Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that gives rise to symptoms of breathlessness, chronic fatigue, and cough. The impact of COPD on people’s activity has been widely acknowledged, yet it appears that we know little about how individuals experience activity. We employed a grounded theory study with 18 participants with COPD to explore their dimensions of activity. We identified two core concepts that captured participants’ experience of activity; these were stagnation and movement. We found fresh air to be the single most important aspect affecting participants’ experience of stagnation and movement; this was linked to a changed perception of symptoms. We identified the environment as an important context influencing the experienc...

Conclusions: In developing countries, CPAP may be used as the primary mode of management of RDS. SRT may be reserved for non-responders to CPAP. Alternate simpler methods of delivery of surfactant (aerosol technique) are also being explored. There is a need for further studies to develop and assess efficient and less expensive methods of application of CPAP and SRT in developing countries. PMID: 21701209 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Neonatology)

Conclusion  PH is common in COPD. Older individuals and those with more airway obstruction are at greater risk for developing PH. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s00408-011-9315-2Authors Vadim Fayngersh, Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, The Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI, USAFotios Drakopanagiotakis, Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USAF. Dennis McCool, Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, The Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Pawtucket, RI, USAJames R. Klinger, Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA Journal LungOnline...

The European Respiratory Journal has just published the updated guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) that aim to help manage drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). The new document 'The WHO guidelines for the programmatic management of drug-resistant tuberculosis: 2011 update' focuses on priority areas for healthcare professionals in the diagnosis, treatment and care of drug-resistant TB. It also calls for more research to guide the management of the condition. TB is a pandemic that killed 1... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)