The pleura and the endocrine system

The functioning of the pleura and the endocrine system are not entirely independent of each other. Some hormones can reach a greater concentration in the pleural exudate than in the blood. However, the clinical significance of this finding remains unknown. In some circumstances, hormonal changes are responsible for pathological manifestations in the pleura. Hypothyroidism is one of the most common diseases that can cause a pleural effusion, likely resulting from alterations in capillary permeability. The presence of ectopic endometrial tissue within the lung parenchyma, pleura, pericardium or diaphragm is known as thoracic endometriosis and is one of the causes of catamenial pneumothorax and /or catamenial hemothorax, which can affect women of childbearing age and arises within 72 h from the onset of menstruation. Treatment and prevention of recurrent catamenial pneumothorax / hemothorax usually requires an approach that combines surgery and hormone therapy. Malignant pleural effusion from breast cancer may contain estrogen receptor-positive cells. In such a case, endocrine treatment may be effective in reducing the amount of pleural fluid and the associated symptoms. Thyroid cancer and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) are further hormone-sensitive malignancies in which pleura is frequently involved. The solitary fibrous tumor of pleura (SFPT) is an example of a pleural disease that can cause hormonal balance disorders. It can lead to a rise in the releasing factor for growth hormone (GHRH), human beta chorionic gonadotropin (Beta-hCG), and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2). The consequence of such hormonal imbalance include hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy, gynecomastia, and refractory hypoglycemia, respectively.

ERS International Congress, Madrid, 2019: highlights from the Airway Diseases, Asthma and COPD Assembly

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2019 in Madrid, Spain, was a platform for scientific discussion of the highest quality scientific research, cutting-edge techniques and innovative new therapies within the respiratory field. This article discusses some of the high-quality research studies presented at that Congress, with a focus on airway diseases, including asthma, COPD, small airways, bronchiectasis and cough, presented through the Airway Diseases, Asthma and COPD Assembly (Assembly 5) of the ERS. The authors establish the key take-home messages of these studies, compare their findings and place them into context of current understanding.

Surveillance of adverse events in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis: first global report

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries implement pharmacovigilance and collect information on active drug safety monitoring (aDSM) and management of adverse events.The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the frequency and severity of adverse events to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs in a cohort of consecutive TB patients treated with new (i.e. bedaquiline, delamanid) and repurposed (i.e. clofazimine, linezolid) drugs, based on the WHO aDSM project. Adverse events were collected prospectively after attribution to a specific drug together with demographic, bacteriological, radiological and clinical information at diagnosis and during therapy. This interim analysis included patients who completed or were still on treatment at time of data collection.Globally, 45 centres from 26 countries/regions reported 658 patients (68.7% male, 4.4% HIV co-infected) treated as follows: 87.7% with bedaquiline, 18.4% with delamanid (6.1% with both), 81.5% with linezolid and 32.4% with clofazimine. Overall, 504 adverse event episodes were reported: 447 (88.7%) were classified as minor (grade 1-2) and 57 (11.3%) as serious (grade 3-5). The majority of the 57 serious adverse events reported by 55 patients (51 out of 57, 89.5%) ultimately resolved. Among patients reporting serious adverse events, some drugs held responsible were discontinued: bedaquiline in 0.35% (two out of 577), delamanid in 0.8% (one out of 121), linezolid in 1.9% (10 out of 536) and clofazimine in 1.4% (three out of 213) of patients. Serious adverse events were reported in 6.9% (nine out of 131) of patients treated with amikacin, 0.4% (one out of 221) with ethionamide/prothionamide, 2.8% (15 out of 536) with linezolid and 1.8% (eight out of 498) with cycloserine/terizidone.The aDSM study provided valuable information, but implementation needs scaling-up to support patient-centred care.

Masterclass in airways disease: course report

It is currently a very exciting time in airway disease. With recent pivotal changes in the global directives in the management for both asthma and COPD, new approved treatments and drugs, and innovative approaches in characterising the diseases, the time was right for assembly 5 (airway diseases, asthma and COPD) to undertake a masterclass this year in keeping with the new European Respiratory Society (ERS) continuing professional development initiatives from the Educational Council.

Participants attending the recent ERS course on airways disease share their experiences 
http://bit.ly/2lojSl3

Prioritizing research challenges and funding for allergy and asthma and the need for translational research-The European Strategic Forum on Allergic Diseases

The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) organized the first European Strategic Forum on Allergic Diseases and Asthma. The main aim was to bring together all relevant stakeholders and decision-makers in the field of allergy, asthma and clinical Immunology around an open debate on contemporary challenges and potential solutions for the next decade. The Strategic Forum was an upscaling of the EAACI White Paper aiming to integrate the Academy's output with the perspective offered by EAACI's partners. This collaboration is fundamental for adapting and integrating allergy and asthma care into the context of real-world problems. The Strategic Forum on Allergic Diseases brought together all partners who have the drive and the influence to make positive change: national and international societies, patients' organizations, regulatory bodies and industry representatives. An open debate with a special focus on drug development and biomedical engineering, big data and information technology and allergic diseases and asthma in the context of environmental health concluded that connecting science with the transformation of care and a joint agreement between all partners on priorities and needs are essential to ensure a better management of allergic diseases and asthma in the advent of precision medicine together with global access to innovative and affordable diagnostics and therapeutics.

Implementation of a real-world based ICF set for the rehabilitation of respiratory diseases: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

International Classification Functioning (ICF) Core Sets represent a holistic approach to functioning within rehabilitation field. Information-reporting efficacy of a rehabilitation-based Respiratory ICF set applied on a large scale throughout the ICS Maugeri network was tested.

METHODS

A prospective multi-center study (May-November 2018) was conducted for all respiratory inpatients consecutively admitted for rehabilitation. Doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, nurses used an electronic Respiratory ICF set (33 items among the ICF body functions, activity and participations components) at admission and at discharge to assess the disability changes. The ICF report qualifiers, from 0 (no impairment) to 4 (maximum impairment), guided clinical, diagnostic and rehabilitation prescriptions.

RESULTS

1886 patients (69.6±10.8 years; M=1045) were admitted (589 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 494 chronic respiratory failure [CRF], 21 prolonged mechanical ventilation [PMV], 496 with other respiratory diseases), of whom 15 died, and 117 were transferred to acute care. The mean length of stay was 23.1±11.8 days (range 1-122). The mean time to fill in the ICF set was 23.16±0.70 min. The rate of filled charts improved from 16% in May to 100% in November. The baseline distribution of the more severe qualifiers (>2) progressively increased from the whole sample to the PMV subgroup. After rehabilitation, in the whole sample and in the CRF and PMV subgroups, the severity qualifiers significantly decreased (P<0.0001), showing a positive effect of the intervention on patients' disability.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine use of a Respiratory ICF set for chronic respiratory diseases helps to prepare a personalized rehabilitation program discriminating disability level in different respiratory diseases and assessing disability outcomes pre-post rehabilitation.

Correction to: When kidneys and lungs suffer together

Given names of all the authors have been interchanged with family names.

Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in severe asthma: a retrospective data analysis

Background: Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a multimodal treatment that is still poorly investigated in severe asthma where respiratory symptoms remain "uncontrolled" despite intensive pharmacological therapy. Bronchiectasis and obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) are common comorbidities which may worsen asthma control.Aim: Aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of PR on functional exercise, dyspnea, and muscle fatigue in patients with severe asthma.Methods: A total of 317 patients affected from severe asthma according to GINA guidelines who underwent a multidisciplinary 3 weeks rehabilitation program with an adherence of >80% to PR and able to complete a Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT) were retrospectively included in the analysis. Pulmonary rehabilitation included endurance training, educational meetings, chest physiotherapy, breathing exercises, and psychological support. Six-minute walking distance and Borg scale for dyspnea and muscle fatigue were recorded before and after the rehabilitation.Results: A total of 371 patients were analyzed, 39 had bronchiectasis (10.5%), 163 (43.9%) OSAS and 17 had both (4.6%). PR significantly improved 6MWT distance, Borg dyspnea and muscle fatigue (p value < 0.0001 for all outcomes) and mean SpO2 recorded during 6MWT (p value < 0.0001). Median (IQR) delta 6 minute walking distance was 33 (14-60) m. 6MWT distance (p < 0.0001) and the oxygen saturation (p < 0.01) significantly improved in severe asthma with bronchiectasis and/or OSAS.Conclusions: Our study provides evidence for the first time on a large sample of patients with severe asthma that a multidisciplinary PR program is effective in terms of exercise capacity and symptoms. In addition, exercise capacity improved in the presence of bronchiectasis and/or OSAS.

Effectiveness of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program on Persistent Asthma Stratified for Severity

BACKGROUND

Asthma is defined by airway inflammation associated with various respiratory symptoms, and pharmacologic treatment is based on inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Physical activity, educational training, nutritional support, and psychological counseling are considered part of non-pharmacologic treatment; however, studies so far have investigated the effect of single non-pharmacologic treatment. There are few studies that demonstrate the effect of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation, but no clear data are available regarding factors that can predict who could benefit the most. Our study aimed to assess the effect of a comprehensive 3-week pulmonary rehabilitation program on exercise tolerance and to identify baseline subject characteristics that may predict a better response to treatment.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study. A team planned a pulmonary rehabilitation program: educational support; endurance training; and optional components, such as respiratory exercises and airway clearance techniques. The following data were collected before and after pulmonary rehabilitation: subject characteristics, smoking history, asthma severity, respiratory function and 6-min walk test (6MWT).

RESULTS

We collected data on 515 subjects (202 males 39.2%), age, mean ± SD 63.9 ± 10.4 y), with 413 (80.2%) having moderate-to-severe disease; and 455 (88.4%) with stable respiratory symptoms 455 (88.35%). At baseline, the percentage of predicted 6MWT in all subjects categorized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) steps was in the normal range, except for the subjects at step 5, for which it was significantly lower (P = .01). All subjects showed a significant improvement in exercise tolerance and oxygen saturation, together with a decrease in baseline dyspnea, muscle fatigue, and heart rate after pulmonary rehabilitation. Improvement of 6MWT was statistically significant, irrespective of the GINA categorization. The variables related to the improvement in 6MWT were age (P < .001), smoking habit (P = .034), and baseline 6MWT (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Subjects with asthma at any GINA step seemed to benefit from a pulmonary rehabilitation program; analysis of our data highlighted that pulmonary rehabilitation was more beneficial in younger subjects with a smoking history and worse baseline exercise tolerance.

Do blood eosinophils strictly reflect airway inflammation in COPD? Comparison with asthmatic patients

Introduction

Airway eosinophilic inflammation is a characteristic of asthmatic patients and of a sub group of COPD subjects. Blood eosinophils are deemed as a good surrogate marker of sputum eosinophilic inflammation; however, controversial data have been published particularly in COPD. The aim of our study was to compare blood and sputum eosinophils in COPD and asthmatic patients in “real life”.

Methods

Sputum was induced in stable patients with COPD or asthma with hypertonic saline solution and blood eosinophils were evaluated. Frequency of comorbidities was recorded. Correlations were performed stratifying patients by disease and comorbidities.

Results

146 patients, 57 with COPD and 89 with asthma were evaluated. Blood and sputum eosinophils expressed as percentages were correlated in COPD (rho = 0.40; p = 0.004), but the entity of correlation was lower compared with asthmatic subjects (rho = 0.71; p < 0.0001). When blood eosinophils were expressed as counts the correlation was slightly lower than when expressed as percentages in COPD (rho = 0.35; p = 0.01) and in asthmatic patients (rho = 0.68; p < 0.0001). In COPD patients older than 73 years or with blood eosinophils higher than the median value (210.6 eos/μl), or co-diagnosed with hypertension, ischemic heart disease or atrial fibrillation no correlation between blood and sputum eosinophils was found.

However, the effect of ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation could be driven by hypertension since most of these patients have this comorbidity.

Conclusion

Blood eosinophils correlated with sputum eosinophils to a lesser degree in COPD than in asthmatic patients. Older age, high blood eosinophils and hypertension affected the correlation between blood and sputum eosinophils, more studies are needed to evaluate the role of other cardiac comobidities.

Minimum Clinically Important Difference in 30-s Sit-to-Stand Test After Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Subjects With COPD

BACKGROUND

The sit-to-stand (STS) test is a feasible tool for measuring peripheral muscle strength of the lower limbs. There is evidence of increasing use of STS tests in patients with COPD. We sought to evaluate in subjects with COPD the minimum clinically important difference in 30-s STS test after pulmonary rehabilitation.

METHODS

Stable COPD subjects undergoing a 30-s STS test and a 6-min walk test (6MWT) before and after pulmonary rehabilitation were included. Responsiveness to pulmonary rehabilitation was determined by the change in 30-s STS test results (Δ 30-s STS) before and after pulmonary rehabilitation. The minimum clinically important difference was evaluated using an anchor-based method.

RESULTS

96 subjects with moderate-to-severe COPD were included. At baseline, 30-s STS test results were significantly related to distance covered in a 6MWT (6MWD) (r = 0.65, P < .001), FVC (r = 0.46, P < .001), P_aCO2 (r = -0.42, P < .001), FEV₁ (r = 0.39, P < .001), and age (r = -0.31, P = .002). After pulmonary rehabilitation, a significant improvement in 30-s STS test results was observed (mean difference +2 repetitions, P < .001). The Δ30-s STS was positively related to Δ6MWD (r = 0.62, P < .001), transitional dyspnea index (r = 0.67, P < .001), and baseline residual volume (r = 0.27, P = .007). The receiver operating characteristic curves method identified a Δ 30-s STS cut-off of 2 repetitions as the best discriminating value (area under the curve: 0.892, P < .001) to identify the minimum clinically important difference for Δ6MWD (30 m). In a multivariate logistic regression model, baseline 30-s STS (odds ratio 2.63; 95% CI 1.09-6.35, P = .031) and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (< 53% predicted) (odds ratio 2.49, 95% CI 1.04-5.98, P = .041) predict the risk to have a Δ 30-s STS ≥ 2 repetitions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that in stable subjects with moderate-to-severe COPD, the 30-s STS test was a sensitive tool to assess the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation. A Δ 30-s STS of ≥ 2 repetitions represented the minimum clinically important difference, which may be predicted by the baseline ability in the 30-s STS test and lung function in terms of diffusing lung capacity (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT03627624).

Airway inflammatory profile is correlated with symptoms in stable COPD: A longitudinal proof-of-concept cohort study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Symptoms negatively impact the quality of life and long-term prognosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Little is known about the relationship linking airway inflammation and symptoms in stable COPD. In this study, we evaluated whether respiratory symptoms in COPD are related to sputum inflammatory cellular profile and whether symptom changes are associated with changes in airway inflammation.

METHODS

A total of 40 patients with stable COPD with moderate-to-severe airflow obstruction were enrolled. Patients were visited weekly over 4 weeks. At each visit, patients underwent clinical assessments, lung function tests and sputum induction. Patients recorded daily dyspnoea, sputum and cough scores.

RESULTS

The changes between two consecutive visits in the percent of sputum neutrophils and eosinophils were related to the changes in the cough (P < 0.001; r = 0.63) and dyspnoea scores (P < 0.001; r = 0.58) of the prior week. Furthermore, using regression analyses, we were able to demonstrate that changes in the cough score were specifically associated to the change in neutrophils, while changes in the dyspnoea score and use of rescue medications were associated with changes in eosinophils numbers.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed an association between symptoms and the sputum inflammatory profile. In particular, changes in symptoms (cough and dyspnoea) were correlated with changes in the specific sputum inflammatory cell components of airway inflammation (neutrophils and eosinophils, respectively), providing novel information on the mechanisms of disease manifestation.

[Linking the ICF codes to clinical real-life assessments: the challenge of the transition from theory to practice]

According to the latest WHO guidelines, the ICD-ICF joint use currently represents the most agreed method to portray a patient's Care Pathway during a hospitalization. On this note, ICS Maugeri carried out an internal project aiming to identify the ICF codes that better describe the rehabilitation pathways in its Italian Institutes. 2 main goals so far have been achieved: 1. To re-conceptualize the Care Pathways thought the lenses of the ICD-ICF frameworks; 2. To link, whenever possible and by means of the WHO-ICF linking rules, each pertinent ICF code to the most appropriate assessment method, harmonizing its outputs to the 0-4 ICF Likert scale. The current project represents a first attempt towards the creation of a standard functioning assessment methodology to be implemented in rehabilitation settings. Despite being referred to the Maugeri group only, the ICD-ICF procedure described could hopefully be extended to other settings, representing a support for health information technologies.

Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. A ten year real life study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the predictive factors at 12 month and 10 year adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA).

METHODS

Retrospective data analysis of patients starting CPAP between 2006 and 2009. After 12 months (T1) from start and during a 10 year follow up the following data were recorded: Body Mass Index (BMI), Time of night use, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score.

RESULTS

Out of 315 patients, 147 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were evaluated. According to CPAP nighttime use during the first year, patients were divided into two groups: those using the device less < 4.5 h (Poor Adherence (PA): 61 patients), and those using ≥4.5 h: (Good Adherence (GA): 86 patients). Patients of PA group were significantly younger, had greater BMI and required more unscheduled visits during the first year. After 12 months, there were 11 (7.5%) dropouts, all in PA group. Patients using the nasal mask showed a greater prevalence among GA as compared to those using the oro-nasal mask (76.5% vs 57.8% respectively, p = 0.04). After 10 years 83 out of 147 (56.4%) patients were still under CPAP, 51 (59.3% of GA) and 32 (52.4% of PA group) respectively. Dropouts were significantly more frequent during the first 5 years (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Ten years after prescription the majority of patients with OSA undergoing periodical controls, still perform CPAP independent of their adherence to therapy after one year of use. Use of nasal mask may be associate to better adherence.

Surveillance of adverse events in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis: A global feasibility study

The World Health Organization launched a global initiative, known as aDSM (active TB drug safety monitoring and management) to better describe the safety profile of new treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in real-world settings. However, comprehensive surveillance is difficult to implement in several countries. The aim of the aDSM project is to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing national aDSM registers and to describe the type and the frequency of adverse events (AEs) associated with exposure to the new anti-TB drugs. Following a pilot study carried out in 2016, official involvement of TB reference centres/countries into the project was sought and cases treated with bedaquiline- and/or delamanid-containing regimens were consecutively recruited. AEs were prospectively collected ensuring potential attribution of the AE to a specific drug based on its known safety profile. A total of 309 cases were fully reported from 41 centres in 27 countries (65% males; 268 treated with bedaquiline, 20 with delamanid, and 21 with both drugs) out of an estimated 781 cases the participating countries had committed to report by the first quarter of 2019.

The new frontiers of rehabilitation medicine in people with chronic disabling illnesses

Because of the demographic shift and the increased proportion of patients surviving acute critical illnesses, the number of people living with severely disabling chronic diseases and, consequently, the demand for rehabilitation are expected to increase sharply over time. As underscored by the World Health Organization, there is substantial evidence that the provision of inpatient rehabilitation in specialized rehabilitation units to people with complex needs is effective in fostering functional recovery, improving health-related quality of life, increasing independence, reducing institutionalization rate, and improving prognosis. Recent studies in the real world setting reinforce the evidence that patients with ischemic heart disease or stroke benefit from rehabilitation in terms of improved prognosis. In addition, there is evidence of the effectiveness of rehabilitation for the prevention of functional deterioration in patients with complex and/or severe chronic diseases. Given this evidence of effectiveness, rehabilitation should be regarded as an essential part of the continuum of care. Nonetheless, rehabilitation still is underdeveloped and underused. Efforts should be devoted to foster healthcare professional awareness of the benefits of rehabilitation and to increase referral and participation.

Research highlights from the 2018 European Respiratory Society International Congress: airway disease

The annual European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress (held in Paris in 2018) was once again a platform for discussion of the highest-quality scientific research, cutting-edge techniques and innovative new therapies within the respiratory field. This article discusses only some of the high-quality research studies presented at this year's Congress, with a particular focus on airway diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis and cough, as presented through Assembly 5 of the ERS (Airway Diseases: Asthma and COPD). The authors establish the key take-home messages of these studies, compare their findings and place them in the context of current understanding.

Relationship between diabetes and respiratory diseases-Clinical and therapeutic aspects

Diabetes is a common metabolic disorder affecting the entire body with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The major complications related to diabetes are mostly due to the macrovascular and microvascular bed impairment due to metabolic, hemodynamic and inflammatory factors. However, studies over the past decades have added also the lung as a target organ in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes has always been addressed as a major comorbidity conditioning the disease behaviour and the natural history of several respiratory diseases. Increased interest has recently focused on the pathophysiology of the metabolic glycaemic disorder and the respiratory diseases suggesting a similar background shared by the two conditions. The true relationship between pulmonary diseases and diabetes mellitus has not been clarified, this review aims to summarize the link between diabetes and coexisting respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, respiratory infections, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and obstructive sleep apnea from a pathogenetic and therapeutic point of view.