Prone positioning enhances lung recruitment and decreases alveolar instability and hyperinflation observed at high PEEP in patients with ARDS.

Among subjects with mild COPD, those with daily-life dyspnea have worse exercise outcomes; distinct lung and thigh muscle morphologic features; and different pulmonary physiologic characteristics at rest and exercise. ΔIC was the main contributor to dyspnea intensity and ΔIC and thigh muscle wasting were determinants of exercise capacity.

These data are consistent with the protective effect of high plasma levels of ascorbate against the oxidative challenge caused by reperfusion injury in patients subjected to PCA following an AMI. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism accounting for this beneficial antioxidant effect.

In COPD patients the burden of emphysema on CT scan and DLCO predict a clinically meaningful decline in exercise capacity.