Topic Overviews

• CME/CE Critical Care
  Physicians - maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™
  Nurses - 1.0 nursing contact hours (None of these credits is in the area of pharmacology)
  • New Advances in Mechanical Ventilation
    Neil MacIntyre, MD
  • Care of the Transplant Patient
    Steven Nathan, MD
  • What's New in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
    Andrew Shorr, MD, MPH
• CME/CE Pulmonary Disease
  Physicians - maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)™
  Nurses - 1.25 nursing contact hours (0.25 of these credits are in the area of pharmacology)
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria: Update on Diagnosis and Treatment
    Christopher J. Lettieri, MD
  • Interstitial Lung Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension
    Oksana Shlobin
  • New Data on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    Jill Ohar, MD

Conference News

• Clevidipine in the ER: A New Option for Severe, Acute Hypertension?Results of a new trial with clevidipine, an investigational calcium-channel blocker with an ultrashort half-life of less than one minute, show the drug has promise in patients presenting to the emergency room with an acute severe episode of hypertension.
  Heartwire, November 1, 2007
• "Tattooing" Suspicious Nodules Through Bronchoscopy Helps to Target ThoracotomyStaining indeterminant solitary pulmonary nodules via bronchoscopy allows visualization and isolation on thoracotomy.
  Medscape Medical News, October 26, 2007
• Residents Overestimate Time When Performing CPRNew physicians lose track of time when performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which could adversely affect success rates.
  Medscape Medical News, October 26, 2007
• Bosentan Plus Sildenafil Improves Hemodynamics in PAHData from a large registry show that combination therapy for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with sildenafil and bosentan improves hemodynamics and may delay progression of disease.
  Reuters Health, October 26, 2007
• Corticosteroids May Prevent Lung Disease Progression in First RespondersProphylactic use of inhaled corticosteroids reduced respiratory symptoms and improved quality of life of firefighters and other emergency responders to the World Trade Center collapse of 9/11.
  Reuters Health, October 26, 2007
• Half of Emphysema Patients Benefit From Investigational Bronchial ValveA new umbrella-style device (IBV Valve, Spiration Inc., Redmond, WA) effectively blocks airflow to diseased lung regions in patients with emphysema. Patients report an improved quality of life, and the device can be safely removed, if need be.
  Reuters Health, October 25, 2007
• Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty Usually Improves Sleep ApneaA surgical procedure virtually resolves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in about one-third of patients, and for others it reduces the level of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) needed.
  Reuters Health, October 25, 2007
• Infrared Imaging of Nasal Airflow Appears Effective in the Diagnosis of Sleep ApneaInfrared imaging, when used for the diagnosis of sleep apnea, does not interfere with patients' sleep.
  Medscape Medical News, October 24, 2007
• Remote ICU Care Linked to Reduced Mortality in Critically Ill PatientsTele-intensivist monitoring of intensive care units not only reduces financial burden but also improves patient outcomes.
  Medscape Medical News, October 24, 2007
• Incorrect Use of Dry Powder Inhalers CommonOne in three patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) use their dry-powder inhalers improperly, researchers told attendees here at CHEST 2007, the 73rd scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians.
  Reuters Health, October 24, 2007
• One-Year Delay in Diagnosis Typical for Pulmonary HypertensionA study shows that most patients experience a one-year delay between the onset of symptoms and a confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), researchers reported here at CHEST 2007, the scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians.
  Reuters Health, October 24, 2007
• CME Hypnotherapy Outperforms Other Treatment Approaches for Smoking CessationAt 6 months, half of all previous smokers who received hypnotherapy remained successful at quitting smoking.
  Medscape Medical News, October 23, 2007
• Six Sigma Practices Reduce In-Hospital Mortality of PneumoniaA performance improvement system called Six Sigma results in a nearly 50% reduction in mortality in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), investigators at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, report.
  Reuters Health, October 23, 2007
• Motivation in Smoking Cessation Tied to Age of SmokerA study of more than 2,000 smokers shows that younger smokers are more concerned about cost, odors and oral health, while older smokers are more concerned about major health threats. Success in helping patients to quit is improved if the treatment approach is tailored to that patient.
  Reuters Health, October 22, 2007