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Background: Bronchiectasis is a common disease and a major cause of respiratory morbidity. Chest pain has been described as occurring in the context of bronchiectasis but has not been well characterized. This study was performed to describe the characteristics of chest pain in adult bronchiectasis and to define the relationship of this pain to exacerbations. Subjects and methods: We performed a prospective study of 178 patients who were followed-up for 8 years. Subjects were reviewed on a yearly basis and assessed for the presence of chest pain. Subjects who had chest pain at the time of clinical review by the investigators were included in this study. Forty-four patients (25%) described respiratory chest pain at the time of assessment; in the majority of cases 39/44 (89%), this occurred with an exacerbation and two distinct types of chest pain could be described: pleuritic (n = 4) and non-pleuritic (n = 37), with two subjects describing both forms. The non-pleuritic chest pain occurred most commonly over both lower lobes and was mild to moderate in severity. The pain subsided as patients recovered. Conclusion: Non-pleuritic chest pain occurs in subjects with bronchiectasis generally in association with exacerbations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Recent studies described a progressive decline in lung volumes in adult bronchiectasis. Interstitial lung disease is also a feature of bronchiectasis, but whether this is associated with a decline in lung diffusing capacity (measured as the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide [DLCO]) is not well known. OBJECTIVE: To assess longitudinal decline in diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in adult bronchiectasis. METHODS: Sixty-one subjects had a detailed baseline clinical and laboratory assessment, then were followed regularly with clinical and lung-function assessment for a median 7 years. RESULTS: Baseline spirometry demonstrated mild obstructive lung disease, with a mean FEV1 of 72% of predicted, mean forced vital capacity 87% of predicted, and normal DLCO (mean DLCO 88% of predicted, and mean DLCO adjusted for alveolar volume [DLCO/VA] 100% of predicted). There was an accelerated decline in DLCO and DLCO/VA over the 7-year period. The median DLCO decline was 2.9% of predicted per year (95% CI 2.3-4.1% of predicted per year). The median DLCO/VA decline was 2.4% of predicted per year (95% CI 2.1-4.0% of predicted per year). There was a significant relationship between DLCO decline and age and decline in FEV1. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of patients with bronchiectasis there was a progressive DLCO decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the role of the Business Education Council (BEC) within British industries. Coverage of the First Policy Statement of BEC; Division of the work of BEC; Business education and training courses offered by BEC.

Bronchiectasis is defined by the presence of abnormal bronchial widening and occurs as a consequence of chronic airway infection. It is an important and common cause of respiratory disease. Antibiotics are the main therapy used for the treatment of this condition. The article will review the use of antibiotics for the treatment of bronchiectasis. Antibiotics can be given as short-term therapy for exacerbations or as long-term/maintenance therapy. Antibiotics given by the inhalational route and macrolides are two relatively new classes of medication that may be useful for long-term therapy. There are significant concerns about the overuse resulting in antibiotic resistance. It should be emphasized that nearly all of the trials in the literature have only had small numbers of subjects. The data that is available describing the use of antibiotics in bronchiectasis can generally be regarded as preliminary.