conclusions the fev1/fev6 ratio can be used as a valid surrogate for fev1/fvc in the diagnosis of airway obstruction, especially for screening purposes in high-risk populations for copd. moreover, fev6 is an acceptable alternative for fvc in detection of restrictive pattern. results this study shows that the current cut-off points used to detect obstruction and restriction can be replaced by fe...

pulmonary hypertension (ph) is an important cause of heart failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd). the pro brain natriuretic peptide n-terminal (nt-probnp) has been suggested as a noninvasive marker to evaluate ventricular function. however, there is no evidence to support the use of nt-probnp in monitoring the benefits of vasodilators in copd induced ph. thus, we used nt-probn...

background: several studies have showed an increased prevalence of airflow obstruction in first degree relatives of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd). considering no specific research had evaluated airway resistance in offspring of patients with severe copd, we utilized a spirometry and a impulse oscillometry (io) to evaluate this population. materials and methods: i...

conclusions we observed acceptable results regarding both efficacy and safety with 62.5 mg of bosentan, twice daily in this group of patients. further clinical trials investigating pah with lower dosages of bosentan may be warranted. results no adverse drug reaction was observed during the follow-up. clinical worsening occurred in six (14%) patients, at least one year after treatment, two of th...

background : there is little evidence about the role of zafirlukast (a highly selective ltd4 antagonist) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd). the zafirlukast can reduce the need for short-acting rescue β2 agonists, produce fewer exacerbations of asthma and increased quality of life as possible benefits treatment for asthma. the aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of zafirlu...

conclusions although we found a trend towards decreasing spah and improving 6mwd, no statistically significant shift were detected in our outcomes due to inadequate sample size. patients and methods a registered (irct201108257411n1), triple-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed in rasoule akram hospital, tehran, from 2009 to 2011. forty five patients with secondary pulmonary hyperten...

objective: trichomonas species usually reside in the mouth and occasionally in the respiratory tract. these species can be found in the lungs of humans. although the pathogenicity of the parasite in the respiratory system has not been proven, it is more prevalent in people who lack good oral health or suffer from asthma or chronic pulmonary diseases. in the present descriptive study, we have id...

background: chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (copd) are planned to rank fifth in burden of disease and third with respect to mortality by 2020. carrying out research regarding different aspects of copd is mentioned as important health priorities by academic institutions and governments. the burden of lung disease (bold) initiative was designed a decade ago to develop robust models that ca...

background: depression and smoking decrease health status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), but the combined effect of the two factors is unknown. this study aimed to assess the interactive effects of depression and smoking on the severity of patients with copd. methods: a prospective cohort study including 2,268 patients with copd was conducted in seven rural communities from ma...