Respiratory symptoms, exacerbations and sleep disturbances are more common among participants with asthma and chronic airflow limitation: an epidemiological study in Estonia, Iceland and Sweden.

Background: Chronic airflow limitation (CAL) is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease but is also present in some patients with asthma. We investigated respiratory symptoms, sleep and health status of participants with and without CAL with particular emphasis on concurrent asthma using data from adult populations in Iceland, Estonia and Sweden investigated within the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study.

Methods: All participants underwent spirometry with measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV) and forced vital capacity (FVC) before and after bronchodilation.

Factors associated with lung cancer in COPD patients.

Background: The risk of dying of lung cancer is up to eightfold higher in patients with COPD than in age- and gender-matched controls. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with lung cancer in a large cohort of COPD patients from primary care centers.

Methods: To analyze whether age, gender, socioeconomic factors, comorbidity, and medication affect the risk of lung cancer in COPD, we used a COPD cohort of primary care patients.

Asthma and COPD overlap (ACO) is related to a high burden of sleep disturbance and respiratory symptoms: Results from the RHINE and Swedish GA2LEN surveys.

Background: The term Asthma and COPD Overlap (ACO) describes a condition where asthma and COPD overlap. We aimed to investigate associations between ACO and insomnia and respiratory symptoms, and to investigate the prevalence of ACO and the characteristics of subjects with ACO in two Northern European population studies.

Methods: The study comprised 25 429 subjects aged ≥ 40 years who participated in one of two Northern European general population surveys.

U-CAN: a prospective longitudinal collection of biomaterials and clinical information from adult cancer patients in Sweden.

Background: Progress in cancer biomarker discovery is dependent on access to high-quality biological materials and high-resolution clinical data from the same cases. To overcome current limitations, a systematic prospective longitudinal sampling of multidisciplinary clinical data, blood and tissue from cancer patients was therefore initiated in 2010 by Uppsala and Umeå Universities and involving their corresponding University Hospitals, which are referral centers for one third of the Swedish population.

Material And Methods: Patients with cancer of selected types who are treated at one of the participating hospitals are eligible for inclusion.

Inconsistent results in the analysis of ALK rearrangements in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Identification of targetable EML4-ALK fusion proteins has revolutionized the treatment of a minor subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Although fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is regarded as the gold standard for detection of ALK rearrangements, ALK immunohistochemistry (IHC) is often used as screening tool in clinical practice. In order to unbiasedly analyze the diagnostic impact of such a screening strategy, we compared ALK IHC with ALK FISH in three large representative Swedish NSCLC cohorts incorporating clinical parameters and gene expression data.

One- to four-year follow-up of endobronchial lung volume reduction in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency patients: a case series.

Background: Lung volume reduction surgery can improve lung function and working capacity in severe heterogeneous emphysema. Endobronchial lung volume reduction (ELVR) performed by one-way valves inserted via a flexible bronchoscope can result in a moderate but significant improvement in lung function and exercise tolerance, eliminating the surgical risks.

Objectives: Most studies of this method have excluded patients with α1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency, but small series of cases with positive short-term outcome have been reported.

Combination formoterol and budesonide as maintenance and reliever therapy versus combination inhaler maintenance for chronic asthma in adults and children.

Background: Asthma is characterised by chronic inflammation of the airways and recurrent exacerbations with wheezing, chest tightness and cough. Treatment with inhaled steroids and bronchodilators often results in good control of symptoms, prevention of further morbidity and mortality and improved quality of life. Several steroids and beta2-agonists (long- and short-acting) as well as combinations of these treatments are available in a single inhaler to be used once or twice a day, with a separate inhaler for relief of symptoms when needed (for patients in Step three or higher, according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines).

Intra-abdominal bleeding during treprostinil infusion in a patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Medical treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is increasingly common. Prostacyclins were introduced in the early 90s, and treprostinil is one of the most frequently used drugs of this class today, owing to its long half-life and to the possibility to administer the molecule through several routes. Treprostinil is considered a safe drug and is associated with a significant improvement of exercise capacity, especially in patients with idiopathic PAH (iPAH).