Factors affecting brain structure in smoking-related diseases: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and coronary artery disease.

Background: Changes in brain structure and cognitive decline occur in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). They also occur with smoking and coronary artery disease (CAD), but it is unclear whether a common mechanism is responsible.

Methods: Brain MRI markers of brain structure were tested for association with disease markers in other organs.

Acute asthma exacerbations: tips from the shop floor.

Asthma places a significant burden on acute and non-acute services and is frequently encountered in the emergency department and the medical take. The UK has one of the highest asthma mortality rates in Europe. The National Review of Asthma Deaths has identified multiple factors that have contributed to preventable asthma deaths and solutions to these factors, including a better understanding and implementation of asthma guidelines.

Simple non-mydriatic retinal photography is feasible and demonstrates retinal microvascular dilation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke but it remains unclear how to identify microvascular changes in this population.

Objectives: We hypothesized that simple non-mydriatic retinal photography is feasible and can be used to assess microvascular damage in COPD.

Methods: Novel Vascular Manifestations of COPD was a prospective study comparing smokers with and without COPD, matched for age.

Contributions of cardiovascular risk and smoking to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related changes in brain structure and function.

Background: Brain damage and cardiovascular disease are extra-pulmonary manifestations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cardiovascular risk factors and smoking are contributors to neurodegeneration. This study investigates whether there is a specific, COPD-related deterioration in brain structure and function independent of cardiovascular risk factors and smoking.