Pulmonology

In just a few short years the number of doctors and hospitals using electronic health records has grown dramatically, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Dust mites are widely responsible for allergic irritation and breathing difficulties, but researchers from the University of Iowa researchers indicated a vaccine may be within reach.

As life expectancies for cystic fibrosis patients have increased, so have possible long-term complications such as diabetes.

The US Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of a new drug for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

A new cystic fibrosis drug appears to counteract the molecular effects of another drug for the condition, according to a recent study from researchers at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the Marisco Lung Institute.

Agent Orange exposure several decades earlier may increase morbidity from various diseases, some of which have rarely been explored in previous epidemiologic studies.

For many procedures, minimally invasive surgery is superior to open surgery because it typically involves a few small incisions, rather than one large open cut.

Many young smokers are unaware of the adverse health effects associated with hookah smoking.

In a recent survey, physicians identified peer-reviewed journal articles, continuing medical education, evidence-based guidelines, and national experts as the most useful sources of information to stay current on therapeutic advances.

It is generally assumed a viral infection will get better in "7 days with antibiotics and in roughly a week without them." As it turns out, these estimates are low, especially in children.

Thanks to better anesthetics, new surgical techniques, and more consistent anticoagulant use to prevent venous thromboembolism, mortality after total hip replacement surgery is rare. Nevertheless, a patient's risk of death briefly increases following the procedure.

Out of all possible factors, trauma is the single largest cause of death among Americans aged 46 years or younger.

Among highly nicotine-dependent male smokers, therapies that combine smoking cessation agents significantly increase the likelihood of quitting, according to a study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry.

Although hospitals routinely implement peer review processes to ensure that physicians are meeting the prevailing standards of care, the procedure has been associated with controversy.

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have released a study showing the potential of a dangerous interaction between a common supplement and prescription medication.

Among patients aged 65 years or older who are hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, azithromycin lowers the risk of 90-day mortality in exchange for slightly increased odds of myocardial infarction compared to other antibiotic regimens.

If the results of a recent study are proven to last, then the previously held belief concerning the relationship between tuberculosis and the use of corticosteroids could be considered incomplete.

Although the Caprini Thrombosis Risk Assessment Tool is widely used and well validated, many surgeons struggle to implement it appropriately and accurately when automated calculators are unavailable.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients who experience pain, cosmetic deformity, or impending respiratory compromise can benefit from spinal surgery.

By emphasizing early postoperative mobilization alongside mandatory venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk stratification and concurrent electronic prophylaxis recommendations, hospitals can significantly reduce the likelihood of VTE complications among surgical patients.

Researchers at the University of Buffalo are hoping a familiar friend from the past will help them battle some potential problems in the present and future.

The continuous use of macrolide antibiotics for prophylaxis is associated with a significant reduction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations.

Though chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations remain a top cause of US hospitalizations, 62% of patients surveyed by the COPD Foundation did not know much about them, and 16% had no knowledge on flare-ups.

Hamartomas can be found incidentally via chest radiograph, a cost-effective screening tool that should always be part of the initial evaluation in patient care.

Designated "meaningful users" of electronic health record systems do not deliver improved care for common chronic diseases.

Although clinicians are increasingly forced to face the 3-headed monster of comorbid diabetes, sleep disturbance, and pain, the healthcare community is only beginning to understand how the conditions overlap.

Contrary to popular belief, patients who are prescribed antidepressants experience only minimal weight gain within 12 months of treatment.

Genetics contribute to depressive symptoms, which are linked to sleep duration, according to a study published in Sleep.

Although patients who would have been considered high risk 10 years ago can now successfully undergo percutaneous cardiac intervention, those with severe sclerotic lesions in the ascending aorta still present a challenge to surgeons.

Pregnant women with hypertension who also snored were found to be at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea, spurring the need for obstetric healthcare providers to consider sleep evaluation in hypertensive pregnancies.