Pulmonology

Once-daily tiotropium added to inhaled corticosteroids was safe and well tolerated in a phase 3 trial in nearly 400 asthmatic adolescents.

The percentage of patients with adverse events was comparable in the tiotropium and the placebo treatment groups in pooled data from seven phase 2 and 3 studies in nearly 3,500 adults.

Contrary to the previously published literature on cardiac function in asthma patients, Turkish researchers observed no diastolic dysfunction in a group of 50 asthmatic children evaluated in a recent echocardiographic study, even with tissue Doppler imaging.

Increasing evidence supports the possibility that alterations in gut microbiota may influence susceptibility to asthma and allergic diseases such as eczema and food allergies.

There is no longer any question about the health risks associated with smoking. What remains to be found is what is the best way to help people who have started to smoke to quit.

As the effort continues to help people quit smoking research is being done to find the best treatment options available and any potential issues they may present in the process.

Investigators found poor asthma control in obese or overweight patients despite optimal treatment and significantly higher BMI values in those with uncontrolled asthma than in those with partially or totally controlled asthma.

Endothelial activation and levels of C-reactive protein, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, and von Willebrand factor increased during asthma exacerbations in a study of 22 pediatric patients.

A high percentage of people with HIV are also cigarette smokers, a problem that the state of Michigan is tackling with targeting smoking cessation programs.

Higher levels of nitrogen dioxide were associated with higher levels of HOMA-IR, glucose, insulin, and leptin. The degree of association, however, varied among the different populations. Effect estimates for pre-diabetic individuals were large and highly statistically significant, while the associations were smaller and weaker in non-diabetic individuals and those who had already developed T2DM.

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Researchers know that cigarette smoke is hazardous to children, even when it is secondhand. But the impact marijuana smoke has on kids in households where adults smoke cannabis been little studied.

Weight plays different sex-related roles in the likelihood children with asthma will be able to control their condition in early adulthood, a Danish study found.

A UK study suggests that asthma starts in-utero and is triggered by mothers' health. Maternal smoking plays a role.

“As more states pass laws legalizing recreational marijuana, legislators and health care professionals will need to consider strategies to decrease its effect on young children.”

Announced at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress in London, a new meta-analysis published in the Cochrane Library seems to show that vitamin D, in conjunction with standard asthma care, may reduce incidence of asthma attacks.

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As one of the leading educational institutions on the island of Grenada, St. George's University plays a unique role not only in helping the students that come to the school to learn but also those who have already called the island home.

Whether medical students learn their craft at the most established institutions or newer schools around the world their ultimate goal is the same, to help the patient in front of them when they enter practice.

As an international university St. Geroge's can take their own route when it comes to preparing their students while still abiding by some of the traditions of other schools in the United States.

Located on the island of Grenada St. George's University has made a name for itself as one of the top international medical schools providing doctors to the United States.

As people's lives get busy one of the things that suffers the most is their ability to get the proper amount of sleep. This can range from mild sleep issues to more extensive bouts of insomnia.

For patients who struggle with positive airway pressure machines there have been developments in recent years to help them treat their sleep apnea and other disorders.

Whether it is obstructive or central sleep apnea or any number of other conditions finding the right treatment method can make a big difference in improving quality of life.

One of the consequences of lung disease for patients can be significant sleep issues. While these are important to manage in the general population, the need is even greater for this group as well.

When patients are looking for a pulmonary rehabilitation center it is not enough to find anywhere that offers a program. Working with their doctors can ensure they find the help they need from the place best suited for their needs.

From the time a patient enters pulmonary rehab until their condition runs its course a total team effort is required to ensure the best results possible.

Patients with cardiac conditions are familiar with the process of rehabilitation after an event as they work to get better. For pulmonary rehab the work is focused on different angles to help improve the quality of life in patients in different ways.

The study claims to be “one of the largest primary care cohorts ever assembled to describe epidemiologic characteristics of healthcare provider-diagnosed eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy.”

Previous research showed that non-smoking residents of multi-unit buildings were still at risk due to smoke infiltration: nicotine concentrations were comparable from unit to unit regardless of whether or not the resident smoked.