Article
Pediatrics
Vinod H. Ratageri, Puspha Panigatti, Aparna Mukherjee, Rashmi R. Das, Jagdish Prasad Goyal, Javeed Iqbal Bhat, Bhadresh Vyas, Rakesh Lodha, Deepak Singhal, Prawin Kumar, Kuldeep Singh, Samarendra Mahapatro, Bashir Ahmad Charoo, S. K. Kabra, K. R. Jat
Summary: The role of serum procalcitonin in diagnosing pediatric community-acquired pneumonia remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the utility of serum procalcitonin in differentiating bacterial and non-bacterial respiratory infections in children and to assess its usefulness in diagnosing pneumonia. The study found that elevated procalcitonin was significantly associated with radiographic pneumonia, but not with pneumonia based on WHO criteria. However, it can act as a surrogate marker for severe pneumonia.
Article
Respiratory System
Hannah Lawrence, Tricia M. McKeever, Wei Shen Lim, British Thoracic Soc
Summary: The readmission rates for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the UK have increased over the past decade. This study aimed to describe the cohort of patients who were readmitted within 30 days after hospitalisation for CAP in England and explore the reasons for this. A retrospective analysis was performed using data from the British Thoracic Society audit, and it was found that pneumonia was the most common condition treated on readmission and had a higher mortality rate than other diagnoses.
Article
Immunology
Stephen M. Bart, Daniel Rubin, Peter Kim, John J. Farley, Sumathi Nambiar
Summary: Recent analysis of Phase 3 noninferiority trials for hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia revealed higher 28-day all-cause mortality rates among ventilated patients. Factors such as age, residence, diagnosis, and bacterial infection type were associated with mortality risk. A. baumannii infections were more common in Eastern European and Asia/Pacific participants with ventilator-associated pneumonia.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. A. Suaya, M. A. Fletcher, L. Georgalis, A. G. Arguedas, J. M. McLaughlin, G. Ferreira, C. Theilacker, B. D. Gessner, T. Verstraeten
Summary: Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is more severe than community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in HAP episodes was summarized in this study. S. pneumoniae was identified in 5.1% of HAP episodes, with higher rates in the intensive care unit.
JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Catia Cilloniz, Juan Manuel Pericas, Walter H. Curioso
Summary: This article reviews the factors related to CAP-associated outcomes, including host, microorganism, therapeutic approach, and health system organization. The aim is to discuss controversial points and provide recommendations for further research and patient management to improve CAP outcomes, beyond mortality.
EXPERT REVIEW OF ANTI-INFECTIVE THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Marya D. Zilberberg, Brian H. Nathanson, Laura A. Puzniak, Andrew F. Shorr
Summary: Study in a large U.S. database explored the epidemiology and outcomes of hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia. Findings revealed that patients with ventilated hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia had the highest mortality rate, while ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia incurred the highest costs.
CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shannon C. Munro, Dian Baker, Karen K. Giuliano, Sheila C. Sullivan, Judith Haber, Barbara E. Jones, Matthew B. Crist, Richard E. Nelson, Evan Carey, Olivia Lounsbury, Michelle Lucatorto, Ryan Miller, Brian Pauley, Michael Klompas
Summary: The document outlines the research needs to support the call to action against non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia (NVHAP) in the United States. Primary needs include estimating the economic cost of NVHAP, elucidating the pathophysiology, developing surveillance methods, testing prevention strategies, and identifying policy levers. A joint task force including various stakeholders developed this document.
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Raquel Carbonell, Gerard Moreno, Ignacio Martin-Loeches, Maria Bodi, Alejandro Rodriguez
Summary: Pneumonia is a significant global problem, with viruses being a common cause and mixed viral and bacterial pneumonia posing a risk for severe disease. Biomarkers, such as procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP), can provide valuable information for early diagnosis and prognosis. This review analyzes the available evidence and provides recommendations for the use of biomarkers in influenza and SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The authors propose a practical PCT algorithm for guiding antibiotic initiation in these cases.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Aline Wolfensberger, Lauren Clack, Stefanie von Felten, Mirjam Faes Hesse, Dirk Saleschus, Marie-Theres Meier, Katharina Kusejko, Roger Kouyos, Leonhard Held, Hugo Sax
Summary: This study aimed to test a prevention intervention for non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia and a multifaceted implementation strategy. The results showed that implementing the prevention intervention significantly reduced the incidence rate of nvHAP.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rotem Lapidot, Jeffrey Vietri, Melody Shaff, Ahuva Averin, Alex Lonshteyn, Derek Weycker, Matt Wasserman, Ray Farkouh, Stephen Pelton
Summary: This study found that hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in infancy increases the risk of subsequent chronic respiratory disorders, especially when CAP occurs closer to pre-school age (i.e., age 2-5 years). These findings support the hypothesis that inflammation persists beyond the acute stage of pneumonia and plays a role in the development of chronic respiratory sequelae.
RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Pediatrics
Phuong T. K. Nguyen, Paul D. Robinson, Dominic A. Fitzgerald, Ben J. Marais
Summary: Pneumonia is the leading cause of disease and deaths in children under five years old, particularly in resource-limited settings. The etiology is diverse, with limited information on local drug resistance profiles. Respiratory viruses are increasingly implicated in severe childhood pneumonia, especially in settings with high vaccine coverage against bacteria. COVID-19 restrictions significantly reduced respiratory virus circulation, but rebounded once the restrictions were lifted.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Bo-Guen Kim, Minwoong Kang, Jihyun Lim, Jin Lee, Danbee Kang, Minjung Kim, Jinhee Kim, Hyejeong Park, Kyung Hoon Min, Juhee Cho, Kyeongman Jeon
Summary: This study used national health insurance claims data from South Korea to evaluate various factors associated with the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). The results showed that age, gender, pre-existing lung diseases, and certain hospital environmental factors were associated with the incidence of HAP.
BMC PULMONARY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Catia Cilloniz, Raul Mendez, Hector Peroni, Carolina Garcia-Vidal, Veronica Rico, Albert Gabarrus, Rosario Menendez, Antoni Torres, Alex Soriano
Summary: The study found that empirically using ceftaroline in hospitalized patients with severe CAP is associated with a decreased risk of in-hospital mortality.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Jan O. Friedrich, Elisa Gouvea Bogossian
Summary: In a trial evaluating the efficacy of hydrocortisone in treating community-acquired pneumonia, researchers found a nearly 50% lower 28-day mortality rate in the hydrocortisone group compared to the placebo group. They also observed a higher incidence of septic shock in the placebo group. The trial did not allow the use of open-label glucocorticoids, which may have contributed to the higher mortality rate in the placebo group.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Biswajit Chakrabarti, Steven Lane, Tom Jenks, Joanne Higgins, Elizabeth Kanwar, Martin Allen, Dan Wotton
Summary: A study of CAP patients in the UK found that one quarter of patients are readmitted within 30 days, with two-thirds of those readmitted within two weeks. Predictors of readmission include non-metastatic cancer, diabetes with complications, and chronic kidney disease.
BMJ OPEN RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Shivam K. Purohit, Carolyn Samer, Hamish E. G. McWilliam, Renee Traves, Megan Steain, Brian P. McSharry, Paul R. Kinchington, David C. Tscharke, Jose A. Villadangos, Jamie Rossjohn, Allison Abendroth, Barry Slobedman
Summary: This study demonstrates that varicella zoster virus suppresses the expression of antigen presentation molecule MR1, highlighting the intricate temporal relationship between infection and ligand availability. The study also suggests that VZV likely encodes multiple viral genes targeting MR1.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Florian Ingelfinger, Colin Sparano, David Bamert, David Reyes-Leiva, Aakriti Sethi, Lukas Rindlisbacher, Pascale Zwicky, Stefanie Kreutmair, Corinne C. Widmer, Sarah Mundt, Elena Cortes-Vicente, Sonia Tugues, Burkhard Becher, Bettina Schreiner
Summary: This study comprehensively investigates the risks and immune dysfunction associated with azathioprine therapy. Using single-cell mass and spectral flow cytometry, the specific effects of azathioprine on the systemic immune signature were analyzed. Clinical features associated with therapy were analyzed in two independent cohorts of myasthenia gravis patients. The study highlights the risk of adverse events during azathioprine therapy and suggests that monitoring natural killer cells could be valuable in clinical practice.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Critical Care Medicine
Callie M. Drohan, Philip L. Molyneaux, Robert P. Dickson
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Letter
Critical Care Medicine
Reid McCallister, Mark Nuppnau, Michael W. Sjoding, Robert P. Dickson, Rishi Chanderraj
Editorial Material
Respiratory System
Kale S. Bongers, Kathleen A. Stringer, Robert P. Dickson
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Ignacio Martin-Loeches, Antoni Torres, Blin Nagavci, Stefano Aliberti, Massimo Antonelli, Matteo Bassetti, Lieuwe Bos, James Chalmers, Lennie Derde, Jan de Waele, Jose Garnacho-Montero, Marin Kollef, Carlos Luna, Rosario Menendez, Michael Niederman, Dimitry Ponomarev, Marcos Restrepo, David Rigau, Marcus Schultz, Emmanuele Weiss, Tobias Welte, Richard Wunderink
Summary: The ERS, ESICM, ESCMID and ALAT have developed the first international guidelines for severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP). These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, empirical treatment and antibiotic therapy for sCAP.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Bruno Marcel Silva de Melo, Flavio Protasio Veras, Pascale Zwicky, Diogenes Lima, Florian Ingelfinger, Timna Varela Martins, Douglas da Silva Prado, Stefanie Scharli, Gabriel Publio, Carlos Hiroji Hiroki, Paulo Henrique Melo, Andre Saraiva, Thaina Norbiato, Leonardo Lima, Bernhard Ryffel, Thomas Vogl, Johannes Roth, Ari Waisman, Helder I. Nakaya, Cacilda da Silva Souza, Fernando Q. Cunha, Thiago M. Cunha, Burkhard Becher, Jose C. Alves-Filho
Summary: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder driven by the IL-23/type 3 immune response. This study identified S100A9 as a highly up-regulated gene in psoriatic skin, which is produced by keratinocytes and induces IL-23 production by dendritic cells, driving the IL-23/type 3 immunity in psoriasiform inflammation.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Veronika Lysenko, Patrick M. Schurch, Selma Tuzlak, Nicole Wildner-Verhey van Wijk, Larisa V. Kovtonyuk, Burkhard Becher, Markus G. Manz, Stefanie Kreutmair, Alexandre P. A. Theocharides
Summary: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a hematopoietic stem cell neoplasm driven by JAK2 mutations that result in uncontrolled red blood cell (RBC) production. Blocking the CD47-SIRP alpha interaction can correct the polycythemia phenotype in a PV mouse model.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Nicolas Gonzalo Nunez, Jonas Schmid, Laura Power, Chiara Alberti, Sinduya Krishnarajah, Stefanie Kreutmair, Susanne Unger, Sebastian Blanco, Brenda Konigheim, Constanza Marin, Luisina Onofrio, Jenny Christine Kienzler, Sara Costa-Pereira, Florian Ingelfinger, Fabio Cerban, Laura Chiapello, Carolina Montes, Cristina Motran, Jeremias Dutto, Laura Almada, Lucia Boffelli, Lorena Spinsanti, Adrian Diaz, Maria Elisa Rivarola, Javier Aguilar E. Bioq, Mauricio M. Beranek, Marina Pasinovich, Juan Castelli, Carla Vizzotti, Maximilian Schaefer, Juan Villar-Vesga, Sarah Mundt, Carla Helena Merten, Aakriti Sethi, Tobias Wertheimer, Mirjam Lutz, Danusia Vanoaica, Claudia Sotomayor, Adriana Gruppi, Christian Muenz, Diego Cardozo, Gabriela Barbas, Laura Lopez, Paula Carreno, Gonzalo Castro, Elias Raboy, Sandra Gallego, Gabriel V. Moron, Laura A. Cervi, Eva Acosta Rodriguez, Belkys Maletto, Mariana Maccioni, Burkhard Becher
Summary: A study analyzed the immune response of different COVID-19 vaccines (adenoviral, mRNA, and inactivated virus) in 16 combinations. Heterologous combinations of adenoviral and inactivated-virus vaccines were more immunogenic than homologous regimens. The mRNA vaccine as the second dose generated the strongest antibody response and highest frequency of spike-binding memory B cells regardless of the priming vaccine. Priming with inactivated-virus vaccine boosted the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response. Different vaccine combinations elicited distinct immune signatures, highlighting the importance of vaccine type and order of administration.
Article
Immunology
Caroline L. Ashley, Brian P. McSharry, Hamish E. G. McWilliam, Richard J. Stanton, Ceri A. Fielding, Rommel A. Mathias, David P. Fairlie, James McCluskey, Jose A. Villadangos, Jamie Rossjohn, Allison Abendroth, Barry Slobedman
Summary: This study reveals that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) inhibits the MR1 pathway and disrupts the MR1:MAIT cell axis through the viral protein gpUS9. The interaction between this virus and MAIT cells in the context of viral infection is not well characterized.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nicolas Gonzalo Nunez, Fiamma Berner, Ekaterina Friebel, Susanne Unger, Nina Wyss, Julia Martinez Gomez, Mette-Triin Purde, Rebekka Niederer, Maximilian Porsch, Christa Lichtensteiger, Rafaela Kramer, Michael Erdmann, Christina Schmitt, Lucie Heinzerling, Marie-Therese Abdou, Julia Karbach, Dirk Schadendorf, Lisa Zimmer, Selma Ugurel, Niklas Kluemper, Michael Hoelzel, Laura Power, Stefanie Kreutmair, Mariaelena Capone, Gabriele Madonna, Lacin Cevhertas, Anja Heider, Teresa Amaral, Omar Hasan Ali, David Bomze, Florentia Dimitriou, Stefan Diem, Paolo Antonio Ascierto, Reinhard Dummer, Elke Jaeger, Christoph Driessen, Mitchell Paul Levesque, Willem van de Veen, Markus Joerger, Martin Frueh, Burkhard Becher, Lukas Flatz
Summary: In this study, a multi-omics approach was used to characterize the systemic immune compartment of melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer patients before and during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. Potential predictive biomarkers for ICI-induced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were identified, including early increase in CXCL9/CXCL10/CXCL11 and interferon-g (IFN-g) 1 to 2 weeks after treatment initiation, as well as early expansion of Ki-67+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Ki-67+ CD8+ T cells.
Review
Immunology
Patrick Schriek, Jose A. Villadangos
Summary: Antigen-presenting cells capture or synthesize antigens and present them on their plasma membrane through major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Trogocytosis is a mechanism where cells acquire fragments from other cells and incorporate them into their own plasma membrane, including intact antigens and MHC molecules. Trogocytosis expands cellular immunological functions with both beneficial and deleterious consequences.
CURRENT OPINION IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Carmen Mikacenic, Lynn A. Fussner, Jasmine Bell, Ellen L. Burnham, Linda L. Chlan, Sarah K. Cook, Robert P. Dickson, Francis Almonor, Fengming Luo, Karan Madan, Luisa Morales-Nebreda, Kara J. Mould, A. John Simpson, Benjamin D. Singer, Renee D. Stapleton, Chris H. Wendt, D. Clark Files
Summary: Bronchoscopy for research purposes is a valuable tool to understand lung-specific biology in humans. This study provides recommendations for patient selection, hospital staff protection, sample procurement, and sample preparation. The committee concludes that research bronchoscopy is valuable and safe in appropriately selected patients.
ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Jenny C. Kienzler, Burkhard Becher
Summary: Malignant brain tumors have a lack of effective treatment, but immunotherapy has become a focus in brain tumor research. Myeloid cells are found to dominate the tumor microenvironment and their interaction with tumor cells is complex.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Rosario Menendez, Antoni Torres, Pedro Pablo Espana, Jose Alberto Fernandez-Villar, Jose Maria Marimon, Raul Mendez, Catia Cilloniz, Mikel Egurrola, Maribel Botana-Rial, Maria Ercibengoa, Cristina Mendez, Isabel Cifuentes, Bradford D. Gessner
Summary: This study describes the evolution and distribution of serotypes in adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Spain, showing that serotypes included in the 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) are the predominant causes of pneumococcal CAP.