Previous nationwide surveys of allergies in the United States have focused on nasal symptoms, but ocular symptoms are also relevant. This study determines the effects of ocular and nasal allergies on patients' lives. Telephone surveys of randomly selected U.S. households (the patient survey) and health care providers (provider survey) were conducted in the United States in 2012. Study participants were 2765 people ≥5 years of age who had ever been diagnosed with nasal or ocular allergies and 500 health care providers in seven specialties. Respondents to the patient survey reported a bimodal seasonal distribution of allergy symptoms, with peaks in March to May and September. Nasal congestion was the most common of the symptoms rated as "extremely bothersome" (39% of respondents), followed by red, itchy eyes (34%; p = 0.84 for difference in extreme bothersomeness of nasal and ocular symptoms). Twenty-nine percent of respondents reported that their or their child's daily life was impacted "a lot" when allergy symptoms were at their worst. Workers rated their mean productivity at 29% lower when allergy symptoms were at their worst (p < 0.001 compared with no symptoms). Providers reported that itchy eyes was the symptom causing most patients to seek medical treatment by pediatricians (73%), ophthalmologist/optometrists (72%), and nurse practitioners or physician assistants (62%), whereas nasal congestion was the symptom causing most patients to seek treatment from otolaryngologists (85%), allergist/immunologists (79%), and family medicine practitioners (64%). Ocular and nasal allergy symptoms substantially affected patients' lives and were comparable in their impact.

The functional assessment of the response to bronchodilators in 2- to 5-year-old asthmatic children is technically difficult. For this reason, there have been no reports on the effects of long-acting bronchodilators, such as salmeterol, in this age group. Of the several techniques available for measuring resistance to airflow, forced oscillation remains the most adaptable to young children and the most practical for research and clinical use. In this stud we used the Jaeger MasterScreen Impulse Oscillometry System to assess the response of 2 to 5 year-old asthmatic children to an inhaled long-acting bronchodilator, salmeterol, by comparing it to the effect of a standard dose of the short-acting bronchodilator, albuterol. We performed a placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study in 10 children aged 2 to 5 years who had a history of physician-diagnosed asthma and who were not on regular controller therapy. At weekly intervals after baseline measurements of reversibility, each child received two inhalations from an albuterol metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer (200 microg), or placebo MDI with spacer, or two inhalations from a salmeterol MDI (50 microg), or 50 microg from a salmeterol Diskus. Measurements were obtained at 5, 30, 60, 360, and 540 min, the last time interval only on the salmeterol days. Based on previous studies, total respiratory system reactance at 5 Hz (X5), calculated by the MasterScreen computer from mouth pressure and flow data, was used as the primary efficacy variable. The mean intra-individual variability in X5 was 10.5% (range 3.6% to 17.9%). The mean (SE) changes from baseline X5 at each time point were as follows: for placebo, 9.6 (3.0), 10.1 (2.6), 5.1 (2.9), 6.1 (3.5), p=0.36 vs. baseline; after treatment with albuterol, 32.7 (3.8), 53.9 (1.2), 47.3 (5.4), 18.1 (5.8), p<0.01 vs. baseline at all time points; after salmeterol MDI, 16 (6.4), 28.9 (5.2), 32.7 (3.9), 34.6 (4.4), 31.2 (4.8), p<0.05 at 60, 360, and 540 min; and after salmeterol Diskus, 16.4 (4.0), 16.9 (6.6), 27.8 (5.9), 28.6 (5.6), 33.8 (4.0), p<0.05 at 540 min. No significant adverse events or electrocardiographic changes were noted at any time. Impulse oscillometry is an acceptable method of assessing airway responses to bronchoactive drugs in this age group. Compared to albuterol and to its effect in older children and adults, the response to salmeterol Diskus appears to be somewhat blunted in this age group. The MasterScreen system is well suitedfor pharmacodynamic studies and clinical investigations in pre-school-aged children.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive and debilitating but preventable and treatable disease characterized by cough, phlegm, dyspnea, and fixed or incompletely reversible airway obstruction. Most patients with COPD rely on primary care practices for COPD management. Unfortunately, only about 55% of US outpatients with COPD receive all guideline-recommended care. Proactive and consistent primary care for COPD, as for many other chronic diseases, can reduce hospitalizations. Optimal chronic disease management requires focusing on maintenance rather than merely acute rescue. The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), which implements the chronic care model, is a promising framework for primary care transformation. This review presents core PCMH concepts and proposes multidisciplinary team-based PCMH care strategies for COPD.

Prevalence of AmpC in E. coli remains low in our area. Plasmid acquisition (CMY type) represents the main mechanism of AmpC production. A high proportion of community-acquired isolates and patients with no identifiable risk factors were found. Previous use of fluoroquinolones was identified as a risk factor.

The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiology and clinical features of bloodstream infections due to Escherichia coli producing AmpC β-lactamases (AmpC-Ec-BSI). In a multi-centre case-control study, all third-generation-cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli BSI (3GC-Ec-BSI) isolates were analysed. Acquired bla (bla) detection was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. Chromosomal bla (bla) expression was quantified by real-time PCR. Cases were patients with AmpC-Ec-BSI. Controls were patients with cephalosporin-susceptible E. coli BSI, matched 1:1 by sex and age. Demographics, comorbidities, intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors for antimicrobial resistance, clinical presentation and outcomes were investigated. Among 841 E. coli BSI, 17 were caused by AmpC-Ec (2 %). Eleven isolates (58.8 %) had bla and six were bla overproducers. The mean age of cases was 66.2 years and 71 % were men. Cases were more frequently healthcare-related (82 vs. 52 % controls, p < 0.05) and presented more intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors. At least one risk factor was present in 94.1 % of cases vs. 41.7 % of controls (p = 0.002). Severity and length of stay (LOS) were higher among cases (mean Pitt Score 2.6 vs. 0.38 in controls, p = 0.03; LOS 17.5 days vs. 6 in controls, p = 0.02). Inappropriate empirical therapy (IET) was administered to 70.6 % of cases and 23.5 % of controls (p < 0.003). No differences were found in terms of cure rate at the 14th day and mortality. Bloodstream infections due to AmpC-Ec (mostly plasmid-mediated) are infrequent in our area. AmpC-Ec-BSI affects mainly patients with intrinsic risk factors and those with previous antibiotic exposure. A high proportion received IET.