Pulmonology

Fine particulate matter increases the risk of developing asthma and exacerbating symptoms. In older adults with a history of smoking and low socioeconomic status, the risk is even higher. Asthma, a major public health concern in older adults, is exacerbated by ambient particulate air pollution. Short- and long-term exposure to air pollutants aggravates asthma symptoms,...

Many people with asthma also suffer from anxiety. A common nasal spray, fluticasone propionate, alleviates asthma and anxiety while improving neural activity and inflammation levels.  Allergic asthma is a common respiratory disease that causes shortness of breath, among other respiratory symptoms. Patients with asthma are more likely to experience anxiety, and these individuals tend to...

In underserved communities, a lack of educational resources and health access prevent pregnant women with asthma from receiving proper care, but interventions are showing promise. The incidence of asthma in pregnant women is increasing, and those in underserved communities are especially at risk. Women tend to struggle more to control their asthma symptoms during pregnancy,...

Oral corticosteroids reduce type 2 inflammatory biomarkers and small-airway obstruction in mepolizumab-treated severe eosinophilic asthma patients. Mepolizumab inhibits IL-5 activity and decreases exacerbation frequency and oral corticosteroid (OCS) maintenance dose in individuals with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). Some patients remain dependent on OCS despite use of anti-IL-5 medication, implying persistent corticosteroid-sensitive pathways. This study, published...

Patients prefer the ELLIPTA inhaler over the BREEZHALER inhaler. Many asthmatic individuals make mistakes when using inhalers that affect the quantity of treatment they receive. Patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease make fewer crucial errors with the ELLIPTA inhaler than conventional dry powder inhalers after reading the patient information leaflet (PIL). This study,...

FENO-based asthma management in prenatal care is not effective for improving perinatal outcomes. Asthma is one of the most common chronic disorders that affect pregnant women. Asthma affects 8–12% of pregnant women globally, with exacerbations requiring medical intervention affecting 20–45% of these women. Pregnancy-related asthma exacerbations are connected with worse perinatal outcomes. This study was...

Medication is the first approved in the United States to contain an inhaled corticosteroid as a reliever rather than as a controller of asthma symptoms. Adults with asthma now have a new rescue medication to turn to after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Airsupra on Wednesday. The drug is the first approved to...

The therapeutic efficacy of a 2-day levofloxacin course is comparable to that of a 7-day treatment course for acute COPD exacerbation. The typical period of administration of antibiotics for treating acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is approximately 5–7 days. Previous studies have not assessed the administration of a 2-day course of levofloxacin...

Milk allergy overdiagnosis is complex due to studies funded by the formula industry, and this Delphi consensus study sought to describe new guidelines that don’t result in overdiagnosis. For a variety of reasons, overdiagnosis of milk allergy in young children is common throughout the world, with prescriptions for specialized formula used to feed infants with...