{"title":"Tweaking the Complex Fibrogenic Role of Lymphocytes in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.","authors":"Aritra Bhattacharyya, Julie D Saba","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0160","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a deadly lung disease primarily affecting aged individuals. Even though there are two U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, nintedanib and pirfenidone, with a recent addition of another drug, nerandomilast, yet they only reduce the progress of the disease. The mean survival rate is between 5 and 7 years even after treatment with antifibrotics. Cells of lymphoid lineage have been long reported to modulate the outcome of pulmonary fibrosis. In this review, we discuss how the cell of lymphoid lineage regulates the inflammatory niche within the lungs, leading to the development and progress of pulmonary fibrosis. The review also addresses possible therapeutic strategies that can be leveraged by specifically targeting the lymphoid cells in the pulmonary fibrotic niche.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"154-165"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13065406/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145757913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Objective Assessment of the Cough: Listening to the Patient's Voice. A Narrative Review.","authors":"Tai Joon An","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0164","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite its prevalence-affecting up to 10% of adults worldwide-objective measurement of the cough-one of the most common yet least quantifiable respiratory symptoms-remains challenging. Conventional descriptors, such as 'frequent' or 'severe,' are inherently subjective and poorly reproducible, limiting clinical interpretation and standardization. Over the past five decades, technological advances have transformed cough assessment from manual counting and provocation testing to automated acoustic monitoring and neurophysiologic imaging. Modern validated systems, such as the Leicester cough monitor and VitaloJAK Cough monitoring system, provide reproducible measures of cough frequency, now accepted as regulatory trial endpoints. In contrast, cough intensity remains difficult to capture objectively. While physiologic tools that include peak cough flow, esophageal manometry, and electromyography provide mechanistic insights, they are invasive, and impractical for real-world use. Acoustic amplitude serves as a promising noninvasive surrogate, but suffers from ambient noise interference and lack of cross-device calibration. Functional magnetic resonance imaging and experimental brain positron emission tomography have further revealed cortical and subcortical dysregulation underlying cough hypersensitivity, reframing the chronic cough as a disorder of aberrant sensory processing. However, these approaches remain research tools, constrained by cost, accessibility, and limited validation. The future of cough assessment lies in integrated, multimodal systems that combine physioclassilogic, acoustic, and neuroimaging signals through AI-based analytics. Such approaches could transform the cough into a measurable digital biomarker-an objective 'fifth vital sign.' Realizing this vision will require collaborative efforts among clinicians, engineers, and policymakers to ensure validation, standardization, and clinical applicability.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"193-201"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13065402/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145709850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Redefining Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A New Clinical Perspective.","authors":"Si Mong Yoon, Yeon Joo Lee","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0069","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critical care, yet its diagnosis and classification have historically been limited by varying resources and reliance on advanced technology. In 2024, a global redefinition of ARDS was introduced to overcome these challenges, constituting the most substantial update since the Berlin definition in 2012. This review summarizes the principal revisions to the criteria, including the formal adoption of lung ultrasound, SpO₂/FiO₂ ratios, and the explicit consideration of non-intubated ARDS and contexts with limited resources. These modifications are intended to promote more inclusive diagnostics, earlier detection, and improved research relevance. We provide a critical analysis of the advantages and drawbacks of the new definition, focusing on the heterogeneity of oxygenation measures, complications in FiO₂ assessment, and challenges in imaging evaluation. Additionally, the review underlines ongoing areas for refinement, comprising the establishment of uniform ventilator parameters, greater integration of carbon dioxide metrics, and the application of phenotypic stratification to support the advancement of precision medicine. This conceptual update signals a significant transformation in ARDS diagnosis and is expected to foster broader and more accessible critical care methodologies as well as expanded research participation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"10-17"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784126/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145355771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bo-Guen Kim, Youlim Kim, Sang Hoon Lee, Siyoung Lee, Minjun Choi, Byeongchan Lee, Jae Seok Jeong, Sang-Heon Kim, Hyun Lee, Kwang Ha Yoo
{"title":"T-Cell Immune Dysfunction and Progression to Severe COVID-19 in Asthma Revealed by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing.","authors":"Bo-Guen Kim, Youlim Kim, Sang Hoon Lee, Siyoung Lee, Minjun Choi, Byeongchan Lee, Jae Seok Jeong, Sang-Heon Kim, Hyun Lee, Kwang Ha Yoo","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0099","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0099","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Little information is available on the immune signaling pathway that drives severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in asthma. Our study uses single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to evaluate the association between immune dysfunction and progression to severe COVID-19 in asthma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Four patients with asthma and eight patients without asthma from three centers in South Korea were analyzed. Samples were collected from each patient over three-time points: at the time of COVID-19 infection, 1 week later, and 2 weeks later.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Patients were classified into four groups according to the presence or absence of asthma and COVID-19 severity: non-asthma/mild COVID-19 (n=5), non-asthma/severe COVID-19 (n=3), asthma/mild COVID-19 (n=3), and asthma/severe COVID-19 (n=1) groups. A high-quality scRNA-seq dataset composed of 155,565 cells was generated that characterized peripheral immune cells. Analysis of the proportion of cell type by time points showed a decrease in T-cells at the second time point in the asthma/severe COVID-19 group, compared to the others. When the proportion of T-cell subtype was analyzed by time point, an increase in the proportion of CD8+ T-cell was shown at the second time point in the asthma/severe COVID-19 group compared to the other groups: in differentially expressed genes analysis, notably, we observed relatively higher levels of cytotoxicity-related genes in the asthma/severe COVID-19 group compared to the others.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying the progression of COVID-19 infection in patients with asthma. A reduction in the proportion of T-cells while expanding cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell proportion was associated with severe COVID-19 presentation in asthma.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"38-54"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784130/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145551009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joon Young Choi, Chin Kook Rhee, Yong-Il Hwang, Ji-Yong Moon, Kwang Ha Yoo, Hyoung Kyu Yoon
{"title":"Expert Consensus Statement on the Disease Burden and Vaccination for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Adults.","authors":"Joon Young Choi, Chin Kook Rhee, Yong-Il Hwang, Ji-Yong Moon, Kwang Ha Yoo, Hyoung Kyu Yoon","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0173","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection in adults, with higher morbidity and mortality in older adults and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma. Despite the burden, disease awareness remains low and treatment is limited to supportive care. Recent advances have led to the approval of multiple vaccines and updated guideline recommendations. We reviewed current literature, surveillance data, and international guidelines to assess the burden of RSV in adults and to evaluate evidence for vaccination in high-risk groups. Globally, RSV accounts for millions of infections and substantial hospitalizations and deaths among adults ≥60 years. COPD and asthma patients show disproportionately high risks of RSV-related hospitalization, exacerbations, and mortality. South Korean studies confirm RSV as a major contributor to pneumonia, COPD and asthma exacerbations, and bronchiectasis. As of 2025, three RSV vaccines (Arexvy, Abrysvo, mRESVIA) have US Food and Drug Administration approval; only Arexvy is approved in Korea for older adults. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) now recommends vaccination for all adults ≥75 years and high-risk adults aged 50-74 years, while Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and Korean COPD guidelines endorse RSV vaccination for chronic respiratory disease patients. RSV is underrecognized yet imposes significant disease and healthcare burdens in older adults and those with chronic respiratory diseases. In the absence of effective antivirals, vaccination is a key preventive strategy. Expanding vaccination uptake, improving awareness, and integrating RSV vaccines into national immunization programs could substantially reduce RSV-related morbidity and mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"18-28"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784123/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145550936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of Forceful Breathing Maneuvers of Spirometry on Respiratory Impedance Measured by Oscillometry.","authors":"Sajal De","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0114","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Deep inspiratory maneuvers can modify airway diameter, leading to shortterm fluctuations in respiratory impedance (Zrs). However, the impact of the forceful breathing maneuvers used in spirometry on Zrs has not been systematically investigated. This study was designed to assess and compare the effects of spirometry maneuvers on Zrs, as measured by oscillometry, in adult patients with obstructive airway diseases (group I) versus those presenting with respiratory symptoms but without airflow obstruction on spirometry (group II).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All participants underwent oscillometry assessments both before and immediately following spirometry. Paired t-tests and unpaired t-tests were conducted to compare differences within and between groups, respectively. Bland-Altman plots were utilized to display the percentage change in Zrs parameters against the mean, along with the limits of agreement (LoA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this cross-sectional study, 166 patients were enrolled (53% male), with a mean age of 40.4 years. Group I accounted for 62% of cases, while group II composed 38%. Patients in group I demonstrated greater impairment in both spirometry and Zrs parameters. Nearly all patients experienced changes in Zrs after spirometry compared to pre-spirometry values, regardless of group assignment. Except for R5 in group I, statistically significant paired differences in Zrs parameters were not observed between pre- and post-spirometry in either group. The cohort demonstrated mean biases between pre- and post-spirometry as follows: R5 4.6% (LoA: -44.8%, 54%); X5 5.8% (LoA: -69.5%, 81.2%); AX 4.3% (LoA: -93.9%,102.6%); and Fres 0.5% (LoA: -30.8%, 31.8%). The broad and random LoA reflect marked inter-individual variability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Spirometry maneuvers cause fluctuations in Zrs parameters, especially in R5. Oscillometry performed after spirometry may cause clinically meaningful changes in Zrs parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"94-101"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784125/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145550952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biologic Therapies in Severe Asthma and Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: Targeted Therapy and Personalized Care.","authors":"Sang Hyuk Kim","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0131","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biologic agents have revolutionized severe asthma management by supporting biomarker‑driven approaches. Five monoclonal antibodies-omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, and dupilumab-are in widespread use, while the recently approved tezepelumab, an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin, broadens therapeutic possibilities to encompass the type 2 inflammation‑low phenotype. Although biologics have become more accessible, clinicians frequently encounter difficulties in choosing the most appropriate initial biologic therapy. This review describes real‑world cases that demonstrate phenotype‑guided selection of biologics for individuals with asthma or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Additionally, current advances in biologic therapies are examined regarding their capacity to improve both accessibility and clinical efficacy. Moving forward, the integration of emerging evidence with patient-specific factors could further promote disease modification in the management of severe asthma.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784131/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145293712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joon Young Choi, Jung Hur, Yong Suk Jo, Chin Kook Rhee
{"title":"Impact of Microplastic Exposure on Airway Inflammation in an Acute Asthma Murine Model.","authors":"Joon Young Choi, Jung Hur, Yong Suk Jo, Chin Kook Rhee","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0091","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Widely distributed in the environment, microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as potential respiratory hazards. While several studies suggest their role in worsening allergic airway diseases, findings remain inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the immunologic effects of repeated MP exposure in an acute murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Female BALB/c mice were assigned to four groups: control with vehicle, control with MPs, OVA-sensitized with vehicle, and OVA-sensitized with MPs. An acute asthma model was established by sensitizing and challenging mice with OVA. Spherical polystyrene MPs of 1-5 μm were administered intranasally at 300 μg daily from day 0 to 21. Lung inflammation was assessed via bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) analysis, histopathology, cytokine measurements, and macrophage polarization by immunofluorescence.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MP exposure did not exacerbate allergic inflammation in OVA-sensitized mice. Instead, it led to reduced eosinophilic infiltration and lower levels of interleukin 5 (IL-5) and IL-13, compared to vehicle-treated OVA mice. In contrast, MP exposure in control mice increased tumor necrosis factor-α and decreased interferon-γ levels, upregulated epithelial alarmins (IL-25 and IL-33), and elevated inflammation scores. Alarmin levels, including IL-25 and IL-33, were elevated by MP exposure in control mice, whereas no significant differences were observed between vehicle- and MP-treated mice in the OVA-sensitized group. Macrophage analysis showed a shift toward M1 polarization only in control mice.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While MP exposure aggravated inflammatory responses in healthy lungs, it did not exacerbate airway inflammation in asthmatic mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"29-37"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784119/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145355729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ali Chour, David Laville, Benjamin Chappuy, Nicolas Marc
{"title":"Aspergilloma Presenting as Endobronchial Mass.","authors":"Ali Chour, David Laville, Benjamin Chappuy, Nicolas Marc","doi":"10.4046/trd.2025.0117","DOIUrl":"10.4046/trd.2025.0117","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23368,"journal":{"name":"Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"117-119"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784121/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145030630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}