Airway total bacterial density, microbiota community composition and relationship with clinical parameters in bronchiectasis.

Background And Objective: This study explored the relationship between total bacterial density, airway microbiota composition and clinical parameters in bronchiectasis. We determined changes with time during clinical stability and following antibiotic treatment of a pulmonary exacerbation.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre longitudinal cohort study of UK participants with CT confirmed bronchiectasis.

Patients at risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease who need testing evaluated using a modified Delphi process by European experts.

Background: Identifying patients at risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is challenging. Delays in NTM-PD identification and management are associated with declining lung function and increased morbidity and mortality.

Study Design And Methods: European NTM-PD experts (n=12) participated in a three-round modified Delphi process to score symptoms and comorbidities potentially associated with NTM-PD as reasons to test for nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Risk Factors for Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) is widely underdiagnosed, and certain patient groups, such as those with underlying respiratory diseases, are at increased risk of developing the disease. Understanding patients at risk is essential to allow for prompt testing and diagnosis and appropriate management to prevent disease progression.

Research Question: What are the risk factors for NTM-PD that should prompt a physician to consider NTM testing and diagnosis?

Study Design And Methods: Electronic searches of PubMed and EMBASE were conducted in July 2021 for the period 2011-2021.

The disease-specific clinical trial network for primary ciliary dyskinesia: PCD-CTN.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by impaired mucociliary clearance leading to irreversible lung damage. In contrast to other rare lung diseases like cystic fibrosis (CF), there are only few clinical trials and limited evidence-based treatments. Management is mainly based on expert opinions and treatment is challenging due to a wide range of clinical manifestations and disease severity.

Genome sequencing reveals underdiagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia in bronchiectasis.

Background: Bronchiectasis can result from infectious, genetic, immunological and allergic causes. 60-80% of cases are idiopathic, but a well-recognised genetic cause is the motile ciliopathy, primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Diagnosis of PCD has management implications including addressing comorbidities, implementing genetic and fertility counselling and future access to PCD-specific treatments.

Relationship between time to invasive assessment and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing an early invasive strategy after fibrinolysis for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a patient-level analysis of the randomized early routine invasive clinical trials.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between time to invasive assessment and outcomes among ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients randomized to early angiography after fibrinolysis.

Background: The optimal timing of coronary angiography after fibrinolysis and the association with clinical outcomes is uncertain.

Methods: Patient-level data from 6 randomized trials, with a median time to angiography <12 h after fibrinolysis, were pooled.

CARD15/NOD2 polymorphisms are associated with severe pulmonary sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis and Crohn's disease are heterogeneous systemic diseases characterised by granulomatous inflammation. Caspase recruitment domain (CARD)15 is a major susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease, and specifically for ileal and fibrostenotic subtypes. The C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)5 gene has been associated with both parenchymal pulmonary sarcoidosis and perianal Crohn's disease.

HLA-DQB1 0602 allele is associated with splenomegaly in Japanese sarcoidosis.

Objectives: The association between HLA class II alleles and susceptibility to sarcoidosis is well documented. Further, the HLA-DRB1 15 and DQB1 0602 haplotype has been considered as a marker for both chronic and severe disease. Splenomegaly has been proposed as a marker for severity and activity in sarcoidosis, although its functional mechanism is unknown.

Exercise training in chronic heart failure: effects on pro-inflammatory markers.

Background: Acute bouts of exercise have been shown to induce inflammatory cytokine activation and peripheral hypoxia in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). In this study, we set out to investigate the impact of chronic exercise training on pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of endothelial damage.

Methods And Results: We measured tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), its soluble TNF-receptors 1 and 2, interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble e-selectin, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM) and sCD14 in 18 patients with CHF and 9 age-matched controls in a randomized cross-over study of 8 weeks of exercise training (5 days/week, submaximal bicycle ergometer training, 30 min/day; calisthenics 9 min/day) versus 8 weeks of rest.

Home-based exercise training modulates pro-oxidant substrates in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: In chronic heart failure, oxidative stress is thought to lead to endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we assessed the effect of home-based exercise training on variables of the NO and purine pathways.

Methods And Results: Eighteen patients and nine controls were randomly assigned in cross-over design to 8 weeks of exercise training (5 days/week, submaximal bicycle ergometer training, 30 min/day; calisthenics 9 min/day) and 8 weeks of sedentary lifestyle.

Muscle transformation in cardiomyoplasty: the effect of conditioning and mobilisation on perfusion, oxygenation and fatigue resistance in the latissimus dorsi muscle.

Background: In the clinical application of transformed skeletal muscle to cardiac assistance there is evidence that the latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) wrap can undergo atrophy, which would prevent it from providing a sustained functional improvement. Possible causes are ischaemia and degeneration related to the conditioning process. We studied the nutritional and structural changes occurring under different stimulation regimes with the aim of improving the conditioning protocol.