Clinical remission in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with mepolizumab: A analysis of RELIght study.

Remission of asthma can occur as part of the natural history of the disease; however, the use of biologics can result in disease remission in some patients. In this post hoc analysis of the RELIght study, we aimed to evaluate clinical remission in real life among patients treated with mepolizumab, to detect possible differences between "remitters" and "nonremitters," and to evaluate possible predictors of remission. Clinical remission was defined as the absence of asthma exacerbations, discontinuation of oral corticosteroids (OCS), achievement of asthma control (Asthma Control Test [ACT] ≥ 20), and stable or improved lung function.

Evaluation of the intensity of cigarette odors based on the perception of consumers.

Introduction: We evaluated the tobacco odor intensity of cigarettes based on a large consumer panel and explored the differences of odor intensity perception based on sex, age and smoking habits.

Methods: The perceived intensity of tobacco odor of cigarettes was evaluated using a consumer group method. A consumer panel of 240 volunteers (80 smokers, 80 ex-smokers and 80 non-smokers) was asked to smell eleven unlit cigarettes and then report their tobacco odor intensity in a specific questionnaire.

Successful and safe treatment of severe steroid depended eosinophilic asthma with mepolizumab in a woman during pregnancy.

A 26-year-old female with steroid dependent eosinophilic asthma and nasal polyps who had successfully been treated with mepolizumab for 17 consecutive months with complete steroid withdrawal and symptoms control, stopped biologic treatment due to pregnancy efforts. Mepolizumab discontinuation resulted in frequent exacerbations and daily symptoms despite high dose ICS/LABA and re-initiation of oral steroids. Mepolizumab was initiated again, followed by improvement of asthma control and gradual withdrawal of steroids within 2 months.

Heterogeneity in the use of biologics for severe asthma in Europe: a SHARP ERS study.

Introduction: Treatment with biologics for severe asthma is informed by international and national guidelines and defined by national regulating bodies, but how these drugs are used in real-life is unknown.

Materials And Methods: The European Respiratory Society (ERS) SHARP Clinical Research Collaboration conducted a three-step survey collecting information on asthma biologics use in Europe. Five geographically distant countries defined the survey questions, focusing on seven end-points: biologics availability and financial issues, prescription and administration modalities, inclusion criteria, continuation criteria, switching biologics, combining biologics and evaluation of corticosteroid toxicity.

Validation of Patras Immunotherapy Score model for prediction and prognosis of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab: results from a European multicentre study.

Background: Recently, the Patras Immunotherapy Score (PIOS) has been developed to estimate the survival benefit of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) treated with nivolumab or pembrolizumab. The aim of this study was to validate the clinical value of PIOS in an external cohort of aNSCLC patients.

Methods: PIOS is a baseline formula produced by the combination of performance status, body mass index, age and line of treatment.

Review of industry reports on EU priority tobacco additives part B: Methodological limitations.

The Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) defines enhanced reporting obligations applying to 15 priority additives added to cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco. A consortium of 12 international tobacco companies submitted 14 reports that were reviewed by an independent scientific body within the Joint Action on Tobacco Control (JATC). The reports were evaluated in accordance with the TPD with regard to their comprehensiveness, methodology and conclusions.

Review of industry reports on EU priority tobacco additives part A: Main outcomes and conclusions.

The European Union Tobacco Products Directive (EU TPD) mandates enhanced reporting obligations for tobacco manufacturers regarding 15 priority additives. Within the Joint Action on Tobacco Control (JATC), a review panel of independent experts was appointed for the scientific evaluation of the additive reports submitted by a consortium of 12 tobacco manufacturers. As required by the TPD, the reports were evaluated based on their comprehensiveness, methodology and conclusions.

A Comprehensive Study of Event Detection in WPCN Networks with Noisy Measurements.

Various aspects of the detection of events in wireless powered communication networks (WPCN) are studied and analyzed under the assumption of highly noisy sensor measurements. In WPCN, networks sensor nodes' stored energy is a scarce resource and must be treated sparingly. Frequent false alarm detections force superfluous transmissions, thus depleting nodes' energy storage.

Eosinophilic Fasciitis following Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy with Pembrolizumab.

With the increasing number of indications for checkpoint inhibitor therapy in cancer patients, rheumatology specialists are often involved in the diagnosis and management of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The most common rheumatic irAEs are arthritis, sicca syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, and myositis. Eosinophilic fasciitis, an already rare rheumatic disease, is a very unusual rheumatic irAE.

Effect of COVID-19-Related Lockdown οn Hospital Admissions for Asthma and COPD Exacerbations: Associations with Air Pollution and Patient Characteristics.

We conducted a retrospective observational study to assess the hospitalization rates for acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) during the first imposed lockdown in Athens, Greece. Patient characteristics and the concentration of eight air pollutants [namely, NO (nitrogen monoxide), NO (nitrogen dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), PM2.5 (particulate matter 2.

Association of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) with immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: The advanced lung cancer inflammation index [ALI: body mass index × serum albumin/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)] reflects systemic host inflammation, and is easily reproducible. We hypothesized that ALI could assist guidance of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study included 672 stage IV NSCLC patients treated with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors alone or in combination with chemotherapy in 25 centers in Greece and Germany, and a control cohort of 444 stage IV NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy without subsequent targeted or immunotherapy drugs.

Long-term efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with allergic asthma: A real-life study.

The efficacy and safety of omalizumab in patients with severe allergic asthma have been established in both randomized controlled trials and real-life studies. To evaluate the sustained effectiveness and safety of long-term treatment with omalizumab in a real-world setting. In this retrospective study, we included patients treated with omalizumab for at least 8 years in four asthma clinics in Greece.

Genetics and Epigenetics in Asthma.

Asthma is one of the most common respiratory disease that affects both children and adults worldwide, with diverse phenotypes and underlying pathogenetic mechanisms poorly understood. As technology in genome sequencing progressed, scientific efforts were made to explain and predict asthma's complexity and heterogeneity, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) quickly became the preferred study method. Several gene markers and loci associated with asthma susceptibility, atopic and childhood-onset asthma were identified during the last few decades.

Clinical utility of thoracic endosonography (EBUS/EUS-b) in mediastinal staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer: comparison with integrated PET/CT-a real-life prospective study in Greece.

Background: Accurate mediastinal staging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crucial for the determination of optimal treatment management.

Methods: This was a real-life prospective study enrolling 140 patients between December 2016 and August 2018. We aimed to determine the clinical utility of EBUS/EUS-b in mediastinal staging of patients with NSCLC in comparison with integrated PET/CT.

Thoracic endosonography (EBUS/EUS-b) in the diagnosis of different intrathoracic diseases: A 4-year experience at a single-centre in Greece.

Background: In the last decade, the advent of thoracic endosonography has revolutionised the field of diagnostic bronchoscopy.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre prospective study in "Sotiria" Chest diseases hospital between January 2016 and December 2019. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and diagnostic value of combined EBUS/EUS-b in comparison with EBUS-TBNA and EUS-b FNA in different intrathoracic diseases.

Mepolizumab in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: A 2-Year Follow-Up in Specialized Asthma Clinics in Greece: An Interim Analysis.

Introduction: Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody against IL-5 for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. The aim of the current study was to present a predesigned interim analysis of the data of patients who have completed 1 year of therapy with mepolizumab.

Methods: This study is a prospective multicenter, noninterventional 2-year observational study and aims to describe the clinical benefit and safety profile of mepolizumab in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.