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In preschool children with recurrent wheezing, the NIH National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel recommends the use of inhaled corticosteroids, although doubts have been raised on the possible influence of this daily treatment on growth. In the quest for alternative therapeutic [...]
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A few recent studies have shown that during the night, in a horizontal position, there is a mobilization of fluid from the lower limbs towards the central circulation, resulting in a possible increase in neck circumference and in airway collapsibility. This has arisen the question on whether this [...]
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There is no doubt that inhaled corticosteroids play a major role in the management of COPD by reducing the risk of exacerbations, but they also known to have a certain degree of systemic absorption. A recent meta-analysis investigated the influence of systemic absorption on bone density. The study [...]
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Some studies have shown an increased risk for pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being treated with inhaled corticosteroids, rising the question if this risk also applies to asthma patients. To answer this question, researchers analyzed data from trials that [...]
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Lung function in patients with asthma is measured using spirometry, and it is known that placebo can influence the clinical result, sometimes even remarkably. Addressing this point, a study was carried out on 46 patients with asthma: each patient was treated, in different days, with either an [...]
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Apart from local infection, the onset of pneumonia induces systemic inflammation which in turn can trigger life-threatening circumstances for the patient. Hence, it would only seem logical to use anti-inflammatory drugs to prevent systemic damage. This study, which was carried out in the [...]
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The use of many β blockers is contraindicated in obstructive bronchopathy, one consequence being that they are rarely used also in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to avoid the risk of inducing or worsening bronchospasm. The retrospective study discussed here assessed the effects of β [...]
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Omalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to free IgE, and is currently approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of adults and adolescents aged over 12 years with moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma that is inadequately controlled by inhaled corticosteroids [...]
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In spite of the fact that the measurement of pulmonary pressure is not easily performable, Doppler echocardiography is often used to make the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. In order to verify its reliability, 160 patients with presumed pulmonary hypertension, undergoing Doppler [...]
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Guidelines from the National Institute of Health recommend the use of inhaled corticosteroids as a first-line treatment for asthma, adding a long-action beta-agonist (LABA) only in case of non-controlled symptoms. Previous studies, randomized and double-blinded, have shown that cortisones and LABAs [...]