Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Comparative Study
Evaluation of clinical endobronchial ultrasound skills following clinical versus simulation training.
Endobronchial ultrasound with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a pulmonary procedure that can be challenging to learn. This study aims to compare trainee EBUS-TBNA performance during clinical procedures, following training with a computer EBUS-TBNA simulator versus conventional clinical EBUS-TBNA training. ⋯ EBUS-TBNA simulator use leads to rapid acquisition of clinical EBUS-TBNA skills comparable with that obtained with conventional training methods using practice on patients, suggesting that skills learned using an EBUS-TBNA simulator are transferable to clinical EBUS-TBNA performance. EBUS-TBNA simulators show promise for training, potentially minimizing the burden of procedural learning on patients.
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Comparative Study
Evaluation of the asthma control test: a reliable determinant of disease stability and a predictor of future exacerbations.
This study assessed the asthma control test (ACT) cut-off values for asthma control according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guideline in adults and the effectiveness of ACT scores in predicting exacerbations and serial changes in ACT scores over time in relation to treatment decisions. ⋯ Single measurement of ACT is useful for assessing asthma control, prediction of exacerbation and changes in treatment decisions.
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Comparative Study
Investigation of the urge-to-cough sensation in healthy volunteers.
Recently, there has been interest in the sensation of irritation that precedes the motor act of coughing, which has been termed the urge-to-cough (UTC). The aim of this study was to perform the largest evaluation to date of the UTC threshold (C(u)) in a healthy population. The specific aims were to investigate the relationship between C(u) and cough reflex sensitivity, to evaluate gender differences in the UTC and to assess the reproducibility of measurements of C(u). ⋯ These results demonstrate that the UTC threshold can be effectively and reproducibly measured using a modification of standard cough challenge methodology. Given its clinical significance as a prevalent symptom, UTC, as measured by C(u), represents an additional relevant end point for studies investigating the effects of pharmacological and other interventions in cough and cough reflex sensitivity.
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Comparative Study
Clinical efficacy of macrolide antibiotics against genetically determined macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in paediatric patients.
Since 2000, the prevalence of macrolide-resistant (MR) Mycoplasma pneumoniae has increased among paediatric patients in Japan. To determine the efficacy of macrolides against MR M. pneumoniae pneumonia, microbiological and clinical efficacies were compared during the antibiotic treatment. ⋯ The microbiological and clinical efficacies of macrolides for treating patients with MR M. pneumoniae pneumonia were low. These results show that macrolides are clearly less effective in patients with MR M. pneumoniae pneumonia.
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The solid-phase immunoassay, semi-quantitative procalcitonin (PCT) test (B R A H M S PCT-Q) can be used to rapidly categorize PCT levels into four grades. However, the usefulness of this kit for determining the prognosis of adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is unclear. ⋯ The semi-quantitative PCT test and the A-DROP scale were found to be useful for predicting mortality in adult patients with CAP.