Endobronchial biopsy: a guide for asthma therapy selection in the era of bronchial thermoplasty.

Objective: Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) reduces airway smooth muscle in patients with severe asthma. We developed a novel standardized histologic grading system assessing inflammation and structural remodeling on endobronchial biopsy (EBBx) in severe persistent asthma and evaluated airway structure before and after BT. In addition, we correlated invasive and non-invasive inflammatory markers in severe persistent asthma.

Teaching the use of respiratory inhalers to hospitalized patients with asthma or COPD: a randomized trial.

Background: Hospitalized patients frequently misuse their respiratory inhalers, yet it is unclear what the most effective hospital-based educational intervention is for this population.

Objective: To compare two strategies for teaching inhaler use to hospitalized patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design: A Phase-II randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled hospitalized adults with physician diagnosed asthma or COPD.

The validity of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes for identifying patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations.

Background: Acute exacerbations of COPD (AE-COPD) are a leading cause of hospitalizations in the United States. To estimate the burden of disease (eg, prevalence and cost), identify opportunities to improve care quality (eg, performance measures), and conduct observational comparative effectiveness research studies, various algorithms based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes have been used to identify patients with COPD. However, the validity of these algorithms remains unclear.

Misuse of respiratory inhalers in hospitalized patients with asthma or COPD.

Background: Patients are asked to assume greater responsibility for care, including use of medications, during transitions from hospital to home. Unfortunately, medications dispensed via respiratory inhalers to patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be difficult to use.

Objectives: To examine rates of inhaler misuse and to determine if patients with asthma or COPD differed in their ability to learn how to use inhalers correctly.

Hospitalizations for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: how you count matters.

ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes are increasingly used to estimate the burden of disease, as well as to evaluate the quality of care and outcomes of various conditions. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AE-COPD) are common and associated with substantial health and financial burden in the U.S.

Impact of burkholderia infection on lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis.

Rationale: Lung transplantation offers the only survival option for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with end-stage pulmonary disease. Infection with Burkholderia species is typically considered a contraindication to transplantation in CF. However, the risks posed by different Burkholderia species on transplantation outcomes are poorly defined.