Chest
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Multicenter Study
Association between insomnia and asthma burden in the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP) III.
Sleep difficulties are commonly reported by patients with asthma; however, the prevalence of insomnia and its association with disease burden and well-being is unknown. We aimed to determine the prevalence of insomnia, defined as combined sleep-specific complaints with associated daytime symptoms, among a large sample of adults with asthma, and to compare well-being, asthma control, and asthma-related health care utilization in individuals with asthma and insomnia and those without insomnia. ⋯ Insomnia is highly prevalent in asthma and is associated with adverse outcomes. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the interaction between insomnia and asthma control.
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The critically ill, asplenic patient presents a variety of management challenges. Historically, the focus of the care of the asplenic population has been the prevention and management of infection, including the often-fatal overwhelming postsplenectomy infection with encapsulated organisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. ⋯ Because of the relatively small size of this population and the relative infrequency with which critical illness occurs in it, there are few controlled trials that can serve as a basis for therapeutic maneuvers; thus, optimal management requires an astute clinician with an understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the reported consequences of splenectomy. The purpose of this review is to explore the pathophysiology of the asplenic state-impairment in adaptive immunity, loss of blood filtration, endothelial dysfunction, and dysregulated coagulation-and how it leads to infection, thrombosis, and pulmonary hypertension as well as to discuss the implications of these conditions on the management of the critically ill, splenectomized patient.
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Practice Guideline
Chronic Cough due to Gastroesophageal Reflux in Adults: CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report.
We updated the 2006 ACCP clinical practice guidelines for management of reflux-cough syndrome. ⋯ The panelists (1) endorsed the use of a diagnostic/therapeutic algorithm addressing causes of common cough, including symptomatic reflux; (2) advised that although lifestyle modifications and weight reduction may be beneficial in suspected reflux-cough syndrome, PPIs demonstrated no benefit when used in isolation; and (3) suggested that physiological testing be reserved for refractory patients being considered for antireflux surgery or for those in whom there is strong clinical suspicion warranting diagnostic testing.
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A 48-year-old African-American male subject presented with progressive fatigue, jaundice, and new-onset leukopenia 12 weeks after undergoing bilateral lung transplantation for advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis. His transplant surgery and immediate posttransplantation course were uneventful. Induction immunosuppression included methylprednisolone 500 mg intraoperatively and basiliximab (anti-IL-2 monoclonal antibody) on days 0 and 4 after transplantation. ⋯ Infectious disease prophylaxis consisted of valganciclovir, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and voriconazole. Results of the surveillance bronchoscopy conducted after the lung transplant were negative for acute cellular rejection or infection at 4 and 12 weeks' posttransplantation. Findings on spirometry had continuously improved since transplantation.