Prediction model development of women's daily asthma control using fitness tracker sleep disruption

BACKGROUND

Night-time wakening with asthma symptoms is an important indicator of disease control and severity, with no gold-standard objective measurement.

OBJECTIVE

The study objective was to use fitness tracker sleep data to develop predictive models of daily disease control-related asthma-specific wakening and FEV₁ in working-aged women with poorly controlled asthma.

METHODS

A repeated measures panel design included data from 43 women with poorly controlled asthma. Two components of asthma control were the primary outcomes, measured daily as (1) self-reported asthma-specific wakening and (2) self-administered spirometry to measure FEV₁. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models.

RESULTS

Our models demonstrated predictive value (AUC=0.77) for asthma-specific night-time wakening and good predictive value (AUC=0.83) for daily FEV_1. CONCLUSIONS: Fitness tracker sleep efficiency and wake counts demonstrate clinical utility as predictive of asthma-specific night-time wakening and daily FEV_1. Fitness tracker sleep data demonstrated predictive capability for daily asthma outcomes.

Targeted activation of spinal respiratory neural circuits

Spinal interneurons which discharge in phase with the respiratory cycle have been repeatedly described over the last 50 years. These spinal respiratory interneurons are part of a complex propriospinal network that is synaptically coupled with respiratory motoneurons. This article summarizes current knowledge regarding spinal respiratory interneurons and emphasizes chemical, electrical and physiological methods for activating spinal respiratory neural circuits. Collectively, the work reviewed here shows that activating spinal interneurons can have a powerful impact on spinal respiratory motor output, and can even drive rhythmic bursting in respiratory motoneuron pools under certain conditions. We propose that the primary functions of spinal respiratory neurons include 1) shaping the respiratory pattern into the final efferent motor output from the spinal respiratory nerves; 2) coordinating respiratory muscle activation across the spinal neuraxis; 3) coordinating postural, locomotor and respiratory movements, and 4) enabling plasticity of respiratory motor output in health and disease.

Nasal Polyposis and Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is characterized by eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, asthma, and upper-/lower-respiratory tract reactions to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Persistent, severe disease, anosmia, and alcohol sensitivity is typical. AERD is mediated by multiple pathways, including aberrant arachidonic acid metabolism leading to elevated leukotriene E4 and decreased prostaglandin E2. Mast cell mediators (prostaglandin D2) and unique properties of eosinophils and type 2 innate lymphoid cells, along with receptor-mediated signaling, also contribute to AERD pathogenesis. Pharmacologic therapies are a cornerstone of AERD treatment and include leukotriene modifiers, corticosteroids, biologics, and aspirin.

Retinoic Acid Signaling and Development of the Respiratory System

Retinoic acid (RA), the bioactive metabolite of vitamin A (VA), has long been recognized as a critical regulator of the development of the respiratory system. During embryogenesis, RA signaling is involved in the development of the trachea, airways, lung, and diaphragm. During postnatal life, RA continues to impact respiratory health. Disruption of RA activity during embryonic development produces dramatic phenotypes in animal models and human diseases, including tracheoesophageal fistula, tracheomalacia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), and lung agenesis or hypoplasia. Several experimental methods have been used to target RA pathways during the formation of the embryonic lung. These have been performed in different animal models using gain- and loss-of-function strategies and dietary, pharmacologic, and genetic approaches that deplete retinoid stores or disrupt retinoid signaling. Experiments utilizing these methods have led to a deeper understanding of RA's role as an important signaling molecule that influences all stages of lung development. Current research is uncovering RA cross talk interactions with other embryonic signaling factors, such as fibroblast growth factors, WNT, and transforming growth factor-beta.

Continuous Sound Collection Using Smartphones and Machine Learning to Measure Cough

Background

Despite the efforts of research groups to develop and implement at least partial automation, cough counting remains impractical. Analysis of 24-h cough frequency is an established regulatory endpoint which, if addressed in an automated manner, has the potential to ease cough symptom evaluation over multiple 24-h periods in a patient-centric way, supporting the development of novel treatments for chronic cough, an unmet clinical need.

Objectives

In light of recent technological advancements, we propose a system based on the use of smartphones for objective continuous sound collection, suitable for automated cough detection and analysis. Two capabilities were identified as necessary for naturalistic cough assessment: (1) recording sound in a continuous manner (sound collection), and (2) detection of coughs from the recorded sound (cough detection).

Methods

This work did not involve any human subject testing or trials. For sound collection, we designed, built, and verified technical parameters of a smartphone application for sound collection. Our cough detection work describes the development of a mathematical model for sound analysis and cough identification. Performance of the model was compared to previously published results of commercially available solutions and to human raters. The compared solutions use the following methods to automatically or semi-automatically assess cough: 24-h sound recording with an ambulatory device with multiple microphones, automatic silence removal, and manual recording review for cough count.

Results

Sound collection: the application demonstrated the ability to continuously record sounds using the phone's internal microphone; the technical verification informed the configuration of the technical and user experience parameters. Cough detection: our cough recognition sensitivity to cough as determined by human listeners was 90 at 99.5% specificity preset and 75 at 99.9% specificity preset for a dataset created from publicly available data.

Conclusions

Sound collection: the application reliably collects sound data and uploads them securely to a remote server for subsequent analysis; the developed sound data collection application is a critical first step toward future incorporation in clinical trials. Cough detection: initial experiments with cough detection techniques yielded encouraging results for application to patient-collected data from future studies.

Associations of wildfire smoke PM2.5 exposure with cardiorespiratory events in Colorado 2011-2014

BACKGROUND

Substantial increases in wildfire activity have been recorded in recent decades. Wildfires influence the chemical composition and concentration of particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5). However, relatively few epidemiologic studies focus on the health impacts of wildfire smoke PM_2.5 compared with the number of studies focusing on total PM_2.5 exposure.

OBJECTIVES

We estimated the associations between cardiorespiratory acute events and exposure to smoke PM_2.5 in Colorado using a novel exposure model to separate smoke PM_2.5 from background ambient PM_2.5 levels.

METHODS

We obtained emergency department visits and hospitalizations for acute cardiorespiratory outcomes from Colorado for May-August 2011-2014, geocoded to a 4 km geographic grid. Combining ground measurements, chemical transport models, and remote sensing data, we estimated smoke PM_2.5 and non-smoke PM_2.5 on a 1 km spatial grid and aggregated to match the resolution of the health data. Time-stratified, case-crossover models were fit using conditional logistic regression to estimate associations between fire smoke PM_2.5 and non-smoke PM_2.5 for overall and age-stratified outcomes using 2-day averaging windows for cardiovascular disease and 3-day windows for respiratory disease.

RESULTS

Per 1 μg/m³ increase in fire smoke PM_2.5, statistically significant associations were observed for asthma (OR = 1.081 (1.058, 1.105)) and combined respiratory disease (OR = 1.021 (1.012, 1.031)). No significant relationships were evident for cardiovascular diseases and smoke PM_2.5. Associations with non-smoke PM_2.5 were null for all outcomes. Positive age-specific associations related to smoke PM_2.5 were observed for asthma and combined respiratory disease in children, and for asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and combined respiratory disease in adults. No significant associations were found in older adults.

DISCUSSION

This is the first multi-year, high-resolution epidemiologic study to incorporate statistical and chemical transport modeling methods to estimate PM_2.5 exposure due to wildfires. Our results allow for a more precise assessment of the population health impact of wildfire-related PM_2.5 exposure in a changing climate.

Optimizing the Development Strategy of Combination Therapy in Respiratory Medicine: From Isolated Airways to Patients

The current recommendations for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are pushing towards triple combination therapy based on the combination of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) associated with two bronchodilator agents. However, dual bronchodilation remains the cornerstone for the treatment of most COPD patients. Combining a long-acting β₂ adrenoceptor agonist (LABA) with a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) induces appreciable synergistic bronchorelaxant effect in human airways, especially when the medications are combined at isoeffective concentrations. Thus, each LABA/LAMA combination is characterized by a specific range of concentration-ratio at which the drug mixture may induce sustained synergistic interaction. Results of a recent randomized controlled trial (RCT, NCT00696020) and evidences from pre-clinical studies in human isolated airways poses the question whether combining tiotropium 5 μg with olodaterol 5 μg is the best combination option: tiotropium/olodaterol 5/5 μg has the same efficacy profile of tiotropium/olodaterol 5/2 μg, and it is less effective than tiotropium/olodaterol 5/10 μg. Furthermore, tiotropium/olodaterol 5/2 μg, 5/5 μg, and 5/10 μg combinations are generally characterized by the same safety profile. Indeed tiotropium/olodaterol 5/5 μg is effective and safe in COPD, but a different development strategy based on solid data obtained from human isolated airways would have driven towards a better-balanced FDC to be tested in Phase III RCTs. Accurate bench-to-bedside plans are needed also in the development of triple combination therapies for asthma and COPD, in which the presence of an ICS in the formulation may further modulate the beneficial interaction between the LABA and the LAMA.

Development of new in vitro models of lung protease activity for investigating stability of inhaled biological therapies and drug delivery systems

Proteases play a vital role in lung health and are critically important to the metabolic clearance of inhaled protein-based therapeutics after inhalation. Surprisingly little is known about lung fluid protease composition and there is a consequent lack of biorelevant experimental models, which limits research and development in the burgeoning field of inhaled biologics. The aim of this study was to quantify proteases in human lung fluid and to use this data to design novel in vitro experimental models of lung lining fluid possessing biorelevant lung protease activity for use in biopharmaceutical stability studies. As a proof of concept, these novel models were used to investigate the effect of proteolytic activity on the stability of albumin nanoparticles, a biologic nanoparticle formulation widely investigated as a pulmonary drug delivery system. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected from healthy human volunteers and proteomic analysis was used to quantify the predominant proteases. Based on these data, four new lung protease models were constructed based on: (i) trypsin as a sole protease, (ii) dipeptidyl peptidase IV, cathepsin D, cathepsin H, and angiotensin converting enzyme in ratio and concentration to mimic the protease concentration in healthy lungs. Neutrophil elastase was used to model protease activity in inflammation. Albumin nanoparticles of 100 nm diameter remained intact over 48 h in phosphate buffered saline, but were degraded more rapidly in trypsin (50% reduction in 10 min) compared to the healthy lung protease model (50% reduction in 150 min). The addition of neutrophil elastase to the healthy lung protease model resulted in a similar, but more variable degradation profile. Nanoparticle degradation was associated with concomitant appearance of small fragments and aggregates. In conclusion, we have characterised the protease concentration in the lungs of healthy humans, designed models of lung protease activity and demonstrated their utility in studying albumin nanoparticle degradation. These methods and models have wide application to study the influence of proteases in lung disease, expression of proteases in respiratory cell culture models, stability of peptide and protein-based drugs and inhaled drug delivery systems.

International mass gatherings and travel-associated illness: A GeoSentinel cross-sectional, observational study

BACKGROUND

Travelers to international mass gatherings may be exposed to conditions which increase their risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Most existing data come from single clinical sites seeing returning travelers, or relate to single events.

METHODS

Investigators evaluated ill travelers returning from a mass gathering, and presenting to a GeoSentinel site between August 2015 and April 2019, and collected data on the nature of the event and the relation between final diagnoses and the mass gathering.

RESULTS

Of 296 ill travelers, 51% were female and the median age was 54 years (range: 1-88). Over 82% returned from a religious mass gathering, most frequently Umrah or Hajj. Only 3% returned from the Olympics in Brazil or South Korea. Other mass gatherings included other sporting events, cultural or entertainment events, and conferences. Respiratory diseases accounted for almost 80% of all diagnoses, with vaccine preventable illnesses such as influenza and pneumonia accounting for 26% and 20% of all diagnoses respectively. This was followed by gastrointestinal illnesses, accounting for 4.5%. Sixty-three percent of travelers reported having a pre-travel encounter with a healthcare provider.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite this surveillance being limited to patients presenting to GeoSentinel sites, our findings highlight the importance of respiratory diseases at mass gatherings, the need for pre-travel consultations before mass gatherings, and consideration of vaccination against influenza and pneumococcal disease.

Viral Etiology of Acute Respiratory Infections in Pediatric Patients in Lebanon

Background

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are the leading cause of death worldwide, especially among children. The majority of these infections in children are of viral etiology. In this study, we evaluated the incidence of viral ARI among children in Lebanon.

Patients and Methods

Children presenting with symptoms of ARI were prospectively recruited between September 2009 to February 2012. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from patients and screened for 11 respiratory viruses using a multiplex Luminex-based PCR assay.

Results

Two hundred twenty-one patients were recruited with a median age of 1 year (IQR: 0 - 5). Out of 221 patients, 116 (52.5%) were positive for at least one virus, the majority (103/116; 88.8%) of which were in children under 6-year of age. Overall, 188 viruses were detected. Rhinovirus (RhV) was the most common virus detected in 81 (69.8%) patients followed by coxsackie virus and echovirus (CVEV) which were detected as one target in the panel in 45 (38.8%), and parainfluenza viruses (PIV types: 1, 2, 3, 4) in 24 (20.7%) patients. Coinfection with more than one virus was detected in 49 (42.9%) patients. RhV and CVEV were the most common viruses associated with co-infections and higher risk of rhinorrhea.

Conclusions

Viral pathogens account for at least half of the ARIs in Lebanon, with a high frequency of co-infections being detected.

Regular cannabis use, with and without tobacco co-use, is associated with respiratory disease

BACKGROUND

Cannabis use is a potential risk factor for respiratory disease but its role apart from tobacco use is unclear. We evaluated the association between regular cannabis use, with and without tobacco co-use, and onset of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia.

METHODS

Analysis of a limited data set obtained through IBM Watson Health Explorys, an electronic-health-record-integration platform. Matched controls using Mahalanobis distance within propensity score calipers were defined for: 1) cannabis-using patients (n = 8932); and subgroups of cannabis-using patients: 2) with an encounter diagnosis for tobacco use disorder (TUD; n = 4678); and 3) without a TUD diagnosis (non-TUD; n = 4254). Patients had at least: one recorded blood pressure measurement and one blood chemistry lab result in the MetroHealth System (Cleveland, Ohio). Cannabis-using patients had an encounter diagnosis of cannabis abuse/dependence and/or ≥2 cannabis-positive urine drug screens (UDSs). Control patients, not having cannabis-related diagnoses or cannabis-positive UDSs, were matched to the cannabis-using patients on demographics, residential zip code median income, body mass index, and, for the total sample, TUD-status.

RESULTS

Regular cannabis use was significantly associated with greater risk for asthma (odds ratio (OR) = 1.44; adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.50; OR = 1.32), COPD (OR = 1.56; aOR = 1.44; OR = 2.17), and pneumonia (OR = 1.80; OR = 1.84; OR = 2.13) in the total sample and TUD and non-TUD subgroups, respectively. TUD-patients had the greatest prevalence of respiratory disease, regardless of cannabis-use indication.

CONCLUSIONS

Regular cannabis use is associated with significantly greater risk of respiratory disease regardless of TUD status. Future research to understand the impact of cannabis use on respiratory health is warranted.

Modelling Forced Vital Capacity in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Optimising Trial Design

Introduction

Forced vital capacity is the only registrational endpoint in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis clinical trials. As most new treatments will be administered on top of standard of care, estimating treatment response will become more challenging. We developed a simulation model to quantify variability associated with forced vital capacity decline.

Methods

The model is based on publicly available clinical trial summary and home spirometry data. A single, illustrative trial setting is reported. Model assumptions are 400 subjects randomised 1:1 to investigational drug or placebo over 52 weeks, 50% of each group receiving standard of care (all-comer population), and a 90-mL treatment difference in annual forced vital capacity decline. Longitudinal profiles were simulated and the impact of varying clinical scenarios evaluated.

Results

Power to detect a significant treatment difference was 87–97%, depending on the analysis method. Repeated measures analysis generally outperformed analysis of covariance and mixed linear models, particularly with missing data (as simulated data were non-linear). A 15% yearly random dropout rate led to 0.6–5% power loss. Forced vital capacity decline-related dropout introduced greater power loss (up to 12%), as did subjects starting/stopping standard of care or investigational drug. Power was substantially lower for a 26-week trial due to the smaller assumed treatment effect at week 26 (sample size would need doubling to reach a power similar to that of a 52-week trial).

Conclusions

Our model quantifies forced vital capacity decline and associated variability, with all the caveats of background therapy, permitting robust power calculations to inform future idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis clinical trial design.

Funding

Galapagos NV (Mechelen, Belgium).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-019-01093-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mucosal Immune System of Cattle: All Immune Responses Begin Here

This article discusses key concepts important for mucosal immunity. The mucosa is the largest immune organ of the body. The mucosal barrier (the tight junctions and the "kill zone") along with the mucosa epithelial cells maintaining an anti-inflammatory state are essential for the mucosal firewall. The microbiome (the microorganisms that are in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive tract) is essential for immune development, homeostasis, immune response, and maximizing animal productivity. Mucosal vaccination provides an opportunity to protect animals from most infectious diseases because oral, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and reproductive mucosa are the main portals of entry for infectious disease.

Seroprevalence of influenza D virus in selected sample groups of Irish cattle, sheep and pigs

Influenza D virus (IDV) is a new member of the Orthomyxoviridae family. It was first reported in swine in 2011 and isolated from bovine samples received for routine respiratory disease diagnosis in Ireland during 2014–2016. The goal of this study was to determine the seroprevalence in selected populations of IDV in cattle, pigs and sheep. Results showed a high prevalence of IDV in cattle sampled at slaughter (94.6%) or for diagnostic reasons (64.9%), whereas prevelance in samples taken for diagnostic reasons from sheep (4.5%) and pigs (5.8%) was much lower. This study suggests that IDV is widespread in Irish cattle.

[Clinical characteristics of non-invasive ventilation treatment in children with spinal muscular atrophy and sleep disordered breathing]

Objective: To study the short-term and long-term efficacy of the non-invasive ventilation treatment in children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and sleep-disordered breathing. Methods: This was a prospective research to study the effect of night-time non-invasive ventilation in children with SMA and moderate to severe sleep-disordered breathing during March 2016 to January 2018, from the Pulmonary Department of Capital Institute of Pediatrics Affiliated Children's Hospital. Patients were divided into the treated group (with night-time non-invasive ventilation) and the control group (without ventilator). Sleep breathing pressure titration was suggested to the patients who were prepared to receive non-invasive ventilation. All cases were followed up for one year. Parameters'changes in polysomnography were assessed (paired t-test) in titration patients. Frequency of respiratory tract infection during the next year in the patients with and without ventilation was collected and compared (Mann-Whitney U-test). Results: Seventeen cases were recruited. The average age was (5.1±2.9) years, 10 cases were boys and 7 cases were girls. In the titration group (8 patients), after non-invasive ventilation, the average apnea hypopnea index was (3.8±2.5) times/h (t=4.086, P=0.005), hypopnea index was (2.4±1.2) times/h (t=2.779, P=0.027), average oxygen saturation during total sleep time was 0.966±0.007 (t=-5.292, P=0.001), and the minimum oxygen saturation was 0.906±0.023 (t=-3.938, P=0.006). All the above parameters were significantly improved after treatment. Than before, which was (16.6±9.7) times/h, (7.2±4.7) times/h, 0.946±0.015, 0.786±0.092 respectively. Ventilator mode for the 9 children with long time non-invasive ventilation at home was Bi-level positive airway pressure S/T. The positive airway pressure was set at 8-14 cmH(2)O (1 cmH(2)O=0.098 kPa) in inspiratory phase and 4-6 cmH(2)O in expiratory phase. In the treated group (9 patients), the average frequency of upper respiratory tract infection was 1.0 (0, 3.0) times/year (Z=-2.245, P=0.023), the lower respiratory tract infection was 0 (0, 0) times/year (Z=-3.189, P=0.001), hospitalization was 0 (0, 0) times/year (Z=-3.420, P<0.01), and admission to intensive care unit was 0 (0, 0) times/year (Z=-3.353, P=0.029). All the above indexes were significantly decreased compared with the control group (8 patients), which was 3.0 (2.3, 7.0) times/year, 2.0 (1.3, 4.5) times/year, 1.0 (1.0, 4.3) times/year, 0.5 (0, 1.0) times/year respectively. Conclusion: Non-invasive ventilation is efficient to SMA children with sleep-disordered breathing, and also can reduce the incidence of respiratory tract infections for children with SMA.

Biodiesel fuels: A greener diesel? A review from a health perspective

Biodiesels have been promoted as a greener alternative to diesel with decreased emissions and health effects. To investigate the scientific basis of the suggested environmental and health benefits offered by biodiesel, this review examines the current state of knowledge and key uncertainties of pollutant profiles of biodiesel engine exhaust and the associated the respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes. The ease and low cost of biodiesel production has facilitated greater distribution and commercial use. The pollutant profile of biodiesel engine exhaust is distinct from diesel, characterised by increased NOx and aldehyde emissions but decreased CO and CO₂. Lower engine-out particulate matter mass concentrations have also been observed over a range of feedstocks. However, these reduced emissions have been attributable to a shift towards smaller sized particulate emissions. The toxicity of biodiesel engine exhaust has been investigated in vitro using various lung cell, in vivo evaluating responses induced in animals and through several human exposure studies. Discrepancies exist across results reported by in vitro and in vivo studies, which may be attributable to differences in biodiesel feedstocks, engine characteristics, operating conditions or use of aftertreatment systems across test scenarios. The limited human testing further suggests short-term exposure to biodiesel engine exhaust is associated with cardiopulmonary outcomes that are comparable to diesel. Additional information about the health effects of biodiesel engine exhaust exposure is required for effective public health policy.

Influence of β2 adrenergic receptor genotype on risk of nocturnal ventilation in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive neuromuscular disease resulting in severe respiratory derangements. As such, DMD patients are at a high risk of nocturnal hypoventilation, thereby requiring nocturnal ventilation (NV). To this end, NV is an important clinical milestone in the management of DMD. Emerging evidence suggests that ß₂ adrenergic receptors (ADRB2) may play a role in determining respiratory function, whereby more functional ADRB2 genotype variants (e.g., Gly16) are associated with improved pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength. These findings suggest that the more functional ADRB2 genotype may help to preserve respiratory function in patients with DMD. The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of ADRB2 genotype on the risk of NV use in DMD. Data from the CINRG Duchenne Natural History Study including 175 DMD patients (3–25 yrs) were analyzed focusing on ADRB2 genotype variants. Time-to-event analyses were used to examine differences in the age at prescription of full-time NV use between genotypes. There were no differences between genotype groups in age, height, weight, corticosteroid use, proportion of ambulatory patients, or age at loss of ambulation. DMD patients expressing the Gly16 polymorphism had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower mean age at NV prescription compared with those patients expressing the Arg16 polymorphism (21.80 ± 0.59 yrs. vs 25.91 ± 1.31 yrs., respectively). In addition, a covariate-adjusted Cox model revealed that the Gly16 variant group possessed a 6.52-fold higher risk of full-time NV use at any given age compared with the Arg16 polymorphism group. These data suggest that genetic variations in the ADRB2 gene may influence the age at which DMD patients are first prescribed NV, whereby patients with the Gly16 polymorphism are more likely to require NV assistance at an earlier age than their Arg16 counterparts.

Bronchopulmonary lophomoniasis: A rare cause of pneumonia in an immunosuppressed host

Bronchopulmonary lophomoniasis is rare but immunocompromised individual is susceptible to this infection. We reported a case of bronchopulmonary lophomoniasis in a Malaysian female with systemic lupus erythromatosus. She presented with productive cough, shortness of breath and high-grade fever for 2 weeks. Physical examination revealed bronchial sound and crackles over the left lung with, reduced expansion and dull percussion in lower left lobe. Chest radiography showed consolidation of the left lung. Routine laboratory tests revealed general low cell count. Blood and sputum culture were negative. Bronchoalveolar lavage stain and culture for bacterial and fungal were negative. Bronchoalveolar lavage for Lophomonas blattarum was positive. Patient was treated with antiprotozoal drug, metronidazole. All her clinical problems resolved and she was discharged 14 days after admission.

Insights into the immuno-pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical syndrome associated with oxygenation failure resulting from a direct pulmonary or indirect systemic insult. It is a complex etiological phenomenon involving an array of immune cells acting in a delicate balance between pathogen clearance and immunopathology. There is emerging evidence of the involvement of different immune cell types in ARDS pathogenesis. This includes polarization of alveolar macrophages (AMs), neutrophil netosis, the pro-inflammatory response of T helper 17 subsets, and the anti-inflammatory and regenerative role of T regulatory cell subsets. Knowledge of these pathogenic mechanisms has led to translational opportunities, for example, research in the use of methylprednisolone, DNAse, aspirin, keratinocyte growth factor and in the development of stem cell therapy for ARDS. Discovering subgroups of patients with ARDS afflicted with homogenous pathologic mechanisms can provide prognostic and/or predictive insight that will enable precision medicine. Lastly, new high dimensional immunomic technologies are promising tools in evaluating the host immune response in ARDS and will be discussed in this review.

Understanding Dry Powder Inhalers: Key Technical and Patient Preference Attributes

Inhalable medications for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be confusing even for health care professionals because of the multitude of available devices each with different operating principles. Dry powder inhalers (DPI) are a valuable option for almost all of the patients with asthma or COPD. Based on recorded patient inspiratory profiles, the peak inspiratory flow requirement of 30 L min⁻¹ of high-resistance devices does not usually pose any practical limitations for the patients. Suboptimal adherence and errors in device handling are common and require continuous checking and patient education in order to avoid these pitfalls of all inhalation therapy. The aim of this opinion paper is to describe the working principles of DPIs and to summarise their key properties in order to help prescribing the correct inhaler for each patient.

Funding: Orion Pharma.

Cardiovascular Risks, Bleeding Risks, and Clinical Events from 3 Phase III Trials of Pirfenidone in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

INTRODUCTION

This study assessed baseline cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, concomitant CV medication use, risk of major adverse cardiac events-plus (MACE-plus), and bleeding adverse events (AEs) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in three randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trials of pirfenidone.

METHODS

Patients in the pirfenidone phase III trials were included. Patients with unstable or deteriorating cardiac disease within 6 months before enrollment were ineligible. Medical history at baseline and concomitant CV medication use during treatment were reported. A retrospective, blinded review of AE preferred terms was conducted to identify MACE-plus and bleeding events. Subgroup analyses examined the impact of concomitant CV medication use on how pirfenidone treatment affected clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 1247 patients were included [n = 623 pirfenidone (2403 mg/day) and n = 624 placebo]. The median age was 68 years, 74% were male, and 65% were current/former smokers. Commonly reported CV risk factors included hypertension (52%), obesity (44%), hypercholesterolemia (23%), and hyperlipidemia (23%). Pre-existing cardiac disorders included coronary artery disease (16%), myocardial infarction (5%), and atrial fibrillation (5%). Lipid-modifying agents (60%), antithrombotic agents (54%), and renin-angiotensin inhibitors (39%) were commonly used concomitant CV medications. The incidences of MACE-plus and bleeding events were similar between the pirfenidone and placebo groups (1.8% and 2.9% for MACE-plus events and 3.7% and 4.3% for bleeding events, respectively). Except for patients receiving heparin, pirfenidone had a beneficial effect compared with placebo on efficacy outcomes regardless of concomitant CV medications.

CONCLUSIONS

CV risk factors and comorbidities and use of concomitant CV medications are common in patients with IPF. Pirfenidone did not appear to increase the risk of CV or bleeding events. Use of several concomitant CV medications, including warfarin, did not appear to adversely impact pirfenidone's beneficial effect on efficacy outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT00287716, NCT00287729, and NCT01366209.

FUNDING

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and Genentech, Inc.

Is chronic urticaria more than skin deep?

Chronic urticaria is a disease characterized by the appearance of weals, angioedema or both longer than 6 weeks. Degranulation of cutaneous or submucosal mast cells leads to release of mediators including histamine resulting in redness, swelling and itch. Because mast cells are widely distributed throughout the body, the question is why they are not activated systemically or does systemic activation occur without overt end organ dysfunction? We have conducted an exploratory literature search for reports that have evidence of organ-specific dysfunction in chronic urticaria that might justify prospective observational studies. This search revealed some evidence of systemic effects of chronic urticaria in cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal, central nervous and musculo-skeletal systems. The relevance of these findings needs to be further determined. However, they justify prospective studies in larger numbers of patients and at different stages of disease activity.

Respiration data on sleep state misperception, psychophysiological insomnia and normal individuals from a cross sectional study

The data prepared here had been originally collected for a study project entitled ‘Breathing pattern analysis in insomnia suffers’. This data describes the information of 82 individuals; participating 41 normal individuals and 41 insomnia suffers with tow phenotype included 30 sleep state misperception and 11 psychophysiological suffers. The data presents 8 hours of respiratory signals included flow pressure, flow temperature, Oxygen saturation, Thorax and Abdomen signal in frequency sampling 256, 32, 32, 32, 4 Hz respectively. It includes breathing features and sleep profiles in segments of 30s for each individuals. In addition, the full demographic and objective specifications was attached.

The relationship between breastfeeding and reported respiratory and gastrointestinal infection rates in young children

Background

Although breastfeeding is touted as providing many health benefits to infants, some aspects of this relationship remain poorly understood.

Methods

The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) is a prospective longitudinal study that follows children from birth through childhood, and collects data on illness events, breastfeeding duration, and time to introduction of formula or foods at 3 month intervals up until 4 years of age and at 6 months intervals thereafter. Exclusive and non-exclusive breastfeeding is examined in relation to the 3-month odds of a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection for 6861 children between the ages of 3–18 months, and 5666 children up to the age of 4 years. Analysis was performed using logistic regression models with generalized estimating equation methodology. All models were adjusted for potential confounding variables.

Results

At 3–6 months of age, breastfeeding was found to be inversely associated with the odds of respiratory infections with fever (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.70–0.95), otitis media (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.62–0.94), and infective gastroenteritis (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.46–0.70), although the inverse association with respiratory illnesses was observed only for girls during the winter months. Between 6 and 18 months of age, breastfeeding within any 3 month period continued to be inversely associated with the odds of ear infection and infective gastroenteritis, and additionally with the odds of conjunctivitis, and laryngitis and tracheitis, over the same 3 month period within this age range. However, breastfeeding in this group was associated with increased reports of common cold. Duration of exclusive breastfeeding was inversely associated with the odds of otitis media up to 48 months of age (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.95–0.99) after breastfeeding had stopped.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that breastfeeding can be protective against multiple respiratory and gastrointestinal acute illnesses in some children up to at least 6 months of age, with duration of exclusive breastfeeding being somewhat protective of otitis media even after breastfeeding has stopped.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00279318.

Date of registration: January 17, 2006 (proactively registered).

First Posted: January 19, 2006.

Inhaled Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors for the treatment of asthma

Multiple asthma-relevant cytokines including IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and TSLP depend upon JAKs for signaling. JAK inhibition may, therefore, offer a novel intervention strategy for patients with disease refractory to current standards of care. Multiple systemically delivered JAK inhibitors have been approved for human use or are under clinical evaluation in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, the on-target side effect profiles of these agents are likely not tolerable for many asthmatic patients. Limiting JAK inhibition to the lung is expected to improve therapeutic index relative to systemic inhibition. Thus, inhaled JAK inhibitors with lung-restricted exposure are of high interest as potential treatments for asthma.