[Challenges and trends in pulmonary medicine].

Several breakthrough discoveries have led to substantial improvements in the quality of pulmonary medicine, as well as to new medications, techniques, and toots. This issue of "Harefuah" is dedicated to the current knowledge in pulmonary research and medicine, novel discoveries in the field, and challenges for the future. One paper adds informative data about COPD while another provides a review that summarizes the development of asthma therapy and the potential clinical use of omalizumab for the treatment of severe, allergic asthma. This issue provides new information regarding the various modalities of endoscopic treatment for patients with emphysema, and the role of pulmonary rehabilitation in pulmonary fibrosis. Encouraging data are provided regarding coagulation disease in acute tuberculosis and uncommon malignancies, such as adenocystic carcinoma of the bronchial tree. Additional papers illuminate recent discoveries in the field of COPD, including the role of pleural effusion in anemic patients admitted to intensive care units. Overall, this issue of Harefuah provides important updates regarding advances in pulmonary medicine in 2012.