Article
Allergy
Edgar Delgado-Eckert, Anna James, Delphine Meier-Girard, Maciej Kupczyk, Lars I. Andersson, Apostolos Bossios, Maria Mikus, Junya Ono, Kenji Izuhara, Roelinde Middelveld, Barbro Dahlen, Mina Gaga, Nikos M. Siafakas, Alberto Papi, Bianca Beghe, Guy Joos, Klaus F. Rabe, Peter J. Sterk, Elisabeth H. Bel, Sebastian L. Johnston, Pascal Chanez, Mark Gjomarkaj, Peter H. Howarth, Ewa Nizankowska-Mogilnicka, Sven-Erik Dahlen, Urs Frey
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate whether subgrouping of patients based on lung function fluctuation patterns can identify specific phenotypes, revealing associations between different fluctuation clusters and clinical severity, exacerbation risk, and quality of life, as well as increased levels of biomarkers related to remodeling and cellular senescence. This fluctuation-based phenotyping provides additional information complementary to clinical diagnosis, unrelated to eosinophilic inflammation, and could help identify patients who may benefit from specific treatment strategies or closer monitoring.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Omar S. Usmani, MeiLan K. Han, David A. Kaminsky, James Hogg, Josephine Hjoberg, Naimish Patel, Megan Hardin, Christina Keen, Stephen Rennard, Francois-Xavier Ble, Mary N. Brown
Summary: Identification of pathologic changes in early and mild obstructive lung disease has highlighted the importance of small airways in contributing to symptoms. However, current therapies target symptoms and physiological changes rather than underlying causes of airflow disruption. Newer functional and imaging techniques allow for better assessment of small airways dysfunction, but gaps in understanding remain regarding the role of small airways dysfunction in early disease.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yonghua Zhuang, Brian D. Hobbs, Craig P. Hersh, Katerina Kechris
Summary: The study utilized Sparse Multiple Canonical Correlation Network to integrate miRNA and RNA sequencing data, identifying miRNA-mRNA networks associated with COPD-related phenotypes, showing that partial covariate adjustment can improve network identification.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Xiaoying Liu, Md Khadem Ali, Kamal Dua, Yuqiang Mao, Jun Liu
Summary: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD, influencing cellular processes such as cell proliferation, migration, and inflammation. They have the potential to serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for these respiratory conditions.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Barbara Bonnesen, Pradeesh Sivapalan, Alexander Jordan, Johannes Wirenfeldt Pedersen, Christina Marisa Bergsoe, Josefin Eklof, Louise Lindhardt Toennesen, Sidse Graff Jensen, Matiullah Naqibullah, Zaigham Saghir, Jens-Ulrik Staehr Jensen
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate if patients with asthma-COPD overlap have a higher risk of malignancy than patients with COPD without asthma. The study found that asthma-COPD overlap was not associated with an increased risk of cancer events within 2 years as compared to patients with COPD without asthma.
Article
Allergy
Nicole van der Burg, Henning Stenberg, Sandra Ekstedt, Zuzana Diamant, Daisy Bornesund, Jaro Ankerst, Susanna Kumlien Georen, Lars-Olaf Cardell, Leif Bjermer, Jonas Erjefalt, Ellen Tufvesson
Summary: This study found that dual responders (DR) in allergic asthma have a higher number of neutrophils in their airways at baseline and a more active neutrophil phenotype. After allergen challenge, DR released neutrophil extracellular trap factors earlier, which may contribute to the development of a late allergic reaction (LAR).
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Erin L. Tomaszewski, Mark J. Atkinson, Christer Janson, Niklas Karlsson, Barry Make, David Price, Helen K. Reddel, Claus F. Vogelmeier, Hana Mullerova, Paul W. Jones
Summary: The Chronic Airways Assessment Test (CAAT), a questionnaire adapted for patients with asthma and/or COPD, has been shown to be consistent and accurate in measuring overall health status in these patients.
RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Da Jung Kim, Jee Youn Oh, Chin Kook Rhee, Seoung Ju Park, Jae Jeong Shim, Joo-Youn Cho
Summary: This study identified distinct endogenous metabotypes in TB-related COPD, showing elevated levels of inflammatory markers, changes in fatty acid pathways, and dysregulation of tryptophan catabolism. These findings suggest potential novel therapeutic targets for TB-related COPD.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hyonsoo Joo, So-Young Park, So Young Park, Seo Young Park, Sang-Heon Kim, You Sook Cho, Kwang Ha Yoo, Ki Suck Jung, Chin Kook Rhee
Summary: This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of ACO in COPD and severe asthma cohorts and compare baseline characteristics among ACO patients according to phenotype.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yonghua Zhuang, Fuyong Xing, Debashis Ghosh, Brian D. D. Hobbs, Craig P. P. Hersh, Farnoush Banaei-Kashani, Russell P. P. Bowler, Katerina Kechris
Summary: Network approaches have been used to study the complex mechanisms of diseases like COPD. However, integrating protein-protein interaction (PPI) network information with omics data for disease prediction is still limited. This study uses a deep learning method called ConvGNN to integrate COPD-associated PPI, proteomics, and transcriptomics data and improve the accuracy of COPD classification. The updated COPD-associated network developed using AhGlasso algorithm further enhances prediction accuracy. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis identifies important gene/proteins and signaling pathways for COPD classifications.
Article
Respiratory System
Natalia Celejewska-Wojcik, Aleksander Kania, Karolina Gorka, Pawel Nastalek, Krzysztof Wojcik, Anna Gielicz, Lucyna Mastalerz, Marek Sanak, Krzysztof Sladek
Summary: The study measured lipid mediators and cells in induced sputum to reflect the inflammatory process in the bronchial tree of COPD subjects. Increased sputum eosinophilia was associated with higher concentrations of selected proinflammatory eicosanoids, reflecting some disease characteristics such as airway obstruction and exacerbations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Haiman Ma, Liu Yang, Lingli Liu, Ying Zhou, Xiaoya Guo, Shuo Wu, Xiaoxiao Zhang, Xi Xu, Xinyu Ti, Shuoyao Qu
Summary: This study investigated the role of inflammatory biomarkers in distinguishing asthma, asthma-COPD overlap (ACO), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The results showed that higher platelet, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and eosinophil-basophil ratio (EBR) indexes were associated with a higher likelihood of asthma and COPD, while higher eosinophil levels were associated with a lower likelihood. Hemoglobin and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) were negatively correlated with symptom severity, platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was negatively correlated with lung function parameters (FEV1/FVC and FEV1% pred), and EBR was positively correlated with FEV1% pred.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Chloe Bloom, Paul Cullinan, Jadwiga A. Wedzicha
Summary: The study found that asthma phenotype is associated with COVID-19 outcomes. More severe asthma phenotypes are associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalization, but not with type 2 inflammation. The risk of COVID-19 hospitalization appears to be similar to that of influenza and pneumonia.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Allergy
Keita Hirai, Toshihiro Shirai, Takayuki Shimoshikiryo, Megumi Ueda, Yasuhiro Gon, Shuichiro Maruoka, Kunihiko Itoh
Summary: Circulating miR-15b-5p is a potential marker for identifying patients with ACO. By elucidating the molecular pathways controlled by miRNAs, we may better understand the pathophysiology of ACO.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Eric Van Buren, Giorgia Radicioni, Sarah Lester, Wanda K. K. O'Neal, Hong Dang, Silva Kasela, Suresh Garudadri, Jeffrey L. L. Curtis, MeiLan K. K. Han, Jerry A. Krishnan, Emily S. S. Wan, Edwin K. K. Silverman, Annette Hastie, Victor E. Ortega, Tuuli Lappalainen, Martijn C. C. Nawijn, Maarten van den Berge, Stephanie A. A. Christenson, Yun Li, Michael H. H. Cho, Mehmet Kesimer, Samir N. P. Kelada
Summary: Excessive mucus production is a defining feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and recent studies have identified genetic variants associated with the concentration of key proteins in mucus. In particular, a variant on chromosome 11 that affects MUC5B concentration has been linked to COPD features such as chronic bronchitis and acute exacerbations. The findings suggest that genetic variation influences mucus protein concentrations and may impact COPD outcomes.
Article
Allergy
Hajar Ali, Collin Brooks, Yu-Chieh Tzeng, Julian Crane, Richard Beasley, Peter Gibson, Philip Pattemore, Thorsten Stanley, Neil Pearce, Jeroen Douwes
Summary: This study found that autonomic nervous system activity is not associated with pathophysiology or inflammatory phenotype in young asthmatics with generally well-controlled asthma. However, enhanced sympathetic nervous system activity can be detected in asthmatics with airway hyperreactivity or who use beta-agonist medication.
Article
Respiratory System
Nethmi Kearns, Mathew Williams, Pepa Bruce, Melissa Black, Cilein Kearns, Jenny Sparks, Irene Braithwaite, Mark Weatherall, Richard Beasley
Summary: This study compared the bronchodilator response of salbutamol and budesonide/formoterol in adults with stable asthma. The results showed that after 2 minutes of treatment administration, both budesonide/formoterol and salbutamol had minimal changes in FEV1, but salbutamol had a stronger response in FEV1 over 30 minutes.
Editorial Material
Respiratory System
Richard Beasley
Editorial Material
Respiratory System
Richard Beasley, Pepa Bruce, Lee Hatter
Article
Immunology
Marjan Doppen, Cilein Kearns, Mark Weatherall, Nethmi Kearns, Peter McIntyre, Thomas Hills, Richard Beasley
Summary: This study aimed to determine the thresholds for Body Mass Index (BMI) and arm circumference above which a longer needle is needed for intramuscular (IM) delivery of a vaccine in the deltoid muscle at the recommended site in New Zealand. The analysis of two studies involving 442 adults showed that higher arm circumference and BMI values were associated with the need for a longer needle. Based on the findings, men with an arm circumference of 35 cm and women with an arm circumference of 30 cm should use a longer needle to ensure successful intramuscular injection.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tae Yoon Lee, Mohsen Sadatsafavi, Chandra Prakash Yadav, David B. Price, Richard Beasley, Christer Janson, Mariko Siyue Koh, Rupsa Roy, Wenjia Chen
Summary: This study aims to develop and validate a novel risk prediction model for severe exacerbations in patients with severe asthma, and to examine the potential clinical utility of this tool.
Article
Allergy
Lee Hatter, Allie Eathorne, Tom Hills, Pepa Bruce, Claire Houghton, Mark Weatherall, Richard Beasley
Summary: According to the 2020 New Zealand asthma guidelines, there was a significant increase in the use of budesonide/formoterol and a decrease in the use of other medications such as ICS/LABA and SABA.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Allergy
Richard Beasley, Lee Hatter
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Rod Hughes, Eleni Rapsomaniki, Aruna T. Bansal, Jorgen Vestbo, David Price, Alvar Agusti, Richard Beasley, Malin Fageras, Marianna Alacqua, Alberto Papi, Hana Mullerova, Helen K. Reddel
Summary: Cluster analysis in patients with asthma and/or COPD identified distinct clusters with characteristics that differed from conventional diagnostic features. The overlap between clusters suggests that they do not reflect discrete underlying mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Allergy
Richard Beasley, Hannu Kankaanranta
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Marjan Doppen, Ali Mirjalili, Matire Harwood, Allie Eathorne, Irene Braithwaite, Jonathan Bong, Louis Kirton, Ruth Semprini, Mark Weatherall, Alex Semprini, Cilein Kearns, Melissa Black, Stacey Kung, Michaela Walton, Richard Beasley, Thomas Hills
Summary: The study aimed to estimate the proportion of adult diabetics with a skin to deltoid muscle distance (SDMD) greater than 25 mm and assessed whether anthropometric measurements are predictive of ultrasound SDMD measurements. It found that arm circumference and BMI were the best predictors of SDMD, indicating a need for longer needles in a small but important proportion of obese adults with diabetes.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Nethmi Kearns, Neakiry Kivi, Emily Dickinson, Emma Mayo, Allie Eathorne, Augustus Anderson, Richard Beasley, Craig Thornley, Annette Nesdale
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of ongoing symptoms and laboratory abnormalities in confirmed COVID-19 cases from the first wave in the Greater Wellington Region, New Zealand, at least 12 months post infection. The results showed a high prevalence of ongoing symptoms, with many participants reporting worse overall health compared to before contracting COVID-19. Additionally, 90% of participants reported having at least two ongoing symptoms. However, there were minimal laboratory abnormalities detected. It should be noted that this was an observational, cross-sectional study, so a causal relationship between symptoms and COVID-19 infection could not be firmly established.
NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Correction
Respiratory System
Paola Rogliani, Rossella Laitano, Josuel Ora, Richard Beasley, Luigino Calzetta
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Marjan Doppen, Melissa Black, Irene Braithwaite, Jonathan Bong, Allie Eathorne, Louis Kirton, Stacey Kung, Michaela Walton, Thomas Hills, Mark Weatherall, Richard Beasley, Cilein Kearns
Summary: Worldwide, immunisation guidelines have different recommendations for the deltoid injection site, which may impact the needle length required for intramuscular injection. This study aimed to estimate the differences in skin-to-deltoid-muscle distance between different vaccine injection sites recommended by the national guidelines of the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, in obese adults. The study found significant variations in skin-to-deltoid-muscle distance between the recommended injection sites, and emphasized the importance of considering factors such as sex, BMI, and arm circumference when choosing the appropriate needle length for intramuscular vaccination in obese individuals.
NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Wenjia Chen, Helen K. Reddel, J. Mark FitzGerald, Richard Beasley, Christer Janson, Mohsen Sadatsafavi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the combined capacity of patient characteristics in predicting treatment response to mepolizumab in patients with severe asthma. Patient characteristics had a greater capacity to predict treatment response to asthma control than to exacerbation. Key predictors for treatment benefit included exacerbation history, blood eosinophil count, baseline ACQ5 score, age, and presence of nasal polyps.
RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2023)