Cognitive function in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is evidence that individuals with severe idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have cognitive deficits when compared to individuals with healthy lungs. Participants completed five neuropsychological tests: Trail Making Test (TMT) A and B, Stroop Color Word Test (1, 2, 3), Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Boston Naming Test, and Grooved Pegboard Test, additionally, the short form-36 and Beck Depression Index. Twelve participants (7 male, mean age 69.3, 9.4 years) comprised the severe IPF group defined by a diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) <30%. Thirty-four patients (22 male, mean age 63.2, 9.6 years) comprised the mild-to-moderate group with a DLCO >30%. Participating spouses (n = 15, 4 male) served as the control group and had a mean age of 66.0, 10.8 years. Controlling for gender and age, the severe group had a significantly longer mean TMT B time (69.4, 135.9 seconds) than the mild group and the control group (86.7 seconds vs 83.2 seconds; p = 0.004 and 0.008 respectively), suggesting inferior performance on tasks requiring speed divided attention. In addition, the severe group had a significantly lower number of correctly identified colors in the Stroop 3 test (22.4 vs 30.6 vs 38.6; p < 0.001), suggesting slower processing speeds when requiring suppression of a familiar response. Participants with severe IPF had worse cognitive function than mild IPF or control subjects. Further research is needed to explain these findings and to develop interventions tailored to address these deficits.

Significance of granulomatous inflammation in usual interstitial pneumonia.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unclear etiology with characteristic pulmonary lesions. We describe 2 unique cases of sarcoidosis where after approximately 20 years of clinical quiescence, patients developed interstitial opacities on chest CT scan and an increase in shortness of breath. With lack of therapeutic response to a course of prednisone, both patients underwent a surgical lung biopsy that revealed a pattern consistent with Usual Interstitial Pneumonia (UIP) with honeycombing and fibroblastic foci. Postoperatively, the course of the disease was consistent with what would be expected in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Ultimately the disease progressed with one patient needed lung transplantation and the other requiring high-flow oxygen supplementation. In conclusion, we present two patients in whom a diagnosis of sarcoidosis preceded the diagnosis of UIP by 20 years or more. The subsequent course of disease in both patients was consistent with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Platelet aggregation, blood viscosity and serum lipids in hypertensive and obese children.

UNLABELLED: A group of 35 patients (median age 15.5 years, range 8-17 years) with juvenile essential hypertension, 15 with body mass index (BMI kg/m(2)) <25 and 20 with BMI >25, as well as 35 age and sex matched controls (BMI <25 n=20; BMI >25 n=15) were investigated to study the role of hypertension and obesity, separately and in combination, on in vitro platelet aggregation, blood and plasma viscosity, plasma lipid concentrations and lipid peroxidation as well as nitric oxide (NO) production. Obese children (hypertensive and controls) had significantly higher concentrations of total cholesterol and triglycerides. The levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were lower in obese hypertensive children than their non-obese counterparts. There was a significant increase in platelet aggregation and a decrease in NO levels in hypertensive patients (obese and non-obese) reflecting a significant negative correlation (r=-0.553 and -0.530, n=35; P<0.01, respectively). However, an increased tendency to aggregation was also evident in obese normotensive patients. A significant positive correlation was observed between the platelet aggregation and BMI (r=0.501, n=35; P<0.01). Plasma free thiols were decreased in hypertensive children independent of their BMI. An increased lipid peroxidation and higher blood and plasma viscosity were found only in obese patients with hypertension. Multivariate analysis revealed significant interactions in the effects of obesity and hypertension on platelet aggregation and thiol oxidation. CONCLUSION: in obese children an increased platelet aggregation and oxidative insult contribute to the development of hypertension and to the promotion of vascular damage.