In conclusion, CPAP treatment resulted in an improvement in quality of life, sleep-related symptoms, anxiety and depression indexes and some neurocognitive aspects in elderly people with severe OSA. (Source: European Respiratory Journal)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a relentless fibrotic disorder leading to an irreversible damage of the lungs, chronic respiratory failure, and death after a median of 3 years following the diagnosis [1]. The landscape in IPF has recently been profoundly modified in a number of ways. The disease process, once considered as a chronic inflammation and treated with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, is now viewed as uncontrolled wound healing resulting from injury to the alveolar epithelium [2]. Epidemiological studies have showed that IPF is more common than previously appreciated in the elderly population [3], with rising prevalence and mortality [4, 5]. The role of tobacco smoking is better appreciated [6]. The underlying genetic predisposition to IPF is progressive...

British Lung Foundation has issued advice to people who may be at risk of seeing their condition worsen You must sign in to continue reading this article Hide related content:  Show related content read more (Source: Nursing in Practice)

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Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal-dominant neurocutaneous disease with high phenotypic variability. The incidence is approximately one in 5000-10,000 births. TSC is characterized by widespread hamartomas and benign or rarely malignant neoplasms affecting various organs, most commonly the brain, skin, retinas, kidneys, heart, and lungs. The wide range of organs affected reflects the roles of TSC1 and TSC2 genes in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation. Clinical diagnostic criteria are important because genetic testing does not identify the mutation in up to 25 % of patients. Imaging is pivotal, as it allows a presumptive diagnosis of TSC and definition of the extent of the disease. Common manifestations of TSC include cortical tubers, subependymal nodules, white matter abnormalities, retinal abnormalities, cardiac rhabdomyoma, lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), renal angiomyolipoma, and skin lesions. Pulmonary involvement consists of LAM and, less commonly, multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia (MMPH), which causes cystic and nodular diseases, respectively. Recent reports indicate that pulmonary LAM is found by computed tomography in up to 35 % of the female patients with TSC. MMPH is rare and may be associated with LAM or, less frequently, occurs as an isolated pulmonary manifestation in women with TSC. Dyspnea and pneumothorax are common clinical presentations of LAM, whereas MMPH is usually asymptomatic. The aim of this review is to describe the main clinical, imaging, and pathological aspects of TSC, with a focus on pulmonary involvement.

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