Introduction: Gastroesophageal reflux plays a significant role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Given the morbidity and mortality associated with IPF, understanding the mechanisms responsible for reflux is essential if patients are to receive optimal treatment and management, especially given the lack of clear benefit of anti-reflux therapies. Our aim was to understand the inter-relationships between esophageal motility, lung mechanics and reflux (particularly proximal reflux -a prerequisite of aspiration), and pulmonary function in IPF patients. Methods:We prospectively recruited 35 IPF patients (aged 53-75yrs; 27 male) who underwent highresolution impedance manometry and 24-hr pH-impedance, together with pulmonary function assessment.Results: Twenty-two (63%) patients exhibited dysmotility, 16(73%) ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) and 6(27%) esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction. Patients with IEM had more severe pulmonary disease (%FVC:p=0.032) and more proximal reflux (p=0.074) than patients with normal motility. In patients with IEM, intra-thoracic pressure inversely correlated with the number of proximal events (r=-0.429;p=0.098). Surprisingly, inspiratory lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) positively correlated with the percentage of reflux events reaching the proximal esophagus (r=0.583;p=0.018), whilst in patients with normal motility it inversely correlated with the bolus exposure time (r=-0.478;p=0.098) and number of proximal events (r=-0.542;p=0.056). %FVC in IEM patients inversely correlated with the percentage of reflux events reaching the proximal esophagus (r=-0.520;p=0.039) and inspiratory LESP (r=-0.477;p=0.062), and positively correlated with intrathoracic pressure (r=0.633;p=0.008). Conclusions:We have shown that pulmonary function is worse in patients with IEM which is associated with more proximal reflux events, the latter correlating with lower intra-thoracic pressures and higher LESPs.

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Once patients are diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension it is important to identify the correct diagnostic group as it will have implications on the disease state management. Pulmonary hypertension is increasingly diagnosed and treated in general medical practices; however, evidence-based guidelines recommend evaluation and treatment in pulmonary hypertension centers for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment recommendations. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 509 random patients 18 years and older who were evaluated in our pulmonary hypertension clinic from January 2005 to December 2018. 68.4% (n = 348) had their diagnostic group clarified or changed. Pulmonary hypertension was deemed an incorrect diagnosis in 12.4% (n = 63). A total of 114 patients (22.4%) had been initiated on pulmonary hypertension specific treatment prior to presentation. Pulmonary hypertension specific medication was stopped in 57 (50.0%) cases. The estimated monthly saving of the stopped medication based on wholesale acquisition costs was USD 396,988.05–419,641.05, a monthly saving of USD 6964.70–7362.12 per patient. Evaluation outside of a pulmonary hypertension center may lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate or inadequate treatment. Pulmonary arterial hypertension directed therapy improves median survival, but inappropriate therapy may cause harm; therefore, patients benefit from a specialized center with multiple resources to secure an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment for their condition.

Background and objective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant health problem that is becoming more prevalent worldwide. This study aimed to assess hemodynamic and morphological parameters in diabetic patients' foot arteries and compare them to those obtained in asymptomatic control group.Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional case-control study. B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler, and pulse wave Doppler were conducted to assess the dorsalis pedis arteries (DPAs) and posterior tibial arteries (PTAs). The morphological, total vascular diameter, wall thickness, and flow Doppler indices were measured. A total of 200 hundred participants were selected randomly using a random sampling technique. One hundred diabetic patients and 100 non-diabetic persons were determined.Results: In diabetic patients, the overall grayscale diameter and wall thickness of foot arteries were statistically significantly larger than the asymptomatic group in the right DPA (p<0.01), left DPA (p<0.001), right PTA (p<0.001), and left PTA (p<0.001). In the diabetic group, the level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was positively correlated with blood flow resistive index (RI) in the right DPA (r=0.839; p<0.001), left DPA (r=0.801; p<0.001), right PTA (r=0.801; p<0.001), and left PTA (r=0.801; p<0.001). No significant differences were noted in both groups in blood flow Doppler parameters -pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI).Conclusion: Overall grayscale diameters of foot arteries are larger in the diabetes group than in the control group, indicating arterial wall thickening as an early indicator of diabetes-related alterations. PI of both DPA and RI of right DPA were increased in diabetic patients more than the control group. The level of glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was strongly linked with the blood flow resistive index in diabetes patients.