Current Surgical Therapy for Bronchiectasis: Surgical Results and Predictive Factors in 86 Patients

Surgery for bronchiectasis-destroyed lung: feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and surgical outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To provide the experience of surgical treatment for bronchiectasis-destroyed lung (BDL) and evaluate the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

METHODS

BDL patients underwent surgical treatment between January 2013 and June 2018 were included. Logistic regression was performed to assess factors for major complications, and Cox's regression was performed to assess factors affected symptomatic outcome.

RESULTS

Totally, 143 patients were treated by VATS (n = 64) and thoracotomy (n = 79). Nine (14.1%) cases scheduled for VATS were converted to thoracotomy for dense adhesions (n = 6) and frozen hilum (n = 3). The VATS group had a median chest tube duration, hospitalization and a time of returning to full activity of 4 days, 5 days and 1.5 months, respectively. Major complications occurred in 28 (19.6%) of all patients, 50.0% after pneumonectomy and 13.4% after lobectomy/extensive lobectomy. Multivariable analysis identified pneumonectomy [odds ratio, 3.64; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18-11.21] as a significant predictor for major complications. Overall, 141 (98.6%) patients benefitted from surgery (completely asymptomatic, n = 109; acceptable alleviation, n = 32). Thirty-four patients experienced relapse of the disease, including 13 with productive cough, 11 with haemoptysis and 10 with recurrent infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection [hazard ratio (HR), 3.07; 95% CI, 1.38-6.83] and extent of remanent bronchiectatic areas (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.05) were independent risk factors for shorter relapse free interval.

CONCLUSIONS

VATS for BDL is feasible in well-selected patients. Pneumonectomy increased the risk of postoperative major complications. Removing all BDL lesions contributed to satisfactory prognosis.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children

BACKGROUND

Pediatric bronchiectasis is a common respiratory disease in children. The use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for its treatment remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of our study was to compare and analyze the clinical efficacy of thoracoscopic surgery and thoracotomy in the treatment of pediatric bronchiectasis and summarize the surgical treatment experience of VATS in children with bronchiectasis.

DESIGN

Retrospective single-center cohort study.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 46 pediatric patients who underwent surgery with bronchiectasis at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2015 to May 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: the VATS group (25 cases) and the thoracotomy group (21 cases). Comparative analysis was performed on various parameters including basic clinical data, surgical methods, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, transfusion status, postoperative pain, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, chest tube drainage time, length of hospital stay, incidence of complications, and follow-up information.

RESULTS

There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients in terms of age, weight, gender, etiology, duration of symptoms, site of onset, and comorbidities (p > 0.05). The operation time in the VATS group was longer than that in the thoracotomy group (p < 0.001). However, the VATS group had better outcomes in terms of intraoperative blood loss, transfusion status, postoperative pain, postoperative mechanical ventilation time, chest tube drainage time, and length of hospital stay (p < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the VATS group was lower than that in the thoracotomy group, although the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.152). Follow-up data showed no statistically significant difference in the surgical treatment outcomes between the two groups (p = 0.493).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of complications and mortality in surgical treatment of bronchiectasis is acceptable. Compared with thoracotomy surgery, VATS has advantages such as smaller trauma, less pain, faster recovery, and fewer complications. For suitable pediatric patients with bronchiectasis, VATS is a safe and effective surgical method.

Preoperative controlling nutritional status score (CONUT) predicts postoperative complications of patients with bronchiectasis after lung resections

Background

The Controlled Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is a valid scoring system for assessing nutritional status and has been shown to correlate with clinical outcomes in many surgical procedures; however, no studies have reported a correlation between postoperative complications of bronchiectasis and the preoperative CONUT score. This study aimed to evaluate the value of the CONUT score in predicting postoperative complications in patients with bronchiectasis.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed patients with localized bronchiectasis who underwent lung resection at our hospital between April 2012 and November 2021. The optimal nutritional scoring system was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and incorporated into multivariate logistic regression. Finally, independent risk factors for postoperative complications were determined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Results

A total of 240 patients with bronchiectasis were included, including 101 males and 139 females, with an average age of 49.83 ± 13.23 years. Postoperative complications occurred in 59 patients (24.6%). The incidence of complications, postoperative hospital stay and drainage tube indwelling time were significantly higher in the high CONUT group than in the low CONUT group. After adjusting for sex, BMI, smoking history, lung function, extent of resection, intraoperative blood loss, surgical approach and operation time, multivariate analysis showed that the CONUT score remained an independent risk factor for postoperative complications after bronchiectasis.

Conclusions

The preoperative CONUT score is an independent predictor of postoperative complications in patients with localized bronchiectasis.

The efficacy of azithromycin to prevent exacerbation of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

Introduction

The efficacy of azithromycin to prevent exacerbation for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis remains controversial. We conduct this meta-analysis to explore the influence of azithromycin versus placebo for the treatment of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Methods

We have searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through July 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of azithromycin versus placebo for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. This meta-analysis was performed using the random-effect model.

Results

Four RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for non-cystic-fibrosis bronchiectasis, azithromycin treatment was associated with improved free of exacerbation (odd ratios [OR] = 3.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.69–7.93; P = 0.001), reduced pulmonary exacerbations (OR = 0.27; 95% CI 0.13–0.59; P = 0.001) and number of pulmonary exacerbations (standard mean difference [SMD] =  − 0.87; 95% CI − 1.21 to − 0.54; P < 0.00001), but demonstrate no obvious impact on forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), score on St George’s respiratory questionnaire, nausea or vomiting, adverse events.

Conclusions

Azithromycin is effective to prevent exacerbation of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Preoperative evaluation for lung resection in patients with bronchiectasis: should we rely on standard lung function evaluation?

OBJECTIVES

The scant data about non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, including tuberculosis sequelae and impairment of lung function, can bias the preoperative physiological assessment. Our goal was to evaluate the changes in lung function and exercise capacity following pulmonary resection in these patients; we also looked for outcome predictors.

METHODS

We performed a non-randomized prospective study evaluating lung function changes in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis treated with pulmonary resection. Patients performed lung function tests and cardiopulmonary exercise tests preoperatively and 3 and 9 months after the operation. Demographic data, comorbidities, surgical data and complications were collected.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were evaluated for lung function. After resection, the patients had slightly lower values for spirometry: forced expiratory volume in 1 s preoperatively: 2.21 l ± 0.8; at 3 months: 1.9 l ± 0.8 and at 9 months: 2.0 l ± 0.8, but the relationship between the forced expiratory volume in 1 s and the forced vital capacity remained. The gas diffusion measured by diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide did not change: preoperative value: 23.2 ml/min/mmHg ± 7.4; at 3 months: 21.5 ml/min/mmHg ± 5.6; and at 9 months: 21.7 ml/min/mmHg ± 8.2. The performance of general exercise did not change; peak oxygen consumption preoperatively was 20.9 ml/kg/min ± 7.4; at 3 months: 19.3 ml/kg/min ± 6.4; and at 9 months: 20.2 ml/kg/min ± 8.0. Forty-six patients were included for analysis of complications. We had 13 complications with 2 deaths. To test the capacity of the predicted postoperative (PPO) values to forecast complications, we performed several multivariate and univariate analyses; none of them was a significant predictor of complications. When we analysed other variables, only bronchoalveolar lavage with positive culture was significant for postoperative complications (P = 0.0023). Patients who had a pneumonectomy had a longer stay in the intensive care unit (P = 0.0348).

CONCLUSIONS

The calculated PPO forced expiratory volume in 1 s had an excellent correlation with the measurements at 3 and 9 months; but the calculated PPO capacity for carbon monoxide and the PPO peak oxygen consumption slightly underestimated the 3- and 9-month values. However, none of them was a predictor for complications. Better tools to predict postoperative complications for patients with bronchiectasis who are candidates for lung resection are needed.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01268475.

Chest imaging findings of chronic respiratory disease in HIV-infected adolescents on combined anti retro viral therapy

Early treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has improved survival of children perinatally infected with HIV into adolescence. This population is at risk of long term complications related to HIV infection, particularly chronic respiratory disease. Limited data on chest imaging findings in HIV-infected adolescents, suggest that the predominant disease is of small and large airways: predominantly bronchiolitis obliterans or bronchiectasis. Single cases of emphysema have been reported. Lung fibrosis, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis, post tuberculous apical fibrocystic changes and malignancies do not feature in this population. Chest radiograph (CXR) is easily accessible and widely used, especially in resource limited settings, such as sub Saharan Africa, where the greatest burden of HIV disease occurs. Lung ultrasound has been described for the diagnosis of pneumonia in children, pulmonary oedema and interstitial lung disease [1-3]. The use of this modality in chronic respiratory disease in adolescents where the predominant finding is small airway disease and bronchiectasis has however not been described. CXR is useful to evaluate structural/post infective changes, parenchymal opacification and nodules, hyperinflation or extensive bronchiectasis. CXR however, is inadequate for diagnosing small airway disease, for which high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the modality of choice. Where available, low dose HRCT should be used early in the course of symptomatic disease in adolescents and for follow up in children who are non responsive to treatment or clinically deteriorating. This article provides a pictorial review of the spectrum of CXR and HRCT imaging findings of chronic pulmonary disease in perinatally HIV-infected adolescents on cART and guidelines for imaging.

Extensive Lung Resection for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease With Multilobar Lesions

BACKGROUND

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease often spreads to multiple lobes, and extensive lung resection (ELR) is sometimes required to control the disease. The safety and feasibility of ELR for nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease remain unclear, however.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease who underwent adjuvant lung resection. Characteristics were compared between patients who underwent ELR and those who underwent simple anatomic lung resection (SALR). The outcome data were analyzed by a Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 146 patients underwent ELR (n = 54) or SALR (n = 92). ELR was associated with a longer operative time (306 vs 237 minutes; P < .001) and higher incidence of prolonged air leak (17% vs 3.3%; P = .016) than SALR. Rates of mortality, sputum culture conversion (positive to negative), and microbiological recurrence did not differ markedly between the groups. In the multivariate analysis, ELR was not a significant risk factor for an unfavorable outcome after nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease surgery (hazard ratio, 2.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-6.03; P= .11).

CONCLUSIONS

ELR for nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease has some drawbacks compared with SALR but seems as safe and feasible as SALR. ELR may provide improved disease control in some cases of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease with multilobar lesions.

Noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis management: opportunities and challenges

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is a challenging disease which carries a heavy healthcare burden and significant mortality and morbidity. This review highlights the challenges in the diagnosis of bronchiectasis and discusses the management strategies and research opportunities in this field.

RECENT FINDINGS

The challenges in the management of bronchiectasis appear to be multifactorial, arising from both etiological heterogeneity and disease-specific management. Frequent inflammation and infections not only lead to progressive respiratory failure but also increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. No therapies are approved specifically for adult bronchiectasis, but new guidelines and recent studies outline strategies for control of infection and inflammation and for prevention of frequent exacerbations to improve overall prognosis.

SUMMARY

Recent studies in the management of bronchiectasis are encouraging. Advances have been made in understanding both disease heterogeneity and best practices for care; interventions such as daily mucociliary clearance, eradication of colonized microbial organisms, and control of inflammation may result in favorable outcomes.

Pharmacotherapeutic strategies for treating bronchiectasis in pediatric patients

INTRODUCTION

The social and medical costs of bronchiectasis in children are becoming considerable due to its increasing prevalence. Early identification and intensive treatment of bronchiectasis are needed to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with bronchiectasis in children.

AREAS COVERED

This review presents the current pharmacotherapeutic strategies for treating bronchiectasis in children with a focus on non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

EXPERT OPINION

Evidence for the effectiveness of diverse treatment strategies in bronchiectasis is lacking, particularly in children, although the disease burden is substantial for bronchiectasis. Most treatment strategies for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children have been extrapolated from those in adults with bronchiectasis or children with cystic fibrosis. Antibiotics combined with an active airway clearance therapy via the inhalation of mucoactive agents can stabilize bronchiectasis. The timely and intensive administration of antibiotics during acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis is essential to prevent its progression in children. To suppress the bacterial loads in the airway, systemic or inhaled antibiotics can be administered intermittently or continuously. However, studies on these protocols, including the appropriate duration and effective dosages are lacking. Long-term administration of azithromycin for 12-24 months may reduce the exacerbation frequency with the increased carriage rate of azithromycin-resistant bacteria.

Surgical management of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (bronchiectasis) is an abnormal dilatation of the bronchi and bronchioles, resulting from a prolonged recurrent infectious process due to various causes and predisposing factors. This disease has several etiologies and affects a heterogeneous population of patients. The most important viewpoint for the surgical management of bronchiectasis is to select appropriate candidates for surgery and conduct suitable anatomic lung resections at the right time under appropriate conditions. The ideal candidates for lung resection are symptomatic patients with focal disease due to truly localized bronchial pathology regardless of optimal and absolute medical management.

Complications of surgery for infectious lung cavities

Background Infectious lung cavities are a common entity for the respiratory physician. Sometimes these lesions require surgical treatment, but surgery is challenging, and complications are common. Methods Patients with infectious lung cavities amenable to surgical treatment were included in a case-control study. The control group included patients with no complications. The cases group comprised patients with any of the following complications up to 90 days after surgery: death, persistence of hemoptysis, empyema, operative blood loss > 500 mL, vascular lesion requiring repair, massive transfusion (>5 units of packed red blood cells per 48 h) or reoperation for bleeding, postoperative mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay > 48 h, prolonged air leak, and persistent atelectasis. The potential risk factors for complications analyzed were demographic data, exposure to contaminants, comorbidities, preoperative embolization, surgical indication, spirometry results, and sputum test positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results Forty-five patients were included in the study and divided into 24 cases and 21 controls. We found a significant difference in the time to removal of chest tubes in favor of the noncomplicated cases (6.45 vs. 4.05 days, p = 0.030), and persistent active infection at the time of surgery tended to be a risk factor for complications (odds ratio = 6.6, 95% confidence interval: 0.7-60, p = 0.061). Conclusion The presence of persistent active infection at the time of surgery could be a risk factor for complications in resection surgery for infectious lung cavities.

The Saudi Thoracic Society guidelines for diagnosis and management of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

This is the first guideline developed by the Saudi Thoracic Society for the diagnosis and management of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. Local experts including pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, thoracic surgeons, respiratory therapists, and others from adult and pediatric departments provided the best practice evidence recommendations based on the available international and local literature. The main objective of this guideline is to utilize the current published evidence to develop recommendations about management of bronchiectasis suitable to our local health-care system and available resources. We aim to provide clinicians with tools to standardize the diagnosis and management of bronchiectasis. This guideline targets primary care physicians, family medicine practitioners, practicing internists and respiratory physicians, and all other health-care providers involved in the care of the patients with bronchiectasis.

[The place of surgery in bilateral sequelae bronchiectasis]

INTRODUCTION

The aim of our study is to report our surgery results in bilateral sequelae bronchiectasis and to assess its impact on the life quality of our patients.

METHOD

This is a retrospective descriptive study in thoracic surgery department of Teaching Hospital Hassan II of Fez in Morocco. It involved all patients with bilateral bronchiectasis which is predominant on a few lobes or segments (localized) and who underwent surgery during the period 2010-2015. The epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical data, the surgery results, the evolution and the impact on life quality were assessed.

RESULTS

From a total of 47 patients with bilateral bronchiectasis, 13 were operated, thus a frequency of 27.6%. The average age was 32years, ranging from 15 to 54years. Women were in majority (61.5%) representing a sex ratio of 1.6. The association of chronic bronchorrhea and hemoptysis was the main reason of medical consultation in 46.16%, followed by isolated chronic bronchorrhea in 38.46%. Surgical resection involved the left side in 61.5% of cases. The left lower lobectomy was the most accomplished gesture. An improvement in symptoms was found in 11 patients (84.6%) as a decrease in bronchorrhea, hemoptysis episodes and decreasing use of antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral bronchiectasis surgery can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality in well-selected patients with an improvement in symptoms.

Surgery for predominant lesion in nonlocalized bronchiectasis

OBJECTIVE

Patients with nonlocalized bronchiectasis are encountered commonly; however, there is little information regarding surgical intervention in this patient population. The aim of this study was to evaluate symptomatic response and safety of anatomic resection of the predominant lesion via the use of lobectomy for the management of nonlocalized bronchiectasis.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 37 consecutive patients who underwent lobectomy via thoracotomy for nonlocalized bronchiectasis between 2010 and 2013. The main surgical indications were nonlocalized bronchiectasis with one predominant lesion, failure of medical treatment, and adequate cardiopulmonary reserve. The predominant lesion was determined by preoperative computed tomography and/or bronchoscopy. Preoperative symptoms were compared with postoperative symptoms and analyzed by the use of paired techniques.

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 54.5 ± 6.4 years. There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 8 (21.6%) patients, including 1 with empyema, 1 with persistent air leak, and 6 with minor transient complications, all of which were manageable without any reoperation. After lobectomy, the median extent of residual bronchiectatic areas in the remaining lungs was 25% (range, 12.5%-42.9%). The frequency of acute infection (5.3 ± 2.1/year vs 1.8 ± 2.3/year) and hemoptysis (4.9 ± 2.8/year vs 1.1 ± 0.7/year) decreased significantly and the amount of sputum also decreased (37.1 ± 3.4 mL/day vs 10.7 ± 4.6 mL/day). Twenty-three (62.2%) patients were asymptomatic after surgery, 10 (27.0%) were symptomatic with clinical improvement, and 4 (10.8%) had no change or worsened.

CONCLUSIONS

Lobectomy for the predominant lesion is a safe procedure in the surgical treatment of nonlocalized bronchiectasis and leads to significant relief of symptoms with good rates of satisfaction.

Pediatric bronchiectasis: No longer an orphan disease

Bronchiectasis is described classically as a chronic pulmonary disorder characterized by a persistent productive cough and irreversible dilatation of one or more bronchi. However, in children unable to expectorate, cough may instead be wet and intermittent and bronchial dilatation reversible in the early stages. Although still considered an orphan disease, it is being recognized increasingly as causing significant morbidity and mortality in children and adults in both affluent and developing countries. While bronchiectasis has multiple etiologies, the final common pathway involves a complex interplay between the host, respiratory pathogens and environmental factors. These interactions lead to a vicious cycle of repeated infections, airway inflammation and tissue remodelling resulting in impaired airway clearance, destruction of structural elements within the bronchial wall causing them to become dilated and small airway obstruction. In this review, the current knowledge of the epidemiology, pathobiology, clinical features, and management of bronchiectasis in children are summarized. Recent evidence has emerged to improve our understanding of this heterogeneous disease including the role of viruses, and how antibiotics, novel drugs, antiviral agents, and vaccines might be used. Importantly, the management is no longer dependent upon extrapolating from the cystic fibrosis experience. Nevertheless, substantial information gaps remain in determining the underlying disease mechanisms that initiate and sustain the pathophysiological pathways leading to bronchiectasis. National and international collaborations, standardizing definitions of clinical and research end points, and exploring novel primary prevention strategies are needed if further progress is to be made in understanding, treating and even preventing this often life-limiting disease.

Efficiency and safety of surgical intervention to patients with Non-Cystic Fibrosis bronchiectasis: a meta-analysis

No quantitative systematic review was found to report the efficiency and safety of surgical resection in the management of non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effects of operative intervention to patients with non-CF bronchiectasis. PubMed, the Cochrane library and Web of Science databases were searched up to July 8th, 2015. The pooled mortality from 34 studies recruiting 4788 patients was 1.5% (95% CI, 0.9–2.5%). The pooled morbidity from 33 studies consisting of 4583 patients was 16.7% (95% CI, 14.8–18.6%). The pooled proportion of patients from 35 studies, consisting of 4614 patients who were free of symptoms was 66.5% (95% CI, 61.3–71.7%) after surgery. The summary proportion of patients from 35 articles including 4279 participants who were improved was 27.5% (95% CI, 22.5–32.5%), and 9.1% (95% CI, 7.3–11.5%) showed no clinical improvement. In conclusion, our analysis indicated that lung resection in the management of non-CF bronchiectasis is associated with significant improvements in symptoms, low risk of mortality and acceptable morbidity.

Lung or liver: An imaging dilemma on Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scintigraphy

We present a 10-year-old boy having the bronchiectasis who was subjected to lung perfusion scintigraphy before lung resection surgery to assess the lung parenchymal function. It revealed unusual tracer distribution in right upper body that was mimicking to be liver. It was unusual unless there were some shunts bypassing the lung uptake or faulty radiopharmaceutical preparation. However by bringing down the image window, it became clear that radiopharmaceutical distribution was in thorax only correlating with lung uptake, and not in the liver. Corresponding X-ray chest and computed tomography thorax demonstrated multiple cystic lesions in left lung parenchyma.

Bronchiectasis: Mechanisms and Imaging Clues of Associated Common and Uncommon Diseases

Bronchiectasis is permanent irreversible dilatation of the airways and occurs in a variety of pathologic processes. Recurrent infection and inflammation and the resulting chemical and cellular cascade lead to permanent architectural changes in the airways. Bronchiectasis can confer substantial potential morbidity, usually secondary to recurrent infection. In severe cases of bronchiectasis, massive hemoptysis can lead to death. Thin-section computed tomography is the most sensitive imaging modality for the detection of bronchiectasis; findings include bronchial diameter exceeding that of the adjacent pulmonary artery and lack of normal tapering of terminal bronchioles as they course toward the lung periphery. The authors will review various causes of bronchiectasis, including common causes, such as recurrent infection or aspiration, and uncommon causes, such as congenital immunodeficiencies and disorders of cartilage development. The authors will also present an approach emphasizing the distribution (apical versus basal and central versus peripheral) and concomitant findings, such as nodules, cavities, and/or lymphadenopathy, that can assist in narrowing the differential diagnosis. Although an adequate understanding of these underlying causes in conjunction with their specific imaging appearances will allow radiologists to more confidently determine the process causing this common radiologic finding, clinical history and patient demographic characteristics play an integral role in determining a pertinent and concise differential diagnosis.