Preoperative risk factors predict perioperative allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing primary lung cancer resections: a retrospective cohort study from a high-volume thoracic surgery center.

Background: Our study aimed to identify preoperative predictors for perioperative allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) in patients undergoing major lung cancer resections in order to improve the perioperative management of patients at risk for ABT.

Methods: Patients admitted between 2014 and 2016 in a high-volume thoracic surgery clinic were retrospectively evaluated in a cohort study based on a control group without ABT and the ABT group requiring packed red blood cell units within 15 days postoperatively until discharge. The association of ABT with clinically established parameters (sex, preoperative anemia, liver and coagulation function, blood groups, multilobar resections) was analyzed by contingency tables, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and logistic regression analysis, taking into account potential covariates.

Implementation of an internet-based asthma patient education program in primary care: results of a single-arm trial.

Asthma education programs (AEPs) for patients are known to be important to provide skills to effectively manage the disease. We developed an electronic AEP (eAEP) and assessed the extent to which patients with asthma in primary care are capable to use the eAEP and whether asthma knowledge improved after eAEP. A single-arm pilot study was performed between November 2019 and December 2020 in 12 general practices in Upper Bavaria, Germany.

Reduced decline of lung diffusing capacity in COPD patients with diabetes and metformin treatment.

We studied whether in patients with COPD the use of metformin for diabetes treatment was linked to a pattern of lung function decline consistent with the hypothesis of anti-aging effects of metformin. Patients of GOLD grades 1-4 of the COSYCONET cohort with follow-up data of up to 4.5 y were included.

COVID-19 assessment in family practice-A clinical decision rule based on self-rated symptoms and contact history.

The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contact history and clinical symptoms and to develop decision rules for ruling-in and ruling-out SARS-CoV-2 infection in family practice. We performed a prospective diagnostic study. Consecutive inclusion of patients coming for COVID-PCR testing to 19 general practices.

The role of clinical signs and spirometry in the diagnosis of obstructive airway diseases: a systematic analysis adapted to general practice settings.

Background: In general practice (GP), the diagnosis of obstructive airway diseases much relies on diagnostic questions, in view of the limited availability of lung function. We systematically assessed the relative importance of such questions for diagnosing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), either without or with information from spirometry.

Methods: We used data obtained in a pulmonary practice to ensure the validity of diagnoses and assessments.

COPD maintenance medication is linked to left atrial size: Results from the COSYCONET cohort.

Background: Lung function impairment in COPD is known to be related to reductions of left heart size, while short-term interventional trials with bronchodilators showed positive effects on cardiac parameters. We investigated whether COPD maintenance therapy has analogous long-term effects.

Methods: Pooled data of GOLD grade 1-4 patients from visits 1 and 3 (1.

[Narrative patterns in asthma and the challenge to accept the need for patient education].

Background: The benefits of patient education in bronchial asthma in terms of reducing hospitalization and incapacity to work are well documented. However, only about a quarter of patients take advantage of training offers. Therefore, this qualitative study with asthma patients examines how to sharpen the motivation to participate in training programs.

Treatment of COPD Groups GOLD A and B with Inhaled Corticosteroids in the COSYCONET Cohort - Determinants and Consequences.

Background: In COPD patients of GOLD groups A and B, a high degree of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) has been reported, which is regarded as overtreatment according to GOLD recommendations. We investigated which factors predict ICS use and which relationship it has to clinical and functional outcomes, or healthcare costs.

Methods: We used pooled data from visits 1 and 3 of the COSYCONET cohort (n=2741, n=2053, interval 1.

Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in patients with suspected asthma: study protocol for a prospective diagnostic study.

Introduction: The measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is promising for diagnosing asthma and might substitute for bronchial provocation (BP) tests. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of FeNO within a confirmatory study, the following hypotheses will be tested: (1) A FeNO cut-off >50 ppb (parts per billion) is suitable for diagnosing asthma (sensitivity 35%, specificity 95%); (2) If the clinical symptoms 'allergic rhinitis' and 'wheezing' are present, asthma can be diagnosed at FeNO >33 ppb with a positive predictive value (PPV) 70% and (3) A FeNO >33 ppb can predict responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with a PPV 70%.

Methods And Analysis: A prospective diagnostic study will be conducted in three practices of pneumologists in Germany.

Prognostic Value of Oxygenated Hemoglobin Assessed during Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Oxygenated hemoglobin(OxyHem) is a simple-to-measure marker of oxygen content capable of predicting all-cause mortality in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives: We aimed to analyze its predictive value during acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD).

Methods: In this retrospective study, data from 227 patients discharged after severe AECOPD at RoMed Clinical Center Rosenheim, Germany, between January 2012 and March 2018, was analyzed.

Diagnostic accuracy of FeNO [fractional exhaled nitric oxide] and asthma symptoms increased when evaluated with a superior reference standard.

Objectives: The objective of the study is to determine the impact of changing reference standards (RS), namely spirometry vs. whole-body plethysmography (WBP), on estimation of the diagnostic accuracy of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) as index tests regarding asthma diagnosis.

Study Design And Setting: This was a diagnostic study conducted in 393 patients attending a private practice of pneumologists with complaints suspicious of asthma.

Prediction of air trapping or pulmonary hyperinflation by forced spirometry in COPD patients: results from COSYCONET.

Background: Air trapping and lung hyperinflation are major determinants of prognosis and response to therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They are often determined by body plethysmography, which has limited availability, and so the question arises as to what extent they can be estimated spirometry.

Methods: We used data from visits 1-5 of the COPD cohort COSYCONET.

Capnovolumetry in combination with clinical history for the diagnosis of asthma and COPD.

Capnovolumetry performed during resting ventilation is an easily applicable diagnostic tool sensitive to airway obstruction. In the present analysis, we investigated in which way capnovolumetric parameters can be combined with basic anamnestic information to support the diagnosis of asthma and COPD. Among 1400 patients of a previous diagnostic study, we selected 1057 patients with a diagnosis of asthma (n = 433), COPD (n = 260), or without respiratory disease (n = 364).

Associations of oxygenated hemoglobin with disease burden and prognosis in stable COPD: Results from COSYCONET.

We studied whether in patients with stable COPD blood gases (BG), especially oxygenated hemoglobin (OxyHem) as a novel biomarker confer information on disease burden and prognosis and how this adds to the information provided by the comorbidity pattern and systemic inflammation. Data from 2137 patients (GOLD grades 1-4) of the baseline dataset of the COSYCONET COPD cohort were used. The associations with dyspnea, exacerbation history, BODE-Index (cut-off ≤2) and all-cause mortality over 3 years of follow-up were determined by logistic and Cox regression analyses, with sex, age, BMI and pack years as covariates.

Correspondence between Capnovolumetric and Conventional Lung Function Parameters in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Airway Diseases.

Background: Capnovolumetry is of interest as a method for the diagnosis of obstructive airway diseases, requiring little cooperation from the patient.

Objective: To help in the interpretation of capnovolumetric parameters, we aimed to identify their correspondence to conventional lung function indices.

Methods: We studied 978 patients from a diagnostic study with complete functional data and the clinical diagnosis of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or no respiratory disease.

Author Correction: Human FCHO1 deficiency reveals role for clathrin-mediated endocytosis in development and function of T cells.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

An Internet-Based Asthma Self-Management Program Increases Knowledge About Asthma.

Background: Asthma education (AE) is associated with reduced hospitalization and disability. We compared the effectiveness of an electronic AE program (eAEP) with a conventional face-to-face AE program (presence-based AEP; pAEP) for asthma knowledge (AK) with regard to self-management.

Methods: A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted in a pulmonary reha- bilitation clinic.

Diagnostic accuracy of capnovolumetry for the identification of airway obstruction - results of a diagnostic study in ambulatory care.

Background: One of the known weaknesses of spirometry is its dependence on patients' cooperation, which can only partially be alleviated by educational efforts. Therefore, procedures less dependent on cooperation might be of value in clinical practice. We investigated the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound-based capnovolumetry for the identification of airway obstruction.

Dimethyl fumarate-induced IL-17 IFN-γ IL-4 Th cells protect mice from severe encephalomyelitis.

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) promotes an IL-17A IFN-γ IL-4 CD4 T cell phenotype. Adoptive transfer of in vitro DMF-treated myelin peptide-reactive IL-17A IFN-γ IL-4 CD4 T cells prior to immunization for EAE reduces the severity of encephalomyelitis. This beneficial effect of transferred DMF-treated CD4 T cells requires an early in vivo recall.

Cholesterol Modification of p40-Specific Small Interfering RNA Enables Therapeutic Targeting of Dendritic Cells.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapies allow targeted correction of molecular defects in distinct cell populations. Although efficient in multiple cell populations, dendritic cells (DCs) seem to resist siRNA delivery. Using fluorescence labeling and radiolabeling, we show that cholesterol modification enables siRNA uptake by DCs in vitro and in vivo.