chronic cough are presented in algorithmic form (Fig 1-3). Guidelines with algorithms for evaluating chronic cough in pediatric patients < 15 years of age are presented in the section entitled "Guidelines for Evaluating Chronic Cough in Pediatrics" 2,4 [Fig 4, 5]. For a full discussion on how to use the algorithms, please refer to these sections. Summary and Recommendations Recommendations for each section of these guidelines are listed under their respective section titles. For an in-depth discussion or clarification of each recommendation, readers are encouraged to read the specific section in question in its entirety. Methodology and Grading of the Evidence for the Diagnosis and Management of Cough 5 • The recommendations were graded, by consensus by the panel, using the American College of Chest Physicians Health and Science Policy Grading System, which is based on the following two components: quality of evidence; and the net benefit of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. • The quality of evidence is rated according to the study design and strength of other methodologies used in the included studies.

Background-Low-income African American adults in Chicago have disproportionately high asthma morbidity and mortality rates. Interventions that improve asthma self-efficacy for appropriate self-management behaviors may ultimately improve asthma control in this population.

We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to prospectively confirm that ultrasound-directed transbronchial needle aspiration (USTBNA) results in: (1) improved sensitivity for detecting lymph nodes involved with neoplasm, and (2) a decreased number of aspirates needed to achieve a diagnosis as compared with standard transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA). The study was conducted in a tertiary medical center on patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the evaluation of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes. USTBNA or TBNA were followed by rapid, on-site cytopathology examination of the collected specimens. Measurements included the (1) age and sex of the patient, prior diagnosis of cancer, nodal short-axis diameter and node location as determined by computerized tomography (CT), and endobronchial abnormalities at bronchoscopy; (2) number, order, and location of transbronchial aspirates and results of on-site evaluation; (3) results of surgical exploration in patients with negative transbronchial needle aspiration; (4) sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of USTBNA and TBNA; (5) number of aspirates required for successful lymph node aspiration as well as for a diagnosis of cancer for both USTBNA and TBNA; and (6) multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the significance of combinations of clinical predictors and needle aspirate results. Eighty-two bronchoscopic examinations were performed on 80 patients. We found no significant difference between USTBNA and TBNA in sensitivity (82.6% versus 90.5%, respectively), specificity (100% for both), or diagnostic accuracy (86.7% versus 91.7%, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of USTBNA and TBNA were similarly high, regardless of node location (paratracheal or subcarinal). A decrease in the number of aspirates required for lymph node sampling approached statistical significance for all USTBNAs as compared with TBNAs (2.03 +/- 0.19 versus 2.62 +/- 0.25, p = 0.06), but this was not demonstrated for the number required to confirm cancer (1.95 +/- 0.47 versus 2.68 +/- 0.21, p = 0.17). The number of aspirates to successful lymph node aspiration decreased with USTBNA versus TBNA in paratracheal lymph nodes (2.00 +/- 0.20 versus 2.91 +/- 0.34, p = 0.03), but not to a diagnosis of cancer (1.93 +/- 0.25 versus 3.00 +/- 0.58, p = 0.11). No difference was seen in the number of aspirates for subcarinal nodes. The number of TBNA attempts for paratracheal lymph node sampling was inversely correlated with node size (r = 0.48, p = 0.02). No such relation was seen with USTBNA of paratracheal nodes (r = 0.09, p = 0.66), TBNA of subcarinal nodes, or USTBNA of subcarinal nodes. A similar relation was seen between the number of aspirates to a diagnosis of cancer. On multiple logistic regression analysis, a positive transbronchial aspirate was associated only with a larger lymph node and history of prior cancer. We conclude that: (1) in the setting of on-site cytopathology, transbronchial needle aspiration has a high sensitivity, specif...

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