Yoga is adjunctively utilized outside the United States in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but there are no studies assessing its adjunctive efficacy in the United States. We prospectively evaluated the effects of yoga training on the quality of life (QOL) and the parameters of lung function in patients with COPD. Thirty-three patients with documented COPD, per Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease criteria, were recruited. All patients received standard COPD care. The QOL was assessed by the St. George Respiratory questionnaire. Standard spirometry and maximum inspiratory (maximal inspiratory pressure) and expiratory pressure (maximal expiratory pressure) were measured. Patients were taught selected yoga exercises including breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga postures for 1 hour, thrice a week for 6 weeks by a certified yoga therapist. The quality of life and lung function were again assessed at the end of 6 weeks. Twenty-two patients completed the study. Differences in preyoga versus postyoga scores were evaluated using paired t-tests. Statistically significant improvements (P < 0.05) were observed for the St. George Respiratory questionnaire [95% confidence interval (CI) 43.13-58.47], vital capacity (95% CI 2.53-7.65), maximal inspiratory pressure (95% CI 6.62-23.64), and maximal expiratory pressure (95% CI 1.63-13.81). Yoga when practiced by patients with COPD results in improvement in the QOL and lung function on a short-term basis. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings in a randomized controlled trial and in the longer term.
To analyze sensitivity and specificity of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) in detecting obstructive coronary artery disease in African American population with renal insufficiency presenting with acute coronary syndrome. Retrospective analysis of 108 patients who underwent coronary angiography over a 3-year period in a single institution. A troponin I level of 0.1 ng/mL or higher was considered abnormal troponin I. Renal insufficiency was defined as creatinine of 1.2 mg/dL or higher. Obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) was defined as luminal diameter reduction of 70% or more (or total occlusion) in at least 1 coronary artery. Patients were divided into group 1 (renal insufficiency without need for hemodialysis, n = 76, mean age = 65) and group 2 (patients requiring hemodialysis, n = 32, mean age = 60). Access Accu TnI method was used to quantitate cTnI where murine monoclonal antibodies specifically bind to the C-terminal end of cTnI. In group 1, 41 (54%) patients had abnormal troponin of whom 37 (90%) had CAD and 4 (10%) had normal angiogram; 35 (46%) patients had normal troponin, of whom 25 (71%) had CAD and 10 (29%) had normal angiogram yielding a sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 71% (P = 0.003; 95% confidence interval). In group 2, 20 (63%) had abnormal troponin of whom 19 (95%) had CAD and 1(5%) had normal angiogram; 12 (38%) had normal troponin of whom 7 (59%) had CAD and 5 (41%) had normal angiogram yielding a sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 83% (P = 0.06; 95% confidence interval). cTnI has a sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 71% in acute coronary syndrome patients with renal insufficiency. In patients on hemodialysis, troponin I has a sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 83% for detection of obstructive CAD.
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