Neutrophilic inflammation in sputum or blood does not define a clinically distinct asthma phenotype in ATLANTIS.

Introduction: Neutrophilic asthma has been suggested to be a clinically distinct phenotype characterised by more severe airflow obstruction and higher exacerbation risk. However, this has only been assessed in few and smaller studies, using different cut-offs to define neutrophilia, and with conflicting results. We used data from ATLANTIS, an observational longitudinal study including a large number of patients with asthma and healthy controls.

Sex differences in asthma control, lung function and exacerbations: the ATLANTIS study.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with a prevalence and severity that differs between male and female patients.

Question: What are differences between male and female patients with asthma with regard to asthma control, lung function, inflammation and exacerbations?

Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis in the ATLANTIS (Assessment of Small Airways Involvement in Asthma) study, an observational cohort study including patients with asthma from nine countries with a follow-up of 1 year during which patients were characterised with measures of large and small airway function, questionnaires, inflammation and imaging. We compared differences in baseline characteristics and longitudinal outcomes between male and female patients with asthma.

Airway epithelial cell response to RSV is mostly impaired in goblet and multiciliated cells in asthma.

Background: In patients with asthma, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections can cause disease exacerbation by infecting the epithelial layer of the airways, inducing subsequent immune response. The type I interferon antiviral response of epithelial cells upon RSV infection is found to be reduced in asthma in most-but not all-studies. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms causing the differences in the asthmatic bronchial epithelium in response to viral infection are poorly understood.

A bronchial gene signature specific for severe COPD that is retained in the nose.

Introduction: A subset of COPD patients develops advanced disease with severe airflow obstruction, hyperinflation and extensive emphysema. We propose that the pathogenesis in these patients differs from mild-moderate COPD and is reflected by bronchial gene expression. The aim of the present study was to identify a unique bronchial epithelial gene signature for severe COPD patients.

Validation of 'Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score' as a Screening Tool for Early Identification of Sepsis Patients in the Emergency Department.

Sepsis and septic shock are major healthcare problems, affecting millions of people around the world each year. The speed and appropriateness of therapy administered in the initial hours of treatment are likely to influence the outcome. We conducted a study to validate the clinical assessment score named 'quick sequential organ failure assessment' (qSOFA) score for use in the early identification of sepsis patients in the emergency department.

An integrated cell atlas of the lung in health and disease.

Single-cell technologies have transformed our understanding of human tissues. Yet, studies typically capture only a limited number of donors and disagree on cell type definitions. Integrating many single-cell datasets can address these limitations of individual studies and capture the variability present in the population.

Airway wall splice quantitative trait locus analysis reveals novel downstream mechanisms for known asthma single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

https://bit.ly/3W49oTs.

Dosimetric predictors of acute bowel toxicity after Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) in the definitive treatment of localized prostate cancer.

Introduction: SBRT is an increasingly popular treatment for localized prostate cancer, though considerable variation in technical approach is common and optimal dose constraints are uncertain. In this study, we sought to identify dosimetric and patient-related predictors of acute rectal toxicity.

Methods: Patients included in this study were treated with prostate SBRT on a prospective institutional protocol.

Predictors and associations of the persistent airflow limitation phenotype in asthma: a post-hoc analysis of the ATLANTIS study.

Background: Persistent airflow limitation (PAL) occurs in a subset of patients with asthma. Previous studies on PAL in asthma have included relatively small populations, mostly restricted to severe asthma, or have no included longitudinal data. The aim of this post-hoc analysis was to investigate the determinants, clinical implications, and outcome of PAL in patients with asthma who were included in the ATLANTIS study.

Health Care Implications of Terrorist Attacks in South Asia.

Background: The recent United States (US) troop withdrawal out of Afghanistan under a February 2020 US-Taliban agreement and the rapid concurrent collapse of the Afghan military, followed by the ascendance of the Taliban, has placed an international spotlight around the future of South Asian countries. Security threats, in particular, will likely escalate within the region and beyond, with significant concerns around the resurgence of terrorism and violence in the region. This study aims to provide an epidemiological description of all terrorism-related attacks in South Asia sustained from 1970 - 2019.

Mentorship and how to conduct research: A research primer for low- and middle-income countries.

Development of a successful research program can seem daunting when looked at from the starting line. It will take years if not decades to succeed and become sustainable. It requires local partnerships and mentoring; it mandates the establishment of review boards; it requires national health policies to allow for protected time for research in salaries and for fund granting agencies to be set up; it requires training of researchers and support staff as well as a change in the mindset of clinical staff on the floor.

Application of Health-Care Networking in COVID-19: A Brief Report.

Health-care systems all over the world are stretched out and being reconfigured to deal with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Some countries have flattened the curve, some are still fighting to survive it, and others are embracing the second wave. Globally, there is an urgent need to increase the resilience, capacity, and capability of health-care systems to deal with the current crisis and improve upon the future responses.

Chain of Survival in Industrial Emergencies and Industrial Disasters.

The Chain of Survival in Industrial Emergencies and Disasters is similar to the cardiac arrest chain of survival of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the trauma chain of survival. It is a sequence of five inter-linked rings, which when practiced, decreases the mortality and morbidity in the concerned population. The first ring is Early Prevention, which should be a combined effort of healthcare professionals and industrial authorities.

Definitive hypofractionated radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer: Dosimetric feasibility of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy and proton beam therapy for intact breast tumors.

Purpose: Few definitive treatment options exist for elderly patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer who are medically inoperable or refuse surgery. Historical data suggest very poor local control with hormone therapy alone. We examined the dosimetric feasibility of hypofractionated radiation therapy using stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) and proton beam therapy (PBT) as a means of definitive treatment for early stage breast cancer.

Prostate-Specific Antigen 5 Years following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Low- and Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: An Ablative Procedure?

Background: Our previous work on early PSA kinetics following prostate stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) demonstrated that an initial rapid and then slow PSA decline may result in very low PSA nadirs. This retrospective study sought to evaluate the PSA nadir 5 years following SBRT for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: 65 low- and 80 intermediate-risk PCa patients were treated definitively with SBRT to 35-37.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy Boost for Unfavorable Prostate Cancer: A Report on 3-Year Toxicity.

Background: Recent data suggest that intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plus brachytherapy boost for unfavorable prostate cancer provides improved biochemical relapse-free survival over IMRT alone. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may be a less invasive alternative to brachytherapy boost. Here, we report the 3-year gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicities of IMRT plus SBRT boost.

Epidemiology of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Utilization in Four Indian Emergency Departments.

Unlabelled: Introduction Without a universal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system in India, data on the epidemiology of patients who utilize EMS are limited. This retrospective chart review aimed to quantify and describe the burden of disease and patient demographics of patients who arrived by EMS to four Indian emergency departments (EDs) in order to inform a national EMS curriculum.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients transported by EMS over a three-month period in 2014 to four private EDs in India.

Acute care needs in an Indian emergency department: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Emergencies such as road traffic accidents (RTAs), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) are the most common causes of death and disability in India. Robust emergency medicine (EM) services and proper education on acute care are necessary. In order to inform curriculum design for training programs, and to improve the quality of EM care in India, a better understanding of patient epidemiology and case burden presenting to the emergency department (ED) is needed.

Stereotactic Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Rationale, Feasibility, and Early Experience Using the CyberKnife Radiosurgery Delivery Platform.

Purpose: The efficacy of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) utilizing brachytherapy or conventional external beam radiation has been studied in early-stage breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery. Data regarding stereotactic treatment approaches are emerging. The CyberKnife linear accelerator enables excellent dose conformality to target structures while adjusting for target and patient motion.

A correlation analysis of Broselow™ Pediatric Emergency Tape-determined pediatric weight with actual pediatric weight in India.

Background: The Broselow™ Pediatric Emergency Tape indicates standardized, pre-calculated medication doses, dose delivery volumes, and equipment sizes using color-coded zones based on height-weight correlations. The present study attempted to provide more evidence on the effectiveness of the Broselow™ Pediatric Emergency Tape by comparing the tape-estimated weights with actual weights. We hypothesized that the Broselow™ Pediatric Emergency Tape would overestimate weights in Indian children aged<10 years, leading to inaccurate dosing and equipment sizing in the emergency setting.