Serial biomarker measurements may be helpful to predict the successful application of high flow nasal cannula in COVID-19 pneumonia patients.

High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) can reduce the need for intubation in patients with coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pneumonia induced acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF), but predictors of HFNC success could be characterized better. C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer are associated with COVID-19 severity and progression. However, no one has evaluated the use of serial CRP and D-dimer ratios to predict HFNC success.

Presence, resilience, and compassion training in clinical education (PRACTICE): Evaluation of a mindfulness-based intervention for residents.

Background: Residents’ well-being tends to decline in the course of training, yet research on preventive and restorative interventions for residents is limited. Mindfulness-based interventions have been successfully employed to support well-being in practicing physicians, but their impacts on residents are not well established.

Objective: This paper describes the structure, content, and evaluation of a pilot mindfulness-based intervention program designated PRACTICE (presence, resilience and compassion training in clinical education) that was designed specifically to support resident well-being.

Accumulation of peribronchial mast cells in a mouse model of ovalbumin allergen induced chronic airway inflammation: modulation by immunostimulatory DNA sequences.

Few peribronchial mast cells are noted either in the lungs of naive mice or in the lungs of OVA-sensitized mice challenged acutely with OVA by inhalation. In this study, we demonstrate that OVA-sensitized mice exposed to repetitive OVA inhalation for 1-6 mo have a significant accumulation of peribronchial mast cells. This accumulation of peribronchial mast cells is associated with increased expression of the Th2 cell-derived mast cell growth factors, including IL-4 and IL-9, but not with the non-Th2 cell-derived mast cell growth factor, stem cell factor.

Resolution of airway inflammation following ovalbumin inhalation: comparison of ISS DNA and corticosteroids.

In this study we have compared the therapeutic effect of the administration of immunostimulatory DNA sequences (ISS) with that of corticosteroids on the resolution of airway inflammation and airway hyperreactivity (AHR) in a mouse model. Mice which had already developed significant levels of eosinophilic airway inflammation 24 h after allergen challenge were then treated with either ISS or corticosteroids, and the effect on AHR and airway inflammation assessed 6 d later. ISS inhibited AHR as effectively as corticosteroids.