Automated method of bronchus and artery dimension measurement in an adult bronchiectasis population.

Aim: Bronchiectasis (BE) is a disease defined by irreversible dilatation of the airway. Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in the detection and quantification of BE. The aim of this study was three-fold: 1) to assess bronchus-artery (BA) dimensions using fully automated software in a cohort of BE disease patients; 2) to compare BA dimensions with semi-quantitative BEST-CT (Bronchiectasis Scoring Technique for CT) scores for BE and bronchial wall thickening; and 3) to explore the structure-function relationship between BA-method lumen dimensions and spirometry outcomes.

Airway total bacterial density, microbiota community composition and relationship with clinical parameters in bronchiectasis.

Background And Objective: This study explored the relationship between total bacterial density, airway microbiota composition and clinical parameters in bronchiectasis. We determined changes with time during clinical stability and following antibiotic treatment of a pulmonary exacerbation.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre longitudinal cohort study of UK participants with CT confirmed bronchiectasis.

Bronchiectasis and asthma: Data from the European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC).

Background: Asthma is commonly reported in patients with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with bronchiectasis and asthma (BE+A) had a different clinical phenotype and different outcomes compared with patients with bronchiectasis without concomitant asthma.

Methods: A prospective observational pan-European registry (European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration) enrolled patients across 28 countries.

Airway inflammation accelerates pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis.

Airway inflammation underlies cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary exacerbations. In a prospective multicenter study of randomly selected, clinically stable adolescents and adults, we assessed relationships between 24 inflammation-associated molecules and the future occurrence of CF pulmonary exacerbation using proportional hazards models. We explored relationships for potential confounding or mediation by clinical factors and assessed sensitivities to treatments including CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein synthesis modulators.

In vitro activity of cefiderocol against Gram-negative pathogens isolated from people with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

Objectives: Gram-negative pathogens causing respiratory infection in people with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis are becoming progressively more resistant to conventional antibiotics. Although cefiderocol is licenced for the treatment of infections due to Gram-negative organisms, there are limited data on the activity of cefiderocol against pathogens associated with chronic respiratory diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of Gram-negative pathogens from cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis to cefiderocol and comparator antibiotics.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in Northern Ireland during 2020-2021.

Background: With the spread of SARS-CoV-2 impacting upon public health directly and socioeconomically, further information was required to inform policy decisions designed to limit virus spread during the pandemic. This study sought to contribute to serosurveillance work within Northern Ireland to track SARS-CoV-2 progression and guide health strategy.

Methods: Sera/plasma samples from clinical biochemistry laboratories were analysed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Longitudinal changes in the cystic fibrosis airway microbiota with time and treatment.

Background: Whether there is any benefit in integrating culture-independent molecular analysis of the lower airway microbiota of people with cystic fibrosis into clinical care is unclear. This study determined the longitudinal trajectory of the microbiota and if there were microbiota characteristics that corresponded with response to treatment or predicted a future pulmonary exacerbation.

Methods: At least one sputum sample was collected from 149 participants enrolled in this prospective longitudinal multi-centre study and total bacterial density and microbiota community measurements were determined and compared with clinical parameters.

Bridging the "Know-Do" Gaps in Five Non-Communicable Diseases Using a Common Framework Driven by Implementation Science.

According to the United Nations High-Level Meeting 2018, five non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and mental health conditions accounted for two-thirds of global deaths. These five NCDs share five common risk factors including tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, alcohol use, and air pollution. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face larger burden of NCDs than high-income countries (HICs), due to differences in ecological, technological, socioeconomic and health system development.

Bronchiectasis in Europe: data on disease characteristics from the European Bronchiectasis registry (EMBARC).

Background: Bronchiectasis is a heterogeneous, neglected disease with few multicentre studies exploring the causes, severity, microbiology, and treatment of the disease across Europe. This aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of bronchiectasis and compare between different European countries.

Methods: EMBARC is an international clinical research network for bronchiectasis.

Role of inhaled antibiotics in the era of highly effective CFTR modulators.

Recurrent and chronic bacterial infections are common in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and contribute to lung function decline. Antibiotics are the mainstay in the treatment of exacerbations and chronic bacterial infection in CF. Inhaled antibiotics are effective in treating chronic respiratory bacterial infections and eradicating from the respiratory tract, with limited systemic adverse effects.

Omalizumab in Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: An unmet clinical need exists in the management of treatment-refractory allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Omalizumab has shown promising effects in case series and cohort studies; however, evidence to support its routine clinical use is lacking.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of omalizumab in patients with ABPA.

Clinimetric Properties of Outcome Measures in Bronchiectasis.

There is a lack of outcome measures with robust clinimetric properties in bronchiectasis. To determine the clinimetric properties (reliability over 1 year during clinical stability and responsiveness over the course of antibiotics for pulmonary exacerbation) of objective and patient-reported outcome measures. This multicenter cohort study included adults with bronchiectasis from seven hospitals in the United Kingdom.

Whole-genome analysis of strains isolated from persons with cystic fibrosis.

is a commensal of the respiratory tract that is frequently present in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and may cause infection. Antibiotic resistance is well described for CF strains, and virulence factors have been proposed. The genetic diversity of strains present in the lungs of persons with CF is largely unknown despite the fact that this organism is considered to be a pathogen in this condition.

An invisible threat? Aspergillus positive cultures and co-infecting bacteria in airway samples.

Background: Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) infection is associated with poor lung health in chronic suppurative lung diseases but often goes undetected. We hypothesised that inhibition of Af growth by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) increases the frequency of false-negative Af culture in co-infected people. Using a substantial group of cystic fibrosis (CF) airway samples, we assessed the relationship between Af and bacterial pathogens, additionally comparing fungal culture with next-generation sequencing.

Modulation, microbiota and inflammation in the adult CF gut: A prospective study.

Background: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) has prominent gastrointestinal and pancreatic manifestations. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulation on, gastrointestinal inflammation, pancreatic function and gut microbiota composition in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) and the G551D-CFTR mutation.

Methods: Fourteen adult patients with the G551D-CFTR mutation were assessed clinically at baseline and for up to 1 year after treatment with ivacaftor.

Taxonomic position, antibiotic resistance and virulence factors of clinical isolates.

The role of species in lung disease remains unclear. The aim of this study was to characterize isolated from persons with cystic fibrosis and from other clinical samples. Whole genome sequences from 101 isolates were determined (81 from patients with cystic fibrosis and 20 from other patients) and analysed.

Cystic Fibrosis Airway Mucus Hyperconcentration Produces a Vicious Cycle of Mucin, Pathogen, and Inflammatory Interactions that Promotes Disease Persistence.

The dynamics describing the vicious cycle characteristic of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, initiated by stagnant mucus and perpetuated by infection and inflammation, remain unclear. Here we determine the effect of the CF airway milieu, with persistent mucoobstruction, resident pathogens, and inflammation, on the mucin quantity and quality that govern lung disease pathogenesis and progression. The concentrations of MUC5AC and MUC5B were measured and characterized in sputum samples from subjects with CF ( = 44) and healthy subjects ( = 29) with respect to their macromolecular properties, degree of proteolysis, and glycomics diversity.

Multiple-Breath Washout Outcome Measures in Adults with Bronchiectasis.

Lung clearance index (LCI) has good intravisit repeatability with better sensitivity in detecting lung disease on computed tomography scan compared with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) in adults with bronchiectasis. Alternative multiple-breath washout parameters have not been systematically studied in bronchiectasis. To determine the validity, repeatability, sensitivity, specificity, and feasibility of standard LCI (LCI), shortened LCI (LCI), ventilation heterogeneity arising within proximal conducting airways (SVT), and ventilation heterogeneity arising within the acinar airways (SVT) in a cross-sectional observational cohort of adults with bronchiectasis.

Microbial Community Composition in Explanted Cystic Fibrosis and Control Donor Lungs.

To date, investigations of the microbiota in the lungs of people with Cystic Fibrosis (PWCF) have primarily focused on microbial community composition in luminal mucus, with fewer studies observing the microbiota in tissue samples from explanted lung tissue. Here, we analysed both tissue and airway luminal mucus samples extracted from whole explanted lungs of PWCF and unused donor lungs. We determined if the lung microbiota in end-stage CF varied within and between patients, was spatially heterogeneous and related to localized structural damage.

Establishing Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Methods and Clinical Breakpoints for Inhaled Antibiotic Therapy.

Inhaled antibiotics are a common and valuable therapy for patients suffering from chronic lung infection, with this particularly well demonstrated for patients with cystic fibrosis. However, in vitro tests to predict patient response to inhaled antibiotic therapy are currently lacking. There are indications that antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) may have a role in guidance of therapy, but which tests would correlate best still needs to be researched in clinical studies or animal models.

Bronchiectasis and inhaled tobramycin: A literature review.

Background: Inhaled antibiotics have been incorporated into contemporary European and British guidelines for bronchiectasis, yet no inhaled antibiotics have been approved in the United States or Europe for the treatment of bronchiectasis not related to cystic fibrosis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is common in patients with bronchiectasis, contributing to a cycle of progressive inflammation, exacerbations, and airway remodelling.

Objective: The aim of the current study was to identify and evaluate published studies of inhaled tobramycin solution or powder in patients with bronchiectasis and P.