The latest in Respiratory Medicine

Medicare Study Demonstrates Link Between Air Pollution and Disease in the Elderly

2010-03-13T08:03:21Z

A study of more than 11.5 million Medicare patients aged over 65 has concluded that even short-term exposure to fine particle air pollution significantly increases the risk of contracting cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The study was conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, i...

Drugmakers agree on landmark vaccines deal for poor

2010-03-11T15:30:24Z

<div><p>LONDON (Reuters) - Several drug firms have agreed on a landmark deal to supply up to 200 million doses a year of cut-price pneumococcal vaccines to developing nations, according to the global immunization alliance that is overseeing the deal.</p><p>Leading manufacturers of such vaccines include GlaxoSmithKline and Reuters Health) - Among children and teenagers with asthma, those who also have peanut allergies may have more or more-severe asthma attacks, a new study suggests.</p><p>Researchers found that among 160 5- to 18-year-olds with asthma seen at their center, the 46 with peanut allergies generally had more hospitalizations for asthma exacerbations than children without the food allergy. They a...

Sleep Apnea and CPAP Machines

2010-03-11T02:32:50Z

With a wide range of CPAP machine brands in the market, it is recommended that you choose your CPAP device carefully. The CPAP machines in Toronto shops and elsewhere offer patients options and the opportunity to test a particular brand or rent a machine. This is an advantage when you are shopping for your first CPAP machine.<br><br><b>So You Have Sleep Apnea</b><br><br>If you have sleep apnea, your doctor will ...

Best Treatment Differs for Kids With Asthma

2010-03-10T00:15:34Z

<div id="subtitle">Childhood asthma treatment is not 'one-size-fits-all'</div><div><p>Most children who have trouble controlling their asthma with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids show improvement by increasing the dose or adding another medication, a new study finds. But the best option differs for each child. </p><p>Asthma affects nearly 7 million children nationwide and is a leading cause of hospitalization and school absenteeism. Symptoms often include wh...

FDA panel favors approval for InterMune drug

2010-03-09T14:00:09Z

<div id="subtitle">FDA lung experts back InterMune drug for rare lung disease, despite efficacy questions</div><div><p>Federal health advisers on Tuesday voted in favor of an experimental drug from InterMune Inc., despite mixed evidence of whether it provides significant benefits for patients with a rare lung disease.</p><p>The Reuters Health) - People who get enough fiber in their diets, particularly from whole grains, may have a lower risk of developing chronic lung disease than those who eat few high-fiber foods, a new study finds.</p><p>The study, of more than 100,000 U.S. adults followed between 1984 and 2000, found that those with the highest fiber i...

Low birth weight may affect adult lung health

2010-03-08T07:45:26Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Middle-aged adults who were born at a relatively low weight may have more breathing difficulties than those who were bigger newborns, a new study suggests.</p><p>In a study of 627 Chinese men and women in their 40s, researchers found that participants' scores on standard lung-function tests generally lined up with their birth weights. The lowest average scores were record...

Pfizer pneumonia shot helps HIV-infected patients

2010-03-03T14:32:54Z

<div><p>LONDON (Reuters) - Results of a trial of Pfizer's Prevnar 7 vaccine against a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis showed on Wednesday that it can prevent three out of four cases of re-infection in HIV-infected adults in Africa.</p><p>British researchers ...

Calif. jury: Botox-maker not responsible for death

2010-03-02T19:31:20Z

<div id="subtitle">Southern Calif. jury: Botox-maker Allergan not responsible for 7-year-old Texas girl's death</div><div><p>A jury determined Tuesday that Botox-maker Allergan was not responsible for the death of a 7-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who died after receiving Botox...

Oxygen devices for lung disease show spotty performance

2010-02-26T10:31:06Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Devices that help lung disease patients have oxygen therapy on-the-go may not always perform consistently -- and may in some cases provide users with inadequate oxygen when they are active, a new study suggests.</p><p>The concern, say researchers, is that patients and doctors may interpret any resulting activity limitations as a sign that the lung disease is worsening, wh...

People Brittany Murphy

2010-02-25T19:01:21Z

FILE - This June 2009 photo provided by Hybrid Productions shows Brittany Murphy while working on the set of "Abandoned" in Los Angeles. The film is Murphy's final starring role before her recent death. Murphy's autopsy report details how pneumonia, severe anemia and prescription medications killed the actress. The...

Simple test could cut excessive antibiotic use

2010-02-25T12:00:32Z

<div><p>LONDON (Reuters) - If doctors used an existing simple lab test on patients with coughs or flu-like symptoms they would be better able to decide which of them might benefit from antibiotics, scientists said on Thursday.</p><p>They said prescriptions of expensive antibiotics for respiratory tract infections could be reduced by more than 40 percent if tests became more commonplace.</p><p>Th...

Smoke from home fuels tied to emphysema

2010-02-25T10:30:30Z

<div><p>NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who burn wood or other "biofuels" for heat or cooking may have a heightened risk of emphysema and related lung conditions, a new study suggests.</p><p>In an analysis of 15 international studies, researchers found that people exposed to smoke from "biomass" fuels in their homes generally had a greater risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than those w...

Infections in US hospitals kill 48,000, cost billions

2010-02-23T03:16:33Z

<div><p>Nearly 50,000 US medical patients die every year of blood poisoning or pneumonia they picked up in hospital, a study has shown.</p><p>Hospital-acquired sepsis and pneumonia in 2006 claimed 48,000 lives, led to 2.3 million extra patient-days in hospital and cost 8.1 billion dollars, according to the study, led by researchers from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Poli...

Infections in US hospitals kill 48,000, cost billions: study

2010-02-23T03:16:32Z

<div><p>Nearly 50,000 US medical patients die every year of blood poisoning or pneumonia they picked up in hospital, a study published Monday shows.</p><p>Hospital-acquired sepsis and pneumonia in 2006 claimed 48,000 lives, led to 2.3 million extra patient-days in hospital and cost 8.1 billion dollars, according to the study, led by researchers from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Econo...

Hospital infections kill 48,000, cost billions

2010-02-23T03:15:26Z

New Safety Controls Unveiled for Asthma Meds

2010-02-23T00:15:34Z

<div id="subtitle">FDA says meds could actually worsen symptoms</div><div><p>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cautioning individuals with asthma against using drugs in the class of long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) by themselves for treating children or adults.</p><p>Manufacturers will be required to include this warning in the product labels of these drugs, a...

Bob Dole hospitalized, undergoing therapy

2010-02-22T15:30:39Z

<div id="subtitle">Former Senate leader and GOP presidential candidate hospitalized after bout with pneumonia</div><div><p>Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole is recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after a bout with pneumonia, his spokesman said M...

Shorter hospital stays may cost no more: U.S. study

2010-02-22T14:45:24Z

<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hospitals that send patients home earlier can save money and the policy does not end up costing more later, researchers reported on Monday.</p><p>The intensive look at two common conditions -- pneumonia and heart failure -- showed that it may be possible to lower costs in the U.S. system without hurting patients, the re...