Associations between life-course FEV/FVC trajectories and respiratory symptoms up to middle age: analysis of data from two prospective cohort studies.

Background: Life-course lung function trajectories leading to airflow obstruction, as measured by impaired FEV/FVC (forced vital capacity), precede the onset of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to investigate whether individuals on impaired FEV/FVC trajectories have an increased burden of respiratory symptoms, including those who do not meet the spirometric criteria for COPD.

Methods: We analysed serial life-course data from two population-based cohort studies separately, which included respiratory symptoms and spirometry: the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS, Australia) cohort was recruited at age 6-7 years and followed up until middle age (mean age 53 years; range 51-55); and the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA, USA) cohort was recruited at a mean age of 25 years (range 18-30) and followed up to a mean age of 55 years (range 47-64).

Impaired diffusing capacity and COPD incidence in adults with symptoms and normal spirometry.

Background: Impaired diffusing capacity of the lung (DLCO) in the absence of post-bronchodilator (BD) airflow obstruction has been proposed as a marker of 'Pre-COPD'. However, the relationship between impaired DLCO and subsequent lung function decline and COPD incidence has not been examined in-depth.

Methods: We conducted an observational study of adults aged between 40 and 70 years who were evaluated at a multi-centre lung function laboratory in Australia between 2014 and 2024.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium in a young male with asthma.

Introduction: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumopericardium is an uncommon clinical entity.

Case Study: Here, we report the case of a 23-year-old male with asthma who presented with acute chest pain and shortness of breath after an episode of coughing and sneezing. CT scans of the chest and neck revealed pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium with extensive subcutaneous emphysema extending into the axilla and neck.

Investigating the Association Between Dynamic Driving Pressure and Mortality in COVID-19-Related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Joint Modeling Approach Using Real-Time Continuously-Monitored Ventilation Data.

Importance And Objectives: COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high mortality and often necessitates invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Previous studies on non-COVID-19 ARDS have shown driving pressure to be robustly associated with ICU mortality; however, those studies relied on "static" driving pressure measured periodically and manually. As "continuous" automatically monitored driving pressure is becoming increasingly available and reliable with more advanced mechanical ventilators, we aimed to examine the effect of this "dynamic" driving pressure in COVID-19 ARDS throughout the entire ventilation period.

Association of body temperature and mortality in critically ill patients: an observational study using two large databases.

Background: Body temperature (BT) is routinely measured and can be controlled in critical care settings. BT can impact patient outcome, but the relationship between BT and mortality has not been well-established.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the MIMIC-IV (N = 43,537) and eICU (N = 75,184) datasets.

Inhaled corticosteroids with combination inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly involves a combination of long-acting bronchodilators including beta2-agonists (LABA) and muscarinic antagonists (LAMA). LABA and LAMA bronchodilators are now available in single-combination inhalers. In individuals with persistent symptoms or frequent exacerbations, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are also used with combination LABA and LAMA inhalers.

Longitudinal Asthma Phenotypes from Childhood to Middle-Age: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Asthma is a heterogeneous condition, and longitudinal phenotyping may provide new insights into the origins and outcomes of the disease. We aimed to characterize the longitudinal phenotypes of asthma between the first and sixth decades of life in a population-based cohort study. Respiratory questionnaires were collected at seven time points in the TAHS (Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study) when participants were aged 7, 13, 18, 32, 43, 50, and 53 years.

Biomarkers of asthma relapse and lung function decline in adults with spontaneous asthma remission: A population-based cohort study.

Background: The extent to which biomarkers of asthma activity persist in spontaneous asthma remission and whether such markers are associated with future respiratory outcomes remained unclear. We investigated the association between sub-clinical inflammation in adults with spontaneous asthma remission and future asthma relapse and lung function decline.

Methods: The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study is a population-based cohort (n = 8583).

Using the radiocoronoid line for diagnosis of elbow dislocation.

The radiocapitellar line (RCL) has been widely used to diagnose elbow dislocation. However, there are limitations to the RCL, with the cartilaginous portion of bone making interpretation of radiographs difficult. The study aims to show that the radiocoronoid line, which connects two points on the medial aspect of the radius, proximal to the radial tuberosity, is more suited to diagnose elbow dislocations in the anterior-posterior projection.

Bronchodilator reversibility as a diagnostic test for adult asthma: findings from the population-based Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study.

Bronchodilator reversibility (BDR) is often used as a diagnostic test for adult asthma. However, there has been limited assessment of its diagnostic utility. We aimed to determine the discriminatory accuracy of common BDR cut-offs in the context of current asthma and asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) in a middle-aged community sample.

Does the use of inhaled corticosteroids in asthma benefit lung function in the long-term? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

While asthma is known to be associated with an increased risk of progressive lung function impairments and fixed airflow obstruction, there is ongoing debate on whether inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) modify these long-term risks. Searches were performed of the PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL databases up to 22 July 2019 for studies with follow-up ≥1 year that investigated the effects of maintenance ICS on changes in lung function in asthma.Inclusion criteria were met by 13 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (n=11 678) and 11 observational studies (n=3720).

Intron retention is a robust marker of intertumoral heterogeneity in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with a 5-year survival rate of <8%. Unsupervised clustering of 76 PDAC patients based on intron retention (IR) events resulted in two clusters of tumors (IR-1 and IR-2). While gene expression-based clusters are not predictive of patient outcome in this cohort, the clusters we developed based on intron retention were associated with differences in progression-free interval.

Non-pharmacological management of adult asthma in Australia: cross-sectional analysis of a population-based cohort study.

: To identify the level of non-pharmacological care received by middle-aged adults with current asthma in Australia and to identify its association with clinical measures. : The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) is a population-based cohort first studied in 1968 ( = 8583). In 2010, when participants were aged 49 years, a stratified sample enriched for asthma and bronchitis underwent clinical assessments including respiratory questionnaires and lung function testing ( = 836).

Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Current guidelines recommend that patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be treated with systemic corticosteroid for seven to 14 days. Intermittent systemic corticosteroid use is cumulatively associated with adverse effects such as osteoporosis, hyperglycaemia and muscle weakness. Shorter treatment could reduce adverse effects.

Inhaled corticosteroids with combination inhaled long-acting beta-agonists and long-acting muscarinic antagonists for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly involves long-acting bronchodilators including beta-agonists (LABA) and muscarinic antagonists (LAMA). In individuals with persistent symptoms or frequent exacerbations, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are also used. LABA and LAMA bronchodilators are now available in single combination inhalers.

Clinical and functional differences between early-onset and late-onset adult asthma: a population-based Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study.

Background: Differences between early-onset and late-onset adult asthma have not been comprehensively described using prospective data.

Aims: To characterise the differences between early-onset and late-onset asthma in a longitudinal cohort study.

Methods: The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) is a population-based cohort.

Age-of-asthma onset as a determinant of different asthma phenotypes in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

Age-of-asthma onset is often used to distinguish different adult asthma phenotypes; however, similarities and differences between early- and late-onset adult asthma have not been summarized to date. Of the 2921 records found, we identified 12 studies comparing early- and late-onset current asthma in adults. Age 12 was most commonly used to delineate the two age-of-onset phenotypes.

Different durations of corticosteroid therapy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Current guidelines recommend that patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be treated with systemic corticosteroid for seven to 14 days. Intermittent systemic corticosteroid use is cumulatively associated with adverse effects such as osteoporosis, hyperglycaemia and muscle weakness. Shorter treatment could reduce adverse effects.

Systemic corticosteroids for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are a major cause of hospital admission and mortality. They contribute to long-term decline in lung function, physical capacity and quality of life. The most common causes are infective, and treatment includes antibiotics, bronchodilators and systemic corticosteroids as anti-inflammatory agents.