Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Novel concepts in airway inflammation and remodelling in asthma

New article in ERJ on Novel concepts in airway inflammation and remodelling in asthma!
The hallmark pathological features of asthma include airway eosinophilic inflammation and structural changes (remodelling) which are associated with an irreversible loss in lung function that tracks from childhood to adulthood. In parallel with changes in function, pathological abnormalities occur early, during the pre-school years, are established by school age and subsequently remain (even though symptoms may remit for periods during adulthood). Given the equal importance of inflammation and remodelling in asthma pathogenesis, there is a significant disparity in studies undertaken to investigate the contribution of each. The majority focus on the role of inflammation, and although novel therapeutics such as those targeted against T-helper cell type 2 (Th2) mediators have arisen, it is apparent that targeting inflammation alone has not allowed disease modification. 
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/6/1796?rss=1&utm_content=buffer43f63&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Therefore, unless airway remodelling is addressed for future therapeutic strategies, it is unlikely that we will progress towards a cure for asthma. Having acknowledged these limitations, the focus of this review is to highlight the gaps in our current knowledge about the mechanisms underlying airway remodelling, the relationships between remodelling, inflammation and function, remodelling and clinical phenotypes, and the importance of utilising innovative and realistic pre-clinical models to uncover effective, disease-modifying therapeutic strategies.
fulltext:

Monday, December 28, 2015

Smoking asthma phenotype: diagnostic and management challenges

Cigarette smoking and asthma interact to induce important adverse effects on clinical, prognostic and therapeutic outcomes. Please read new article from Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine from our Greek friends dedicated to this hot Respiratory topic. 
http://journals.lww.com/co-pulmonarymedicine/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2016&issue=01000&article=00010&type=abstract
Purpose of review: The prevalence of active smoking in adults with asthma is similar to the general population. Smoking asthma is associated with poorer disease control, impaired response to corticosteroid therapy, accelerated decline in lung function, and increased rate of healthcare utilization. Current asthma guidelines do not provide specific treatment advice for smoking asthmatic patients. There is an urgent need for better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and effective treatment for smoking asthmatic patients.
Recent findings: An association between both active and passive smoking and adult-onset asthma is supported by many studies.
The asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) has recently gained particular interest and smoking asthmatic patients should be evaluated for ACOS.
Treatment regimens for smoking asthma include higher doses of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), extrafine particle ICS formulations, antileukotrienes, and combinations of these options.
Asthma is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular comorbidities whereas smoking is an additional strong independent risk factor for pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Tobacco smoking and not asthma per se seems to be the reason of poor prognosis, especially with regard to lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in asthmatic patients.
Summary: Smoking asthma represents a common challenge to the clinician both in terms of diagnosis and management. These aspects have not been thoroughly evaluated and deserve further investigation.
Fulltext:

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas to all Respiratory friends!!!

Thank you for all your permanent help and support in this hard year! We realized very useful things for promotion of ALL Respiratory conditions! We are hoping that we will continue this work with your help and in 2016!
 

2016 World’s first clinical guidelines for chronic fungal lung infections

The world’s first guidelines for chronic fungal lung infections for doctors and laboratories have been published today, by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2015/12/22/13993003.00583-2015
Published today (23 December, 2015) in the European Respiratory Journal, these new guidelines describe the important features of this disease and provide comprehensive treatment recommendations.
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a subtle and insidious problem in patients who already have damaged lungs. It kills about 80% of sufferers over five years unless diagnosed and treated with long-term antifungals. Across Europe, an estimated 240,000 people have CPA, and worldwide around 3 million. The late stages of CPA (aspergilloma) are familiar to respiratory specialists, but the early features are often missed.
Major improvements in understanding this debilitating and ultimately fatal disorder have resulted from research undertaken in Europe, India and Japan over the past 10 years. However, no therapies are approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for treatment, and very few diagnostic tests and therapies have been compared. In many parts of the world, the basic tests required are not yet available.
Professor David Denning of the University of Manchester, who lead the CPA guidelines group, said: “The UK National Health Service recognised the challenges posed by these patients by setting up the National Aspergillosis Centre and its associated laboratory the Mycology Reference Centre in 2009. The experience gained from seeing hundreds of patients has contributed to the quality of care, although much more research and new oral antifungal drugs are required to reduce the marked disability caused by CPA.”
Patient Michael Miller, aged 65 years from Leeds, described his experience: “I had aspergillosis in 2006, which improved with a long course of antifungal capsules. In 2012, I started to get worse and worse, and it took 3 years to recognise recurrence of my aspergillosis. By this time, I was so breathless and my x-ray was much worse.”
ESCMID President Professor Murat Akova stated: “I am delighted that this groundbreaking clinical guideline has been published; the management of chronic fungal infection, notably CPA, is difficult, requiring a high level of laboratory and clinical expertise.
ERS Guidelines Director, Dr Marc Miravitlles, commented: “We welcome the publication of this guideline, which provides key insights into the main features of the disease and treatment recommendations. By establishing this expert consensus on the topic, we aim to improve the early diagnosis of CPA and increase recognition of the condition to ultimately improve outcomes for patients.”
The guidelines are a product of a two-year collaboration between ESCMID and ERS. In parallel to these CPA recommendations, ESCMID is currently developing wider guidelines for invasive aspergillosis in general, which will be published in due course. The latter are developed by Professor Andrew Ullmann of the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, chairman of ESCMID’s fungal infection study group EFISG.
Professor Ullmann commented: “This is the first guideline on chronic pulmonary aspergillosis worldwide. It is the result of another joint effort of ESCMID and ERS experts who, in a truly interdisciplinary collaboration, prepared and published guidance for colleagues on a group of complex diseases that is difficult to manage. Aspergillosis is more than chronic lung infection and a larger document addressing all aspects of aspergillosis infections is under preparation by EFISG.” 
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2015/12/22/13993003.00583-2015

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

HOT TOPIC ISSUE OF CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS: SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES

Dear Respiratory friends today online is appearing
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 11 - Number 4 - See more at: http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/volume/11/issue/4/#sthash.EB2jbZQb.dpuf

our proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 11, Number 4: is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease).
Guest Editor: Alexandru Corlateanu
Editor-in-Chief: Joseph Varon
9 articles + Editorial from Guest Editor! 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/
1. Alexandru Corlateanu. Editorial from Guest Editor: Current Management of Sleep Apnea and Comorbidities

 

Editorial from Guest Editor: Current Management of Sleep Apnea and Comorbidities - See more at: http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/volume/11/issue/4/#sthash.EB2jbZQb.dpuf
Editorial from Guest Editor: Current Management of Sleep Apnea and Comorbidities - See more at: http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/volume/11/issue/4/#sthash.EB2jbZQb.dpuf
Editorial from Guest Editor: Current Management of Sleep Apnea and Comorbidities - See more at: http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/volume/11/issue/4/#sthash.EB2jbZQb.dpufOana Claudia Deleanu, Ana-Maria Nebunoiu, Miruna Mihaela Micheu, Andra Elena Malaut and Florin Dumitru Mihaltan.2. Oana Claudia Deleanu, Ana-Maria Nebunoiu, Miruna Mihaela Micheu, Andra Elena Malaut and Florin Dumitru Mihaltan.
Relation between Obstructive Sleep apnea Syndrome and Resistant Hypertension - the Tip of the Iceberg
3. Victoria Chatzimavridou Grigoriadou, Alexander Mathioudakis, Alexandru Corlateanu, George Mathioudakis, Efstathia Evangelopoulou.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension: A Bidirectional Causal Relation
4. Stefan Mihaicuta, Izabela Anita Toth, Sorin Paralescu, Carmen Ardelean, Stefan Marian Frent and Oana Claudia Deleanu
Obesity and Body fat Distribution as Predictors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
5. Marius Balint Gib, Christophe Aron, Svetlana Ilie, Frederic Wallyn, Macha Tetart, Dumitrita Balint Gib.
The links between Sleep Apnea and Chronic Kidney Disease
6. Mastrodima-Polychroniou Sofia, Panoulis Konstantinos.
Pregnancy and Sleep Apnea
7. Alexandru Corlateanu, Victor Botnaru, Victoria Sircu, Serghei Covantev, Gloria Montanari.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes: Dual Interaction
8. Andriana Papaioannou, Konstantinos Kostikas, Spyros Papiris.
Sleep Apnea and Coronary Heart Disease: from Dusk Till Dawn and Further
9. Silvia V. Dumitru, Epameinondas N Kosmas.
Stroke as a Consequence of Sleep Apnea: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment Strategies
10. Alexandru Corlateanu, Victor Botnaru, Alexander G. Mathioudakis, Victoria Sircu, Nikos Siafakas.
Overlap Syndrome of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A two-faced Janus

http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/volume/11/issue/4/

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Predictors of daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (fulltext from Pneumologia)



https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283490885_Predictors_of_daytime_sleepiness_in_patients_with_obstructive_sleep_apnea
Background. The main symptomatic criterion to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the level of daytime sleepiness. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale is a simple, self-administered questionnaire which provides a measurement of the subject’s general level of daytime sleepiness.
The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that can predict daytime sleepiness in patients with sleep apnea.
Methods. 50 consecutive patients with obstructive
sleep apnea were enrolled into the study. Age, gender, anthropometric and polygraphic data were
thoroughly analyzed. In all subjects daily sleepiness was assessed by Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
Results. The mean age of the subjects was 54.7±12.8 years, 82% males. The mean BMI was 31.9±6 kg/m2. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis demonstrates a significant positive correlation between the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the desaturation index (r=0.31, p<0.01) and arterial hypertension (r=0.32, p<0.01). The forward stepwise regression analysis shows that the apnea hypopnea index and desaturation index are important predictors of daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea which explains 40% of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score.
Conclusion. The desaturation index showed the
strongest correlation with the Epworth scale. According to the results of the backward stepwise multiple regression and logistic regression, the predictors for the level of daytime sleepiness are oAHI and index of desaturation. According to the analysis of the ROC curve, desaturation index is a predictor of a high specificity.
fulltext:

Saturday, December 12, 2015

2015 Official ATS/ERS Policy Statement: Enhancing Implementation, Use, and Delivery of Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Rationale: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has demonstrated physiological, symptom-reducing, psychosocial, and health economic benefits for patients with chronic respiratory diseases, yet it is underutilized worldwide. Insufficient funding, resources, and reimbursement; lack of healthcare professional, payer, and patient awareness and knowledge; and additional patient-related barriers all contribute to the gap between the knowledge of the science and benefits of PR and the actual delivery of PR services to suitable patients.
Objectives: The objectives of this document are to enhance implementation, use, and delivery of pulmonary rehabilitation to suitable individuals worldwide.
Methods: Members of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assembly and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Rehabilitation and Chronic Care Group established a Task Force and writing committee to develop a policy statement on PR. The document was modified based on feedback from expert peer reviewers. After cycles of review and revisions, the statement was reviewed and formally approved by the Board of Directors of the ATS and the Science Council and Executive Committee of the ERS.
http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/rccm.201510-1966ST#.Vmvjnr_eqUk

Main Results: This document articulates policy recommendations for advancing healthcare professional, payer, and patient awareness and knowledge of PR, increasing patient access to PR, and ensuring quality of PR programs. It also recommends areas of future research to establish evidence to support the development of an updated funding and reimbursement policy regarding PR.
Conclusions: The ATS and ERS commit to undertake actions that will improve access to and delivery of PR services for suitable patients. They call on their members and other health professional societies, payers, patients, and patient advocacy groups to join in this commitment.
Read More: http://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/rccm.201510-1966ST#.Vmvjnr_eqUk

Sunday, November 22, 2015

New Inspirational Book: Waiting Time: My life before and after the lung transplantation

Dear Respiratory Friends today we are very happy to present you great Inspirational book by Barbara Eyrich from Germany - Waiting Time: My life before and after the lung transplantation!!
Several words about book from author Barbara Eyrich: 
This book is neither meant to be a medical treatise on my histology - COPD / PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA - nor a guide or decision-making aid for or against a lung transplant. It is also not supposed to be a pure boring biography. Plus - it is furthermore not my intention to settle up with anybody or cope with certain incidences, even if the one or other reader might get this impression. The book simply describes this time of my life: How the illness started, the waiting period prior to my transplantation with all the preparations, and the wait for a donor organ, the transplantation itself - and what happened afterwards.  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0189MIFHU/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_awdm_rL-twb1ZAHB11
How did I feel and do during this long WAITING TIME? There were quite a few relapses I had to suffer from and to handle. How did I manage to overcome them? What had helped me, and who was involved? How did it happen that I had to decide on a transplantation? , and finally, how did I continue after the surgery?
For some readers it will not be easy to cope with those details, as I do come up with a lot of negative things. But: That's the way it was and is - and therefore I have to describe how they happened and how my overall condition is right now. Life, despite all positive thoughts and desires, often turns out completely differently than expected in the long- run. Such experiences cannot be found in any brochure, as life writes an individual story for each human being.
All the names of people mentioned in this book have been changed, abbreviated or made up in order to protect their identities. Similarities in name of living persons are purely coincidental or have been approved.
Please wait...! Isn't this something we all have experienced at some point of time? Everyone reacts differently to these two words. One bangs on the table, is not willing to wait and wants everything to be instantly done. For the next one standing at the bus stop time gets too long; he starts running off too early and eventually misses the bus which arrives shortly after he has gone away and which leaves without him. Someone else patiently endures the waiting time, though seething inside. Yet another one deals with the waiting time, prepares for the things to come and does not even realize how quickly or slowly time passes by, and suddenly - the wait is over. As for my book: I want to picture my story; how it all began with the chronic disease COPD and the pulmonary emphysema, and all the ups and downs. I will show you insight into my private and inner self, and will describe the people who have accompanied me on my way: Clinical personnel, doctors, physiotherapists, companions from my Lungensport group (special breathing techniques), support groups, church, family, friends, and neighbors, simply the entire social environment. During this time, there was a lot I had to endure and to cope with; till this very day I wonder how I was able to manage everything. 
LINK:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0189MIFHU/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_awdm_rL-twb1ZAHB11

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

World COPD Day 2015

World COPD Day is organized by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) in collaboration with health care professionals and COPD patient groups throughout the world. Its aim is to raise awareness about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and improve COPD care throughout the world
Each year GOLD chooses a theme and coordinates preparation and distribution of World COPD Day materials and resources. World COPD Day activities are organized in each country by health care professionals, educators, and members of the public who want to help reduce the burden of COPD.
The first World COPD Day was held in 2002. Each year organizers in more than 50 countries worldwide have carried out activities, making the day one of the world's most important COPD awareness and education events.

World COPD Day 2015 is taking place on Wednesday, November 18 around the theme “It’s Not Too Late.” This positive message was chosen to emphasize the meaningful actions people can take to improve their respiratory health, at any stage before or after a COPD diagnosis.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

World Diabetes Day 2015

World Diabetes Day, on the 14th November every year, has grown from humble beginnings to become a globally-celebrated event to increase awareness about diabetes.
Comprising hundreds of campaigns, activities, screenings, lecture, meetings and more, World Diabetes Day is proving internationally effective in spreading the message about diabetes and raising awareness for the condition.
http://www.diabetesatlas.org/key-messages.html
 
The theme of World Diabetes Day, from 2014 to 2016 will be healthy living and diabetes and this year, there’s a focus on starting each day right by having a healthy breakfast.
A healthy breakfast should help blood sugar levels from getting too high and should keep you full through the morning. Whilst cereal and toast may be cheap, these options typically raise blood sugar levels rapidly and may leave you hungry again before lunch.
If you drink fruit juice for breakfast, consider cutting the juice out or having a smaller glass of it. For reference, a 150ml glass of unsweetened orange juice contains around 15g of carbohydrate and 13g of sugar.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Obstructive sleep disordered breathing in 2–18 year-old children: diagnosis and management

The ERS Task Force on the Diagnosis and Management of Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) in Childhood has published a new document detailing a stepwise management approach for SDB in children aged 2–18.
The seven-step management approach covers topics such as reported symptoms, morbidities, treatment indications and follow-up evaluations. The document also takes into account the available diagnostic facilities and accepted treatment policies in different European countries, describing diagnostic modalities that can be used as alternatives for settings where polysomnography is not available.
http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2015/11/05/13993003.00385-2015?utm_source=ERS+newsletter&utm_campaign=ed0dc225f7-ER_Weekly_week_45&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_372fc3467c-ed0dc225f7-35104157
This document summarises the conclusions of a European Respiratory Society Task Force on the diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in childhood and refers to children aged 2–18 years. Prospective cohort studies describing the natural history of SDB or randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials regarding its management are scarce. Selected evidence (362 articles) can be consolidated into seven management steps. SDB is suspected when symptoms or abnormalities related to upper airway obstruction are present (step 1). Central nervous or cardiovascular system morbidity, growth failure or enuresis and predictors of SDB persistence in the long-term are recognised (steps 2 and 3), and SDB severity is determined objectively preferably using polysomnography (step 4). Children with an apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) >5 episodes·h−1, those with an AHI of 1–5 episodes·h−1 and the presence of morbidity or factors predicting SDB persistence, and children with complex conditions (e.g. Down syndrome and Prader–Willi syndrome) all appear to benefit from treatment (step 5). Treatment interventions are usually implemented in a stepwise fashion addressing all abnormalities that predispose to SDB (step 6) with re-evaluation after each intervention to detect residual disease and to determine the need for additional treatment (step 7).
Link:

Saturday, October 31, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Stroke as a Consequence of Sleep Apnea: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment Strategies

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Stroke as a Consequence of Sleep Apnea: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment Strategies written by our friends from Greece: Silvia V. Dumitru and Epameinondas N Kosmas.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134968/ 
Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: The links between Sleep Apnea and Chronic Kidney Disease

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: The links between Sleep Apnea and Chronic Kidney Disease written by international team: Marius Balint Gib, Christophe Aron, Svetlana Ilie, Frederic Wallyn, Macha Tetart, Dumitrita Balint Gib.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134970/

Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Friday, October 30, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Overlap Syndrome of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A two-faced Janus

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Overlap Syndrome of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A two-faced Janus  written by our team: Alexandru Corlateanu, Victor Botnaru, Alexander G. Mathioudakis, Victoria Sircu, Nikos Siafakas.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134969/

Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Thursday, October 29, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Pregnancy and Sleep Apnea

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Pregnancy and Sleep Apnea  written by our friends from Greece  Mastrodima-Polychroniou Sofia and Panoulis Konstantinos.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134965/

Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Obesity and Body fat Distribution as Predictors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Obesity and Body fat Distribution as Predictors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome written by our friends from Romania  Stefan Mihaicuta, Izabela Anita Toth, Sorin Paralescu, Carmen Ardelean, Stefan Marian Frent and Oana Claudia Deleanu.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134907/
Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Sleep Apnea and Coronary Heart Disease: from Dusk Till Dawn and Further

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Sleep Apnea and Coronary Heart Disease: from Dusk Till Dawn and Further written by our friends from Greece Andriana Papaioannou, Konstantinos Kostikas, Spyros Papiris.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134967/

Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Monday, October 26, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes: Dual Interaction

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes: Dual Interaction written by our team from Moldova and Italy Alexandru Corlateanu, Victor Botnaru, Victoria Sircu, Serghei Covantev, Gloria Montanari.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134966/

Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Saturday, October 24, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension: A Bidirectional Causal Relation

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension: A Bidirectional Causal Relation written by our Greek Friends Victoria Chatzimavridou-Grigoriadou, Alexander G. Mathioudakis, Alexandru Corlateanu, Georgios A. Mathioudakis and Efstathia Evangelopoulou.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134911/

Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Friday, October 23, 2015

CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS - SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: Relation between Obstructive Sleep apnea Syndrome and Resistant Hypertension - the Tip of the Iceberg

We are happy to present you one of the articles from hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews dedicated to Sleep Apnea and comorbidities: Relation between Obstructive Sleep apnea Syndrome and Resistant Hypertension - the Tip of the Iceberg written by our Romanian Friends Oana Claudia Deleanu, Ana-Maria Nebunoiu, Miruna Mihaela Micheu, Andra Elena Malaut and Florin Dumitru Mihaltan.
http://benthamscience.com/journals/current-respiratory-medicine-reviews/article/134912/

Abstract of the article:
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease). 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/

Friday, October 16, 2015

LAUNCH OF HOT TOPIC ISSUE OF CURRENT RESPIRATORY MEDICINE REVIEWS: SLEEP APNEA AND COMORBIDITIES: 1 November 2015

Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews publishes original research papers, frontier reviews, drug clinical trial studies and guest edited issues dedicated to clinical research on all the latest advances on respiratory diseases and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, pathogenesis, clinical care, therapy. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians in respiratory medicine.
This proposed hot-topic issue of Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews is an update on the assessment of the main comorbidities and management of patients with OSAS and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease).
Guest Editor: Alexandru Corlateanu
Editor-in-Chief: Joseph Varon
9 articles + Editorial from Guest Editor! 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1204170916263803/
1. Oana Claudia Deleanu, Ana-Maria Nebunoiu, Miruna Mihaela Micheu, Andra Elena Malaut and Florin Dumitru Mihaltan.
Relation between Obstructive Sleep apnea Syndrome and Resistant Hypertension - the Tip of the Iceberg
2. Victoria Chatzimavridou Grigoriadou, Alexander Mathioudakis, Alexandru Corlateanu, George Mathioudakis, Efstathia Evangelopoulou.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension: A Bidirectional Causal Relation
3. Stefan Mihaicuta, Izabela Anita Toth, Sorin Paralescu, Carmen Ardelean, Stefan Marian Frent and Oana Claudia Deleanu
Obesity and Body fat Distribution as Predictors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
4. Marius Balint Gib, Christophe Aron, Svetlana Ilie, Frederic Wallyn, Macha Tetart, Dumitrita Balint Gib.
The links between Sleep Apnea and Chronic Kidney Disease
5. Mastrodima-Polychroniou Sofia, Panoulis Konstantinos.
Pregnancy and Sleep Apnea
6. Alexandru Corlateanu, Victor Botnaru, Victoria Sircu, Serghei Covantev, Gloria Montanari.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Type 2 Diabetes: Dual Interaction
7. Andriana Papaioannou, Konstantinos Kostikas, Spyros Papiris.
Sleep Apnea and Coronary Heart Disease: from Dusk Till Dawn and Further
8. Silvia V. Dumitru, Epameinondas N Kosmas.
Stroke as a Consequence of Sleep Apnea: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology and Treatment Strategies
9. Alexandru Corlateanu, Victor Botnaru, Alexander G. Mathioudakis, Victoria Sircu, Nikos Siafakas.
Overlap Syndrome of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A two-faced Janus

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Pink ribbon with L.O.V.E. for Breast Cancer Awareness

These days masterpiece L.O.V.E. (Milan, Italy) by famous Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan was laying with the pink ribbon for Breast Cancer Awareness! Action was organised by Lega Tumori Lilt Milano!
The controversial monument is made in marble, about 4 meters high and has been allocated on a base that brings the sculpture to a total height of 11 meters. during the making process, the famed italian artist changed the title from ‘omnia munda mundis’ – literally meaning ‘to the pure [men], all things [are] pure’, a latin sentence that has entered a relatively common usage in many countries – to ‘L.O.V.E.’


Saturday, October 10, 2015

10 October - European Day for Organ Donation & Transplantation

Kidneys, liver, heart, lungs... while transplantation medicine is constantly developing, 70,000 people in the EU alone are still on waiting lists for a transplant, making the lack of organs the main obstacle to transplant medicine.  In 2014, 12 people every day died, 12 people died because of the lack of available organs.
The Council of Europe is working tirelessly to promote the ethical aspects, such as the respect of donors and receivers, and the non-commercialisation of human organs, tissues and cells.
http://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/12-october-european-day-for-organ-donation
The idea behind this Day, initiated by the Council of Europe, is to help a different member state each year to encourage debate and provide information on organ donation and transplantation, legal and medical measures so that each person can decide on donation and make their wishes known to their family.

It is about helping member states to promote organ donation and transplantation, and mobilise hospitals and professionals on the identification of potential donors. It is also an opportunity to honour all organ donors and their families and to thank transplantation professionals throughout Europe whose hard work helps saving lives and improving the quality of life of many people.

Friday, October 9, 2015

GINA 2015: the latest iteration of a magnificent journey

Dear Friends we are happy to present you fresh analysis of The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) Guidelines 2015.

The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) represents a remarkable source document that has changed the course of asthma in most countries. The first asthma guidelines have been published in Australasia, UK and the USA. Canadian and French recommendations proposed the concept of control, and the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report initiated the concept of risk for asthma. 

http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/3/579?ctkey=ERJtw108415

However, GINA is globally considered to be the prominent asthma recommendation building on existing knowledge and providing several updates or revisions since it was introduced in 1995. GINA 2015 represents a significant advance over the previous iteration, with a more practical approach and an increased appreciation of asthma as a public health problem. Due to the expected impact of GINA 2015 it is mandatory to assess strengths and weaknesses although many of these cannot be ruled out due to the lack of information currently available.

Free full text: http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/3/579?ctkey=ERJtw108415

Global Ethics Survey 2015

Dear Friends,
Please support Global Ethics survey 2015 conducted by Professor Joseph Varon from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, USA!
To all our colleagues in healthcare: We need YOU!
Please help us complete this Global Ethics survey to better understand the impact of religion, communication and end of life issues. 
Your answers are STRICTLY confidential and there are no identifiers. The survey is available in 12 languages. 
http://www.sanamedcme.com/ethics-survey-2015.html
Important: We are NOT collecting any email addresses, offering any product or services or marketing campaigns. Pure research. 100%
Thank you!
Direct link:

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Monday, October 5, 2015

Evolving Concepts of Asthma in 2015

Dear Friends, in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine appeared new article on concepts of asthma!
Our understanding of asthma has evolved over time from a singular disease to a complex of various phenotypes, with varied natural histories, physiologies, and responses to treatment. Early therapies treated most patients with asthma similarly, with bronchodilators and corticosteroids, but these therapies had varying degrees of success. Similarly, despite initial studies that identified an underlying type 2 inflammation in the airways of patients with asthma, biologic therapies targeted toward these type 2 pathways were unsuccessful in all patients. These observations led to increased interest in phenotyping asthma. Clinical approaches, both biased and later unbiased/statistical approaches to large asthma patient cohorts, identified a variety of patient characteristics, but they also consistently identified the importance of age of onset of disease and the presence of eosinophils in determining clinically relevant phenotypes. These paralleled molecular approaches to phenotyping that developed an understanding that not all patients share a type 2 inflammatory pattern. Using biomarkers to select patients with type 2 inflammation, repeated trials of biologics directed toward type 2 cytokine pathways saw newfound success, confirming the importance of phenotyping in asthma. Further research is needed to clarify additional clinical and molecular phenotypes, validate predictive biomarkers, and identify new areas for possible interventions.