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Ann Intensive Care 2019 Jan 18;9(1). Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Critical Care Medicine, Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Huispost CA 80, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Background: High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is a common but unproven management strategy in paediatric critical care. Oscillator settings have been traditionally guided by patient age and/or weight rather than by lung mechanics, thereby potentially negating any beneficial effects. We have adopted an open-lung HFOV strategy based on a corner frequency approach using an initial incremental-decremental mean airway pressure titration manoeuvre, a high frequency (8-15 Hz), and high power to initially target a proximal pressure amplitude (∆P) of 70-90 cm HO, irrespective of age or weight. Read More

J Hum Genet 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, School of Public Health of Xiamen University & Xiamen Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian, 361003, China.

COQ4 mutations have recently been shown to cause a broad spectrum of mitochondrial disorders in association with CoQ10 deficiency. Herein, we report the clinical phenotype, in silico and biochemical analyses, and intervention for a novel c.370 G > A (p. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Reno, NV 89557;

Cilia are cell-surface, microtubule-based organelles that project into extracellular space. Motile cilia are conserved throughout eukaryotes, and their beat induces the flow of fluid, relative to cell surfaces. In mammals, the coordinated beat of motile cilia provides highly specialized functions associated with the movement of luminal contents, as seen with metachronal waves transporting mucus in the respiratory tract. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Jan 17;9(1):e021674. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Integrative Physiology and Critical Illness Group, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Introduction: Oxygen is the most commonly administered drug to mechanically ventilated critically ill adults, yet little is known about the optimum oxygen saturation (SpO) target for these patients; the current standard of care is an SpO of 96% or above. Small pilot studies have demonstrated that permissive hypoxaemia (aiming for a lower SpO than normal by using a lower fractional inspired oxygen concentration (FIO)) can be achieved in the critically ill and appears to be safe. This approach has not been evaluated in a National Health Service setting. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan. Electronic address:

We aimed to identify risk factors of high hospitalization cost after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). TAVI expenditure is generally higher compared with surgical aortic valve replacement. We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from January 2011 to September 2015 to identify those who underwent endovascular TAVI. Read More

Trials 2019 Jan 18;20(1):63. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.

Background: At birth, the majority of neonates born at <30 weeks of gestation require respiratory support to facilitate transition and ensure adequate gas exchange. Although the optimal approach to the initial respiratory management is uncertain, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorses noninvasive respiratory support with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) for premature neonates with respiratory insufficiency. Despite evidence for its use, nCPAP failure, requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, is common. Read More

Crit Care 2019 Jan 18;23(1):18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, T1218 MCN, 1161 21st, Avenue S, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.

Background: Vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) is a membrane protein that is the major component of adherens junctions between endothelial cells. It is crucial for regulating vascular integrity, endothelial permeability, and angiogenesis. During inflammatory processes, VE-cadherin is shed into circulation (sVE-cadherin). Read More

Pharmacy (Basel) 2019 Jan 17;7(1). Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-531 Krakow, Poland.

Paracetamol is a popular and easily available drug which is used world-wide as analgesic, antipyretic agent. Hypersensitivity reactions to this drug involve a wide range of symptoms of various importance for patient management. The EudraVigilance (EV) database serves as a system for monitoring adverse events (AE) due to drug intake. Read More

Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Beatrix Children's Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, division of Paediatric Critical Care Medicine, Groningen, Netherlands.

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Academic Departments of Endocrinology, Chemical Pathology, Beaumont Hospital, RCSI Medical School.

Objective: Hyponatraemia is common in community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and is associated with increased mortality. The mechanism of hyponatraemia in CAP is not completely understood and treatment is therefore ill-defined. We aimed to define the causation of hyponatraemia in CAP. Read More

Med Phys 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles. 200 Medical Plaza Suite B265, Los Angeles, California, 90095.

Purpose: In-house software is commonly employed to implement new imaging and therapy techniques before commercial solutions are available. Risk analysis methods, as detailed in the TG-100 report of the AAPM, provide a framework for quality management of processes but offer little guidance on software design. In this work, we examine a novel model-based 4DCT protocol using the TG-100 approach and describe two additional methods for promoting safety of the associated in-house software. Read More

J Anesth 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.

Purpose: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to death due to respiratory failure. This report describes the perioperative characteristics of ALS patients who underwent procedures with anesthesia at our institution.

Methods: We reviewed perioperative records of ALS patients who underwent procedures with anesthesia from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2015. Read More

Mol Clin Oncol 2019 Jan 13;10(1):137-143. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo 113-867, Japan.

There are a number of suggested predictive factors of nivolumab for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, there is not enough evidence to determine a single factor that can predict the efficacy of nivolumab. As the progress of biomarkers for cancer treatment is improving, it has been speculated that certain clinical factors serve an important role when predicting the outcome of chemotherapy. A total of 67 patients treated with nivolumab for NSCLC from 2016-2017 were prospectively investigated. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Respiratory Department, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Objectives: To review the effects and safety of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for bronchiolitis.

Methods: Six electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, CQ VIP Database and Wanfang Data were searched from their inception to 1 June 2018. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) which investigated the effects of HFNC versus other forms of oxygen therapies for bronchiolitis were included. Read More

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2018 Nov 28. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Objective: Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are associated with perioperative complications in noncardiac surgery; however, little is known about their effect on cardiac surgery. This study assessed the effect of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) on the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after cardiac surgery and operating conditions.

Design: Prospective, randomized clinical trial with blinded outcomes assessment. Read More

Eur J Intern Med 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Division of Pulmonary Medicine (NS), St. Agnes Hosipital, Baltimore, Maryland 21229, USA. Electronic address:

Transplant Proc 2018 Jun 28. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare condition, characterized by predominantly upper-lobe pleural and subjacent parenchymal fibrosis, the latter being intra-alveolar with accompanying elastosis of the alveolar walls that leads a clinical progression to respiratory failure. This condition may not be as rare as it seems to be, because nowadays the increasing awareness among specialists is raising the number of new diagnoses. Limited data are available about the prognosis, both for secondary and idiopathic forms. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Nov 29. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. Electronic address:

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to provide support for patients with cardiopulmonary failure. Best available medical management often fails in these patients and referring hospitals have no further recourse for escalating care apart from transfer to a tertiary facility. In severely unstable patients, the only option might be to use ECMO to facilitate safe transport. Read More

PLoS One 2019 17;14(1):e0210784. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Hospiz im Park, Hospital for Palliative Care, Arlesheim, Switzerland.

Research Aims: The motivations that lead to wishes to die (WTD) in palliative care patients with cancer are relatively well studied. But little is known about WTD in other pathologies and the relation between subjective understandings of dying trajectories and a WTD. We investigated the WTD of palliative patients in four different dying trajectories: neurological diseases, organ failure, frailty due to age, and cancer. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(3):e14192

Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital.

Rationale: Double-lumen hemodialysis catheters are commonly used as temporary hemodialysis routes. Complications include infection, thrombosis, cardiac arrhythmia, entrapped guide wire, and malposition. We report a rare complication of delayed hemodialysis catheter malposition that caused retroperitoneal hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock during hemodialysis. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(3):e14071

Department of Orthopedics, Artificial Joints Engineering and Technology Research Center of Jiangxi Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, China.

Rationale: Periprosthetic osteolysis secondary to septic loosening and aseptic loosening is a well-described phenomenon associated with artificial hip arthroplasty. Periprosthetic bone loss as a result of metastatic infiltration is an uncommon cause of early, progressive loosening of joint replacement prosthesis and is rarely described in the literature.

Patient Concerns: The present study describes a 70-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma 5 years after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and developed a metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma in the periprosthetic neosynovial tissue 1 year after formal chemotherapy. Read More

Pol Przegl Chir 2018 Sep;90(6):1-5

Wroclaw Medical University Faculty of Health Science Division of Surgical Specialties.

Introduction: The patients with the aortic abdominal aneurysm of 55mm in diameter are qualified for surgery. There is open repair (OR) by means of the vascular prosthesis implantation or the less invasive endovascular method by means of the stent graft implantation through femoral arteries incision (EndovascularAorticRepair - EVAR). The aim of the study was the evaluation of the postoperative course in patients operated due to the aortic abdominal aneurysm and the evaluation of the impact of the surgical method on the short-time results. Read More

Can Vet J 2019 Jan;60(1):89-91

Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.

A 7-week-old male crossbred puppy was presented in acute respiratory distress. A diagnosis of left- and right-sided heart failure was confirmed on postmortem examination. The heart had a severely hypoplastic right ventricle. Read More

Clin Med (Lond) 2019 Jan;19(1):94-95

University College London, London, UK.

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2019 Jan 16;19(1):20. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Cardio-Thoracic-Vascular Department, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Università di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) often coexist. Moreover, elderly patients suffering from HF have a higher incidence of COPD, which further complicates their clinical condition. Indacaterol/glycopirronium has shown benefits in the treatment of COPD, with few cardiologic adverse effects. Read More

BMC Geriatr 2019 Jan 16;19(1):14. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Diabetes Center and Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, No. 109 West Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou, China.

Background: Geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) is a simple and useful nutritional marker for predictor of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing a variety of conditions. This study explored the relationship between GNRI and adverse outcomes of Pyogenic Liver Abscess (PLA) patients and assessed GNRI predictive value.

Methods: This was one retrospective study involving 240 PLA patients. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Jan 15;20(2). Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Rare Metabolic Diseases Unit, Pediatric Department, Fondazione MBBM, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, ASST di Monza, 20900 Monza, Italy.

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) include a wide range of different disorders with variable degrees of respiratory system involvement. The purpose of this narrative review is to treat the different types of respiratory manifestations in LSD, with particular attention being paid to the main molecular pathways known so far to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. A literature search was conducted using the Medline/PubMed and EMBASE databases to identify studies, from 1968 through to November 2018, that investigated the respiratory manifestations and molecular pathways affected in LSD. Read More

J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Context: Recent studies based on home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) reported the potential association of sleep disordered breathing (SDB), such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with diabetic retinopathy (DR). A few studies showed that the apnea hypopnea index during rapid eye movement sleep (REM-AHI) is associated with glycated hemoglobin and hypertension, two known risk factors for DR. However, there are no studies that have evaluated the association of REM-AHI with DR because previous studies were based on HSAT. Read More

Cureus 2018 Oct 29;10(10):e3512. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Internal Medicine, Staten Island University Hospital, Northwell Health, Staten Island, USA.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a significant cause of pulmonary infection worldwide and can be clinically challenging. Mycobacterium xenopi (M. xenopi) has low pathogenicity and usually requires either host immune impairment, as in the case of a human immunodeficiency virus infection, or a structural lung disease to cause a clinical disease. Read More

Respir Res 2019 Jan 15;20(1):10. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Erasme University Hospital, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), route de Lennik 808, 1070, Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by a progressive and irreversible respiratory failure. Non-invasive markers of disease activity are essential for prognosis and evaluation of early response to anti-fibrotic treatments.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine whether fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]-FDG) lung uptake is reduced after initiation of pirfenidone or nintedanib and to assess its possible use as a prognostic factor. Read More

Med Sci (Basel) 2019 Jan 14;7(1). Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Internal Medicine Department, Respiratory unit and Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center, 20122 Milan, Italy.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. CAP mortality is driven by the development of sepsis and acute respiratory failure (ARF). We performed a systematic review of the available English literature published in the period 1 January 1997 to 31 August 2017 and focused on ARF in CAP. Read More

Ir J Med Sci 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Respiratory Division, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

The negative long-term health consequences of obesity are well known to both the medical profession and general public. Despite this, the number of obese and overweight individuals worldwide continues to steadily rise. Although obesity has long been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality, the classification of a cardiomyopathy of obesity is a more recent development. Read More

Pediatr Int 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Background: Delivery of noninvasive ventilation commonly occurs in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). With the advent of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC), patients with respiratory distress may be rescued on the ward without a PICU admission. We evaluated our ward HFNC algorithm to determine its safety profile and independent predictors for non-responders, defined as requiring a subsequent PICU admission. Read More

Lung Cancer Manag 2017 Dec 1;6(3):87-91. Epub 2017 Dec 1.

Department of Pulmonology, Respiratory Oncology Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, UZ Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.

Thromboembolic events (TEEs) are frequent in cancer patients, especially venous thrombosis. Arterial thrombosis is less frequent. Chemotherapy increases the risk of these TEEs. Read More

Eur J Clin Nutr 2019 Jan 14. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Physiotherapy, Laboratory of Research in Respiratory Physiotherapy (LFIP), State University of Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.

Background/objectives: Abnormal body composition is an independent determinant of COPD outcomes. To date, it is already known that patient stratification into body composition phenotypes are associated with important outcomes, such as exercise capacity and inflammation, but there are no data comparing physical activity and muscle strength among these phenotypes. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare clinical characteristics and physical function in patients with COPD stratified into body composition phenotypes. Read More

Mol Cell Biol 2019 Jan 14. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Institute of Cell Biochemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

MAPK6/ERK3 is an atypical member of the MAPKs. An essential role has been suggested by the perinatal lethal phenotype of ERK3 knockout mice carrying a lacZ insertion in exon 2 due to pulmonary disfunction and by defects in function, activation and positive selection of T cells. To study the role of ERK3 , we generated mice carrying a conditional allele with exon3 flanked by LoxP sites. Read More

CMAJ 2019 Jan;191(2):E53

Intensivist, Dongyang People's Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, China.

Lancet Respir Med 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, 622 West 168th Street, New York 10032, NY, USA; Center for Acute Respiratory Failure, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:

Neuromuscul Disord 2018 Dec 20. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

We describe the long-term follow-up of a patient with severe nemaline myopathy due to a novel homozygous mutation in the Leiomodin 3 (LMOD3) gene and describe the histopathological characteristics of the disease. The patient presented at birth with hydrops fetalis, multiple joint contractures, severe generalized muscle weakness, no movement, and respiratory insufficiency. At eight years of age, she had bilateral ophthalmoplegia, visual impairment, multiple contractures, and scoliosis, and is dependent on a home mechanical ventilator and gastrostomy. Read More

Lung Cancer 2019 Jan 2;127:103-111. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology Badalona, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain. Electronic address:

Objectives: In the LUX-Lung clinical trials of afatinib in EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC, tolerability-guided dose adjustment reduced the incidence and severity of adverse events while maintaining efficacy. The RealGiDo study evaluated the impact of afatinib dose adjustment in a real-world setting.

Materials And Methods: This non-interventional, observational study used medical records of EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC patients treated with first-line afatinib. Read More

BMC Res Notes 2019 Jan 14;12(1):19. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department for Assessment and Evaluation, Institute for Medical Education, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.

Objective: Pediatric emergencies challenge professional teams by demanding substantial cognitive effort, skills and effective teamwork. Educational designs for team trainings must be aligned to the needs of participants in order to increase effectiveness. To assess these needs, a survey among physicians and nurses of a tertiary pediatric center in Germany was conducted, focusing on previous experience, previous training in emergency care, and individual training needs. Read More

Minerva Med 2018 Dec;109(6 Suppl 1):11-19

Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di Cura Privata del Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), respiratory muscle weakness leads to respiratory failure and death. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) appears to reduce lung function decline, thus improving survival and quality-of-life of patients affected by the disease. Unfortunately, clinical features and timing to start NIPPV are not well defined. Read More

Minerva Med 2018 Dec;109(6 Suppl 1):1-5

Unit of Respiratory Diseases and Allergies, Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), San Martino University Hospital, Genoa, Italy.

Introduction: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been used successfully for the management of acute respiratory failure (ARF) more often in the last two decades compared to prior decades. There are particular groups of patients that are more likely to benefit from NIV. One of these groups is patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). Read More

J Neurosurg 2019 Jan 11:1-7. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Departments of1Neurosurgery and.

OBJECTIVETraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) occurs frequently after TBI and independently worsens outcome. The present study aimed to identify potential admission characteristics associated with post-TBI MODS. Read More

J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Division of Clinical and Molecular Allergology, Research Center Borstel, Airway Research, Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany.

Background: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) coil treatment is an increasingly used treatment modality for selected severe emphysema patients in recent years. Emphysema causes dynamic hyperinflation, loss of elastic recoil, air trapping, and decreased exercise capacity in advanced stages. This process progresses over time, leading to hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure. Read More

Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2019 Jan 12. Epub 2019 Jan 12.

Intensive Care Unit, Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia.

Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death worldwide. While inflammation is critically important in host response to microbial invasion, exaggerated inflammation can damage the lungs, contributing to respiratory failure and mortality. Corticosteroids are effective in reducing inflammation and can also cause immune suppression. Read More

Curr Opin Pulm Med 2019 Jan 10. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is a challenging disease which carries a heavy healthcare burden and significant mortality and morbidity. This review highlights the challenges in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis and discusses the management strategies and research opportunities in this field.

Recent Findings: The challenges in the management of bronchiectasis appear to be multifactorial, arising from both etiological heterogeneity and disease-specific management. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Optum, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN.

Background: While efficacy and safety of fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (FF/VI) and budesonide/formoterol (BUD/F) have been demonstrated in clinical studies, real-world comparisons of utilization has not been performed.

Objective: Compare similar asthma patients initiating FF/VI or BUD/F on measures of adherence, persistence, and the asthma medication ratio (AMR).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of commercial and Medicare Advantage with Part D enrollees initiating FF/VI or BUD/F for asthma. Read More

Neuromuscul Disord 2018 Dec 18. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Neurology Division of Critical Care Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Life-threatening neuromuscular disorders affect a small, but growing group of patients in the intensive care unit who present special management problems, as well as great therapeutic opportunities. In inflammatory conditions, a cure is often possible, and for chronic, genetic or degenerative conditions, achieving the previous level of function is the target. Neuromuscular experts and intensivists need to cooperate closely to achieve the best possible outcomes. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Jan 2. Epub 2019 Jan 2.

University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Electronic address:

Background: Peaks and troughs in cardiovascular events correlated with seasonal change is well established from an epidemiological perspective but not a clinical one.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the recruitment, baseline characteristics and outcomes during minimum 12-month exposure to all four seasons in 1598 disease-management trial patients hospitalised with chronic heart disease. Seasonality was prospectively defined as ≥4 hospitalisations (all-cause) AND >45% of related bed-days occurring in any one season during median 988 (IQR 653, 1394) days follow-up. Read More