Preparing Nurses for the Global Pandemic of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Inflammatory responses of the rat lungs in cold-dryness syndrome in the northwest of China

OBJECTIVE

To examine changes in body weight and the lung inflammation factors interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in a rat model of cold-dryness syndrome in Northwest (Xinjiang) China to provide a reference for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with local peculiarities.

METHODS

The rat COPD model was established by intratracheal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) in combination with cigarette smoking (CS). The rat model of cold-dryness syndrome of COPD in the northwest of China was set up by intratracheal instillation of PPE in combination with CS and environmental cold-dryness stress. The level of IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data were analyzed using the software SPSS 11.5.

RESULTS

(1) Body weight was less in the two model groups than that of control group (P < 0.01), PPE plus CS cold-dryness group was less than that of PPE plus CS group (P < 0.01). (2) IL-1beta in BALF significantly increased in PPE plus CS and cold-dryness group than that of control group (P < 0.01). (3) IL-8 and TNF-alpha in BALF significantly increased in PPE plus CS and cold-dryness group and PPE plus CS group than that of control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Body weight in COPD model rats was reduced compared with controls. Cold-dryness may aggravate such a condition lung inflammation in the model was mainly manifested by an increase in IL-1beta, IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels, with no change in IL-10 levels. Cold-dryness may aggravate lung inflammation of COPD.

Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a family's everyday life in Finland: perceptions of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their spouses

The aim of this study is to describe the experiences of people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their everyday lives by using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Five people with COPD and four spouses participated in the study. The data were collected by thematic personal interviews and were analyzed by deductive content analysis. The findings describe the impairment of body function of people with COPD, they provide knowledge of those factors that promote the well-being of people with COPD, how they cope on a daily basis, and the importance of their spouse. Knowledge about COPD for all health-care professionals is a precondition to ensure that people receive the help they need. People with COPD found it important to have a care relationship with their own treatment unit. The findings of the present study showed that peer support was an important matter.

Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: insiders' perspectives

AIM

This paper reports a study of the experiences of older adults with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with the aim of gaining an understanding of how the disease had affected their lives.

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a major personal and public health burden and is the fifth cause of mortality worldwide. The brief encounters that healthcare professionals have with patients in hospitals, physicians' offices and other outpatient settings are insufficient to be able to truly understand the challenges that people face in the attempt to integrate a chronic illness into their lives. Previous qualitative studies on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have tended to focus on specific problems associated with the disease, such as fatigue and social isolation.

METHOD

A hermeneutic phenomenological study was carried out with 10 older adults who participated in a local hospital's case management or pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Data were collected by interviews in 2003.

FINDINGS

Three major themes were identified: Knowing What Works, Hanging On...Barely, and Losing Control-Gaining Control. The changes associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were described as increasingly challenging and even threatening to participants' current lifestyles. The impact of dyspnoea was great and invaded almost every aspect of their lives. Participants identified the most effective methods to resolve shortness of breath.

CONCLUSION

People with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have had extensive experience of managing their disease and are familiar with techniques that have helped them integrate the illness and symptoms into their lives. Nurses can synthesize patient knowledge with nursing knowledge to assist patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to achieve their maximum quality of life.