Life-space mobility is associated with frequency of hospitalization in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Introduction And Objectives:   The Life-Space Assessment can be used to measure a patient's level of mobility. This study evaluated the relationship between life-space mobility and frequency of hospitalization in the previous year and other clinical markers of health among adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods:   The Life-Space Assessment was administered to ambulatory adults with CF in clinic or by telephone.

Treatment and prevention of vitamin D insufficiency in cystic fibrosis patients: comparative efficacy of ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol, and UV light.

Background: The optimal treatment for correcting or preventing vitamin D insufficiency in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has not been established.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relative efficacy of three modes of vitamin D therapy: cholecalciferol (D3), ergocalciferol (D2), and UV light in raising or maintaining 25(OH)D levels above 30 ng/ml.

Design: Thirty adult CF subjects with vitamin D insufficiency were randomized into one of three treatment arms: D3, D2, or UV light.

Genetic and non-genetic determinants of outcomes in cystic fibrosis.

The treatment of cystic fibrosis has improved significantly over the past three decades. Median survival has improved by decades and is now estimated to be 37 years. Many factors contribute to improvements in disease severity and outcome.

Vitamin D and bone health in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have chronic pancreatic insufficiency leading to malabsorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin D which can contribute to poor skeletal health and respiratory function.

Objective: This study evaluated the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and its impact on bone and respiratory health in adults with CF.

Design And Measurements: This was a retrospective study in which data were collected from medical records over a 2-year period.

Treatment of vitamin D deficiency with UV light in patients with malabsorption syndromes: a case series.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) and short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients are unable to absorb vitamin D from the diet and thus are frequently found to be severely vitamin D deficient. We evaluated whether a commercial portable ultraviolet (UV) indoor tanning lamp that has a spectral output that mimics natural sunlight could raise circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in subjects with CF and SBS.

Methods: In initial pilot studies, two SBS subjects came to the outpatient clinic twice weekly for 8 weeks for UV light sessions of 6 min each.

Well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung: cytomorphologic features on fine-needle aspiration with emphasis on use of beta-catenin as a useful diagnostic marker.

Well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma (WDFA), also known as low grade adenocarcinoma of the fetal lung type, is a rare pulmonary neoplasm now considered to be a variant of lung adenocarcinoma rather than a type of pulmonary blastoma. Upregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway with subsequent aberrant nuclear/cytoplasmic beta-catenin expression has been recently described in these tumors providing a possible pathogenetic role for this gene in WDFA. We describe the cytomorphologic findings of a case of WDFA in a 36-yr-old female patient and emphasize the diagnostic utility of aberrant nuclear/cytoplasmic expression of beta-catenin as an adjunct to the correct preoperative recognition of this tumor on aspiration cytology.

Relationship of physician estimate of underlying asthma severity to asthma outcomes.

Background: Implementation of national guidelines for the treatment of asthma requires physician estimates of patients' underlying asthma severity. Asthma severity is commonly assigned based on respiratory symptoms.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of guideline-based physician assessments to asthma control.

Bronchoscope reprocessing and infection prevention and control: bronchoscopy-specific guidelines are needed.

Background: It has been recommended that bronchoscopists familiarize themselves with national recommendations for bronchoscope reprocessing practices, but the extent of guideline awareness is unclear.

Methods: We distributed a survey to practicing bronchoscopists at two meetings. Questions addressed infection control issues related to bronchoscopy and specific reprocessing recommendations.

Lower physician estimate of underlying asthma severity leads to undertreatment.

Background: Asthma undertreatment has been linked to poor outcomes. National guidelines recommend that physicians classify asthma severity based on pretreatment symptoms and titrate care as the disease changes in the individual patient. This study evaluated the extent to which the physician estimate of underlying severity affects a patient's asthma care.

An outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections associated with flexible bronchoscopes.

Background: Endoscopes, including bronchoscopes, are the medical devices most frequently associated with outbreaks of nosocomial infections. We investigated an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections after bronchoscopic procedures.

Methods: Microbiologic results were reviewed to determine the rates of recovery of P.

Gaps in asthma care of the oldest adults.

Objectives: To assess the adequacy of asthma care reported by a group of older adults who were subsequently hospitalized for their asthma.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Fifteen managed care organizations in the United States.