Association between long-term ozone exposure and readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

The relationship between long-term ozone (O₃) exposure and readmission for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) remains elusive. In this study, we collected individual-level information on AECOPD hospitalizations from a standardized electronic database in Guangzhou from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015. We calculated the annual mean O₃ concentration prior to the dates of the index hospitalization for AECOPD using patients' residential addresses. Employing Cox proportional hazards models, we assessed the association between long-term O₃ concentration and the risk of AECOPD readmission across several time frames (30 days, 90 days, 180 days, and 365 days). We estimated the disease and economic burden of AECOPD readmissions attributable to O₃ using a counterfactual approach. Of the 4574 patients included in the study, 1398 (30.6%) were readmitted during the study period, with 262 (5.7%) readmitted within 30 days. The annual mean O₃ concentration was 90.3 μg/m3 (standard deviation [SD] = 8.2 μg/m3). A 10-μg/m3 increase in long-term O₃ concentration resulted in a hazard ratio (HR) for AECOPD readmission within 30 days of 1.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.49), with similar results for readmission within 90, 180, and 365 days. Older patients (aged 75 years or above) and males were more susceptible (HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10-1.61 and HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.53, respectively). The population attributable fraction for 30-day readmission due to O₃ exposure was 29.0% (95% CI, 28.4%-30.0%), and the attributable mean cost per participant was 362.3 USD (354.5-370.2). Long-term exposure to elevated O₃ concentrations is associated with an increased risk of AECOPD readmission, contributing to a significant disease and economic burden.

The COSPAR planetary protection policy for missions to Icy Worlds: A review of history, current scientific knowledge, and future directions

Recent discoveries related to the habitability and astrobiological relevance of the outer Solar System have expanded our understanding of where and how life may have originated. As a result, the Icy Worlds of the outer Solar System have become among the highest priority targets for future spacecraft missions dedicated to astrobiology-focused and/or direct life detection objectives. This, in turn, has led to a renewed interest in planetary protection concerns and policies for the exploration of these worlds and has been a topic of discussion within the COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) Panel on Planetary Protection. This paper summarizes the results of those discussions, reviewing the current knowledge and the history of planetary protection considerations for Icy Worlds as well as suggesting ways forward. Based on those discussions, we therefore suggest to (1) Establish a new definition for Icy Worlds for Planetary Protection that captures the outer Solar System moons and dwarf planets like Pluto, but excludes more primitive bodies such as comets, centaurs, and asteroids: Icy Worlds in our Solar System are defined as all bodies with an outermost layer that is believed to be greater than 50 % water ice by volume and have enough mass to assume a nearly round shape. (2) Establish indices for the lower limits of Earth life with regards to water activity (LLAw) and temperature (LLT) and apply them into all areas of the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy. These values are currently set at 0.5 and -28 °C and were originally established for defining Mars Special Regions; (3) Establish LLT as a parameter to assign categorization for Icy Worlds missions. The suggested categorization will have a 1000-year period of biological exploration, to be applied to all Icy Worlds and not just Europa and Enceladus as is currently the case. (4) Have all missions consider the possibility of impact. Transient thermal anomalies caused by impact would be acceptable so long as there is less than 10-4 probability of a single microbe reaching deeper environments where temperature is >LLT in the period of biological exploration. (5) Restructure or remove Category II* from the policy as it becomes largely redundant with this new approach, (6) Establish that any sample return from an Icy World should be Category V restricted Earth return.

Sudomotor dysfunction is associated with impaired left ventricular diastolic function in persons with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The incidence of preserved ejection fraction heart failure has significantly increased in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction is an early and important manifestation of preserved ejection fraction heart failure. The onset of heart failure in persons with diabetes is associated with diabetic neuropathy. However, the relationship among sudomotor function, which is an early manifestation of small fiber neuropathy, and LV diastolic function remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association between sudomotor function and LV diastolic function in persons with T2DM.

METHODS

In total, 699 persons with T2DM were enrolled and divided into three groups according to electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) assessed using the SUDOSCAN device: "no dysfunction" group (NSF), "moderate dysfunction" group (MDF), and "severe dysfunction" group (SDF). LV diastolic function was assessed using Doppler echocardiography. To evaluate the relationship between ESC and echocardiographic parameters, Pearson's correlation analysis was performed. Additionally, logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between LV diastolic function and ESC. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to evaluate the performance of sudomotor function indicators in detecting impaired cardiac diastolic function.

RESULTS

There were 301 persons (43.06%) in the NSF group, 232 (33.19%) in the MDF group, and 166 (23.75%) in the SDF group. Compared to the NSF group, the MDF and SDF groups had higher A and E/e' and lower e' values (all p < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that A and E/e' were negatively associated with foot ESC (FESC) and hand ESC (HESC), whereas e' was positively associated with FESC and HESC (all p < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, binary logistic regression analysis showed that ESC was independently associated with impaired LV diastolic function (p = 0.003). The area under the ROC curve values for FESC and HESC were 0.621 and 0.635, respectively (both p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Deteriorating sudomotor function was associated with reduced diastolic function indicators. ESC can be used as a biomarker for detecting LV diastolic impairment.

Clinical characterization and outcomes of impulse oscillometry-defined bronchodilator response: an ECOPD cohort-based study

BACKGROUND

The clinical significance of the impulse oscillometry-defined small airway bronchodilator response (IOS-BDR) is not well-known. Accordingly, this study investigated the clinical characteristics of IOS-BDR and explored the association between lung function decline, acute respiratory exacerbations, and IOS-BDR.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from an Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD) cohort subset and were followed up for two years with visits at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was defined as a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio < 0.70. IOS-BDR was defined as meeting any one of the following criteria: an absolute change in respiratory system resistance at 5 Hz ≤ - 0.137 kPa/L/s, an absolute change in respiratory system reactance at 5 Hz ≥ 0.055 kPa/L/s, or an absolute change in reactance area ≤ - 0.390 kPa/L. The association between IOS-BDR and a decline in lung function was explored with linear mixed-effects model. The association between IOS-BDR and the risk of acute respiratory exacerbations at the two-year follow-up was analyzed with the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

This study involved 466 participants (92 participants with IOS-BDR and 374 participants without IOS-BDR). Participants with IOS-BDR had higher COPD assessment test and modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale scores, more severe emphysema, air trapping, and rapid decline in FVC than those without IOS-BDR over 2-year follow-up. IOS-BDR was not associated with the risk of acute respiratory exacerbations at the 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The participants with IOS-BDR had more respiratory symptoms, radiographic structural changes, and had an increase in decline in lung function than those without IOS-BDR.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900024643. Registered on 19 July, 2019.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of parameters of erector spinae in patients with uremic sarcopenia

AIM

This study aimed to investigate whether computed tomography (CT)-measured erector spinae parameters (ESPs) have diagnostic, severity assessment, and prognostic predictive value in uremic sarcopenia (US).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 202 uremic patients were enrolled and divided into two groups: a control group and a sarcopenia group. Sarcopenia was classified into two types: severe and nonsevere. The area, volume, and density of the erector spinae (ES) were measured using chest CT images, and the relevant ESP, including the erector spinae index (ESI), total erector spinae volume (TESV), erector spinae density (ESD), and erector spinae gauge (ESG) were calculated. The occurrence of adverse events was followed-up for 36 months. The diagnostic value and severity of US were determined using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Survival curves diagnosed using CT were plotted and compared with the curve drawn using the gold standard. Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors associated with survival in US.

RESULTS

With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.840 and 0.739, the combined ESP has diagnostic value and the ability to assess the severity of US. There was no significant difference in the survival curve between the combined ESP for the diagnosis of US and the gold standard (P > 0.05). ESI is a standalone predictor of survival in patients with US.

CONCLUSION

ESP measured by CT has diagnostic values for US and its severity, as well as being a predictive value for the prognosis of US.

Characteristics of inflammatory phenotypes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The relationship between airway inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and clinical characteristics remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the airway inflammatory phenotypes in COPD and their association with clinical characteristics.

METHODS

895 patients with COPD were recruited from Guangdong Province, China in this study. Each patient underwent questionnaire interviews, spirometry testing, CT scans and induced sputum examination. Classification of airway inflammation phenotypes was based on sputum inflammatory cell counts. Covariance analysis was applied to assess associations with airway inflammation phenotypes.

RESULTS

In this study, we found that neutrophilic phenotype (NP, 58.0%) was the most common airway inflammation phenotype in patients with COPD, followed by mixed granulocytic phenotype (MGP, 32.6%), eosinophilic phenotype (EP, 5.4%) and paucigranulocytic phenotype (PP, 4.0%). Compared with NP patients, those with MGP exhibited more frequent chronic respiratory symptoms, and a higher proportion of individuals classified under Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages 3 and 4. After adjusting for confounding factors, MGP patients had lower lung function, and more severe emphysema and air trapping. On the contrary, patients with PP had the best pulmonary function and less emphysema and air trapping.

CONCLUSIONS

NP was the most common airway inflammation phenotype in patients with COPD. Patients with MGP had more respiratory symptoms, greater loss of lung function, and more severe emphysema and gas trapping compared with those with NP. Meanwhile, PP may be a phenotype of mild damage to lung structure in patients with COPD.

Deep Learning and GAN-Synthesis for Auto-Segmentation of Pancreatic Cancer by Non-Enhanced CT for Adaptive Radiotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

In conventional adaptive radiotherapy (ART) for pancreatic cancer, contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) helps to more precisely delineate primary gross tumor volume (GTV) than non-enhanced CT (NECT). However, frequent use of contrast medium can damage kidneys and prolong treatment time. Moreover, traditional manual delineation is labor-intensive and highly dependent on the experience of oncologists. Currently, automatic delineation based on deep learning with Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN)-based CT synthesis is one of the most feasible solutions to these problems.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A dataset of 35 pancreatic cancer patients was retrospectively collected from May 2021 to December 2022. All patients consist of a pair of NECT and CECT. We designed and developed an automatic delineation framework (Proposed) for GTV of pancreatic cancer based on Trans-cycleGAN and a modified 3D U-Net. TranscycleGAN can not only synthesize CECT from NECT, but can also augment the amount of CT images; then all real and synthesized CT images were used to train the modified 3D U-Net for automatic delineation of GTV; finally, our framework was able to automatically delineate GTV by NECT, but not only by CECT. Our framework was evaluated by dice similarity coefficient (DSC), 95% Harsdorff distance (95HD) and average surface distance (ASD) with oncologists' manual delineation ("gold standard").

RESULTS

The evaluation results were summarized in Table 1. The proposed framework achieved the best automatic delineation results by NECT, which was superior to that of CECT: 0.917 & 0.903 of DSC, 2.498mm & 3.029mm of HD95, 0.481mm & 0.534mm of ASD, p < 0.05 for DSC and HD95. Specifically, it is significantly superior to the automatic delineation results using U-Net by CECT 0.917 & 0.818 of DSC, 2.498mm & 13.228mm of HD95, 0.481mm & 3.633mm of ASD, p < 0.05 for DSC.

CONCLUSION

We proposed an automatic delineation framework for contouring GTV in ART of pancreatic cancer based on deep learning and Trans-cycleGAN network. This framework could automatically delineate GTV and achieve better performance with NECT compared to CECT. Our method could not only reduce the use of contrast medium, but also increase the precision and effectiveness of tumor delineation, which could have a positive impact on precision radiotherapy.

Efficacy and Safety of High-Dose Vitamin C Combined with Total Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (HCCSC R02 Study)

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Forpatients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), the standard treatment is fluoropyrimidine (FU) -based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) combined with curative surgery. The CAO/ARO/AIO-04 trial and FORWARC trial reported that the addition of oxaliplatin to FU -based NCRT contributed to improve pathologic complete response (pCR), nevertheless, increased the acute therapeutic toxicity. Some studies showed that vitamin C (VitC) had potential benefits on anti-tumor therapy and anti-inflammatory response. Therefore, we conducted this HCCSC R02 study to explore the efficacy and safety of adding a high-dose intravenous VitC to mFOLFOX6/XELOX -based NCRT in LARC.

MATERIALS/METHODS

HCCSCR02 study was designed as a prospective, single-center phase II trial, which including pts aged 18-75 years with stage II/III rectal adenocarcinoma, distance from anus ≤12cm. The enrollment criteria included: staged with MRI as cT3/cT4 or cN1/2, or mesorectal fascia involvement (MRF+), or difficult to preserve the anus. Patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme(G6PD) deficiency were excluded. Pelvic intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was given in 45-50.4Gy/25-28 fractions. Concurrently, two cycles of chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6 or XELOX) were administered during IMRT, as well as intravenous VitC (24g) delivered daily after the end of each radiation therapy. Additional 2-3 cycles of mFOLFOX6 / XELOX were adopted between the completion of radiotherapy and surgery. The primary endpoint was pCR rate. The secondary endpoints included radiation-related toxicities, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). This study is still recruiting.

RESULTS

From May 15, 2021 to Feb 8, 2023, 19 pts were recruited and finished all the scheduled NCRT, of which the proportion of cT4, cT3, cN2, cN1 were 31.6%, 63.2%, 52.6%, 36.8%, respectively. In addition, 10 pts (52.6%) were diagnosed as MRF+ initially, and 8 pts (42.1%) had a lower primary tumor(≤5cm) who were considered difficult for anal preservation before NCRT. All subjects enrolled were confirmed to be proficient mismatch repair (pMMR). As a result, 18 pts underwent a total mesorectal excision (TME) all with R0-resection, and 8 pts were evaluated as pCR (44.4%, 8/18, confidence interval: 0.246-0.663), 11 as major pathological response rate (MPR) (61.6%, 11/18), respectively. The anus preservation rate in patients with lower diseases was 87.5% (7/8). One case accepted a watch-and-wait strategy because of clinical complete response (cCR). Overall, grade 3 toxicities were observed in 4 pts, including 3 leucopenia (15.8%, 3/19), 2 neutropenia (10.5%, 2/19) and 1 diarrhea (5.3%, 1/19). No grade 4 adverse event was observed.

CONCLUSION

The addition of high-dose VitC to the mFOLFOX6/XELOX-based NCRT in LARC showed a promising pCR, well tolerance, particularly low rate of diarrhea, thus warrants further investigation.

CLINICAL TRIAL INFORMATION

NCT04801511.

PD-L1 Inhibitors Combined with Thoracic Radiotherapy in First-Line Treatment of Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched, Real-World Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The CREST study showed that the addition of thoracic radiotherapy (TRT) could improve the survival of extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), but whether TRT can bring survival benefit in the era of immunotherapy is controversial. This study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of adding TRT to the combination of PD-L1 inhibitors and chemotherapy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Thepatients who received PD-L1 inhibitors combined with platinum-based chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of ES-SCLC from January 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. According to whether they received TRT, they were divided into two groups, and the follow-up analysis was performed. Propensity score matching (PSM) in with a 1:1 ratio was performed to balance the baseline characteristics of the two cohorts. The endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and OS.

RESULTS

A total of 211 patients with ES-SCLC were enrolled, of whom 70 (33.2%) patients received standard therapy plus TRT as first-line treatment, and 141 (66.8%) patients in the control group received PD-L1 inhibitors plus chemotherapy. After PSM, a total of 65 pairs of patients were enrolled in the analysis. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups of patients who received TRT and those who did not. In all patients, the median PFS (mPFS) in the TRT group and the non-TRT groupwere 9.5 months and 7.2 months, respectively, with HR = 0.60 (95% CI 0.41-0.87, p = 0.007). The median OS (mOS) in the TRT group was also significantly longer than that in the non-TRT group (24.1 months vs. 18.5 months, HR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.32-0.85, p = 0.009). Multivariable analysis showed that baseline liver metastasis and bone metastasis were independent prognostic factors for OS. In terms of safety, immunotherapy combined with thoracic radiotherapy increased the incidence of treatment-related pneumonia (p<0.001), most of which were grade 1-2.

CONCLUSION

This real-world study shows that adding TRT to durvalumab or atezolizumab plus chemotherapy significantly improves survival in ES-SCLC. It leads to more treatment-related pneumonia, but most of them can be relieved after symptomatic treatment. This treatment model deserves to be explored in prospective clinical trials.

Inter-relationships among neutrophilic inflammation, air trapping and future exacerbation in COPD: an analysis of ECOPD study

BACKGROUND

The inter-relationships among neutrophilic airway inflammation, air trapping and future exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the associations between sputum neutrophil proportions and future exacerbation in COPD and to determine whether these associations are modified by significant air trapping.

METHODS

Participants with completed data were included and followed up to the first year in the Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease study (n=582). Sputum neutrophil proportions and high-resolution CT-related markers were measured at baseline. Sputum neutrophil proportions were dichotomised based on their median (86.2%) to low and high levels. In addition, subjects were divided into the air trapping or non-air trapping group. Outcomes of interest included COPD exacerbation (separately any, severe and frequent exacerbation, occurring in the first year of follow-up). Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to examine the risk of severe exacerbation and frequent exacerbation with either neutrophilic airway inflammation groups or air trapping groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between high and low levels of sputum neutrophil proportions in the exacerbation in the preceding year. After the first year of follow-up, subjects with high sputum neutrophil proportions had increased risks of severe exacerbation (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.62, p=0.020). Subjects with high sputum neutrophil proportions and significant air trapping had increased odds of having frequent exacerbation (OR=3.29, 95% CI: 1.30 to 9.37, p=0.017) and having severe exacerbation (OR=2.72, 95% CI: 1.42 to 5.43, p=0.003) when compared with those who had low sputum neutrophil proportions and non-air trapping.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that subjects with high sputum neutrophil proportions and significant air trapping are prone to future exacerbation of COPD. It may be a helpful predictor of future exacerbation.

Clinical features and 1-year outcomes of chronic bronchitis in participants with normal spirometry: results from the ECOPD study in China

BACKGROUND

Evidence regarding clinical features and outcomes of individuals with non-obstructive chronic bronchitis (NOCB) remains scarce, especially in never-smokers. We aimed to investigate the clinical features and 1-year outcomes of individuals with NOCB in the Chinese population.

METHODS

We obtained data on participants in the Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Study who had normal spirometry (post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ≥0.70). NOCB was defined as chronic cough and sputum production for at least 3 months for two consecutive years or more at baseline in participants with normal spirometry. We assessed the differences in demographics, risk factors, lung function, impulse oscillometry, CT imaging and frequency of acute respiratory events between participants with and without NOCB.

RESULTS

NOCB was present in 13.1% (149/1140) of participants with normal spirometry at baseline. Compared with participants without NOCB, those with NOCB had a higher proportion of men and participants with smoke exposure, occupational exposure, family history of respiratory diseases and worse respiratory symptoms (all p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in lung function. Never-smokers with NOCB had higher rates of emphysema than those without NOCB, but airway resistance was similar. Ever-smokers with NOCB had greater airway resistance than those without NOCB, but emphysema rates were similar. During 1-year follow-up, participants with NOCB had a significantly increased risk of acute respiratory events compared with participants who did not have NOCB, after adjustment for confounders (risk ratio 2.10, 95% CI 1.32 to 3.33; p=0.002). These results were robust in never-smokers and ever-smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Never-smokers and ever-smokers with NOCB had more chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related risk factors, evidence of airway disease and greater risk of acute respiratory events than those without NOCB. Our findings support expanding the criteria defining pre-COPD to include NOCB.

HISMD: A Novel Immune Subtyping System for HNSCC

Immune subtyping is an important way to reveal immune heterogeneity, which may contribute to the diversity of the progression and treatment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, reported immune subtypes mainly focus on levels of immune infiltration and are mostly based on a mono-omics profile. This study aimed to identify a comprehensive immune subtype for HNSCC via multi-omics clustering and build a novel subtype prediction system for clinical application. Data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and our independent multicenter cohort. Multi-omics clustering was performed to identify 3 clusters of 499 patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas based on immune-related gene expression and somatic mutations. The immune characteristics and biological features of the obtained clusters were revealed by bioinformatics, and 3 immune subtypes were identified: 1) adaptive immune activation subtype predominantly enriched in T cells, 2) innate immune activation subtype predominantly enriched in macrophages, and 3) immune desert subtype. Subsequently, the clinical implications of each subtype were analyzed per clinical epidemiology. We found that adaptive immune activation showed better survival outcomes and had a similar response to chemotherapy with innate immune activation, whereas immune desert might be relatively resistant to chemotherapy. Moreover, a subtype prediction system was developed by deep learning with whole slide images and named HISMD: HNSCC Immune Subtypes via Multi-omics and Deep Learning. We endowed HISMD with interpretability through image-based key feature extraction. The clinical implications, biological significances, and predictive stability of HISMD were successfully verified by using our independent multicenter cohort data set. In summary, this study revealed the immune heterogeneity of HNSCC and obtained a novel, highly accurate, and interpretable immune subtyping prediction system. For clinical implementation in the future, additional validation and utility studies are warranted.

The impact of the metabolic score for insulin resistance on cardiovascular disease: a 10-year follow-up cohort study

PURPOSE

To investigate whether the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

METHODS

A total of 6489 participants aged 35-70 years without a history of CVD were included in this prospective cohort study. The median follow-up time was 10.6 years. The METS-IR was calculated as ln [2 × FPG (mg/dL) + fasting TG (mg/dL)] × BMI (kg/m²)/ln [HDL-C (mg/dL)]. The primary outcome was CVD, defined as the composite of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.

RESULTS

During follow-up, 396 individuals developed CVD. Kaplan-Meier survival curves by quintiles of METS-IR showed statistically significant differences (log-rank test, P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the hazard ratio [95% confidence interval (95% CI)] of CVD was 1.80 (1.24-2.61) in quintile 5 and 1.17 (1.05-1.31) for per standard deviation (SD) increase in METS-IR. In subgroup analysis, the significant association between METS-IR and CVD was mainly observed among females and subjects without diabetes mellitus. A significant interaction was found between gender and METS-IR (P-interaction = 0.001). Moreover, adding METS-IR to models with traditional risk factors yielded a significant improvement in discrimination and reclassification of incident CVD.

CONCLUSION

The elevated METS-IR was independently associated with incident CVD, suggesting that the METS-IR might be a valuable indicator for risk stratification and early intervention of CVD.

Impaired exercise capacity in individuals with non-obstructive small airway dysfunction

Background

Whether individuals with non-obstructive spirometry-defined small airway dysfunction (SAD) have impaired exercise capacity is unclear, particularly in never-smokers. This study clarifies the degree of impaired exercise capacity and its potential cause in individuals with non-obstructive SAD.

Methods

This community-based, multiyear cross-sectional study analyzed data collected in Guangdong, China from 2012-2019 by the National Science and Technology Support Plan Program. Measurements of exercise capacity [peak work rate and peak oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2peak )] in participants with non-obstructive spirometry-defined SAD (n=157) were compared with those in controls (n=85) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) I patients (n=239). Subgroup analyses were performed by smoking status.

Results

The risk of impaired exercise capacity was significantly higher in participants with non-obstructive SAD [ V ˙ O 2peak <84%predicted, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) =2.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42-4.52] than in controls but was not significantly different from that in GOLD I patients. Results were consistent within subgroups of smoking status (ever-smokers: non-obstructive SAD vs. controls, aOR =2.44; 95% CI: 1.08-5.51; never-smokers: non-obstructive SAD vs. controls, aOR =2.38, 95% CI: 1.02-5.58). Participants with non-obstructive SAD had a significantly lower peak work rate (β=-10.5; 95% CI: -16.3 to -4.7) and V ˙ O 2peak (%predicted, β=-4.0; 95% CI: -7.7 to -0.2) and tended to have higher ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide at the ventilatory threshold ( V ˙ E / V ˙ CO 2AT , β=1.1; 95% CI: -0.1 to 2.3) when compared with controls. Both peak work rate and V ˙ O 2peak were negatively correlated with V ˙ E / V ˙ CO 2AT .

Conclusions

Although not meeting the current criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, individuals with non-obstructive SAD have impaired exercise capacity that may be associated with ventilatory inefficiency regardless of smoking status.

Clinical characteristics of airway impairment assessed by impulse oscillometry in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: findings from the ECOPD study in China

BACKGROUND

The role of airway impairment assessed by impulse oscillometry (IOS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the proportion and clinical characteristics of airway impairment assessed by IOS across COPD severities, and explore whether airway impairment is a subtype of COPD.

METHODS

This study was based on cross-sectional data from the ECOPD cohort in Guangdong, China. Subjects were consecutively recruited from July 2019 to August 2021. They filled out questionnaires and underwent lung function tests, IOS and computed tomography (CT). COPD was defined as post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity < lower limit of normal (LLN). Meanwhile, airway impairment was defined as IOS parameters > upper limit of normal or < LLN. On the one hand, Poisson regression was employed to analyze the associations between acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) in the previous year and airway impairment. On the other hand, logistic regression was used to assess differences in CT imaging between patients with IOS parameters' abnormalities and patients with normal IOS parameters.

RESULTS

768 COPD subjects were finally enrolled in the study. The proportion of airway impairment assessed by R₅, R₂₀, R₅-R₂₀, X₅, AX, and F_res was 59.8%, 29.7%, 62.5%, 52.9%, 60.9% and 67.3%, respectively. Airway impairment assessed by IOS parameters (R₅, R₅-R₂₀, X₅, AX, and F_res) in patients with COPD was present across all severities of COPD, particularly in GOLD 3-4 patients. Compared with patients with normal IOS parameters, patients with IOS parameters' abnormalities had more respiratory symptoms, more severe airway obstruction and imaging structural abnormalities. Patients with IOS parameters' abnormalities assessed by R₅ [risk ratio (RR): 1.58, 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.13-2.19, P = 0.007], R₅-R₂₀ [RR: 1.73, 95%CI: 1.22-2.45, P = 0.002], X₅ [RR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.51-2.95, P < 0.001], AX [RR: 2.20, 95%CI: 1.53-3.16, P < 0.001], and F_res [RR: 2.13, 95%CI: 1.44-3.15, P < 0.001] had a higher risk of AECOPD in the previous year than patients with normal IOS parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Airway impairment assessed by IOS may be a subtype of COPD. Future studies are warranted to identify the underlying mechanisms and longitudinal progression of airway impairment.

Dosimetric comparison of different intensity-modulated radiotherapy techniques for whole-breast irradiation of right-breast cancer

PURPOSE

This study compared the dosimetric parameters of field-in-field forward intensity-modulated radiotherapy (FIF-IMRT) and fixed-field inversely optimized intensity-modulated radiotherapy (FFIO-IMRT) for the whole-breast irradiation of patients undergoing right-breast lumpectomy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 30 patients with pT1-2N0M0 right-breast invasive ductal carcinoma were enrolled in this study. Two different treatment plans, i.e., FIF-IMRT and FFIO-IMRT, were designed for each patient. The dosimetric parameters of the two treatment plans were compared including ipsilateral lung and heart, conformity index (CI), and the homogeneity index (HI) of the planning target volume (PTV).

RESULTS

Fixed-field inversely optimized intensity-modulated radiotherapy was found to significantly improve CI (83.302% vs. 60.146%) and HI (11.837% vs. 19.280%), and significantly reduced V₂₅ (18.038% vs. 19.653%) and V₃₀ (15.790% vs. 18.492%) of the ipsilateral lung. It also significantly increased V₅ (69.791% vs. 32.615%) of the ipsilateral lung and V₅ (61.579% vs. 3.829%), V₁₀ (14.130% vs. 0.381%), V₂₀ (1.843% vs. 0.051%), and D_mean (5.211Gy vs. 1.870Gy) of the heart.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of improving the conformity and homogeneity of PTV and reducing the ipsilateral lung irradiation volume at high doses, FFIO-IMRT significantly raised the ipsilateral lung irradiated volume at low doses, as well as the irradiation volume and mean radiation doses to the heart. This limits its use in patients with early-stage right breast cancer.

Adaptations to water stress and pastoralism in the Turkana of northwest Kenya

The Turkana people inhabit arid regions of east Africa-where temperatures are high and water is scarce-and they practice subsistence pastoralism, such that their diet is primarily composed of animal products. Working with Turkana communities, we sequenced 367 genomes and identified 8 regions putatively involved in adaptation to water stress and pastoralism. One of these regions includes a putative enhancer for STC1-a kidney-expressed gene involved in the response to dehydration and the metabolism of purine-rich foods such as red meat. We show that STC1 is induced by antidiuretic hormone in humans, is associated with urea levels in the Turkana themselves, and is under strong selection in this population (s∼0.041). This work highlights that partnerships with subsistence-level groups can lead to new models of human physiology with biomedical relevance.

Corrigendum: Discordant spirometry and impulse oscillometry assessments in the diagnosis of small airway dysfunction

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.892448.].

Traffic-related air pollution is a risk factor in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Outdoor traffic-related air pollution has negative effects on respiratory health. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of outdoor traffic-related air pollution on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Guangzhou.

Methods

We enrolled 1,460 residents aged 40 years or older between 21 January 2014 and 31 January 2018. We administered questionnaires and spirometry tests. The distance of participants' residences or locations of outdoor activities from busy roads (as indicators of outdoor traffic-related air pollution), indoor air pollution, and smoking history were queried in the questionnaires.

Results

Of the 1,460 residents with valid survey and test results, 292 were diagnosed with COPD, with a detection rate of 20%. Participants who lived and did their outdoor activities near busy roads had a higher detection rate of COPD. Among residents living at distances of <50 meters, 50-199 meters, and more than 200 meters from busy roads, the detection rates were 20.6, 21.2, and 14.8%, respectively; the rates for outdoor activities at these distances were 23.8, 24.5, and 13.7%, respectively (p < 0.05). After adjusting for sex, age, smoking status, family history, and smoking index, the distance of outdoor activities from busy roads was an independent risk factor for COPD. Participants whose outdoor activities were conducted <50 meters and 50-199 meters of main roads had odds ratios of 1.54 (95% confidence interval 1.01-2.36) and 1.84 (95% interval 1.23-2.76) for the risk of COPD in comparison with a distance of more than 200 meters from busy roads.

Conclusions

Residents of Guangzhou whose outdoor activities were close to busy roads had a high risk of COPD. Traffic-related air pollution presents a risk to human health and a risk of COPD.

Lattice distortions and the metal-insulator transition in pure and Ti-substituted Ca3Ru2O7

We report pair distribution function studies on the relationship between the metal-insulator transition (MIT) and lattice distortions in pure and Ti-substituted bilayer Ca₃Ru₂O₇. Structural refinements performed as a function of temperature, magnetic field and length scale reveal the presence of lattice distortions not only within but also orthogonal to the bilayers. Because of the distortions, the local and average crystal structure differ across a broad temperature region extending from room temperature to temperatures below the MIT. The coexistence of distinct lattice distortions is likely to be behind the marked structural flexibility of Ca₃Ru₂O₇under external stimuli. This observation highlights the ubiquity of lattice distortions in an archetypal Mott system and calls for similar studies on other families of strongly correlated materials.

[Thirty-year changes in disability adjusted life years for colorectal cancer in China: a screening perspective analysis]

Objective: From a screening-focused perspective, to analyze the 30-year changes in disability adjusted life years (DALYs) caused by colorectal cancer (CRC) in China and in some other selected populations, to inform extent of burden of CRC and future related prevention and control in populations in China. Methods: Based on the data of Global Burden of Disease 2019 (GBD 2019), the DALYs, world standardized DALY rate, and the composition of different subgroups in China were collected. Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trend during 1990-2019, and comparison was made with the international data and population screening situation. The trend of DALY burden caused by CRC in China was predicted. Results: In 2019, the DALYs due to CRC in China was 6.395 million person-years, accounting for 26.3% of the global burden and 9.5% of all cancers burden in China; the DALYs in men accounted for 65.2%, in those aged ≥65 years old accounted for 44.8%, in the age group recommended by local screening guidelines (40-75 years) accounted for 73.7%. The years lived with disability accounted for 4.8%. Compared with 1990, the CRC-caused DALYs in China increased by 181.5% in 2019. Factors with the largest increase in the attributable percentage were high Body Mass Index (151.1%), diet high in red meat (86.4%) and diet high in processed meat (78.8%), etc. For DALY rate, it was 245.6/100 000 in 1990 and 320.6/100 000 in 2019, an increase of 30.5%. For reference, Australia (began in 2006), the UK (2006), and Japan (1992), where CRC population-wide screening has been conducted, had decreases in DALY rate of 36.0%, 28.6%, and 17.8%, respectively. The predication of DALYs suggested that without continued expansion of population-based screening, the DALYs in China would reach 7.7 million person-year-9.1 million person-year by 2030, an increase of 19.9%-41.8% compared with 2019. Conclusions: The burden of CRC-caused DALYs in China increased over the past 30 years, and would become more serious because of population aging and the concomitant disability problem. The age range recommended by the current local screening guideline could theoretically include 70% of the population from which the DALYs burden originates, however, the real-world population screening coverage is still limited. The observed decline in CRC-related DALY rate in selected countries was substantially due to the implementation of mass screening, indicating the importance of speedily expanding the population coverage of CRC screening in China.

The association between small airway dysfunction and aging: a cross-sectional analysis from the ECOPD cohort

BACKGROUND

Aging has been evidenced to bring about some structural and functional lung changes, especially in COPD. However, whether aging affects SAD, a possible precursor of COPD, has not been well characterized.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to comprehensively assess the relationship between aging and SAD from computed tomography, impulse oscillometry, and spirometry perspectives in Chinese.

METHODS

We included 1859 participants from ECOPD, and used a linear-by-linear association test for evaluating the prevalence of SAD across various age subgroups, and multivariate regression models for determining the impact of age on the risk and severity of SAD. We then repeated the analyses in these subjects stratified by airflow limitation.

RESULTS

The prevalence of SAD increases over aging regardless of definitional methods. After adjustment for other confounding factors, per 10-yrs increase in age was significantly associated with the risk of CT-defined SAD (OR 2.57, 95% CI 2.13 to 3.10) and the increase in the severity of air trapping (β 2.09, 95% CI - 0.06 to 4.25 for LAA_-856), airway reactance (β - 0.02, 95% CI - 0.04 to - 0.01 for X5; β 0.30, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.47 for AX; β 1.75, 95% CI 0.85 to 2.66 for Fres), as well as the decrease in expiratory flow rates (β - 3.95, 95% CI - 6.19 to - 1.71 for MMEF%predicted; β - 5.42, 95% CI - 7.88 to - 2.95 for FEF₅₀%predicted) for SAD. All these associations were generally maintained in SAD defined by IOS or spirometry. After stratification of airflow limitation, we further found that the effect of age on LAA_-856 was the most significant among almost all subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Aging is significantly associated with the prevalence, increased risk, as well as worse severity of SAD. CT may be a more optimal measure to assess aging-related SAD. The molecular mechanisms for the role of aging in SAD need to be explored in the future. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900024643. Registered on 19 July 2019.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for detecting gastric tube placement: an updated meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at reviewing the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for detecting correct nasogastric tube placement compared with X-ray imaging as the reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies published between 1961 and 2022. We included studies that compared the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound detection for nasogastric tube placement with that of X-ray imaging in adult patients who were undergoing nasogastric tube placement for any reason. We searched for published studies in the following electronic databases: Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science. The risk of bias was assessed using a standard procedure according to the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 criteria. The results were analyzed using RevMan or Meta-Disc software to determine the adequacy and conclusiveness of the available evidence.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Overall, 1,812 patients were included in these studies. The results included a pooled sensitivity of 0.96 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94-0.97), specificity of 0.91 (95% CI 0.85-0.96), positive likelihood ratio of 5.08 (95% CI 1.49-17.39), and negative likelihood ratio of 0.08 (95% CI 0.06-0.10). This was confirmed through a summary receiver operating characteristic curve, which showed that the area under the curve was 0.96.

CONCLUSIONS

We found evidence about validity of ultrasound as an efficient method for verifying nasogastric tube placement, although there is insufficient evidence to suggest that it can be used as a diagnostic tool for incorrect gastric tube placement.

Predictors of High Sputum Eosinophils in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND

Eosinophils are involved in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and inhaled corticosteroid responsiveness. We evaluated clinical predictors of high sputum eosinophil levels in a COPD cohort in China.

METHODS

We conducted an observational, prospective, population-based, cross-sectional study. Participants were tested for COPD and underwent spirometry, computed tomography scans, and a blood test. Participants also produced induced sputum and responded to an information-gathering questionnaire. High sputum eosinophils were defined as ≥3.0%. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of high sputum eosinophil levels.

RESULTS

We recruited 895 patients with complete and quality control data. The median percentage of sputum eosinophil abundance was 2.00% (interquartile range: 0.75-5.00) and the prevalence of COPD with high sputum eosinophils was 38.0%. Covariance analysis indicated that the high sputum eosinophil group had lower lung function, more severe emphysema, and air trapping. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that high blood eosinophil levels, severe respiratory symptoms, being a former smoker, and a family history of respiratory diseases were associated with high sputum eosinophil levels.

CONCLUSION

High blood eosinophil levels, severe respiratory symptoms, being a former smoker, and a family history of respiratory diseases may be predictors of high sputum eosinophil levels in Chinese COPD patients. High sputum eosinophils were associated with lower lung function, more emphysema, and gas trapping.

[China guideline for the screening, early detection and early treatment of gastric cancer (2022, Beijing)]

Gastric cancer (GC) is a major digestive tract malignancy in China, which seriously threatens the health of Chinese population. A large number of researches have demons-trated that screening, early detection and early treatment are effective in reducing the incidence and mortality of GC. The development of the guideline for GC screening, early detection and early treatment in line with epidemic characteristics of GC in China will greatly promote the homogeneity and standardization, and improve the effect of GC screening. This guideline was commissioned by the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention of the National Health Commission. The National Cancer Center of China initiated and convened a working group comprising multidisciplinary experts. Following the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development, this guideline combined the most up-to-date evidence of GC screening, China's national conditions, and practical experience in cancer screening. This guideline provided evidence-based recommendations with respect to the screening population, technology and procedure management, aiming to improve the effect of GC screening and provide scientific evidence for the GC prevention and control in China.

Two-step aggregation of gold nanoparticles based on charge neutralization for detection of melamine by colorimetric and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy platform

A colorimetric and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal amplification platform based on 2-step aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) was constructed for the sensitive detection of melamine. In this study, the positively charged SYBR Green I was used for the first step of aggregation of AuNP, via charge neutralization, to obtain small-sized AuNP aggregates. The positively charged SYBR Green I decreased the negative charges of the surface of AuNP, which was beneficial to the aggregation of AuNP. In addition, the melamine could aggregate AuNP by decreasing the negative charges of the surface of AuNP and self-assemble with each other on the surface of AuNP by hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the second efficient aggregation of small-sized AuNP aggregates could be achieved with melamine at low concentration, resulting in significant signal changes of color and SERS. The sensitivity of a colorimetric (0.60 mg/L) and SERS (0.089 mg/L) platform, based on 2-step aggregation of AuNP, was 15 and 2.2 times higher than that based on 1-step aggregation of AuNP for detecting melamine.

[China guideline for the screening, early detection and early treatment of esophageal cancer (2022, Beijing)]

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a major digestive tract malignancy in China, which seriously threatens the health of Chinese population. A large number of researches have demonstrated that screening and early detection are effective in reducing the incidence and mortality of EC. The development of the guideline for EC screening and early detection in line with epidemic characteristics of EC in China will greatly promote the homogeneity and standardization, and improve the effect of EC screening. This guideline was commissioned by the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention of the National Health Commission. The National Cancer Center of China initiated and convened a working group comprising multidisciplinary experts. Following the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development, this guideline combined the most up-to-date evidence of EC screening, China's national conditions, and practical experience in cancer screening. This guideline provided evidence-based recommendations with respect to the screening population, technology and procedure management, aiming to improve the effect of EC screening and provide scientific evidence for the EC prevention and control in China.

Discordant Spirometry and Impulse Oscillometry Assessments in the Diagnosis of Small Airway Dysfunction

Background and objective: Spirometry is commonly used to assess small airway dysfunction (SAD). Impulse oscillometry (IOS) can complement spirometry. However, discordant spirometry and IOS in the diagnosis of SAD were not uncommon. We examined the association between spirometry and IOS within a large cohort of subjects to identify variables that may explain discordant spirometry and IOS findings. Methods: 1,836 subjects from the ECOPD cohort underwent questionnaires, symptom scores, spirometry, and IOS, and 1,318 subjects were examined by CT. We assessed SAD with R₅-R₂₀ > the upper limit of normal (ULN) by IOS and two of the three spirometry indexes (maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), forced expiratory flow (FEF)_50%, and FEF_75%) < 65% predicted. Multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze factors associated with SAD diagnosed by only spirometry but not IOS (spirometry-only SAD) and only IOS but not spirometry (IOS-only SAD), and line regression was used to assess CT imaging differences. Results: There was a slight agreement between spirometry and IOS in the diagnosis of SAD (kappa 0.322, p < 0.001). Smoking status, phlegm, drug treatment, and family history of respiratory disease were factors leading to spirometry-only SAD. Spirometry-only SAD had more severe emphysema and gas-trapping than IOS-only SAD in abnormal lung function. However, in normal lung function subjects, there was no statistical difference in emphysema and gas-trapping between discordant groups. The number of IOS-only SAD was nearly twice than that of spirometry. Conclusion: IOS may be more sensitive than spirometry in the diagnosis of SAD in normal lung function subjects. But in patients with abnormal lung function, spirometry may be more sensitive than IOS to detect SAD patients with clinical symptoms and CT lesions.

POS1368 DIVERSITY OF HEMODYNAMIC TYPES IN CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASE ASSOCIATED PULMONARY HYPERTENSION: MORE THAN A SUBGROUP OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Background

Connective tissue disease (CTD) associated pulmonary hypertension (PH) is classified as a subgroup of WHO group 1 PH, also called pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, not all CTD-PH fit the hemodynamic definition of PAH. This study investigates the diversity of hemodynamical types of CTD-PH, their different clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Objectives

This study investigates the diversity of hemodynamical types of CTD-PH, their different clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study. CTD-PH patients underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) were enrolled and divided into WHO group1 PH, WHO group 2 PH and high output PH (PVR<3WU and PAWP<15mmHg) according to hemodynamic features. Patients with obvious lung diseases, left heart disease and pulmonary embolism were excluded. Baseline characteristics, inflammatory markers, autoantibodies, cardiac function status, echocardiogram parameters, hemodynamics and survival rates were compared.

Results

207 CTD-PH patients were included, including 139 in WHO group 1 PH, 36 in WHO group 2 PH and 32 in high output PH. Incidence of anti-ribonucleoprotein antibody was lower in WHO Group 2 PH. High output PH is less severe, presenting lower NT-proBNP level, better WHO functional class, lower mPAP and PVR, higher cardiac output, and less cardiac remodeling. Among patients with elevated PAWP, combine pre& post-capillary PH had higher mPAP and larger right ventricle diameter. Association of mild to moderate interstitial lung disease didn’t show significant difference in disease characteristics. Short-term survival was significantly worse in WHO group 2 PH, yet 5-year survival rates didn’t differ between groups.

Conclusion

Pre-capillary PH is not the only hemodynamic type of CTD-PH. Different types of CTD-PH present different clinical phenotypes and outcome. Carefully phenotyping PH in CTD-PH patients is important.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0453 EXPLORATORY IMMUNOPHENOTYPE OF THE RARE DISEASE JUVENILE SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME REVEALS A DYSREGULATION OF B AND T MEMORY CELL FREQUENCIES

Background

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease characterised by dryness resulting from chronic lymphocytic infiltration of the exocrine glands. Patients also present with other extraglandular manifestations such as arthritis, anemia and fatigue or various organ and systems involvement. The disease is more frequent in women aged 30-50. However, in rare cases, the disease starts in childhood and is known as juvenile SS (JSS) or childhood SS. Children have different clinical manifestations compared to adults, with dryness being less common, making the diagnosis very challenging1.

Objectives

To investigate in depth the immune cell profile of patients with JSS for better understanding of disease pathogenesis.

Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from a cohort of patients with JSS while attending appointments at UCLH clinics. None had received B-cell depletion therapy. Immune-phenotyping of 29 immune-cell subsets, including B and T cells, in peripheral blood from patients with JSS (n=10) and age and sex-matched healthy controls (n=10) was performed using flow cytometry as we have performed previously for patients with adult onset SS2. Data were analysed using multiple t-tests and compared with the adult SS immune phenotype.

Results

Patients with JSS had an average age of 18 years (range 16-21) with an average age of disease onset at 14 years (range 12-18). Up to 60% of patients presented Anti-Ro autoantibodies while 50% presented Anti-La autoantibodies.

Patients with JSS had an altered immune profile compared to age matched healthy controls (average of 18 years, range 15-25). In the B cell compartment, JSS patients had higher frequencies of Total CD19+ B cells (p=0.0044), Naïve B cells (CD19+IgD+CD27-) (p=0.0183) and bm2 (CD19+IgD+CD38+) (p=0.0490) whereas memory B cell subsets such as early bm5 (CD19+IgD-CD38+) and late bm5 (CD19+IgD-CD38-) were significantly reduced (p=0.0249, and p=0.0117 respectively), similar to the profile seen in patients with adult-SS. Interestingly, in the CD4+ T cell compartment, central memory (CD4+CD27+CD45RA-) T cells were significantly reduced (p=<0,0001) but effector memory (CD4+CD27-CD45-) and effector memory-re-expressing-CD45RA (EMRA, CD4+CD27-CD45RA+) T-cell subsets were significantly elevated (p=0.0171 and p=0.0002 respectively). These changes were not identified in adult-SS patients. Finally, unlike our observations in patients with adult-onset SS there was no widespread deregulation of CD8+ T cell subsets in JSS patients; only a significant increase in CD8+CD25-CD127+ responders T cells (p=0.0392) was observed in JSS patients versus healthy.

Conclusion

This is the first pilot study investigating the immunophenotype profile of patients with JSS. Our preliminary findings suggest altered immune phenotypes in both B-cell and T cell compartments and for B cells are in concordance with previous immunophenotyping studies in adult SS (predominance of naïve and lower frequencies of memory B cells), suggesting an immunological rationale for the use of similar therapies. Further studies, comparing the adult with the juvenile phenotype could help stratify patients for targetted therapies and improve treatment in this rare disease in children for which no evidence-based recommnedations exist.

References

[1]Ciurtin C et al. Barriers to translational research in Sjögren’s syndrome with childhood onset: challenges of recognising and diagnosing an orphan rheumatic disease. Lancet Rheumatology. 2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(20)30393-3.

[2]Martin-Gutierrez L, Peng J, et al. Stratification of Patients with Sjogren’s Syndrome and Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus According to Two Shared Immune Cell Signatures, With Potential Therapeutic Implications. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2021;73(9):1626-37.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared.

Association Between Serum Uric Acid and Lung Function in People with and without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background

The effect of serum uric acid (SUA) levels on lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) people remained unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between SUA and lung function.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed to measure the SUA levels and lung function in 2797 consecutive eligible individuals. Of these, individuals in our study were divided into two groups, the COPD group (n=1387) and the non-COPD group (n=1410). The diagnosis of COPD is defined as post-bronchodilator first second of forced expiratory volume (FEV₁)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of less than 0.70. Multivariable adjustment linear models were applied to estimate the effect of SUA levels on FEV₁% predicted, FVC% predicted, and FEV₁/FVC stratified by COPD status.

Results

After multivariable adjustment, each 1 mg/dL increase of SUA was significantly associated with a decrease in FEV₁% predicted (−1.63%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −2.37 to −0.90), FVC % predicted (−0.89%, 95% CI −1.55 to −0.24), and FEV₁/FVC (−0.70%, 95% CI −1.10 to −0.30). In the COPD group, each 1 mg/dL increase of SUA was significantly associated with decreases in FEV₁% predicted (−1.87%, 95% CI −2.91 to −0.84), FVC% predicted (−1.35%, 95% CI −2.35 to −0.34), and FEV₁/FVC (−0.63%, 95% CI −1.18 to −0.08). However, no significant association between lung function and SUA was found among people without COPD.

Conclusion

High SUA levels were associated with lower lung function, especially in COPD patients. However, no statistically significant effect of SUA on lung function was found in people without COPD.

Mechanism of ALDH2 improves the neuronal damage caused by hypoxia/reoxygenation

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of ALDH2 on PC12 cells and brain nerve tissue injury under hypoxia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The hypoxia model of PC12 cells with low ALDH2 expression was established and screened. The eukaryotic expression vector of wild type pEGFP-N1-ALDH2 and blank plasmid pEGFP-N1 were constructed and transfected into PC12 hypoxia cells respectively. After reoxygenation culture, the morphology, quantity, ALDH2 expression level and apoptosis rate of the two groups were observed, and the role of ALDH2 in cell hypoxia injury was analyzed. Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into model group (ischemia-reperfusion injury group), Alda-1 group (intraperitoneal injection of alda-1 12 hours before and after modeling), DMSO group (intraperitoneal injection of dimethyl sulfoxide) and sham operation group, with 20 rats in each group. The neurobehavioral score, apoptosis rate of nerve cells, the content and activity of ALDH2 in active cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1 area were compared.

RESULTS

The number of PC12 cells in hypoxia group was lower than that in control group. The expression level of ALDH2 protein in PC12 cells after 4 hours of hypoxia was lower than that in normal culture group. The number of PC12 cells transfected with wild-type recombinant plasmid was significantly more than that of blank plasmid group. Compared with the hypoxia group, the pre apoptotic and post apoptotic cells in wild type transfection group decreased after hypoxia treatment. Compared with sham operation group, nerve injury and apoptosis were increased in group M and DMSO, while ALDH2 activity and expression did not change significantly. Compared with M group and DMSO group, the nerve injury and apoptosis in Alda-1 group were improved, ALDH2 activity was increased, and ALDH2 expression was not significantly changed in Alda-1 group.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing the expression of ALDH2 or enhancing the activity of ALDH2 can improve the injury of neurons induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation.

Validity of a portable spirometer in the communities of China

Background

The lack of simple and affordable spirometry has led to the missed and delayed diagnoses of chronic respiratory diseases in communities. The PUS201P is a portable spirometry developed to solve this problem.

Objective

We aimed to verify the consistency of the PUS201P spirometer with conventional Jaeger spirometer.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we randomly recruited 202 subjects aged > 40 years. Testing with the portable spirometry and conventional spirometry were performed on all participants. We compared forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV₁/FVC measured by the PUS201P device with the conventional spirometer. Pearson correlation coefficient and Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were assessed to confirm the consistency of the measures from two instruments. Bland–Altman graph was created to assess the agreement of the measures from two devices.

Results

202 participants were included in this study. The ICC on FEV₁, FVC, FEV₁/FVC measured by the portable spirometer and the conventional spirometer were 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94–0.96), 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90–0.94], 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91–0.95), respectively. The Bland–Altman plots showed that the mean difference between the measures from two spirometers are always located in the 95% limits of agreement.

Conclusions

Our results support that the measures from the portable spirometer and the conventional spirometer have a good agreement and reproducibility. And the portable spirometer is a reliable tool to screen and diagnose chronic airway diseases in the primary care settings.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-01872-9.

Rationale and design of the Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD) study in Guangdong, China: a prospective observational cohort study

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease and its clinically relevant subtypes are not well understood. Which clinical characteristics are more likely to be present among individuals who develop COPD remains to be studied in depth. Therefore, we designed a prospective observational cohort study, entitled the Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD) study, to fill this evidence gap. The ECOPD study has four specific aims: (I) identification of characteristics, parameters, and biomarkers that may predict the development of airflow obstruction and annual decline in lung function with normal spirometry; (II) identification of clinically relevant early COPD subtypes; (III) identification of characteristics, parameters, and biomarkers that may predict disease progression in these early COPD subtypes; (IV) development and validation of machine learning models to predict development of airflow obstruction and disease progression.

Methods

We will recruit approximately 2,000 participants aged 40–80 years, including approximately 1,000 with COPD [post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <0.7] and approximately 1,000 without COPD, using a population-based survey for COPD. We will assess all participants using standard respiratory epidemiological questionnaires, pulmonary function tests [pre-bronchodilator and post-bronchodilator spirometry, and impulse oscillometry (IOS)], health outcomes [modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, COPD assessment test (CAT), COPD clinical questionnaire (CCQ)], inspiratory and expiratory chest computed tomography (CT), and biomarker measurements (blood and urine), as well as satellite remote sensing pollutant exposure measures. Subgroup will additionally complete induced sputum, exercise capacity tests [6-minute walk test (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)] and home monitoring/personal sampling as pollutant exposure measures. Study procedures will be performed at baseline and every 1 year thereafter.

Discussion

The ECOPD study will provide insight into many aspects of early COPD and improve our understanding of COPD development, which may facilitate therapeutic interventions with the potential to modify the course of disease.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900024643. Registered on 19 July, 2019.

[China guideline for the screening and early detection of prostate cancer (2022, Beijing)]

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the malignant tumors of the genitourinary system that occurs more often in elderly men. Screening, early diagnosis, and treatment of the PC high risk population are essential to improve the cure rate of PC. The development of the guideline for PC screening and early detection in line with epidemic characteristics of PC in China will greatly promote the homogeneity and quality of PC screening. This guideline was commissioned by the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention of the National Health Commission. The National Cancer Center of China initiated and convened a working group comprising multidisciplinary experts. This guideline strictly followed the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development and combined the most up-to-date evidence of PC screening, China's national conditions, and practical experience in cancer screening. A total of fifteen detailed evidence-based recommendations were provided with respect to the screening population, technology, procedure management, and quality control in the process of PC screening. This guideline aimed to standardize the practice of PC screening and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of PC prevention and control in China.

Bioactive triple peptide inhibits inflammasome activation to alleviate Salmonella-induced intestinal inflammation in mice via modulation of host defense and bacterial virulence

Over the past long period, Salmonella Typhimurium has been an important pathogen that causes intestinal diseases and spells enormous economic shock to animal husbandry all over the world. Pyroptosis and...

Preserved ratio impaired spirometry is associated with small airway dysfunction and reduced total lung capacity

BACKGROUND

Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) refers to decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) in the setting of preserved ratio. Little is known about the role of PRISm and its complex relation with small airway dysfunction (SAD) and lung volume. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associations between PRISm and SAD and lung volume.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional community-dwelling study in China. Demographic data, standard respiratory epidemiology questionnaire, spirometry, impulse oscillometry (IOS) and computed tomography (CT) data were collected. PRISm was defined as post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC ≥ 0.70 and FEV₁ < 80% predicted. Spirometry-defined SAD was defined as at least two of three of the post-bronchodilator maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), forced expiratory flow 50% (FEF50), and forced expiratory flow 75% (FEF75) less than 65% of predicted. IOS-defined SAD and CT-defined gas trapping were defined by the fact that the cutoff value of peripheral airway resistance R5-R20 > 0.07 kPa/L/s and LAA_- 856>20%, respectively. Analysis of covariance and logistic regression were used to determine associations between PRISm and SAD and lung volume. We then repeated the analysis with a lower limit of normal definition of spirometry criteria and FVC definition of PRISm. Moreover, we also performed subgroup analyses in ever smoker, never smoker, subjects without airway reversibility or self-reported diagnosed asthma, and subjects with CT-measured total lung capacity ≥70% of predicted.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 1439 subjects. PRISm had higher odds and more severity in spirometry-defined SAD (pre-bronchodilator: odds ratio [OR]: 5.99, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 3.87-9.27, P < 0.001; post-bronchodilator: OR: 14.05, 95%CI: 8.88-22.24, P < 0.001), IOS-defined SAD (OR: 2.89, 95%CI: 1.82-4.58, P < 0.001), and CT-air trapping (OR: 2.01, 95%CI: 1.08-3.72, P = 0.027) compared with healthy control after adjustment for confounding factors. CT-measured total lung capacity in PRISm was lower than that in healthy controls (4.15 ± 0.98 vs. 4.78 ± 1.05 L, P < 0.05), after adjustment. These results were robust in repeating analyses and subgroup analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our finding revealed that PRISm was associated with SAD and reduced total lung capacity. Future studies to identify the underlying mechanisms and longitudinal progression of PRISm are warranted.