There is increasing recognition that health behaviors may contribute to outcomes following COVID-19, but information on the role of alcohol use is limited.

Identifying biomarkers is vital for interstitial lung disease (ILD) management and prognostication. While anti-Ro52 antibodies are frequently detected in autoimmune diseases, their significance in ILD remains unclear.

Surrogates are often required to participate in the informed consent process for critical care research, though how to best engage surrogates in this process remains unclear.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a high-risk finding in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and independently associated with increased mortality.

Functional status and frailty are important considerations in lung transplant (LT) candidacy due to the potential impact on post LT outcomes. Once listed, waitlist duration can be unpredictable, and preservation of functional capacity is thus critical to prevent deterioration in conditioning. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) has been deemed to be a cornerstone of management of chronic lung disease, and its role is often emphasized in lung transplantation.

The routine use of computed tomography and lung cancer screening has increased the incidence of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Sampling may be needed for some nodules. Many new technologies are available to improve the diagnostic performance of bronchoscopy for the sampling of PPLs, but few comparative trials exist. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of bronchoscopy with radial endobronchial ultrasound (rEBUS) using an ultrathin bronchoscope (BF-MP190F, Olympus) with a non-ultrathin bronchoscope, and to compare the diagnostic performance of bronchoscopy with and without rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE).

Becoming a clinician requires not only the accumulation of medical knowledge but also the development of a professional identity. The humanities may illuminate how professional and personal experiences shape identity, support meaning-making, and foster resilience through reflection and creative expression.

Challenges facing health care professionals (HCPs) in selecting an inhaled medication-delivery system for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include: 1. numerous maintenance medications and combinations; 2. at least 22 different handheld inhaler devices; 3. management recommendations focusing mainly on classes of medications; 4. lack of knowledge about available medications/combinations, delivery systems, and guidelines/expert recommendations for treating patients with COPD; 5. in some countries, contracts between health insurance and pharmaceutical companies limit which medications-devices are covered. In this article we address three considerations for HCPs related to treating patients with COPD: selecting an inhaled delivery system; assessing whether the inhaled medication-device has provided symptomatic benefit; and providing educational materials for patients on how to use their prescribed medication-device correctly. Four patient cases are presented to illustrate these clinical aspects. The main patient factors for selecting an inhaled delivery system include cognitive function, manual dexterity, and inhalation ability. Continuity of the type of handheld inhaler can be beneficial if the patient is using it correctly. To assess the efficacy of the inhaled medication-device at follow-up, HCPs can ask the patient, "Does your current treatment help your breathing?" If the response is Yes, it is appropriate to continue the therapy and to also review inhaler technique; if the response is No, then the next step is to assess the patient's inhaler technique as well as adherence. If the patient demonstrates and/or describes good technique, is adherent, and does not report subjective benefit, it is reasonable to change the medication and/or device.

Airway inflammation is a hallmark feature of asthma characterized by elevated eosinophils and/or neutrophils. Eosinophils in sputum can contribute to ventilation defects. The functional consequence of other types of cellularity on ventilation is unknown.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is one of the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths in high-income countries. Maternal mortality from PE has been attributed to delayed recognition and investigations. The diagnosis of PE may be challenging, as its early signs and symptoms may overlap with physiologic changes of pregnancy. As such, promptly ruling out suspected PE using diagnostic testing is of paramount importance. In this narrative review, we provide a contemporary overview of risk assessment tools, diagnostic modalities, counseling needs, and existing best practice guidance for the diagnosis of PE in pregnancy.

Accurate risk prediction of exacerbations is pivotal in severe asthma management. Multiple risk factors are at play, but the pathway of risk prediction remains unclear.

Low spirometry testing rate for screening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is partly attributed to complex procedures, stringent quality control requirements, and long examination times. Simplifying the spirometry protocol may increase the feasibility of COPD screening in community settings.