Pulmonology

Air pollution should be viewed as one of several major modifiable risk factors in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease.

Colorectal cancer survivors who smoke cigarettes were found to face more than twice the risk of death than non-smoking survivors, corroborating existing evidence that cigarette smoking is associated with colorectal cancer-specific mortality.

An unlikely remedy, beetroot juice, was found to improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients' exercise performance.

Challenging previous research, John Hopkins University investigators claimed race, poverty, and ethnicity - not residing in urban areas - were greater forecasters of asthma. However, they cautioned their study did not determine whether location is linked to a worsening in symptoms.

Patients with high body mass indexes and obesity are at greater risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea. This meta-analysis looked to determine if the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for sleep apnea would result in weight loss or weight gain.

As electronic health records become more prevalent in the healthcare community, the number of software options doctors can choose from seems to range as widely as the practices themselves.

An optimal cessation treatment gauged how quickly a smoker metabolized nicotine after quitting, according to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania.

This observational cohort study from New Zealand found that "gossipy" magazines are often subtly taken from your waiting room, while the "non-gossipy" magazines remain.

For hospitalized patients, some stays are extended by comorbidities including pneumonia, which can present additional health concerns. A recent study looked at the effect of acid-suppressive medications for stroke patients in an effort to prevent them catching pneumonia as well.

As pulmonary issues like asthma become more prevalent in our population, the links to other potential comorbidities have also gained clarity. A recent study observed the connection between patients diagnosed with asthma and those potentially developing obstructive sleep apnea.

Smoking rates were found to be higher in men than in women, but decreasing in both sexes – reports had indicated the rates may be increasing in young women. Previous studies have shown women become addicted to nicotine faster and have greater difficulty quitting smoking due to more intense cravings when stimulated by cues than men.

Cardiovascular disease is often preceded by pneumonia severe enough to be hospitalized for, according to research published in JAMA.

Researchers have developed a safer method for testing d-dimer values in patients over the age of 50 years, according to research published in the journal CHEST.

With so many changes in the health care industry, the days of doctors running solo practices in their hometowns seem to be ending as more physicians opt for employment with large health care systems.

Patients can develop symptoms of both COPD and asthma, and the percentage increases as patients age.

In the wake of Joan Rivers' untimely death last year, ambulatory surgery centers have come under increased scrutiny. Several recent articles in the literature look at this complicated area of surgical practice.

Emphasizing the benefits to healthcare at large, an article published in the European Respiratory Journal pressed for more attention be given to breathlessness-specifically in middle-aged patients.

A 3-dimensional COPD identification and progression tracking technology has been granted 510k status by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Investigators from Queen Mary University of London found vitamin D consumption reduced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patient's moderate or severe exacerbations by up to 40%

A recently conducted comprehensive report had found that a combination treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is more beneficial than using only one of the drugs.

A review of current literature by researchers from Korea examines the effects of cigarette smoking in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Pharmacy support for COPD patients is cost effective and improves medication adherence, according to findings published in the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice.

A survey conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has not only highlighted a spike in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occurrences-but also challenged the makeup of individuals typically affected by the condition.

A fairly unknown protein called the short palate, lung and nasal epithelial clone 1 (SPLUNC1), was found to attach to key lipids responsible for combating bacterial and viral infections, while keeping lung tissue hydrated - a discovery that highlighted breakthrough antibacterial routes.

A new analysis of several prospective health studies indicates that low testosterone levels at any age are associated with an increased risk ischemic stroke in men.

Inadequate infection control is to blame for the widespread transmission of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), an article published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) claimed.

While suicide ideation (SI) and depression is common among individuals suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emerging research has also discovered women with the condition disproportionately experience SI and it persists despite undergoing mental health treatment.

Cystic fibrosis patients should be screened for depression, according to research published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine.

In this month's issue of Internal Medicine World Report (IMWR), we present summaries of highly relevant studies in the areas of cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, psychiatry, and neurology. Selected by our physician editor for their relevance to the practice of internal medicine, each study addresses a key clinical issue that can have a significant impact on patient care.

Postextubation dysphagia is a common but often unrecognized problem in critically ill patients who've been intubated for 2 days or more. Its causes include mechanical abrasion, cognitive disturbances, and the residual effects of narcotics and anxiolytic medications.