Better recognition of this subset of asthma can lead to improved healthcare.\n\nRecent findings\n\nKey recent observations in severe asthma include demographic characterizations of several large study populations and the increasing understanding that relative steroid resistance is a virtually universal feature. In addition, strong associations with interleukin-13 and mammalian chitinase have emerged, and abnormalities

of endogenous anti-inflammatory pathways have been examined. The role of protein biomarkers to identify and delineate severe asthma is now being investigated. The pathogenic significance of each of these observations is still being clarified, but it appears that severe asthma may have mechanistic underpinnings distinct from that of mild or moderate asthma.\n\nSummary\n\nSevere asthma is a discrete, but variably defined phenotype selleck screening library of asthma. Steroid resistance is extremely common, patients may require doses of inhaled steroids for control that

exceed usual guidelines and may also require multiple controller agents. New mechanistic insights could provide important avenues for novel therapeutic interventions.”
“Background/aims: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, obstetrical and fetal complication rates of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in patients managed actively Napabucasin purchase around 38 weeks and evaluate the correlation of these results with liver function tests and bile acids. Material and Methods: In this cohort study 3710 women were booked for delivery, of which 32 pregnant women were diagnosed as intrahepatic Napabucasin ic50 cholestasis of pregnancy. All data concerning obstetric- medical history, laboratory results, symptom onset time, pruritus degree, treatment response, and delivery time and infants information were recorded in the study protocol. Statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS 12.0 version and correlations were assessed by Spearman

Rank correlation analysis. Results: The incidence of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy was 0.86%. The symptoms appeared around 32 weeks. 16.6% multiparas had a previously affected pregnancy and 21.8% of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients had family history of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Symptom onset varied according to season (p<0.05). Most patients (69.5%) were diagnosed in winter and the beginning of spring. There were no reported cases of clinical maternal jaundice, bleeding tendency or stillbirth. Pruritus was decreased by ursodeoxycholic acid treatment. Total bile acids tended to be higher in patients with preterm delivery (r=0.409, p=0.038). Conclusion: Total bile acids are correlated with preterm delivery. An attempt to deliver at around 38 weeks may improve perinatal outcome.”
“Insulin oedema is a rare complication of insulin therapy for diabetes mellitus.