Consensus on the treatment of allergic asthma with sublingual house dust mite immunotherapy in the field of pneumology.

: Many patients sensitized to mites remain symptomatic and uncontrolled despite traditional treatment. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has demonstrated to reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, the need for additional drug treatments, and to reduce the number of moderate and severe exacerbations in patients with allergic asthma caused by mites that had not been adequately controlled.: After reviewing the most recent literature, a scientific committee composed by five pneumologists experts in asthma proposed 41 items that addressed the diagnosis of allergic asthma caused by mites, the role of house dust mite (HDM) SLIT tablet in the therapeutic plan and in the control of the disease, and the profile of patients with asthma candidates for this therapy.

Effects of a Rehabilitation Programme Using a Nasal Inspiratory Restriction Device in COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are characterised for presenting dyspnea, which reduces their physical capacity and tolerance to physical exercise. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of adding a Feel-Breathe (FB) device for inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to an 8-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Twenty patients were randomised into three groups: breathing with FB (FBG), oronasal breathing without FB (ONBG) and control group (CG).

A New Nasal Restriction Device Called FeelBreathe Improves Breathing Patterns in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients during Exercise.

A device called FeelBreathe (FB) was designed, developed, and patented for inspiratory muscle training. The main aim was to determine the acute responses on lung ventilation, gas exchange, and heart rate during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with and without the use of FB. In this study, a randomized cross-over trial was performed with 18 men diagnosed with COPD (FEV between 30% and 70% of its predicted value).

Effects of a Rehabilitation Programme with a Nasal Inspiratory Restriction Device on Exercise Capacity and Quality of Life in COPD.

Objective: The objective was to assess the effects of a nasal restriction device for inspiratory muscle training, called Feelbreathe, added to a rehabilitation program (RP) on exercise capacity, quality of life, dyspnea and inspiratory muscle strength in patients with stable COPD.

Methods: Patients were randomized into three groups, one performed a supervised RP using the Feelbreathe device (FB group), the second group developed the same RP with oronasal breathing without FB (ONB group) and the third was the control group (CG). We evaluated inspiratory muscle strength (P), dyspnea (mMRC), quality of life (CAT) and exercise capacity (6MWT) before and after 8-week of RP.

A proposal for the withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids in the clinical practice of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

According to the current clinical practice guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the addition of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) to long-acting β agonist therapy is recommended in patients with moderate-to-severe disease and an increased risk of exacerbations. However, ICS are largely overprescribed in clinical practice, and most patients are unlikely to benefit from long-term ICS therapy.Evidence from recent randomized-controlled trials supports the hypothesis that ICS can be safely and effectively discontinued in patients with stable COPD and in whom ICS therapy may not be indicated, without detrimental effects on lung function, health status, or risk of exacerbations.

The evaluation of a remote support program on quality of life and evolution of disease in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients often present considerable individual medical burden in their symptoms, limitations, and well-being that complicate medical treatment. To improve their overall health status, while reducing the number of exacerbations, a multidisciplinary approach including different elements of care is needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a remote support program on COPD patients at high risk of experiencing worsening of their disease and other health-related outcomes.

Endoscopic sealing of bronchopleural fistulas with submucosal injection of a tissue expander: a novel technique.

The occurrence of a bronchopleural fistula (BPF) continues to represent a challenging management problem, and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A novel and successful technique that uses submucosal injection of a tissue expander for bronchoscopic occlusion of BPFs has been designed. This method may be used either alone or in combination with bronchoscopic instillation of n-butyl-cyanoacrylate glue.

CPAP titration: Different methods for similar clinical results.

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the main treatment for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for CPAP titration. However, alternative methods have been sought to titrate CPAP at less expense in terms of time and resources.

Clinical value of p53, c-erbB-2, CEA and CA125 regarding relapse, metastasis and death in resectable non-small cell lung cancer.

The prognostic value of p53 and c-erbB-2 immunostaining and preoperative serum levels of CEA and CA125 was investigated in a prospective multicentric study including 465 consecutive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with resectable tumors. Four end-points were used: lung cancer death, first relapse (either locoregional or metastasis), loco-regional recurrence and metastasis development. Standard statistical survival methods (Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression) were used.