Smoking cessation in the management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): narrative review and recommendations.

Background: The percentage of smokers who develop COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) peaks at 40-50% in most recent publications.

Summary: Tobacco smoke remains the main cause of COPD, though smoking-related limitation of the flow is rather subjective. For patients who keep on smoking, general practitioners (GPs) and pulmonologists should be able to offer smoking cessation programs as an important part of COPD treatment.

Effects of anti-IL5 biological treatments on blood IgE levels in severe asthmatic patients: A real-life multicentre study (BIONIGE).

Background: Mepolizumab and benralizumab are clinically effective biological treatments for severe eosinophilic asthmatic patients by hampering eosinophilic inflammation. The effects of these compound on the immunoglobulin (Ig)E T2 component are virtually unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the change in total IgE levels at 4 ± 2 months after initiation of the mepolizumab (primary outcome) or benralizumab.

The Medical Concrete Cancer of the Lung: A Unique Case Report.

A 53-year-old 10 pack year smoker and concrete worker for 12 years presented to us with a lung mass proven to be small cell lung cancer on lung biopsy. An industrial terminology of concrete cancer already exists defining the wear and tear in concrete due to various interactions. The interactions of concrete and smoke on lung, predisposed and increased the risk of lung cancer probably as an additive effect which we label as the medical concrete cancer of the lung.

Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Scale and physical activity in COPD and lung cancer: an exploratory pooled data analysis.

Objectives: Patient-relevant measures of functional status are required in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer in clinical practice and research. We explored the relationship between the Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Scale (AKPS) and measures of functional capacity and physical activity in these patient groups.

Methods: Pooled clinical trial data were analysed to explore the relationship between AKPS and average daily steps (ADS), 6 min walk distance (6MWD), and body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea and exercise score (COPD group).

Esophageal ultrasound with ultrasound bronchoscope (EUS-B) guided left adrenal biopsy: Case report with review of literature.

A 45-year old man, chronic smoker with a pancoast tumor due to squamous cell carcinoma has been described. The initial diagnosis of lung carcinoma was based on a scant tissue so the exact cell typing was not possible. The initial treatment consisted of platinum based chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Is Peripheral Oxygen Saturation a Reliable Predictor of Upper Airways Air-Flow Limitation?

Background: Dyspnea secondary to acute upper airways airflow limitation (UAAFL) represents a clinical emergency that can be difficult to recognize without a suitable history; even when etiology is known, parameters to assess the severity are unclear and often improperly used.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the role of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO) as a predictor of severity of upper airway obstruction.

Methods: The authors propose an experimental model of upper airway obstruction by a progressive increase of UAAFL.

Asthma management in a specialist setting: Results of an Italian Respiratory Society survey.

Background: Asthma considerably impairs patients' quality of life and increases healthcare costs. Severity, morbidity, and degree of disease control are the major drivers of its clinical and economic impact. National scientific societies are required to monitor the application of international guidelines and to adopt strategies to improve disease control and better allocate resources.

Non-opioid medications for the relief of chronic breathlessness: current evidence.

To evaluate systematically randomised clinical trials investigating non-opioid medications for the management and treatment of chronic breathlessness. Areas covered: The evidence for the role of benzodiazepines, anxiolytics, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines, cannabinoids, nebulized furosemide and herbal-based treatments were critically reviewed. Search of the Clinical Trials Registry (Clinicaltrial.

Predischarge screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with acute coronary syndrome and smoking history.

Background: Several studies suggested that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is largely underdiagnosed in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) contributing to further affect clinical outcome. Our aim was to validate a screening procedure to identify, in ACS patients, those with negligible risk of undiagnosed COPD.

Methods: From December 2014 to August 2015, 169 ACS patients with smoking history underwent screening procedure.