{"title":"Clinical Effectiveness of Ritonavir-Boosted Nirmatrelvir-A Literature Review.","authors":"Sydney Paltra, Tim O F Conrad","doi":"10.3390/arm92010009","DOIUrl":"10.3390/arm92010009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir is an oral treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19 cases with a high risk for a severe course of the disease. For this paper, a comprehensive literature review was performed, leading to a summary of currently available data on Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir's ability to reduce the risk of progressing to a severe disease state. Herein, the focus lies on publications that include comparisons between patients receiving Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir and a control group. The findings can be summarized as follows: Data from the time when the Delta-variant was dominant show that Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 88.9% for unvaccinated, non-hospitalized high-risk individuals. Data from the time when the Omicron variant was dominant found decreased relative risk reductions for various vaccination statuses: between 26% and 65% for hospitalization. The presented papers that differentiate between unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals agree that unvaccinated patients benefit more from treatment with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir. However, when it comes to the dependency of potential on age and comorbidities, further studies are necessary. From the available data, one can conclude that Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir cannot substitute vaccinations; however, its low manufacturing cost and easy administration make it a valuable tool in fighting COVID-19, especially for countries with low vaccination rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"92 1","pages":"66-76"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10801539/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139511565","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":"Breathing Pattern Response after 6 Weeks of Inspiratory Muscle Training during Exercise.","authors":"Eduardo Salazar-Martínez","doi":"10.3390/arm92010008","DOIUrl":"10.3390/arm92010008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: The breathing pattern is defined as the relationship between the tidal volume (VT) and breathing frequency (BF) for a given VE. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether inspiratory muscle training influenced the response of the breathing pattern during an incremental effort in amateur cyclists. (2) Methods: Eighteen amateur cyclists completed an incremental test to exhaustion, and a gas analysis on a cycle ergometer and spirometry were conducted. Cyclists were randomly assigned to two groups (IMTG = 9; CON = 9). The IMTG completed 6 weeks of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) using a PowerBreathe K3<sup>®</sup> device at 50% of the maximum inspiratory pressure (Pimax). The workload was adjusted weekly. The CON did not carry out any inspiratory training during the experimental period. After the 6-week intervention, the cyclists repeated the incremental exercise test, and the gas analysis and spirometry were conducted. The response of the breathing pattern was evaluated during the incremental exercise test. (3) Results: The Pimax increased in the IMTG (<i>p</i> < 0.05; d = 3.1; +19.62%). Variables related to the breathing pattern response showed no differences between groups after the intervention (EXPvsCON; <i>p</i> > 0.05). Likewise, no differences in breathing pattern were found in the IMTG after training (PREvsPOST; <i>p</i> > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: IMT improved the strength of inspiratory muscles and sport performance in amateur cyclists. These changes were not attributed to alterations in the response of the breathing pattern.</p>","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"92 1","pages":"58-65"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10801573/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139511563","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}
Joanna Pepke-Zaba, Luke Howard, D. Kiely, Shruti Sweeney, Martin Johnson
{"title":"Pulmonary Embolism (PE) to Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Disease (CTEPD): Findings from a Survey of UK Physicians","authors":"Joanna Pepke-Zaba, Luke Howard, D. Kiely, Shruti Sweeney, Martin Johnson","doi":"10.3390/arm92010007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/arm92010007","url":null,"abstract":"Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) is a complication of pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted an online survey of UK PE-treating physicians to understand practices in the follow-up of PE and awareness of CTEPD. The physicians surveyed (N = 175) included 50 each from cardiology, respiratory and internal medicine, plus 25 haematologists. Most (89%) participants had local guidelines for PE management, and 65% reported a PE follow-up clinic, of which 69% were joint clinics. Almost half (47%) had a protocol for the investigation of CTEPD. According to participants, 129 (74%) routinely consider a diagnosis of CTEPD and 97 (55%) routinely investigate for CTEPD, with 76% of those 97 participants investigating in patients who are symptomatic at 3 months and 22% investigating in all patients. This survey demonstrated variability in the follow-up of PE and the awareness of CTEPD and its investigation. The findings support the conduct of a national audit to understand the barriers to the timely detection of CTEPD.","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139444100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Predictive Value of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) in the Diagnosis of Asthma for Epidemiological Purposes—An 8-Year Follow-Up Study","authors":"K. Barański","doi":"10.3390/arm92010006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/arm92010006","url":null,"abstract":"At the population level, respiratory symptoms in children can be estimated cross-sectionally. However, such methods require additional objective support parameters, such as the measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). The aim of the present study was to analyze if the FeNO value measured at baseline can have a predictive value for asthma-like symptoms after 8 years of measurement. Methods: The follow-up included 128 (out of 447) children, 70 girls and 58 boys. The FeNO was measured at baseline only. The prevalence of asthma-like symptoms was measured with the adopted version of the ISAAC questionnaire. Results: After 8 years of FeNO measurement, 5 new cases of asthma, 2 cases of attacks of dyspnoea, 1 case of wheezy in the chest, and 18 cases of allergic rhinitis occurred. The FeNO values, measured at the baseline of the study, for new cases of the above diseases were 53.4 ± 75.9 ppb, 11 ± 1.5 ppb, 12.0 ppb, and 16.3 ± 12.4 ppb, respectively. The best diagnostic accuracy parameters were found in the new cases of asthma, where the sensitivity was 40.0%, the specificity was 98.6%, and the AUC was 66.6%. The diagnostic odds ratio was 46.9 when considering the FeNO cut-off >35 ppb. Conclusions: The FeNO measurement is a fair method for asthma prognosis in early school-aged children with asthma-like symptoms measured on the population level but requires further confirmation at the clinical level with more accurate diagnostic tools.","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"2 24","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139386031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Judith Heiss, K. Grün, I. Singerer, L. Tempel, M. Matasci, Christian Jung, Alexander Pfeil, P. C. Schulze, Dario Neri, Marcus Franz
{"title":"Expression of Inflammatory Genes in Murine Lungs in a Model of Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension: Effects of an Antibody-Based Targeted Delivery of Interleukin-9","authors":"Judith Heiss, K. Grün, I. Singerer, L. Tempel, M. Matasci, Christian Jung, Alexander Pfeil, P. C. Schulze, Dario Neri, Marcus Franz","doi":"10.3390/arm92010005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/arm92010005","url":null,"abstract":"Background: Pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a multifactorial process driven by inflammation and pulmonary vascular remodeling. To target these two aspects of PH, we recently tested a novel treatment: Interleukin-9 (IL9) fused to F8, an antibody that binds to the extra-domain A of fibronectin (EDA+ Fn). As EDA+ Fn is not found in healthy adult tissue but is expressed during PH, IL9 is delivered specifically to the tissue affected by PH. We found that F8IL9 reduced pulmonary vascular remodeling and attenuated PH compared with sham-treated mice. Purpose: To evaluate possible F8IL9 effects on PH-associated inflammatory processes, we analysed the expression of genes involved in pulmonary immune responses. Methods: We applied the monocrotaline (MCT) model of PH in mice (n = 44). Animals were divided into five experimental groups: sham-induced animals without PH (control, n = 4), MCT-induced PH without treatment (PH, n = 8), dual endothelin receptor antagonist treatment (dual ERA, n = 8), F8IL9 treatment (n = 12, 2 formats with n = 6 each), or with KSFIL9 treatment (KSFIL9, n = 12, 2 formats with n = 6 each, KSF: control antibody with irrelevant antigen specificity). After 28 days, a RT-PCR gene expression analysis of inflammatory response (84 genes) was performed in the lung. Results: Compared with the controls, 19 genes exhibited relevant (+2.5-fold) upregulation in the PH group without treatment. Gene expression levels in F8IL9-treated lung tissue were reduced compared to the PH group without treatment. This was the case especially for CCL20, CXCL5, C-reactive protein, pentraxin related (CRPPR), and Kininogen-1 (KNG1). Conclusion: In accordance with the hypothesis stated above, F8IL9 treatment diminished the upregulation of some genes associated with inflammation in a PH animal model. Therefore, we hypothesize that IL9-based immunocytokine treatment will likely modulate various inflammatory pathways.","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2024-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139451116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Irini Patsaki, Vasiliki Avgeri, Theodora Rigoulia, Theodoros Zekis, G. Koumantakis, E. Grammatopoulou
{"title":"Reply to Salimi, M. Comment on “Patsaki et al. Benefits from Incorporating Virtual Reality in Pulmonary Rehabilitation of COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Adv. Respir. Med. 2023, 91, 324–336”","authors":"Irini Patsaki, Vasiliki Avgeri, Theodora Rigoulia, Theodoros Zekis, G. Koumantakis, E. Grammatopoulou","doi":"10.3390/arm92010004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/arm92010004","url":null,"abstract":"We are writing in response to the comment [...]","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"1 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138944412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
O. Freund, Yitzhac Hadad, Tomer Lagziel, I. Friedman Regev, E. Kleinhendler, A. Unterman, A. Bar-Shai, T. Perluk
{"title":"The Added Value of Bronchoalveolar Lavage for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosis in High-Risk Hospitalized Patients with Negative Sputum Samples","authors":"O. Freund, Yitzhac Hadad, Tomer Lagziel, I. Friedman Regev, E. Kleinhendler, A. Unterman, A. Bar-Shai, T. Perluk","doi":"10.3390/arm92010003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/arm92010003","url":null,"abstract":"Hospitalized patients with a high suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis (HS-PTB) are isolated until a definite diagnosis can be determined. If doubt remains after negative sputum samples, bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is often sought. Still, evidence of the added value of BAL in this patient population is scarce. To address this issue, we included consecutive HS-PTB patients with negative sputum samples who underwent BAL between 2017 and 2018. Chest X-rays (CXR) and CT scans were evaluated by a chest radiologist blind to the final diagnosis. Independent predictors for PTB were assessed by multivariate regression, using all positive PTB patients between 2017 and 2019 (by sputum or BAL) as a control group (n = 41). Overall, 42 HS-PTB patients were included (mean age 51 ± 9, 36% female). BAL was a viable diagnostic for PTB in three (7%) cases and for other clinically relevant pathogens in six (14%). Independent predictors for PTB were ≥2 sub-acute symptoms (adjusted OR 3.18, 95% CI 1.04–9.8), CXR upper-lobe consolidation (AOR 8.70, 95% CI 2.5–29), and centrilobular nodules in chest CT (AOR 3.96, 95% CI 1.20–13.0, p = 0.02). In conclusion, bronchoscopy with BAL in hospitalized patients with HS-PTB had a 7% added diagnostic value after negative sputum samples. Our findings highlight specific predictors for PTB diagnosis that could be used in future controlled studies to personalize the diagnostic evaluation.","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"54 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138948673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comment on Patsaki et al. Benefits from Incorporating Virtual Reality in Pulmonary Rehabilitation of COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Adv. Respir. Med. 2023, 91, 324–336","authors":"Mostafa Salimi","doi":"10.3390/arm92010002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/arm92010002","url":null,"abstract":"I am writing this comment regarding the review article by Patsaki et al. titled “Benefits from Incorporating Virtual Reality in Pulmonary Rehabilitation of COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” [...]","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"81 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139170995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pascale Lafortune, K. Zahid, M. Ploszaj, Emilio Awadalla, Tomás P. Carroll, P. Geraghty
{"title":"Testing Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in Black Populations","authors":"Pascale Lafortune, K. Zahid, M. Ploszaj, Emilio Awadalla, Tomás P. Carroll, P. Geraghty","doi":"10.3390/arm92010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/arm92010001","url":null,"abstract":"Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (AATD) is an under-recognized hereditary disorder and a significant cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a disease that contributes to global mortality. AAT is encoded by the SERPINA1 gene, and severe mutation variants of this gene increase the risk of developing COPD. AATD is more frequently screened for in non-Hispanic White populations. However, AATD is also observed in other ethnic groups and very few studies have documented the mutation frequency in these other ethnic populations. Here, we review the current literature on AATD and allele frequency primarily in Black populations and discuss the possible clinical outcomes of low screening rates in a population that experiences poor health outcomes and whether the low frequency of AATD is related to a lack of screening in this population or a truly low frequency of mutations causing AATD. This review also outlines the harmful SERPINA1 variants, the current epidemiology knowledge of AATD, health inequity in Black populations, AATD prevalence in Black populations, the clinical implications of low screening of AATD in this population, and the possible dangers of not diagnosing or treating AATD.","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":" 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138963126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ahmed Ehab, Axel T Kempa, Harald Englert, Shaza Almasri Bittar, Aida M Yousef, Heba Wagih Abdelwahab
{"title":"The Baveno Classification as a Predictor of CPAP Titration Pressure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.","authors":"Ahmed Ehab, Axel T Kempa, Harald Englert, Shaza Almasri Bittar, Aida M Yousef, Heba Wagih Abdelwahab","doi":"10.3390/arm91060042","DOIUrl":"10.3390/arm91060042","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a clinical condition characterised by repeated periods of partial or full obstruction of airflow throughout sleep, with impairment of the quality of life and increased mortality with socioeconomic impacts. CPAP therapy is a simple and effective treatment option for OSAS patients. To overcome the clinical and prognostic limitations of AHI-as a sole index of OSAS-the Baveno classification was recently set out and introduced into clinical practice. This study aims to analyse the effect of the Baveno classification on the optimum CPAP titration pressure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis of the records of sleep studies in two centres between 2018 and 2021 was carried out. Patients diagnosed with OSAS and recruited for CPAP titration were included. Based on the Baveno classification, the patients were categorised into four groups (A, B, C, and D).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Consequently, 700 patients were analysed and 427 patients were included. A significant positive correlation was detected between the CPAP optimum titration pressure and OSAS severity, neck circumference, the oxygen desaturation index (ODI), mean oxygen saturation, the AHI, the BMI, and cumulative sleep time when the SpO<sub>2</sub> was <90% (T90) on the other side (<i>p</i>: <0.0001). A non-significant correlation was seen between the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), symptom severity, end organ impact, and Baveno classification of the CPAP optimum titration pressure (<i>p</i>: 0.8, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.7, respectively).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Baveno classification is not useful in the prediction of CPAP optimum titration pressure. However, the ODI and neck circumference were significant independent predictors of a higher CPAP titration pressure.</p>","PeriodicalId":7391,"journal":{"name":"Advances in respiratory medicine","volume":"91 6","pages":"571-579"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10740694/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138827596","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}