Chronic Cough in Individuals With COPD: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: The role and impact of chronic cough in individuals with COPD have not been described in the general population. This study hypothesized that comorbid chronic cough is a marker of disease severity in individuals with COPD.

Methods: This study identified individuals with COPD and chronic cough, and recorded respiratory symptoms, health-care utilizations, lung function, and inflammatory biomarkers in blood in a nested cohort of 43,271 adults from the Copenhagen General Population Study (CGPS).

Role and Impact of Chronic Cough in Individuals with Asthma From the General Population.

Background: Cough is a well-recognized symptom in asthma, but the role and impact of chronic cough in individuals with asthma has not been described in the general population.

Objective: We hypothesized that among individuals with asthma, those with chronic cough versus those without have a more severe disease phenotype.

Methods: We identified individuals with asthma and chronic cough among 14,740 adults from the Copenhagen General Population Study, and investigated respiratory symptoms, health care utilizations, lung function, and biomarkers in blood.

Risk Factors for Chronic Cough Among 14,669 Individuals From the General Population.

Background: Risk factors for chronic cough in the general population have not been described systematically. We identified and ranked chronic cough risk factors at the individual and community level using data from 14,669 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study.

Methods: Severity of chronic cough was assessed using the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ).

Risk of asthma in heterozygous carriers for cystic fibrosis: A meta-analysis.

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have a higher prevalence of asthma than the background population, however, it is unclear whether heterozygous CF carriers are susceptible to asthma. Given this, a meta-analysis is necessary to determine the veracity of the association of CF heterozygosity with asthma.

Methods: We screened the medical literature from 1966 to 2015 and performed a meta-analysis to determine the risk of asthma in CF heterozygotes vs.

Home Non Invasive Ventilation (NIV) treatment for COPD patients with a history of NIV-treated exacerbation; a randomized, controlled, multi-center study.

Background: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the prognosis for patients who have survived an episode of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure due to an exacerbation is poor. Despite being shown to improve survival and quality-of-life in stable patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure, long-term noninvasive ventilation is controversial in unstable patients with frequent exacerbations, complicated by acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. In an uncontrolled group of patients with previous episodes of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure, treated with noninvasive ventilation, we have been able to reduce mortality and the number of repeat respiratory failure and readmissions by continuing the acute noninvasive ventilatory therapy as a long-term therapy.

The effect of constructing versus solving virtual patient cases on transfer of learning: a randomized trial.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of actively constructing virtual patient (VP) cases compared with solving VP cases on knowledge gains, skills transfer and time spent on cases. Forty-five fourth-year medical students were randomized to constructing (VP-construction, n = 23) or solving (VP-solving, n = 22) four cardiopulmonary VP cases. Whereas the VP-solving group solved the cases, the VP-construction group only received the final diagnosis and had to complete the history, physical findings, and lab results.

Effect of tele health care on exacerbations and hospital admissions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objective: Tele monitoring (TM) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has gained much interest, but studies have produced conflicting results. Our aim was to investigate the effect of TM with the option of video consultations on exacerbations and hospital admissions in patients with severe COPD.

Materials And Methods: Patients with severe COPD at high risk of exacerbations were eligible for the study.

Home-based telehealth hospitalization for exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: findings from "the virtual hospital" trial.

Background: Telehealth interventions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have focused primarily on stable outpatients. Telehealth designed to handle the acute exacerbation that normally requires hospitalization could also be of interest. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of home-based telehealth hospitalization with conventional hospitalization for exacerbation in severe COPD.

Hospital-admitted COPD patients treated at home using telemedicine technology in The Virtual Hospital Trial: methods of a randomized effectiveness trial.

Background: Recent reviews suggest that telemedicine solutions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may prevent hospital readmissions and emergency room visits and improve health-related quality of life. However, the studies are few and only involve COPD patients who are in a stable phase or in-patients who are ready for discharge. COPD patients hospitalized with an acute exacerbation may also benefit from telemedicine solutions.

[Diagnosing and treating cough].

Cough is frequently a reason for seeing a doctor. Cough has a wide range of causes and the diagnosis can be difficult to make. Cough is often benign and self-limiting but can also be the first sign of malignancy.

[Varying effect of telemedicine in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--a systematic review].

A systematic review of existing evidence on the efficiency of telemedicine solutions for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was performed. A systematic literature search was conducted in five relevant databases followed by evaluation of methodology and results in selected studies. Nine RCT trials of varying quality were identified.

Rapid fall in lung density following smoking cessation in COPD.

Introduction: Whether smoking-induced lung inflammation subsides after smoking cessation is currently a matter of debate. We used computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation on lung density in patients with COPD.

Material And Methods: Thirty-six patients quit smoking out of 254 current smokers with COPD who were followed with annual CT and lung function tests (LFT) for 2?4 years as part of a randomised placebo-controlled trial of the effect of inhaled budesonide on CT-lung density.

The effect of inhaled corticosteroids on the development of emphysema in smokers assessed by annual computed tomography.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on disease progression in smokers with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as assessed by annual computed tomography (CT) using lung density (LD) measurements. Two hundred and fifty-four current smokers with COPD were randomised to treatment with either an inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), budesonide 400 microg bid, or placebo. COPD was defined as FEV(1) < or = 70% pred, FEV(1)/FVC < or = 60% and no reversibility to beta(2)-agonists and oral corticosteroids.

[Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis].

Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis is a relatively uncommon variation of food-allergy. In conjunction with exercise, many foods - particularly wheat - can induce erythema, generalized urticaria, angioedema, asthma and upper airway obstruction. In more severe cases hypotension and shock occur - in rare cases with fatal outcome.

[Omalizumab (Xolair). Product description].

Xolair, Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting the high-affinity receptor binding site on human immunoglobulin E (IgE). Currently, omalizumab has been approved for the treatment of persistent allergic asthma in patients who are poorly controlled with inhaled corticosteroids. However, other allergic disorders may be amenable to treatment with omalizumab because of its ability to inhibit effector functions of IgE.