Although evidence for the heterogeneity of asthma accumulated, consensus for definitions of asthma phenotypes is still lacking. Obesity may have heterogeneous effects on various asthma phenotypes. We aimed to distinguish asthma phenotypes by latent class analysis and to investigate their associations with different obesity parameters in adults using a population-based Swiss cohort (SAPALDIA). W...

Introduction: Cardiovocal hoarseness (Ortner’s syndrome) is hoarseness of voice due to recurrent laryngeal nerve involvement secondary to cardiovascular disease. Recurrent laryngeal nerve in its course (especially the left side) follows a path that brings it in close proximity to numerous structures. These structures interfere with its function by pressure or by disruption of the nerve caused b...

Photophobia is a common yet debilitating symptom seen in many ophthalmic and neurologic disorders. Despite its prevalence, it is poorly understood and difficult to treat. However, the past few years have seen significant advances in our understanding of this symptom. We review the clinical characteristics and disorders associated with photophobia, discuss the anatomy and physiology of this phen...

BACKGROUND We have shown previously that extended intravenous antibiotic therapy is associated with low morbidity and no mortality in patients referred for treatment of neurologic Lyme disease. In this study, we evaluated the benefit of extended intravenous antibiotic therapy in patients with symptoms of neurologic Lyme disease. METHODS Patients with significant neurologic symptoms and positi...

Tinnitus, a common symptom encountered in family medicine, is defined as the perception of noise in the absence of an acoustic stimulus outside of the body. Because tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease, its underlying cause must be determined to best help patients. Although tinnitus is often idiopathic, sensorineural hearing loss is the most common identified cause. It can also be caused by ...