The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
Neurobiological research is increasingly documenting the role of higher brain areas in cough, but little systematic behavioral research on the role of psychological factors exists. In this article we discuss the role of perceptual, attentional, cognitive, and emotional factors, learning mechanisms, self-regulation, and the role of social context. We also describe how interactions among these mechanisms...
The impairment of airway protective reflexes, i.e., swallowing and cough reflexes, is thought to be one of the major causes for aspiration pneumonia in older people. Restoration of cough and swallowing reflexes in the elderly is key to preventing aspiration pneumonia in the elderly. Although, the medical literature has asserted that cough and swallowing are controlled primarily by the brainstem, recent...
Involuntary cough without an identified underlying organic reason has been given various names and recommended treatments. Current experience suggests that “habit cough” best describes this entity. Suggestion therapy in its various forms is the treatment of choice. Successful therapy is directed at demonstrating to the patient that he/she has the ability to resist the urge to cough. Attempts at medical...
Background Studies of polymorphisms in CYP1A1, CYP2E1, CYP2D6, and GSTM1 and their relationship to lung cancer susceptibility and chemotherapy response have been reported, but the results are not consistent. In this study we selected four polymorphisms in these genes, several of which have previously been researched, and investigated their association with lung cancer susceptibility and chemotherapy...
The pathophysiology of cough variant asthma is poorly understood. In particular, the mechanisms that cause different symptoms in typical asthma (in which wheeze predominates) compared with cough variant asthma (in which cough predominates) have not been determined. Traditional explanations include higher wheezing thresholds, differences in cough sensitivity, and/or differences in small airway function...
Cough is a troublesome symptom associated with many respiratory diseases. In some instances cough can become prolonged and excessive, and chronic cough of various aetiologies is a common presentation to specialist respiratory clinics. However, current treatment options are limited. Despite its importance, our understanding of the mechanisms that provoke cough is poor. Recent investigation has focused...
Background Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a comorbidity associated with increased mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. It is not known which clinical markers are predictive of PH in COPD. The goal of this study was to develop a clinical tool to identify patients who should be sent for initial screening with echocardiography. Methods Of 127 patients screened, 94 primary-care...
Background The aim of this study was to determine if gelatinase activity of plasma matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) can be used as a method to assess chemotherapy response and cancer progression in primary lung adenocarcinoma patients. Methods A group of 28 patients was divided according to risk factor as follows: lung cancer associated with wood smoke exposure (LCW), lung cancer in tobacco smokers...
Cough due to upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) is one of the most frequent complaints encountered by pediatric health-care providers, and one of the most disruptive symptoms for children and families. Despite the frequency of URIs, there is limited evidence to support the few therapeutic agents currently available in the United States (US) to treat acute cough due to URI. Published, well-designed,...
The major etiologies of chronic cough are generally accepted to consist of upper airway cough syndrome (formerly postnasal drip syndrome), eosinophilic airway inflammation (asthma, nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, only a small percentage of patients with these very common conditions suffers from chronic cough. Furthermore, acute cough due...
Lung transplantation has become the standard of care for particular individuals with advanced lung disease. However, this surgical procedure involves interruption of the lower vagal nerve fibers which leads to loss of the protective cough reflex. Injury of the neural pathways involved with the sensory limb of the cough reflex is associated with an increased risk of complications involving the allograft...
Cough remains refractory to medical treatment in approximately 20% of cases. Speech pathology intervention is a useful treatment option for patients with chronic cough that is refractory to treatment based on the anatomic diagnostic protocol. One of the reasons for this is that the larynx can be implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic refractory cough. There is an overlap in symptoms and clinical...
Background We postulate that in adults there is an established lung structure maintenance program and that lung alveolar septal cells are undergoing both continuous apoptosis and proliferation. Whereas lung cell apoptosis has been recognized in human emphysema, little is known about cell proliferation. Methods Using a novel rat model of emphysema, induced by intratracheal instillation of cigarette...
Study Objectives Validated clinical pretest probability tools are lacking in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy, and the negative predictive value of D-dimers in this population has not been appropriately tested. The goal of this study was to evaluate outcomes of negative multidetector computed tomography with pulmonary angiography (MDCT-PA) for the diagnosis of PE in pregnancy...
Background Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS–TBNA) provides material for the cytological diagnostic workup. To improve the evaluation of unexplained intrathoracic lymphadenopathy, the availability of material for histological evaluation would be desirable. For this purpose, the technique of endobronchial ultrasound-guided mediastinal forceps biopsy (EBUS-guided...
Background This study aimed to assess the palliative care needs of progressive idiopathic fibrotic interstitial lung disease (PIF-ILD) populations in two London ILD centres. Methods Patients’ records from Royal Brompton Hospital (RBH) and King’s College Hospital (KCH) were extracted to assess palliative care needs, use of palliative treatments, and whether end-of-life preferences were documented...
Prevalence, characteristics and the very existence of neurofibromatosis-associated diffuse lung disease remain unclear, mostly because the few studies that looked at pulmonary involvement in such patients used chest X-ray as diagnostic mean. We report on the clinical, functional and HRCT findings in a patient with neurofibromatosis-associated diffuse lung disease and provide a short literature review.
Background Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a marker of inflammation of the airways accompanying changes in the clinical condition of asthma. Allergen exposure has been associated with a delayed elevation of FeNO. The aim of this study was to assess airway inflammation with FeNO measurements during bronchial allergen challenge (BAC), and to determine the diagnostic performance of FeNO changes...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.