November 2009 Press ReleaseNEWS BRIEFS FROM THE November ISSUE OF CHESTACETAMINOPHEN MAY BE LINKED TO ASTHMA IN CHILDREN AND ADULTSincreased risk of asthma and wheezing in both children and adults exposed to the drug. Researchers from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of 19 clinical studies (total subjects=425,140) that compared the risk of asthma or wheezing with acetaminophen exposure. The analysis showed that the pooled odds ratio (odds ratio for all studies combined) for asthma among users of acetaminophen was 1.63. The risk of asthma in children who used acetaminophen in the year prior to asthma diagnosis or in the first year of life was elevated to 1.60 and 1.47, respectively. Furthermore, results showed a slight increase in the risk of asthma and wheezing with prenatal use of acetaminophen by mothers. Researchers speculate that acetaminophen’s lack of inhibition of cyclooxygenase, the key enzyme involved in the inflammatory response of asthma, may be one explanation for the potential link between acetaminophen use and asthma. This study is published in the November issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. INAPPROPRIATE SEPSIS THERAPY LEADS TO FIVEFOLD REDUCTION IN SURVIVALPatients experiencing septic shock may have a fivefold reduction in survival, shows a new study. Researchers from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, retrospectively reviewed the cases of 5,715 patients with septic shock to determine the appropriateness of initial antimicrobial therapy, clinical infection site, and relevant pathogens. Results showed that inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy occurred in 20 percent of patients, and the overall survival was 43.7 percent. Survival after appropriate and inappropriate initial therapy was 52 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively. Furthermore, the decrease in survival with inappropriate initial therapy ranged from 2.3-fold for pneumococcal infection to 17.6-fold with primary bacteremia. Researchers conclude that efforts to increase the frequency of appropriateness of initial antimicrobial therapy must be central to efforts to reduce mortality from septic shock. The article is published in the November issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES MAY HAVE BENEFITS FOR WOMEN WITH ASTHMANew research shows that during natural menstrual cycles, women with asthma who were not taking oral contraceptives (OC) had lower exhaled nitric oxide levels (eNO), a marker of airway inflammation associated with asthma, than women who were taking OC. Researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, Canada, studied 17 women with asthma during their menstrual cycles. Results showed that individuals not using oral contraceptives (OC) had higher mean eNO levels than women using OC. Furthermore, among women not using oral contraceptives, an increase in estrogen levels was associated with a decrease in eNO, while an increase in progesterone was significantly associated with an increase in eNO. Researchers speculate that OC may have a potential role in the management of premenopausal women with asthma. This article is published in the November issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. Contact:
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