Debra Gordon

One expert calls it "HIV all over again," but the revolution in hepatitis C treatment has taken place more quickly. And the new drugs act more quickly and effectively.

Among the information of interest to primary care: Asymptomatic smokers may show signs of COPD, and what to do about it. How to treat obstructive sleep apnea as effectively as a sleep center. And things you may not know about inhalers.

A panel of physiological markers of respiratory function adds significantly to the predictive value of clinical prognostic factors such as forced expiratory volume and age.

Despite widespread concern about the use of these drugs for patients with asthma and allergies, a review of the evidence shows that (used as recommended) there is very little risk from introducing a steroid into the upper respiratory system on a fairly regular basis, even for a child.

As one of 17 medical organizations collaborating in the nationwide "Choosing Wisely" campaign to help doctors and patients work together to reduce unwarranted testing, the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology has made five suggested topics for discussion. Your patients with asthma and allergies may begin to raise the subject.

Troubling new evidence from the CDC raises questions about how COPD is not being adequately diagnosed and treated in many patients.

The test can improve outcomes for COPD, but a new review outlines revised standards that call for going beyond spirometry to assess the status of patients with the condition.

At the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, held early this month in Florida, specialists learned a great deal that is important to primary care. Among the most noteworthy presentations: Why primary care isn't following asthma guidelines, the importance of body weight in asthma treatment, and the future of sublingual allergy drugs.

The combination of electronic medical records and office-based genomic profiling, both on the visible horizon, could herald a coming era when asthma treatments are more rational and less empirical.

The revised GOLD guidelines redefine treatment objectives, change standards for the use of spirometry, and redefine exacerbation, with special emphasis on comorbidities.

The evidence from a large risk surveillance is robust. The study even controlled for intake of fruits, vegetables, water, and juice. Here are suggestions for patients who may find it difficult to break the habit.