Indigenous patients of the remote and rural communities of the Top End have significantly higher rates of smoking and COPD compared to non-Indigenous patients. Bronchiectasis is also more common among Indigenous patients. Further efforts are warranted to develop strategies to address the disparity and optimise the respiratory outreach service to this population.

Background: Poor lung function is a predictor of future all-cause mortality. In Australia, respiratory diseases are particularly prevalent among the indigenous population, especially in remote communities. However, there are little published pulmonary function tests' (PFT) data of remote-based adult indigenous patients.Aim: To evaluate the severity of airflow obstruction and other PFT abnormalities of adults referred to specialist respiratory clinics in remote indigenous communities.Methods: Retrospective analysis of PFT (pre-and post-bronchodilator spirometry, total lung capacity (TLC) and diffusing capacity to carbon monoxide (DLCO)) of indigenous patients collected during specialist respiratory clinics in remote Northern Territory (NT) indigenous communities (Australia) between 2013 and 2015. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III without ethnic correction was used as the reference.Results: Of the 357 patients, 150 had acceptable spirometry, and 71 had acceptable DLCO and TLC studies. Despite the relatively young age (mean = 49 years, SD = 12.9), their lung function was generally low; mean % predicted values were FEV 1 = 55% (SD = 20.5%), FVC = 61% (SD = 15.6%), DLCO = 64.0% (SD = 19.7%) and TLC = 70.1% (SD = 18.2%). Mean FEV 1 /FVC ratio was preserved (0.71, SD = 0.16). Postbronchodilator airflow obstruction (FEV 1 /FVC < 0.7) was observed in 37% of patients, where a large proportion (67%) demonstrated at least a severe airflow obstruction, with a mean FEV 1 of 41% predicted. Conclusion:In this first study of PFT findings of indigenous adults from a remotebased clinical service, we found a high rate of at least moderate airflow limitation and low FVC along with preserved FEV1/FVC ratio. Increased awareness and screening for reduced lung function needs to be considered in this population.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders (ATSI) are noted to have a higher burden of chronic health conditions. However, there is a paucity of data on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in this population. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the clinical and polysomnographic (PSG) characteristics of ATSI and non-ATSI adult patients who underwent diagnostic PSG between 2011 and 2015. There were a total of 3078 patients. Of the total, 403 (13%) were of ATSI origin. Among those of ATSI origin, 61% were male and 39% females, while among the non-ATSI cohort, 66% were males. The median age was 47.8 years in ATSI and 51.5 years in the non-ATSI cohort. In the combined cohort, body mass index was more than 30 kg/m2 (61%), hypertension (14.4%), diabetes (17.8%), and heart disease (23.3%). The ATSI patients had higher rates of class III obesity (27 vs. 15%), hypertension (26 vs. 14%), cardiac disease (34 vs. 23%), and diabetes (37 vs. 17%). Among all the study participants, the PSG confirmed 83.7% of the patients had an apnoea–hypopnea index (AHI) more than 5/h, mild (AHI 5–15/h) in 28.4%, moderate (AHI 15–30/h) in 22.3%, and severe (AHI &gt; 30/h) in 33.0%. Among the ATSI patients, 46% had severe OSA. The median total AHI value was higher in the ATSI population (25, interquartile range [IQR]: 11–58) compared to the non-ATSI (17, IQR: 7–36), and in rural/remote population (19, IQR: 8–42) compared to urban (17, IQR: 7–37). This trend was similar for NREM (non-rapid eye movement)-AHI and REM (rapid eye movement)-AHI scores, although statistically significant difference was found only with ATSI status. In the combined cohort the probability of (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.32–2.00, p &lt; 0.001) of severe OSA was 62% higher in individual with hypertension, however, when stratified by ATSI status, the association was only significant in the non-ATSI population (OR = 1.53 95% CI: 1.21–1.94, p &lt; 0.001). The odds of severe AHI was also significantly associated with heart disease (1.37; 95% CI: 1.14,1.63, p &lt; 0.001), diabetes (1.74; 95% CI: 1.43,2.10; p &lt; 0.001) and smoking (1.28; 95% CI: 1.09,1.50, p = 0.0023) in the overall study cohort. In both ATSI and non-ATSI patients, body mass index, neck circumference, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and respiratory arousal index were significantly higher and independently associated with severe AHI.

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Circulating fetuin-A is related to bone mass and bone resorption markers in elderly women. Lactoferrin, in contrast, is associated only with bone resorption markers.

BackgroundNumerous emerging data from research on osteoporosis among Asians found differences from Caucasians. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and osteoporosis in elderly participants from two nursing homes in Thailand, a country located near the equator.MethodsThe subjects of this cross-sectional study comprised 93 elderly Thai women who were living in institutional long-term nursing homes for the aged. Demographic data, daily food and calcium intake, physical activity, and sunlight exposure were measured. Lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical levels including serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and bone turnover markers were assessed. Vitamin D insufficiency was defined as 25(OH)D level < 70 nmol/l.ResultsThe mean age of subjects was 75.2 ± 6.0 (SD) years. Dietary calcium intake was low (322 ± 158 mg/day) The mean 25(OH)D level was 64.3 ± 14.9 nmol/L and the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 38.7% (95% CI: 28.8%, 49.4%). There was no correlation between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and age (r = −.11, p = 0.3). The mean BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neck were 0.92 ± 0.19 and 0.65 ± 0.10 g/cm2, respectively. Nearly a half of the subjects had osteopenia (44.1%, 95% CI: 33.8%, 54.8%) and osteoporosis (47.3%, 95% CI: 36.9%, 57.9%). Circulating C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx) level correlated significantly with both lumbar spine (r = −0.26, p = 0.01) and femoral neck BMD (r = −0.25, p = 0.02).ConclusionsMore than one-third of Thai elderly women residing in nursing homes had vitamin D insufficiency. Almost all nursing home residents had osteoporosis and/or osteopenia.

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The phenomenon of exercise‐induced hemoptysis is still relatively underrecognised in humans. We report a case of recurrent hemoptysis brought on by vigorous exercise. A 33‐year‐old male presented with several episodes of intermittent fresh small‐volume hemoptysis reproducible on vigorous exercise. There was no other significant medical history other than a past history of testicular tumor, treated with orchidectomy and adjuvant Bleomycin‐based chemotherapy 1 year prior to onset of symptoms. Computed tomography scan showed no major abnormalities other than few small bilateral non‐specific nodules. Computed tomography aortogram and pulmonary angiogram, ventilation/perfusion scan, and echocardiography yielded no significant abnormalities. Infectious, autoimmune disease, coagulopathy, vasculitis, and malignant causes were excluded. Bronchoscopy showed possible endobronchial bleeding. This phenomenon is thought to be due to vulnerability of pulmonary capillaries to stress or mechanical failure during strenuous exercise at high cardiorespiratory workload.