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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.10.023 Byline: S. Margaritora (a), A. Cesario (a)(b), G. Cusumano (a), S. Cafarotti (a), G.M. Corbo (c), L. Ferri (d), M. Ceppi (e), E. Meacci (a), S. Valente (c), R.M. D'Angelillo (f), P. Russo (g), V. Porziella (a), S. Bonassi (h), F. Pasqua (i), S. Sterzi (j), P. Granone (a) Abbreviations: CT, chemotherapy; DLCO, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide; FEF.sub.25%-75%, forced expiratory flow 25%-75%; FEV.sub.1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; IT, induction chemoradiotherapy; NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; Paco.sub.2, arterial blood pressure of carbon dioxide; Pao.sub.2, arterial blood pressure of oxygen; PEF, peak expiratory flow; RT, radiotherapy; RT-CT, radiotherapy-chemotherapy; RV, residual volume; TLC, total lung capacity; VC, vital capacity Abstract: We have analyzed short- and long-term variations of pulmonary function in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer after induction chemoradiotherapy. Author Affiliation: (a) Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy (b) Scientific Direction, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy (c) Department of Pulmonary Pathophysiology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy (d) Rehabilitative Pneumology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy (e) Molecular Epidemiology, National Institute for the Research on Cancer, Genoa, Italy (f) Department of Radiotherapy, Campus Biomedico University, Rome, Italy (g) Lung Cancer Unit, National Institute for the Research on Cancer, Genoa, Italy (h) Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy (i) Rehabilitative Pneumology, CdC San Raffaele Velletri, Rome, Italy (j) Department of Rheabilitative Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy Article History: Received 7 April 2008; Revised 19 August 2009; Accepted 8 October 2009 Article Note: (footnote) Disclosures: None.

* THE PATIENT 27-year-old women * SIGNS & SYMPTOMS headache: fatigue: blurred vision * THE CASE One month after moving into her mother's apartment, a 27-year-old woman sought care at [...]

2016 OCT 8 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on Mental Health. According to news reporting from [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2006.02.002 Byline: Alessandro Brunelli (a), Gaetano Rocco (b) Abbreviations: CAD, coronary artery disease; Dlco, carbon monoxide lung diffusion capacity; FEV.sub.1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; ppoDlco, predicted postoperative carbon monoxide lung diffusion capacity; ppoFEV.sub.1, predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second Abstract: The objective of the present analysis was to compare the performance of a lung resection mortality model developed by means of logistic regression and bootstrap analysis with that of multiple mortality models developed by using the traditional training-and-test method from the same dataset. Author Affiliation: (a) Unit of Thoracic Surgery, 'Umberto I' Regional Hospital, Ancona, Italy (b) Division of Thoracic Surgery, Sheffield Teaching Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom. Article History: Received 29 November 2005; Revised 3 January 2006; Accepted 6 February 2006

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless poison. It's so hard to detect without monitors that it kills hundreds of people in their homes and on the job every year. [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2005.09.006 Byline: Keith S. Naunheim (a), Douglas E. Wood (b), Mark J. Krasna (c), Malcolm M. DeCamp (d), Mark E. Ginsburg (e), Robert J. McKenna (f), Gerard J. Criner (g), Eric A. Hoffman (h), Alice L. Sternberg (i), Claude Deschamps (j) Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography; Dlco, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; FEV.sub.1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; HU, Hounsfield unit; LVRS, lung volume reduction surgery; NETT, National Emphysema Treatment Trial; QIA, quantitative image analysis; RO, relative odds; UCSD, University of California San Diego Abstract: We sought to identify predictors of operative mortality, pulmonary morbidity, and cardiovascular morbidity after lung volume reduction surgery. Author Affiliation: (a) Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Louis University Health Sciences Center, St Louis, Mo (b) University of Washington, and the Cost-Effectiveness Data Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Wash (c) University of Maryland at Baltimore and Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md (d) Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (e) Columbia University, New York, and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY (f) Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, Calif (g) Temple University Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pa (h) CT Scan Image Storage and Analysis Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa (i) Coordinating Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md (j) Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn. Article History: Received 12 April 2005; Revised 4 September 2005; Accepted 9 September 2005 Article Note: (footnote) The National Emphysema Treatment Trial is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (contracts N01HR76101, N01HR76102, N01HR76103, N01HR76104, N01HR76105, N01HR76106, N01HR76107, N01HR76108, N01HR76109, N01HR76110, N01HR76111, N01HR76112, N01HR76113, N01HR76114, N01HR76115, N01HR76116, N01HR76118, and N01HR76119); the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The authors investigated whether exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide (N[O.sub.2]) in an indoor ice hockey arena might be associated with airway symptoms 5 yr later. A follow-up questionnaire was answered by 71 subjects who had experienced such an exposure, accompanied by acute respiratory illness, in Stockholm in 1994. The same questionnaire was answered by 40 reference subjects. The overall response rate for both groups was 71%. Information was obtained regarding various background factors, such as smoking and respiratory symptoms since 1994. For those who had stopped playing ice hockey during the follow-up period, the exposure to high N[O.sub.2] levels appeared to be associated with an increase in upper airways symptoms (i.e., nasal blockage or rhinitis) (odds ratio = 3.1, 95 % confidence interval = 1.1, 8.8), after adjustment for age, smoking, and family history of allergy. These data suggest that exposure to high N[O.sub.2] levels in an indoor ice arena may be associated with increased airway symptoms several years later., THE OPERATION OF EQUIPMENT powered by combustion engines to clean and resurface the ice in indoor arenas can lead to high levels of air pollution, mainly carbon monoxide (CO) and [...]

This article summarises the latest information on the adverse cardiorespiratoy effects of exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide ([NO.sub.2]) in enclosed ice rinks. Sources of CO and [NO.sub.2] [...]

Study objectives: Inhalation of harmful substances is common in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiology of fatal occupational inhalations in the United States. Design: [...]

Pregnant women with hypertension during pregnancy and preeclampsia appear to produce less carbon monoxide than other pregnant women. This could explain why pregnant women who smoke are less likely to develop preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy.

2016 SEP 17 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on Burkholderia Infections - Melioidosis. According to news [...]

Case Report: In this paper, two possible cases of acute carbon monoxide poisoning previously not identified in the medical and historical literature are discussed. The first concerns the famous Byzantine Emperor Julian the Apostate, who may have suffered mild carbon monoxide poisoning from which he quickly and completely recovered. The second case involves his successor, Jovian, who may have succumbed to severe carbon monoxide poisoning. Both cases were in all likelihood due to the burning of coal in braziers, a usual method of indoor heating during that epoch., INTRODUCTION The purpose of this article is the presentation, analysis, and interpretation of two apparent cases of acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning--unknown in the medical and historical literature--involving two Byzantine [...]

Byline: L.N. Wright, L. Pahel-Short, K. Hartmann, J.A. Kuller, J.M. Thorp Keywords: Pregnancy; smoking; behavioral intervention Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Smoking in pregnancy is the foremost cause of preventable perinatal mortality. We have demonstrated that a behavioral intervention can alter smoking in pregnant women. We tested the utility of this intervention at multiple sites in varied settings across a suburban-rural state. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a prospective cohort study at 10 prenatal care sites across North Carolina. Carbon monoxide manometry was used to verify cessation; self-report confirmed reduction. Each site enrolled smokers for 1 year. Four outcome predictor variables were studied: clinic volume, prevalence of smoking, physician versus nonphysician intervenors, and public versus private clinics. RESULTS: Smoking prevalence varied from 4% to 85%. Biologically confirmed quit rates ranged from 0% to 45%. The prevalence of smoking within a clinic's population was able to explain differences in reduction (p < 0.01) of smoking between sites. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated the effectiveness of an intervention to alter smoking behavior in pregnancy. It appears that this technique has the greatest utility in clinics with a high prevalence of smoking. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;175:283-8.) Author Affiliation: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Article Note: (footnote) [star] From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine., [star][star] Supported by a grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust., a Reprints not available from the authors., aa 0002-9378/96 $5.00 + 0 6/6/74486

Environmental exposure to inhaled carbon monoxide (CO) increases coronary artery disease risk. Sudden cardiac death, a frequent manifestation of coronary artery disease, is usually a result of ventricular dysrhythmia. The effect of exposure to CO at sea level (CO/SL) and simulated high (2.1 km) altitudes (CO/HA) on the incidence of cardiac ectopy in subjects with coronary artery disease was investigated. A double-blind crossover study was conducted, with random-order assignment, and each subject served as his own control. Seventeen men with documented coronary artery disease and stable angina pectoris performed cardiopulmonary exercise stress tests after random exposure to either CO or clean air (CA) at sea level (CA/SL) or at a simulated 2.1-km high altitude (CA/HA). The individual CO and HA exposure conditions were each selected to reduce the percentage of oxygen saturation of the subjects' arterial blood by 4%. Subjects' blood carboxyhemoglobin levels were increased from an average of 0.62% after clean-air exposure to 3.91% of saturation after CO exposure. The percentage of oxygen saturation in arterial blood was reduced from a baseline level of 98% to approximately 94% after CO/SL or CA/HA and to approximately 90% after CO/HA. Compared with the CA/SL (i.e., 10 premature ventricular contractions [PVCs]), the average incidence of exercise-induced ventricular ectopy was approximately doubled after all exposures (CO/SL = 18 PVCs, CA/HA = 16 PVCs, and CO/HA = 19 PVCs), and a significant trend (p < .05) of increased ectopy with decreased oxygen saturation in arterial blood was observed. Yet, among subjects who were free from ectopy (n = 11) on CA/SL, only 2 subjects developed ectopy after CO/HA. No episodes of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation occurred. The findings indicated that exposure to increased levels of hypaxemia, resulting from hypaxic and/or CO exposures, increased the susceptibility to ventricular ectopy during exercise in individuals with stable angina pectoris; however, this risk was nominal for those without ectopy., CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) is a virtually ubiquitous component of emissions from all combustion sources of inhaled environmental toxins. Sources include motor vehicle emissions, fossil fuel burning for residential heating or [...]

Objective: A prospective study of civilian (nonfirefighter) smoke inhalation patients was carried out to test the hypotheses that: 1) absorption of carbon monovide and hydrogen cyanide from smoke can be predicted by clinical examination and historical data; and, more specifically 2) a history of exposure to burning synthetic polymers is an important predictor of systemic cyanide levels. Methods: The study was conducted over a three-year period at six urban hospitals. Patients with or without burns who were exposed to smoke within five hours of hospital arrival were sampled for carboxyhemoglobin, whole blood cyanide, urine cotinine and urine creatinine. Controls consisted of a smaller group of smoking status-matched, matched nonsmoke-exposed burn patients. Analysis: Historical information was obtained on SMOKING status, FIRETYPE (structural vs other), MATERIAL burned (natural vs synthetic) and LAGTIME (from exposure to sampling). A smoke inhalation SCORE (0-10) was assigned to each case, based on physical examination findings and changes on chest X ray, and carboxyhemoglobin and cyanide levels were entered into various multivariate linear regression models. Results: A total of 40 cases and 9 controls were recruited, ranging in age from 15 to 92 years. Thirty-four cases were discharged alive and six expired in-hospital. Observed carboxyhemoglobin levels ranged from 1.2% to 41.6% in cases (mean 8.6%), and from 0.5 to 7.3% in controls (mean 2.9%). Observed cyanide levels ranged from nondetectable (< 0.05 [mu]g/mL) to 2.79 [mu]/g/mL in cases (mean 0.25 [mu]g/mL), and from nondetectable to 0.11 [mu]g/mL in controls (mean 0. 03 [mu]g/mL). Among cases, linear regression models explained up to 35% of the observed variance in carboxyhemoglobin levels (p < 0.001) and up to 48% of the variance in cyanide levels (p = 0. 0001). Conclusions: SCORE was the strongest predictor of both carboxyhemoglobin and cyanide levels; LAGTIME also explained significant variance for [log-transformed] carboxyhemoglobin. Historical factors, such as FIRETYPE, MATERIAL, and SMOKING status, did not explain significant variance in most of the statistical models employed., INTRODUCTION The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that some 4,000 deaths result from structural fires in the US each year, three-quarters of which are due primarily to smoke inhalation.[1] Published [...]

Oilheating equipment typically produce lower levels of the hazardous gas carbon monoxide (CO), compared to heating equipment fueled by natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood and coal. CO is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas capable of causing death or injury when present at levels above those set by the EPA. Studies show that modern oilburners dramatically reduce the risk exposure to this gas, particularly when these equipment are adjusted carefully and subjected to regular maintenance.

Byline: Mark K. Ferguson, Laurie B. Reeder, Rosemarie Mick Abstract: Objectives: It is not known whether a normal diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide permits safe lung resection in patients with marginal spirometric values, or whether normal spirometric values negate the adverse effects of a low diffusing capacity. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine the best predictors of morbidity and mortality and (2) to assess whether interactions exist between diffusing capacity and spirometry that help estimate outcome after major lung resection. Design: A retrospective analysis of 376 patients who underwent lung resection was performed. Three hundred three had lung cancer and 73 had other disease. Two hundred eighty-four underwent lobectomy/bilobectomy and 92 had pneumonectomy. We assessed the relationship of 23 preoperative variables to 18 postoperative events classified into categories as pulmonary or cardiac complications, overall morbidity, and operative mortality. Results:The best single predictor of complications was the percent predicted postoperative diffusing capacity. The incidences of pulmonary and cardiac complications, morbidity, and mortality were inversely related to predicted postoperative diffusing capacity percent (p < 0.004 for each). Multivariate logistic regression analyses identified only predicted postoperative diffusing capacity percent and age as significant independent predictors of pulmonary complications, morbidity, and death, and these with prior myocardial infarction predicted cardiac complications. There were no interactions between percent predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second and predicted postoperative diffusing capacity percent in estimating risks of complications. Conclusion: Predicted postoperative diffusing capacity percent is the strongest single predictor of risk of complications and mortality after lung resection. There is little interrelationship of predicted postoperative diffusing capacity percent and predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second, indicating that these values should be assessed independently in estimating operative risk. (J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1995;109:275-83) Author Affiliation: Chicago, Ill Article Note: (footnote) [star] From the Departments of Surgerya and Medicineb and the Cancer Research Committeec, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill., [star][star] Read at the Seventy-fourth Annual Meeting of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery, New York, N.Y., April 24-27, 1994., a Address for reprints: Mark K. Ferguson, MD, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 5035, Chicago, IL 60637., aa 0022-5223/95 $3.00 + 0 12/6/60909

Here's the deal: carbon monoxide gas is odorless and colorless--and the manner in which it attacks a human means it is one of the most calculating serial killers in aviation. [...]

USE OF COAL has decreased in the household, and carbon-monoxide-rich coal gas has been replaced by natural gas, which is theoretically devoid of carbon monoxide (CO); therefore, the frequency of [...]

Many homes contain such harmful substances as carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide. These substances can cause health problems in infants, young children, and unborn children.

Don't expect your sense of smell to warn you of potentially harmful concentrations of certain common gases. Workplace evaluation and gas monitoring are a much better measure of the hazards. […]

The role of cigarettes in the causation of chronic obstructive lung disease (increased resistance to the flow of air in and out of the lungs) is well established. In an attempt to reduce the health risks of cigarette smoking, manufacturers have reduced the per-cigarette yield of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide (CO). Studies have shown that the risk of developing certain types of cancer is reduced by switching from a brand of cigarette high in these substances to one which has lower concentrations, but the effects of tar, nicotine, and CO levels on the development of chronic obstructive lung disease is less certain. To further study this issue, 690 subjects who were regular smokers were questioned about their smoking habits and respiratory symptoms (chronic cough, phlegm, and shortness of breath); 414 of these subjects were also given tests of respiratory function. After statistical corrections had been made for the intensity and duration of smoking and for the depth of inhalation, there was no relationship between the tar and nicotine yield of a smoker's cigarette and the risk of developing chronic phlegm, cough, or shortness of breath. But among the subjects who were tested for current respiratory function, there were statistically significant relationships between the daily dose of tar, nicotine, and CO (that is, the per-cigarette yield multiplied by the number of cigarettes smoked per day) and lung function. However, the association between tar, nicotine, and CO dose and pulmonary function was weak, and was much smaller than the adverse effects caused by smoking any type of cigarette compared with not smoking at all. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)