“
“Background and aims: A significant fraction of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) is not sufficiently controlled with conventional therapy or suffers from therapy related side

effects. Anthocyanins, highly abundant in bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), were shown to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. We aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of bilberries in active UC.

Methods: In an open pilot trial with a total follow-up of 9 weeks the effect of a daily standardized anthocyanin-rich bilberry preparation was tested in 13 patients Alvocidib order with mild to moderate UC. Clinical, biochemical, endoscopic and histologic parameters were assessed.

Results: At the end of the 6 week treatment interval 63.4% of patients achieved remission, the primary endpoint, while 90.9% of patients

showed a response. In all patients a decrease in total Mayo score was detected (mean: 6.5 and 3.6 at screening and week 7, respectively; p<0.001). Fecal calprotectin levels significantly decreased during the treatment phase (baseline: mean 778 mu g/g, range 192-1790 mu g/g; end of treatment: mean Navitoclax research buy 305 mu g/g, range <30-1586 mu g/g; p = 0.049), including 4 patients achieving undetectable levels at end of treatment. A decrease in endoscopic Mayo score and histologic Riley index confirmed the beneficial effect. However, an increase of calprotectin levels and disease activity was observed after cessation of bilberry intake. No serious adverse events were observed.

Conclusions: This is the first report on the promising therapeutic potential of a standardized anthocyanin-rich bilberry preparation in UC in humans. These results clearly indicate a therapeutic potential of bilberries in UC. Further studies on mechanisms and randomized clinical trials are warranted.. (c) 2012 European

Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Objective-To evaluate clinical features and outcome of dogs with a confirmed spinal cord nephroblastoma and to describe the use of Wilms tumor-1 (WT-1) immunohistochemical staining to confirm a diagnosis of nephroblastoma in dogs.

Design-Retrospective case series.

Animals-11 dogs with a spinal cord nephroblastoma.

Procedures-Medical records of dogs with a spinal cord nephroblastoma GW786034 mouse were reviewed. Information extracted included signalment, history, clinical signs, results of diagnostic testing, tumor location, treatment, and outcome. The diagnosis was confirmed through histologic review and WT-1 immunohistochemical staining of a tumor sample. In dogs with negative results for staining with WT-1, staining for cytokeratin, vimentin, and glial fibrillar acidic protein was performed.

Results-11 dogs had a spinal cord tumor with a histologic appearance and immunohistochemical staining consistent with a nephroblastoma.

Patients in

the ‘empirical’ arm received CAV in accordance with established guidelines.

Results: Of 27 episodes in the preemptive arm, two cases of IPA were picked up by monitoring. In six episodes, CAV was started despite persistently negative GM readings. One additional patient received CAV for a false-positive GM. Of 25 episodes in the empirical arm, CAV was started empirically in 10, one of whom had CT features of IPA. By intent-to-treat and evaluable-episode analyses, respectively, the preemptive approach saved 11% and 14% of patients from empirical antifungals. Twelve-week survival was 85.2% in the preemptive arm and 84% in the empirical arm.

Conclusions: A preemptive approach may reduce empirical antifungal use without compromising survival in Z-DEVD-FMK persistently febrile neutropenic patients. (C) 2011 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Lansoprazole (LSP), a proton-pump inhibitor, belongs to class II drug. It is especially instable to heat, light, and acidic media, indicating that fabrication of a formulation stabilizing the drug is difficult. The addition of alkaline stabilizer is the most powerful method to protect the drug in

solid formulations under DMH1 TGF-beta/Smad inhibitor detrimental environment. The purpose of the study was to characterize the designed multiple coating pellets of LSP containing an alkaline stabilizer (sodium carbonate) and assess the effect of the stabilizer on the physicochemical properties of the drug. The coated pellets were prepared by layer-layer film coating with a fluid-bed coater. In vitro release and acid-resistance studies were carried out in simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid, respectively. Furthermore, the moisture-uptake test was performed to evaluate the influence of sodium carbonate on the drug stability. The results indicate

that the drug exists in the amorphous state or small (nanometer size) particles without crystallization even after storage at 40 degrees C/75% for 5 months. The addition of sodium carbonate to the pellet protects the drug from degradation in simulated gastric fluid in a dose-dependent AG-120 in vitro manner. The moisture absorbed into the pellets has a detrimental effect on the drug stability. The extent of drug degradation is directly correlated with the content of moisture absorption. In conclusion, these results suggest that the presence of sodium carbonate influence the physicochemical properties of LSP, and the designed multiple coating pellets enhance the drug stability.”
“Objective: To examine the association between trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, other US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) C and D anti-infectives, and non anti-infective FDA C, D, and X drugs used during pregnancy with preterm birth and low birth weight.

Beyond 260 nm, the density of microtwins is clearly reduced, resulting in thick layers with a top part of higher crystalline quality. Microtwins resulted insensitive to the postdeposition annealing. Instead, the density of stacking faults across 11 (1) over bar planes decreases with the thermal treatment. In conclusion, the defect density was proved to diminish with increasing Ge thickness and after annealing. Moreover, it

is noteworthy that the annealing generates a tetragonal distortion in the Ge films, which get in-plane tensely strained, probably due to thermal mismatch between Ge and Si. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3224947]“
“Arterial ischemic stroke involving the posterior circulation is uncommon in children. CP-868596 solubility dmso The underlying etiologies and risk factors predisposing to posterior circulation stroke include vasculopathies, intracranial trauma, cardiac disease, infection, and hematologic disorders. However, in many children with posterior circulation stroke, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We describe a 14-month-old infant with recurrent arterial ischemic stroke involving find more the posterior circulation secondary to an aneurysm

of the basilar artery.”
“Objective-To determine the apparent prevalence of shedding of Cryptosporidium spp in healthy alpaca crias and their dams on 14 farms in New York and 1 farm in Pennsylvania.

Design-Cross-sectional study.

Animals-110 alpaca crias and their 110 dams.

Procedures-Fecal samples were obtained from 220 alpacas at 14 alpaca farms in New York and 1 farm in Pennsylvania. For each animal, age, sex, and health condition were recorded. A fecal score (1 = normally formed; 2 = soft or loose; 3 = diarrhetic) was recorded for each cria. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in fecal samples by a direct immunofluorescence assay.

Results-Apparent prevalence of fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts was 8% (95% confidence interval, AZD6094 supplier 4% to 15%) in dams and was 7% (95% confidence interval, 3% to 13%) in crias. There was no significant difference in age between dams

with positive fecal test results for Cryptosporidium oocysts (median age, 4 years; range, 3 to 8 years) and dams with negative results (median age, 4 years; range, 2.5 to 19 years). No significant difference was found in age between crias with positive fecal test results (median age, 20 days; range, 7 to 53 days) and those with negative results (median, 36 days; range, 2 to 111 days). No significant difference in fecal scores was found between crias with positive versus negative fecal test results.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-A higher than previously reported apparent prevalence of fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts in healthy alpacas was found. A zoonotic risk should be considered, especially for Cryptosporidium parvum.

(C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 114: 598-602, 2009″
“Introduction and objectives. At present, little information is available on returning patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) to their originating centers after find more transfer for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the early return of these patients to their originating centers.

Methods. The cohort study involved 200 consecutive STEMI patients (age 62 13 years, 83% male) who were returned to their originating centers after PPCI. They were compared with a group of 297 patients with

similar characteristics from our healthcare catchment area. The length of stay in the intervention hospital and major adverse cardiovascular events occurring within 30 days were recorded.

Results. The median length of stay in the intervention hospital was 8 hours. No adverse events occurred during transport in the group who returned to their originating centers. At 30-day follow-up, no significant difference was

observed between patients who returned and the control group in either mortality (1.0% vs. 3.7%; P=.064), readmission (5.0% vs. 4.5%; P=.657), ischemic complications (2.5% vs. 2.0%; P=.721), re-catheterization (5.0% vs. 2.5%; P=.112), stroke RG-7388 mw (11 % vs. 1%; P=.936) or the composite end-point (11 % vs. 9.2%; P=.540). Multivariate analysis showed that returning selleck inhibitor patients after PPCI was not associated with a significantly greater number of major adverse cardiovascular events (odds ratio=1.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-2.80).

Conclusions. The early return of patients with low-risk STEMI to their originating centers after PPCI was safe and feasible.”
“Possible factors related to seropositivity

and seroconversion to Coxiella burnetii were examined in a dairy herd with a high Coxiella-seroprevalence and high excretion levels of the bacterium in the bulk tank milk. Antibodies were detected by using a commercial ELISA test in 50.7% of 603 parous cows. The likelihood of C. burnetii seropositivity significantly increased by factors of 1.87 and 1.61 for cows in their first and second terms of pregnancy, respectively, compared to non-pregnant cows. In 478 cows tested twice 12 months apart, the seroconversion rate was 5%. The likelihood of C. burnetii-seroconversion was 2.27 times lower in multiparous than in primiparous cows and 6.88 times higher in cows during their first 90 days in milk than dry-off cows. Our findings indicated a higher seroprevalence in the first and second terms of pregnancy, and that seroconversion mainly occurred in primiparous cows during their first 90 days in milk. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The reported failure rate for cheilectomy alone in patients with advanced disease

is approximately 37.5%. We reported our results with the combination of cheilectomy and extension osteotomy at the proximal phalanx for the treatment of advanced hallux rigidus.

Methods: Between 2000 and 2007, eighty-one patients with advanced hallux rigidus (classified as Hattrup and Johnson Grade HI) underwent a unilateral cheilectomy and great toe proximal phalangeal extension osteotomy. Outcome assessment was determined by comparison of preoperative and postoperative American Orthopaedic Foot & Apoptosis Compound Library ic50 Ankle Society scores, radiographs, first metatarsophalangeal joint motion, and patient satisfaction. Sixty-four of the eighty-one patients STI571 had complete clinical and radiographic examinations at a minimum duration of follow-up of two years.

Results: The mean duration of follow-up was 4.3 years. The mean dorsiflexion of the first metatarsophalangeal joint improved significantly (p < 0.05), by 27.0 degrees, from 32.7 degrees preoperatively to 59.7 degrees postoperatively. The average American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scores improved significantly (p <0.05) from 67.2 points

preoperatively to 88.7 points postoperatively. Radiographs of the interphalangeal joint made postoperatively showed no evidence of development of interphalangeal joint arthritis. Of the eighty-one patients, sixty-nine (85.2%) were satisfied with the results of treatment and four (4.9%) subsequently underwent arthrodesis to treat persistent symptoms at the first metatarsophalangeal joint.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is the first to support the use of a combination of cheilectomy and extension osteotomy of the great toe proximal phalanx as an alternative to first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis to manage patients with advanced hallux rigidus.”
“The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in young BTSA1 concentration children attending day care facilities was studied using it monoclonal stool

antigen test. Of 316 samples, 78 (24.7%) were positive. Only 7/98 (7.1%) of the 3- to 12-month-old infants tested positive compared with 71/218 (32.5%) of the 13- to 60-month-old group. We conclude that approximately 30% of infants may become infected with H. pylori after the first year of life.”
“We reviewed cytogenetic studies performed on 4216 patients who were referred to the Cytogenetics Unit at Dicle University Hospital, Diyarbair, Southeast Turkey, between 2000 and 2009. The cases were grouped according to the reason of referral for cytogenetic analysis. The frequencies of the different types of numerical and structural abnormalities were determined, and the relative frequency of cases with abnormal karyotypes was calculated in each group. The most common reason for requesting cytogenetic testing was referral for Down syndrome and for repeated abortions.

Retrospective analysis of the charts of all women who underwent non-elective and uneventful cesarean section over 12 months was performed AZD8931 price and demographic data, estimated blood loss at surgery, pre- and post-operative hemoglobin

values, postoperative symptoms suggesting anemia, and incidence of transfusion were tabulated. Statistical analysis was done with Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test.

A total of 2,450 women were delivered during the study period among whom 743 of them (30.3%) underwent cesarean section. Among the cesarean sections, 421 (56.6%) were found to be unplanned and uneventful operations performed in low-risk women with no postoperative signs or symptoms for anemia. The mean preoperative hemoglobin of the low-risk asymptomatic women was 11.7 +/- A 1.99 g/dl, whereas it was 11.24 +/- A 1.99 g/dl, postoperatively (P < 0.001). In 72% of the patients,

there was a drop in hemoglobin concentrations, whereas 24.5% experienced an increase and 3.5% showed no change, postoperatively. Only one woman experienced a drop of greater than 30% in hemoglobin concentration. Since the woman did not show any signs of hemodynamic instability or symptoms of anemia, she was not transfused.

Our findings suggest that routine hemoglobin testing following uneventful, unplanned cesarean section neither change postoperative management Fosbretabulin clinical trial nor determine the patients requiring blood transfusion.”
“P>Ordered collections of Arabidopsis thaliana lines containing mapped T-DNA insertions have become an important resource for plant scientists performing genetic studies. Previous reports have indicated that T-DNA insertion lines can have chromosomal translocations associated with the T-DNA insertion site, but the prevalence of these rearrangements has not been well documented. To determine the frequency with which translocations

are present in a widely-used collection of T-DNA insertion lines, we analyzed 64 independent lines from the Salk T-DNA mutant collection. Chromosomal https://www.selleckchem.com/products/dorsomorphin-2hcl.html translocations were detected in 12 of the 64 lines surveyed (19%). Two assays were used to screen the T-DNA lines for translocations: pollen viability and genome-wide genetic mapping. Although the measurement of pollen viability is an indirect screen for the presence of a translocation, all 11 of the T-DNA lines showing an abnormal pollen phenotype were found to contain a translocation when analyzed using genetic mapping. A normal pollen phenotype does not, however, guarantee the absence of a translocation. We observed one T-DNA line with normal pollen that nevertheless had a translocation based on genetic mapping results.

A 34-year-old woman on long-term hemodialysis, with secondary HPT, presented with a 9-month history

of persistent neck pain. Radiographs of the cervical spine revealed an expansive osteolytic lesion in the posterior arch of the second cervical vertebra. MR imaging revealed an expansive mass on C2 affecting the vertebral body, odontoid process, right pedicle, laminas, and spinous process; there were no signs of spinal edema. A CT-guided needle biopsy of the lesion showed destruction of trabecular bone, infiltration of the fibroblastic cells, and abundant osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells with hemorrhage and hemosiderin pigment, and the diagnosis of brown tumor was made. Cervical pain disappeared within a few days of parathyroidectomy, and rapid remineralization of C2 was evident within a few months. BT must always be considered AZD0530 cell line in the context of hyperparathyroidism and osteolytic lesions. Vertebral BT can be particularly devastating due to medullar compression symptoms. Regression or complete disappearance of these lesions after parathyroidectomy is common, but prompt surgical decompression is necessary in case of medullar compression symptoms.”
“In this paper, we INCB028050 manufacturer report the design, fabrication, and measurement of a metamaterial absorber that is constructed of a periodic array of tetra-arrow

resonators (TARs) printed on a dielectric material backed by a metal ground. The TAR absorber can operate at three different resonant

modes. By adjusting geometry parameters of the structure, we selleck chemical can obtain a dual-band, polarization-insensitive, wide-angle thin absorber or a single band but ultra-miniature absorber that corresponds to three different resonant modes. Waveguide experiments are conducted to verify the proposed designs effectively. The measurement results show that all three absorptivity peaks come near to perfection. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3638118]“
“We sought to characterize risk factors of urinary incontinence (UI) during pregnancy and the postpartum period in primiparous women in China.

We enrolled 10,098 women from the seven regions of China a parts per thousand yen28 weeks’ gestation from September 2007 to May 2009 and administered the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire to estimate the presence of different types of UI during late pregnancy (37 to 42 weeks’ gestation) and at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. We also collected details of pregnancy and childbirth and demographic data. McNemar’s test, multinomial logistic regression models, and binary logistic regression models were used.

Multivariable analysis revealed six independent risk factors for SUI: age, more frequent exercise, alcohol consumption, higher body mass index, larger waist circumference, and history of constipation. For those with no UI in late pregnancy, 3.7% and 3.0% developed new cases at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum, respectively.

The first dose of the treatment was given to the patients under direct supervision. All patients were given the medication for self-treatment at home and were requested to come back for follow-up on day 3 of the initial Epigenetic assay treatment. Baseline (day 0) and day 3 whole blood mefloquine and plasma primaquine concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography.

Results: Two patients had recrudescence on days 28 and 35. The Kaplan-Meier

estimate of the 42-day efficacy rate of this combination regimen was 99.2% (238/240). Based on whole blood mefloquine and plasma primaquine concentrations on day 3 of the initial treatment, compliance with mefloquine and primaquine in this three-day artesunate-mefloquine combination regimen were 96.3% (207/215), and 98.5% (197/200), respectively. Baseline mefloquine and primaquine levels were observed in 24 and 16% of the patients.

Conclusion: The current first-line

treatment and a three-day combination regimen of artesunate-mefloquine click here provides excellent patient compliance with good efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of highly multidrug resistance falciparum malaria. Previous treatment with mefloquine and primaquine were common in this area.”
“Low efficiency of somatic cell cloning by nuclear transfer has been associated with alterations of placental vascular architecture. Placental growth and function depend on the growth of blood vessels; VEGF-A and bFGF are the most important factors controlling neovascularization and vascular permeability in the placenta. We hypothesize that the VEGF-A and bFGF systems are disrupted in placentomes from cloned animals, contributing to the placental abnormalities that are common in these clones. We determined Z-VAD-FMK mRNA expression and protein tissue localization of VEGF-A, bFGF, and their receptors in placentomes from cloned and non-cloned bovine fetuses at term. Real-time RT-PCR

revealed that VEGFR-2 mRNA was increased in cloned male-derived placentomes, while mRNA of bFGF and its receptors were decreased in placentomes of cloned females. VEGF-A system proteins were found to be located in placentomal endothelial, maternal and fetal epithelial and stromal cells; there was a variable pattern of cellular distribution of these proteins in both cloned and non-cloned animals. Alterations in the expression of VEGF-A and bFGF systems suggest that angiogenic factors are involved in abnormal placental development in cloned gestations, contributing to impaired fetal development and poor survival rates.”
“The importance of lowering blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive subjects is well known but the relationship between hypertension and cognitive function is controversial. This article reviews the role of hypertension in the aetiology of cognitive impairment and the relationships between BP, cerebral perfusion and cognition.

In men with osteoporosis, SR produced significantly greater mean increases in BMD over 12 months compared with alendronate, an agent already approved for male osteoporosis. MS-275 price Mean increases in BMD with SR in men were similar to those previously documented for this agent in postmenopausal women, suggesting that similar benefits on anti-fracture efficacy may be expected.”
“Objective: To estimate whether cervical length measured by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) in women with uterine anomalies predicts spontaneous preterm

birth (SPTB). Methods: This retrospective cohort study compared women with a uterine anomaly who were pregnant with singleton gestations and delivered August 2000 to April 2008 to a low risk control

group. Transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical lengths were measured 16-30 weeks gestation. Primary outcome was cervical length and SPTB less than 35 weeks and the primary exposure variable of interest ON-01910 supplier was cervical length. Secondary outcomes were SPTB less than 37 weeks, less than 32 weeks, low birth weight, maternal and neonatal outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to identify the best cervical length cutoff. Results: Women with a bicornuate uterus (N = 35) had shorter cervical length (3.46 cm) than the low risk control group (N = 122, 4.32 cm, p < 0.0001). Women with a bicornuate or didelphus uterus, compared with low risk women, had higher rates of SPTB less than 35 weeks (8.6% and 30.8% versus 0.8%, p = 0.0007), neonatal intensive care unit admission more than 24 h (26.5% and 41.7% versus 7.5%, p = 0.0021) and composite perinatal morbidity (32.4% and 69.2% versus 8.3%, p < 0.0001). Using a cutoff of 3.0 cm, TVUS cervical length in women with a bicornuate uterus predicted SPTB less than 35 weeks (positive predictive value [PPV] = 37.5% and negative predictive value [NPV] = 100%), birth weight less than 2500 g (PPV = 50.0% and NPV = 96.3%) and respiratory distress syndrome (PPV = 37.5% and NPV = 100%).

Conclusion Women with a bicornuate uterus have shorter cervical lengths than low risk controls, and are at higher risk of SPTB less than 35 weeks. Transvaginal ultrasonographic cervical length GSK2118436 molecular weight predicts SPTB less than 35 weeks, low birth weight and perinatal morbidity in these women.”
“These studies were conducted in order to assess the bioequivalence of two film-coated formulations containing 250 mg and 1000 mg of valacyclovir (INN: valaciclovir; CAS 124832-26-4), which is the L-valyl ester and a pro-drug of the antiviral drug acyclovir (INN: aciclovir). In the study with valacyclovir 250 mg, 36 healthy subjects were enrolled in a randomized, single-dose, open-label, 2-way crossover study, with a washout period of 10 days. In the study with valacyclovir 1000 mg, 46 healthy subjects were enrolled in a randomized, single-dose, open-label, 2-way crossover study, with a washout period of 7 days.

Such procedures must be performed in Captisol datasheet centres where the operators are knowledgeable of the lesions being addressed, with full surgical, anaesthetic, nursing and imaging support.”
“OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with discordance between tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) results among household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients.

DESIGN: TST

(purified protein derivative) and IGRA (QuantiFERON (R)-TB Gold) were performed on household contacts of PTB patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2007 in Salvador, Brazil. Discordant test groups were compared with the TST-/IGRA-group.

RESULTS: Of 261 household contacts satisfactorily tested by TST, 145 (55.6%) had positive TST results; of 298 satisfactorily tested by IGRA, 127 (43.1%) had positive results. The test agreement was 0.76 (kappa = 0.53, 95%CI 0.43-0.63). Sixty-one (24%) were discordant: 44 (72%) with TST+/IGRA- and 17 (28%) with TST-/IGRA+ results. Compared to the TST-/IGRA- group, the TST+/IGRA- and TST+/IGRA+ groups were significantly more likely to have click here a chest X-ray showing old lung scars (OR = 6.8, 95%CI 1.3-35.0; OR = 7.4, 95 %CI 2.2-24.4, respectively). The TST-/IGRA+ group was exposed to their index cases for significantly longer

than the TST-/IGRA- group (OR = 7.2, 95%Cl 1.7-29.3).

CONCLUSION: The TST+/IGRA- and TST+/IGRA+ groups shared more similar characteristics with each other than with the TST-/IGRA- group. In a setting endemic for TB, TST results appear to be more suitable in the decision to treat latent TB infection.”
“The mycobiome, referring primarily to the fungal biota in an environment, is an important component of the human microbiome. Despite its importance, it has remained understudied. New culture-independent approaches BIIB057 to determine microbial diversity, such as next-generation sequencing methods, are greatly broadening our view of fungal importance. An integrative analysis of current studies shows that different body sites harbor specific fungal

populations, and that diverse mycobiome patterns are associated with various diseases. By interfacing with other biomes, as well as with the host, the mycobiome probably contributes to the progression of fungus-associated diseases and plays an important role in health and disease.”
“Background and objective: Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are idiopathic inflammatory myopathies that are associated with a variety of clinical manifestations including pulmonary complications. The objective of the present study was to determine the causes of deaths in this complex patient population.

Results: Respiratory (33%), infectious (28%) and cardiovascular diseases (26%) accounted for the majority of immediate causes of death. Acute exacerbation of chronic interstitial lung disease (15%) and bronchopneumonia (15%) were the most common specific causes.