Breathing for Two: Asthma Management, Treatment, and Safety of Pharmacological Therapy during Pregnancy.

The primary objectives of asthma management during pregnancy are to achieve adequate symptom control, reduce the risk of acute exacerbations, and maintain normal pulmonary function, all of which contribute to ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recommends that pregnant women with asthma continue using asthma medications throughout pregnancy, as the benefits of well-controlled asthma for both the mother and fetus outweigh the potential risks of medication side effects, poorly controlled asthma, and exacerbations. The classification of asthma medications by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into categories A, B, C, D, and X is no longer applied.

Diagnosis and treatment of adult asthma patients in Serbia: a 2022 experts group position statement.

Introduction: Asthma is the most common non-communicable chronic lung condition across all ages. Epidemiological data indicate that many asthma patients in Serbia remain undiagnosed and untreated. The implementation of recent global advances in asthma management is limited due to the lack of a systematic approach, drug availability and regulatory affairs.

Characteristics of COPD Phenotypes in Serbia.

Background: Establishing a regional/national/international registry of patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is essential for both research and healthcare, because it enables collection of comprehensive real-life data from a large number of individuals.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe characteristics of COPD patients from the Serbian patient registry, and to investigate actual differences of those characteristics among the COPD phenotypes.

Methods: The Serbian registry of patients with COPD was established in 2018 at University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Medical Sciences, based on an online platform.

Olfactory Perception and Different Decongestive Response of the Nasal Mucosa During Menstrual Cycle.

Background: Sex hormones are known to have some influence on nasal functions, but their effect on the decongestive response of the nasal mucosa during menstrual cycle is still undetermined.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the nasal physiology, the interconnectedness of olfactory and respiratory nasal function and the decongestive response of the nasal mucosa during menstrual cycle.

Methods: This study included 101 healthy women aged 23.

Diagnosis and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Serbia: an expert group position statement.

In recent years, several national chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guidelines have been issued. In Serbia, the burden of COPD is high and most of the patients are diagnosed at late stages. Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy is poorly implemented in real-life practice, as many patients are still prescribed inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)-containing regimens and slow-release theophylline.

Impact of inhalation therapy on the incidence of carious lesions in patients with asthma and COPD.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of carious lesions, the amount of salivary flow rate and pH value in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), using inhalation therapy. The obtained results were compared with the results of adult healthy subjects, forming a control group.

Material And Methods: The study included 80 participants aging between 18 and 65 years.

Influence of inhaler technique on asthma and COPD control: a multicenter experience.

Background: The successful management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) mostly depends on adherence to inhalation drug therapy, the usage of which is commonly associated with many difficulties in real life. Improvement of patients' adherence to inhalation technique could lead to a better outcome in the treatment of asthma and COPD.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the utility of inhalation technique in clinical and functional control of asthma and COPD during a 3-month follow-up.

Kartagener’s syndrome: A case report.

Introduction: Kartagener’s syndrome is a recessive autosomal disease which is mainly seen to affect ciliary movement. The symptoms of the syndrome are the consequence of the defective motility of the cilia found in the respiratory tract and that results with recurrent lung infections caused by mucus stasis in the bronchi.

Case Report: A 37-year-old married, male father of one child, presented with a history of productive cough, wheezing, dispnea, headache, temporary fever.

Chilaiditi's sign and syndrome: theoretical facts and a case report.

Introduction: Chilaiditi's syndrome is a rare condition manifested by gastrointestinal symptoms, and radiologically verified by transposition of the large intestine loop. This radiological finding with no manifested symptoms is termed the Chilaiditi's sign. The aim of this case report was to remind the clinicians of the possibility of this rare syndrome, whose symptoms and signs may be misinterpreted and inadequately treated, with consequent diverse complications.

Early detection of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care patients.

Introduction: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are often unrecognized and undertreated. The aim of this study was to describe the frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in primary care patients in Serbia, and to examine the agreement between general practitioners and pulmonologists on the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.

Material And Methods: In this multicenter observational study, the general practitioners identified eligible patients from October 2009 to June 2010.

Patient-related independent clinical risk factors for early complications following Nd: YAG laser resection of lung cancer.

Introduction: Neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser resection is one of the most established interventional pulmonology techniques for immediate debulking of malignant central airway obstruction (CAO). The major aim of this study was to investigate the complication rate and identify clinical risk factors for complications in patients with advanced lung cancer.

Methods: In the period from January 2006 to January 2011, data sufficient for analysis were identified in 464 patients.

Combination of narrow band imaging (NBI) and autofluorescence imaging (AFI) videobronchoscopy in endoscopic assessment of lung cancer extension.

Both narrow band imaging (NBI) and autofluorescence imaging (AFI) are new techniques for the assessment of lung cancer. The major aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of these two techniques improve sensitivity and specificity in the assessment of lung cancer extension. The study prospectively evaluated 118 patients with suspected lung cancer.

The frequency of sensitization to inhalatory allergens and concomitant rhinitis in asthmatic patients.

Background/aim: Asthma is one of the most common chronic pulmonary diseases. The number of asthmatics has been continuously increasing all over the world. Depending on its causing agent, asthma is classified as allergic and nonallergic.

Intrathoracic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with poor outcome: a case report.

We report a case of intrathoracic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor in a 65-year old woman revealed after a few-month history of progressive dyspnea, appetite and body mass loss. The chest magnetic resonance (MR) examination revealed the presence of a large tumor occupying the mediastinum and a major portion of the right hemithorax. The diagnostic tumor sample was obtained by parasternal biopsy in local anesthesia.

A postmortem analysis of major causes of early death in patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbation.

Background: Mortality from COPD is increasing worldwide, but detailed causes of death are rarely assessed, particularly in low-income countries.

Methods: In a retrospective study, we reviewed the autopsy reports and medical records of deceased patients admitted to the hospital for severe exacerbation of COPD, from January 2005 to December 2007, at the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Serbia.

Results: Forty-three patients with a hospital admission diagnosis of COPD exacerbation underwent autopsy; all had died within 24 h of admission to the hospital.