Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews - Volume 14, Issue 1, 2018

Background: Poor adherence to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy is a barrier to effective asthma management and a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Attempts to improve adherence have had little measurable effect due to difficulty accurately measuring adherence and the complex nature of non-adherence. Electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) have been used in research to objectively monitor inhaler actuation; ho Read More

Objectives: The post-sepsis syndrome characterized by the development of new psychiatric and cognitive deficits occurs in approximately 50% of sepsis survivors. This paper reviews the potential role of glucocorticoids, vitamin C and thiamine in limiting the development of the postsepsis syndrome. Data Sources and Study Selection: A PubMed literature review was performed for relevant articles. Only articles in English th Read More

Allergic rhinitis (AR), more commonly known as hay fever, is a chronic type of rhinitis caused by exposure of a hypersensitive individual to a specific allergen. This response triggers the production of IgE antibodies, which in turn, binds to mast cells resulting in their degranulation, and subsequent release of inflammatory mediators (like histamine) within the bloodstream, leading to multiple nasal symptoms such as rhinorrhea, snee Read More

Background: The methyl-xanthine drug theophylline has been used for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for several decades. Phosphodiesterase inhibition leading to smooth muscle relaxation is its main mode of action as a broncho-dilating agent, requiring blood theophylline concentrations close to the toxic range and a consequent problem with side effects. It also has anti-inflamm Read More

Procalcitonin was introduced to management of hospital-acquired pneumonia/ventilatorassociated pneumonia (HAP/VAP) by the American Thoracic Society/Infectious Disease Society of America (ATS/IDSA), in its 2005 HAP guidelines. It was based on the assumption that positive procalcitonin (PCT) results indicative of HAP/VAP of bacterial aetiology will prompt antibiotic therapy, and improve clinical outcomes. Antibiotic stewar Read More

Background: The accurate microscopic diagnosis of lung cancer has become insufficient due to the concept of personalized medicine. Tissue samples are used not only for microscopic diagnosis but also for the assessment of the different targets. Biopsies are performed in 80% of the patients and they are not sufficient for molecular diagnosis in 30 % of the cases. Liquid biopsy (LB) has been reported as a possible surr Read More