Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Proteomic Profiling to Identify Blood Biomarkers Predictive of Response to Azithromycin in Children and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis.
Azithromycin reduces pulmonary exacerbation (PEx) risk in cystic fibrosis (CF), but not all individuals benefit. The goal of this study was to discover blood protein biomarkers predictive of clinical response to azithromycin treatment in children and adolescents with CF. ⋯ Early changes in blood protein biomarkers following azithromycin treatment were associated with short-term changes, but not longer term changes, in lung function. Early change in serum calprotectin level was predictive of response to azithromycin in terms of modifying PEx risk.
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Comparative Study
Differences in COPD exacerbation risk between women and men: analysis from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink data.
Historically, COPD has been considered to affect mostly older men with a history of smoking; however, in recent times, its prevalence and mortality rates have steadily increased among women. ⋯ These results highlight the unmet need for appropriate identification and management of women with COPD in clinical practice.
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Point-of-care ultrasonography is a key skill for the critical care clinician and is gaining widespread acceptance by clinicians in all areas of medicine. In addition to mastery of image acquisition, image interpretation, and clinical application, intensivists need to be adept with billing for their scanning activity. This article summarizes the requirements for documentation and image storage that must be met to obtain reimbursement for point-of-care ultrasonography services.
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Comparative Study
The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire Definition of Chronic Bronchitis May Be a Better Predictor of COPD Exacerbations Compared With the Classic Definition.
Chronic bronchitis (CB) increases risk of COPD exacerbations. We have shown that the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) CB definition identifies patients with a similar clinical phenotype as classically defined CB. Whether the SGRQ CB definition is a predictor of future COPD exacerbations is unknown. ⋯ The SGRQ CB definition identified more subjects at risk for future exacerbations than the classic CB definition. SGRQ CB was at least a similar if not better predictor of future exacerbations than classic CB.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Association of Angiotensin Modulators With the Course of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Angiotensin peptides have been implicated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) pathogenesis. Angiotensin modulators are used to treat arterial hypertension, a frequent comorbidity of IPF. This post hoc analysis evaluated associations of antihypertensive treatments with disease-related outcomes in IPF. ⋯ Prospective clinical trials are needed to evaluate whether angiotensin modulators may be beneficial to clinical outcomes in IPF.