Residential greenness and pollen exposure across gestational trimesters in relation to preschool wheezing: Results for the PIPO birth cohort.

Introduction: Previous studies on prenatal green space exposure and early respiratory health show inconsistent results. This may reflect stage-specific in utero effects and pollen influence. We examine associations of surrounding greenness and pollen exposure during pregnancy (overall and by trimester) with preschool wheezing, and assess potential mediation by pollen.

Evaluation of the learning effect on the 6-min walk distance in adults with long COVID.

https://bit.ly/3H70G1r.

Effects of Weight Change and Weight Cycling on Lung Function in Overweight and Obese Adults.

Epidemiological studies have reported on the detrimental effects on lung function after natural, and thus limited, weight gain in unselected populations. Studies on bariatric surgery, on the contrary, have indicated large improvements in lung function after substantial weight loss. To study the associations between profound weight loss or gain and pulmonary function within the same population.

Randomised, controlled, open-label pragmatic trial evaluating changes in functional exercise capacity after primary care lmonary habilitation in patients with long COVID: protocol of the PuRe-COVID trial in Belgium.

Introduction: Long COVID is a prevalent condition with many multisystemic symptoms, such as fatigue, dyspnoea, muscle weakness, anxiety, depression and sleep difficulties, impacting daily life and (social and physical) functioning. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) may improve physical status and symptoms of patients with long COVID, yet the evidence is limited. Therefore, this trial aims to study the effect of primary care PR on exercise capacity, symptoms, physical activity and sleep in patients with long COVID.

Evaluation of the Global Lung Function Initiative reference equations in Belgian adults.

Background: Over the past decade, the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) Network has published all-age reference equations on spirometry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ( ) and lung volumes.

Methods: We evaluated the appropriateness of these equations in an adult Caucasian population. Retrospective lung function data on subjects who performed tests prior to a diagnostic sleep investigation were analysed.

Technical standards for respiratory oscillometry.

Oscillometry (also known as the forced oscillation technique) measures the mechanical properties of the respiratory system (upper and intrathoracic airways, lung tissue and chest wall) during quiet tidal breathing, by the application of an oscillating pressure signal (input or forcing signal), most commonly at the mouth. With increased clinical and research use, it is critical that all technical details of the hardware design, signal processing and analyses, and testing protocols are transparent and clearly reported to allow standardisation, comparison and replication of clinical and research studies. Because of this need, an update of the 2003 European Respiratory Society (ERS) technical standards document was produced by an ERS task force of experts who are active in clinical oscillometry research.

Comparison of ERS'93 to the newly published GLI'17 reference values for carbon monoxide transfer factor.

Background: The new predicted values for the carbon monoxide transfer factor (TL,CO) for Caucasians by the Global Lung Function Initiative are available since September 2017. Several authors have previously shown that the predicted values of Cotes et al. (ERS'93), overestimated TL,CO.

The role of charge in the toxicity of polymer-coated cerium oxide nanomaterials to Caenorhabditis elegans.

This study examined the impact of surface functionalization and charge on ceria nanomaterial toxicity to Caenorhabditis elegans. The examined endpoints included mortality, reproduction, protein expression, and protein oxidation profiles. Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to identical 2-5nm ceria nanomaterial cores which were coated with cationic (diethylaminoethyl dextran; DEAE), anionic (carboxymethyl dextran; CM), and non-ionic (dextran; DEX) polymers.

Distinct transcriptomic responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to pristine and sulfidized silver nanoparticles.

Manufactured nanoparticles (MNP) rapidly undergo aging processes once released from products. Silver sulfide (Ag2S) is the major transformation product formed during the wastewater treatment process for Ag-MNP. We examined toxicogenomic responses of pristine Ag-MNP, sulfidized Ag-MNP (sAg-MNP), and AgNO3 to a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans.

Impact of sulfidation on the bioavailability and toxicity of silver nanoparticles to Caenorhabditis elegans.

Sulfidation is a major transformation product for manufactured silver nanoparticles (Ag-MNPs) in the wastewater treatment process.We studied the dissolution, uptake, and toxicity of Ag-MNP and sulfidized Ag-MNPs (sAg-MNPs) to a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results show that reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint tested for both Ag-MNPs and sAg-MNPs.

Determinants of baseline lung function and bronchodilator response in 4-year-old children.

The prolonged period required for maturation of the respiratory system makes it vulnerable to environmental exposure. This study aimed to investigate the association between early-life factors and lung function in preschool children. Children aged 4 years, who were included in a prospective birth cohort, underwent lung function testing at baseline (n=535) and after bronchodilation (n=498) by forced oscillations.

Nasal endoscopy is recommended for diagnosing adults with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of nasal endoscopic findings in adults suspected of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library.

Review Methods: A comprehensive search was performed up to March 5, 2013.

Influence of natural organic matter and surface charge on the toxicity and bioaccumulation of functionalized ceria nanoparticles in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the CeO2 nanoparticle (NP) surface charge and the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) in determining bioavailability and toxicity to the model soil organism Caenorhabditis elegans. We synthesized CeO2-NPs functionalized with positively charged, negatively charged, and neutral coatings. The positively charged CeO2-NPs were significantly more toxic to C.

Behavior of Ag nanoparticles in soil: effects of particle surface coating, aging and sewage sludge amendment.

This study addressed the relative importance of particle coating, sewage sludge amendment, and aging on aggregation and dissolution of manufactured Ag nanoparticles (Ag MNPs) in soil pore water. Ag MNPs with citrate (CIT) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coatings were incubated with soil or municipal sewage sludge which was then amended to soil (1% or 3% sludge (w/w)). Pore waters were extracted after 1 week and 2 and 6 months and analyzed for chemical speciation, aggregation state and dissolution.

An official American Thoracic Society workshop report: optimal lung function tests for monitoring cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and recurrent wheezing in children less than 6 years of age.

Although pulmonary function testing plays a key role in the diagnosis and management of chronic pulmonary conditions in children under 6 years of age, objective physiologic assessment is limited in the clinical care of infants and children less than 6 years old, due to the challenges of measuring lung function in this age range. Ongoing research in lung function testing in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers has resulted in techniques that show promise as safe, feasible, and potentially clinically useful tests. Official American Thoracic Society workshops were convened in 2009 and 2010 to review six lung function tests based on a comprehensive review of the literature (infant raised-volume rapid thoracic compression and plethysmography, preschool spirometry, specific airway resistance, forced oscillation, the interrupter technique, and multiple-breath washout).

Respiratory impedance in healthy subjects: baseline values and bronchodilator response.

Because of the minimal demand for cooperation by the subject, the forced oscillation technique is increasingly employed in routine lung function testing. However, comprehensive and device-independent values of respiratory impedance at baseline and after bronchodilation have not been established for healthy adults. The aim of this multicentre study was to collect impedance data from 4 to 26 Hz in healthy Caucasian subjects between 18 and 80 years of age.

Pre- and post-natal exposure to antibiotics and the development of eczema, recurrent wheezing and atopic sensitization in children up to the age of 4 years.

Background: Little data are available on the relationship between indirect antibiotic exposure of the child in utero or during lactation and allergic diseases. On the other hand, several studies have been conducted on the association with direct post-natal antibiotic exposure, but the results are conflicting.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate pre- and post-natal antibiotic exposure and the subsequent development of eczema, recurrent wheeze and atopic sensitization in children up to the age of 4 years.

Lung function and bronchodilator response in 4-year-old children with different wheezing phenotypes.

Persistent wheeze is a common chronic disease in early childhood and later may progress to asthma. However, the association between pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function and the wheezing phenotype in preschool children is not known. Children 4 yrs of age involved in a prospective birth cohort study (in Antwerp, Belgium) concerning perinatal factors and the occurrence of asthma and allergies, were invited to participate in lung function measurements with the forced oscillation technique.

Triggering for submaximal exercise level in gastric exercise tonometry: serial lactate, heart rate, or respiratory quotient?

Gastric exercise tonometry is a functional diagnostic test in chronic gastrointestinal ischemia. As maximal exercise can cause false-positive tests, exercise buildup should be controlled to remain submaximal. We evaluated three parameters for monitoring and adjusting exercise levels (heart rate [HR], respiratory quotient [RQ], and serial lactate measurements) in 178 tests in both healthy volunteers and patients suspected of gastrointestinal ischemia.

Time-dependent effect of nitrate-rich meals on exhaled nitric oxide in healthy subjects.

Background: Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is a convenient noninvasive marker for airway inflammation in several pulmonary diseases. However, external factors such as nitrate-rich nutrition can affect the levels of eNO and thus compromise its diagnostic value.

Study Objectives: The objective of this investigation was to have a better understanding of the time-dependent effect of nitrate-rich meals on eNO in healthy subjects.