Field Of Pulmonology Research Articles

Impact of Swimming Training on the Course and Symptoms of Bronchial Asthma and Respiratory System Function: A Literature Review

Introduction: Bronchial asthma is one of the most common inflammatory diseases among adults and children. It is characterized by the occurrence of bronchial obstruction, which is manifested, for instance, by a feeling of shortness of breath, wheezing, a feeling of tightness in the chest, a feeling of squeezing in the chest. In addition to pharmacological treatment, health behavior including sport is of great importance. In this publication, we will attempt to discuss the effects of swim training on asthma and respiratory system function. We will try to answer the question whether swimming is a safe form of exercise for patients with bronchial asthma.Material and methods: Review of the specialized literature in the field of pulmonology, guidelines for treatment of bronchial asthma and articles available on PubMed and Google Scholar database searching by the keywordsAim of the study: The aim of this publication is to review the available literature to answer the question of whether swimming training is a suitable form of exercise for asthmatic patients and what effect it has on respiratory functionConclusions: The treatment of bronchial asthma is based on the pharmacological treatment. In addition to medications, non-pharmacological methods and health behaviours are important. Appropriate physical activity for people with asthma may include swimming training, which has a beneficial effect on lung function and asthma symptoms management, especially in the paediatric population. There are studies that suggest that swimming carries a lower risk of causing bronchospasm than other sport activities, however, there are inconclusive reports on the effect of attending chlorinated swimming pools on the development of asthma and allergies. Studies on competitive and elite swimmers show that intensive swimming training, especially in chlorinated pools, can induce bronchial hyperresponsiveness and the risk of developing asthma, but this requires further research.

Pulmonology: What You May Have Missed in 2023.

The field of pulmonology saw significant advances in 2023. The publications highlighted in this article address advances and changes in practice related to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, pleural disorders, and sleep-disordered breathing. One article reviews data examining the efficacy of vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus, a respiratory viral illness that has had devastating effects globally. Four studies evaluate the role of various therapies in COPD, including dupilumab, ensifentrine, pulmonary rehabilitation programs, and lung volume reduction versus endobronchial valves. Another study explores the effect on vascular events of positive-pressure ventilation in patients with sleep-disordered breathing and recent stroke. The use of combination therapy with rituximab and mycophenolate mofetil on progression-free survival in patients with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia is the topic of another study. We also highlight an update of clinical recommendations for the evaluation of patients with pleural disorders and a systematic review analyzing the effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids as a supplement to dual therapy for COPD.

Current evidence for lung ultrasound elastography in the field of pneumology: a systematic review.

Elastography is a technology that has strongly impacted several medical specialties; however, it is not yet applied as part of standard clinical practice in the field of pulmonology. The objective of this systematic review is to analyse the evidence available to date in relation to pleuropulmonary ultrasound elastography, focusing on the three pathologies with the most publications: subpleural consolidations, interstitial lung diseases and pleural effusion. Original in vivo studies published up until 12 August 2023 in the Embase, MEDLINE or Web of Science databases were included. The QUADAS-2 tool was applied to analyse bias. We found 613 records in database search. After duplicates removal, we screened 246 records and finally included 18 papers. The average cohort sample size was 109 patients. The elastography modes most frequently used were strain (22.2%), transient elastography (22.2%), point shear-wave elastography (38.9%) and two-dimensional shear-wave elastography (22.2%). The possibility of a meta-analysis was ruled out because of the heterogeneity of the studies included. The currently available literature indicates that pleuropulmonary ultrasound elastography produces promising and consistent results, although the lack of standardisation in the use of the technique and in the elastography modes employed still impedes its use in daily clinical pneumology practice. The development of a clinical guideline establishing a common nomenclature and standardised techniques for pleuropulmonary elastography will be imperative to generate quality scientific evidence in this field.

Global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease 2023 report: gold executive summary

The Journal of the Pan African Thoracic Society (JPATS) is an open-access peer-reviewed journal committed to publishing high-quality articles in the field of Pulmonology (adult and pediatric), Critical Care, Sleep, Thoracic Surgery.

The analysis of differences at Binary Image in COVID-19 and ARDS Patients from chest X-Ray examination

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a viral infection that was discovered at the end of December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The spread and transmission of this virus is very fast even to all countries in the world. Meanwhile, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is an emergency condition in the field of pulmonology that occurs due to fluid accumulation in the alveoli causes gas exchange disorders so that oxygen distribution to tissues were reduced. In this study, Chest X-Ray (CXR) image processing done in COVID-19 and ARDS patients with the aim of analyzing the differences in binary image using the Otsu Thresholding method. This study prioritizes improving the quality of the original CXR image by segmentation using calculating the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and Mean Square Error (MSE) values. The results showed that the difference between CXR images in COVID-19 patients and ARDS lies in the extent of spread, in COVID-19 patients the extent of spread varies depending on the length of time the virus has invaded and not all of it starts from the alveolus, while ARDS tends to be constant and starts from the lungs. The lower part of the lung, specifically the alveoli. ©2022 JNSMR UIN Walisongo. All rights reserved.

АСТМА-ХОЗЛ ПЕРЕХРЕСТ: БАГАТО ВЖЕ ВІДОМО, АЛЕ ЧАСТИНА ЗАПИТАНЬ ЩЕ ЗАЛИШАЄТЬСЯ БЕЗ ВІДПОВІДЕЙ

The review is devoted to topical issues of terminology, diagnostic criteria and principles of therapy for a pathological condition known as “Asthma-COPD overlap”. Specialists in the field of pulmonology have got used to such term as “Astma- COPD overlap” (ACO), but till now the nuances of diagnostics and treatment of such patients are not developed. The prevalence of ACO in the population varies within 2–55 %. This discrepancy is due, first of all, to the absence of clearly defined criteria of the ACO. Nowadays, the prevailing view is that the ACO is a state characterized by persistent air flow limitation with several signs usually associated with asthma or COPD. This is not a definition of a single disease, but a description term for clinical use, which includes several different clinical phenotypes. The risk of ACO is that the patients have frequent exacerbations, higher mortality, fast lung function decline and worse quality of life. For the purpose of diagnosis of ACO, it is recommended to use the large criteria (persistent airflow limitation (post-bronchodilation FEV1/FVC < 0.7 or the lower limit of normal) in patients aged 40 years and older, with at least 10 pack-years of tobacco smoking or equivalent exposure to indoor or outdoor air pollution, documented history of asthma under 40 years or post-bronchodilation Δ FEV1 > 400 ml) and small criteria (documented history of atopy or allergic rhinitis, post-bronchodilation ΔFEV1 > 200 ml and 12% of baseline values during 2 or more visits, the number of eosinophils in the peripheral blood ≥ 300 cells per μl). Patients with ACO should use therapy containing inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), as this reduces the risk of their hospitalization and death compared to long-term treatment only with bronchodilators. Availability of ACO requires review of planned therapy for patients who previously had asthma or COPD diagnosis only. If COPD is accompanied by asthma, patients should be prescribed ICS as soon as possible. When asthma is accompanied by COPD and at the same time the patient is already taking ICS and long-acting beta-agonists, then long-acting M-cholinolytics should also be considered. Research in the field of the diagnosis and treatment of ACO continues, as some questions are still to be answered. Key words: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthmaCOPD overlap, diagnosis, treatment.

The achievements of pulmonology and the main directions of further improvement of medical care in the Russian Federation

The development of pulmonology in Russia is linked with the creative activity of the Scientific Research Institute of Pulmonology of the Federal Medico-Biological Agency (Research Institute of Pulmonology of the FMBA) and its scientific school.The aim of the analytical review was to assess the role and contribution of the research team of the Research Institute of Pulmonology in improving the quality of medical care to the population of Russia.Methods. The data of medical statistics of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation on morbidity and mortality of the population due to respiratory diseases (RD) from 2004 - 2018 are analyzed. The publications on scientific research conducted with the participation of employees of the Research Institute of Pulmonology for the period from 2005 to 2020 were studied.Results. Over the past 30 years in Russia, with the participation of the staff of the Research Institute of Pulmonology, the state task of creating a system for organizing medical care for the population with RD has been successfully solved. The study and implementation of modern innovative approaches in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of RD, the training of primary care physicians allowed to improve the quality of medical care to patients to the level of world standards. For the period from 2004 - 2018 the mortality of the population from RD 35.6% decrease was registered. During the pandemic of a new coronavirus infection, the use of pulmonology achievements in clinical practice contributed to a decrease in the frequency of deaths in people with COVID-19.Conclusion. Currently, the Research Institute of Pulmonology of the FMBA of Russia retains a leading position in the country in the field of fundamental scientific research, innovative methods of diagnosis and treatment of RD, educational activities and training of specialists in the field of pulmonology.

The outcome of a preoperative one-minute sit-to-stand test is associated with ventilation time after cardiac surgery

Objectives. The One-minute Sit-To-Stand Test (STST) is a relatively novel physical performance test in the field of pulmonology. It measures the exercise tolerance of the patient. In this pilot study, we evaluated its predictive value for the postoperative course in cardiac surgery patients. Design. This was a prospective observational cohort study of patients undergoing elective aortic valve replacement. STST was applied in the patients, along with pulmonary function testing, a day prior to surgery, on postoperative day 7, and 3 months after surgery. A Short Form-36 health related quality of life survey (SF-36) was also included. The patients were divided into two groups according to the preoperative STST outcome: group A (≤20 repetitions, n = 12), and group B (>20 repetitions, n = 18). Results. We enrolled 30 patients in the study between May 2017 and May 2019. No complication were observed during the STST. The standard perioperative measures were identical for both groups. However, group A exhibited a significantly longer artificial ventilation time, as well as worse pulmonary function (VC, FVC, TLCO), on postoperative day 7. Concerning the SF-36, group A displayed a worse pre- and postoperative evaluation in both physical functioning and vitality. Conclusions. STST is a short and practical physical performance test that could enable a better prediction of the postoperative course after cardiac surgery. Patients with lower preoperative STST performance may require longer postoperative artificial ventilation, as they may present worse in some parameters of pulmonary functions and quality of life. However, these findings must be corroborated in larger studies.

Evaluation of reproducible and transparent research practices in pulmonology

BackgroundStudy reproducibility is valuable for validating or refuting results. Provision of reproducibility indicators, such as materials, protocols, and raw data in a study improve its potential for reproduction. Efforts to reproduce noteworthy studies in the biomedical sciences have resulted in an overwhelming majority of them being found to be unreplicable, causing concern for the integrity of research in other fields, including medical specialties. Here, we analyzed the reproducibility of studies in the field of pulmonology. Methods500 pulmonology articles were randomly selected from an initial PubMed search for data extraction. Two authors scoured these articles for reproducibility indicators including materials, protocols, raw data, analysis scripts, inclusion in systematic reviews, and citations by replication studies as well as other factors of research transparency including open accessibility, funding source and competing interest disclosures, and study preregistration. FindingsFew publications included statements regarding materials (10%), protocols (1%), data (15%), and analysis script (0%) availability. Less than 10% indicated preregistration. More than half of the publications analyzed failed to provide a funding statement. Conversely, 63% of the publications were open access and 73% included a conflict of interest statement. InterpretationOverall, our study indicates pulmonology research is currently lacking in efforts to increase replicability. Future studies should focus on providing sufficient information regarding materials, protocols, raw data, and analysis scripts, among other indicators, for the sake of clinical decisions that depend on replicable or refutable results from the primary literature.

Study of bronchial asthma in the USSR in 1960–1980s

The article attempts to analyze in chronological order the stages of the history of the study of bronchial asthma in the USSR in the 1960-1980s. Named the main scientific centers and schools of the USSR, leading scientists who have made an invaluable contribution to the study of the disease, its classification, identified the main directions in the study of bronchial asthma. The significant achievements of Soviet medicine at each of the historical stages, as well as the regularity of the formation of pulmonology in the USSR as a separate medical discipline are shown. In the 60s of the twentieth century in the USSR there is a significant increase in patients with bronchial asthma, including its severe form as an asthmatic status. This required the intensification of scientific research and strengthening of clinical work in the field of pulmonology. The country begins the formation of several scientific schools in different republics and cities. In these centers, bronchial asthma are studied, all-Union and Republican conferences devoted to this disease are held. In 1967 the first all-Union research Institute of pulmonology of the Ministry of Health of the USSR (Leningrad) was opened. With the accumulation of knowledge changed views on the essence of the disease, improved its classification. Such outstanding scientists as A.D. Ado, P.K. Bulatov, G.B. Fedoseev, A.G. Chuchalin played the most important role in the history of bronchial asthma study. In 1986, a new medical specialty - pulmonology appeared in the USSR. In 1991 in Moscow was opened the research Institute of pulmonology, who later became a leading pulmonary center of our country (Research Institute of Pulmonology). The Soviet pulmonology school was finally formed by the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, it has achieved great success in studying the nature and characters of the course of bronchial asthma, having its own original classification and approaches to bronchial asthma therapy.

Fabrication of a Physiologically Relevant Novel Lung‐on‐a‐Chip for the Study of Human Pulmonary Disease and Drug Toxicity

In the scope of biomedical research, many advances have been made in the field of pulmonology with the use of multiple animal models and traditional cell culture experimentation. While these methods are useful when studying single cellular pathways or overarching biological processes, they often falter when studying the meticulous nature of human disease. In this work, we propose the development of a novel Lung‐on‐a‐Chip device that would more accurately mimic the physiological boundaries of human alveoli than animal models or traditional in vitro studies. Utilizing multiple microfabrication techniques, we are developing a microfluidic device with an ultra‐thin (25μm) biodegradable porous silicon membrane. Current data suggests that human pulmonary epithelial and endothelial cells are viable and prolific on the proposed microfabricated silicon membrane in extended studies (14 days). Due to the biodegradability of the fabricated novel silicon membranes, it has been observed in long term studies that cells can remodel and degrade the porous silicon membrane. This degradation allows for physiological cellular contact between membranes mimicking a true blood gas exchange interface as observed in vivo. To further validate this model’s ability to recapitulate human physiology, we have begun to co‐culture with immunological cell types and are monitoring for response to bacterial and tumor antigens. Preliminary data suggests that immunological cells are able to remodel the porous silicon membrane substrate and migrate across cellular boundaries in response to environmental cues as seen in vivo. Broadly, we believe that this model may be used to further characterize and study human pulmonary disease and drug toxicity.Support or Funding InformationMaximizing Access to Research Careers Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research Award# T34GM092711NSF PREM for Functional Nanomaterials, Award# 1827847STROBE NSF Science and Technology Center on Real‐Time Functional Imaging, Award# 1548924.

Holistic approach to COPD patients

The holistic approach, known also as the bio-psycho-social approach should be the main approach to COPD patients. COPD is a progressive and debilitating disease, associated with several co-morbidities and with significant impact on the quality of life not only of the patients, but on their family and relatives. Behavioral factors such as smoking and inappropriate life style are contributing factors to the progression of the disease and decreased quality of life (QoL). These patients could also need palliative care in the end stages of the disease. The general practitioner (GP) is a key person in providing high quality health care for COPD patients, because they are mainly observed, treated and managed in a general practice setting. GPs must be aware of the new guidelines, skilled enough and prepared to deal with them, applying the holistic approach. We are focusing on some important issues such as early recognition/ detection of COPD in general practice, close follow-up, proper medical and non-medical treatment, inducing life style changes, supportive care, quality of life (including approved tests) and palliative care. Applying a holistic approach means also organizing teams according to the needs of the patient with medical and nonmedical specialists. Applying a holistic approach is the best tactical and strategic option for better care and life for COPD patients. I thank the event for giving me an opportunity to speak in front of delegates and many other people from pulmonologists all over the world. I thank everyone for giving good reviews and testimonials for my talk. It was really a great experience for me to attend this two day conference and I enjoyed all the talks at the conference venue and gained lot of knowledge. I am also interested in attending more and more conference of conference series in future. I also suggest young students to attend the conferences organized by conference series to gain knowledge from the talks that speaker’s present. I met colleagues with varying levels of experience in the field of pulmonology. Lyubima Despotova-Toleva MD, PhD is a Medical Doctor with acknowledged specialties in Paedicatics, Family Medicine, Health Care Management and specialization in Paediatric Cardiology. She is a University Professor of Plovdiv Practice/Family Medicine, Scientific Advisor of PhD students, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Long-term and Palliative Care Society. Also, she is the Editor-in-Chief of Folia Palliatrica journal, Board Member of EMA, EGPRN and Lifetime Member of WONCA, IAHPC and WHPCA. She is the Author of more then 150 scientific publications, over 30 monographs, textbooks and manuals. She is the Leader, Coordinator and Senior Researcher in more then 20 international and national research and educational projects and programs (Fulbright, JSPS, mEducator, SmokeFreeBrain etc).

Reply: Exploring Endomicroscopy in the Field of Pulmonology.

Reply: Exploring Endomicroscopy in the Field of Pulmonology.

Professor Chris T. Bolliger

On November 2, 2012, we lost a colleague, mentor, and friend with the untimely passing of Professor Chris Bolliger, undoubtedly one of the most prolific and influential interventional pulmonologist on the global stage.FigureChristoph Thomas Bolliger was born on January 1, 1950, in Olten, Switzerland. He spent his formative years in Basel and Lausanne and completed his medical degree in 1976. Chris came to South Africa in the 1980s as part of an exchange program and trained under the late Professor Attie de Kock (who he often credited as a mentor). In the same decade Chris, fluent in English, German, and French, acted as a medical delegate for the International Committee of the Red Cross in missions in Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Namibia, and South Africa where he also met the political prisoner, Nelson Mandela. In 1990 Chris, who often described himself as a late-bloomer, qualified in internal medicine and pulmonology. He rapidly made a name for himself as a clinical researcher at the University Hospital in Basel. Chris returned to his beloved Cape Town (South Africa) in 1999 as a Professor in Pulmonary Medicine, Co-chairman of the Division of Pulmonology, and Director of Respiratory Research at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Academic Hospital. In the following 13 years, he trained numerous local and international fellows and initiated many clinical research projects, thereby establishing the institution as a premier training and research facility of international standing. During this time, he also supervised numerous PhD candidates. Chris aimed to improve medical care in thoracic oncology. He strived to reduce lung cancer incidence by promoting smoking cessation, established more rapid and efficient diagnostic techniques, pioneered the evidence-based assessment of lung resection candidates, and was a master in nonsurgical treatment techniques. His research enjoyed widespread international recognition. In 2010, his unit was selected as the preferred site for the first ever international clinical study to evaluate the use of real-time technology for tracking lung tumors during radiation delivery. This pioneering work culminated in a landmark publication. Also in 2010, for his achievements in the field of pulmonology, Chris was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Certificate at the World Congress for Bronchology in Budapest, Hungary, where he delivered his honorary lecture on the staging of lung cancer. Chris was a prolific writer and was involved with almost 200 publications, 20 book chapters, and 11 text books. He recently coauthored guidelines on smoking cessation in Africa and the Middle East. He was editor-in-chief of the international journal, Respiration [official journal of the European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology (EABIP) and the World Association of Bronchoscopy Interventional Pulmonology (WABIP)], and he was editor of a renowned international book series, Progress in Respiratory Research. One of the most recent volumes in this series, Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease, received a “Highly Commended” award in the book competition organized by the Library of the British Medical Association, London. He was also a past president of the European Association of Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology, held office in the European Respiratory Society (ERS) including Clinical Assembly Head, and was the course director and scientific committee member of many local and international academic meetings. He was the president of the second Congress for the EABIP to be held in Turkey in 2013, actively and enthusiastically promoting interventional pulmonology literally until the day of he died. Chris was a very active member of the Pleural Group of the ERS and was also an elected member of the Global Healthcare Alliance for Treatment of Tobacco Dependence. Chris met his wife, Xandra, in Cape Town in the 1980s and was blessed with 3 daughters, who were his pride and joy. His passing will leave a huge vacuum, both locally and internationally. This is reflected in a statement by Dr Henri Colt, Chairman of WABIP who, in paying tribute to Chris, wrote “we shall greatly miss his honesty, knowledge, forthrightness, technical expertise, intellectual curiosity, energy, and tremendous can-do attitude.” Chris refused to compromise on quality and stood firm in the face of budgetary constraints and administrative obstacles. All who interacted with him will greatly miss his knowledge and expertise. We will most remember him for his expectation of the highest standards of patient care and research, to always strive to remain a respected academic on the international stage and the belief that a single committed person can change the world.

Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is a disorder most commonly caused in infants by viral lower respiratory tract infection. It is the most common lower respiratory infection in this age group. It is characterized by acute inflammation, edema, and necrosis of epithelial cells lining small airways, increased mucus production, and bronchospasm. The American Academy of Pediatrics convened a committee composed of primary care physicians and specialists in the fields of pulmonology, infectious disease, emergency medicine, epidemiology, and medical informatics. The committee partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-Based Practice Center to develop a comprehensive review of the evidence-based literature related to the diagnosis, management, and prevention of bronchiolitis. The resulting evidence report and other sources of data were used to formulate clinical practice guideline recommendations. This guideline addresses the diagnosis of bronchiolitis as well as various therapeutic interventions including bronchodilators, corticosteroids, antiviral and antibacterial agents, hydration, chest physiotherapy, and oxygen. Recommendations are made for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection with palivizumab and the control of nosocomial spread of infection. Decisions were made on the basis of a systematic grading of the quality of evidence and strength of recommendation. The clinical practice guideline underwent comprehensive peer review before it was approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This clinical practice guideline is not intended as a sole source of guidance in the management of children with bronchiolitis. Rather, it is intended to assist clinicians in decision-making. It is not intended to replace clinical judgment or establish a protocol for the care of all children with this condition. These recommendations may not provide the only appropriate approach to the management of children with bronchiolitis.

Lung Disease: State of the Art

The editor of the American Review of Respiratory Disease Journal has collected 14 articles that appeared in the State of the Art section for the years 1974 and 1975. Leading workers in different fields of pulmonology were invited to provide an updated review of a particular topic. The intention was to aid the practicing physician in caring for their patients with lung diseases. The articles average 27 pages in length. The references total an impressive 1,900, with an average of 136 per article, reflecting the breadth with which the subjects are reviewed. Two articles deal with aerobic Gram-negative bacillary and anaerobic pulmonary infections, respectively, which are therapeutically the most difficult of common bacterial lung and pleural infections. Despite its remarkably decreased prevalence in the United States, pulmonary tuberculosis is reviewed in two articles devoted primarily to chemotherapy. The introduction of fiberoptic bronchoscopy has revolutionized the practice of pulmonology, analogous to