Prevalence of a decreased FEV3/FEV6 ratio in symptomatic smokers with preserved lung function.

Background: The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 3 seconds to forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV3/FEV6) has been proposed as an index of peripheral airway disease, and could be decreased in patients at risk for COPD. However, the prevalence of FEV3/FEV6 decrease has never been assessed in patients attending a pneumology clinic. Here we set out to assess the prevalence of a decreased FEV3/FEV6 in smokers with symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and to test its predictive value for COPD diagnosis.

Nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B as maintenance therapy in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: a randomised, multicentre trial.

Background: In allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), prolonged nebulised antifungal treatment may be a strategy for maintaining remission.

Methods: We performed a randomised, single-blind, clinical trial in 30 centres. Patients with controlled ABPA after 4-month attack treatment (corticosteroids and itraconazole) were randomly assigned to nebulised liposomal amphotericin-B or placebo for 6 months.

Outdoor Mold and Respiratory Health: State of Science of Epidemiological Studies.

Background: Fungal spores are the predominant biological particulates in outdoor air. However, in contrast to pollens or outdoor air pollution, little is known about their respiratory health risks.

Objectives: The objectives were to conduct the first review of epidemiological studies on the short- and long-term effects of outdoor mold exposure on respiratory health in children and adults.

Retrospective Study of the Upsurge of Enterovirus D68 Clade D1 among Adults (2014-2018).

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has emerged as an agent of epidemic respiratory illness and acute flaccid myelitis in the paediatric population but data are lacking in adult patients. We performed a 4.5-year single-centre retrospective study of all patients who tested positive for EV-D68 and analysed full-length EV-D68 genomes of the predominant clades B3 and D1.

Burden and Characteristics of Severe Chronic Hypoxemia in a Real-World Cohort of Subjects with COPD.

Background: Chronic respiratory failure may occur as a consequence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Hypoxemia is determined by underlying disease characteristics and comorbidities. Severe hypoxemia is typically only found in subjects with severe airflow obstruction (FEV<50% predicted).

NHP2 deficiency impairs rRNA biogenesis and causes pulmonary fibrosis and Høyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome.

Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures at the end of chromosomes. The telomerase complex, constituted of the catalytic subunit TERT, the RNA matrix hTR and several cofactors, including the H/ACA box ribonucleoproteins Dyskerin, NOP10, GAR1, NAF1 and NHP2, regulates telomere length. In humans, inherited defects in telomere length maintenance are responsible for a wide spectrum of clinical premature aging manifestations including pulmonary fibrosis (PF), dyskeratosis congenita (DC), bone marrow failure and predisposition to cancer.

A TUG Value Longer Than 11 s Predicts Fall Risk at 6-Month in Individuals with COPD.

Risk of a fall is increased in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is usually evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), but this is difficult to perform in everyday clinical practice. We aimed to prospectively predict short-term fall recurrence in COPD patients using a predetermined cut-off value of the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). In stable COPD patients, we collected self-reported records of the number of falls in the previous year, and measured TUG and BBS scores for each individual.

Indoor exposure to particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in dwellings and workplaces and respiratory health in French farmers.

Introduction: Few investigations have related objective assessments of indoor air pollutants to respiratory health in farmers, in spite of the many rural environmental hazards to which they are exposed. Chemical air pollution has been particularly neglected.

Objective: We investigated the relationships of indoor exposure to particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to respiratory health in farmers.

Relationship between gender and survival in a real-life cohort of patients with COPD.

Background: Although COPD affects both men and women, its prevalence is increasing more rapidly in women. Disease outcomes appear different among women with more frequent dyspnea and anxiety or depression but whether this translates into a different prognosis remains to be determined. Our aim was to assess whether the greater clinical impact of COPD in women was associated with differences in 3-year mortality rates.

Exposure to Cypress Pollens and Subsequent Symptoms: A Panel Study.

Objective: The objective of this panel study was to document the relationship between exposure to cypress pollen and allergic symptoms.

Methods: The study group included 47 patients with allergy to cypress pollen who completed a daily diary and a weekly evaluation of quality of life (QoL) during the cypress pollen season. Different patients were included in three consecutive pollen seasons: 2014-2015, 2015-2016, and 2016-2017.

Predictors in routine practice of 6-min walking distance and oxygen desaturation in patients with COPD: impact of comorbidities.

The 6-min walk test (6MWT) allows exercise tolerance to be assessed, and it has a significant prognostic value in COPD. The goal of this study was to analyse the determinants (obtained in routine practice) of a low 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and exercise-induced desaturation (EID) in COPD, including comorbidities. Patients were recruited from the real-life French COPD cohort "Initiatives BPCO".

Indoor mould exposure, asthma and rhinitis: findings from systematic reviews and recent longitudinal studies.

Starting from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and World Health Organization (WHO) reports, this review provides an overview of the literature published from 2006 to 2017 on the associations between indoor mould exposure and asthma and rhinitis separately in children and adults with a focus on longitudinal epidemiological studies.A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature was performed, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, longitudinal, incident case-control and panel studies. 61 publications were identified reporting visible mould or mould odour or quantitative assessment of culturable fungi or mould species.

Relationship between blood eosinophils, clinical characteristics, and mortality in patients with COPD.

In patients with COPD, there is controversy regarding the association of blood eosinophil (Eos) levels with 1) exacerbation frequency and 2) the effect of inhaled corticosteroids for prevention of exacerbations. To determine whether Eos define subgroups of patients exhibiting attributes of COPD clinical phenotypes, we compared clinical features and mortality rates in COPD patients from the Initiatives BPCO French cohort categorized using different thresholds of blood Eos levels. The following data were collected at inclusion: medical and smoking history, occupational exposures, dyspnea, cough and sputum production, exacerbations in the previous year, history of allergy and asthma, nasal symptoms, body mass index, St George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score, post-bronchodilator spirometry, comorbidities, and medications.

Climate and Allergic Sensitization to Airborne Allergens in the General Population: Data from the French Six Cities Study.

Background: The results of international epidemiological surveys show large geographical variations in skin test reactivity but do not provide a rationale for such variations.

Objective: To assess the relationship between climate and allergic sensitization in schoolchildren.

Methods: In the present study, we analyzed data from a multicenter, epidemiological survey that included 6,461 schoolchildren, aged 9-11 years, living in 6 French cities scattered around France.

Changes in body mass index during childhood and risk of various asthma phenotypes: a retrospective analysis.

Background: It is known that asthma is related to obesity but also to small birthweight. The objective of this study was to clarify this issue by assessing the putative relationship between the changes in corpulence between birth and childhood as assessed by body mass index (BMI) and asthma phenotypes.

Methods: The following status in corpulence was assessed in 7781 schoolchildren using quartile of BMI at birth and at around 10 (9-11 years): underweight at birth and at around 10, underweight at birth and overweight at around 10, overweight at birth and underweight at around 10, overweight at birth and at around 10, and the reference group constituted by all the other children in whom corpulence changes were not extreme.

Impact of current cough on health-related quality of life in patients with COPD.

Background: Cough and sputum production are frequent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cough and sputum production and health-related quality of life in COPD.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the French Initiatives COPD cohort and assessed cough and sputum production within the past 7 days using the cough and sputum assessment questionnaire (CASA-Q), health-related quality of life, spirometry, smoking status, dyspnea, exacerbations, anxiety and depression, and comorbidities.

Identification of Antigenic Proteins from Lichtheimia corymbifera for Farmer's Lung Disease Diagnosis.

The use of recombinant antigens has been shown to improve both the sensitivity and the standardization of the serological diagnosis of Farmer's lung disease (FLD). The aim of this study was to complete the panel of recombinant antigens available for FLD serodiagnosis with antigens of Lichtheimia corymbifera, known to be involved in FLD. L.

Prevalence and association of asthma and allergic sensitization with dietary factors in schoolchildren: data from the french six cities study.

Background: The prevalence of asthma and allergy has recently risen among children. This increase in prevalence might be related to various factors, particularly diet. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and association of asthma and allergic sensitization with dietary factors in the French Six Cities Study.

Correction: Postnatal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Related to Behavioral Problems in Children.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Modified Medical Research Council scale vs Baseline Dyspnea Index to evaluate dyspnea in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Assessment of dyspnea in COPD patients relies in clinical practice on the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, whereas the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI) is mainly used in clinical trials. Little is known on the correspondence between the two methods.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was carried out on data from the French COPD cohort Initiatives BPCO.

Postnatal Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Related to Behavioral Problems in Children.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between pre and post environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and behavioral problems in schoolchildren.

Methods: In the cross-sectional 6 cities Study conducted in France, 5221 primary school children were investigated. Pre- and postnatal exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke at home was assessed using a parent questionnaire.