A charter to improve patient care in severe asthma

Severe asthma is a subtype of asthma that is difficult to treat and control. By conservative estimates, severe asthma affects approximately 5-10% of patients with asthma worldwide. Severe asthma impairs patients' health-related quality of life, and patients are at risk of life-threatening asthma attacks. Severe asthma also accounts for the majority of health care expenditures associated with asthma. Guidelines recommend that patients with severe asthma be referred to a specialist respiratory team for correct diagnosis and expert management. This is particularly important to ensure that they have access to newly available biologic treatments. However, many patients with severe asthma can suffer multiple asthma attacks and wait several years before they are referred for specialist care. As global patient advocates, we believe it is essential to raise awareness and understanding for patients, caregivers, health care professionals, and the public about the substantial impact of severe asthma and to create opportunities for improving patient care. Patients should be empowered to live a life free of symptoms and the adverse effects of traditional medications (e.g., oral corticosteroids), reducing hospital visits and emergency care, the loss of school and work days, and the constraints placed on their daily lives. Here we provide a Patient Charter for severe asthma, consisting of six core principles, to mobilize national governments, health care providers, payer policymakers, lung health industry partners, and patients/caregivers to address the unmet need and burden in severe asthma and ultimately work together to deliver meaningful improvements in care.Funding for this study, the article processing charges, and the open access charge was provided by AstraZeneca

American Geographical Society of New York Records, 1723-2010, bulk 1854-2000

Correspondence between Isaiah Bowman and Walter H. Mallory, Executive Secretary of the China International Famine Relief Commission, regarding his book on famines in China. Includes "Brief Outline of a Survey of the Economic Effects of Foreign Trade on the People of China.

Acetabular Orientation: Anterolateral Approach in the Supine Position

The anterolateral approach in the supine position provides excellent visualization of the acetabulum. The main advantage of the approach, a low dislocation rate, has been demonstrated in the literature, while the purported disadvantage of abductor dysfunction has not been clearly delineated in the literature. The technique requires meticulous attention to preservation of the gluteus medius and minimus tendons. Impingement and dislocation are avoided by careful attention to the preparation of acetabulum, critical assessment of the implanted components, and intraoperative trialing. Leg lengths are assessed through direct palpation of the malleoli. Routine use of postoperative hip precautions is not necessary when this approach is utilized. The anterolateral approach in the supine position allows for a reproducible result with a low dislocation rate