Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews - Volume 13, Issue 4, 2017

Background: Pneumothorax occurs when air enters the pleural cavity. Pneumothorax can be generally sub-divided into spontaneous and non-spontaneous subtypes. The most common examples of non-spontaneous pneumothorax include iatrogenic and traumatic. Methods: Current studies provide good evidence of epidemiology of this condition. Similarly, there have been improvements in our understanding of underlying m Read More

Background: Asthma is one of the major noncommunicable diseases. According to the latest WHO estimates released in December 2016, 235 million people currently suffer from asthma and there were 383 000 deaths due to asthma in 2015. Most asthma-related deaths occur in low- and lower-middle income countries. Asthma is a common disease among children. Objectives: Asthma care requires understanding how diag Read More

Background: Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging modality which is getting more attention these days. The main advantages are real time images, small cost, small size and non-ionizing operation. On the other hand, the biggest drawbacks are blurred images obtained and time consuming implementation. Objective: This paper introduces challenges and possible remedies when the electrical impedance tom Read More

Background: A number of recent studies have shown that a specifically designed odor inhaler containing various scent compositions has the ability to decrease blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels. Similar results were found for the reduction of chronic pain or the enhancement of selective attention and concentration. Objective: This paper follows up on these findings and investigates whether a specially designed in Read More

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep related disorder. Objectives: To identify OSA, its risk factors and to study its association with fatigue and day time sleepiness. Methods: In-patients were interviewed using the STOP-BANG questionnaire, the Fatigue Severity Scale questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Height, weight and neck circumference of the participants were measured using Read More

Background: The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is used in heart failure in order to evaluate the symptoms, determine the differential diagnoses of dyspnea, consider the prognosis and survival in diseases and finally help the patient's treatment. The aim of present study was to determine the correlation between CPET results and the functional class of patients with advanced heart failure candidate for heart tran Read More

Background: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease that primarily affects the lung and lymphatic systems of the body. The Chest X-ray (Roentgenology) is the most common first imaging modality used in the diagnostic approach and follow-up of sarcoidosis, and is still used to determine the stage of sarcoidois based on the classification system proposed by Scadding (1961). Objective: We will assess the relation Read More