BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dysfunction of the airway defence system in Huntington's disease (HD) is a significant but often overlooked problem. Although expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) is frequently utilized in cough effectiveness treatment, its specific impact in HD patients has not yet been explored. This study investigated the effects of EMST on voluntary peak cough flow (vPCF) in HD patients and evaluated the retention of potential gains post-intervention. METHODS: In this prospective case-controlled trial, 29 HD patients completed an 8-week wait-to-start period, which served to identify the natural development of expiratory muscle strength and vPCF. This was followed by 8 weeks of EMST training and an additional 8 weeks of follow-up. The study's outcome parameters, vPCF and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), were measured against those of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Huntington's disease patients had significantly lower MEP (p < 0.001) and vPCF (p = 0.012) compared to healthy controls at baseline. Following the EMST, significant improvements in MEP (d = 1.39, p < 0.001) and vPCF (d = 0.77, p = 0.001) were observed, with HD patients reaching the cough performance levels of healthy subjects. However, these gains diminished during the follow-up, with a significant decline in vPCF (d = -0.451, p = 0.03) and in MEP (d = -0.71; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Expiratory muscle strength training improves expiratory muscle strength and voluntary cough effectiveness in HD patients, but an ongoing maintenance programme is necessary to sustain the improvements.
- Klíčová slova
- Huntington disease, cough, mHealth, resistance training, respiratory muscles,
- MeSH
- dechová cvičení metody MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- dýchací svaly * patofyziologie MeSH
- Huntingtonova nemoc * patofyziologie komplikace rehabilitace MeSH
- kašel * patofyziologie etiologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- odporový trénink metody MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- svalová síla * fyziologie MeSH
- výsledek terapie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: An in-depth study of neurological symptoms and complications of influenza in elderly patients. This population group is more susceptible to complications of the disease and these complications are more likely to end in death. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patient data was performed. All patients aged 65 years and older were included in the study. The study period was from the 1st of January , 2018 to 31st of December, 2021. All symptoms and complications of influenza were analyzed. Especially neurological and general symptoms were analyzed. Data were extracted from the complete medical records of the patients. RESULTS: The most common symptoms of influenza in the elderly were fever in 218 cases (83.52%), cough in 189 patients (72.41%), general weakness in 182 (69.73%) and fatigue in 166 patients (63.6%). Myalgias were experienced by 106 patients (40.61%) and arthralgias by 101 patients (38.7%). Headache occurred in only 21 patients (8.06%). Encephalopathy was observed in 7 elderly patients (2.68%) during hospitalization. Influenza encephalitis was noted in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: The most common neurological symptoms of influenza in more than half of the elderly are general weakness and increased fatigue. Myalgias are common, headache less often. Nausea is not uncommon. Of the complications, encephalopathy is the most common. Cases of influenza encephalitis have also been reported. We have not encountered a stroke. Concerning other complications, bacterial pneumonia was the most common.
- MeSH
- bolesti hlavy etiologie epidemiologie MeSH
- chřipka lidská * komplikace epidemiologie MeSH
- horečka etiologie MeSH
- kašel etiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myalgie etiologie epidemiologie MeSH
- nemoci nervového systému epidemiologie etiologie MeSH
- retrospektivní studie MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- svalová slabost etiologie epidemiologie MeSH
- únava etiologie epidemiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an acute respiratory illness primarily caused by Bordetella pertussis. Highly contagious, it poses significant morbidity and mortality risks, especially in infants. Despite widespread vaccination efforts, pertussis cases have recently resurged globally. This case report details possible complication in a 48-year-old woman, involving a cough-induced rib fracture and recurrent pneumothorax, highlighting the need for considering pertussis in patients with severe cough and back pain. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old female non-smoker with hypertension, treated with ACE inhibitor (perindopril), presented with a runny nose, productive cough, and back pain. Initial treatment for a common cold provided temporary relief. However, her symptoms worsened, and further examination revealed a fractured rib, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema. Laboratory tests confirmed elevated Bordetella pertussis toxin antibodies. She was treated with antibiotics, and despite recurrent symptoms, a conservative management approach was successful. Follow-up indicated resolution of symptoms, but significant anxiety related to her condition. CONCLUSION: This case emphasises the importance of considering pertussis in adults, as early symptoms resembling a common cold can lead to misdiagnosis. It also highlights the potential for significant musculoskeletal and pulmonary injuries due to intense coughing associated with pertussis. Prompt diagnosis and comprehensive management, including antibiotics and supportive care, are essential for favorable outcomes.
- Klíčová slova
- Back pain, Cough, Pertussis, Pneumothorax, Rib fracture,
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky terapeutické užití MeSH
- Bordetella pertussis izolace a purifikace MeSH
- fraktury žeber * komplikace MeSH
- kašel etiologie MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- pertuse * komplikace farmakoterapie MeSH
- pneumotorax * etiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- kazuistiky MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antibakteriální látky MeSH
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ferns form an important part of the human diet. Young fern fiddleheads are mostly consumed as vegetables, while the rhizomes are often extracted for starch. These edible ferns are also often employed in traditional medicine, where all parts of the plant are used, mostly to prepare extracts. These extracts are applied either externally as lotions and baths or internally as potions, decoctions and teas. Ailments traditionally treated with ferns include coughs, colds, fevers, pain, burns and wounds, asthma, rheumatism, diarrhoea, or skin diseases (eczema, rashes, itching, leprosy). AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to compile the worldwide knowledge on the traditional medicinal uses of edible fern species correlating to reported biological activities and isolated bioactive compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The articles and books published on edible fern species were searched through the online databases Web of Science, Pubmed and Google Scholar, with critical evaluation of the hits. The time period up to the end of 2022 was included. RESULTS: First, the edible fern species were identified based on the literature data. A total of 90 fern species were identified that are eaten around the world and are also used in traditional medicine. Ailments treated are often associated with inflammation or bacterial infection. However, only the most common and well-known fern species, were investigated for their biological activity. The most studied species are Blechnum orientale L., Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm., Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Marsilea minuta L., Osmunda japonica Thunb., Polypodium vulgare L., and Stenochlaena palustris (Burm.) Bedd. Most of the fern extracts have been studied for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Not surprisingly, antioxidant capacity has been the most studied, with results reported for 28 edible fern species. Ferns have been found to be very rich sources of flavonoids, polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, terpenoids and steroids and most of these compounds are remarkable free radical scavengers responsible for the outstanding antioxidant capacity of fern extracts. As far as clinical trials are concerned, extracts from only three edible fern species have been evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The extracts of edible fern species exert antioxidant anti-inflammatory and related biological activities, which is consistent with their traditional medicinal use in the treatment of wounds, burns, colds, coughs, skin diseases and intestinal diseases. However, studies to prove pharmacological activities are scarce, and require chemical-biological standardization. Furthermore, correct botanical classification needs to be included in publications to simplify data acquisition. Finally, more in-depth phytochemical studies, allowing the linking of traditional use to pharmacological relevance are needed to be done in a standardized way.
- Klíčová slova
- Bioactive compounds, Edible ferns, Ethnomedicinal uses, Phytochemistry, Pteridophytes,
- MeSH
- antiflogistika farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- antioxidancia MeSH
- etnofarmakologie MeSH
- fytonutrienty farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- fytoterapie MeSH
- kapradiny * MeSH
- kašel farmakoterapie MeSH
- kožní nemoci * farmakoterapie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nachlazení * farmakoterapie MeSH
- popálení * farmakoterapie MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty farmakologie terapeutické užití MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antiflogistika MeSH
- antioxidancia MeSH
- fytonutrienty MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty MeSH
Cough is one of the most important airway defensive reflexes aimed at removing foreign particles or endogenously produced materials from the airways and provides protection against aspiration. Generally considered, cough is a vital physiological defensive mechanism for lung health. However, in case of cough dysregulation this reflex can become pathological and leads to an adverse influence on daily life. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively evaluate the severity of cough for its diagnosis and treatment. There are subjective and objective methods for assessing cough. These methods should help describe the heterogeneity of cough phenotypes and may establish better treatment by monitoring response to nonpharmacological or pharmacological therapies. It is important to keep in mind that the clinical assessment of cough should include both tools that measure the amount and severity of the cough. The importance of a combined subjective and objective evaluation for a comprehensive assessment of cough has been advocated in the guidelines of the European Respiratory Society on cough evaluation. This review article provides an overview of subjective and objective methods for assessing and monitoring cough in children and adults comparing to animal models. Key words Cough frequency; Cough intensity; Cough reflex sensitivity; Cough monitors; Cough assessment.
Various medicinal plants find their use in cough treatment, based on traditions and long-term experience. Pharmacological principles of their action, however, are much less known. Herbal drugs usually contain a mixture of potentially active compounds, which can manifest diverse effects. Expectorant or antitussive effects, which can be accompanied by others, such as anti-inflammatory or antibacterial, are probably the most important in the treatment of coughs. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of the effects of medicinal plants or their constituents on cough, based on reliable pharmacological studies. First, a comprehensive description of each effect is provided in order to explain the possible mechanism of action in detail. Next, the results related to individual plants and substances are summarized and critically discussed based on pharmacological in vivo and in vitro investigation.
- Klíčová slova
- Anti-inflammatory, Antibacterial, Antitussive, Antiviral, Cough, Expectorant, Herbal drugs, Mechanism of action, Medicinal plants, Phytotherapy,
- MeSH
- antitusika * farmakologie MeSH
- expektorancia farmakologie MeSH
- fytoterapie MeSH
- kašel farmakoterapie MeSH
- léčivé rostliny * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty farmakologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
- Názvy látek
- antitusika * MeSH
- expektorancia MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty MeSH
- Klíčová slova
- MRSA/PVL pneumonia, cough, dyspnoea, fever, haemoptysis,
- MeSH
- dyspnoe etiologie MeSH
- hemoptýza etiologie MeSH
- horečka etiologie MeSH
- kašel MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- respirační insuficience * etiologie terapie MeSH
- syndrom dechové tísně * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease of childhood. Cough is one of its defining symptoms. This study investigated the associations between selected inflammatory biomarkers and cough reflex sensitivity after capsaicin inhalation in children with mild and moderate well-controlled type 2 endotype asthma compared with non-asthmatic probands. Sensitivity to the cough reflex was measured by recording the cough response after capsaicin inhalation. The sandwich ELISA method was used to measure serum concentrations of the investigated potential inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin 13, interleukin 1beta, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin). The acquired data were statistically evaluated according to descriptive analyses for summarization and comparison between cough reflex sensitivity parameters and individual biomarker values in the observed and control groups modeled by a simple linear regression model. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. We showed a statistically significant association (p-value 0.03) between cough reflex sensitivity - C2 value (capsaicin concentration required for two cough responses) and interleukin 1beta serum concentrations in the asthma group compared with the control group of non-asthmatic children. Our results support the possibility of interleukin 1beta as a potential additive inflammatory biomarker used in clinical practice in children with asthma because of its correlation with the activity of the afferent nerve endings in the airways.
- MeSH
- biologické markery MeSH
- bronchiální astma * diagnóza komplikace MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- interleukin-1beta MeSH
- kapsaicin MeSH
- kašel * etiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- reflex fyziologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Názvy látek
- biologické markery MeSH
- interleukin-1beta MeSH
- kapsaicin MeSH
Risk factors for severe SARS-Cov-2 infection course are poorly described in children following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In this international study, we analyzed factors associated with a severe course (intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or mortality) in post-HCT children. Eighty-nine children (58% male; median age 9 years (min-max 1-18)) who received an allogeneic (85; 96%) or an autologous (4; 4%) HCT were reported from 28 centers (18 countries). Median time from HCT to SARS-Cov-2 infection was 7 months (min-max 0-181). The most common clinical manifestations included fever (37; 42%) and cough (26; 29%); 37 (42%) were asymptomatic. Nine (10%) children following allo-HCT required ICU care. Seven children (8%) following allo-HCT, died at a median of 22 days after SARS-Cov-2 diagnosis. In a univariate analysis, the probability of a severe disease course was higher in allo-HCT children with chronic GVHD, non-malignant disease, immune suppressive treatment (specifically, mycophenolate), moderate immunodeficiency score, low Lansky score, fever, cough, coinfection, pulmonary radiological findings, and high C-reactive protein. In conclusion, SARS-Cov-2 infection in children following HCT was frequently asymptomatic. Despite this, 10% needed ICU admission and 8% died in our cohort. Certain HCT, underlying disease, and SARS-Cov-2 related factors were associated with a severe disease course.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * etiologie MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- homologní transplantace MeSH
- infekční nemoci * etiologie MeSH
- kašel etiologie MeSH
- kostní dřeň MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- progrese nemoci MeSH
- prospektivní studie MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- testování na COVID-19 MeSH
- transplantace hematopoetických kmenových buněk * škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Cough is the most common symptom of respiratory diseases, but it is also one of important defense mechanisms of the human body. It is often difficult to determine when this defensive reflex ceases to fulfill its physiological role and becomes pathological. Cough is not diagnosis; it is the symptom of various diseases and their combination and is the most common symptom of diseases of the respiratory system. Often the definition of chronic cough is confused with the definition of chronic bronchitis, which is defined as a chronic productive cough lasting at least three months in two consecutive years, while other causes of cough are excluded. Chronic cough is associated with poor quality of life and can negatively affect quality of life. Diseases causing chronic cough are most commonly asthma, eosinophilic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux, post-nasal drip syndrome, rhinosinusitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. Treatment of the underlying etiology of the cough leads to a success rate of up to 90 %. The cause of chronic cough may not be clear and therefore requires a multidisciplinary approach.
- Klíčová slova
- bronchial asthma, chronic cough, eosinophilic bronchitis, gastroesophageal reflux, neuromodulation therapy, upper airways cough syndrome,
- MeSH
- bronchiální astma * komplikace diagnóza MeSH
- chronická nemoc MeSH
- gastroezofageální reflux * komplikace diagnóza MeSH
- kašel diagnóza etiologie MeSH
- kvalita života MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
