Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Antibiotic Therapy In Preventing Exacerbations Of Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Jamie Trautner

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive disease that has no cure but is treatable. The treatment goal is to have adequate symptom control, decreased exacerbations, prevent hospitalizations and maintain an independent quality of life.

• The review of literature is to determine if the benefits of long-term antimicrobial therapy outweigh the risks in the treatment of severe COPD.

• The gold standard for pharmacotherapy consists of inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators (long-acting beta2agonist (LABA).

• Adding azithromycin to standard therapy for patients with frequent exacerbations showed a 27% reduction in exacerbation frequency.

• With prolonged use of antimicrobials …

Decreased Mortality Of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension In Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy And Down Syndrome, Mitchell Volin

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

The genetic cause of significant disorders like Down syndrome (DS) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is well documented. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a co-morbid condition, is tied to mortality among these groups. Individuals with the ability to communicate their symptoms and actively participate in treatment are at an advantage with subsequent benefit. DS and DMD significantly decrease physical ability and communication capacity. Genetic research has allowed for earlier identification of, or predisposition for, the development of PAH. Work has also progressed toward manipulation at the genetic level to decrease the severity and even eradicate the cardiopulmonary disorder. This information is …