Publications
348 results found
Allinson JP, Vlies BH, Brill SE, et al., 2023, A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Long-Term Doxycycline Therapy on Exacerbation Rate in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol: 208, Pages: 549-558, ISSN: 1073-449X
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- Citations: 1
Bertels X, Edris A, Garcia-Aymerich J, et al., 2023, Phenotyping asthma with airflow obstruction in middle-aged and older adults: a CADSET clinical research collaboration, BMJ Open Respiratory Research, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2052-4439
Background The prevalence and clinical profile of asthma with airflow obstruction (AO) remain uncertain. We aimed to phenotype AO in population- and clinic-based cohorts.Methods This cross-sectional multicohort study included adults ≥50 years from nine CADSET cohorts with spirometry data (N=69 789). AO was defined as ever diagnosed asthma with pre-BD or post-BD FEV1/FVC <0.7 in population-based and clinic-based cohorts, respectively. Clinical characteristics and comorbidities of AO were compared with asthma without airflow obstruction (asthma-only) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) without asthma history (COPD-only). ORs for comorbidities adjusted for age, sex, smoking status and body mass index (BMI) were meta-analysed using a random effects model.Results The prevalence of AO was 2.1% (95% CI 2.0% to 2.2%) in population-based, 21.1% (95% CI 18.6% to 23.8%) in asthma-based and 16.9% (95% CI 15.8% to 17.9%) in COPD-based cohorts. AO patients had more often clinically relevant dyspnoea (modified Medical Research Council score ≥2) than asthma-only (+14.4 and +14.7 percentage points) and COPD-only (+24.0 and +5.0 percentage points) in population-based and clinic-based cohorts, respectively. AO patients had more often elevated blood eosinophil counts (>300 cells/µL), although only significant in population-based cohorts. Compared with asthma-only, AO patients were more often men, current smokers, with a lower BMI, had less often obesity and had more often chronic bronchitis. Compared with COPD-only, AO patients were younger, less often current smokers and had less pack-years. In the general population, AO patients had a higher risk of coronary artery disease than asthma-only and COPD-only (OR=2.09 (95% CI 1.26 to 3.47) and OR=1.89 (95% CI 1.10 to 3.24), respectively) and of depression (OR=1.41 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.67)), osteoporosis (OR=2.30 (95% CI 1.43 to 3.72)) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (OR=1
Jackson C, Stewart ID, Plekhanova T, et al., 2023, Effects of sleep disturbance on dyspnoea and impaired lung function following hospital admission due to COVID-19 in the UK: a prospective multicentre cohort study, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 11, Pages: 673-684, ISSN: 2213-2600
BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbance is common following hospital admission both for COVID-19 and other causes. The clinical associations of this for recovery after hospital admission are poorly understood despite sleep disturbance contributing to morbidity in other scenarios. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and nature of sleep disturbance after discharge following hospital admission for COVID-19 and to assess whether this was associated with dyspnoea. METHODS: CircCOVID was a prospective multicentre cohort substudy designed to investigate the effects of circadian disruption and sleep disturbance on recovery after COVID-19 in a cohort of participants aged 18 years or older, admitted to hospital for COVID-19 in the UK, and discharged between March, 2020, and October, 2021. Participants were recruited from the Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID). Follow-up data were collected at two timepoints: an early time point 2-7 months after hospital discharge and a later time point 10-14 months after hospital discharge. Sleep quality was assessed subjectively using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire and a numerical rating scale. Sleep quality was also assessed with an accelerometer worn on the wrist (actigraphy) for 14 days. Participants were also clinically phenotyped, including assessment of symptoms (ie, anxiety [Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale questionnaire], muscle function [SARC-F questionnaire], dyspnoea [Dyspnoea-12 questionnaire] and measurement of lung function), at the early timepoint after discharge. Actigraphy results were also compared to a matched UK Biobank cohort (non-hospitalised individuals and recently hospitalised individuals). Multivariable linear regression was used to define associations of sleep disturbance with the primary outcome of breathlessness and the other clinical symptoms. PHOSP-COVID is registered on the ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN10980107). FINDINGS: 2320 of 2468 participants in the PHOSP-COVID study attended
Dawson C, Clunie G, Evison F, et al., 2023, Prevalence of swallow, communication, voice and cognitive compromise following hospitalisation for COVID-19: the PHOSP-COVID analysis, BMJ Open Respiratory Research, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2052-4439
Objective: Identify prevalence of self-reported swallow, communication, voice and cognitive compromise following hospitalisation for COVID-19.Design: Multicentre prospective observational cohort study using questionnaire data at visit 1 (2–7 months post discharge) and visit 2 (10–14 months post discharge) from hospitalised patients in the UK. Lasso logistic regression analysis was undertaken to identify associations.Setting: 64 UK acute hospital Trusts.Participants: Adults aged >18 years, discharged from an admissions unit or ward at a UK hospital with COVID-19.Main outcome measures: Self-reported swallow, communication, voice and cognitive compromise.Results: Compromised swallowing post intensive care unit (post-ICU) admission was reported in 20% (188/955); 60% with swallow problems received invasive mechanical ventilation and were more likely to have undergone proning (p=0.039). Voice problems were reported in 34% (319/946) post-ICU admission who were more likely to have received invasive (p<0.001) or non-invasive ventilation (p=0.001) and to have been proned (p<0.001). Communication compromise was reported in 23% (527/2275) univariable analysis identified associations with younger age (p<0.001), female sex (p<0.001), social deprivation (p<0.001) and being a healthcare worker (p=0.010). Cognitive issues were reported by 70% (1598/2275), consistent at both visits, at visit 1 respondents were more likely to have higher baseline comorbidities and at visit 2 were associated with greater social deprivation (p<0.001).Conclusion: Swallow, communication, voice and cognitive problems were prevalent post hospitalisation for COVID-19, alongside whole system compromise including reduced mobility and overall health scores. Research and testing of rehabilitation interventions are required at pace to explore these issues.
Shah PL, Orton CM, Grinsztejn B, et al., 2023, Favipiravir in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 (PIONEER trial): a multicentre, open-label, phase 3, randomised controlled trial of early intervention versus standard care, LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE, Vol: 11, Pages: 415-424, ISSN: 2213-2600
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- Citations: 4
Kole TM, Vanden Berghe E, Kraft M, et al., 2023, Predictors and associations of the persistent airflow limitation phenotype in asthma: a post-hoc analysis of the ATLANTIS study., The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 11, Pages: 55-64, ISSN: 2213-2600
BACKGROUND: Persistent airflow limitation (PAL) occurs in a subset of patients with asthma. Previous studies on PAL in asthma have included relatively small populations, mostly restricted to severe asthma, or have no included longitudinal data. The aim of this post-hoc analysis was to investigate the determinants, clinical implications, and outcome of PAL in patients with asthma who were included in the ATLANTIS study. METHODS: In this post-hoc analysis of the ATLANTIS study, we assessed the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and implications of PAL across the full range of asthma severity. The study population included patients aged 18-65 years who had been diagnosed with asthma at least 6 months before inclusion. We defined PAL as a post-bronchodilator FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than the lower limit of normal at recruitment. Asthma severity was defined according to the Global Initiative for Asthma. We used Mann-Whitney U test, t test, or χ2 test to analyse differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without PAL. Logistic regression was used for multivariable analysis of the associations between PAL and baseline data. Cox regression was used to analyse risk of exacerbation in relation to PAL, and a linear mixed-effects model was used to analyse change in FEV1 over time in patients with versus patients without PAL. Results were validated in the U-BIOPRED cohort. FINDINGS: Between June 30, 2014 and March 3, 2017, 773 patients were enrolled in the ATLANTIS study of whom 760 (98%) had post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC data available. Of the included patients with available data, mean age was 44 years (SD 13), 441 (58%) of 760 were women, 578 (76%) were never-smokers, and 248 (33%) had PAL. PAL was not only present in patients with severe asthma, but also in 21 (16%) of 133 patients with GINA step 1 and 24 (29%) of 83 patients with GINA step 2. PAL was independently associated with older age at baseline (46 years in PAL group vs 43
Allinson JP, Patel PH, Donaldson GC, 2022, Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Asthma, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol: 206, Pages: 1057-1058, ISSN: 1073-449X
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- Citations: 1
Pritchard R, Wiseman D, Shahbakti H, et al., 2022, RESPIRATORY VIRUSES LEAD TO AIRWAY DYSBIOSIS IN EXACERBATIONS OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, Winter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society (BTS), Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: A89-A90, ISSN: 0040-6376
Meldrum OW, Donaldson GC, Tiew PY, et al., 2022, Integrated microbiome-mucus profiling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Publisher: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD, ISSN: 0903-1936
Silver JS, Chiang C, Elneima O, et al., 2022, Proteomic Analysis of Sputum from COPD Patients Reveal That Decreased PIGR and IgA Correlate with Exacerbation Frequency and Haemophilus Influenzae Burden, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, ISSN: 1073-449X
Martinez FJ, Agusti A, Celli BR, et al., 2022, Treatment Trials in Young Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Pre-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Time to Move Forward, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol: 205, Pages: 275-287, ISSN: 1073-449X
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- Citations: 32
Paschalaki K, Rossios C, Pericleous C, et al., 2022, Inhaled corticosteroids reduce senescence in endothelial progenitor cells from COPD patients, Thorax, Vol: 77, ISSN: 0040-6376
Cellular senescence contributes to the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease. Using endothelial-colony-forming-cells (ECFC),we have demonstrated accelerated senescence in smokers and COPD patients compared tonon-smokers. Subgroup analysis suggests that ECFC from COPD patients on inhaledcorticosteroids (ICS) (n=14; 8 on ICS) exhibited significantly reduced senescence(Senescence-associated-beta galactosidase activity, p21CIP1), markers of DNA damageresponse (DDR) and IFN-γ-inducible-protein-10 compared to COPD patients not on ICS. Invitro studies using human-umbilical-vein-endothelial-cells showed a protective effect of ICSon the DDR, senescence and apoptosis caused by oxidative-stress, suggesting a protectivemolecular mechanism of action of corticosteroids on endothelium.
Martinez FJ, Brochard L, Bush A, et al., 2022, Advancing Global Respiratory Health, Sleep, and Critical Care: Editorial from the New <i>American</i> <i>Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Team</i>, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol: 205, Pages: I-II, ISSN: 1073-449X
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- Citations: 1
Allinson JP, Afzal S, Colak Y, et al., 2022, Changes in lung function in European adults born between 1884 and 1996 and implications for the diagnosis of lung disease: a cross-sectional analysis of ten population-based studies, LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE, Vol: 10, Pages: 83-94, ISSN: 2213-2600
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- Citations: 13
Wedzicha JA, Brochard L, Donaldson GC, et al., 2021, Ending on a Crescendo: Reflections on Seven Years of a Successful Journal, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol: 204, Pages: 1351-1352, ISSN: 1073-449X
Wang G, Hallberg J, Charalampopoulos D, et al., 2021, Spirometric phenotypes from early childhood to young adulthood: a Chronic Airway Disease Early Stratification study, ERJ OPEN RESEARCH, Vol: 7
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- Citations: 7
Donaldson GC, Ritchie AI, Calverley PMA, et al., 2021, Impact of the UK lockdown on people at risk of COPD., ERJ Open Research, Vol: 7, Pages: 1-4, ISSN: 2312-0541
Kamal F, Kumar S, Edwards MR, et al., 2021, Virus-induced volatile organic compounds are detectable in exhaled breath during pulmonary infection., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 204, Pages: 1075-1085, ISSN: 1073-449X
BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition punctuated by acute exacerbations commonly triggered by viral and/or bacterial infection. Early identification of exacerbation trigger is important to guide appropriate therapy but currently available tests are slow and imprecise. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be detected in exhaled breath and have the potential to be rapid tissue-specific biomarkers of infection aetiology. METHODS: We used serial sampling within in vitro and in vivo studies to elucidate the dynamic changes that occur in VOC production during acute respiratory viral infection. Highly sensitive gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques were used to measure VOC production from infected airway epithelial cell cultures and in exhaled breath samples of healthy subjects experimentally challenged with rhinovirus A16 and COPD subjects with naturally-occurring exacerbations. RESULTS: We identified a novel VOC signature comprising of decane and other related long chain alkane compounds that is induced during rhinovirus infection of cultured airway epithelial cells and is also increased in the exhaled breath of healthy subjects experimentally challenged with rhinovirus and of COPD patients during naturally-occurring viral exacerbations. These compounds correlated with magnitude of anti-viral immune responses, virus burden and exacerbation severity but were not induced by bacterial infection, suggesting they represent a specific virus-inducible signature. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the potential for measurement of exhaled breath VOCs as rapid, non-invasive biomarkers of viral infection. Further studies are needed to determine whether measurement of these signatures could be used to guide more targeted therapy with antibiotic/antiviral agents for COPD exacerbations.
Hoffmann C, Liebers U, Humbsch P, et al., 2021, Erratum to: “An adaptation strategy to urban heat: Hospital rooms with radiant cooling accelerate patient recovery” (ERJ Open Res), ERJ Open Research, Vol: 7
This article was originally published with an error in the key to figure 3. “Radiant cooled room” and “Conventional room” were presented with the incorrect colour codes. The corrected figure is shown below and has been corrected in the published article.
Ritchie AI, Baker JR, Parekh TM, et al., 2021, Update in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2020, AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol: 204, Pages: 14-22, ISSN: 1073-449X
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- Citations: 6
Hoffmann C, Liebers U, Humbsch P, et al., 2021, An adaptation strategy to urban heat: hospital rooms with radiant cooling accelerate patient recovery, ERJ OPEN RESEARCH, Vol: 7
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- Citations: 3
Donaldson GC, Ritchie AI, McLean F, et al., 2021, Impact of the UK lockdown on early COPD, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, Pages: 1-2, ISSN: 1073-449X
INTRODUCTION: Public health measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 have required various changesin life-style, including loss or risk to employment and social isolation. We wished to assess how these measuredeffected 30-45 year old smokers at risk of COPD participating in the BLF Early COPD cohort study METHODS: Atenrolment, participants were aged 30-45 years, tobacco smokers with >10 pack-year smoking history,FEV1=>80% predicted and a BMI < 35kg/m2. Participants were seen face-to-face in clinic pre-COVID. Duringlock-down, they were posted questionnaires and contacted by telephone. The last clinic visit took place on the 12March 2020, remote visits took place between 16 April and 28 Sep. 260 individuals at six sites (25 Belfast, 38Birmingham, 25 Edinburgh, 101 London, 27 Manchester and 44 Nottingham) were asked about smoking habits.The MRC chronic bronchitis questionnaire, COPD Assessment test (CAT), Leicester cough questionnaire, HospitalAnxiety and Depression questionnaire were completed in writing by the participant and returned by post orphotographed and returned by email. At enrolment, the post-BD FEV1 was 3.81 (SD 0.8) litres, 101% (11) of GLIpredicted. Comparisons were made by paired t-tests and chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Level of anxiety increasedfrom 6.74 (SD 4.4) to 7.37 (SD 4.7, n=233; p=0.010) during lock-down; depression scores increased from 4.30(3.9) to 5.14 (SD 4.1; n=233; p<0.001). Anxiety increased in 78/233 and depression in 89/233 participants by 2or more units, 2 units is considered the minimally important (MCID) in bronchiectasis, COPD and ILD (Wynne,2020) Figure 1 shows that during lock-down, the proportion of participants not smoking increased from 31/259(12.0%) to 62/259 (23.9%; p<0.001). In those who continued to smoke, cigarettes per day (p=0.59) and rollingtobacco consumption (g/week) (p=0.92) were unchanged. Participants reported less chronic bronchitis definedas “do you bring up phlegm like this on most da
Singh R, Belchamber K, Fenwick P, et al., 2021, Defective monocyte-derived macrophage phagocytosis is associated with exacerbation frequency in COPD, Respiratory Research, Vol: 22, Pages: 1-11, ISSN: 1465-9921
BackgroundLower airway bacterial colonisation (LABC) in COPD patients is associated with increased exacerbation frequency and faster lung function decline. Defective macrophage phagocytosis in COPD drives inflammation, but how defective macrophage function contributes to exacerbations is not clear. This study investigated the association between macrophage phagocytosis and exacerbation frequency, LABC and clinical parameters.MethodsMonocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were generated from 92 stable COPD patients, and at the onset of exacerbation in 39 patients. Macrophages were exposed to fluorescently labelled Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae for 4 h, then phagocytosis measured by fluorimetry and cytokine release by ELISA. Sputum bacterial colonisation was measured by PCR.ResultsPhagocytosis of H. influenzae was negatively correlated with exacerbation frequency (r = 0.440, p < 0.01), and was significantly reduced in frequent vs. infrequent exacerbators (1.9 × 103 RFU vs. 2.5 × 103 RFU, p < 0.01). There was no correlation for S. pneumoniae. There was no association between phagocytosis of either bacteria with age, lung function, smoking history or treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, or long-acting bronchodilators. Phagocytosis was not altered during an exacerbation, or in the 2 weeks post-exacerbation. In response to phagocytosis, MDM from exacerbating patients showed increased release of CXCL-8 (p < 0.001) and TNFα (p < 0.01) compared to stable state.ConclusionImpaired COPD macrophage phagocytosis of H. influenzae, but not S. pneumoniae is associated with exacerbation frequency, resulting in pro-inflammatory macrophages that may contribute to disease progression. Targeting these frequent exacerbators with drugs that improve macrophage phagocytosis may prove beneficial.
Gregson FKA, Watson NA, Orton CM, et al., 2021, Comparing aerosol concentrations and particle size distributions generated by singing, speaking and breathing, Aerosol Science and Technology, Vol: 55, Pages: 681-691, ISSN: 0278-6826
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented shutdown in social and economic activity, with the cultural sector particularly severely affected. Restrictions on musical performances have arisen from a perception that there is a significantly higher risk of aerosol production from singing than speaking, based upon high-profile examples of clusters of COVID-19 following choral rehearsals. However, comparing aerosol generation from different types of vocalization, including singing, across a range of volumes is a rapidly evolving area of research. Here, we measured aerosols from singing, speaking and breathing from a large cohort of 25 professional singers in a range of musical genres in a zero-background environment, allowing unequivocal attribution of aerosol production to specific vocalizations. We do not assess the relative volumes at which people speak and sing. However, both showed steep increases in mass concentration with increase in loudness (spanning a factor of 20–30 across the dynamic range measured, p < 0.001). At the quietest volume (50 to 60 dBA), neither singing (p = 0.19) nor speaking (p = 0.20) were significantly different to breathing. At the loudest volume (90 to 100 dBA), a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) was observed between singing and speaking, but with singing only generating a factor of between 1.5 and 3.4 more aerosol mass. Guidelines for musical performances should be based on the loudness and duration of the vocalization, the number of participants and the environment in which the activity occurs, rather than the type of vocalization. Mitigations such as the use of amplification and increased attention to ventilation should be employed where practicable.
Wang Z, Locantore N, Haldar K, et al., 2020, Inflammatory Endotype Associated Airway Microbiome in COPD Clinical Stability and Exacerbations - A Multi-Cohort Longitudinal Analysis., Am J Respir Crit Care Med
RATIONALE: Understanding the role of airway microbiome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inflammatory endotypes may help to develop microbiome-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. OBJECTIVES: To understand the association of airway microbiome with neutrophilic and eosinophilic COPD at stability and exacerbations. METHODS: An integrative analysis was performed on 1,706 sputum samples collected longitudinally from 510 COPD patients recruited at four UK sites in BEAT-COPD, COPDMAP and AERIS cohorts. The microbiome was analyzed using COPDMAP and AERIS as discovery dataset and BEAT-COPD as validation dataset. RESULTS: The airway microbiome in neutrophilic COPD was heterogeneous with two primary community types differentiated by the predominance of Haemophilus. The Haemophilus-predominant subgroup had elevated sputum IL-1b and TNFa and was relatively stable over time. The other neutrophilic subgroup with a balanced microbiome profile had elevated sputum and serum IL-17A and was temporally dynamic. Patients in this state at stability were susceptible to greatest microbiome shifts during exacerbations. This subgroup can temporally switch to both neutrophilic-Haemophilus-predominant and eosinophilic states which were otherwise mutually exclusive. Time-series analysis on the microbiome showed the temporal trajectories of Campylobacter and Granulicatella were indicative of intra-patient switches from neutrophilic to eosinophilic inflammation, and in track with patient sputum eosinophilia over time. Network analysis revealed distinct host-microbiome interaction patterns between neutrophilic-Haemophilus-predominant, neutrophilic-balanced-microbiome and eosinophilic subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: The airway microbiome can stratify neutrophilic COPD into subgroups that justify different therapies. Neutrophilic and eosinophilic COPD are inter-changeable in some patients. Monitoring temporal variability of the airway microbiome may track patient inflammatory status ov
Beech AS, Lea S, Kolsum U, et al., 2020, Bacteria and sputum inflammatory cell counts; a COPD cohort analysis, RESPIRATORY RESEARCH, Vol: 21
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- Citations: 28
Wiseman DJ, Thwaites RS, Drysdale SB, et al., 2020, Immunological and inflammatory biomarkers of susceptibility and severity in adult respiratory syncytial virus infections, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol: 222, Pages: S584-S591, ISSN: 0022-1899
BACKGROUND: . Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in young infants. However, it is also a significant pathogen in older adults. Validated biomarkers of RSV disease severity would benefit diagnostics, treatment decisions, and prophylactic interventions. This review summarizes knowledge of biomarkers for RSV disease in adults. METHODS: A literature review was performed using Ovid Medline, Embase, Global health, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published 1946-October 2016. Nine articles were identified plus 9 from other sources. RESULTS: From observational studies of natural infection and challenge studies in volunteers, biomarkers of RSV susceptibility or disease severity in adults were: (1) lower anti-RSV neutralizing antibodies, where neutralizing antibody (and local IgA) may be a correlate of susceptibility/severity; (2) RSV-specific CD8+ T cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid preinfection (subjects with higher levels had less severe illness); and (3) elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and myeloperoxidase levels in the airway are indicative of severe infection. CONCLUSIONS: Factors determining susceptibility to and severity of RSV disease in adults have not been well defined. Respiratory mucosal antibodies and CD8+ T cells appear to contribute to preventing infection and modulation of disease severity. Studies of RSV pathogenesis in at-risk populations are needed.
Nici L, Mammen MJ, Charbek E, et al., 2020, Pharmacologic Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline (vol 201, pg e56, 2020), AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol: 202, Pages: 910-910, ISSN: 1073-449X
Gregson, Watson, Orton, et al., 2020, Comparing the Respirable Aerosol Concentrations and Particle Size Distributions Generated by Singing, Speaking and Breathing
<jats:p>The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented shutdown in social and economic activity with the cultural sector particularly severely affected. Restrictions on performance have arisen from a perception that there is a significantly higher risk of aerosol production from singing than speaking based upon high-profile examples of clusters of COVID-19 following choral rehearsals. However, no direct comparison of aerosol generation from singing and speaking has been reported. Here, we measure aerosols from singing, speaking and breathing in a zero-background environment, allowing unequivocal attribution of aerosol production to specific vocalisations. Speaking and singing show steep increases in mass concentration with increase in volume (spanning a factor of 20-30 across the dynamic range measured, <jats:italic>p</jats:italic><1×10<jats:sup>-5</jats:sup>). At the quietest volume (50 to 60 dB), neither singing (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic>=0.19) or speaking (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic>=0.20) were significantly different to breathing. At the loudest volume (90 to 100 dB), a statistically significant difference (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic><1×10<jats:sup>-5</jats:sup>) is observed between singing and speaking, but with singing only generating a factor of between 1.5 and 3.4 more aerosol mass. Guidelines should create recommendations based on the volume and duration of the vocalisation, the number of participants and the environment in which the activity occurs, rather than the type of vocalisation. Mitigations such as the use of amplification and increased attention to ventilation should be employed where practicable.</jats:p>
Ritchie AI, Brill SE, Vlies BH, et al., 2020, Targeted retreatment of incompletely recovered COPD exacerbations with ciprofloxacin: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase III trial, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 202, Pages: 549-557, ISSN: 1073-449X
RATIONALE: COPD exacerbations are prone to non-recovery but there are no data about the effectiveness of retreatment on these prolonged events. We examined whether further therapy with ciprofloxacin for incompletely resolved COPD exacerbations prolonged the time until the next event. METHODS: This multi-centre randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial studied retreatment with oral ciprofloxacin 500mg or matched placebo twice daily for 7 days in patients with GOLD stage II - IV COPD with persistent symptoms and/or serum C-reactive protein (CRP) ≥8mg/L initiated 14 (+/- 3) days after an index COPD exacerbation. The primary outcome was the time to the next exacerbation within a 90-day period. RESULTS: Of 826 patients screened at 4 centres, 144 eligible participants with incomplete recovery were randomised to receive ciprofloxacin (n=72) or placebo (n=72). 57% of patients in the ciprofloxacin group had experienced 1 or more exacerbations, compared to 53% in the placebo group. The median time to the next exacerbation was 32.5 days (IQR 13-50) in the placebo arm and 34 days (IQR 17-62) in the ciprofloxacin arm, which was not significantly different (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.07, 95% CI 0.68-1.68; p=0.76). No significant differences were seen in quality of life scores or lung function between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with persistent symptoms and/or raised CRP 14 days following a COPD exacerbation, an additional course of ciprofloxacin resulted in no additional benefit compared to placebo. This suggests that non-recovered exacerbations are not driven by ongoing bacterial infection and may potentially be targeted with anti-inflammatory therapy.
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