Amir Sharafkhaneh

..We conducted the present study to determine whether psychiatric disorders are commonly associated with sleep apnea in Veterans Health Administration beneficiaries...

..This review provides an overview of the literature related to the anti-inflammatory effects of some of the natural agents which have potential value in the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases...

..To further investigate this relationship, we conducted a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effect of atrial overdrive pacing on sleep-related breathing events in subjects with OSA and systolic heart failure...

..Improvement in FEV(1) is a main endpoint in clinical trials assessing the efficacy of bronchodilators. However, the effect of bronchodilators on maximal expiratory flow may be confounded by thoracic gas compression (TGC)...

..In this review, we evaluate available data of the efficacy and safety of this combination in patients with COPD...

..In this publication, we review respiratory physiology as it relates to sleep and discuss sleep disorders and their management in patients with COPD...

..Aggressive management of early postoperative complications, including air leaks, respiratory failure, arrhythmias, and hemorrhage, can also be expected to improve outcomes...

..Identification of cellular and molecular mechanisms of COPD pathogenesis is an area of active, ongoing research that may help to determine therapeutic targets for emphysema...

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..A study was conducted to determine the effect of LVRS on TGC and the extent to which reduced TGC contributed to an improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) following LVRS...

..g. watching television), does the respondent's position, location, or interest in the activity alter sleepiness rating. We also evaluated interactions between an individual's level of sleepiness and the effect of these contextual factors...

..To determine the transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) yield for procedures performed by fellows in training, and the predictors of positive TBNA yield at our center...

..05). Furthermore, variability of NFEV(1) measurements over 6 mo was <5%. We concluded that our method reliably measures the effect of gas compression on expiratory flow...

..Limited data exist describing risk factors for mortality in patients having predominantly emphysema...

..Little is known regarding the clinical characteristics and survival of nonhypoxemic emphysema patients using continuous oxygen. Analysis of data from the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) offers insight into this population...

..Self-reported daily physical activity and health status have been reported as predictors of a hospitalization in COPD but are not routinely assessed...

..We therefore sought to examine radiographic and physiologic predictors of surgical outcomes in a large, multicenter clinical investigation, the National Emphysema Treatment Trial...

..This randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, 12-month multicenter study evaluated the effect of budesonide/formoterol pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) on COPD exacerbations...

..It is unclear if lung perfusion can predict response to lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS)...

..Debate continues as to whether acute bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) predicts long-term outcomes in COPD. Furthermore, there is no consensus on a threshold for BDR...

..Current guidelines recommend repeated doses of albuterol for the emergency treatment of acute asthma. However, approximately one-third of patients show little or no initial response to this partial beta(2)-agonist...

..This may be applied to determine criteria that can be used to assess a clinically meaningful change in spirometry...

..Finally, the mechanisms governing sleep and wakefulness are reviewed and a model of normal sleep mechanisms going awry is outlined as an aid for understanding abnormal sleep associated with sleep disorders...

..In this paper we review the outcome data from published trials designed to evaluate efficacy and safety of various medications proposed for treating obstructive sleep apnea...

..The CT based quantification of emphysema may augment pulmonary function testing in the characterization of COPD by providing complementary phenotypic information...

..Depression is prevalent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, its etiology and relationship to the clinical features of COPD are not well understood...

..Limited data on sex differences in advanced COPD are available...

..We postulated that CPAP will decrease IR, ghrelin and resistin and increase adiponectin levels in this setting...

..The goals of this article are to briefly describe the indications for chronic oxygen administration, the physiologic effects of treatment, and potential toxicities, as well as its effect on morbidity and mortality...

..This practice tends to inflate the apparent benefits of interventions with a high risk of mortality. Assessing a composite QoL-death outcome is a potential solution to this problem...

..56, p = 0.05). In this study of subjects with severe COPD, peripheral nitric oxide correlated with functional capacity while large airway NO parameters correlated with symptom scores...

..Understanding of the mechanisms of improved function after LVRS can help select patients more likely to benefit from this approach...

..Health care utilization and costs among US veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were compared with those in veterans without COPD...

..When comorbid with COPD, mental health symptoms of depression and anxiety are some of the most salient factors associated with quality-of-life outcomes...

..Combining a long-acting beta-agonist with an inhaled corticosteroid is more effective than either agent alone. Several novel therapies are in different stages of development...

..We hypothesized that decrease in a modified BODE (mBODE) would predict survival in National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) patients...

..Finally, we present an assortment of approaches for troubleshooting clinical problems commonly encountered among patients being treated with positive airway pressure therapy...

..Lastly, adverse effects from medications prescribed for treatment of COPD may be more pervasive in elderly patients...

..As a result, mucin overproduction and hypersecretion are moving away from being markers of disease and toward being testable as functional components of lung disease processes...

..Previous studies showing that tiotropium improves multiple end points in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) led us to examine the long-term effects of tiotropium therapy...

..Our objective was to develop risk indexes for exacerbations and hospitalizations due to exacerbations that might be applied to the individual patient...

..In patients of African descent, possible differences have been observed for inhaled beta-agonists. However, pharmacologic responsiveness to a long-acting anticholinergic has not been prospectively evaluated...

..COPD is associated with reduced life expectancy...

..A better understanding of patient factors such as socioeconomic status, depression, anxiety and transportation issues may improve adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation...