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Frailty is a common clinical syndrome in the elderly with decreased physiological reserve as the core, which can lead to a variety of adverse outcomes. The prevalence of frailty increases with the aging process. Smoking is one of the important risk factors for frailty development, which can increase the risk of death in elderly patients with frailty;and the current smoking may increase the risk of frailty in the future. The study on the relationship between smoking and frailty will help to control the risk factors of frailty, formulate the early prevention and intervention policies of frailty, so as to reduce the incidence of adverse frailty outcomes, reduce the hospitalization rate, mortality rate, and the socioeconomic burden.
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Objective To investigate the clinical data of a patient with IgG4-related disease involving the trachea and paratracheal soft tissue and review the literature so as to improve the understanding level of the disorder.Methods To analyze the clinical manifestation,laboratory examination,imaging,histopathology,treatment and prognosis of a patient with IgG4-related disease trachea and paratracheal soft tissue involved,who was admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital.The relevant literatures were reviewed.Results A 18-year-old female was admitted with chief complaint of cough,dyspnea,and neck mass.Neck CT suggested that tracheal stenosis was caused by surrounded soft tissue.Paratracheal mass biopsy showed dense collagen fibers with infiltration of many lymphocytes and plasma cells.Immunohistochemical stain found that IgG4-positive plasma cells were ＞ 50/high power field (HPF) and a ratio of IgG4/IgG positive cells was over 40％.The level of serum IgG4 was significantly increased (2 930 mg/L).She was diagnosed as IgG4-related disease.The patient was treated with 80 mg intravenous methylprednisolone per day for three days,then prednisone 40 mg daily oral.Her dyspnea was significantly relieved.One month later,CT scan showed that the cervical tracheal stenosis was significantly improved.We identified 20 cases of IgG4-related disease involving the trachea and paratracheal soft tissue from databases,in which only 1 case was similar as this patient.The other 19 cases were of extratracheal involvement.Elevated serum IgG4 was detected in 11/12 patients.Most patients were treated with glucocorticoid,some combined with immunosuppressive agents and rituximab.The clinical outcome was good.Conclusion IgG4-related disease involving the trachea and paratracheal soft tissue is a rare condition.Serum IgG4 level and histopathology should be considered for diagnosis.Glucocorticoid is effective.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To assess the hemodynamic, oxygen-dynamic and ventilative effects of Zafirlukast in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) induced chronic cor pulmonale at acute exacerbation stage and the mechanisms of Zafirlukast efficacy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eleven cases of chronic cor pulmonale at acute exacerbation were examined using Swan-Ganz catheter and peripheral intra-artery catheter. The hemodynamic, oxygen-dynamic parameters and respiratory rate, plasma endothelium-1 (ET-1) level, and urea leukotriene E(4) (LTE(4)) level were measured before and at the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th hour after taking 40 mg Zafirlukast orally. Arterial and mixed venous blood gas analyses were done correspondingly.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) were lowered at the 3rd hour after taking Zafirlukast by 23% and 36.5%, respectively. They returned to the baseline around 12th hour. Respiratory rate decreased significantly within the 3rd-7th hour after taking Zafirlukast. LTE(4) and ET-1 levels lowered at the 3rd hour and showed a positive correlation with change of mPAP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Zafirlukast can reduce mPAP, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and does not affect the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and oxygenation in cases of chronic cor pulmonale at acute exacerbation stage. Zafirlukast may play a role as an alternative to decrease PAP in COPD patients.</p>