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.

Biomimetic Synthesis of an Antiviral Cinnamoylphloroglucinol Collection from Cleistocalyx operculatus: A Synthetic Strategy Based on Biogenetic Building Blocks

A synthetic strategy based on biogenetic building blocks for the collective and divergent biomimetic synthesis of cleistoperlones A-F, a cinnamoylphloroglucinol collection discovered from Cleistocalyx operculatus, has been developed. These syntheses proceeded successfully in only six to seven steps starting from commercially available 1,3,5-benzenetriol and involving oxidative activation of stable biogenetic building blocks as a crucial step. Key features of the syntheses include a unique Michael addition/ketalization/1,6-addition/enol-keto tautomerism cascade reaction for the construction of the dihydropyrano[3,2-d]xanthene tetracyclic core of cleistoperlones A and B, and a rare inverse-electron-demand hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition for the establishment of benzopyran ring in cleistoperlones D-F. Moreover, cleistoperlone A exhibited significant antiviral activity against acyclovir-resistant strains of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1/Blue and HSV-1/153).

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.

Genomic Island-Encoded Diguanylate Cyclase from Vibrio alginolyticus Regulates Biofilm Formation and Motility in Pseudoalteromonas

Many bacteria use the second messenger c-di-GMP to regulate exopolysaccharide production, biofilm formation, motility, virulence, and other phenotypes. The c-di-GMP level is controlled by the complex network of diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) and phosphodiesterases (PDEs) that synthesize and degrade c-di-GMP. In addition to chromosomally encoded DGCs, increasing numbers of DGCs were found to be located on mobile genetic elements. Whether these mobile genetic element-encoded DGCs can modulate the physiological phenotypes in recipient bacteria after horizontal gene transfer should be investigated. In our previous study, a genomic island encoding three DGC proteins (Dgc137, Dgc139, and Dgc140) was characterized in Vibrio alginolyticus isolated from the gastric cavity of the coral Galaxea fascicularis. Here, the effect of the three DGCs in four Pseudoalteromonas strains isolated from coral Galaxea fascicularis and other marine environments was explored. The results showed that when dgc137 is present rather than the three DGC genes, it obviously modulates biofilm formation and bacterial motility in these Pseudoalteromonas strains. Our findings implied that mobile genetic element-encoded DGC could regulate the physiological status of neighboring bacteria in a microbial community by modulating the c-di-GMP level after horizontal gene transfer.

Fiber Laser-Based Lasso-Shaped Biosensor for High Precision Detection of Cancer Biomarker-CEACAM5 in Serum

Detection of trace tumor markers in blood/serum is essential for the early screening and prognosis of cancer diseases, which requires high sensitivity and specificity of the assays and biosensors. A variety of label-free optical fiber-based biosensors has been developed and yielded great opportunities for Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) of cancer biomarkers. The fiber biosensor, however, suffers from a compromise between the responsivity and stability of the sensing signal, which would deteriorate the sensing performance. In addition, the sophistication of sensor preparation hinders the reproduction and scale-up fabrication. To address these issues, in this study, a straightforward lasso-shaped fiber laser biosensor was proposed for the specific determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-related cell adhesion molecules 5 (CEACAM5) protein in serum. Due to the ultra-narrow linewidth of the laser, a very small variation of lasing signal caused by biomolecular bonding can be clearly distinguished via high-resolution spectral analysis. The limit of detection (LOD) of the proposed biosensor could reach 9.6 ng/mL according to the buffer test. The sensing capability was further validated by a human serum-based cancer diagnosis trial, enabling great potential for clinical use. The high reproduction of fabrication allowed the mass production of the sensor and extended its utility to a broader biosensing field.

Association Between Serum Total Bilirubin Level and Lung Function Decline in Patients with COPD: Results from a Pooled Study

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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.

Metagenomic Insights into Chicken Gut Antibiotic Resistomes and Microbiomes

The chicken gut microbiota, as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), poses a high risk to humans and animals worldwide. Yet a comprehensive exploration of the chicken gut antibiotic resistomes remains incomplete. In this study, we established the largest chicken gut resistance gene catalogue to date through metagenomic analysis of 629 chicken gut samples. We found significantly higher abundance of ARGs in the Chinese chicken gut than that in the Europe. tetX, mcr, and blaNDM, the genes resistant to antibiotics of last resort for human and animal health, were detected in the Chinese chicken gut. The abundance of ARGs was linearly correlated with that of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). The host-tracking analysis identified Escherichia, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, and Lactobacillus as the major ARG hosts. Especially, Lactobacillus, an intestinal probiotic, carried multiple drug resistance genes, and was proportional to ISLhe63, highlighting its potential risk in agricultural production processes. We first established a reference gene catalogue of chicken gut antibiotic resistomes. Our study helps to improve the knowledge and understanding of chicken antibiotic resistomes for knowledge-based sustainable chicken meat production. IMPORTANCE The prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in the chicken gut environment poses a serious threat to human health; however, we lack a comprehensive exploration of antibiotic resistomes and microbiomes in the chicken gut environment. The results of this study demonstrate the diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and flora in the chicken gut environment and identify a variety of potential hosts carrying antibiotic resistance genes. Further analysis showed that mobile genetic elements were linearly correlated with antibiotic resistance genes abundance, implying that we should pay attention to the role played by mobile genetic elements in antibiotic resistance genes transmission. We established a reference genome of gut antibiotic resistance genes in chickens, which will help to rationalize the use of drugs in poultry farming.

Association Between Serum Total Bilirubin and COPD: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study and a Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis

Background

The potential protective role of serum total bilirubin (TB) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is controversial. We aimed to investigate whether serum TB could prevent airflow limitation (reduce the risk of COPD) and whether these associations were causal or reversely causal.

Methods

We conducted a multi-center and cross-sectional study including 3069 participants. Logistic regression model (LRM) with restricted cubic spline (RCS) and priori defined quintile categories were used to assess the associations of TB with COPD. Besides, ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model with RCS curves were applied to assess the dose-response relationship between serum TB and airflow limitation (FEV₁/FVC). To verify the causal direction between TB and COPD, a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis was carried out with GWAS data from European ancestry.

Results

In the cross-sectional study, the relationship between levels of TB and COPD risk was U shaped (P=0.001), and the low and high concentrations of TB apparently increasing the risk of COPD (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.82 for less than 9 μmol/L; OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.76 for 9.01-1 0.88 μmol/L; OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.95 for more than 13 μmol/L). There was a significant non-linear relationship between TB and FEV₁/FVC (non-linear p=0.004). Furthermore, results of bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis (OR 1.000; 95% CI 0.983 to 1.017 for MR and OR 0.998; 95% CI 0.976 to 1.020 for reversal MR) did not support the causal effects between serum TB and FEV₁/FVC after controlling the effect of potential confounders and revised causality.

Conclusion

Our study reveals that there was non-linear does-response pattern between serum TB and COPD. However, there was little evidence for the linear causal associations of serum TB with airflow limitation. The relationship of TB with COPD needs further study and careful interpretation.

Spontaneous self-intercalation of copper atoms into transition metal dichalcogenides

Intercalated transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted substantial interest due to their exciting electronic properties. Here, we report a unique approach where copper (Cu) atoms from bulk Cu solid intercalate spontaneously into van der Waals (vdW) gaps of group IV and V layered TMDs at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. This distinctive phenomenon is used to develop a strategy to synthesize Cu species-intercalated layered TMD compounds. A series of Cu-intercalated 2H-NbS₂ compounds were obtained with homogeneous distribution of Cu intercalates in the form of monovalent Cu (I), occupying the tetrahedral sites coordinated by S atoms within the interlayer space of NbS₂. The Fermi level of NbS₂ shifts up because of the intercalation of Cu, resulting in the improvement of electrical conductivity in the z-direction. On the other hand, intercalation of Cu into vdW gaps of NbS₂ systematically suppresses the superconducting transition temperature (T _c) and superconducting volume fraction.