Single and multiple breath nitrogen washout compared with the methacholine test in patients with suspected asthma and normal spirometry.

Background: Methods used to assess ventilation heterogeneity through inert gas washout have been standardised and showed high sensitivity in diagnosing many respiratory diseases. We hypothesised that nitrogen single or multiple breath washout tests, respectively nitrogen single breath washout (NSBW) and nitrogen multiple breath washout (NMBW), may be pathological in patients with clinical suspicion of asthma but normal spirometry. Our aim was to assess whether NSBW and NMBW are associated with methacholine challenge test (MCT) results in this population.

Impact of bronchoalveolar lavage on the management of immunocompromised hosts.

Background: Respiratory infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is an important tool to detect infectious agents in immunocompromised patients with low respiratory tract infections (LRTI).

Research Question: BAL changes the management of immunocompromised patients with suspected LRTI.

Peripheral arterial tonometry versus polysomnography in suspected obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background: Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Home sleep apnoea testing with peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) is a recommended diagnostic alternative for patients with an increased risk for OSA. In a large clinical cohort, we investigated concordance and predictors for discordance in diagnosing OSA using PAT and PSG, and three-year cardiovascular risk in patients with discordant OSA diagnosis.

Variability of fractional exhaled nitric oxide is associated with the risk and aetiology of COPD exacerbations.

Background And Objective: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are heterogeneous in aetiology and accelerate disease progression. Here, we aimed to investigate the association of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and its variability with AECOPD of different aetiology.

Methods: FeNO was determined in 2157 visits (1697 stable, 133 AECOPD and 327 follow-up) of 421 COPD patients from the PREVENT study, an investigator-initiated, longitudinal and interventional study, who were on daily treatment with inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β2-agonists.

Fast multiplex bacterial PCR of bronchoalveolar lavage for antibiotic stewardship in hospitalised patients with pneumonia at risk of Gram-negative bacterial infection (Flagship II): a multicentre, randomised controlled trial.

Background: PCR-based testing has transformed the management of suspected respiratory viral infections. We aimed to determine whether multiplex bacterial PCR of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid aids antibiotic stewardship in patients with pneumonia.

Methods: This investigator-initiated, multicentre, randomised controlled trial was conducted at two tertiary care centres in Switzerland (University Hospital of Basel and Kantonsspital St Gallen).

Multiplex bacterial PCR in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of non-intubated patients with suspected pulmonary infection: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Early pathogen identification in pulmonary infection is crucial to guide antibacterial therapy and decrease length of hospital stay. We hypothesise that compared to conventional diagnostic methods, a multiplex bacterial polymerase chain reaction assay has a higher diagnostic yield in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and improved clinical outcomes in patients with suspicion of pulmonary infection.

Methods: A prospective, monocentric, quasi-experimental, observational study was carried out.

Exercise capacity impairment after COVID-19 pneumonia is mainly caused by deconditioning.

https://bit.ly/2XVvr6C

Secreted heat shock proteins control airway remodeling: Evidence from bronchial thermoplasty.

Background: Increased airway smooth muscle mass is a key pathology in asthma. Bronchial thermoplasty is a treatment for severe asthma based on selective heating of the airways that aims to reduce the mass of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), and thereby bronchoconstriction. However, short heat exposure is insufficient to explain the long-lasting effect, and heat shock proteins (HSPs) have been suggested to play a role.

Oxygen desaturation during flexible bronchoscopy with propofol sedation is associated with sleep apnea: the PROSA-Study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repetitive episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airways during sleep. Conscious sedation for flexible bronchoscopy (FB) places patients in a sleep-like condition. We hypothesize that oxygen desaturation during flexible bronchoscopy may help to detect undiagnosed sleep apnea.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a multi-centre study.

Reflux of gastric content has been associated with recurrent exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to assess the prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in COPD and if LPR is a contributing factor to clinically relevant outcomes in COPD. We evaluated a total of 193 COPD patients (GOLD I-IV) with a 24-h laryngo-pharyngeal pΗ-monitor.

Endothelial dysfunction is not a predictor of outcome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Local airway inflammation may cause systemic changes which result in endothelial dysfunction. Only a few studies have used reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in order to measure their endothelial dysfunction.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of endothelial dysfunction, measured by RH-PAT, in assessing disease severity and systemic burden in a cohort of COPD patients.

Multiplex bacterial polymerase chain reaction in a cohort of patients with pleural effusion.

Background: The identification of the pathogens in pleural effusion has mainly relied on conventional bacterial culture or single species polymerase chain reaction (PCR), both with relatively low sensitivity. We investigated the efficacy of a commercially available multiplex bacterial PCR assay developed for pneumonia to identify the pathogens involved in pleural infection, particularly empyema.

Methods: A prospective, monocentric, observational study including 194 patients with pleural effusion.

Does trumpet playing affect lung function?-A case-control study.

Objectives: The effect a wind instrument has on lung function is a much-discussed topic with inconclusive data, not least because existing studies combine all wind instruments as one entity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of playing a trumpet/cornet/flugelhorn on lung function.

Methods: A prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional, case-control study.

Stability of the Blood Eosinophilic Phenotype in Stable and Exacerbated COPD.

Background: There is controversy regarding the use of blood eosinophil levels as a biomarker of exacerbation risk and responsiveness of patients to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

Methods: Patients in stable COPD with Gold Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease airflow obstruction grades II to IV were enrolled in an observational multicenter trial. Concordance was defined as blood eosinophil values persistently lower than or persistently higher than the absolute cutoff points of 150 cells/μL and 300 cells/μL, or the percentage cutoff points of 2%, 3%, and 4%.

Serum levels of hyaluronic acid are associated with COPD severity and predict survival.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) and its degradation products play an important role in lung pathophysiology and airway remodelling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).We investigated if HA and its degrading enzyme hyaluronidase (HYAL)-1 are associated with COPD severity and outcome.Serum HA was assessed in a discovery cohort of 80 COPD patients at stable state and exacerbations.

Collagen Degradation and Formation Are Elevated in Exacerbated COPD Compared With Stable Disease.

Background: The role of the extracellular matrix (ECM) structure and remodeling thereof in lung diseases is gaining importance. Pathology-related changes in ECM turnover may result in deleterious changes in lung architecture, leading to disease in the small airways. Here, degradation fragments of type I (C1M), type IV (α1 chain, C4M2), and type IV (α3 chain, C4Ma3) collagen, all degraded by metalloproteinases and the pro-form of collagen type V (PRO-C5) were investigated and associated with COPD severity and outcome.

IFNΛ3/4 locus polymorphisms and IFNΛ3 circulating levels are associated with COPD severity and outcomes.

Background: Interferon lambdas (IFNLs) have important anti-viral/bacterial and immunomodulatory functions in the respiratory tract. How do IFNLs impact COPD and its exacerbations?

Methods: Five hundred twenty eight patients were recruited in a prospective observational multicentre cohort (PROMISE) study. The genetic polymorphisms (rs8099917 and rs12979860) within the IFNL3/4 gene region and circulating levels of IFNL3 in COPD patients were determined and associated with disease activity and outcome during a median follow-up of 24 months.

Treatment of COPD Exacerbation in Switzerland: Results and Recommendations of the European COPD Audit.

Background: The European COPD Audit initiated by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) evaluated the management of hospital admissions due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in several European countries. Data on the treatment of severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) in Switzerland are scarce.

Objectives: In light of the GOLD 2010 guidelines, this work aims to examine the quality of care for AECOPD and to provide specific recommendations for the management of severe AECOPD in Switzerland.

Expression of CK19 is an independent predictor of negative outcome for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Objectives: To explore the prognostic role of CK19 expression in squamous cell carcinomas within a well-defined cohort of oral tongue cancer patients.

Methods: In our retrospective study, we investigated 129 patients with tongue cancer that had suitable material for inclusion in a tissue microarray (TMA). Where possible, samples were taken from central and peripheral regions of the tumor to generate a representative sample of the tumor.

The F-actin modifier villin regulates insulin granule dynamics and exocytosis downstream of islet cell autoantigen 512.

Objective: Insulin release from pancreatic islet β cells should be tightly controlled to avoid hypoglycemia and insulin resistance. The cortical actin cytoskeleton is a gate for regulated exocytosis of insulin secretory granules (SGs) by restricting their mobility and access to the plasma membrane. Prior studies suggest that SGs interact with F-actin through their transmembrane cargo islet cell autoantigen 512 (Ica512) (also known as islet antigen 2/Ptprn).

Current relevance of hypoxia in head and neck cancer.

Head and Neck cancer (HNC) is a complex mix of cancers and one of the more common cancers with a relatively poor prognosis. One of the factors that may assist us in predicting survival and allow us to adjust our treatment strategies is the presence of tumor hypoxia. In this overview we aim to evaluate the current evidence and potential clinical relevance of tumor hypoxia in head and neck cancer according to an extensive search of current literature.

The DPP-4 inhibitor linagliptin restores β-cell function and survival in human isolated islets through GLP-1 stabilization.

Context: Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is a potent strategy to increase glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) induced insulin secretion in diabetes. It is important to know whether new drugs approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes have direct effects on the β-cell.

Objective: Herein we investigated the effect of linagliptin, a novel DPP-4 inhibitor, on β-cell function and survival.