Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pulmonology for September 2012. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Distinct Lung Microbiome in Cystic Fibrosis, Healthy Adults
FRIDAY, Sept. 28 (HealthDay News) -- The lungs of healthy people are colonized with a diverse community of microbes that differs substantially from the bacteria found in the lungs and sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to research published online Sept. 26 in Science Translational Medicine.
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Study Examines Prevalence of Local Allergic Rhinitis
TUESDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) is prevalent among patients with rhinitis, affecting about one in four, and is often associated with childhood onset and persistent, severe conjunctivitis and/or asthma, according to a study published in the October issue of Allergy.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea Linked to Perinatal Complications
TUESDAY, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with perinatal complications in obese pregnant women, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Perceived Stress Linked to Asthma, Atopic Disorders
FRIDAY, Sept. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Perceived stress correlates with an increased risk of adult-onset asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as well as asthma medication use, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in Allergy.
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Channel Blockers Reduce Causes of Asthma Symptoms
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Epithelial expression of the calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) TMEM16A is increased in patients with asthma, and its inhibition negatively regulates epithelial mucin secretion and airway smooth muscle contraction, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea Ups Cardio Risk in the Elderly
FRIDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- In the elderly, untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, and adequate treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce this risk, according to research published online Sept. 13 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Lung Transplant for CF Less Likely for Medicaid Recipients
FRIDAY, Sept. 14 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with cystic fibrosis (CF), the likelihood of not being accepted for lung transplantation is higher for those with low socioeconomic status, as indicated by Medicaid status, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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No Superior Method of Adjusting Inhaled Steroids in Asthma
TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with mild-to-moderate asthma controlled with inhaled corticosteroids, adjustment of corticosteroids based on biomarkers (exhaled nitric oxide) or symptoms does not improve the time to treatment failure compared with physician assessment-based adjustment, according to a study published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Genomic Alterations ID'd in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma
TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Genomic characterization of lung squamous cell carcinomas has identified several statistically recurrent mutations, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in Nature.
Molecular Differences ID'd for Small/Non-Small Cell Lung CA
TUESDAY, Sept. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Molecular differences have been identified in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, which may represent potential therapeutic targets, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in Cancer Discovery.
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AAP Updates Flu Vaccine Recommendations for Children
Michael T. Brady, M.D., and colleagues from the AAP's Committee on Infectious Diseases, updated recommendations for routine use of trivalent seasonal influenza vaccine and antiviral medications for the prevention and management of influenza in children for the 2012 to 2013 season.
Teens More Likely to Smoke if They Think Their Friends Smoke
FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Peer influence and social context impact adolescent smoking behaviors, with popular teenagers and adolescents who think their friends smoke more likely to become smokers, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
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Neurocognitive Deficits Seen in Survivors of Pediatric Hodgkin's
FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Adult long-term survivors of childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma are at risk for neurocognitive impairment, according to research published online Sept. 4 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Not All Docs/Nurses Want to Be Asked About Hand Hygiene
FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Although most health care workers (HCWs) appreciate the role of patients in preventing health care-associated infection, a considerable proportion are uncomfortable with patients asking about their hand hygiene, according to a letter published online Sept. 3 in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
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Prevalence of Diagnostic Errors in the ICU Assessed
THURSDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Diagnostic errors in the intensive care unit (ICU) are prevalent, with 28 percent of autopsies reporting at least one misdiagnosis, according to a study published online July 21 in BMJ Quality & Safety.
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Child Glucocorticoid Use Linked to Reduced Adult Height
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Inhaled glucocorticoids taken for childhood asthma are associated with a reduction in adult height, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society, held from Sept. 1 to 5 in Vienna.
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Language Barrier Linked to Poorer Asthma Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- For elderly patients with asthma, limited English proficiency correlates with poorer outcomes, according to a study published in the September issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Addition of Tiotropium Effective in Poorly Controlled Asthma
TUESDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with poorly controlled asthma, the addition of tiotropium to standard therapy is beneficial, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society, held from Sept. 1 to 5 in Vienna.
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Pulmonary Artery Enlargement Predicts Exacerbation in COPD
TUESDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), computed tomographic (CT) measurement of pulmonary artery enlargement, as determined by a ratio of the diameter of the pulmonary artery to the diameter of the aorta (PA:A) of >1, correlates with severe exacerbations, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society, held from Sept. 1 to 5 in Vienna.