Author(s): Go, Alan S; Mozaffarian, Dariush; Roger, Veronique L; Benjamin, Emelia J; Berry, Jarett D; Borden, William B; Bravata, Dawn M; Dai, Shifan; Ford, Earl S; Fox, Caroline S; Franco, Sheila; Fullerton, Heather J; Gillespie, Cathleen; Hailpern, Susan M; Heit, John A; Howard, Virginia J; Huffman, Mark D; Kissela, Brett M; Kittner, Steven J; Lackland, Daniel T; Lichtman, Judith H; Lisabeth, Lynda D; Magid, David; Marcus, Gregory M; Marelli, Ariane; Matchar, David B; McGuire, Darren K; Mohler, Emile R; Moy, Claudia S; Mussolino, Michael E; Nichol, Graham; Paynter, Nina P; Schreiner, Pamela J; Sorlie, Paul D; Stein, Joel; Turan, Tanya N; Virani, Salim S; Wong, Nathan D; Woo, Daniel; Turner, Melanie B; American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2013 Update A Report From the American Heart Association

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e3

1. About These Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e7

2. American Heart Association's 2020 Impact Goals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e10

3. Cardiovascular Diseases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e21

4. Subclinical Atherosclerosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e45

5. Coronary Heart Disease, Acute Coronary Syndrome, and Angina Pectoris . . . . . . . . .e54

6. Stroke (Cerebrovascular Disease) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e68

7. High Blood Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .e88

8. Congenital Cardiovascular Defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e97

9. Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .e102

10. Disorders …

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2012 Update A Report From the American Heart Association

SERIES “ATS/ERS TASK FORCE: STANDARDISATION OF LUNG FUNCTION TESTING” 

Edited by V. Brusasco, R. Crapo and G. Viegi 

Number 5 in this Series 







This section is written to provide guidance in interpreting pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to medical directors of hospital-based laboratories that perform PFTs, and physicians who are responsible for interpreting the results of PFTs most commonly ordered for clinical purposes. Specifically, this section addresses the interpretation of spirometry, bronchodilator response, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity ( D L,CO) and lung volumes.

The sources of variation in lung function testing and technical aspects of spirometry, lung volume measurements and D L,CO measurement have been considered in other documents published in this series of Task Force reports 1–4 and in the American Thoracic Society (ATS) interpretative strategies document 5.

An interpretation begins with a review and comment on test quality. Tests that are less than optimal may still contain useful information, but interpreters should identify the problems and the direction and magnitude of the potential errors. Omitting the quality review and relying only on numerical results for clinical decision making is a common mistake, which is more easily made by those who are dependent upon computer interpretations.

Once quality has been assured, the next steps involve a series of comparisons 6 that include comparisons of test results with reference values based on healthy subjects 5, comparisons with known disease or abnormal physiological patterns ( i.e. obstruction and restriction), and comparisons with self, a rather formal term for evaluating change in an individual patient. A final step in the lung function report is to answer the clinical question that prompted the test.

Poor choices made during these preparatory steps increase the risk of misclassification, i.e. a falsely negative or falsely positive interpretation for a lung function abnormality or a change …

https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/26/5/948.full.pdf

Interpretative strategies for lung function tests

The aim of this updated guideline is to provide comprehensive and timely evidence-based recommendations on the prevention of future stroke among survivors of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. The guideline is addressed to all clinicians who manage secondary prevention for these patients. Evidence-based recommendations are provided for control of risk factors, intervention for vascular obstruction, antithrombotic therapy for cardioembolism, and antiplatelet therapy for noncardioembolic stroke. Recommendations are also provided for the prevention of recurrent stroke in a variety of specific circumstances, including aortic arch atherosclerosis, arterial dissection, patent foramen ovale, hyperhomocysteinemia, hypercoagulable states, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, sickle cell disease, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, and pregnancy. Special sections address use of antithrombotic and anticoagulation therapy after an intracranial hemorrhage and implementation of guidelines.

/pdf/guidelines-for-the-prevention-of-stroke-in-patients-with-4s66xf1dte.pdf

Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in patients with stroke and transient ischemic attack: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

The development and clinical application of inhibitors that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) provide important insights for new lung cancer therapies, as well as for the broader field of targeted cancer therapies. We review the results of genetic, biochemical and clinical studies focused on somatic mutations of EGFR that are associated with the phenomenon of oncogene addiction, describing 'oncogenic shock' as a mechanistic explanation for the apoptosis that follows the acute treatment of susceptible cells with kinase inhibitors. Understanding the genetic heterogeneity of epithelial tumours and devising strategies to circumvent their rapid acquisition of resistance to targeted kinase inhibitors are essential to the successful use of targeted therapies in common epithelial cancers.

Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in lung cancer

The epidermal growth factor receptor is homologous to the oncogene erb-beta and is the receptor for a class of tumour growth factors (TGF-alpha). The clinical correlations with its expression were studied in 77 non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). They were stained for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) by means of an indirect immunoperoxidase technique using a monoclonal antibody against the receptor. Normal lung tissue and normal bronchus were stained for comparison. Cancer tissue showed significantly increased staining compared to normal lung (P less than 0.05). Staining for EGFr in 40 squamous carcinomas was significantly stronger than in 37 specimens of other types of NSCLC (P less than 0.05), and staining in stage three NSCLC was stronger than in stage 1 and 2 (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that the presence of a high intensity of staining for EGF receptor is associated with spread of human non-small cell lung cancer and this receptor may be a suitable target for therapy.

Epidermal growth factor receptors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) probably improves survival in ALS, but the magnitude and duration of any improvement in quality of life (QoL) and the optimal criteria for initiating treatment are unclear. Methods: QoL (Short Form-36 [SF-36], Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire, Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index) and respiratory function were assessed every 2 months and polysomnography every 4 months in 22 subjects with ALS. A trial of NIV was offered when subjects met one or more predefined criteria: orthopnea, daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, daytime hypercapnia, nocturnal desaturation, or an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) of >10. Seventeen subjects were offered a trial of NIV; 15 accepted, and 10 continued treatment subsequently. Outcome was assessed by changes in QoL and NIV compliance (h/day). Subjects were followed to death or for at least 26 months. Results: QoL domains assessing sleep-related problems and mental health improved (effect sizes 0.88 to 1.77, p 10 was unhelpful. Moderate or severe bulbar weakness was associated with lower compliance and less improvement in QoL. Conclusions: NIV use was associated with improved QoL and survival. Subjects with orthopnea and preserved bulbar function showed the largest benefit.

Noninvasive ventilation in ALS: Indications and effect on quality of life

Increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) has been reported in non small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) when compared to normal lung. We have examined post-operative survival in 19 surgically treated patients with NSCLC who had full characterisation of EGFr on primary tumour membrane preparations from resection specimens. There were ten squamous, seven adeno and two large cell carcinomas. The median concentration of high affinity sites was 31 fmol per mg of protein (4-1532) and the median dissociation constant (Kd) of these high affinity sites was 2.3 x 10(-10) per mol (1.2-30 x 10(-10)). Seven patients survived over 5 years. Twelve patients died between 8.5 and 55 months from the time of surgery. When > 5 year survivors were compared to non-survivors there was no difference as regards tumour size or stage, or as regards age or sex. The survivors had a median concentration of high affinity EGFr sites of 16.1 fmol mg-1 protein compared to a median concentration of 68.6 fmol mg-1 protein in the non-survivors (P = 0.01 Wilcoxon test). No long term survivor had > 35 fmol mg-1 protein of receptor. Thus EGFr quantitation may give independent prognostic information in NSCLC and help to select patients for adjuvant therapy after surgery. These results need confirmation in a larger prospective study.

The relationship of quantitative epidermal growth factor receptor expression in non-small cell lung cancer to long term survival.

The function of the diaphragm has been the subject of intense study over the past 15 years. As a result its complex actions in normal subjects are now better understood and it is increasingly clear that impairment of diaphragmatic function may contribute to the pathophysiology of various conditions, not only primary neuromuscular diseases, but also skeletal abnormalities and pulmonary diseases such as asthma and chronic airways obstruction. This article is concerned with the presentation, consequences, investigation, and treatment of bilateral and unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis; it is prefaced by a brief review of current structural and functional concepts and an account of the methods available for clinical investigation of the diaphragm. Hemidiaphragmatic paralysis is a condition familiar to chest physicians and its implications in terms of the likely underlying mediastinal lesions have been well known for many years.' The functional and symptomatic consequences have been less generally agreed, but several recent studies2\"7 have helped to clarify the picture. Bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is a much less familiar condition, which had been reported only occasionally'89 until the series of Newsom Davis et al in 1976.'0 With the increasing use of measurements of transdiaphragmatic pressure and diaphragmatic electromyography, bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis or severe weakness is now increasingly recognised. As an isolated abnormality, however, it remains a very rare occurrence, and recent evidence\" suggests that if the function of the other respiratory muscles is normal bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis may have less profound consequences than have formerly been described.

https://thorax.bmj.com/content/thoraxjnl/44/11/960.full.pdf

Diaphragmatic paresis: pathophysiology, clinical features, and investigation.

The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) was first identified only 40 years ago and its clinical importance is increasingly recognized. Although now acknowledged as a worldwide problem, which in Western countries affects 2-4% of middle-aged men and 1-2% of middle-aged women, the majority of affected individuals remain undiagnosed. OSAS is strongly associated with obesity but is also increasingly identified in the less obese, in whom a particular craniofacial structure is an important contributory factor. The prevalence of OSAS is likely to be increasing in parallel with the epidemic of obesity currently occurring in many countries. The common presenting complaints are excessive daytime sleepiness and loud snoring. The sleepiness impairs social functioning, work performance and driving ability, and accounts for a large socio-economic burden on the community. Hypertension is an important independent association. The treatment of choice is nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure which is highly effective and is also cost effective.

/pdf/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-syndrome-underestimated-and-4g5gwki2j2.pdf

Grant Gibson

Papers

Epidermal growth factor receptors in non-small cell lung cancer.

Noninvasive ventilation in ALS: Indications and effect on quality of life

The relationship of quantitative epidermal growth factor receptor expression in non-small cell lung cancer to long term survival.

Diaphragmatic paresis: pathophysiology, clinical features, and investigation.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: underestimated and undertreated.