Work Group Report: Perspectives in Diagnosis and Management of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Athletes.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, otherwise known as exercise-induced bronchoconstriction with asthma or without asthma, is an acute airway narrowing that occurs as a result of exercise and can occur in patients with asthma. A panel of members from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Sports, Exercise, & Fitness Committee reviewed the diagnosis and management of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in athletes of all skill levels including recreational athletes, high school and college athletes, and professional athletes. A special emphasis was placed on the recommendations and regulations set forth by professional athletic organizations after a detailed review of their collective bargaining agreements, substance abuse policies, antidoping program manuals, and the World Anti-Doping Agency antidoping code.

Impact of changes in anti-doping regulations (WADA Guidelines) on asthma care in athletes.

Objective: To investigate how changes to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines on asthma medication requests have impacted the management of asthmatic athletes in Portugal.

Design: Retrospective analysis of asthma medication requests submitted in 2008 to 2010.

Setting: Portuguese Anti-Doping Authority database.

[Monitoring antibiotic consumption in the surgery and orthopaedics].

Monitoring antibiotic consumption is a valuable tool which has been increasingly used in the last years due to the current concern with the emergence of resistant microbial strains. The present study aimed at monitoring antibiotic consumption, evaluating the economic impact of hospital antibiotic prescription and assessing the relationship between the prescribed antibiotics and the indications for either prophylactic or therapeutic use. This was a longitudinal pilot-study for which data were collected in six privately managed public hospital units during the month of May 2004, with a resulting sample of 1,122 admitted patients.