INTERVENTION: Three months of RMT by isocapnic hyperpnea or sham training. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Respiratory muscle strength and endurance, lung function, exercise performance, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). RESULTS: After RMT, maximal inspiratory mouth pressure was increased (27.6%+/-36.5%, P=.013). In patients who could perform cycle ergometer testing (n=17), peak oxygen consumption (2.24+/-3.39mLxkg(-1).min(-1) vs -1.71+/-2.54mLxkg(-1).min(-1), P=.014) and maximal work rate (9.4+/-14.8W vs -5.1+/-10.8W, P=.043) increased relative to a control group. Similar differences occurred regarding changes of HRQOL (physical performance, 3.3+/-11.4 score vs -6.6+/-9.0 score; P=.012) and time of ventilator use (-0.6+/-1.2h/d vs 0.4+/-0.5h/d, P=.010). Lung volumes, 12-second maximum voluntary ventilation, 6-minute walking distance, and blood gases were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with restrictive thoracic disorders and NPPV, RMT improved inspiratory muscle strength. Exercise performance and HRQOL were improved when the 2 groups were compared. RMT was practicable and safe despite severe respiratory impairment. Further evaluation, including different training intensities and modalities, seems warranted.

Breathing Exercises↗
PubMed2006

A new pumpless extracorporeal interventional lung assist in critical hypoxemia/hypercapnia.

OBJECTIVE: Pump-driven extracorporeal gas exchange systems have been advocated in patients suffering from severe acute respiratory distress syndrome who are at risk for life-threatening hypoxemia and/or hypercapnia. This requires extended technical and staff support. DESIGN: We report retrospectively our experience with a new pumpless extracorporeal interventional lung assist (iLA) establishing an arteriovenous shunt as the driving pressure. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Ninety patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Interventional lung assist was inserted in 90 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Oxygenation improvement, carbon dioxide elimination, hemodynamic variables, and the amount of vasopressor substitution were reported before, 2 hrs after, and 24 hrs after implementation of the system. Interventional lung assist led to an acute and moderate increase in arterial oxygenation (Pao2/Fio2 ratio 2 hrs after initiation of iLA [median and interquartile range], 82 mm Hg [64-103]) compared with pre-iLA (58 mm Hg [47-78], p < .05). Oxygenation continued to improve for 24 hrs after implementation (101 mm Hg [74-142], p < .05). Hypercapnia was promptly and markedly reversed by iLA within 2 hrs (Paco2, 36 mm Hg [30-44]) in comparison with before (60 mm Hg [48-80], p < .05], which allowed a less aggressive ventilation. For hemodynamic stability, all patients received continuous norepinephrine infusion. The incidence of complications was 24.4%, mostly due to ischemia in a lower limb. Thirty-seven of 90 patients survived, creating a lower mortality rate than expected from the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional lung assist might provide a sufficient rescue measure with easy handling properties and low cost in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and persistent hypoxia/hypercapnia.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Weight gain in cachectic COPD patients receiving noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation.

BACKGROUND: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), body mass index (BMI) is an important predictor of survival. Little is known about the prevalence of malnutrition or longitudinal changes of BMI in patients undergoing noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV). METHODS: In a cohort study of 141 patients with COPD and severe chronic respiratory failure (mean forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV1] 0.80 +/- 0.27 L, mean P(aCO2) 55.6 +/- 8.8 mm Hg), we investigated nutritional status in relation to respiratory impairment. Changes in BMI were evaluated at 6 and 12 months after initiation of NPPV. RESULTS: Malnutrition, indicated by a BMI of < 20 kg/m2, was found in 20.6% of the patients. BMI was significantly correlated with the severity of respiratory impairment, especially with hyperinflation (residual volume divided by total lung capacity, r = -0.55, p < 0.001). In malnourished patients (BMI < 20 kg/m2) there was a significant increase in body weight after 6 months (6.2 +/- 12.5%, p < 0.05) and 12 months (12.8 +/- 16.0%, p < 0.01), whereas there were no significant changes in the overall study population. Furthermore, there was no correlation between changes in BMI and changes in blood-gas values, lung function, or inspiratory muscle function, either in the entire patient group or in the subgroup of malnourished patients. CONCLUSIONS: In COPD with chronic respiratory failure, malnutrition is common and strongly related to hyperinflation. After initiation of NPPV, a significant weight gain is observed in malnourished COPD patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Continuous positive airway pressure for central sleep apnea and heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The Canadian Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Patients with Central Sleep Apnea and Heart Failure trial tested the hypothesis that continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) would improve the survival rate without heart transplantation of patients who have central sleep apnea and heart failure. METHODS: After medical therapy was optimized, 258 patients who had heart failure (mean age [+/-SD], 63+/-10 years; ejection fraction, 24.5+/-7.7 percent) and central sleep apnea (number of episodes of apnea and hypopnea per hour of sleep, 40+/-16) were randomly assigned to receive CPAP (128 patients) or no CPAP (130 patients) and were followed for a mean of two years. During follow-up, sleep studies were conducted and measurements of the ejection fraction, exercise capacity, quality of life, and neurohormones were obtained. RESULTS: Three months after undergoing randomization, the CPAP group, as compared with the control group, had greater reductions in the frequency of episodes of apnea and hypopnea (-21+/-16 vs. -2+/-18 per hour, P<0.001) and in norepinephrine levels (-1.03+/-1.84 vs. 0.02+/-0.99 nmol per liter, P=0.009), and greater increases in the mean nocturnal oxygen saturation (1.6+/-2.8 percent vs. 0.4+/-2.5 percent, P<0.001), ejection fraction (2.2+/-5.4 percent vs. 0.4+/-5.3 percent, P=0.02), and the distance walked in six minutes (20.0+/-55 vs. -0.8+/-64.8 m, P=0.016). There were no differences between the control group and the CPAP group in the number of hospitalizations, quality of life, or atrial natriuretic peptide levels. An early divergence in survival rates without heart transplantation favored the control group, but after 18 months the divergence favored the CPAP group, yet the overall event rates (death and heart transplantation) did not differ (32 vs. 32 events, respectively; P=0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Although CPAP attenuated central sleep apnea, improved nocturnal oxygenation, increased the ejection fraction, lowered norepinephrine levels, and increased the distance walked in six minutes, it did not affect survival. Our data do not support the use of CPAP to extend life in patients who have central sleep apnea and heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Impact of ventilation parameters and duration of ventilator use on non-invasive home ventilation in restrictive thoracic disorders.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is an accepted treatment option for chronic ventilatory failure due to restrictive thoracic disorders. OBJECTIVE: The impact of ventilation setting and the duration of ventilator use on changes in physiological and functional parameters has not yet been evaluated. METHODS: Effects of NPPV on body plethysmographic parameters, blood gas tension and inspiratory muscle function up to 12 months were analyzed in 44 patients with thoracic cage abnormalities in a clinical stable condition. Furthermore, the influence of ventilator parameters and the duration of ventilator use on these changes was determined. RESULTS: A significant improvement in blood gas parameters (PaCO(2), PaO(2) and base excess; p < 0.001), lung volumes (VC, TLC and FEV(1); p < 0.001) and inspiratory muscle function (PI(max), P(0.1); p < 0.01 and p < 0.05) was found after 3.8 +/- 0.8 months of treatment. As shown by a subgroup analysis, changes were already achieved within the first 3 months of NPPV and then remained stable over time. Improvements in VC were positively correlated with IPAP (r = 0.55; p < 0.001). Reduction in PaCO(2) was positively correlated with the quotient (IPAP - EPAP)/weight (r = 0.55; p < 0.001). No correlation could be detected between changes in functional parameters and the duration of ventilator use. CONCLUSIONS: NPPV can improve blood gas parameters, lung volume and inspiratory muscle function in thoracic restrictive disorders. To best utilize the potential of NPPV treatment, it seems to be more effective to optimize pressure levels than to extend the duration of ventilation.

Blood Gas Analysis↗
PubMed2005

Functional improvement in heart failure patients treated with beta-blockers is associated with a decline of cytokine levels.

BACKGROUND: In patients with severe heart failure (CHF), chronically elevated cytokine levels document a systemic inflammation. Experimental data suggest that activation of the beta-adrenergic system may participate in this inflammatory response. Herein, we studied as to whether beta-adrenergic blockade on top of standard CHF therapy affects plasma cytokine levels (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFalpha]). Moreover, we studied if beta-blocker related changes of these cytokines correspond to changes in left ventricular (LV) function and exercise capacity. METHODS: In a prospective study, 21 patients with stable CHF (NYHA functional class II-III, ejection fraction <40%, mean age 57.6+/-12.4 years) were treated with captopril (100-150 mg/day), furosemide (40-120 mg/day), and/or digoxin (0.1-0.2 mg/day) for at least 1 month before they entered a 4 week run-in period in which dosages were kept unchanged. Metoprololsuccinate was administered in increasing dosages (up to 190 mg/day) for the following 3 months. Clinical, echocardiographic, spiroergometric, and biochemical changes were assessed at the start and the end of the run-in period as well as after 3 month of beta-blockade. RESULTS: As compared to 210 healthy volunteers, CHF patients, prior to beta-blockade, presented with markedly elevated IL-6 (8.9+/-9.9 vs. 2.1+/-0.5 pg/ml; p<0.05) and TNFalpha levels (1.51+/-0.49 vs. 0.64+/-0.15 pg/ml; p<0.05) levels. In CHF patients, 3 month of beta-blockade lowered heart rate (84+/-14 vs. 68+/-12 bpm; p<0.01), systolic (131+/-7 vs. 118+/-6 mm Hg; p<0.01), and diastolic blood pressure (78+/-5 vs. 71+/-6 mm Hg; p<0.01). Spiroergometric determined VO2 max (17.8+/-4.5 vs. 19.8+/-4.3 ml/min kg; p=0.013) increased significantly during 3 month of beta-blockade. Moreover, LV functional parameters tended to improve but the interindividual response varied and changes were non-significant. Interestingly, IL-6 levels decreased markedly during beta-blockade (8.9+/-9.9 vs. 4.5+/-3.1 pg/ml; p=0.036), whereas TNFalpha levels remained unchanged. Moreover, significant positive correlations were found between decrease of IL-6 levels and left ventricular end diastolic diameters (r2=0.59; p=0.012), whereas an inverse correlation was found between the decrease of IL-6 and the increase of VO2 max (r2=0.54; p=0.037), respectively. CONCLUSION: In heart failure patients, beta-blockade may lower IL-6 but not TNFalpha levels. Changes of IL-6 during beta-blockade may be related to changes of LV function and geometry.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Long-term reduction of hyperinflation in stable COPD by non-invasive nocturnal home ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: The role of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in stable COPD with chronic ventilatory failure remains controversial. The impact of long-term home nocturnal NPPV treatment on deflation has not yet been evaluated in detail. METHODS: Retrospective explorative study of 46 patients with stable COPD undergoing NPPV treatment. Effects of NPPV on body plethysmographic parameters, blood gas tensions and inspiratory muscle function after 6.2 (+/-1.7) and 12.7 (+/-2.1) months of treatment. Further, evaluation of 1-year survival, compliance and ventilation parameters. RESULTS: One-year survival was 89.1%. The effectiveness of ventilation was proven by a significant reduction in nocturnal and daytime PaCO2. We observed a decrease in the ratio of residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC) on the average of 5.2+/-9.8% (or 15.2+/-29.7% pred.; P<0.01) at six and 3.9+/-9.0% (or 12.9+/-18.6% pred.; P<0.001) at 12 months. As a consequence, we found significant improvements in inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). For patients with the most severe hyperinflation (RV/TLC>75%), we found a significant positive correlation between inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and reductions in PaCO2 (r=0.56; P<0.05) and RV/TLC (r=0.50; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In severe hypercapnic stable COPD long-term nocturnal NPPV can reduce hyperinflation with sustained improved daytime blood gas parameters.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure improves ventilatory efficiency during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic heart failure is closely related to impaired cardiorespiratory reflex control, including decreased ventilatory efficiency during exercise (Ve/Vco(2)-slope) and central sleep apnea (CSA). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and nocturnal oxygen therapy alleviate CSA. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of nocturnal CPAP and oxygen therapy on Ve/Vco(2)-slope. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective controlled trial at a university hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-six stable patients with chronic heart failure and CSA. INTERVENTION AND MEASUREMENTS: Ten patients received nocturnal oxygen, and 16 patients were assigned to CPAP treatment. At baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment, symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed on a cycle ergometer. Expiratory gas was analyzed breath by breath for evaluation of ventilation and ventilatory efficiency in combination with arteriocapillary blood gas analysis during rest and exercise. RESULTS: CPAP treatment significantly reduced the Ve/Vco(2)-slope (31.2 +/- 1.6 vs 26.2 +/- 1.0, p = 0.005) and improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [31.7 +/- 2.6% vs 35.7 +/- 2.7%, p = 0.041]. CPAP treatment significantly reduced the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) [35.9 +/- 4.0/h vs 12.2 +/- 3.6/h, p = 0.002]. Peak oxygen consumption (Vo(2)) [16.2 +/- 1.1 L/min/kg vs 16.3 +/- 1.2 L/min/kg, p = 0.755] remained similar after CPAP treatment. Oxygen therapy reduced the AHI (28.8 +/- 3.2/h vs 8.7 +/- 4.1/h, p = 0.019), but did not improve exercise capacity (peak Vo(2), 15.4 +/- 1.5 L/min/kg vs 15.6 +/- 1.9 L/min/kg, p = 0.760), LVEF (30.9 +/- 2.4% vs 32.5 +/- 2.3%, p = 0.231), or the Ve/Vco(2)-slope (30.0 +/- 1.5 vs 29.8 +/- 1.5, p = 0.646). CONCLUSION: Nocturnal CPAP and oxygen therapy alleviate CSA to a similar degree. Only CPAP therapy may improve ventilatory efficiency during exercise and may have favorable effects on LVEF. Therefore, our data suggest that CPAP is advantageous compared to oxygen in the treatment of CSA in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Expression of CXC chemokine receptors 1 and 2 in human bronchial epithelial cells.

INTRODUCTION: CXC chemokine receptor 1 (CXCR1) and CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) have been shown to play an important role in transepithelial migration of neutrophil granulocytes during inflammation in various tissues. This study investigated the regulation of gene expression and surface expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B), as well as in primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) from 10 COPD patients and 10 control subjects. METHODS AND RESULTS: The transcription expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 was quantitatively assessed by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) under various inflammatory conditions. Flow cytometry was used to measure CXCR1 and CXCR2 surface expression. There was a low baseline expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 in real-time PCR in PBECs from COPD patients and control subjects as well as in BEAS-2B cells, and no significant regulation occurred under various inflammatory conditions in PBECs and BEAS-2B cells. Furthermore, unstimulated surface expression of CXCR1 and CXCR2 on BEAS-2B cells was very low, and no significant regulation was detectable under time-dependent inflammatory stimulation up to 24 h. CONCLUSION: Various inflammatory responses that are of potential relevance in COPD pathophysiology do not affect transcription regulation and surface expression of the interleukin-8 receptors CXCR1 and CXCR2 on human bronchial epithelial cells.

Bronchi↗
PubMed2005

Prospective identification of postmenopausal osteoporotic women at high vertebral fracture risk by radiography, bone densitometry, quantitative ultrasound, and laboratory findings: results from the PIOS study.

Women with established osteoporosis are at high risk to sustain additional vertebral fractures. Treatment may affect the predictive power of bone densitometry and biochemical techniques. There are few prospective studies comparing fracture prediction by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and other techniques in treated women with established osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to prospectively assess the predictive power of various DXA and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques for identification of women at high risk to develop new fractures over 1-2 yr. Moreover, we wanted to investigate whether previous or ongoing therapy precluded the use of common clinical laboratory blood tests and bone turnover markers for prediction of fracture risk. We measured prevalent fracture status; bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body, spine, and hip by DXA; QUS of the calcaneus and the patella; hormones and various markers of bone resorption and formation; and took standard blood tests in 124 women (age 64.9 yr +/- 7.9) with manifest and variously treated postmenopausal osteoporosis. Subsequently, new spine fractures were assessed after 1 yr and, in a subset of 87 women, after 2 yr. Prevalent fractures turned out to be the strongest predictor of subsequent vertebral fractures with an age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.9 per prevalent fracture over 2 yr. Furthermore, our results underline the predictive power of spinal BMD (sOR = 2.1; standardized OR per 1 standard deviation population variance decrease), whole body BMD (sOR: 2.4), and QUS stiffness index of the calcaneus (sOR: 2.8) for vertebral fracture prediction. QUS of the patella did not predict vertebral fractures. Blood sedimentation rate was predictive in the first year (sOR: 1.9). The predictive power of bone turnover markers, however, appeared to be too low to be detectable in a group of this sample size and it may have been reduced because most women were already receiving treatment. In conclusion, radiographic measures, but not the tested laboratory bone turnover markers, enabled us to identify women (from a population of osteoporotic women who have been treated for some time with a variety of medications) who are at highest risk for developing new vertebral fractures within 1-2 yr.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2005

Multitarget FISH and LOH analyses at chromosome 3p in non-small cell lung cancer and adjacent bronchial epithelium.

Multitarget fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH; LAVysion, Vysis, Downers Grove, IL) targeting chromosomes 6p11-q11, 7p12, 8q24, and 5p15.2 was compared with results of microsatellite studies at chromosome 3p to identify molecular changes associated with tobacco use and tumor development in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Analyses were performed on 26 NSCLCs and matched benign bronchial epithelium; samples from 10 patients without NSCLC served as control samples. Significant molecular differences between tumor tissue and corresponding benign bronchi were found using FISH (P = .001) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis (P = .031). Bronchial epithelium from patients with NSCLC was genetically different from epithelium from patients without NSCLC in FISH analysis (P = .025). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed an optimal cutoff value of 5% atypical cells for bronchial epithelium. There was no statistical correlation with the patient's smoking history, and LOH analysis of bronchi did not differentiate between patients with and without NSCLC. Multicolor FISH analysis is able to detect a tumor-associated molecular field effect in bronchi adjacent to NSCLC.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Deletions at chromosome 2q and 12p are early and frequent molecular alterations in bronchial epithelium and NSCLC of long-term smokers.

Most lung cancer is attributed to long-term smoking. In order to define chromosomal regions with an accumulation of smoking-related early molecular damage, we applied 15 microsatellite markers at 8 chromosomal regions (2q35-q36, 3p21.3, 3p14.2, 3p25, 10q11.2, 11p14-15, 12p13.1-p12.3 and 12q14) in an allelotyping study. We studied samples of 42 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (25 squamous cell carcinomas, 13 adenocarcinomas, 2 large cell and 2 bronchioalveolar carcinomas) to compare the frequency of allelic loss in cancer tissue of smokers with matched bronchial epithelium. As a control group we used 11 samples of non-smokers. In NSCLC we found significantly higher frequencies of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) than in matched tumor free bronchial epithelium (p = 0.007). Most frequently, allelic loss was detected in NSCLC at chromosome 3p [3p25 (46%), 3p21.3 (45%), 3p14 (40%)], at 2q35 (24%), 12p12 (29%) and 12q14 (13%), but infrequently at 10q11 (7%) and 11p14-15 (5%). In corresponding histological normal bronchial epithelium, the highest percentage of LOH was found at chromosome 3p [3p21 (17%), 3p25 (12%), 3p14 (9%)] and chromosome 2q (2q35-q36) (17%) and 12p (12p12-p13) (12%). LOH in histologically normal bronchial epithelium was significantly associated with long-term smoking (p = 0.048), especially at chromosome 12p12 (p = 0.018). Our results demonstrate two further deletion hot spots at the chromosomal region 2q35-q36 and 12p12-p13 in tumor tissue of NSCLC and matched histological normal bronchial epithelium of long-term smokers, reflecting a phenomenon referred to as 'field cancerization'. These chromosomal regions represent interesting loci for potential NSCLC associated tumor suppressor genes and could be useful as screening markers for molecular risk assessment of smokers.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Musculoskeletal rehabilitation in osteoporosis: a review.

Measures of musculoskeletal rehabilitation play an integral part in the management of patients with increased fracture risk because of osteoporosis or extraskeletal risk factors. This article delineates current scientific evidence concerning nonpharmacologic approaches that are used in conjunction with pharmacotherapy for prevention and management of osteoporosis. Fractures caused by osteoporotic fragility may be prevented with multidisciplinary intervention programs, including education, environmental modifications, aids, and implementation of individually tailored exercise programs, which are proved to reduce falls and fall-related injuries. In addition, strengthening of the paraspinal muscles may not only maintain BMD but also reduce the risk of vertebral fractures. Given the strong interaction between osteoporosis and falls, selection of patients for prevention of fracture should be based on bone-related factors and on risk factors for falls. Rehabilitation after vertebral fracture includes proprioceptive dynamic posture training, which decreases kyphotic posturing through recruitment of back extensors and thus reduces pain, improves mobility, and leads to a better quality of life. A newly developed orthosis increases back extensor strength and decreases body sway as a risk factor for falls and fall-related fractures. Hip fractures may be prevented by hip protectors, and exercise programs can improve strength and mobility in patients with hip fracture. So far, there is no conclusive evidence that coordinated multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation is more effective than conventional hospital care with no rehabilitation professionals involved for older patients with hip fracture. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of combined bone- and fall-directed strategies in patients with osteoporosis and an increased propensity to falls.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2004

[Telecare of patients with chronic obstructive airway diseases].

In view of the limited resources of health systems, telemedicine offers possibilities to supplement the known forms of care and supervision of patients and to intensify them on the side of patients as well as of medical care. Telemonitoring adds to but does not replace traditional home visits or the medical consultations. It is clearly structured, reproducible, and based on modern technology for communication between patients and doctors. In this way "flying visits" can be made to the patient with a high frequency which otherwise would never be possible for financial and practical reasons. They also serve for defining the right time for seeing the patient personally. In any case, regular transmissions of lung function values insure a close contact of COPD or asthma patients to specialized institutions without impairing or ignoring medical home care. Whether it will be possible to react more quickly to disease changes by telemetric means or whether other treatment advantages will result remains yet to be seen. Results, so far, are encouraging in such a way that the use of telemedical means in chronically ill patients will be further evaluated, also in other than pulmonary diseases.

Asthma↗