ABSTRACT
Objective To discuss the effects of oxygen therapy on partial pressure of oxygen, pulmonary function and quality of life among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during respiratory rehabilitation (PR) . Methods Eighty patients with COPD were selected and randomly divided into two groups (receiving oxygen therapy and receiving no oxygen therapy) with 40 in each group.Patients who participated in this study underwent a comprehensive 8-week outpatient PR program. After the 8-week treatment, patients'pulmonary function, blood gas analysis and St.George respiratory questionnaire (SCRQ) score were tested. Results Significant improvements were observed in pulmonary function, partial pressure of oxygen and SCRQ score in both groups after the treatment.The group underwent the oxygen therapy showed better results in partial pressure of oxygen, FEV1 and SCRQ score during the rehabilitation compared to the group underwent no oxygen therapy. Conclusion Oxygen therapy during PR plays a positive role in respiratory rehabilitation, which is worth generalizing.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Recent studies have suggested that susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might be related to the length polymorphism of (GT)(n) repeat in the 5'-flanking region of heme oxygenase-1 (HOX-1) gene. However, there has been no research about the relationship between the polymorphism of HOX-1 gene and severity of COPD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The polymorphism of HOX-1 gene in 452 patients with COPD from Han population in Southwest China was analysed by fragment analysis. The frequencies of the HOX-1 genotype were compared with the stage of COPD of each patient.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The HOX-1 genotypes were classified into two groups: group I were individuals with class L allele (the number of GT = 32 repeats), and group II were those without class L allele (the number of GT < 32 repeats). The genotypic frequency of the HOX-1 group I was significantly higher than group II in the very severe COPD patients (36.8% vs 22.4%, P < 0.01, OR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.3 - 3.1), while the genotypic frequency of the HOX-1 group II was lower in the mild COPD (16.0% vs 26.0%, P = 0.02, OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.3 - 0.9). However, in moderate and severe stages COPD, there were similar genotypic frequencies between HOX-1 group I and group II.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Genetic polymorphism in HOX-1 is associated with the severity of COPD in Southwest China. COPD patients with class L allele may be susceptible to develop very severe COPD. Conversely, the COPD patients without class L allele may be more easily stabilized on mild COPD.</p>