Severe and fatal measles-associated pneumonia during an outbreak in Italy: data from the heart of the epidemic.

Introduction: Measles is a contagious disease that re-emerged among young adults as a consequence of suboptimal vaccination coverage. Since in the pre-vaccination era measles affected mainly children, little is known about measles-associated respiratory complications in adults. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and radiological findings in adults affected by measles who developed respiratory complications during a recent measles outbreak.

Persisting long term benefits of smoking abstinence and reduction in asthmatic smokers who have switched to electronic cigarettes.

Background: Improvements in asthma outcomes have been recently reported in asthmatic smokers who have substantially reduced their tobacco consumption by switching to ECs. Confirmation of these preliminary findings is necessary to reassure patients, healthcare professionals and policy makers. Here, we present findings from long term prospective assessment of objective and subjective asthma outcomes as well as safety and tolerability in this group of EC users with asthma.