Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews - Volume 5, Issue 2, 2009

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The concentration of airborne particulate matters (PM) is related to daily hospital admissions for several pulmonary disorders such as bronchial asthma, acute and chronic bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Especially, PM with a mass median aerodynamic diameter < or 2.5 μm (PM2.5) is recognized to be more closely associated with respiratory effects and subsequent mortality than that of mass median aerodynamic dia Read More

COPD is a condition characterized by progressive airflow obstruction which is rather insensible to bronchodilators. The pathogenetic mechanisms of this disorder are multifaceted, encompassing pulmonary inflammation, small airway remodelling, emphysema and mucous hypersecretion. As our comprehension of the heterogeneous pathology of the disease has improved it has been recognized that the ongoing inflammatory pro Read More

Joshanda, a polyherbal Unani (Greco-arab) formulation is extensively used in the treatment of upper and lower respiratory catarrh. After the renewed attention and interest in the use of traditional medicines at the global level, Joshanda is extensively being used for the treatment of URC (Upper Respiratory Catarrh), particularly in the chronic cases. This polyherbal mixture contains a variety of expectorant, anticatarrhal an Read More

Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive measures, mortality in patients with severe community- acquired pneumonia admitted to the intensive care unit remains high, especially in case of development of sepsis with its complications. Systemic inflammation is a major feature of severe community-acquired pneumonia worsening to sepsis. This uncontrolled inflammation is sustained by genetic mechanisms throug Read More

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure has been associated with adverse health outcomes in all stages of life. Embryogenesis is a particularly important period to study because exposures during this period can alter proper growth and development of all organs. ETS exposure to the developing fetus has been associated with low birth weight infants, premature births and sudden infant death syndrome. In additi Read More

Electrical Impedance Tomography is a non invasive lung function monitoring with the possibility of regional lung function studies concerning regional ventilation, regional lung perfusion and regional lung mechanics. This review describes the technique of Electrical Impedance Tomography, its possibility, limitations, and use in research and its possible use in clinical routine.

Alveolar capillary dysplasia (ACD) is a recently recognized lethal lung malformation. ACD is a rare congenital disorder of pulmonary vascular development associated with unremitting hypoxemia and respiratory failure. This paper reviews the incidence, pathophysiology and histopathology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of affected newborns and proposes an algorithmic approach to management of infants Read More

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by progressive obliteration of the small pulmonary vasculature leading to permanently increased vascular resistance and elevated pulmonary artery pressures over 25 mmHg at rest and 30 mmHg during exercise. Elevated pressures in the pulmonary circulation result in right heart failure and premature death. Besides idiopathic PAH, it can also occur in a variety of other Read More

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a potentially life-threatening pulmonary manifestation that has been associated with various diseases. It is a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment. The clinical manifestations consist of hemoptysis, hypoxia, a drop in the hemoglobin level and new pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. Infrequently, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Antiphospholip Read More