Biomarkers of tissue remodelling are elevated in serum of COVID-19 patients who develop interstitial lung disease - an exploratory biomarker study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral pneumonia that can result in serious respiratory illness. It is associated with extensive systemic inflammation, changes to the lung extracellular matrix, and long-term lung impairment such as interstitial lung disease (ILD). In this study, the aim was to investigate whether tissue remodelling, wound healing, and neutrophil activity is altered in patients with COVID-19 and how these relate to the development of post-COVID ILD.

Preliminary mixed-methods investigation: Impact and acceptability of a combined life skills and adventure therapy program for adolescents.

Introduction: Meaningful occupational therapy interventions for neurodivergent, transition-age adolescents are understudied, and novel intervention approaches that are motivating to this population are needed. Accordingly, in this study we explored the acceptability and impact of a combined life skills/adventure therapy (LS/AT) intervention program for addressing self-identified goals for adolescents with regulation- and sensory-based challenges.

Methods: We used a convergent mixed-methods design.

Multiomics links global surfactant dysregulation with airflow obstruction and emphysema in COPD.

Rationale: Pulmonary surfactant is vital for lung homeostasis as it reduces surface tension to prevent alveolar collapse and provides essential immune-regulatory and antipathogenic functions. Previous studies demonstrated dysregulation of some individual surfactant components in COPD. We investigated relationships between COPD disease measures and dysregulation of surfactant components to gain new insights into potential disease mechanisms.

Nature-Based Pediatric Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Review.

Aims: Our purpose was to explore the scope of nature-based interventions used in pediatric occupational therapy and identify gaps in existing literature.

Methods: This scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. We searched CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Embase, MEDLine, and gray literature, and we hand-searched included articles' references.

Linking Sensory Integration and Processing With Mental Health in Autism: A Retrospective Review of Survey Data.

Importance: Although a central tenet of occupational therapy practice, evidence-based practice is at times overrepresented by research and can overlook the contributions of clinical expertise, the lived experience, and context. This survey affords the occupational therapy practitioner the opportunity to understand sensory integration and processing (SI/P) as experienced by autistic adults.

Objective: To explore the following research question through a retrospective analysis of an internet-based survey: What is the relationship between the SI/P differences and mental health concerns reported by autistic adults?

Design: Nonexperimental; retrospective analysis of data collected from September 2018 through June 2019.

Pulmonary EV miRNA profiles identify disease and distinct inflammatory endotypes in COPD.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous condition without effective disease modifying therapies. Identification of novel inflammatory endotype markers such as extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are important intercellular messengers carrying microRNA (miRNA), may enable earlier diagnosis and disease stratification for a targeted treatment approach. Our aim was to identify differentially expressed EV miRNA in the lungs of COPD patients compared with healthy ex-smokers and determine whether they can help define inflammatory COPD endotypes.

Predicting the risk of chest radiograph abnormality 12-weeks post hospitalisation with SARS CoV-2 PCR confirmed COVID-19.

Background: Routine follow-up of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 is recommended, however due to the ongoing high number of infections this is not without significant health resource and economic burden. In a previous study we investigated the prevalence of, and risk factors for, persistent chest radiograph (CXR) abnormalities post-hospitalisation with COVID-19 and identified a 5-point composite score that strongly predicted risk of persistent CXR abnormality at 12-weeks. Here we sought to validate and refine our findings in an independent cohort of patients.

Integrated Occupational Therapy Camp for Children with Regulation/Sensory Processing Differences: Preliminary Evaluation.

Integration of occupational therapy into a camp environment may support participation for children with neurodevelopmental differences, but evidence is limited. This study examines the effects of participation of children with regulation/sensory processing differences at one such integrated camp on parent-established functional goals. We used a pre-test/post-test repeated measures cohort design.

Biomarker identification using dynamic time warping analysis: a longitudinal cohort study of patients with COVID-19 in a UK tertiary hospital.

Objectives: COVID-19 is a heterogeneous disease, and many reports have described variations in demographic, biochemical and clinical features at presentation influencing overall hospital mortality. However, there is little information regarding longitudinal changes in laboratory prognostic variables in relation to disease progression in hospitalised patients with COVID-19.

Design And Setting: This retrospective observational report describes disease progression from symptom onset, to admission to hospital, clinical response and discharge/death among patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary centre in South East England.

MonaGO: a novel gene ontology enrichment analysis visualisation system.

Background: Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis is frequently undertaken during exploration of various -omics data sets. Despite the wide array of tools available to biologists to perform this analysis, meaningful visualisation of the overrepresented GO in a manner which is easy to interpret is still lacking.

Results: Monash Gene Ontology (MonaGO) is a novel web-based visualisation system that provides an intuitive, interactive and responsive interface for performing GO enrichment analysis and visualising the results.

Wave comparisons of clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 admissions - Exploring the impact of treatment and strain dynamics.

Objectives: Dexamethasone has now been incorporated into the standard of care for COVID-19 hospital patients. However, larger intensive care unit studies have failed to show discernible improvements in mortality in the recent wave. We aimed to investigate the impacts of these factors on disease outcomes in a UK hospital study.

Dysregulation of COVID-19 related gene expression in the COPD lung.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are at increased risk of poor outcome from Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Early data suggest elevated Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression, but relationships to disease phenotype and downstream regulators of inflammation in the Renin-Angiotensin system (RAS) are unknown. We aimed to determine the relationship between RAS gene expression relevant to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung with disease characteristics in COPD, and the regulation of newly identified SARS-CoV-2 receptors and spike-cleaving proteases, important for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Research Evaluation Alongside Clinical Treatment in COVID-19 (REACT COVID-19): an observational and biobanking study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 places immense worldwide demand on healthcare services. Earlier identification of patients at risk of severe disease may allow intervention with experimental targeted treatments, mitigating the course of their disease and reducing critical care service demand.

Methods And Analysis: This prospective observational study of patients tested or treated for SARS-CoV-2, who are under the care of the tertiary University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT), captured data from admission to discharge; data collection commenced on 7 March 2020.

Dynamics of IFN-β Responses during Respiratory Viral Infection. Insights for Therapeutic Strategies.

Viral infections are major drivers of exacerbations and clinical burden in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). IFN-β is a key component of the innate immune response to viral infection. To date, studies of inhaled IFN-β treatment have not demonstrated a significant effect on asthma exacerbations.

Using Novel Computed Tomography Analysis to Describe the Contribution and Distribution of Emphysema and Small Airways Disease in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation, caused by emphysema and small airways disease (SAD). Computed tomography (CT) coupled with image analysis enables the quantification of these abnormalities; however, the optimum method for doing so has not been determined. This study aims to compare two CT quantitative analysis techniques, disease probability measure (DPM) and parametric response mapping (PRM), and assess their relationship with specific physiological measures of SAD.

A multidisciplinary team case management approach reduces the burden of frequent asthma admissions.

Up to 10% of asthmatics have "difficult asthma"; however, they account for 80% of asthma-related expenditure and run the highest risk of acute severe exacerbations. An estimated 75% of admissions for asthma are avoidable. Guidelines advise that these patients be managed by an experienced specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Dysregulation of Antiviral Function of CD8(+) T Cells in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Lung. Role of the PD-1-PD-L1 Axis.

Rationale: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are susceptible to respiratory viral infections that cause exacerbations. The mechanisms underlying this susceptibility are not understood. Effectors of the adaptive immune response-CD8(+) T cells that clear viral infections-are present in increased numbers in the lungs of patients with COPD, but they fail to protect against infection and may contribute to the immunopathology of the disease.

Prenatal and passive smoke exposure and incidence of asthma and wheeze: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Exposure to passive smoke is a common and avoidable risk factor for wheeze and asthma in children. Substantial growth in the prospective cohort study evidence base provides an opportunity to generate new and more detailed estimates of the magnitude of the effect. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to provide estimates of the prospective effect of smoking by parents or household members on the risk of wheeze and asthma at different stages of childhood.