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- Tarnoki, Adam Domonkos, et al.
(author)
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Lumbar spine abnormalities in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea
- 2021
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Previous studies suggested cervical spondylosis as a risk factor for development of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). We aimed to assess lumbar disc degeneration in patients with OSA and correlate the findings with symptoms and disease severity. Twenty-seven patients with OSA and 29 non-OSA controls underwent sleep studies and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the 24-item Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) questionnaires. Plasma klotho was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients with OSA had higher number of disc bulges (4.6 ± 3.7 vs. 1.7 ± 2.5, p < 0.01) and anterior spondylophytes (2.7 ± 4.2 vs. 0.8 ± 2.1, p < 0.01), increased disc degeneration (total Pfirrmann score 16.7 ± 4.7 vs. 13.2 ± 4.1, p < 0.01) and vertebral fatty degeneration (7.8 ± 4.7 vs. 3.8 ± 3.7, p < 0.01). There was no difference in the RMDQ score (0/0-3.5/ vs. 0/0-1/, p > 0.05). Markers of OSA severity, including the oxygen desaturation index and percentage of total sleep time spent with saturation < 90% as well as plasma levels of klotho were correlated with the number of disc bulges and anterior spondylophytes (all p < 0.05). OSA is associated with lumbar spondylosis. Our study highlights the importance of lumbar imaging in patients with OSA reporting lower back pain.
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2. |
- Mathioudakis, Alexander G., et al.
(author)
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ERS/EAACI statement on adherence to international adult asthma guidelines
- 2021
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In: European Respiratory Review. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0905-9180 .- 1600-0617. ; 30:161
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Guidelines aim to standardise and optimise asthma diagnosis and management. Nevertheless, adherence to guidelines is suboptimal and may vary across different healthcare professional (HCP) groups. Further to these concerns, this European Respiratory Society (ERS)/European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) statement aims to: 1) evaluate the understanding of and adherence to international asthma guidelines by HCPs of different specialties via an international online survey; and 2) assess strategies focused at improving implementation of guideline-recommended interventions, and compare process and clinical outcomes in patients managed by HCPs of different specialties via systematic reviews. The online survey identified discrepancies between HCPs of different specialties which may be due to poor dissemination or lack of knowledge of the guidelines but also a reflection of the adaptations made in different clinical settings, based on available resources. The systematic reviews demonstrated that multifaceted quality improvement initiatives addressing multiple challenges to guidelines adherence are most effective in improving guidelines adherence. Differences in outcomes between patients managed by generalists or specialists should be further evaluated. Guidelines need to consider the heterogeneity of real-life settings for asthma management and tailor their recommendations accordingly. Continuous, multifaceted quality improvement processes are required to optimise and maintain guidelines adherence. Validated referral pathways for uncontrolled asthma or uncertain diagnosis are needed.
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3. |
- Schleich, Florence, et al.
(author)
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Research highlights from the 2018 European Respiratory Society International Congress : airway disease
- 2019
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In: ERJ Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 5:1
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The annual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress (held in Paris in 2018) was once again a platform for discussion of the highest-quality scientific research, cutting-edge techniques and innovative new therapies within the respiratory field. This article discusses only some of the high-quality research studies presented at this year's Congress, with a particular focus on airway diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis and cough, as presented through Assembly 5 of the ERS (Airway Diseases: Asthma and COPD). The authors establish the key take-home messages of these studies, compare their findings and place them in the context of current understanding.
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