The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an asthma education program on morbidity, knowledge, and compliance with inhaled corticosteroid treatment using a prospective, randomized, controlled, one-year-before/one-year-after protocol. After rigorous optimization of asthma therapy under the care of respirologists, patients were assigned to one of three groups: Group C (control group: no formal education), Group P (education and action plan based on peak-flow monitoring), and Group S (education with action plan based on monitoring of asthma symptoms). A total of 188 subjects with moderate to severe asthma were enrolled and 149 completed the study. Asthma morbidity decreased significantly in all groups (p = 0.001). Mean values one-year-before/one-year-after in Groups C, P, and S were: unscheduled medical visits, 2.4/0.8, 2.3/0.7, and 1.9/ 0.7; hospitalizations, 0.21/0.04, 0.24/0.04, and 0.40/0.09; oral steroid treatments; 1.3/0.5, 1.2/0.7, and 1.3/0.9; absenteeism from work/school, 9.6/5.2, 8.8/2.2, and 6.3/2.9. Between-group differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Asthma knowledge increased in both educated groups compared with the control group (p < 0.001) as did short-term compliance with inhaled corticosteroids. These results confirm that treatment optimization coupled with sustained high quality care in motivated patients can lead to a significant decrease in asthma morbidity. In such clinical settings, structured asthma education significantly improved short-term compliance with treatment and knowledge about asthma, although it could not add extra benefit with regard to morbidity. Nevertheless, this study does not refute the potential benefit of educational interventions aimed at improving asthma-related morbidity over a longer time period or in patients with less optimal care or with high-risk factors.

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Although the assessment of CHB still has to be improved in HIV-positive patients, the negative impact of HIV on the virological, histological and clinical evolution of CHB seems to be disappearing, probably because of the immunovirological impact of HAART and the more frequent and longer use of HBV therapy.

In multivariate analysis, a leukocyte score that adds 1 point each for neutropenia, lymphopenia and monocytopenia was associated with 30-day mortality in 192 patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. By reflecting immunoparalysis, this score could improve clinical outcome predictions in BPP.

Through a survey of the literature and an analysis of selected national and regional statistics, a review of the incidence of osteoporosis and its consequences was performed. Results illustrate that the consequences of osteoporosis are preventable and should sensitize clinicians to the importance of early detection and the identification of risk factors for disease prevention and to early treatment once disease has been established. A marked increase in the annual incidence of hip fractures in all Canadians is noted. Whereas the incidence was less than 20,000 in 1981, the incidence of hip fracture grew to 27,342 in 1995, with 73% occurring in women. It is estimated that in Canada at least one in four women older than 50 years will have one or more osteoporosis-related fractures in their lifetimes. The consequences of these fractures are considerable, both for patients and healthcare services. Only half of all victims regain total autonomy, and the total direct costs in Canada stemming from osteoporosis are estimated to be $1.3 billion per year.