Cancer death rates are falling. Advances in lung cancer treatment are playing a major role.

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By Erika Edwards

Cancer death rates have declined steadily over the past several decades, falling by nearly a third since the early 1990s, according to a report published Wednesday by the American Cancer Society.

From 1991 to 2017, overall cancer deaths dropped by 29 percent, estimated at nearly 3 million avoided deaths.

Declines in mortality for four major cancers — breast, colon, lung and prostate — contributed largely to the decadeslong drop, with improved lung cancer survival playing a particularly significant role, according to the society’s annual look at cancer death rates, published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

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Risk Associated with Unapproved Products Derived from Stem Cells, Placenta, and Umbilical Cord Blood

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Recent events in our state and others have highlighted the risks to patients treated with unapproved stem cell, placental and umbilical cord blood-derived products. A recent incident involved individuals treated in Nebraska who became ill after receiving a product derived from C-section placentas, a subset of whom became bacteremic. The FDA recently issued a warning regarding unapproved products derived from stem cells.1 Today, the FDA has issued a patient safety notification warning of risks associated with products derived from stem cells and placentas, especially a product termed exosomes.2 These therapies are administered through intravenous injection, inhalation, or injection into joints or soft tissue. Nebraska DHHS continues to actively assess this situation along with our federal partners at the FDA and CDC.

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The Great American Smokeout® – November 21

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Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout event on November 21 be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of people who smoke across the country in taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing your cancer risk. Plus, the American Cancer Society can help you access the resources and support you need to quit.

Quitting starts here!

E-cigarettes are gaining traction in the research sector

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E-cigarettes are gaining traction in the research sector.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has issued a study which shows the use of e-cigarettes to enhance lung cancer in mice.  Read on for more information.  https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/10/01/1911321116

Electronic-Cigarettes: Health Impacts and Emerging Policy Implications

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LaDeana Smedlund, APRN, Dr. Radu Neamu, and Jennifer Miller, PhD, APRN of Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties, have collaborated to showcase the dangers of e-cigarettes and the unfortunate expansion of use. Current policy does not address the severe dangers and implications this can have on public health.  Read here for more information!

The Great American Smokeout®

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Quitting smoking isn’t easy. It takes time. And a plan. You don’t have to stop smoking in one day. Start with day one. Let the Great American Smokeout event on November 15 be your day to start your journey toward a smoke-free life. You’ll be joining thousands of smokers across the country in taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing your cancer risk. Plus, the American Cancer Society can help you access the resources and support you need to quit.

Quitting starts here.
Start Day One

Comparisons of measures used to screen for obstructive sleep apnea in patients referred to a sleep clinic

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Comparisons of measures used to screen for obstructive sleep apnea in patients referred to a sleep clinic

Jennifer N. Miller a, *, Kevin A. Kupzyk b, 1, Lani Zimmerman b, 1, Bunny Pozehl b, 1, Paula Schulz b, 1, Debra Romberger b, 1, Ann M. Berger b, 1

a Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties, LLC, 1500 S. 48th St. #800, Lincoln, NE, 68506, USA
b The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, 4111 Dewey Avenue, Omaha, NE, USA

link to study can be found here*

 

Study objectives: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) contributes to all-cause mortality. An American Academy
of Sleep Medicine task force is focusing on improving detection and categorization of OSA symptoms
and severity to promote screening, assessment, and diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to psychometrically
compare measures used in OSA screening (Berlin, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP
Bang) and a portable sleep monitor (PSM) to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and levels from polysomnogram
(PSG).
Methods: An observational, cross-sectional design was used. Patients referred to a sleep specialist were
enrolled at initial sleep evaluation. Participants completed measures used in OSA screening, then sent
home for one night using PSM. PSGs were ordered by the physician and AHI results were obtained from
the medical record.
Results: Participants (N ¼ 170) were enrolled in the study. Almost all participants completed the OSA
measures, approximately half-completed PSM measurement, and the majority completed laboratory
PSG. The STOP Bang had the highest levels of sensitivity; the ESS had the lowest. The ESS had the highest
specificity and reliability levels; the STOP Bang had the lowest. The PSM measure had the highest positive
predictive value (PPV) and the strongest psychometric properties of the screening measures.
Conclusions: The STOP Bang was the preferred self-report OSA screening measure because of high levels
of sensitivity. The ESS was the least desirable measure. PSM measurement consistently predicted the
presence of OSA but at the expense of low sensitivity at AHI levels 30. This expands the knowledge of
validity testing of screening measures used for OSA.
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Methodological strategies in using home sleep apnea testing in research and practice

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Methodological strategies in using home sleep apnea testing in research and practice

Jennifer N. Miller PhD, APRN-NP , Paula Schulz PhD, RN , Bunny Pozehl PhD, RN, APRN-NP, FAHA, FAAN , Douglas Fiedler M.D., FCCP , Alissa Fial, MA, MLIS , Ann M. Berger PhD, APRN, AOCNS, FAAN

link to study can be found here*

*Courtesy of Springer Nature

 

Home sleep apnea testing has increased due to improvements in technology, accessibility, and changes in the third party reimbursement requirements. Research studies using HSAT have not consistently reported procedures and methodological challenges. This paper had two objectives: (1) summarize the literature on the use of HSAT in research of adults and (2) identify methodological strategies to use in research and practice to standardize HSAT procedures and information.
Methods: Search strategy included studies of participants undergoing sleep testing for OSA using HSAT, MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase with the following search terms: “polysomnography,” “home,” level III,” “obstructive sleep apnea,” and “out of center testing.”
Results: Research articles that met inclusion criteria (n=34) inconsistently reported methods and methodological challenges in terms of: (a) participant sampling; (b) instrumentation issues; (c) clinical variables; (d) data processing; and (e) patient acceptability. Ten methodological strategies were identified for adoption when using HSAT in research and practice.
Conclusion: Future studies need to address the methodological challenged summarized in this paper as well as identify and report consistent HSAT procedures and information.

How to Manage Your Severe Asthma

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How to Manage Your Severe Asthma

Vinay Mehta, MD & John Trapp, MD

https://www.bryanhealth.com/bryan-health-radio/?item=35728

*Courtesy of Bryan Health

 

Doctors at Bryan Medical Center are the first in Nebraska to perform an innovative new procedure for severe asthma patients called bronchial thermoplasty (BT). It is an outpatient procedure for adults whose asthma is not controlled with medications.

In this segment, Dr. John Trapp, pulmonologist with Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties and Dr. Vinay Mehta, allergist-immunologist with Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates, discuss how Bryan Medical Center offers innovative severe asthma treatment with proven results that include fewer visits to the ED and fewer asthma attacks so that you can start enjoying life.

Air Quality & Its Effect On Those With Lung Issues

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As many of us know, Lincoln’s air quality has been affected by fires burning in Kansas.  Dr. Reichmuth spoke recently about how this could affect those with lung issues.

Channel 8 segment

Channel 10/11 segment