Acute exacerbations of COPD versus IPF in patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

Rationale: Patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) may develop acute exacerbations of IPF (AE-IPF) or COPD (AE-COPD). The incidence and the characteristics of exacerbations in patients with CPFE (e.g.

Impact of a household environmental intervention delivered by lay health workers on asthma symptom control in urban, disadvantaged children with asthma.

Objectives: We examined whether a home-based educational and environmental intervention delivered by lay health educators would improve asthma symptom control in inner-city children with asthma.

Methods: Children 2 to 16 years of age with diagnosed asthma and at least 1 asthma-related hospitalization or 2 emergency visits in the prior year were randomly assigned into 2 groups (immediate and delayed intervention) in a crossover study. Each group participated in the active phase (intervention) and the inactive phase.