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Does radiographic emphysema correlate with low bone mineral density?

Several large epidemiologic studies have shown an association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and osteoporosis. Recent studies have further implied an emphysema-specific association with low bone mineral density independent of obstruction severity.

RECENT FINDINGS: This review will outline the studies demonstrating an independent association between radiographic emphysema and decreased bone mineral density and will discuss potential disease mechanisms, including systemic inflammation and immune-mediated factors, linking these disease processes.

SUMMARY: Radiographic emphysema should be considered an independent risk factor in studies examining the mechanisms underlying COPD-related bone loss. Future research focused on the relationship between emphysema and low bone mineral density could provide mechanistic insight and result in the development of targeted therapies designed to halt progression of both disease processes.

Bronchoalveolar lavage cell pattern from healthy human lung.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is widely accepted as a key diagnostic procedure in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). We performed a study to obtain reference intervals of differential cell patterns in BAL fluid with special attention to the origin of lavage fluid, e.g. bronchial/alveolar, to atopy and smoking status and to age of the healthy people.

We performed bronchoalveolar lavage in 55 healthy subjects with known atopy status (age: 18-64 years, non-smokers/smokers: 34/21) and determined differential cell counts and lymphocyte subsets in BAL fluid and blood. Moreover, in a subgroup of non-smoking healthy individuals we measured the expression of the regulatory T cell marker forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3) on blood and BAL fluid lymphocytes in addition to a comprehensive set of activation markers.

Differential cell counts from the alveolar lavage fraction differed significantly from calculated pooled fractions (n = 11). In contrast, marginal differences were found between atopic and non-atopic subjects. Interestingly, the BAL fluid CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio correlated strongly with age (r(2) = 0·50, P < 0·0001).

We consider the bronchial and alveolar fraction to be lavage fluid from fundamentally different compartments and recommend analysis of the alveolar fraction in diagnostic work-up of ILD. In addition, our data suggest that age corrected BAL fluid CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratios should be used in the clinical evaluation of patients with interstitial lung diseases.

Perspectives of allergists/immunologists on the 2009-2010 H1N1 vaccination effort.

Persons with high-risk conditions such as asthma were a target group for national H1N1 vaccine recommendations. Allergists/immunologists (allergists) are a provider group that could vaccinate persons with asthma and other high-risk conditions. Their level of participation in and experiences with the 2009-2010 H1N1 vaccination campaign are unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of allergists related to the 2009-2010 H1N1 vaccination campaign.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, mailed survey of a national sample of 1955 allergists providing outpatient care was conducted in June-September 2010.

RESULTS: The overall response rate was 72%. Most allergists "strongly recommended" H1N1 vaccine for children, and most "recommended" or "strongly recommended" vaccine for adults. The majority (71%) agreed to participate in the H1N1 vaccine campaign and received vaccine. Vaccine supply was a significant challenge, but otherwise few major problems were experienced with administering H1N1 vaccine. The majority of respondents, particularly among those who participated in the 2009-2010 H1N1 vaccination campaign, felt they would be very likely to vaccinate in the event of future influenza pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS: The experiences of allergists in the H1N1 vaccine campaign were generally positive. Most allergists are willing to serve as vaccinators in future influenza pandemics, which will help facilitate broad access to vaccine for patients with asthma and other high-risk conditions.

Development and preliminary validation of the Asthma Intensity Manifestations Score (AIMS) derived from Asthma Control Test, FEV(1), fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and step therapy assessments.

OBJECTIVE: Inherent asthma severity is difficult to assess clinically. The purpose of this study was to develop an Asthma Intensity Manifestations Score (AIMS) as a surrogate for asthma severity.

METHODS: Three hundred and four patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids completed the Asthma Control Test (ACT), underwent spirometry, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) testing, and reported their current medications. These parameters (defined as ACT < 16, forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV(1)] < 80% predicted, FENO > 50 ppb, and Expert Panel Report [EPR3] step care level >3) were related to prior year outcomes to develop the AIMS and to follow-up year outcomes to validate it.

RESULTS: FENO was independently related to prior year short-acting beta agonist (SABA) ≥ 7 (odds ratio [OR] 2.9); ACT (OR 4.9), FEV(1) (OR 3.3), and step care (OR 3.9) were independently related to prior year systemic corticosteroid (SCS) ≥ 2. Thus, all the four items were chosen for the AIMS (0-4 points). AIMSs were linearly related to follow-up year SABA ≥ 7, any SCS, SCS ≥ 2, and emergency hospital care (all p < .01). Compared to patients with AIMSs <2, patients with AIMSs ≥2 were at more than a fourfold greater risk of requiring ≥2 SCS in the following year and were at a 2-2.8-fold greater risk of experiencing other adverse outcomes during that time period.

CONCLUSIONS: The AIMS is linearly related to future year adverse asthma outcomes. Further studies will be necessary to confirm its utility as a surrogate for asthma severity in clinical practice and clinical research.

The CHOICE survey: high rates of persistent and uncontrolled asthma in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Surveys have consistently shown that many patients with asthma do not have their disease well controlled.

OBJECTIVES: The CHOICE (Comprehensive Survey of Healthcare Professionals and Asthma Patients Offering Insight on Current Treatment Gaps and Emerging Device Options) survey was designed to evaluate the current status of inhalation devices used in asthma treatment, but questions also were included about asthma severity and control.

METHODS: A total of 1,000 patients with asthma were interviewed about their use of inhalation devices and asthma-related burden, medication use, and hospital/emergency care. Based on the responses to these questions, asthma severity and control were categorized using methods established in the Expert Panel Report III (EPR 3).

RESULTS: Almost half (490) of the patients with asthma participating in the CHOICE survey were not using controller medications. Most of those not using controllers (79%) had persistent asthma; 47% had either mild or moderate persistent asthma. Of those on controllers (510), only 14.3% were well controlled. Acute care utilization was greater for patients with persistent asthma than those with intermittent asthma and for patients with not well and poorly controlled asthma than those with well-controlled asthma.

CONCLUSION: The CHOICE survey is particularly pertinent clinically, because it demonstrates for the first time, using EPR 3 methods, the current extent of poor asthma control in the United States. This situation falls far short of national asthma management targets.

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