Results Participants were allocated to vitamin D 3 vs. placebo in equal numbers; 82% were vitamin D insufficient at baseline. Vitamin D 3 supplementation did not influence time to first severe exacerbation (aHR 1.02, 95% CI 0.69-1.53, P = 0.91) or time to first URI (aHR 0.87, 95% CI 0.64-1.16, P = 0.34). The influence of vitamin D 3 on co-primary outcomes was not modified by baseline vitamin D status or genotype. Of 16 pre-specified secondary outcomes, only one showed a difference between arms: vitamin D supplementation induced a modest improvement in respiratory quality of life as evidenced by a reduction in mean total score for the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire at 2 months (-3.9 points, p = 0.005), 6 months (-3.7 points, p = 0.038) and 12 months (-3.3 points, p = 0.060). Conclusions Vitamin D 3 supplementation did not influence time to exacerbation or URI in a population of adults with ICS-treated asthma with a high prevalence of baseline vitamin D insufficiency. Introduction Severe Asthma, characterised by persistent symptoms despite maximal medical therapy, represents 5% of asthma cases. Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) is a novel therapy, NICE approved for Severe Asthma patients uncontrolled despite step 4/5 of British Guideline on Asthma Management. BT delivers radiofrequency thermal energy to airways distal to the main-stem bronchi, permanently reducing airway smooth muscle mass. It is unknown whether treatment of smooth muscle hypertrophy impacts persistently upon systemic signs of allergic inflammation. Peripheral blood eosinophils (PBEs) are a marker of allergic inflammation in asthma. We asked: does BT modify signs of allergic inflammation as measured by PBEs and if so, does this effect persist over time? Method A retrospective review of 15 consecutive Severe Asthma cases treated with BT was performed. Serial PBEs measured before and up to 1 year after BT were compared. Blood eosino-phil levels taken peri-procedure were excluded from analysis due to standard protocol concomitant steroid therapy. For time to first detectable high PBE all available post-BT PBE levels were assessed. Results 13 patients had PBE data before and after BT, with an average of 9 and 12 serial PBE levels pre and post-BT respectively. Mean PBE 1 year pre-BT was 0.33 Â 10 9 /L falling to a mean of 0.16 Â 10 9 /L 1 year post-BT (p < 0.05) (see Figure). 9 of 13 patients had a fall in mean PBE, in 2 of 13 levels rouse and 1 of 13 mean PBEs were unchanged post-BT. In 6 patients who converted from normal to high PBE post-BT, average time to first high PBE (>0.4 Â 10 9 /L) was 7 months (range 1-13 months). In 5 patients (38%) PBE remained within normal range persistently post BT. Conclusion Severe Asthma patients undergoing BT had a significant reduction in average peripheral blood eosinophil levels from baseline. In over 1/3 of cases this effect was persistent 1 year post procedure. These findings support the concept that BT not only reduces asthma-associated smooth muscle hypertrophy but impacts upon systemic markers of allergic i...

The VA NSQIP methods and risk models in general and vascular surgery were fully applicable to PS hospitals. Thirty-day postoperative morbidity in PS hospitals was reduced with the implementation of the NSQIP.