DiscussionThis trial is designed to evaluate the number of days with frequent cough with anti-inflammatory treatment compared with antimicrobial treatment and placebo in previously healthy patients with a clinical picture of acute bronchitis and purulent expectoration. It is hypothesized that anti-inflammatory treatment is more effective than antibiotic treatment to reduce cough, which is the most disturbing symptom for patients with this infection.Trial registration: ISRCTN07852892 (Source: BMC Pulmonary Medicine - Latest articles)

People with asthma exposed to higher levels of ozone and particulate matter are much more likely to have poorer asthma control, researchers reported in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Long-term ozone exposure raises an asthma patient's likelihood to have uncontrolled asthma by 69%, while long-term exposure to particulate matter raises the risk by 35%, the authors added. Even after taking into account known risk factors linked to poorly controlled asthma, such as obesity, inhaled corticosteroid use, and smoking, the findings still held true... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

AbstractSmoking cessation is crucial in preventing premature morbidity, disability and mortality worldwide. The effectiveness of quitting tobacco use surpasses any other intervention to minimize the risk for chronic cardiac and respiratory conditions. The overall health benefits of smoking cessation have been recognised for decades but as tobacco legislation has been changing in recent years, new evidence particularly concerning the effect of less smoke exposure on the vascular system has emerged. Recently, much research in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has concerned the ongoing inflammation – also in former smokers – and disease heterogeneity, which provides new knowledge regarding current‐ and ex‐smokers with COPD. Many other cardiovascular‐ and respiratory disea...

Authors: Holub M, Závada J Sepsis is still a serious threat, especially to patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). Despite advances in modern technology that lead to an improved outcome in individuals suffering from sepsis, clinicians must be cautious when the septic condition is suspected. Changes in the epidemiology, etiology and foci of sepsis, together with a rise of antimicrobial resistance in the causative agents responsible for sepsis, create a qualitatively new situation. Because the septic patient must be treated without delay, the diagnosis of sepsis is usually based on the clinical findings, the knowledge of epidemiological history and predisposing conditions. Traditional methods used in the diagnosis of sepsis must be employed and used in combination with nov...