February 2008 Press ReleaseNews Briefs From the Journal CHEST, February 2008ONE-LEGGED WORKOUTS BETTER FOR COPD PATIENTSAccording to a new study, patients with COPD may improve their aerobic capacity by using one-legged training, rather than the conventional two-legged training. Researchers from West Park Healthcare Centre in Toronto, ON, Canada, randomly assigned 18 patients with COPD into two groups—one-legged trainers and two-legged trainers—and compared training intensity on a stationary cycle. Both groups cycled for 30-minute increments, 3 days per week. The two-legged trainers cycled continuously, while the one-legged trainers switched legs at the 15-minute mark. Researchers found that while both groups increased their training intensity and total work, only the one-legged group reduced their total metabolic demand, which improved their aerobic capacity. This study is published in the February issue of the journal CHEST. HORMONE THERAPY NOT EFFECTIVE FOR MULTISYSTEM DISEASELymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a multisystem disease occurring primarily in women, in which the proliferation of abnormal-appearing cells (LAM cells) cause cystic lung destruction and kidney and lymphatic tumors. Due to the fact that LAM cells contain estrogen receptors and the disease often progresses during pregnancy, researchers from Italy and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute evaluated the effect of triptorelin, a protein hormone, in 11 premenopausal women with LAM. After the 36-month trial period, researchers found that the hormone treatment worsened lung function in the patients. They also noted that the use of triptorelin might be associated with a loss in bone mineral density. This study is published in the February issue of the journal CHEST. ALTITUDE MAY BE LINKED TO COPDNew research suggests there may be an association between COPD and altitude. Through a method known as cluster sampling, Columbian researchers investigated COPD prevalence in five Columbian cities situated at low, medium, and high altitudes. A total of 5,539 participants, aged 40 years and older, were interviewed and given spriometry tests to determine if COPD was present by a spriometric (8.9%), medical (2.8%), or clinical (3.2%) definition. In addition to the more common factors of age and smoking status, researchers found that wood smoke exposure and higher altitudes increased COPD prevalence. This study is published in the February issue of the journal Chest. Contact:
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