BACKGROUND: There is a growing body of evidence for serious health consequences of exposure to ambient air pollution. The general question of who is susceptible is one of the most important gaps in current knowledge regarding particulate matter (PM)-related health effects. Who is susceptible depends on the specific health endpoint ...

A 4-month-old caucasian infant presented non-productive cough, fever associated with hemoptysis, and increasing anemia. He had mild tachypnoea; routine lab tests were normal. The thoracic HRCT scan showed a very large mass in the right lung adherent to the thorax wall, well defined and limiting the medium and upper lobe; ...

BACKGROUND: Together with smoking, the lung function attained in early adulthood is one of the strongest predictors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We aimed to investigate whether lung function in early adulthood is, in turn, affected by airway function measured shortly after birth. METHODS: Non-selected infants were enrolled at birth ...

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether abnormalities of lung volume and/or airway function were associated with wheeze at follow-up in infants born very prematurely and to identify risk factors for wheeze. DESIGN: Lung function data obtained at 1 year of age were collated from two cohorts of infants recruited into the UKOS ...

Over the past 20 years, corticosteroid use in the preterm infant has fallen in and out offavor. Steroids were introduced in the 1980s as a mode of preventing and treating chronic lung disease (CLD) in the preterm infant population. This use has been targeted toward low birth weight infants who ...

Temporal coordination of deglutition and respiration is essential for survival because both functions share the pharynx as a common pathway. Disruptions in this interface in young infants may result in dysphagia that may lead to aspiration and injury to the developing lung. Likewise, respiratory problems may contribute to the development ...

OBJECTIVE: We previously proposed that novel expression and/or conformation of autoantigens in the target tissue may play a role in generating phenotype-specific immune responses. The strong association of autoantibodies to histidyl-transfer RNA synthetase (HisRS, Jo-1) with interstitial lung disease in patients with myositis led us to study HisRS expression and ...

The principles of maedi-visna eradication programmes were applied to a field trial for the eradication of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA). In two maternal flocks the prevalence of gross and histological lesions in slaughtered animals was 18.3 per cent and 29.8 per cent, respectively. The lambing period was supervised for three ...

BACKGROUND: We have recently shown that moderate preterm birth, in the absence of respiratory support, altered the structure of lung parenchyma in young lambs, but the long-term effects are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether structural changes persist to maturity, and whether postnatal growth affects lung structure at maturity in sheep. ...

The assessment of lung volumes, particularly functional residual capacity (FRC), is crucial for understanding lung development during infancy in CDH patients.AIM: To evaluate changes in lung function during infancy in subjects with CDH treated with a "gentle ventilation" technique and delayed surgery strategy in the neonatal period. METHODS: 13 CDH ...

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is characterized by fetal and neonatal lung hypoplasia as well as vascular hypoplasia. Antenatal imaging studies have been performed that attempt to quantify the degree of hypoplasia and its impact on infant prognosis. Prenatal and perinatal growth of the lung and vasculature are interdependent and their continued ...

Inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) positively affects both lung function and pulmonary exacerbations in children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Early initiation of treatment may potentially reduce lung function decline and improve outcome of CF patients. However, the safety and tolerability of HS have not been established in infants and ...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Inhaled nitric oxide is established therapy for term infants with hypoxemic respiratory failure. Laboratory studies demonstrate that inhaled nitric oxide improves lung function and morphology in animal models of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, creating a rationale for clinical studies in premature infants. Four large multicenter randomized trials have now ...

OBJECTIVE: Previous analyses of the Epidemiologic Study of Cystic Fibrosis database revealed that sites with the highest average patient lung function monitor patients and treat with antibiotics more aggressively than those where average lung function is lowest. The aim of this study was to assess whether patterns of care for ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is diagnosed by the presence of signs and symptoms of CRS in conjunction with physical evidence of mucosal inflammation. We sought to identify symptoms that predict CRS. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients referred to a tertiary care rhinology clinic for evaluation of CRS. ...

Lymphangioma refers to the local proliferation of well-differentiated lymphatic tissue. Generalized lymphangiomatosis is rare. We report a previously healthy 8-month-old infant who suffered from tachypnea with mild fever for 2 weeks. Imaging studies revealed a well-defined, large mass occupying the mediastinum, which presented as cardiomegaly. The disseminated mass extended to ...

Thoracostomy tubes are commonly required to treat pnuemothoraces in premature infants. Evidence of impalement of the lungs by tube thoracostomy has been seen in autopsy studies. In neonates, there has been described a surprisingly high incidence of lung perforation. The premature lung is thought to be at greater risk for ...

BACKGROUND: Measurement of functional residual capacity (FRC) is of considerable interest for monitoring patients with lung injury. The lack of instruments has impeded routine bedside FRC measurement. Recently, a simple automated method for FRC assessment by O2 washout has been introduced. We designed this study to evaluate the accuracy of ...

OBJECTIVE: To describe the pattern and magnitude of lung volume change during open endotracheal tube (ETT) suction in infants receiving high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). DESIGN: Prospective observational clinical study. SETTING: Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Seven intubated and muscle-relaxed newborn infants receiving HFOV. INTERVENTIONS: Open ETT suction ...

Very low birthweight (VLBW) infants who had prolonged oxygen dependence due to chronic respiratory problems, typically neonatal chronic lung disease (CLD), are at high risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. To assess the effect of CLD on neonatal auditory function we studied brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) in VLBW infants who suffered ...

AIM: To investigate whether intractable respiratory distress syndrome in three Norwegian term infants was due to mutations in the ABCA3 gene. METHODS: The genes encoding SP-B (SFTPB), SP-C (SFTPC), and ABCA3 (ABCA3) were sequenced from the parents of one infant and two unrelated infants with fatal neonatal lung disease. Lung ...

Chronic lung disease (CLD) is a common outcome of neonatal intensive care. To determine whether the results of serial exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) measurements during the perinatal period differed between infants who did and did not develop CLD. In addition, we wished to assess whether eNO results were more predictive ...

Over the past year, a series of papers have reviewed the literature concerning assessment and interpretation of lung function in infants and young children with chronic lung disease of infancy. This manuscript, which represents the final paper in that series, summarizes the findings to date and highlights key areas for ...

AIM: There are currently two dexamethasone regimes used in our nursery. We aimed to retrospectively compare the cumulative dose of dexamethasone that infants on each regime received and the requirement for further courses. METHODS: Infants receiving dexamethasone between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004, with a gestational age of ...

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of the lung is a rare abnormality which is amenable to be diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography. In general, CCAM associated with non-immune hydrops has a poor prognosis unless a fetal intervention is performed. In some series almost 100% of either prenatal or early neonatal deaths ...

AIM: We evaluated the use of computerized quantification of wheezing and crackles compared to a clinical score in assessing the effect of inhaled albuterol or inhaled epinephrine in infants with RSV bronchiolitis. METHODS: Computerized lung sounds analysis with quantification of wheezing and crackles and a clinical score were used during ...

Airway liquid content and insufficient absorptive airway ion transport at birth are potentially important factors in the development and severity of neonatal respiratory disease. The role of deficient absorptive airway ion transport in the development of chronic lung disease of prematurity is unknown. Additionally, lung inflammatory mediators modulate airway ion ...

BACKGROUND: Several reports indicate a decreased cortisol response to adrenocorticotropic hormone in preterm infants developing chronic lung disease and in preterm infants with refractory hypotension. Low-dose hydrocortisone (HC) may allow for beneficial effects. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess whether HC is able to increase survival without chronic lung disease. ...

OBJECTIVE: Endostatin is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor. Angiogenesis is central for the development of the human lung. The role of endostatin in the development of the human lung and its connection to chronic lung disease remain unclear. We set out to study the role of endostatin in the developing human ...

BACKGROUND: Transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) is a mild form of neonatal respiratory distress which early in its course needs to be differentiated from other severe respiratory disorders. At present the diagnosis is based on radiological findings and clinical course. Lung sonography in TTN has not yet been assessed. ...

Systemic corticosteroids are widely used for the treatment/prevention of chronic lung disease (CLD) in premature infants. The use of the inhalation route for delivering corticosteroids has been widely recognized, however so far pre-term babies continue to be treated with oral glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone. We hypothesize that the pulmonary administration ...

BACKGROUND: Lung clearance index (LCI), a measure of ventilation inhomogeneity derived from the multiple-breath inert gas washout (MBW) technique, has been shown to detect abnormal lung function more readily than spirometry in preschool children with cystic fibrosis, but whether this holds true during infancy is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To compare the ...

The single occlusion technique (SOT) is a simple and noninvasive technique for measurement of passive respiratory mechanics in infants. Reference values based on measurements of a large population of healthy infants performed outside specialized research laboratories are lacking. The aim of this study was to present reference values for passive ...

Animal models suggest that reduced nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity results in lower values of exhaled NO (eNO) present at birth in those individuals who are going to develop chronic lung disease of infancy (CLDI). Online tidal eNO was measured in 39 unsedated pre-term infants with CLDI (mean gestational age ...

The identification of the biologic properties of nitric oxide (NO) is one of the key scientific discoveries of the century, but its potential for treating human disease is yet to be fully realized. NO has a basic role in regulating vascular tone of the pulmonary circulation, and recent animal models ...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is initially characterized by severe restrictive lung defect and low lung compliance, but survivors have relatively few abnormalities later in life. We studied the changes in lung growth and function in infants after the repair of CDH. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of pulmonary function tests was ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the outcomes of lung transplantation for infants with surfactant protein-B (SP-B) deficiency are unique. STUDY DESIGN: From a prospective analysis to identify infants with genetic causes of surfactant deficiency, we identified 33 SP-B-deficient infants from 1993 to 2005, and, among those undergoing lung transplantation (n = ...

Traditionally, non-invasive monitoring of tidal volume in infants has been performed using impedance plethysmography analyzed using a one or two compartment model. We developed a new laser system for use in infants, which measures antero-posterior movement of the chest wall during quiet sleep. In 24 unsedated or sedated infants (11 ...

A small infant with congenital cystic adenomatoid was scheduled for thoracoscopic resection of the lung cyst. During carbon dioxide insufflation, there was a sharp rise of endtidal carbon dioxide which was followed by marked hypoxemia and bradycardia due to occlusion of the tracheal tube with blood. The plan changed to ...

Lung diseases represent one of the most life threatening conditions in the newborn. Important progresses in modern perinatal care has resulted in a significantly improved survival and decreased morbidity, in both term and preterm infants. Most of these improvements are directly related to the better management of neonatal lung conditions, ...

The aim of this work was to characterize lung function and cellular responses in a large animal model for chronic asthma. All sheep were sensitized to house dust mite (HDM) by subcutaneous injection of HDM before lung challenges. Groups of sheep were given weekly lung challenges with either HDM (n ...

The improvement in survival in premature infants associated with the evolution of mechanical ventilation has been accompanied by an increase in ventilator induced lung injury. High frequency ventilation has been shown to reduce the incidence of ventilator induced lung injury and hence chronic lung disease in the very low birth ...

RATIONALE: In mice, vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) plays an important role in development of the lymphatic system and in pathogenesis of pulmonary inflammation. Its role in development of the lymphatic system in human lung and in lung injury in newborns remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: We studied the role of VEGF-C ...

Marsupials at birth are small and relatively undeveloped. At birth, the lung in some species is at the canalicular stage of development and though lung diffusion and metabolic rate are strongly correlated, the allometric exponent suggests that smaller newborns have relatively smaller diffusing capacity with respect to their demand for ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the volume of the ipsilateral and contralateral lungs in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: Left and right lung volumes were measured using three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography in 42 fetuses with CDH at median 26 (range, 20-32) weeks of gestation. Each value was then expressed as a ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare the neonatal outcome of infants delivered before 39 weeks' gestation following documentation of fetal lung maturity before and after the lamellar body count (LBC) threshold was increased from 30,000 to 50,000 LB/ul. We discuss the algorithm employed for testing fetal lung maturity, the cost of testing and ...

This paper is the fourth in a series of reviews that will summarize available data and critically discuss the potential role of lung-function testing in infants with acute neonatal respiratory disorders and chronic lung disease of infancy. The current paper addresses information derived from tidal breathing measurements within the framework ...

Ventilator induced lung injury continues to occur at an unacceptably high rate, which is inversely related to gestational age. Although the "new BPD" may not be entirely avoidable in the extremely premature infant, recognition of risk factors and adoption of an appropriate ventilatory strategy, along with continuous real time monitoring, ...

AIMS: To assess whether lung function in late childhood had improved in subjects born extremely prematurely in the early 1990s compared to the early 1980s, and whether neonatal factors in the respective periods had different impact on long-term pulmonary outcome. DESIGN: Population-based, controlled cohort study. Lung function was determined in ...

The clinical management of respiratory failure in the newborn often focuses on lung parenchymal stiffness due to immaturity, surfactant deficiency, infiltrates, and other causes. However, health care personnel should also consider the airway, which plays an important role in gas exchange and lung mechanics. The airway can be easily injured, ...