Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of azithromycin on systemic markers of inflammation in patients with cystic fibrosis uninfected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
While the mechanism of action by which azithromycin exerts positive effects inpatients with cystic fibrosis remains unclear, evidence suggests that azithromycin may act as an immunomodulatory agent. We examined changes in systemic inflammatory markers in a doubleblind, randomized, controlled trial of oral azithromycin in patients 6-18 years of age with cystic fibrosis who were uninfected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ⋯ In patients not infected with P aeruginosa , oral azithromycin significantly reduced neutrophil counts and serum inflammatory markers within 28 days of initiating treatment.
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Multicenter Study
Comorbidities and short-term prognosis in patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD: the EPOC en Servicios de medicina interna (ESMI) study.
Comorbidities are frequent in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation, but little is known about their relation with short-term mortality and hospital readmissions. Our hypothesis is that the frequency and type of comorbidities impair the prognosis within 12 weeks after discharge. ⋯ Comorbidities are common in patients hospitalized for a COPD exacerbation, and they are related to short-term prognosis.
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Important cellular processes such as inflammation, apoptosis, differentiation, and proliferation confer critical roles in the pathogenesis of human diseases. In the past decade, an emerging process named "autophagy" has generated intense interest in both biomedical research and clinical medicine. ⋯ This review outlines the principal components of the autophagic process and discusses the importance of autophagy and autophagic proteins in pulmonary diseases from COPD, α1-antitrypsin deficiency, pulmonary hypertension, acute lung injury, and cystic fibrosis to respiratory infection and sepsis. Finally, we examine the dual nature of autophagy in the lung, which has both protective and deleterious effects resulting from adaptive and maladaptive responses, and the challenge this duality poses for designing autophagy-based diagnostic and therapeutic targets in lung disease.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Asthma action plans and patient satisfaction among women with asthma.
Asthma action plans (AAPs) are a priority recommendation of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program and have been shown to positively affect health outcomes. Patient satisfaction is an important clinical outcome, yet little is known about its association with receiving an AAP. This study examined the association between having an AAP and behaviors to keep asthma in control and patient satisfaction with care. ⋯ Women without an AAP were less likely to initiate discussions with their physicians,take medications as prescribed, and own a peak fl ow meter to monitor asthma, all considered important self-management behaviors. They were also less satisfied with their care. Not having an AAP may affect interactions between patient and physician and clinical outcomes.