Performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus assays in paediatric tuberculosis: a multicentre PTBNET study
Conclusions
The results indicate that the latest generation IGRA assay, QFT-Plus, does not perform better than previous generation IGRAs or the TST in children with TB disease. Overall, tests performed worse in CNS and miliary TB, and in immunocompromised children. None of the tests evaluated had sufficiently high sensitivity to be used as a rule-out test in children with suspected TB. (Source: Thorax)
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Buonsenso, D., Noguera-Julian, A., Moroni, R., Hernandez-Bartolome, A., Fritschi, N., Lancella, L., Cursi, L., Soler-Garcia, A., Krüger, R., Feiterna-Sperling, C., Sali, M., Lo Vecchio, A., Scarano, S., Hernanz Lobo, A., Espiau, M., Soriano-Arande Tags: Editor's choice, Thorax Tuberculosis Source Type: research
Reduced lung function and health-related quality of life after treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in Gambian children: a cross-sectional comparative study
Conclusions
Previous TB in children is associated with significantly impaired lung function and HRQoL. (Source: Thorax)
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Nkereuwem, E., Agbla, S., Sallahdeen, A., Owolabi, O., Sillah, A. K., Genekah, M., Tunkara, A., Kandeh, S., Jawara, M., Saidy, L., Bush, A., Togun, T., Kampmann, B. Tags: Open access, Thorax Tuberculosis Source Type: research
Airflow obstruction and small airway dysfunction following pulmonary tuberculosis: a cross-sectional survey
Conclusions
Our findings support existing knowledge that post-TB is positively associated with pulmonary function impairment and make for frequent respiratory symptoms. Post-TB should be considered as a potentially important cause of airflow obstruction and respiratory symptoms in patients originating from countries with a high burden of tuberculosis. (Source: Thorax)
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Xing, Z., Sun, T., Janssens, J.-P., Chai, D., Liu, W., Tong, Y., Wang, Y., Ma, Y., Pan, M., Cui, J., Wang, C., Guo, Y. Tags: Open access, Thorax Tuberculosis Source Type: research
Assessment of formal tobacco treatment and smoking cessation in dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes
Background
The utility of electronic cigarettes (‘e-cigarettes’) as a smoking cessation adjunct remains unclear. Similarly, it is unclear if formal tobacco treatment (pharmacotherapy and/or behavioural support) augments smoking cessation in individuals who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Methods
We performed a longitudinal cohort study of adult outpatients evaluated in our tertiary care medical centre (6/2018–6/2020). E-cigarette use, smoking status and formal tobacco treatment (deterrent pharmacotherapy and/or behavioural support) were assessed in 6-month blocks (eg, cohort 1 (C1)=6/2018–12/...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Heiden, B. T., Baker, T. B., Smock, N., Pham, G., Chen, J., Bierut, L. J., Chen, L.-S. Tags: Thorax Smoking Source Type: research
Selective androgen receptor modulation for muscle weakness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomised control trial
Conclusions
GSK2881078 was well tolerated and short-term treatment increased leg strength, when expressed as per cent predicted, in men with COPD more than physical training alone.
Trial registration number
NCT03359473. (Source: Thorax)
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Mohan, D., Rossiter, H., Watz, H., Fogarty, C., Evans, R. A., Man, W., Tabberer, M., Beerahee, M., Kumar, S., Millns, H., Thomas, S., Tal-Singer, R., Russell, A. J., Holland, M. C., Akinseye, C., Neil, D., Polkey, M. I. Tags: Open access, Thorax Skeletal muscle Source Type: research
Altered purine metabolism at reperfusion affects clinical outcome in lung transplantation
Conclusion
Oxidative stress, especially through purine metabolism pathway, is a major metabolic event during reperfusion and may contribute to the ischaemia reperfusion injury of lung grafts. (Source: Thorax)
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Baciu, C., Shin, J., Hsin, M., Cypel, M., Keshavjee, S., Liu, M. Tags: Thorax Lung transplantation Source Type: research
Beyond borders: cystic fibrosis survival between Australia, Canada, France and New Zealand
The objective of this study was to compare survival among countries with single-payer healthcare systems while accounting for markers of disease severity.
Methods
This cohort study used data from established national CF registries in Australia, Canada, France and New Zealand from 2015 to 2019. Median age of survival for each of the four countries was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare risk of death between Canada, France and Australia after adjusting for prognostic factors. Due to low number of deaths, New Zealand was not included in final adjusted models.
Result...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Coriati, A., Ma, X., Sykes, J., Stanojevic, S., Ruseckaite, R., Lemonnier, L., Dehillotte, C., Tate, J., Byrnes, C. A., Bell, S. C., Burgel, P. R., Stephenson, A. L. Tags: Thorax Cystic fibrosis Source Type: research
Admixture mapping of severe asthma exacerbations in Hispanic/Latino children and youth
Conclusions
Admixture mapping study of asthma exacerbations revealed a novel locus that exhibited Hispanic/Latino-specific effects and regulated DPYSL3 and SCGB3A2. (Source: Thorax)
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Herrera-Luis, E., Mak, A. C. Y., Perez-Garcia, J., Martin-Gonzalez, E., Eng, C., Beckman, K. B., Huntsman, S., Hu, D., Gonzalez-Perez, R., Hernandez-Perez, J. M., Mederos-Luis, E., Sio, Y. Y., Poza-Guedes, P., Sardon, O., Corcuera, P., Sanchez-Machin, I., Tags: Thorax Asthma Source Type: research
Environmental risks and sphingolipid signatures in adult asthma and its phenotypic clusters: a multicentre study
Background
Adult asthma is phenotypically heterogeneous with unclear aetiology. We aimed to evaluate the potential contribution of environmental exposure and its ensuing response to asthma and its heterogeneity.
Methods
Environmental risk was evaluated by assessing the records of National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) and residence-based air pollution (particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) and PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)), integrating biomonitoring analysis of environmental pollutants, inflammatory markers and sphingolipid metabolites in case–control ...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Wu, C.-C., Wang, C.-C., Chung, W.-Y., Sheu, C.-C., Yang, Y.-H., Cheng, M.-Y., Lai, R.-S., Leung, S.-Y., Lin, C.-C., Wei, Y.-F., Lin, C.-H., Lin, S.-H., Hsu, J.-Y., Huang, W.-C., Tseng, C.-C., Lai, Y.-F., Cheng, M.-H., Chen, H.-C., Yang, C.-J., Hsu, S.-C., Tags: Thorax Asthma Source Type: research
Patient registry data highlights international differences in survival in cystic fibrosis
Worldwide, many countries now have well-established national cystic fibrosis (CF) registries that host a wealth of data regarding their patient populations. The investment in developing high-quality registries by the CF community is reaping rewards with these rich datasets proving increasingly valuable resources. Registries are providing important insights in the changing demography of the patient with CF population and such data offers a projection of the future requirements for CF healthcare. Epidemiological research uing registry data is helping to gain an understanding of the complications of CF and assess the impact o...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Jones, A. M. Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research
Environmental exposures: another effect on sphingolipids in asthma?
Classifying the heterogeneity of asthma has been an ongoing challenge. Asthma phenotypes and endotypes have mainly been defined by clinical features, markers of atopy, airway immune cells and inflammatory markers.1 While clustering has helped the advancement of biologics specific targeting immune receptors or IgE, there has been less success in using clustering by other parameters such as genetics or environmental factors therapeutically.2 Despite a wealth of information on the detrimental effects of environmental factors such as air pollution and tobacco smoke exposure on asthma,3 their role in asthma pathogenesis is stil...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Worgall, S. Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research
Leveraging genetic ancestry to study severe asthma exacerbations in an admixed population
Asthma is a major non-communicable health problem in the USA among school age children. About 5%–10% of all people with asthma have severe asthma exacerbations, resulting in disproportionate healthcare costs (eg, emergency hospital visit, hospitalisation) and serving as the primary cause of higher mortality due to asthma.1–3 The burden of asthma varies across racial or ethnic groups in the USA. In particular, Puerto Rican and African American children have a greater prevalence of morbidity and mortality from asthma than non-Hispanic white children in the USA.4 Research shows that much of this racial disparity i...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Gautam, Y., Mersha, T. B. Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research
Inventing the wheel: understanding heterogeneity of response to skeletal muscle dysfunction interventions in women with COPD
Skeletal muscle dysfunction is arguably the most important manifestation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for patients. It contributes to an inability to go about activities of daily living decreases quality of life, increases office visits and healthcare expenditure.1 2 It is only recently this extrapulmonary complication of COPD has been given attention in terms of research and pharmacological interventions. However, the historical bias of a large body of medical research performed in men still overwhelms and limits our understanding of heterogeneity and sensitivity of responses to skeletal muscle dysfunct...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: McDonald, M.-L. N. Tags: Thorax Editorial Source Type: research
COP27 climate change conference: urgent action needed for Africa and the world
Wealthy nations must step up support for Africa and vulnerable countries in addressing past, present and future impacts of climate change The 2022 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change paints a dark picture of the future of life on earth, characterised by ecosystem collapse, species extinction and climate hazards such as heatwaves and floods.1 These are all linked to physical and mental health problems, with direct and indirect consequences of increased morbidity and mortality. To avoid these catastrophic health effects across all regions of the globe, there is broad agreement—as 231 health journals...
Source: Thorax - February 16, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Zielinski, C., On behalf of the authorship group listed below Tags: Open access, Thorax Editorial Source Type: research
Journal club
Catheter-directed thrombolysis for submassive pulmonary embolism: meta-analysis supports improved outcomes compared with anticoagulation alone The literature shows conflicting results on the use of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and systemic anticoagulation (SA) alone in patients suffering submassive pulmonary emboli (sPE). Ismayl et al (Am J Cardiol 2022;178:154) conducted a meta-analysis, which included the results from 11 observational and 1 randomised clinical trials. The analysis compared the outcomes of 1871 patients who received both CDT and SA, to the outcomes of a second group composed of 7918 patients, who ...
Source: Thorax - January 12, 2023 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Aniftos, O. Tags: Thorax Journal club Source Type: research
