Editorial: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – advances in epidemiology, diagnostics, treatments, host-directed therapies, pathogenesis, vaccines, and ongoing challenges
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine)
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - April 10, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Edited by Michael S. Niederman and Alimuddin Zumla Source Type: research

Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine)
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - April 10, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research

Impact of obesity on pulmonary function: current understanding and knowledge gaps
Purpose of review Obesity is an increasing world-wide public health concern. Obesity both causes respiratory symptoms and contributes to many cardiorespiratory diseases. The effects of obesity on commonly used lung function tests are reviewed. Recent findings The effects of obesity on lung function are attributed both to mechanical factors and to complex metabolic effects that contribute to a pro-inflammatory state. The effects of obesity on lung function correlate with BMI and correlate even better when the distribution of excess adipose tissue is taken into account, with central obesity associated with more pr...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Beta-blockers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the good, the bad and the ugly
Purpose of review Several observational studies have suggested that β-blockers, especially cardioselective ones, are well tolerated and associated with a lower risk of acute exacerbations and death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are dissenting studies. This review provides an update on the use of β-blockers in COPD, focusing on results of recent prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. Recent findings In totality, cohort studies indicate that β-blockers are generally well tolerated and effective in COPD patients who also have a clear cardiovascular i...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

How might endotyping guide chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment? Current understanding, knowledge gaps and future research needs
Purpose of review This review discusses emerging therapies directed at chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) endotypes and pathobiological processes that manifest as the disease. Recent findings Specific endotypes have been targeted in COPD. These include eosinophilic inflammation, overproduction of interleukin-17, chronic bronchitis and altered nature of mucous, and chronic infection. Therapies exactly directed at the cause of these endotypes or their resultant clinical findings have been assessed. Although some intermediate outcomes have seemed promising, there have been no findings that shift the parad...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly
Purpose of review Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a large burden on the global population and even more so for the elderly who face significant obstacles in the diagnosis, management, and psychosocial effects of the disease. This review describes the current challenges and key points in the management of COPD in the elderly. Recent findings Lower limit rather than fixed cut off of the FEV1/FVC ratio can improve the diagnosis and better predict COPD mortality. High relative to standard dose influenza vaccination reduces confirmed cases of influenza overall and reduces hospitalizations in olde...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Obstructive lung diseases and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Purpose of review Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disease frequently complicating asthma and cystic fibrosis. ABPA is increasingly recognized in other obstructive lung diseases (OLDs), including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Herein, we summarize the recent developments in ABPA complicating OLDs. Recent findings Recent research has described the clinical features and natural history of ABPA complicating asthma in children and the elderly. We have gained insights into the pathophysiology of ABPA, especially the role of eosinophil extracellul...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

An update on hypersensitivity pneumonitis: what a clinician wants to know
Purpose of review A recent international collaboration has updated the clinical definition and diagnostic recommendations for hypersensitivity pneumonitis, focusing on fibrotic and non-fibrotic phenotypes. However, how these transfer to clinical practice and their impact upon clinical management and prognosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis is unclear. This review will focus on recent advances in the understanding of the clinical aspects of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, predominantly its epidemiology, diagnosis, classification and treatment. Recent findings Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a rare disease within t...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Vaping epidemic in US teens: problem and solutions
This article summarizes key research findings that explain the reasons for the epidemic, health consequences of vaping, and provides an overview of efforts to mitigate the vaping threat to US teens. (Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine)
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

COVID-19: a new burden of respiratory disease among South African miners?
Purpose of review Mineworkers in South Africa experience a triple burden of disease due to their distinct work experience. Silicosis increases their risk of tuberculosis (TB), exacerbated by the HIV epidemic. Work-related factors are likely to increase transmission, severity, and post infection sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Understanding these relationships is important to control the impact of the epidemic. Recent findings SARS-CoV-2 infection rates among mineworkers exceed the population rates in the provinces in which those mines are located. Migrant work,...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

ICU preparedness in pandemics: lessons learned from the coronavirus disease-2019 outbreak
Purpose of review The worldwide SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has taken a heavy toll on ICUs worldwide. This review expounds on lessons learned for ICU preparedness during the pandemic and for future mass casualty events. Recent findings In the 21st century, there have already been several outbreaks of infectious diseases that have led to mass casualties creating ICU strain, providing multiple opportunities for hospitals and hospital systems to prepare their ICUs for future events. Unfortunately, the sheer scale and rapidity of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to overwhelming strain on every aspect of ICU disaster preparedness...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Unprecedented: the toxic synergism of Covid-19 and climate change
Purpose of review To review and compare the constellations of causes and consequences of the two current pandemics, Covid-19 and climate change. Recent findings There has been a transient counterbalancing, in which the response to Covid-19 has briefly mitigated pollution and greenhouse gasses. This divergence belies multiple commonalities of cause and effect. Summary The convergence of these two pandemics is unprecedented. Although at first glance, they appear to be completely unrelated, they share striking commonalities. Both are caused by human behaviors, and some of those behaviors contribute to both p...
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Editorial: Palliative care considerations and ethical issues in the care of Covid-19 patients
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine)
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Editorial: A trio of articles on Covid-19, followed by articles on vaping, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and several on obstructive airway and pulmonary diseases
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine)
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: OBSTRUCTIVE, OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASES: Edited by Manish Joshi and Basil Varkey Source Type: research

Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine)
Source: Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine - January 30, 2021 Category: Respiratory Medicine Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research