The Early Career Members Committee (ECMC) of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) consists of 14 members, one Early Career Member (ECM) representative per assembly. In September 2019, seven recently elected representatives joined the ECMC. An overview is given of the tasks performed by each representative within the ECMC (table 1). In addition, a short summary about the content of these tasks is provided.

We are already a couple of months into 2020 and I hope you had a good start to the new year. I wish you, our readers, reviewers, authors and editors, happiness, success and health in this new decade.

In low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer, all three main conditions for overdiagnosis in cancer screening are present: 1) a reservoir of slowly or nongrowing lung cancer exists; 2) LDCT is a high-resolution imaging technology with the potential to identify this reservoir; and 3) eligible screening participants have a high risk of dying from causes other than lung cancer. The degree of overdiagnosis in cancer screening is most validly estimated in high-quality randomised controlled trials (RCTs), with enough follow-up time after the end of screening to avoid lead-time bias and without contamination of the control group.

Nine RCTs investigating LDCT screening were identified. Two RCTs were excluded because lung cancer incidence after the end of screening was not published. Two other RCTs using active comparators were also excluded. Therefore, five RCTs were included: two trials were at low risk of bias, two of some concern and one at high risk of bias. In a meta-analysis of the two low risk of bias RCTs including 8156 healthy current or former smokers, 49% of the screen-detected cancers were overdiagnosed. There is uncertainty about this substantial degree of overdiagnosis due to unexplained heterogeneity and low precision of the summed estimate across the two trials.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation, which is caused by small airway disease (bronchiolitis) and alveolar destruction (emphysema) [1]. Patients primarily suffering from severe emphysema are often limited in exercise capacity due to the consequences of hyperinflation [2].

Recently, there has been a worldwide resurgence in pneumoconiosis, or pulmonary fibrosis due to occupational mineral dust exposure. In Queensland, Australia, there has been a re-emergence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis. Some coal mining communities have experienced a resurgence of progressive massive fibrosis in the USA and a worldwide epidemic is occurring of accelerated silicosis due to exposure to artificial stone.

These diseases are all preventable and should not be occurring in the 21st century. Best practice prevention includes reduction of exposure to mineral dusts or, ideally, prevention of exposure altogether. However, where dust exposure has occurred, respiratory surveillance can provide a strategy for early disease detection. It is important to identify early signs of occupational lung disease at a stage where intervention may be beneficial, though it must be acknowledged that progression may occur even after cessation of exposure to dusts. Respiratory surveillance should be distinguished from population screening and case finding, which are different methods used for disease investigation and control. Designing an ideal respiratory surveillance programme is challenging, as there is no single test that accurately identifies early disease. Several different respiratory disorders may occur related to the same exposure(s). Physicians organising and interpreting tests used in respiratory surveillance must be aware of the broad range of potential work-related respiratory conditions, complexities in diagnosis, and appropriate interpretation of the exposure history, as well as current management options. A working knowledge of the compensation and medicolegal avenues available to workers in individual jurisdictions is also useful.

Some years ago, I entered a completely unfamiliar world. This was a landscape that clinicians deal with every day but for the individual suspected of having lung cancer, it can appear hostile and scary, often misrepresented by outdated imagery, information and television portrayal. Lung cancer is not awash with celebrities admitting to having it or grand fundraising campaigns like other conditions. Despite many changes in the treatment landscape, it's still generally much more stigmatised than other cancers.

It is a source of frustration to many clinicians: you know what the patient's problem is, you know that effective and safe treatment is available, you've explained the disease and its causative mechanisms, the treatment and its principles, and the importance of taking the controller medication daily, you've prescribed this highly effective therapy and you've approached the patient with respect and patience, yet somehow the patient does not take the medication. When this patient has another exacerbation, you know it could have been prevented by following your advice and taking the medication.

Sleep and breathing disorders are highly prevalent, representing a growing subspecialty of respiratory medicine. The term sleep disordered breathing (SDB) encompasses a range of conditions characterised by abnormal breathing during sleep, from chronic or habitual snoring, to frank obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or, in some cases, central sleep apnoea (CSA) and hypoventilation syndromes. OSA is the commonest form of SDB, leading to many potential consequences and adverse clinical outcomes, including excessive daytime sleepiness, impaired daytime function, metabolic dysfunction, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality [1]. The estimated reported prevalence of moderate-to-severe SDB (≥15 events·h^–1) was 23.4% in women and 49.7% in men, and the prevalence of symptomatic OSA was 9% and 13%, respectively [2]. However, in some populations, the prevalence of OSA is substantially higher, such as in patients been evaluated for bariatric surgery (estimated range 70–80%), in patients who have had a transient ischaemic attack or stroke (estimated range 60–70%) and in patients with cardiometabolic disease [3–6]. Limited data have been reported on CSA and non-obstructive sleep-related hypoventilation, which have received considerable interest in the sleep field within the past 10 years. Even if their prevalence was noted to be quite low relative to the prevalence of OSA [7], they are quite common in specific subpopulations [8–10].

Since lung cancer (LC) is still the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide [1], early detection through screening represents an important opportunity to improve LC survival and is a priority area for cancer care. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) aimed to compare low-dose helical computed tomography (LDCT) with chest radiography in LC screening of current or former heavy smokers. The trial found a relative reduction in mortality from LC of 20% in those who had undergone LDCT screening. LC screening has regained prominence in the thoracic oncology literature with the completion of NELSON and other European trials, which support the role of LC screening in achieving early diagnosis and reducing mortality. A growing number of implementation pilots are providing an impetus towards organised, national programmes for LC screening, which are in need of long-term follow-up data such as those presented in this study.

The diagnostic process of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) is complex and the underlying mechanisms that participate in these diseases still need to be fully understood. In 2015, the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society Task Force on Undifferentiated Forms of Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease introduced the term "interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features" (IPAF) to identify subjects with IIP and features suggesting background autoimmunity but not characterisable connective tissue disease (CTD) [1]. The need for a proper clinical, serological and morphological assessment of IIP was highlighted to identify potential subjects with IPAF and CTD-ILD. However, the measurement of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) is not included in the definition of IPAF and ANCA serological testing is only recommended in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) when a clinical suspicion of vasculitis exists [2]. As current research evaluates the prognostic relevance of autoimmune features in IIP, the clinical importance of ANCA positivity still needs to be determined.

A 25-year-old male is admitted with complaints of dry cough for the past 5 years, and increased thirst, urinary frequency and output for the past 18 months. He also complains of shortness of breath on climbing a flight of stairs, and itchy lesions on the scalp and back for the past 2–3 months. There is no history of bone pain or abdominal pain. He has history of bilateral recurrent pneumothoraxes, twice on the right and once on the left side, in the past month. Pleurodesis with povidone iodine is performed on left side and the patient is transferred to your hospital with persistent right pneumothorax with air leak, with an intercostal drainage tube in situ. The patient is a never-smoker with no family history of pneumothorax. On general examination, he has small papules, 1–2 mm in diameter, with scaling over scalp and back. Onycholysis, onychoschisis and subungual splinter haemorrhages are present (figure 1).

A 40-year-old, male non-smoker was diagnosed with asthma 6 years ago. He now presents with a 1-week history of worsening breathlessness with fever, cough, and purulent expectoration. He has had >10 emergency department visits and two admissions to hospital in the last 3 months. At each admission, he received bronchodilators and systemic steroids resulting in rapid improvement within 24 h. However, in the current presentation, the patient has no relief with corticosteroids and bronchodilators. His pulse is 140 per min, respiratory rate is 40 per min, blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg and room air oxygen saturation is 80%. Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis shows hypercapnic respiratory failure. In view this respiratory failure, the patient is intubated and mechanical ventilation initiated. A chest radiograph is shown in figure 1. The therapy initiated includes bronchodilators, a systemic steroid, antibiotics and supportive care.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), as a term that encompasses pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality [1], especially in developed countries, where PE takes second place after complications of hypertensive disorders [2]. When compared to non-pregnant women of similar age, pregnant women have an approximately four to five times higher risk of VTE [3], with an incidence of 1 in 1000 pregnancies [4]. Approximately 20–25% of VTE cases are caused by PE and 75–80% of cases are caused by DVT [5]. About 60% of DVT occurs antepartum, with the highest risk of antepartum pregnancy-associated VTE being in the third trimester.However, about 60% of PE occurs postpartum [3].

A 78-year-old male presented at the emergency room complaining of dry cough, fever up to 38.5 °C and malaise for 1 month. He had visited a general practitioner and received amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day for 7 days for a presumed chest infection, without improvement. He had a history of diabetes and arterial blood hypertension, for which he was receiving metformin 1000 mg twice a day and amlodipine 10 mg a day for 7 years. He reported no alcohol abuse and was an ex-smoker of 20 pack-years (quit 30 years ago). He had no recent hospitalisations or any medical interventions.

Professional drivers show a higher prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) compared with the general population. Furthermore, there is concern about the association between OSA and car crash risk given that drivers with OSA show an increased risk for car accidents. Despite this risk, OSA is often underdiagnosed and undertreated in this population, mainly due to lack of appropriate screening and sleep study referrals. Polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard test, is inappropriate for systematic screening because of its high expense, complexity and relative inaccessibility in this population. Therefore, there is a strong demand for good screening tools, including both subjective and objective data that may assist in early identification of possible OSA among professional drivers and, thus, aid in PSG examination referral and OSA management in an accredited sleep centre. However, there is considerable disagreement over screening methods and criteria for triggering a sleep study referral in different countries. There is also a strong need for further research in the area of OSA screening of commercial drivers in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy of screening tools and ensure that patients with OSA are accurately identified.

सुनील लहरी ने शूटिंग के दौरान का वो किस्सा शेयर किया जब उनकी धोती खुल गई थी।

देशभर में हुए लॉकडाउन को अभी करीब दो महीना ही हुआ है लेकिन अजय को लगता है कि वो 22 साल से लॉकडाउन में हैं।

अक्षय और योगिता की शादी 29 मार्च को होने वाली थी लेकिन लॉकडाउन की वजह से उन्होंने इस योजना को रद्द कर दिया।

इस मुश्किल वक्त में पुलिसकर्मी बिना अपनी जान की परवाह किए दिन रात लोगों की सहायता कर रहे हैं।

अमिताभ ने सोशल मीडिया पर दो तस्वीरों का एक कोलाज शेयर किया है।

बीते दिनों सना खान का उनके ब्वॉयफ्रेंड मेलविन लुईस से ब्रेकअप हो गया था।

एवेंजर्स सीरीज के निर्देशक जो रूसो और उनके भाई एंथनी रूसो के प्रोडक्शन हाउस की फिल्म एक्स्ट्रैक्शन को अमेरिका से लेकर भारत औसत दो स्टार से तीन स्टार के बीच की रेटिंग मिली है।

पढ़िये मनोरंजन जगत की बड़ी खबरें।

भारतीय सिनेमा में बाहर से जितनी चकाचौंध दिखती है, अंदर जाकर उतना ही अंधेरा है। यहां पर स्टार किड्स के लिए रास्ता तो बहुत आसान है लेकिन जिनका इस इंडस्ट्री से कोई लेना देना नहीं रहा है

छोटे पर्दे की मशहूर अभिनेत्री और अभिनेता करन मेहरा की पत्नी निशा रावल ने खुलासा किया है कि उन्हें बहुत बार बॉडी शेमिंग का शिकार होना पड़ा है।

कोरोनावायरस से जंग में अभिनेत्री सोनाक्षी सिन्हा स्वास्थ्य कर्मियों के लिए पीपीई किट्स (व्यक्तिगत सुरक्षा उपकरण) जुटाने में सहयोग के लिए आगे आई हैं।

हम इस हीरोइन की बात इसलिए कर रहे हैं क्योंकि सोशल मीडिया पर इसी हीरोइन के बारे में खोजा जा रहा है और हर कोई ये जानने के लिए उत्सुक है कि वो कहां है? इस हीरोइन का नाम था जैस्मिन। '

विजय देवरकोंडा (Vijay Devarakonda) आज के समय में तेलुगू फिल्मों के सफल एक्टर्स में गिने जाते हैं। आज विजय अपना 31वां जन्मदिन मना रहे हैं। इतनी कम उम्र में ही विजय की फैन फॉलोइंग कोरोड़ों में है। विजय का जन्म 9 मई, 1989 में हैदराबाद में हुआ था।

लॉकडाउन में बॉलीवुड सितारे भी अपने घर में हैं। ये सितारे सोशल मीडिया के जरिए अपने फैंस का मनोरंजन करते रहते हैं।

दक्षिण भारतीय सिनेमा की मशहूर अभिनेत्री साई पल्लवी का आज जन्मदिन है। वह 28 साल की हो गई हैं। आइए उनके जन्मदिन पर जानते हैं कुछ दिलचस्प बातें...

बॉलीवुड सिंगर कनिका कपूर (Kanika kapoor) ने हाल ही में हुई विजाग गैस त्रासदी (Vizag Gas Tragedy) को लेकर अपनी राय रखी।

कोरोना वायरस की वजह से पूरे भारत में लॉकडाउन लागू है। इसके चलते लोगों को परेशानियां तो हो ही रही हैं। जो लोग अपने घर हैं और आसपास का माहौल कुछ हद तक ठीक है, वे तो फिर भी ठीक हैं। लेकिन, बाहर फंसे लोगों के लिए तो ये मुश्किलों भरा वक्त है।

पूरी दुनिया में मई महीने के दूसरे रविवार को मदर्स डे मनाया जाता है। इस बार 10 मई को मदर्स डे मनाया जाएगा। यूं तो मां के साथ हर दिन विशेष होता है लेकिन मदर्स डे का भी अपना खास महत्व हो जाता है।

मई का दूसरा इतवार दुनिया भर में मांओं के नाम होता है। सारे बच्चे अपनी माताओं पर दुलार की बौछार करते हैं।

अमिताभ बच्चन इन दिनों परिवार के साथ वक्त बिता रहे हैं। इस बीच कभी वो जिम की तस्वीरें सोशल मीडिया पर शेयर करते रहते हैं तो कभी कोई फनी वीडियो पोस्ट करते हैं।

अप्रैल महीने के अंत में बॉलीवुड के दिग्गज अभिनेता इरफान खान ने इस दुनिया को अलविदा कह दिया था।

कोई 30 साल पहले तक लोकल ट्रेन में चर्चगेट से बोरीवली की तरफ सफर करने वाले अगर बांद्रा स्टेशन होकर गुजरते तो स्टेशन आने से पहले ही उनकी निगाहें दाहिनी तरफ मुड़ने लगती थीं।

बॉलीवुड के दिग्गज कलाकार धर्मेंद्र अपनी फिल्मों के अलावा सोशल मीडिया पोस्ट की वजह से भी सुर्खियों में रहते हैं। इन दिनों वह लोनावला स्थित अपने फार्म हाउस में समय बिता रहे हैं।

अब सोनू निगम ने एक और वीडियो शेयर किया है जिसमें वो नहीं बल्कि प्रियंका चोपड़ा के पिता नजर आ रहे हैं।

बॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री मलाइका अरोड़ा अन्य सितारों की तरह लॉकडाउन की वजह से घर में समय बिता रही हैं। ऐसे में वह सोशल मीडिया पर काफी सक्रिय रहती हैं

बॉक्स ऑफिस पर भले ही सनी लियोन की फिल्में कुछ खास कमाल नहीं दिखाती हो लेकिन इंटरनेट पर सर्च होने के मामले में वो भारत की टॉप अभिनेत्रियों को भी टक्कर देती हैं।

मशहूर गायक तलत महमूद (Talat Mahmood) हिंदी फिल्मों की सबसे अलग आवाजों में से एक थे।

सुपरस्टार शाहरुख खान भी बॉलीवुड के उन सितारों में शामिल हैं जो इन दिनों कोरोना वायरस और लॉकडाउन की मार झेल रहे लोगों की मदद के लिए आगे आ रहे हैं।

कहते हैं कि भगवान हर जगह नहीं हो सकते इसलिए उन्होंने मां बनाई। वह हमेशा हमारी देखभाल करती हैं, हमारी जरूरतों, मांगों, नखरों को पूरा करती हैं और हमारे जीवन को बेहतर बनाती है।

बांसुरी वादक सुजीत गुप्ता प्रयागराज के रहने वाले हैं। इनकी शुरुआती पढ़ाई लिखाई वहीं से हुई है।

लॉकडाउन में महिलाओं को अलग तरह की परेशानियों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। देशभर में उनके खिलाफ घरेलू हिंसा के मामले बढ़ गए हैं।

भारत के तथाकथित सबसे बड़े स्क्रिप्ट कॉन्टेस्ट इंडियाज स्टोरीटेलर्स स्क्रिप्ट कॉन्टेस्ट के दूसरे संस्करण के विजेताओं की घोषणा शनिवार को इसकी जूरी ने अपने अपने घरों पर रहते हुए की।

बॉलीवुड अभिनेत्री ऋषिता भट्ट 10 मई को अपना जन्मदिन मनाती हैं। ऋषिता का जन्म साल 1981 में मुंबई में हुआ था। उन्होंने लंदन से कॉलेज की पढ़ाई पूरी की।