Identifying viral infections through analysis of head space volatile organic compounds.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by human respiratory cells reflect metabolic and pathophysiological processes which can be detected with the use of modern technology. Analysis of exhaled breath or indoor air may potentially play an important role in screening of upper respiratory tract infections such as COVID-19 or influenza in the future. In this experimental study, air samples were collected and analyzed from the headspace of ancell culture infected by selected pathogens (influenza A H1N1 and seasonal coronaviruses OC43 and NL63).

Thoughtful prescription of inhaled medication has the potential to reduce inhaler-related greenhouse gas emissions by 85.

Introduction: Both physicians and patients are increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of medication. The shift of treatment paradigm towards MART-treatment (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) in asthma affects the treatment-related emissions. The carbon footprint of inhaled medication is also tied to the type of the device used.

Effect of Vocalization on Human Aerosol Dynamics: Whispering Produces More Aerosols than Speaking.

Objectives: Sound pressure and exhaled flow have been identified as important factors associated with higher particle emissions. The aim of this study was to assess how different vocalizations affect the particle generation independently from other factors.

Design: Experimental study.

Body Mass Index and the Risk of Adult-Onset Asthma: A Prospective Observational Study among 59,668 Middle-Aged Men and Women in Finland.

Obesity, in addition to many other negative health consequences, affects pulmonary function and is a potential risk factor for asthma. We analyzed the association of body mass index (BMI) with incident asthma among 60,639 Finnish men and women aged 25 to 74 years who participated in a population-based chronic disease risk factor survey in 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, or 2012. Data on lifestyle factors such as smoking and physical activity, as well as medical history, were obtained, and various physical measurements, including height and weight, were taken at baseline.

Successful Use of Easyhaler Dry Powder Inhaler in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Analysis of Peak Inspiratory Flow from Three Clinical Trials.

Introduction: There is increasing pressure to use environmentally friendly dry powder inhalers (DPI) instead of pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDI). However, correct inhalation technique is needed for effective inhaler therapy, and there is persistent concern whether patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can generate sufficient inspiratory effort to use DPIs successfully. The aims of this study were to find clinical predictors for peak inspiratory flow rate (PIF) and to assess whether patients with COPD had difficulties in generating sufficient PIF with a high resistance DPI.

Contribution of smoking change to 45-year trend in prevalence of chronic bronchitis in Finland.

Aims: Tobacco smoking has been identified as the most important risk factor of chronic bronchitis. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of smoking to the trends in prevalence of chronic bronchitis among men and women in Finland.

Methods: For this purpose, we analysed questionnaires included in national FINRISK and FinHealth studies conducted between 1972 and 2017 in 5-year intervals.

Inspiratory Flow Parameters Through Dry Powder Inhalers in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Device Resistance Does Not Limit Use in COPD.

Introduction: Achieving correct inhalation technique through an inhaler to ensure effective drug delivery is key to managing symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, many patients struggle to use their inhalers correctly, with the resultant reduction in therapeutic benefit. Consequently, appropriate inhaler choice is important to maximize clinical benefit.

Patient Inspiratory Maneuver Performance; Peak Lungpower, Acceleration and Volume.

Use of drug delivery devices between nebulizers, dry powder inhalers (DPIs), or metered dose inhalers (MDIs), for treating patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is based on patients' capability of coordinating the inhalation maneuver and achieving sufficient airflow. There are limited data available with regard to how patients meet the requirements of successful inhalation performance, and how the concept of inspiratory lungpower could be applied. The aim of this work was to study the patient inspiratory airflow profile performance in large data sets.

Label-free plasma proteomics identifies haptoglobin-related protein as candidate marker of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and dysregulation of complement and oxidative pathways.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lung parenchymal disease of unknown cause usually occurring in older adults. It is a chronic and progressive condition with poor prognosis and diagnosis is largely clinical. Currently, there exist few biomarkers that can predict patient outcome or response to therapies.

The impact of oral appliance therapy with moderate mandibular advancement on obstructive sleep apnea and upper airway volume.

Purpose: To find out if a moderate protrusion with a mandibular advancement device (MAD) can significantly increase the upper airway volume and, further, what signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be improved by this maneuver.

Methods: There were 58 adults diagnosed with OSA who were referred for MAD therapy. The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 19.

Pirfenidone decreases mesothelioma cell proliferation and migration via inhibition of ERK and AKT and regulates mesothelioma tumor microenvironment in vivo.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis. It is characterized by prominent extracellular matrix, mesenchymal tumor cell phenotypes and chemoresistance. In this study, the ability of pirfenidone to alter mesothelioma cell proliferation and migration as well as mesothelioma tumor microenvironment was evaluated.

Pulmonary administration of a dry powder formulation of the antifibrotic drug tilorone reduces silica-induced lung fibrosis in mice.

The aim of this work was to study the antifibrotic effect of pulmonary administration of tilorone to lung fibrosis. L-leucine coated tilorone particles were prepared and their aerosolization properties were analyzed using two dry powder inhalers (Easyhaler and Twister). In addition, the biological activity and cell monolayer permeation was tested.

Aerosolization, Drug Permeation and Cellular Interaction of Dry Powder Pulmonary Formulations of Corticosteroids with Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin as a Solubilizer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as a solubilizer for the corticosteroids prednisolone and fludrocortisone acetate in dry powder inhalation formulations.

Methods: The dry particles were simultaneously produced and coated with nanosized L-leucine crystals using an aerosol flow reactor method. The aerosolization performances of carrier-free powders were studied using Easyhaler® and Twister™ at 2 and 4 kPa pressure drops over the inhalers.

Insertion characteristics and placement of the Mid-Scala electrode array in human temporal bones using detailed cone beam computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the insertion results and placement of the new Advanced Bionics HiFocus Mid-Scala (HFms) electrode array, inserted through the round window membrane, in eight fresh human temporal bones using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Pre- and post-insertion CBCT scans were registered to create a 3D reconstruction of the cochlea with the array inserted. With an image fusion technique both the bony edges of the cochlea and the electrode array in situ could accurately be determined, thus enabling to identify the exact position of the electrode array within the scala tympani.

Drug permeation and cellular interaction of amino acid-coated drug combination powders for pulmonary delivery.

The effect of three amino acid coatings (L-leucine, L-valine and L-phenylalanine) on particle integrity, aerosolization properties, cellular interaction, cytocompatibility, and drug permeation properties of drug combination powder particles (beclomethasone dipropionate and salbutamol sulphate) for dry powder inhalation (DPI) was investigated. Particles with crystalline L-leucine coating resulted in intact separated particles, with crystalline L-valine coating in slightly sintered particles and with amorphous L-phenylalanine coating in strongly fused particles. The permeation of beclomethasone dipropionate across a Calu-3 differentiated cell monolayer was increased when compared with its physical mixture.

Polypeptide-based aerosol nanoparticles: self-assembly and control of conformation by solvent and thermal annealing.

Nanoconfined self-assemblies within aerosol nanoparticles and control of the secondary structures are shown here upon ionically complexing poly(L-lysine) (PLL) with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) surfactant and using solvents chloroform, 1-propanol, or dimethylformamide. Different solvent volatilities and drying temperatures allowed tuning the kinetics of morphology formation. The supramolecular self-assembly and morphology were studied using cryo-TEM and SEM, and the secondary structures, using FT-IR.

Widening of the inferior alveolar canal: a case report with atypical lymphocytic infiltration of the nerve.

Widening of the inferior alveolar (mandibular) canal is a rare radiological finding. It is most often associated with neurofibromatosis. Rarely, a malignant process such as lymphoma may cause ill-defined enlargement of the mandibular canal.