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T helper 17 (Th17) cytokines are now widely believed to be critical for the regulation of various chronic immune diseases. Investigations have revealed a significant role for IL-17 cytokines in regulating inflammation and modulating lung and airway structural cells in asthma and COPD. In this review, our current understanding of the role of Th17-associated cytokines in airway diseases is summarized. Therapeutic approaches targeting IL-17 during asthma and COPD are also discussed.
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Omalizumab has been shown to decrease the risk of hospitalization or ED visits in patients with uncontrolled severe allergic asthma compared with placebo. This longitudinal study observed the conditions under which omalizumab is prescribed in real-life settings and assessed whether its use as an add-on therapy alongside standard treatments decreases the risk of severe asthmatic exacerbations. ⋯ Add-on omalizumab is associated with a significantly decreased risk of hospitalization or ED visits in patients with uncontrolled severe asthma in real-life practice.
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Ultrasound guidance enables visualization of the needle insertion site for thoracentesis and paracentesis. The improved accuracy of needle placement using ultrasound may reduce risk of complications and their costs associated with these procedures. Using claims data from the Premier Perspective hospital database from January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2008, we conducted an observational cohort study examining the effect of ultrasound guidance on risk of pneumothorax among patients undergoing thoracentesis and on risk of bleeding complications after paracentesis. ⋯ Bleeding complications increased cost by $19,066 (P < .0001) and LOS by 4.3 days (P < .0001). The data indicate that ultrasound guidance is associated with decreased risk of pneumothorax with thoracentesis and of bleeding complications with paracentesis. These complications resulted in measurable increases in hospitalization costs and LOS.
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Many older patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) do not receive curative therapy. New surgical techniques and radiation therapy modalities, such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), potentially allow more patients to receive treatment. The adoption of these techniques and their impact on access to cancer care among Medicare beneficiaries with stage I NSCLC are unknown. ⋯ From 1998 to 2007, the overall proportion of older patients with stage I NSCLC receiving curative local therapy decreased, despite the dissemination of newer, less-invasive forms of surgery and radiation.
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Over the past 2 decades, significant progress has been made in improving the health-care system and people's health conditions in China. Following rapid economic growth and social development, China's health-care system is facing new challenges, such as increased health-care demands and expenditure, inefficient use of health-care resources, unsatisfying implementation of disease management guidelines, and inadequate health-care insurance. ⋯ Although these measures have shown promising results, further efforts are needed to achieve the ultimate goal of providing affordable and high-quality care for both urban and rural residents in China. This article not only covers the improvement, challenges, and reform of health care in general in China, but also highlights the status of respiratory medicine-related issues.