/library/oar/handle/123456789/39057 2026-06-12T15:34:16Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/13588 Title: COPD : a public health problem requiring attention Authors: Cacciottolo, Joseph M.; Cordina, Maria Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The disease responsible for an estimated 2.75 million deaths each year, ranking it as the fourth leading cause of death. Recent data published from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease Study estimates that at least 10% of the world’s population over 40 years of age may be suffering from COPD. 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/13576 Title: Mycoplasma pneumoniae in community acquired pneumonias Authors: Caruana, Paul Abstract: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is best thought of as a bacterium without a cell wall, a property that has important therapeutic considerations. It is an exclusively human pathogen. As most cases of human infection are either sub clinical or result in a relatively mild infection of the respiratory tract, infections with this organism are much more common in the community than people generally realize. 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/13553 Title: The burden of respiratory disease Authors: Cordina, Maria Abstract: Respiratory diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality world wide. The World Health Organisation attributes 18.7% of the total number of deaths to respiratory disease, whilst in Europe respiratory diseases rank as the second cause of death after cardiovascular disease. In economic terms, respiratory diseases place a burden of approximately €102 billion on Europe. A total of €48.3 billion, being due to days lost from work with the leading cause (62.4%) being chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, followed by asthma (21.4%) and pneumonia (7.6%). In terms of pharmaceuticals, Europe spends €3.6 billion on anti-asthma drugs and €2.7 billion on drugs to treat COPD (European White Lung Book). 2005-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/13524 Title: Pharmacogenetics of asthma therapeutics Authors: Fenech, Anthony G.; Ellul-Micallef, Roger Abstract: Asthma is recognised to arise from complex interactions between environmental exposure and disease-susceptibility genetic contributions.1 Pharmacological management of the condition aims to relieve symptoms, decrease airway hyperresponsiveness, and optimize the quality of life in patients. Inter-patient variability in the clinical responses to anti-asthma drugs is a recognized factor that may confound therapeutic outcome. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z