Respiratory

Nicotine replacement therapy can help with smoking cessation, but there are dangers of using e-cigarettes, said Laura Crotty Alexander, MD, ATSF.

May 28th 2021

COVID-19 Long-Haulers May Benefit From Specialized Care, Review Notes

Patients with post–COVID-19 symptoms for at least 4 weeks should be assessed for pulmonary, cardiac, neurocognitive, and psychiatric complications and referred to a specialized clinic, a recent study notes

May 25th 2021

Dr Michelle Cloutier Explains the Methodology Behind Updated NAEPP Asthma Guidelines

Michelle M Cloutier, MD, is professor emerita at UCONN Health in Farmington, Connecticut, and chair of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) Coordinating Committee Expert Panel Working Group.

May 21st 2021

Dr Joe Zein Describes Factors Associated With Asthma

Joe Zein, MD, PhD, from Cleveland Clinic, explains factors apart from sex and age that can have an impact on a patient's asthma.

May 18th 2021

e-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products Linked to Lung Damage

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heated tobacco products come with significant health risks, much as conventional cigarettes do, a study found.

$Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Eyed as a Reason Behind Refractory, Unexplained Cough$

May 5th 2021

Laryngeal Hypersensitivity Eyed as a Reason Behind Refractory, Unexplained Cough

Laryngeal hypersensitivity may be a key factor in refractory and unexplained cough.

May 5th 2021

What We’re Reading: US Birth Rate Drops; Biden Revises Vaccination Goal; PPE Costs Skyrocket During Pandemic

There was an overall 4.3% drop in total US births from 2019 to 2020; the Biden administration wants to increase the COVID-19 vaccination rate among Americans; medical professionals seek reimbursement for personal protective equipment (PPE).

April 29th 2021

FDA Moves to Ban Menthol Cigarettes, All Flavors in Cigars

FDA's step toward additional flavoring bans in tobacco products advances its commitment to reducing tobacco-related death, officials said.

April 28th 2021

How Patient Preferences Can Inform Program Designs for Pulmonary Rehabilitation

A recent study concluded that designers of pulmonary rehabilitation programs should consider patients’ preferences on what components they feel are the most important to ensure that the programs are successful and effective.

April 23rd 2021

Study: Targeted Interventions Improve Bronchiolitis Management in Infants

Medications and management processes known to be ineffective or harmful in infants with bronchiolitis were tossed in favor of targeted interventions in hospitals, resulting in improvements in bronchiolitis care.

April 22nd 2021

COVID-19: An Opportunity to Assess Global Air Quality and Its Impact on Health

With unprecedented pauses in air pollution emissions in spring 2020 and ongoing virus mitigation behaviors around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity to better understand the impact of poor air quality on human health.

April 17th 2021

Using Telemedicine for Respiratory Infections May Lead to More Care Later

The study, on the quality of on-demand video telemedicine services, found that patients using telemedicine for respiratory infections were more likely to receive follow-up care, causing higher health care spending.

April 14th 2021

What We’re Reading: Moderna Flu Vaccine; Black Maternal Health Week; EU Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Contracts

Moderna announces upcoming trial of a vaccine candidate against flu; April 11-17 marks Black Maternal Health Week; the European Commission will not renew COVID-19 vaccine contracts with Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca when they expire next year.

April 10th 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic Provides Glimpse Into Potential Cause of Kawasaki Disease in Children

Given the high prevalence of Kawasaki disease during the pandemic, Japanese investigators determined that droplet or contact transmission of pathogens is likely not a major route causing the development of the disease.

April 7th 2021

What We’re Reading: Oxford Trial Paused; Brain Disorders in COVID-19 Patients; Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

University of Oxford pauses AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine study in children; psychiatric, neurological illness rates high in patients who’ve had COVID-19; new CDC reports shows possible link between multisystem inflammatory syndrome and asymptomatic COVID-19.

April 3rd 2021

Study Finds Depression May Be Linked to Chronic Cough in Women

Physicians should evaluate female patients complaining of chronic cough for psychological conditions when determining course of treatment as the two may be related, investigators concluded.

March 31st 2021

Study Finds That Physicians’ Financial Conflicts of Interest May Influence Black Lung Diagnosis

Researchers found that physicians may have a financial conflict of interest when examining a chest x-ray for black lung disease, suggesting that sweeping changes are needed to avoid biases and improve transparency.

March 27th 2021

Short-term Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide May Increase Risk of Death From Respiratory Disease

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), an air pollutant generated from automobiles, may increase risk of mortality, even if the exposure amount is well below regulatory limits, investigators concluded.

March 22nd 2021

Many Commercially Insured Patients With Asthma Have Uncontrolled Disease

A recent study found that a sizable portion of the commercially insured asthma population lacks disease control, regardless of asthma severity, signaling a needed shift in treatment strategies.

March 17th 2021

Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 May Experience Long-term Physical and Psychological Symptoms

Patients discharged from hospitals after recovering from severe COVID-19 were found to have lasting functional impairment and post-traumatic stress symptoms months after, according to a study.

March 17th 2021

What We’re Reading: COVID-19 Screening Guidance; Eli Lilly Verzenio Results; Long-Haul Symptom Improvement

The FDA issues updated guidance on the emergency use authorization (EUA) process for COVID-19 screening tools; Eli Lilly releases patient-reported outcome results for Verzenio (abemaciclib) in breast cancer; COVID-19 vaccines possibly improve long-haul symptoms among patients.

March 9th 2021

Study Highlights Impact of Sex, Age With More Severe Asthma

Female patients and those under age 50 have a greater risk of severe asthma exacerbations and a lower health-related quality of life, despite having better lung function compared with male and older patients.

March 6th 2021

Encouraging Patients With Asthma to Exercise Easier Said Than Done, Survey Finds

Asthma and immunology specialists responding to a survey about physical activity for patients with asthma were mostly unaware of any guidelines but seemed willing to learn more about how to incorporate them into practice.

March 5th 2021

Nearly 40% of Chronic Cough Cases Remain Unexplained After Extensive Testing, Therapy

Despite receiving specialty referrals and multiple prescriptions medications, nearly 40% of patients with an unexplained chronic cough are not given a proper diagnosis.

February 27th 2021

FDA Grants EUA for J&J's 1-Dose COVID-19 Vaccine

Allison Inserro

The FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for the distribution of the nation's third COVID-19 vaccine, and on Sunday, a CDC panel will meet to decide on recommendations to put it into practice.

February 26th 2021

J&J’s COVID-19 Vaccine Moves Forward After FDA Panel Vote

Allison Inserro Gianna Melillo

An FDA advisory panel Friday unanimously endorsed the third US COVID-19 vaccine, a 1-shot vaccine produced by Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (J&J), and an emergency use authorization by the FDA is expected to follow shortly.

February 24th 2021

Flu Vaccine May Protect Against COVID-19 Infection

A recent study found that patients immunized against influenza were less likely to test positive for or have serious complication related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

February 24th 2021

What We’re Reading: J&J Vaccine Will Go Before FDA; Cancer Survivor Concerns; Wasted COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

An FDA committee will discuss emergency use authorization of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine from Johnson & Johnson (J&J); American Cancer Society issues a report on cancer survivor concerns; Tennessee is found to have wasted thousands of vaccine doses.

February 19th 2021

Further Research Needed to Optimize Benefit of Gabapentin, Baclofen in Chronic Cough

Gabapentin and baclofen can improve chronic refractory cough caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, but efficacy is limited and further study needed.

February 19th 2021

What We’re Reading: Pfizer/BioNTech Update Vaccine Data; Biden Announces $4 Billion Pledge; Medicare Reduces Hospital Payments