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Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common pulmonary diseases. The current therapeutic outcomes are not satisfactory and may cause adverse events such as cardiovascular complications. In this study, we aimed to discuss some effective medicinal herbs for the management of COPD. Materials and Methods: In this review, we looked for effective medicinal herbs for productive cough with thick and sticky mucus in Persian medicine sources such as Qanoon fi al-Teb, Exir Azam, and Zakhire Kharazmshahi. Then, to find relevant evidence about them, the data sources (PubMed and Google Scholar) were searched in the English language without time restriction from inception up to March 2022. Results: We found that Zataria multiflora, Thymus vulgaris L, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Crocus sativus L., Nepeta bracteata Benth., and Hyssopus officinalis have beneficial effects on COPD due to their properties including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. In addition, considering asthma COPD overlap (ACO), medicinal herbs including Cordia myxa, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Cinnamomum verum, Viola odorata, Borago officinalis, Linum usitatissimum and Vitis viniferia L. were found to have useful effects on asthma. Conclusion: Considering the mentioned beneficial mechanisms of action of these medicinal herbs, they could be used as a complementary therapy in COPD and asthma. However, more experimental and clinical research should be done to confirm their clinical effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary artery sling is a rare condition in which the left pulmonary artery anomalously originates from a normally positioned right pulmonary artery. The left pulmonary artery arises anterior to the right main bronchus, courses between the trachea and esophagus then enters the left hilum. Respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, stridor, cough, and dysphasia are common in this anomaly. Case presentation: We describe a 16-month-old male infant presenting recurrent cough, stridor, and wheezing from early infancy. He underwent computed tomography angiography, bronchoscopy, and transthoracic echocardiography, confirming the left pulmonary artery sling diagnosis. Surgical correction of pulmonary artery sling was successfully performed as a new anastomosis between the main pulmonary artery and the left pulmonary artery, as well as tracheoplasty. The infant was discharged without any complications. Follow-up after two years revealed no respiratory symptoms and feeding difficulty. Conclusion: In the presence of chronic cough, stridor, recurrent wheezing, and other prolonged respiratory symptoms, investigation for possible detection of pulmonary artery sling is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is the most common chronic illness in children and is a major reason for pediatric emergency department visits. Beta-2 agonists are considered the most effective drugs for immediate relief in the symptoms. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of salbutamol delivered via jet nebulizer with a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) plus a spacer for asthma exacerbation in the pediatric emergency departments. The study was a randomized control, parallel-group design in children with age ranging from 6 months to 14 years, presenting in the emergency department with an acute asthma attack. A total of 116 patients were recruited for the study. Sixty-two patients were enrolled in the MDI/spacer group, and 54 patients were in the nebulizer group. Patients were assessed at baseline (0 min) and 15, 30, 45 and 60 min after commencement of the nebulizer and MDI/spacer. The response of each group to treatment was compared. The parents were counseled for their child enrolment in the study, which was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Ethic code was IR.SBMU.SM.REC.1394.19. The patients in both treatment groups demonstrated statistically noticeable improvement in clinical scores at all study assessment periods. Results revealed that salbutamol via MDI/spacer was as effective as salbutamol nebulization during the treatment of asthma exacerbations. Salbutamol MDI/spacer is equally efficacious when compared to nebulization. Therefore, because Salbutamol MDI/spacer is more user-friendly and affordable, it is preferable to be used in emergency departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID) is a life-threatening condition leading to early infant death as a result of severe infection, due to impaired cellular and humoral immune systems. Various forms of SCID are classified based on the presence or absence of T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. Patients usually present with recurrent infections and failure to thrive. Definitive treatment is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. To achieve the best outcome, it should be performed prior to the development of severe infection. In This study, we described 10 patients (6 male and 4 female) with SCID who were admitted to Mofid Children Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2006 to 2013. We reviewed patients' clinical manifestation, laboratory data, family history and outcome. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 131.8 days. One patient had non-consanguineous parents. Seven patients received BCG vaccine before the diagnosis of SCID, three of them showed disseminated BCG infection. One patient presented with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Flow cytometric analysis showed T⁻B⁺NK⁻ in three patients, T⁻B⁻NK⁺ in five patients, T⁻B⁻NK⁻ in one patient, and T⁻B⁺NK⁺ in one patient. This study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and patient referral before the occurrence of serious infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) affect muscle function directly or indirectly by affecting nerves or neuromuscular junctions. One of the leading causes of death in patients with NMD is respiratory muscle weakness (RMW). Respiratory involvement in patients with NMD can manifest widely, from mild failure that may initially affect only sleep to severe failure that can be life-threatening. Care approaches include arranged and precise clinical follow-ups of signs of sleep-disordered breathing, daytime hypoventilation, coughing, and swallowing disturbances . This manuscript will review the mechanisms and abnormalities of respiratory function in patients with NMD and help optimize NMD management., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.