Respiratory - Nebulizer

Background Severe asthma is associated with multiple comorbidities, including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), which can contribute to exacerbation frequency and poor quality of life. Since epithelial dysfunction is an important feature in asthma, we hypothesised that in severe asthma the bronchial epithelium is more susceptible to the effects of acid reflux. Methods We developed an in vitro model of GORD using differentiated bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) from normal or severe asthmatic donors exposed to a combination of pepsin, acid pH and bile acids using a multiple challenge protocol (MCP-PAB). In addition, we analysed bronchial biopsies and undertook RNA sequencing of bronchial brushings from controls and severe asthmatics without or with GORD. Results Exposure of BECs to the MCP-PAB caused structural disruption, increased permeability, interleukin (IL)-33 e...

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Background Cardiorespiratory fitness is not limited by pulmonary mechanical reasons in the majority of adults. However, the degree to which lung function contributes to exercise response patterns among ostensibly healthy individuals remains unclear. Methods We examined 2314 Framingham Heart Study participants who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and pulmonary function testing. We investigated the association of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV 1 /FVC and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ( D LCO ) with the primary outcome of peak oxygen uptake ( V O 2 ) along with other CPET parameters using multivariable linear regression. Finally, we investigated the association of total and peripheral pulmonary blood vessel volume with peak V O 2 . Results We found lower FEV 1 , FVC and D LCO were asso...

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Background Eosinophils are implicated as effector cells in asthma, but the functional implications of the precise location of eosinophils in the airway wall is poorly understood. We aimed to quantify eosinophils in the different compartments of the airway wall and associate these findings with clinical features of asthma and markers of airway inflammation. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we utilised design-based stereology to accurately partition the numerical density of eosinophils in both the epithelial compartment and the subepithelial space (airway wall area below the basal lamina including the submucosa) in individuals with and without asthma and related these findings to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and features of airway inflammation. Results Intraepithelial eosinophils were linked to the presence of asthma and endogenous AHR, the type that is most specific f...

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Patients diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently experience symptom burden post-acute infection or post-hospitalisation. We aimed to identify optimal strategies for follow-up care that may positively impact the patients quality of life (QoL). A European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force convened and prioritised eight clinical questions. A targeted search of the literature defined the timeline of long COVID as 1–6 months post-infection and identified clinical evidence in the follow-up of patients. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria report an association of characteristics of acute infection with persistent symptoms, thromboembolic events in the follow-up period, and evaluations of pulmonary physiology and imaging. Importantly, this statement reviews QoL consequen...

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Background Hepatopulmonary syndrome affects 10–30% of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. We evaluated the serum angiogenic profile of hepatopulmonary syndrome and assessed the clinical impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients evaluated for liver transplantation. Methods The Pulmonary Vascular Complications of Liver Disease 2 study was a multicentre, prospective cohort study of adults undergoing their first liver transplantation evaluation. Hepatopulmonary syndrome was defined as an alveolar–arterial oxygen gradient ≥15 mmHg (≥20 mmHg if age >64 years), positive contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography and absence of lung disease. Results We included 85 patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome and 146 patients without hepatopulmonary syndrome. Patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome had more complications of portal hy...

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Background Low-dose dexamethasone demonstrated clinical improvement in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) needing oxygen therapy; however, evidence on the efficacy of high-dose dexamethasone is limited. Methods We performed a randomised, open-label, controlled trial involving hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia needing oxygen therapy. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive low-dose dexamethasone (6 mg once daily for 10 days) or high-dose dexamethasone (20 mg once daily for 5 days, followed by 10 mg once daily for an additional 5 days). The primary outcome was clinical worsening within 11 days since randomisation. Secondary outcomes included 28-day mortality, time to recovery and clinical status at day 5, 11, 14 and 28 on an ordinal scale ranging from 1 (discharged) to 7 (death). Results A ...

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Background According to current guidelines, the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) relies on echocardiographic probability followed by right heart catheterisation (RHC). How echocardiography predicts PH recently redefined by mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg instead of ≥25 mmHg and pulmonary vascular disease defined by pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ≥3 or >2 WU has not been established. Methods A total of 278 patients referred for PH underwent comprehensive echocardiography followed by RHC. 15 patients (5.4%) were excluded because of insufficient quality echocardiography. Results With PH defined by mPAP >20 mmHg, 23 patients had no PH, 146 had pre-capillary PH and 94 had post-capillary PH. At univariate analysis, maximum tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) 2.9–3.4 m·s –1 , left ventricle (LV) ec...

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