American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2020
Comment Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRecommended Reading from Boston University School of Medicine Fellows.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2020
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyBronchial Rheoplasty For Treatment of Chronic Bronchitis: 12 Month Results from a Multi-Center Study.
Rationale: Chronic bronchitis (CB) is characterized by productive cough with excessive mucus production, resulting in quality-of-life impairment and increased exacerbation risk. Bronchial rheoplasty uses an endobronchial catheter to apply nonthermal pulsed electrical fields to the airways. Preclinical studies have demonstrated epithelial ablation followed by regeneration of normalized epithelium. ⋯ Significant changes from baseline to 6 months in COPD Assessment Test (mean, -7.9; median, -8.0; P = 0.0002) and SGRQ (mean, -14.6; median, -7.2; P = 0.0002) scores were observed, with similar observations through 12 months. Conclusions: This study provides the first clinical evidence of the feasibility, safety, and initial outcomes of bronchial rheoplasty in symptomatic patients with CB. Clinical trial registered with www.anzctr.org.au (ACTRN 12617000330347) and clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03107494).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2020
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyPlasma Cortisol, Aldosterone, and Ascorbic Acid Concentrations in Patients with Septic Shock do not Predict Treatment Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality: A Nested Cohort Study.
Rationale: Whether biomarkers can identify subgroups of patients with septic shock with differential treatment responses to hydrocortisone is unknown. Objectives: To determine if there is heterogeneity in effect for hydrocortisone on mortality, shock resolution, and other clinical outcomes based on baseline cortisol, aldosterone, and ascorbic acid concentrations. Methods: From May 2014 to April 2017, we obtained serum samples from 529 patients with septic shock from 22 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand. ⋯ Elevated free cortisol was significantly associated with 90-day mortality (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.00-1.27; P = 0.04), but total cortisol, aldosterone, and ascorbic acid were not. Conclusions: In patients with septic shock, there was no heterogeneity in effect of adjunctive hydrocortisone on mortality, shock resolution, or other clinical outcomes based on cortisol, aldosterone, and ascorbic acid concentrations. Plasma aldosterone and ascorbic acid concentrations are not associated with outcome.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2020
Randomized Controlled TrialDibutyl Phthalate Augments Allergen-induced Lung Function Decline and Alters Human Airway Immunology: A Randomized Crossover Study.
Rationale: Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in common commercial products. Epidemiological studies suggest that phthalate exposure is associated with development or worsening of allergic diseases such as asthma. However, effects of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) or other phthalates found in high concentrations in indoor air have never been examined in allergic individuals in a controlled exposure setting. ⋯ Conclusions: DBP exposure augmented allergen-induced lung function decline, particularly in those without baseline hyperresponsiveness, and exhibited immunomodulatory effects in the airways of allergic individuals. This is the first controlled human exposure study providing biological evidence for phthalate-induced effects in the airways. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02688478).