Feasibility study to assess the effect of a brief mindfulness intervention for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Psychological distress is common among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to assess whether a 10-minute mindfulness intervention reduces distress and breathlessness, improves mood and increases mindfulness among hospital inpatients following acute exacerbation of COPD.Fifty patients were recruited following an acute admission. The immediate effects of a 10-minute mindfulness-based body scan were compared with a control intervention. Participants were randomized to receive either a mindfulness-based body scan ( n = 24) or a control condition ( n = 26) via a 10-minute audio recording. Participants completed a self-assessment survey, including the Borg scale for breathlessness, Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. They then completed six brief single item measures of dyspnoea, anxiety, depression, happiness, stress and mindfulness before and after the intervention daily for three consecutive days. Acceptability was rated according to 'usefulness' and whether they would recommend the intervention to other patients. Results showed that there was a tendency for change in most outcomes, but no significant differences between the groups. Most participants rated the intervention as useful and would recommend it. Existing knowledge of mindfulness interventions among these patients is very limited and this study may be helpful in the development of other brief interventions.

Peer mentoring for core medical trainees: uptake and impact.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the uptake and impact of a peer mentoring scheme for core medical trainees on both mentors and mentees. METHOD: All second year core medical trainees in the Southwest London Training programme in September 2012 were invited to mentor a first year core medical trainee. In parallel, all first year core medical trainees were invited to be mentored. Both potential mentors and mentees were asked to submit personal statements, to attend a three-session mentoring training programme and to be matched into mentoring pairs. The impact of the mentoring scheme on trainees' behaviour and outlook was assessed through questionnaires distributed at the start and at the end of the year. RESULTS: 31 of 72 (43%) core medical trainees submitted personal statements and 40 of 72 (56%) attended training sessions. 42 trainees (58%) participated in the scheme (21 mentor/mentee pairs were established). Of the trainees who participated, 23 of 42 (55%) completed the end of year questionnaire. Participating trainees viewed the scheme positively. Reported benefits included changes in their behaviour and acquiring transferable skills that might help them in later career roles, such as an educational supervisor. The end of year questionnaire was sent to all trainees and 10 responded who had not participated. They were asked why they had not participated and their reasons included lack of time, lack of inclination and a desire for more senior mentors. Their suggestions for improvement included more structured sessions to allow the mentor/mentee pairs to meet. CONCLUSIONS: This simple peer mentoring scheme was popular despite busy workloads and benefited all concerned. It is a simple effective way of supporting doctors. More work is needed to improve training for mentors and to improve access to mentoring.

Obstructive sleep apnoea increases risk of CVD.

In OSA, the patient suffers repeated episodes of apnoea caused by narrowing or closure of the pharyngeal airway during sleep. The degree of closure of the airway leads to periods of either apnoea (complete) or hypopnoea (partial) obstruction. Population-based surveys estimate that 2-4% of the middle-aged population have OSA, which is similar to the prevalence of diabetes and asthma. Although understanding of the condition has improved considerably, it is estimated that 85-90% of sufferers still remain undiagnosed. OSA is not only a cause of excessive daytime somnolence leading to an increased risk of accidents on the road and poor work performance, but also a major cause of social dysfunction, reduced quality of life related to poor health, and mood disorders. Untreated OSA predicts a substantially increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, depression, and mortality. Wherever OSA is considered, the following questions should be asked: Is this patient falling asleep regularly against their will? Is this patient often sleepy while driving? Is this patient experiencing difficulty at work because of excessive sleepiness? Is sleep refreshing? Is surgery for snoring being considered (OSA should be excluded first)? The gold standard for investigation of OSA is polysomnography. It is possible to diagnose almost 90% of OSA patients from limited sleep studies often conducted on a domiciliary basis with portable diagnostic equipment.

Obstructive sleep apnea in incremental hemodialysis: determinants, consequences, and impact on survival.

Sleep disorders are common in hemodialysis patients, although causes and consequences remain unclear. We sought to establish prevalence, determinants, and outcomes of sleep disturbances in patients receiving incremental dialysis. One hundred two unselected patients undergoing incremental high-flux hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration underwent limited overnight sleep study. Large subsets underwent echocardiography, interdialytic ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and brain natriuretic peptide measurements. Patients were followed up to 44 months. Full sleep data were obtained in 91 patients. All had sleep disturbance as evidenced by an apnea-hypopnea index >5/min. We defined major obstructive sleep apnea (MOSA) as an apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 15, together with either significant oxygen desaturation or symptoms of daytime sleepiness. Forty patients met these criteria. Significant independent predictors of MOSA were age <65 years, male gender, has diabetes, and has a brain natriuretic peptide >2500 pg/mL. Mean ambulatory blood pressure and left ventricular mass index were significantly higher in these patients. In a model controlling for body mass index, high C-reactive protein, and the presence of cancer, MOSA was associated with a twofold increased risk of mortality, although this did not reach statistical significance. MOSA was common, and was associated with hypertension and high left ventricular mass index. Whether obstructive sleep apnea contributes to the high mortality remains to be firmly established.

Unusual association of ST-T abnormalities, myocarditis and cardiomyopathy with H1N1 influenza in pregnancy: two case reports and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Myocarditis is rarely reported as an extra-pulmonary manifestation of influenza while pregnancy is a rare cause of cardiomyopathy. Pregnancy was identified as a major risk factor for increased mortality and morbidity due to H1N1 influenza in the pandemic of 2009 to 2010. However, to the best of our knowledge there are no previous reports in the literature linking H1N1 with myocarditis in pregnancy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the cases of two pregnant Caucasian women (aged 29 and 30), with no pre-existing illness, presenting with respiratory manifestations of H1N1 influenza virus infection in their third trimester. Both women developed evidence of myocarditis. One woman developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, almost reaching the point of requiring extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, and subsequently developed persistent cardiomyopathy; the other recovered without any long-term consequence. CONCLUSIONS: While it is not possible to ascertain retrospectively if myocarditis was caused by either infection with H1N1 virus or as a result of pregnancy (in the absence of endomyocardial biopsies), the significant association with myocardial involvement in both women demonstrates the increased risk of exposure to H1N1 influenza virus in pregnant women. This highlights the need for health care providers to increase awareness amongst caregivers to target this 'at risk' group aggressively with vaccination and prompt treatment.

A pilot study of the impact of high-frequency chest wall oscillation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with mucus hypersecretion.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with mucus hypersecretion tend to demonstrate increased frequency of infective exacerbations and a steeper slope of decline in lung function. Enhanced mucociliary clearance with high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) devices previously used in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis patients may offer the opportunity for community-based, self-managed therapy to improve quality of life and lung function. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A randomized controlled crossover pilot study of HFCWO compared with conventional treatment was conducted in 22 patients with moderate to severe COPD and mucus hypersecretion. Patients spent 4 weeks using an HFCWO (SmartVest(®)) device and 4 weeks in a conventional phase with a 2-week washout. Eleven patients started with HFCWO and changed to conventional treatment, whereas the other eleven patients started conventional treatment and crossed over to HFCWO. RESULTS: The patients were elderly with a mean age of 71 (standard deviation [SD] 10) years and were at the upper end of the normal range of body mass index (25 [SD 4.2] kg/m(2)). The majority of patients had moderate to severe COPD with a mean percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 41 (SD 15.6) and percentage predicted forced vital capacity of 73 (SD 17.7). Baseline sputum production was negatively correlated to lung function and positively to St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Symptom scores and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire symptom dimension improved significantly (-8, P < 0.05). Sputum production showed a declining trend in the HFCWO phase, although not reaching statistical significance. The HFCWO device was well tolerated with good reported compliance. CONCLUSION: This pilot study demonstrated that patients with advanced COPD and mucus hypersecretion at increased risk of declining lung function tolerated the HFCWO treatment well, leading to improvement in quality of life and reduced symptoms.

Organising pneumonia presenting as acute life threatening pulmonary haemorrhage.

Organising pneumonia, previously called bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia is a clinicopathological entity of unknown aetiology, which has been reported with increasing frequency. Various modes of presentation have been described such as cough, fever, weight loss and alveolar opacities on chest radiograph. Haemoptysis as primary presenting symptom has only rarely been reported. The authors report a case in which massive life-threatening haemoptysis was the major presenting symptom. No aetiology was identified for the haemoptysis and the diagnosis was confirmed on postmortem histology. This case highlights the importance of considering organising pneumonia in the differential diagnosis of acute severe haemoptysis.

Improving mucociliary clearance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients with COPD usually experience mucus hypersecretion as a result of airway inflammation and response to noxious stimuli. These in turn lead to worsening airway resistance, impaired airflow, increased work of breathing, dyspnoea and exercise intolerance. Mucus hypersecretion may also lead to increased exacerbations and poor health related quality of life (HRQL). Institution based pulmonary rehabilitation programs incorporating airway clearance techniques have been shown to improve HRQL, reduce dyspnoea and improve exercise tolerance but are often difficult to provide due to restricted accessibility and resource implications. This review examines the current evidence base and best clinical practice in the area of airway clearance. Mechanical devices such as the flutter valves, positive end expiratory pressure and high frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) may be able to provide the benefits of improved airway clearance in the patient's home potentially with reduced demands on healthcare resources.

Rapidly progressive Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organising Pneumonia presenting with pneumothorax, persistent air leak, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multi-organ dysfunction: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organising Pneumonia (BOOP) may often present initially as a recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax and then develop multi-system complications. CASE PRESENTATION: A 17-year-old boy presented with a pneumothorax, which developed into rapidly progressive Bronchiolitis Obliterans Organising Pneumonia (BOOP). He developed multi-organ dysfunction (including adult respiratory distress syndrome, oliguric renal failure, acute coronary syndrome, cardiac failure and a right atrial thrombus) which necessitated prolonged intensive care. Diagnosis was confirmed on open lung biopsy and he responded well to treatment with corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: BOOP is exquisitely sensitive to oral corticosteroids but if the diagnosis is not considered in such patients and appropriate treatment instituted early, BOOP may often lead to prolonged hospital admission with considerable morbidity.