Performance of saline and water gargling for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase PCR testing: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The performance of gargling for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR testing has not been previously reviewed. This review systematically assessed the performance of saline and water gargling for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing in the settings of diagnosing and monitoring viral shedding.
We included original studies comparing the performance of gargling and (oropharyngeal–)nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing. Studies conducted in either suspected individuals or confirmed cases were included and analysed separately. The sensitivity, specificity, positive ...
Source: European Respiratory Review - September 20, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tsang, N. N. Y., So, H. C., Cowling, B. J., Leung, G. M., Ip, D. K. M. Tags: Respiratory clinical practice, Respiratory infections and tuberculosis Reviews Source Type: research
Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae airways infection: the next treatable trait in asthma?
Asthma is a complex, heterogeneous condition that affects over 350 million people globally. It is characterised by bronchial hyperreactivity and airways inflammation. A subset display marked airway neutrophilia, associated with worse lung function, higher morbidity and poor response to treatment. In these individuals, recent metagenomic studies have identified persistent bacterial infection, particularly with non-encapsulated strains of the Gram-negative bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. Here we review knowledge of non-typeable H. influenzae (NTHi) in the microbiology of asthma, the immune consequences of mucosal NTHi infe...
Source: European Respiratory Review - September 20, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Brown, M. A., Jabeen, M., Bharj, G., Hinks, T. S. C. Tags: Asthma and allergy Reviews Source Type: research
The relationship of early-life household air pollution with childhood asthma and lung function
The increase in childhood asthma over the past few decades has made it an important public health issue. Poor lung function growth associated with some phenotypes of asthma compounds its long-term impact on the individual. Exposure to early-life household risk factors is believed to be linked with respiratory health while infants’ lungs are still developing. This review summarises epidemiological studies and mechanistic evidence focusing on the detrimental effects of early-life household air exposures on the respiratory health of children, in particular effects on asthma and lung function. Many early-life household a...
Source: European Respiratory Review - September 7, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Dai, X., Dharmage, S. C., Lodge, C. J. Tags: Epidemiology, occupational and environmental lung disease, Asthma and allergy Reviews Source Type: research
Physical activity and its correlates in people with cystic fibrosis: a systematic review
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening genetic disease, affecting multiple life domains including physical activity (PA). Although higher PA levels are associated with multiple health benefits, little insight exists on the PA level of people with CF (PwCF) compared to healthy peers. Evidence on the influencing factors (i.e. correlates) of PA in this clinical population is scarce, but essential to fully understand their PA behaviour. Therefore, the present review aims to provide an overview of the PA level of PwCF compared to healthy peers, and the correlates of PA in PwCF. A systematic search of three databases resulted...
Source: European Respiratory Review - September 7, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Kinaupenne, M., De Craemer, M., Schaballie, H., Vandekerckhove, K., Van Biervliet, S., Demeyer, H. Tags: CF and non-CF bronchiectasis Reviews Source Type: research
Multidisciplinary teams in the clinical care of fibrotic interstitial lung disease: current perspectives
Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, involving the integrated collaboration of healthcare professionals, are increasingly used in clinical practice to inform the diagnosis and treatment of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). Over time, the assessment of patients with ILD has transitioned from discussions among clinicians, radiologists and pathologists to the inclusion of a broader range of clinical data and specialist expertise. Studies have shown that a multidisciplinary approach can have many benefits for the clinical care of patients with ILD by improving the diagnostic confidence for different ILDs and guiding treatme...
Source: European Respiratory Review - September 7, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Cottin, V., Martinez, F. J., Smith, V., Walsh, S. L. F. Tags: Interstitial and orphan lung disease, Respiratory clinical practice Reviews Source Type: research
The 6-min walk test as a primary end-point in interstitial lung disease
There is a need for clinical trial end-points to better assess how patients feel and function, so that interventions can be developed which alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Use of 6-min walk test (6MWT) outcomes as a primary end-point in interstitial lung disease (ILD) trials is growing, particularly for drugs targeting concurrent pulmonary hypertension. However, 6MWT outcomes may be influenced differentially by interstitial lung and pulmonary vascular components of ILD, making interpretation complicated. We propose that using 6MWT outcomes, including 6-min walk distance or oxygen desaturation, as primary en...
Source: European Respiratory Review - August 23, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Harari, S., Wells, A. U., Wuyts, W. A., Nathan, S. D., Kirchgaessler, K.-U., Bengus, M., Behr, J. Tags: Interstitial and orphan lung disease, Respiratory clinical practice Reviews Source Type: research
Intensive versus short face-to-face smoking cessation interventions: a meta-analysis
Conclusion
ISCIs are highly effective compared to SIs. This important knowledge should be used to avoid additional morbidity and mortality caused by smoking. (Source: European Respiratory Review)
Source: European Respiratory Review - August 23, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Rasmussen, M., Lauridsen, S. V., Pedersen, B., Backer, V., Tonnesen, H. Tags: COPD and smoking Reviews Source Type: research
Obesity, leptin and host defence of Streptococcus pneumoniae: the case for more human research
Pneumococcal pneumonia is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Obesity is a risk factor for pneumonia. Host factors play a critical role in susceptibility to pulmonary pathogens and outcome from pulmonary infections. Obesity impairs innate and adaptive immune responses, important in the host defence against pneumococcal disease. One area of emerging interest in understanding the complex relationship between obesity and pulmonary infections is the role of the hormone leptin. There is a substantive evidence base supporting the associations between obesity, leptin, pulmonary infections and host defence mechanism...
Source: European Respiratory Review - August 23, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Hales, C., Burnet, L., Coombs, M., Collins, A. M., Ferreira, D. M. Tags: Lung biology and experimental studies, Respiratory infections and tuberculosis Mini-reviews Source Type: research
Does pulmonary rehabilitation address treatable traits? A systematic review
Conclusion
Aside from deconditioning, treatable traits are infrequently addressed in existing trials of pulmonary rehabilitation. The potential of the treatable traits approach to improve pulmonary rehabilitation outcomes remains to be explored. (Source: European Respiratory Review)
Source: European Respiratory Review - August 23, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Holland, A. E., Wageck, B., Hoffman, M., Lee, A. L., Jones, A. W. Tags: Respiratory clinical practice Reviews Source Type: research
Air pollution as an early determinant of COPD
COPD is a progressive and debilitating disease often diagnosed after 50 years of age, but more recent evidence suggests that its onset could originate very early on in life. In this context, exposure to air pollution appears to be a potential contributor. Although the potential role of air pollution as an early determinant of COPD is emerging, knowledge gaps still remain, including an accurate qualification of air pollutants (number of pollutants quantified and exact composition) or the "one exposure–one disease" concept, which might limit the current understanding. To fill these gaps, improvements in the field are n...
Source: European Respiratory Review - August 10, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Lu, Z., Coll, P., Maitre, B., Epaud, R., Lanone, S. Tags: COPD and smoking, Epidemiology, occupational and environmental lung disease Reviews Source Type: research
Air pollution, metabolites and respiratory health across the life-course
Previous studies have explored the relationships of air pollution and metabolic profiles with lung function. However, the metabolites linking air pollution and lung function and the associated mechanisms have not been reviewed from a life-course perspective. Here, we provide a narrative review summarising recent evidence on the associations of metabolic profiles with air pollution exposure and lung function in children and adults. Twenty-six studies identified through a systematic PubMed search were included with 10 studies analysing air pollution-related metabolic profiles and 16 studies analysing lung function-related me...
Source: European Respiratory Review - August 10, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Gruzieva, O., Jeong, A., He, S., Yu, Z., de Bont, J., Pinho, M. G. M., Eze, I. C., Kress, S., Wheelock, C. E., Peters, A., Vlaanderen, J., de Hoogh, K., Scalbert, A., Chadeau-Hyam, M., Vermeulen, R. C. H., Gehring, U., Probst-Hensch, N., Melen, E. Tags: Epidemiology, occupational and environmental lung disease Reviews Source Type: research
Medications for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Conclusion:
Current PAH treatments improve clinically important outcomes, although the degree and certainty of benefit vary between treatments. (Source: European Respiratory Review)
Source: European Respiratory Review - August 10, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Pitre, T., Su, J., Cui, S., Scanlan, R., Chiang, C., Husnudinov, R., Khalid, M. F., Khan, N., Leung, G., Mikhail, D., Saadat, P., Shahid, S., Mah, J., Mielniczuk, L., Zeraatkar, D., Mehta, S. Tags: Pulmonary vascular disease Reviews Source Type: research
Immune processes in the pathogenesis of chronic lung allograft dysfunction: identifying the missing pieces of the puzzle
Lung transplantation is the optimal treatment for selected patients with end-stage chronic lung diseases. However, chronic lung allograft dysfunction remains the leading obstacle to improved long-term outcomes. Traditionally, lung allograft rejection has been considered primarily as a manifestation of cellular immune responses. However, in reality, an array of complex, interacting and multifactorial mechanisms contribute to its emergence. Alloimmune-dependent mechanisms, including T-cell-mediated rejection and antibody-mediated rejection, as well as non-alloimmune injuries, have been implicated. Moreover, a role has emerge...
Source: European Respiratory Review - July 27, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Bos, S., Milross, L., Filby, A. J., Vos, R., Fisher, A. J. Tags: Mechanisms of lung disease Reviews Source Type: research
A pulmonologist's guide to perform and analyse cross-species single lung cell transcriptomics
Single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing is becoming widely employed to study biological processes at a novel resolution depth. The ability to analyse transcriptomes of multiple heterogeneous cell types in parallel is especially valuable for cell-focused lung research where a variety of resident and recruited cells are essential for maintaining organ functionality. We compared the single-cell transcriptomes from publicly available and unpublished datasets of the lungs in six different species: human (Homo sapiens), African green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus), pig (Sus domesticus), hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), rat (Rattus ...
Source: European Respiratory Review - July 27, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Pennitz, P., Kirsten, H., Friedrich, V. D., Wyler, E., Goekeri, C., Obermayer, B., Heinz, G. A., Mashreghi, M.-F., Büttner, M., Trimpert, J., Landthaler, M., Suttorp, N., Hocke, A. C., Hippenstiel, S., Tönnies, M., Scholz, M., Kuebler, W. Tags: Lung biology and experimental studies Reviews Source Type: research
Lung cancer occurrence after an episode of tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Conclusion:
We document an association between tuberculosis and lung cancer occurrence, particularly in, but not limited to, the first 2 years after tuberculosis diagnosis. Some cancer cases may have been present at the time of tuberculosis diagnosis and therefore causality cannot be ascertained. Prospective studies controlling for key confounding factors are needed to identify which tuberculosis patients are at the highest risk, as well as cost-effective approaches to mitigate such risk. (Source: European Respiratory Review)
Source: European Respiratory Review - July 27, 2022 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Cabrera-Sanchez, J., Cuba, V., Vega, V., Van der Stuyft, P., Otero, L. Tags: Respiratory infections and tuberculosis, Lung cancer Reviews Source Type: research