The possibility of a relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and asthma has been controversial. Using a nationwide population-based data set, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk of concurrent asthma among GERD patients, compared with patients without GERD in Taiwan.
The safety of long-acting β(2) agonist (LABA) therapy in asthma remains controversial but no large scale analyses have been published of LABA safety in children.
Since the introduction of the H1N1 influenza vaccine in the wake of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, many serious and nonserious adverse events related to the vaccine have been reported.
We describe a 59-year-old African-American man with severe chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who experienced a new-onset, generalized tonic-clonic seizure less than 1 hour after receiving the H1N1 vaccine. He had never experienced any reactions to previous seasonal influenza vaccines. His medical history, physical examination, and targeted investigations revealed no evidence of other potential etiologies for his seizure. After this event, the patient, who was discharged without anticonvulsant therapy, remained seizure free for the next 10 months. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a possible relationship (score of 4) between the patient's seizure and the receipt of the H1N1 vaccine.
This is the first case report, to our knowledge, to suggest a possible association between the H1N1 influenza vaccine and seizure. The mechanism of the association is unclear. Further case series may clarify the nature of the association.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitutes a growing health care problem worldwide. Integrated disease management (IDM) of mild to moderate COPD patients has been demonstrated to improve exercise capacity and health status after one year, but long-term results are currently lacking in primary care.
DVT and PE contribute to at least 100,000 deaths each year. In addition, 4% of patients with PE will progress to CTEPH and PTS will affect nearly 30%. Anticoagulation alone appears inadequate to prevent PTS in many patients. Newer treatment strategies, including PCDT, appear to offer the possibility of reducing the pain, suffering and expense of PTS especially in the most severe cases.
The NIH/NHLBI sponsored the ATTRACT trial, which will compare PCDT plus standard anticoagulation versus standard anticoagulation alone in patients with proximal DVT. The ATTRACT trial will enroll patients at both Miriam and RI Hospitals and is expected to add significantly to the research in this area. When successfully completed, results from the trial may guide therapy in the years ahead.