ERJ Open Research最新文献

Background: Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis (TB) are the two most common causes of granulomatous mediastinal lymphadenopathy. These often exhibit overlapping clinical and radiological characteristics, rendering accurate diagnosis difficult. MicroRNA (miRNA) analysis is increasingly utilised as a potential biomarker for various diseases. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a noninvasive technique for biomarker evaluation in different respiratory conditions. We attempted to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in the EBC of sarcoidosis and mediastinal TB patients.

Methods: EBC was obtained from subjects with a definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis and mediastinal TB. EBC was also obtained from age- and sex-matched control subjects. From EBC, miRNA isolation, cDNA preparation and qPCR array were performed. Differentially expressed miRNAs were shortlisted. Further validation was conducted in the EBC of a new subset.

Results: Subjects with a definitive diagnosis of sarcoidosis (50) and TB (50), and control subjects (50) were included. qPCR array from EBC (20 subjects from each group) shortlisted eight differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-126, miR-132, miR-139-3p, miR-139-5p, miR-181c, miR-454, miR-512-3p and miR-362-5p). In the validation set (EBC of 30 subjects from each group), miR-126 and miR-132 were differentially expressed significantly. The miR-126 and miR-132 expression ratio could differentiate sarcoidosis from mediastinal TB with an AUC of 0.618 (82% specificity and 41% sensitivity).

Conclusion: While EBC miRNA expression is significantly and differently altered in sarcoidosis and mediastinal TB, a simple ratiometric approach failed to provide clinically useful signatures for differentiating between the two in patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

This study uncovered a reversal of seasonal variation in hospitalised COPD exacerbation events after the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigation of updated seasonal exacerbation patterns and triggers can help initiate preventive strategies effectively. https://bit.ly/3wN71h0.

Using both objective cough monitoring and patient-reported outcomes measures, this study describes the burden of cough for patients with non-IPF pulmonary fibrosis https://bit.ly/3wFm0th.

Because of the relevant importance of the IL-33/ST2 axis in COPD pathobiology, the future results of AERIFY-1 and AERIFY-2 trials could disclose new information about subgroups of responder patients to biologic therapies for this highly prevalent disease https://bit.ly/3USJCUP.

A proportion of patients with severe asthma treated with biological drugs undergoes a significant decline in F _ENO. However, variations in F _ENO are largely independent of the clinical efficacy of the biological drug therapy. https://bit.ly/3xWszYJ.

Objective: Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum (LHIS) is a distinct section of epicardial adipose tissue. However, its association with COPD is poorly documented.

Methods: Patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) for clinical indications were recruited retrospectively and screened for LHIS and COPD. LHIS density and the coronary artery disease profile were quantified by CTA: stenosis severity (coronary artery disease radiological reporting system (CADRADS)), coronary artery calcium (CAC) and high-risk plaque (HRP). COPD patients with LHIS were matched for age and sex, the major cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), and compared to controls.

Results: The prevalence of LHIS in all 5466 patients was 5.9%. 151 (72.6%) of 208 patients with COPD had LHIS. LHIS density in COPD patients was higher (-10.93 HU versus -21.1 HU; p<0.001), despite body mass index (BMI) (28.8 versus 27.01 kg·m^-2; p=0.002) being lower. LHIS density was lower in obese (BMI >30 kg·m^-2) patients (20.4 versus 13.6 HU; p=0.02). BMI was inversely correlated with LHIS density (BetaR -0.031; 95% CI: -0.054- -0.008; p=0.007). LHIS density was associated with COPD, but not with BMI on multivariate models. CAC and coronary stenosis severity (CADRADS and >50% stenosis) were not different (p=0.106, p=0.156 and p=0.350, respectively). HRPs were observed more frequently in COPD patients with severe Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages ≥2 (32.3% versus 20.1%; p=0.044), but not when adding mild GOLD stages.

Conclusions: The prevalence of LHIS in COPD patients is high (72.6%), and the adipose tissue density is higher, indicating a higher brown fat component. In obese, patients LHIS density is lower and declines along with BMI. Coronary stenosis severity and calcium were not different; however HRPs were more frequent in severe COPD.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00690-2023.].

The assessment of co-occurring nonrespiratory symptoms in COPD allow us to explore the true complexity of the disease and to plan specific integrated, multidimensional care strategies https://bit.ly/4dwdnBQ.

Heritability can be added to the characteristics of chronic cough, making it a disease in its own right https://bit.ly/3ykD6gB.

This editorial highlights the importance of research towards PGD-specific biomarkers, suggesting strategic sample collection and advanced analysis techniques to expand our knowledge of PGD mechanisms and potential phenotyping https://bit.ly/3UUElw0.