Publications by authors named "Gert Jan Braunstahl"
Article Synopsis
- This study builds on previous research to explore the effectiveness of strategies aimed at reducing house dust mite allergens for treating allergic asthma.
- It involved analyzing data from 35 trials with 2,419 patients, focusing on various outcomes such as asthma symptom scores and patient improvement rates.
- Results indicated that total bedroom control and nocturnal air purification could improve symptoms for some patients, while partial bedroom control showed no significant benefits.
Article Synopsis
- Symptoms of asthma and COPD can be similar, and patients may have both conditions simultaneously, indicating a need for better assessment tools.
- The study aimed to develop a new questionnaire by combining the asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) and the clinical COPD questionnaire (CCQ) to evaluate disease burden across all obstructive lung diseases.
- Using data from various patient cohorts, researchers identified nine key questions through Principal Component Analysis (PCA), leading to the proposed "Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire" for more effective disease assessment.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers wanted to know how satisfied COVID-19 patients were with their aftercare one year after being in the hospital.
- They used a special questionnaire to gather feedback from patients about their care, information they received, and any needs that weren't met.
- Most patients were generally happy with their care, especially their follow-up appointments, but many wanted more information about who to contact when they had health questions.
Article Synopsis
- Early career and senior members of Assembly 5 discussed significant recent findings related to airway diseases from the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2023 in Milan.
- The focus of the presentations included asthma, COPD, chronic cough, and bronchiectasis, underscoring the relevance of these conditions.
- A total of 739 abstracts were submitted, mostly by early career researchers, reflecting a growing interest in airway diseases within the scientific community.
A survey study on antibiotic prescription practices for acute asthma exacerbations: An European academy of allergy and clinical immunology task force report.
Anne-Lotte Redel Wojciech Feleszko Alessandra Arcolaci Francesca Cefaloni Marina Atanaskovic-Markovic Gert-Jan Braunstahl
Clin Transl Allergy
March 2024
Article Synopsis
- Guidelines for treating asthma exacerbations typically recommend bronchodilators and corticosteroids, but antibiotic use is often overlooked despite frequent prescriptions in practice.
- A survey involving 252 healthcare professionals revealed a 19% antibiotic prescription rate for asthma exacerbations, with significant variation among different specialties like pediatrics, pulmonology, general practice, and allergy.
- The study highlights the need for evidence-based guidelines to ensure more rational use of antibiotics in treating asthma exacerbations, especially considering factors like purulent sputum, fever, and comorbidities that influence prescription decisions.
Article Synopsis
- Obesity is a significant health issue that not only increases the risk of developing asthma but also worsens lung function and inflammation, complicating asthma treatment.
- Many patients with obesity-related asthma do not respond well to standard asthma treatments, highlighting the need for better understanding and new treatment options.
- Recent research is exploring different mechanisms behind obesity-related asthma and investigating new therapies, including biologics and antiobesity drugs, to improve patient outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the differences in innate lymphoid cell (ILC) populations, specifically ILC1s and ILC2s, between patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), asthma, and control groups.
- Results show significantly higher levels of inflammatory CD4 ILC1s and lower levels of CD117 ILC2s in COPD patients compared to asthma patients, highlighting distinct inflammatory profiles.
- These findings could help in understanding the mechanisms of COPD and asthma, potentially aiding in better patient classification and treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate a personalized diagnostic pathway for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Asthma in a real-world outpatient setting.
- The results revealed that only 35% of patients attended all scheduled appointments after the pathway's implementation, with factors like logistical complexity and low socioeconomic status contributing to dropouts.
- Despite the challenges, the study showed a significant increase in the creation of personalized care plans and diagnostic documentation, indicating that holistic care planning can be effectively implemented, but improvements are needed to increase patient participation.
Introduction: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) may be difficult to distinguish from other respiratory diseases due to overlapping clinical presentation. Recognition of ILD is often late, causing delay which has been associated with worse clinical outcome. Electronic nose (eNose) sensor technology profiles volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath and has potential to detect ILD non-invasively.
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- CD4 T helper 2 (Th2) cells and group 2 innate lymphoid cells are known for driving chronic airway inflammation in allergic asthma, but CD8 cytotoxic T (Tc) cells, specifically Tc2 cells, also play a role by producing type-2 cytokines.
- Research shows that severe asthma patients have an increased number of Tc2 cells, especially during flare-ups, suggesting that these cells may originate from standard IFNγ-producing Tc cells through a process called plasticity.
- Mouse studies align with human findings, revealing that type-2 skewing of lung Tc cells is influenced by conventional type-1 dendritic cells and IFNγ, with the alarmin interleukin-33 (IL
Memory T cells provide long-lasting defense responses through their ability to rapidly reactivate, but how they efficiently "recall" an inflammatory transcriptional program remains unclear. Here, we show that human CD4 memory T helper 2 (T2) cells carry a chromatin landscape synergistically reprogrammed at both one-dimensional (1D) and 3D levels to accommodate recall responses, which is absent in naive T cells. In memory T2 cells, recall genes were epigenetically primed through the maintenance of transcription-permissive chromatin at distal (super)enhancers organized in long-range 3D chromatin hubs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Many patients with severe asthma are overweight or obese, often attributed to unintentional weight gain as a side effect of oral corticosteroids (OCSs). Anti-IL-5/5Ra biologics significantly reduce OCS use, but their long-term effects on weight are unknown.
Objectives: To examine (1) weight change up to 2 years after anti-IL-5/5Ra initiation in subgroups on the basis of maintenance OCS use at start of treatment and (2) whether cumulative OCS exposure before or changes in OCS exposure during treatment are related to weight change.
Article Synopsis
- Bronchiectasis is a common issue in severe eosinophilic asthma patients, impacting disease severity, but its effect on IL-5 biologic treatment is unclear.
- A study of 97 adults showed that anti-IL-5/5Ra therapy significantly reduced asthma exacerbations and the need for oral corticosteroids (OCS).
- After one year of treatment, exacerbation rates dropped from 74.5% to 22.1%, and the number of patients on maintenance OCS decreased from 47% to 30%, highlighting the therapy's effectiveness even in those with bronchiectasis.
Article Synopsis
- * The ERS Congress 2022 included over 3000 abstract presentations, symposia, and skills workshops from all 14 assemblies, highlighting advancements in respiratory research.
- * Key findings and insights from the Congress, particularly in airway diseases, asthma, COPD, and chronic cough, were reviewed by experts and Early Career Members to share recent developments in the field.
Article Synopsis
- * An 8-year follow-up study involved 15 of 78 patients from an initial trial, showing stable asthma control and lung function over time, despite weight regain in those who had surgery.
- * The study highlights that while some weight regain was noted, it had a clinically insignificant impact on asthma control and quality of life, underscoring bariatric surgery's effectiveness for obesity-related asthma.
Article Synopsis
- Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and asthma often occur together and share similar pathological traits, but healthcare is typically divided by specialties, leading to a need for integrated treatment approaches.
- A group of 16 experienced physicians in northern Europe discussed ways to improve global airways care through better screening, collaboration, and education among specialties, providing practical recommendations and identifying gaps in research.
- The findings emphasize the importance of joint management to optimize care for adults with CRSwNP and asthma, suggesting that interdisciplinary clinics could enhance early recognition and treatment across related airway diseases.
Article Synopsis
- - This study compared maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) using budesonide/formoterol with fixed-dose therapy using fluticasone/salmeterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- - Results showed no significant difference in the rate of exacerbations or lung function between the two therapies, with both groups experiencing similar health status and adverse events.
- - However, MART was associated with a lower total inhaled corticosteroid dosage compared to fixed-dose therapy, suggesting it might be a more efficient option for managing moderate to severe COPD, though more research on long-term safety is needed.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the relationship between clustering analyses of COPD and the GOLD ABCD classification, focusing on whether new behavioral factors influence clustering outcomes.
- It found that while certain clusters aligned with the GOLD groups, the previously established clinical phenotypes couldn't be replicated in a new patient population.
- The inclusion of new variables like quality of life and daily activities led to the formation of distinct clusters, suggesting that using cluster analysis for identifying COPD phenotypes may not effectively guide individual treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- Dupilumab, an add-on treatment for severe uncontrolled asthma, shows strong effectiveness and safety based on a real-world study involving 148 patients over 12 months.
- Key findings include a significant decrease in the annual exacerbation rate from 4.00 to 1.00, reduced oral corticosteroid dependency, and improved asthma control and pulmonary function.
- While adverse events were noted in 45.3% of patients, headache being the most common, overall results mirror those of previous phase-III trials, suggesting dupilumab could be a beneficial option in managing severe uncontrolled asthma.
Work-related asthma is an underestimated problem. More awareness is needed for early identification of work-related lung diseases to prevent permanent damage in patients with lung diseases. Work-related asthma can lead to an increase in the burden of disease, the number of exacerbations and hospital admissions.
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