Effectiveness and Safety of Inhaled Antibiotics in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. A Multicentre Observational Study

BackgroundWe aimed to describe the effectiveness and safety of inhaled antibiotics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, as well as the patient profile in which they are usually prescribed and the patient groups that can most benefit from this treatment.MethodsMulticentre retrospective observational cohort study in COPD patients who had received ≥1 dose of inhaled antibiotics in the last 5 years. Clinical data from the two years prior to and subsequent to the start of the treatment were compared. Primary outcome: COPD exacerbations. Secondary outcomes: side effects, symptomatology (sputum purulence, dyspnoea), microbiological profile and pathogen eradication.ResultsOf 693 COPD patients analyzed (aged 74.1; 86.3% men; mean FEV₁ = 43.7%), 71.7% had bronchiectasis and 46.6% presented chronic bronchial infection (CBI) by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). After 1 year of treatment with inhaled antibiotics, there was a significant decrease in the number of exacerbations (?33.3%; P < .001), hospital admissions (?33.3%; P < .001) and hospitalization days (?26.2%; P = .003). We found no difference in effectiveness between patients with or without associated bronchiectasis. Positive patient outcomes were more pronounced in PA-eradicated patients. We found a significant reduction in daily expectoration (?33.1%; P = .024), mucopurulent/purulent sputum (?53.9%; P < .001), isolation of any potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPM) (?16.7%; P < .001), CBI by any PPM (?37.4%; P < .001) and CBI by PA (?49.8%; P < .001). CBI by any PPM and ≥three previous exacerbations were associated with a better treatment response. 25.4% of patients presented non-severe side-effects, the most frequent of these being bronchospasm (10.5%), dyspnoea (8.8%) and cough (1.7%).ConclusionsIn COPD patients with multiple exacerbations and/or CBI by any PPM (especially PA), inhaled antibiotics appear to be an effective and safe treatment, regardless of the presence of bronchiectasis.     

Analysis of the diagnosis of Japanese patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia using a conditional reprogramming culture

BackgroundPrimary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is diagnosed through multiple methods, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a high-speed video microscopy analysis (HSVA), immunofluorescence (IF), and genetic testing. A primary cell culture has been recommended to avoid the misdiagnosis of secondary ciliary dyskinesia derived from infection or inflammation and improve diagnostic accuracy. However, primary cells fail to differentiate into ciliated cells through repeated passages. The conditional reprogramming culture (CRC) method, a combination of a Rho-kinase inhibitor and fibroblast feeder cells, has been applied to cystic fibrosis. The goal of this study was to evaluate the value of CRC in diagnosing PCD in Japanese patients.MethodsEleven patients clinically suspected of having PCD were included. Airway epithelial cells were obtained from an endobronchial forceps biopsy and cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) combined with CRC. Ciliary movement, ultrastructure, and mutated ciliary protein evaluation were performed using HSVA, TEM, and IF, respectively. Genetic testing was performed on some patients.ResultsCRC yielded dense and well-differentiated ciliated cells with a high success rate (～90%). In patients with PCD, the ciliary ultrastructure phenotype (outer dynein arm defects or normal ultrastructure) and IF findings (absence of the mutated ciliary protein) were confirmed after CRC. In DNAH11-mutant cases with normal ultrastructure by TEM, the HSVA revealed stiff and hyperfrequent ciliary beating with low bending capacity in CRC-expanded cells, thereby supporting the diagnosis.ConclusionsCRC could be a potential tool for improving diagnostic accuracy and contributing to future clinical and basic research in PCD.     

清热活血方佐治支气管扩张症急性加重期临床观察

目的:探讨中药清热活血方佐治支气管扩张症急性加重期的临床疗效。方法:选取2016年10月至2018年10月广州中医药大学第二临床医学院收治的支气管扩张症急性加重期患者116例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组和观察组,每组58例。对照组给予排痰、抗感染等西医常规治疗;观察组在对照组治疗的基础上给予中药清热活血方治疗,疗程均为2周。比较2组治疗前后中医证候评分、动脉血气分析指标、血清基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)和基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂-1(TIMP-1)水平,并比较2组治疗总有效率。结果:治疗后观察组咳嗽痰多、痰中带血、发热口渴、胸闷气急、舌苔、脉象各项评分均低于对照组(P<0.01),血气分析指标中氧分压(PaO 2)、血氧饱和度(SaO 2)高于对照组(P<0.01),二氧化碳分压(PaCO 2)低于对照组(P<0.01),血清MMP-9水平低于对照组(P<0.01),TIMP-1水平高于对照组(P<0.01),治疗总有效率高于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:中药清热活血方佐治支气管扩张症急性加重期,可有效缓解症状,改善动脉血气指标,调节MMP-9、TIMP-1平衡,提高临床疗效。     

Ten Years’ Experience in Surgical Treatment of Right Middle Lobe Syndrome

Purpose: In this study we present the clinical, radiological, pathological, bronchoscopic and surgical results of 40 patients with diagnosis of middle lobe syndrome who were referred to our thoracic surgery unit for surgical intervention in a 10 years period.Methods: Forty patients with obstructive and non-obstructive causes of middle lobe syndrome referred to our thoracic surgery unit. Clinical data were collected from the patients’ records in a ten years period. This study evaluates diagnostic approaches and surgical treatments in right middle lobe syndrome.Results: We studied 23 females (57.5%) and 17 males (42.5%) with a mean age of 31.7. Clinical findings were cough 95%, sputum 80% and intermittent hemoptysis in 50% of patients. Middle lobe collapse was seen in CT scan of all patients. Bronchiectasis was the most common pathologic finding (55%). Tuberculosis was not rare and was final pathology in 20% of patients. In three patients ruptured hydatid cyst was final finding. Surgery was done without mortality and with only minor complications.Conclusion: Lobectomy of right middle lobe is a good therapeutic option in these patients. Due to high prevalence of tuberculosis and hydatid cyst in Middle Eastern countries these two must be considered as causes of middle lobe syndrome.     

支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清人分泌型磷脂酶A2-X表达情况及其与炎性指标的相关性研究

背景　支气管扩张症是呼吸系统常见病、多发病，感染是引起支气管扩张症的最常见原因。人分泌型磷脂酶A2-X（sPLA2-X）在炎性反应中发挥重要作用，并可促进炎性反应的发生、发展，而支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清sPLA2-X表达情况及其与重要炎性指标如降钙素原（PCT）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、白介素（IL）-6、IL-17、IL-33是否存在相关性尚未见相关报道。目的　研究支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清sPLA2-X表达情况及其与炎性指标--PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33的相关性，并进一步研究血清sPLA2-X对支气管扩张症合并感染的影响。方法　选取2017年2月-2019年1月在贵州省人民医院呼吸与危重症医学科住院治疗的支气管扩张症合并感染患者47例为病例组，选取同期在贵州省人民医院健康体检中心体检的健康志愿者21例为健康对照组。收集研究对象一般资料，分别检测健康对照组体检当天、观察组治疗前（入院当天）与治疗后（出院前1天）血清sPLA2-X、白细胞计数、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33。比较两组治疗前后观察指标，分析病例组治疗前血清sPLA2-X与PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33的相关性。结果　病例组治疗前血清sPLA2-X、白细胞计数、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33均高于健康对照组（P<0.05）；病例组治疗后血清sPLA2-X、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-17均高于健康对照组（P<0.05）；两组治疗后白细胞计数、IL-6、IL-33比较，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。病例组治疗后血清sPLA2-X、白细胞计数、PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33均低于本组治疗前（P<0.05）。病例组治疗前血清sPLA2-X与PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-17、IL-33均呈正相关（r=0.526 2、 0.640 1、0.550 7、0.516 8、0.609 9、0.357 4，P值均<0.01）。结论　支气管扩张症合并感染患者血清sPLA2-X升高，且其与PCT、CRP、iNOS、IL-6、IL-7、IL-33呈正相关，表明血清sPLA2-X与支气管扩张症合并感染有重要的关联，血清sPLA2-X可作为评估支气管扩张症合并感染的参考指标。     

HRCT对支气管扩张症的诊断价值

目的 研究ＨＲＣＴ对支气管扩张症的诊断价值。方法 统计支气管扩张症５４例,其中全部病例做了常规ＣＴ扫描,４０例如了ＨＲＣＴ,３６例有磺油支气管造影资料。结果 柱状扩张２９例,曲张型魂敢管扩张９例,囊状扩张５例,混合型扩张１１例。ＨＲＣＴ发现率为１００％,支气管碘油造影剂８４．４％,常规ＣＴ为７５％,结论 ＨＲＣＴ是支气管扩张的最佳检查方法。     

Distribution of Major Pathogens from Sputum and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Patients with Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis: A Systematic Review

Objective:

Noncystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis remains as a common health problem in Asia. Pathogens’ distribution in airways of patients with non-CF bronchiectasis is important for doctors to make right decision.

Data Sources:

We performed this systematic review on the English language literatures from 1966 to July 2014, using various search terms included “pathogens” or “bacteria” or “microbiology” and “bronchiectasis” or “non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis” or “non-CF bronchiectasis” or “NCFB.”

Study Selection:

We included studies of patients with the confirmed non-CF bronchiectasis for which culture methods were required to sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Weighted mean isolation rates for Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Stapylococcus aureus, Moxarella catarrhails were compared according to different methodology.

Results:

The total mean bacterial culture positive rates were 63%. For studies using sputum samples, the mean positive culture rates were 74%. For studies using BALF alone or BALF and sputum, it was 48%. The distributions of main bacterial strains were 29% for H. influenzae, 28% for P. aeruginosa, 11% for S. pneumoniae, 12% for S. aureus, and 8% for M. catarrhails with methodology of sputum. Meanwhile, the bacterial distributions were 37% for H. influenzae, 8% for P. aeruginosa, 14% for S. pneumoniae, 5% for S. aureus, and 10% for M. catarrhails with methodology of BALF alone or BALF and sputum. Analysis of the effect of different methodology on the isolation rates revealed some statistically significant differences.

Conclusions:

H. influenzae accounted for the highest percentage in different methodology. Our results suggested that the total positive culture rates and the proportion of P. aeruginosa from sputum and BALF specimens had significant differences, which can be used in further appropriate recommendations for the treatment of non-CF bronchiectasis.