Respiratory Health Research Articles

Monitoring of Respiratory Disease Patterns in a Multimicrobially Infected Pig Population Using Artificial Intelligence and Aggregate Samples

A 24/7 AI sound-based coughing monitoring system was applied in combination with oral fluids (OFs) and bioaerosol (AS)-based screening for respiratory pathogens in a conventional pig nursery. The objective was to assess the additional value of the AI to identify disease patterns in association with molecular diagnostics to gain information on the etiology of respiratory distress in a multimicrobially infected pig population. Respiratory distress was measured 24/7 by the AI and compared to human observations. Screening for swine influenza A virus (swIAV), porcine reproductive and respiratory disease virus (PRRSV), Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae, and porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) was conducted using qPCR. Except for M. hyopneumoniae, all of the investigated pathogens were detected within the study period. High swIAV-RNA loads in OFs and AS were significantly associated with a decrease in respiratory health, expressed by a respiratory health score calculated by the AI The odds of detecting PRRSV or A. pleuropneumoniae were significantly higher for OFs compared to AS. qPCR examinations of OFs revealed significantly lower Ct-values for swIAV and A. pleuropneumoniae compared to AS. In addition to acting as an early warning system, AI gained respiratory health data combined with laboratory diagnostics, can indicate the etiology of respiratory distress.

Impact of Loneliness and Social Support on Acute Health Service Use and Symptom Exacerbation Among Adults with Asthma and COPD.

Loneliness and low social support are associated with negative health outcomes among adults with asthma or COPD. Although social support is correlated with loneliness, low social support is neither necessary nor sufficient for the experience of loneliness. This study compares the relative association of loneliness and social support on symptom exacerbation (i.e., acute deteriorations in respiratory health) and acute health service utilization (i.e., hospitalizations, emergency department visits) among 206 adults with asthma and 308 adults with COPD. Separate logistic regression models were used to simultaneously examine the association of loneliness and social support with each outcome. Among adults with asthma, loneliness was associated with greater odds of hospitalization (AOR = 2.81, 95%CI [1.13, 7.02]), while low social support was not (AOR = 1.44, 95%CI [0.78, 2.65]). However, neither loneliness nor social support were associated with any other acute health service use or symptom exacerbation among adults with asthma. Among adults with COPD, loneliness, and greater social support were associated with increased odds of symptom exacerbation (AOR = 1.67, 95%CI [1.03, 2.69]; AOR = 1.36, 95%CI 1.02, 1.83]) and hospitalization (AOR = 3.46, 95%CI [1.65, 7.24]; AOR = 1.92, 95%CI [1.15, 3.22]), but only social support was significantly associated with ED visits (AOR = 1.72, 95%CI 1.12, 2.66]). These findings support prior research demonstrating that loneliness and social support are related but separate determinants of patients' physical symptoms and service utilization.

Impact of City-Wide Diesel Generator Use on Air Quality in Quito, Ecuador, during a Nationwide Electricity Crisis

As climate change intensifies and 2023 sets the record for the hottest year, the Amazonian region faces severe drought, leading to a hydroelectricity crisis. This study examines the effects of using environmentally harmful backup power solutions, which are all too common in developing countries—specifically, diesel-powered generators—on urban air quality in Quito, Ecuador, during the hydroelectric crisis of 2023/2024. The impact of the blackouts on air pollution is assessed by comparing it to a reference period before the crisis and to an earlier year with similar weather conditions. The findings indicate that extended blackouts (up to 8 h per day) considerably increased concentrations of SO2 (180%), CO (43%), NO2 (39%), and PM2.5 (20%) compared to ‘normal’ conditions. Conversely, O3 pollution levels decreased (−6%). Our findings suggest potential respiratory and cardiovascular health risks for the urban population, highlighting the urgent need for improved energy infrastructure and cleaner backup power solutions in the developing world. Addressing these challenges is critical for ensuring a healthier and more sustainable urban future amidst climate change projections.

Role of Pranavaha Srota Dushti in Tamaka Shwasa

In Ayurveda, “Srotas” refers to the channels or pathways within the human body through which substances flow. These channels are responsible for the movement of various elements such as nutrients, waste products, Dosha, and other vital substances. The concept of Srotas is fundamental in Ayurvedic medicine, as the proper functioning of these channels is essential for maintaining health and preventing disease. Pranavaha Srotas essentially means channels carrying the vital life force known as Prana. Dushti, referring to vitiation or dysfunction, thereby describes conditions where these channels are obstructed or malfunctioning, preventing Prana from adequately reaching all areas of the body. The resultant energy blockages can lead to numerous disorders, notably respiratory conditions. Dushti occurs from several factors like environmental toxins, inappropriate diet, or lifestyle habits, manifesting symptoms like breathlessness, diminished body energy levels, coughs, or colds. Tamaka Shwasa, an Ayurvedic correlate for Bronchial Asthma, is characterized by Kapha and Vata imbalance. Ayurvedic texts describe it as a very chronic, recurrent condition marked by symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, and difficulty breathing, with the condition generally worsen during dawn and dusk. The treatment approach typically involves pacifying aggravated Dosha i.e Vata and Kapha, strengthening the patient’s immunity, and adopting dietary and lifestyle modifications. These two conditions, Pranavaha Srotas Dushti and Tamaka Shwasa, are often seen as interconnected in Ayurveda’s understanding of respiratory health. Both signify an imbalance in the body’s energy (Prana) flow due to physical or environmental factors, leading to respiratory conditions. Further exploration and consolidation of Ayurvedic knowledge with modern medicine’s advancements may pave the way for more integrative health-care strategies, providing a comprehensive approach to managing respiratory health.

Long-term respiratory consequences of prematurity.

Approximately 10% of all children worldwide are born preterm and respiratory consequences are amongst the most common sequelae of preterm birth. Except for a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms and hospital admissions, preterm birth is associated with lower lung function that may track into adulthood. Lung function impairment is not restricted to extreme or very preterm-born subjects as also children born moderate-late preterm have lower Z-scores for lung function. Given the heterogeneity of prematurity-associated lung disease, phenotype-based, multidisciplinary management is needed to improve respiratory health in preterm-born subjects.

Characterization of pesticide exposures and their associations with asthma morbidity in a predominantly low-income urban pediatric cohort in Baltimore City

BackgroundPesticides may impact respiratory health, yet evidence of their impact on pediatric asthma morbidity is limited, particularly among urban children. ObjectiveTo characterize pesticide biomarker concentrations and evaluate their associations with pediatric asthma morbidity among predominantly low-income, Black children in Baltimore City, USA. MethodsWe measured urinary concentrations of 10 biomarkers for pyrethroid insecticides (cyfluthrin:4F-3PBA, permethrin:3PBA), organophosphate insecticides (chlorpyrifos:TCPY, malathion:MDA, parathion:PNP, diazinon:IMPY), and herbicides (glyphosate:AMPA, GPS; 2,4-dicholorphenoxyacetic acid:2,4-D; 2,4,5-tricholorphenoxyacetic acid:2,4,5-T) among 148 children (5–17 years) with established asthma. Urine samples and asthma morbidity measures (asthma symptoms, healthcare utilization, lung function and inflammation) were collected every three months for a year. Generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations between pesticide biomarker concentrations and asthma morbidity measures, controlling for age, sex, race, caregiver education, season, and environmental tobacco smoke. In sensitivity analyses, we assessed the robustness of our results after accounting for environmental co-exposures. ResultsFrequently detected (≥90% detection) pesticide biomarker concentrations (IMPY, 3PBA, PNP, TCPY, AMPA, GPS) varied considerably within children over the follow-up period (intraclass correlation coefficients: 0.1–0.2). Consistent positive significant associations were observed between the chlorpyrifos biomarker, TCPY, and asthma symptoms. Urinary concentrations of TCPY were associated with increased odds of coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness (adjusted Odds Ratio, aOR, TCPY:1.60, 95% Confidence Interval, CI:1.17–2.18). Urinary concentrations of TCPY were also associated with maximal symptom days (aOR:1.38, CI:1.02–1.86), exercise-related symptoms (aOR:1.63, CI:1.09–2.44), and hospitalizations for asthma (aOR:2.84, CI:1.08–7.43). We did not observe consistent evidence of associations between the pesticide exposures assessed and lung function or inflammation measures. ConclusionAmong predominantly Black children with asthma, we found evidence that chlorpyrifos is associated with asthma morbidity. Further research is needed to assess the contribution of pesticide exposures to pediatric respiratory health and characterize exposure sources among vulnerable populations to inform targeted interventions against potentially harmful pesticide exposures.

Exploring the pathways of urban green space exposure on respiratory health: An empirical study in Nanjing, China

Pathways of association between green space (GS) exposure and respiratory health continue stimulating scholars' research interest. However, the mechanisms underlying the multidimensional association between GS exposure and respiratory health remain to be clarified. Therefore, this study aimed to construct a research framework for exploring the mechanisms affecting the hypothesized pathways (physical activity, air pollution) based on the dynamic quantification of multidimensional exposure indicators (spatial and visual exposure). This study used urban green spaces in Nanjing, China, as sample sites for a pilot experiment. The parallel mediating effect of GS exposure on respiratory health through physical activity and air pollution was explored by partial least squares (PLS) modeling, and the effect of differences in GS exposure levels on this parallel mediating model was explored. The results showed that a dynamic monitoring system of multiple indicators is more conducive to characterizing the actual GS exposure of the population. Promoting physical activity and reducing air quality were both mediating pathways affecting GS exposure and respiratory health, with physical activity being the most critical mediating variable, accounting for 43.06% and 51.02% of the total indirect effects, respectively. And variables such as age, BMI, and gender do not affect the mechanism. The respiratory health-promoting benefits of performing short-term exposure in urban green spaces had a lagged effect of at least 4hours. The results of this study will help environmental epidemiologists to elucidate the pathways and mechanisms by which the green space system affects respiratory health and provide evidence for local governments to implement efficient and respiratory-healthy green space planning and design.

Exposure to agricultural pesticides and wheezing among 5-12-year-old children in the Imperial Valley, CA, USA.

Exposure to pesticides has been linked to adverse respiratory health outcomes in children. We leveraged the Children's Assessing Imperial Valley Respiratory Health and the Environment cohort located in the rural community of Imperial Valley near the US-Mexico border. We calculated the kilograms of total pesticides applied within 400 m of children's residential addresses for the years 2016-2020. Estimated pesticide usage near homes was categorized into three groups (none vs. low vs. high [split at the median]). All health variables (i.e., asthma status and wheezing) were derived from a parent-reported questionnaire on respiratory health. We used generalized linear models, controlling for child sex, the language of survey, health insurance, respondents' highest education, and exposure to environmental secondhand smoking, to calculate prevalence differences between none versus low and high exposure to agricultural pesticides. Approximately 62% of the 708 children (aged 5-12 years) lived within 400 m of at least one pesticide application within 12 months prior to survey administration. Exposure to pesticides within 400 m of children's residences was associated with 12-month prior wheeze. Those in the "high" exposure group had a prevalence of wheezing that was 10 (95% confidence interval: 2%, 17%) percentage points higher than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. Associations for high exposure to specific categories of pesticide applications, sulfur only, all pesticides except sulfur, chlorpyrifos, and glyphosate, also were observed with a higher prevalence of wheezing than among children not exposed to pesticide applications. We observed associations between living near pesticide applications and more wheeze symptoms among children.

Risk assessment of PM2.5 from fossil energy consumption on the respiratory health of the elderly

Air pollution mainly comes from fossil energy consumption (FEC), and it brings great threat to public health. The respiratory system of the elderly is highly susceptible to the effects of air pollution due to the decline in body functions. PM2.5 is a major component of air pollution, so the study of the impact of PM2.5 generated by FEC on the respiratory health of the elderly is of great significance. The existing studies have focused more on the effect of PM2.5 on mortality, and this paper is a useful addition to the existing studies by examining the effect of PM2.5 from FEC on the health of the elderly from the perspective of prevalence. In this paper, the binary Logistic regression model was used to calculate the exposure-response relationship coefficient for respiratory health in older adults using the data in 2018 from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. And referring to the Dynamic Projection model for Emissions in China, the changes in the number of older persons suffering from respiratory diseases due to PM2.5 from FEC in the baseline scenario, the clean air scenario, and the on-time peak-clean air scenario were predicted. The results indicated that: (1) PM2.5 from FEC mainly came from coal; (2) PM2.5 from FEC was detrimental to the respiratory health of the elderly, and older seniors were more affected as they age; (3) In the on-time peak-clean air scenario, the number of elderly people suffering from respiratory diseases due to PM2.5 from FEC was growing at the slowest rate. Based on the above results, this paper raised recommendations for reducing the effect of PM2.5 from FEC on the health of the elderly.

The impact of anti-tuberculosis treatment on respiratory tract microbiome in pulmonary tuberculosis

The growing evidence has underscored the significance of interactions between the host and microbiota in respiratory health, presenting a novel perspective on disease management. Yet, comprehension of the respiratory microbiome shifts before and after anti-tuberculosis treatment is limited. This study compares respiratory microbiome profiles in untreated tuberculosis (UTB) and completed TB treatment (CTB) cases with healthy controls, using 16S rRNA sequencing on sputum samples. Significant reduction in sputum microbial alpha diversity was observed in both TB groups when compared to healthy controls (P < 0.05). Beta diversity analysis showed distinct clustering (P < 0.05). Linear discriminant analysis revealed an abundance of potentially pathogenic bacterial genera like Haemophilus, Pseudomonas, and Mycobacterium in the UTB group, while Streptococcus, Rothia, and Neisseria dominated in CTB samples. Healthy sputum microbiomes were enriched with Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonadaceae_unclassified,andPeptostreptococcus. Moreover, predicted bacterial functional pathways showed significant differences among the three groups, mainly related to nutrient metabolism.These findings indicated significant microbial dysbiosis in sputum samples recovered from patients with pulmonary TB with an elevated presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria, depletion of beneficial genera, and downregulation of several essential metabolic pathways. Further exploration of respiratory microbiome-based diagnostic biomarkers and their role in targeted treatment strategies in tuberculosis is warranted.

The Lymphatic Highway: How Lymphatics Drive Lung Health and Disease.

The pulmonary lymphatic system has emerged as a critical regulator of lung homeostasis and a key contributor to the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases. As the primary conduit responsible for maintaining fluid balance and facilitating immune cell trafficking, the integrity of lymphatic vessels is essential for preserving normal pulmonary structure and function. Lymphatic abnormalities manifest across a broad spectrum of pulmonary disorders, underscoring their significance in respiratory health and disease. This review provides an overview of pulmonary lymphatic biology and delves into the involvement of lymphatics in four major lung diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), asthma, and lung transplant rejection. We examine how lymphatic abnormalities manifest in each of these conditions and investigate the mechanisms through which lymphatic remodeling and dysfunction contribute to disease progression. Furthermore, we explore the therapeutic potential of targeting the lymphatic system to ameliorate these debilitating respiratory conditions. Despite the current knowledge, several crucial questions remain unanswered, such as the spatial and temporal dynamics of lymphatic changes, the molecular crosstalk between lymphatics and the lung microenvironment, and the distinction between protective versus detrimental lymphatic phenotypes. Unraveling these mysteries holds the promise of identifying novel molecular regulators, characterizing lymphatic endothelial phenotypes, and uncovering bioactive mediators. By harnessing this knowledge, we can pave the way for the development of innovative disease-modifying therapies targeting the lymphatic highway in lung disorders.

Structural Stigma and Disparities in Long-Term Health Conditions Among Australians in Same-Sex Relationships: 2021 Australian Census.

Objectives. To explore the extent to which structural stigma (sociocultural and institutional constraining factors) is associated with sexual orientation disparities in long-term health conditions. Methods. We measured structural stigma using the regional percentage of votes against same-sex marriage from Australia's 2017 Marriage Equality Survey and mapped this to the 2021 Census survey of 10 093 399 and 136 988 individuals in different-sex and same-sex relationships, respectively. Controlling for individual and area-level confounders, we used logistic regression analyses to examine the association between quartiles of structural stigma and sexual orientation disparities in long-term health conditions (e.g., any, mental health, asthma, cardiovascular). Results. In the lowest stigma quartile, individuals in same-sex relationships had 56% higher odds of reporting any long-term health condition (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.53, 1.59) and this increased to 63% in the highest stigma quartile (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.58, 1.68). Effects were particularly pronounced for cardiovascular, respiratory, and mental health conditions as well as for men, younger populations, and those living in socioeconomically deprived regions. Conclusions. Living in stigmatizing environments may have deleterious health effects for sexual minorities in Australia. Policy action and enhanced protections for sexual minorities are urgently required. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(10):1110-1122. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307759).

Respiratory rate monitoring based on all-fiber strain-induced humidity sensor

In this paper, an agarose coated-fiber Bragg grating (AG-FBG) based respiratory rate (RR) sensor for evaluating respiratory function and health status by all-fiber strain-induced humidity-sensitive material is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The variation of the environment humidity leads to changes in the film morphology of AG, i.e., expansion and contraction, which impose strains on FBG to dynamically shift the central wavelength. In the experiment, the average sensitivity of the proposed AG-FBG-based RR sensor is 23.6 pm/%RH in the range of 30 %RH–90 %RH. Under the monitoring of a commercial FBG demodulator with a wavelength resolution of 1 pm, rich human breathing information is collected. The RR monitoring under different human postures and breathing patterns are respectively measured. In one breathing cycle, the response time and recovery time are 778 ms and 762 ms, respectively. The proposed sensor is simple and low-cost, shows easy signal demodulation, stable signal wavelength variation, and high repeatability, which has potential applications in vital signs monitoring and medical treatment.

Assessing the Association Between Respiratory Symptoms and Nicotine and Cannabis Use Through Traditional and E-Product Devices in the U.S.

PurposeTo assess the association between past 30-day cigarette smoking, nicotine use with an e-product device (e.g., vape), cannabis smoking, cannabis use with an e-product device, and other forms of cannabis use and past-year respiratory symptoms in a nationally representative sample of people aged 12 and older in the U.S. during 2021. MethodsData from Wave 6 (2021) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study was used, a national probability sample of adolescents (ages 12-17; n=5,652) and adults (ages ≥18; n=30,516). Logistic regression was used to assess the association of past 30-day cigarette smoking, nicotine use with an e-product, cannabis smoking, cannabis use with an e-product, and other forms of cannabis use with past-year respiratory symptoms (a past-year respiratory symptom index was constructed and ranged 0-9; an index of 2+ was flagged as having functionally important respiratory impairment). ResultsThe odds of a past-year respiratory index score of 2+ was greater among respondents who indicated either past 30-day cigarette or cannabis smoking compared to respondents who did not use any nicotine or cannabis during the past 30 days. Past 30-day nicotine and cannabis use with an e-product device was not associated with a respiratory symptom index of 2+. The combination of past 30-day cigarette smoking and cannabis smoking had one of the strongest associations with experiencing a respiratory index score of 2+ among dual users of nicotine and cannabis. ConclusionsPast 30-day cigarette smoking and cannabis smoking was associated with higher odds of functionally important respiratory impairment. Additionally, this study provides robust evidence regarding the potential respiratory harms of single or dual nicotine and cannabis smoking as it relates to respiratory health.

The Relationship Between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Pulmonary Function Among Healthcare Workers in Mosul City/Iraq

The study was designed to evaluate if there is a relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and pulmonary function. This highlights the mechanisms by which obesity and overweight status could affect lung health, through parameters such as Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1%). To determine pulmonary function, spirometry is the main method. It defines the severity of pulmonary function impairment according to FEV1% as normal to mild: average ≥70%, moderate 40-69%, and severe ≤39%. Interestingly, the review even points out that a form of malnutrition can also cause pulmonary function decline. This is why nutritional status should be one consideration in clinical assessments for some types of diseases. Reflecting the fact that obesity is an important contributing factor to respiratory health. It is stated in the document that obesity results from some unwanted changes which can cause the development of smaller lung volumes and also reduce total capacity even less sucking capacities (compared to non-obese people). It also considers waist circumference and additional waist-to-hip ratio as potentially better predictors of pulmonary function than BMI only, because body fat distribution is not reflected by the presence or absence of obesity. The research likewise links this eating pattern to the worldwide rise in obesity and suggests a correlation with myriad health issues such as asthma. This indicates that mechanical consequences of increased body mass could exacerbate airway remodeling, predisposing to subclinical airway dysfunction. Second, it emphasizes the extra burden of breathing experienced by obese patients that may render them short of breath and possibly wheezy. In conclusion, whilst BMI remains a pragmatic measurement to reflect body fat content adequately and therefore pulmonary implications of obesity on lung physiology upstream from Acute exacerbations are also influenced not just by the quantitative trajectory of adiposity (BMI) but qualitative factors related to body distribution including abdominal girth as well as overall nutritional status.

Spirometric reference equations and lung function testing in adults from Southwestern Tanzania.

The increasing relevance of lung function testing in diagnosing and treating pulmonary diseases globally requires adequate spirometric reference equations. However, locally derived reference standards from African countries are widely missing. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Southwestern Tanzania. Participants underwent a socio-demographic interview, anthropometric measurements and standardised spirometric lung function testing. Regression modelling was used to generate Tanzanian prediction equations for spirometry parameters forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC ratio. Out of 400 recruited participants, 343 had usable spirometry results with respect to the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) reproducibility and acceptability criteria. The mean age of participants was 32.65 years (SD 12.11), and 44,9% were females. Spirometric parameters increased with height but decreased with older age. The coefficients of our new prediction equations for spirometry parameters differed substantially from those of existing reference standards. This study provides prediction equations for spirometric lung function in a non-smoking Tanzanian population. The differences in existing equations underline the heterogeneity of locally derived reference equations in Africa and contribute insights and data to discussing global respiratory health care reference standards.

Investigation of inter-subject variation in ultrafine particle deposition across human nasal airways: A study involving children, adults, and the elderly

The airflow and particle dynamics in adult nasal airways have been extensively investigated, but the impact of age-related anatomical changes in children and the elderly remains underexplored. This study systematically investigates age-related anatomical variations and associated influence on nasal airflow dynamics and ultrafine particle deposition characteristics by using Computational Fluid-Particle Dynamics (CFPD) approach. Numerical simulations were conducted for 9 healthy nasal subjects spanning a wide age range. 6 Nasal subjects from the Development Group were used as the primary models for data analysis and deposition correlation development, while 3 subjects from the Validation Group were used to validate the reliability of the derived total and subregional deposition correlations. Our results reveal distinctive variations across age groups. Specifically, the elderly and children exhibit unique patterns that differ from those of young adults. While total deposition efficiency differs significantly between children and adults, filtration efficiency in the subregion with most deposition, main respiratory, remains consistent. Lastly, overall and subregional empirical equations for deposition efficiency were developed by incorporating the combined diffusion parameter, Sca∆b, corroborating the use of geometrical characteristic parameters for each specific subject in predicting nasal deposition efficiency across different age groups. Our findings are expected to improve the predictive nanoparticle exposure analysis in nasal airways across different age groups, thereby improving the respiratory health for individuals throughout the life span.

Oral Cavity Microbiome Impact on Respiratory Infections Among Children.

The respiratory system, traditionally considered antiseptic, harbors a diverse and dynamic bacterial microbiome. Recent advancements in microbiome research have revealed its significant influence on both innate and adaptive immunity, particularly in the context of respiratory infections in children. This article also provides an overview of the types of bacteria that commonly affect the respiratory system, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae. These bacteria are prevalent in pediatric populations and significantly contribute to the development and severity of respiratory tract infections (RTIs). This review aims to evaluate the impact of the oral cavity and upper respiratory microbiome on the susceptibility and severity of respiratory infections in pediatric populations. We specifically focus on how early colonization patterns of bacteria such as Moraxella and Streptococcus contribute to the development of respiratory tract infections in children from birth through adolescence. A thorough literature review was performed, focusing on studies publishing between 2004 and 2023. The review included research exploring the role of the upper respiratory microbiome in pediatric populations, with a specific focus on children aged birth to 18 years. Emphasis was placed on microbial characterization, the modulation of immune responses in respiratory tract infections, and the potential therapeutic applications of microbiome-targeted interventions. The findings suggest that the composition and disruption of the upper respiratory microbiome significantly influence clinical outcomes in children with respiratory infections. Notably, dysbiosis in the microbiome has been linked to increased susceptibility to repeated infections, highlighting the importance of maintaining microbial balance for optimal respiratory health. Understanding the impact of oral cavity and upper respiratory microbiome could lead to improved management and prevention strategies for respiratory infections in children. This review underscores the potential of microbiome modulation, including the use of probiotics as a therapeutic approach to enhance clinical outcomes in pediatric respiratory infections.

Striving for healthy lungs: Enhancing respiratory outcomes of prematurity.

Infants born prematurely are born in a critical developmental time period and because of arrest of lung maturation at that period their pulmonary functions are below the normal for their age. Early lung development has a lifelong effect on respiratory health and disease. Can we affect that sequence of events and change the outcome of chronic lung disease of prematurity?

Optimization of lung tissue pre-treatment by bead homogenization for subsequent culturomics

The discovery that the lung harbors a diverse microbiome, as revealed by next-generation sequencing, has significantly altered our understanding of respiratory health and disease. Despite the association between the lung microbiota and disease, the nature of their relationship remains poorly understood, and culture isolation of these microorganisms could help to determine their role in lung physiology. Current procedures for processing samples from the lower respiratory tract have been shown to affect the viability of microorganisms, so it is crucial to develop new methods to improve their survival. This study aimed to improve the isolation and characterization of lung microorganisms using a bead-beating homogenization method in a mouse model. Microsphere diameter and bead-beating time affected the survival of the microorganisms (E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans). Using 2.3 mm diameter microspheres for 60 s of bead-beating promoted the survival of both bacteria and yeast strains. After intratracheal instillation of these microorganisms in mice, approximately 70% of the cells were recovered after the tissue homogenization. To assess the efficiency of the proposed method, the diversity of bacteria was compared between the homogenate and lung tissue samples. Ninety-one genera were detected in the lung tissue, and 63 in the homogenate. Bacterial genera detected in the homogenate represented 84% of the total abundance of the microbiota identified in the lung tissue. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the tissue homogenization process developed in this study recovered the majority of the microorganisms present in the lung. This study presents a bead-beating homogenization method for effective cultivation of lung tissue microorganisms, which may help to improve the understanding of host–microbe interactions in the lung.