The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) 2022 Expert Consensus Document: The use of mechanical circulatory support in lung transplantation

ObjectiveThe use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in lung transplantation has been steadily increasing over the prior decade, with evolving strategies for incorporating support in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. There is significant practice variability in the use of these techniques, however, and relatively limited data to help establish institutional protocols. The objective of the AATS Clinical Practice Standards Committee (CPSC) expert panel was to review the existing literature and establish recommendations about the use of MCS before, during, and after lung transplantation.MethodsThe AATS CPSC assembled an expert panel of 16 lung transplantation physicians who developed a consensus document of recommendations. The panel was broken into subgroups focused on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative support, and each subgroup performed a focused literature review. These subgroups formulated recommendation statements for each subtopic, which were evaluated by the entire group. The statements were then developed via discussion among the panel and refined until consensus was achieved on each statement.ResultsThe expert panel achieved consensus on 36 recommendations for how and when to use MCS in lung transplantation. These recommendations included the use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridging strategy in the preoperative setting, a preference for central veno-arterial ECMO over traditional cardiopulmonary bypass during the transplantation procedure, and the benefit of supporting selected patients with MCS postoperatively.ConclusionsAchieving optimal results in lung transplantation requires the use of a wide range of strategies. MCS provides an important mechanism for helping these critically ill patients through the peritransplantation period. Despite the complex nature of the decision making process in the treatment of these patients, the expert panel was able to achieve consensus on 36 recommendations. These recommendations should provide guidance for professionals involved in the care of end-stage lung disease patients considered for transplantation.     

血清miR-210与新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征严重程度和预后的关系

目的 探讨血清微小RNA-210（mircoRNA-210，miR-210）与新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征（neonatalrespiratory distress syndrome，NRDS）严重程度和预后的关系。 方法 收集NRDS患儿104例，根据预后分为生存组与死亡组。所有新生儿根据首次胸部X线片结果与病情严重程度分为轻度组（Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级）与重度组（Ⅲ级、Ⅳ级）。比较死亡组与生存组患儿一般资料，轻度组与重度组血清miR-210水平与新生儿急性生理学评分围生期补充Ⅱ（perinatal supplement of acute physiological score for neonates Ⅱ，SNAPPE-Ⅱ）评分。绘制ROC曲线分析血清miR-210水平对NRDS患儿死亡的预测价值。采用Spearman相关性分析NRDS发生与血清miR-210的相关性。 结果 根据预后分组，104例患儿中预后较好81例（77.88%），死亡23例（22.12%）。生存组miR-210水平、SNAPPE-Ⅱ评分低于死亡组（P＜0.05）；2组性别、胎龄、出生体重、母亲年龄、病因、剖宫产、双胎、羊水异常差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。按照胸部X线片表现分组，104例患儿轻度患儿73例，重度患儿31例。轻度组miR-210水平、SNAPPE-Ⅱ评分低于重度组（P＜0.05）。NRDS发生与血清miR-210水平呈正相关（r=0.638，P＜0.001）。血清miR-210与SNAPPE-Ⅱ评分呈正相关（r=0.513，P＜0.05）。血清miR-210的最佳分界值为16.71 ng/L时，曲线下面积为0.763，OR=0.846，95%CI：0.892~1.064，敏感度为82.61%，特异度为86.42%。结论 血清miR-210水平升高与NRDS病情严重程度以及预后密切相关，血清miR-210水平与NRDS病情程度呈正相关性，当血清miR-210临界值为16.71 ng/L时对评估NRDS患儿预后具有较高价值。     

Moral Distress and Burnout in NICU Nurses

The objectives of this study were to factor analyze the Moral Distress Scale–Revised (MDS-R) in NICU nurses and to evaluate the relationships among dimensions of the MDS-R and the demoralization, exhaustion, and loss of motive dimensions of the Burnout Measure (BM). A total of 142 NICU nurses completed modified pen-and-paper versions of the MDS-R and BM. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the MDS-R-14 was a relatively good fit for the data. The compromised care dimension predicted BM demoralization (β = 0.24) and exhaustion (β = 0.22), the futile care dimension predicted BM exhaustion (β = 0.18), and the untruthful care dimension predicted BM demoralization (β = .25). Strategies to mitigate moral distress and resulting burnout in NICU nurses should address futile care, compromised care, and untruthful care.     

Electrical impedance tomography as a tool for monitoring mechanical ventilation. An introduction to the technique

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive, radiation-free method of diagnostics imaging, allowing for a bedside, real-time dynamic assessment of lung function. It stands as an alternative for other imagining methods, such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound. Even though the technique is rather novel, it has a wide variety of possible applications. In the era of modern mechanical ventilation, a dynamic assessment of patient's respiratory condition appears to fulfil the idea of personalized treatment. Additionally, an increasing frequency of respiratory failure among intensive care populations raises demand for improved monitoring tools. This review aims to raise awareness and presents possible implications for the use of EIT in the intensive care setting.     

Extracellular vesicles: Their emerging roles in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases

Alveoli are the basic structure of the lungs, consisting of various types of parenchymal and bone marrow-derived cells including alveolar macrophages. These various types of cells have several important functions; thus, communication between these cells plays an important role in homeostasis as well as in the pathophysiology of diseases in the lungs. For a better understanding of the pathophysiology of lung diseases, researchers have isolated each type of lung cell to investigate the changes in their gene expressions, including their humoral factor or adhesion molecules, to reveal the intercellular communication among these cells. In particular, investigations during the past decade have focused on extracellular vesicles, which are lipid bilayer delimited vesicles released from a cell that can move among various cells and transfer substances, including microRNAs, mRNAs and proteins, thus, functioning as intercellular messengers. Extracellular vesicles can be classified into three general groups: apoptotic bodies, exosomes, and microparticles. Extracellular vesicles, especially exosomes and microparticles, are attracting increasing attention from pulmonologists as tools for understanding pathogenesis and disease diagnosis. Here, we review studies, including our own, on exosomes and microparticles and their roles in both lung homeostasis and the pathogenesis of lung diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive lung diseases, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This review also addresses the roles of extracellular vesicles in COVID-19, the current global public health crisis.     

Levels and variables associated with psychological distress during confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic in a community sample of Spanish adults

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's consequences and the state of alarm, literature has shown that people worldwide have experienced severe stressors that have been associated with increased prevalence of emotional distress. In this study, we explored psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and somatization symptoms) using an online survey platform in a sample of 1,781 Spanish adults during the confinement due to COVID-19, relationships between distress and sleep problems, affect, pain, sleep, emotional regulation, gender, type of housing, history of psychopathology, and living alone during the confinement, and differences depending on demographic and psychological variables. Results showed that between 25% and 39% of the sample referred to clinically significant levels of distress. In addition, women showed higher levels of distress, negative affect, perception of pain, and cognitive reappraisal and lower levels of emotional suppression and sleep quality than men. A history of psychopathology, being younger, living alone or in a flat was associated with higher distress. Finally, the variables most strongly related to distress were negative and positive affect, levels of pain, sleep quality, and emotional suppression. Our results highlight the important role of emotional suppression, cognitive reappraisal, and loneliness and the impact of being a woman and younger in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it would be necessary to provide assessments of distress levels in these population groups and focus psychological preventive and therapeutic online interventions on expressing emotions and preventing loneliness.     

Advanced Cancer Patients' Prognostic Awareness and Its Association With Anxiety,Depression and Spiritual Well-Being: A Multi-Country Study in Asia

AimsThe associations between prognostic awareness, acceptance of illness and psychological outcomes (anxiety, depression and spiritual well-being) remain unclear. This study examined the associations between prognostic awareness and various psychological outcomes and how they can be moderated by patient acceptance of illness (cancer).Materials and methodsIn total, 1184 patients with stage IV solid cancer were recruited at major public hospitals across four Asian countries (China, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam). Prognostic awareness and acceptance of illness were assessed through self-reported understanding of treatment intent and acceptance of illness, respectively. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, whereas spiritual well-being was measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Spiritual Well-Being Scale. Multivariate regressions were used to estimate the associations while controlling for patient characteristics.ResultsCompared with being unaware of their prognosis (i.e. believing that their cancer is curable), being aware or unsure of their prognosis was associated with higher anxiety and depressive symptoms, and lower spiritual well-being scores. Acceptance of illness moderated these relationships and improved the psychological outcomes.ConclusionsThe results suggest that disclosure of prognostic information should be provided in conjunction with psychological interventions that focus on acceptance of illness.     

Medicinal nicotine in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome,the new corticosteroid

The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) refers to the anti-inflammatory effects mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system. Existence of this pathway was first demonstrated when acetylcholinesterase inhibitors showed benefits in animal models of sepsis. CAP functions via the vagus nerve. The systemic anti-inflammatory effects of CAP converges on the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on splenic macrophages, leading to suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and simultaneous stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 10. CAP offers a novel mechanism to mitigate inflammation. Electrical vagal nerve stimulation has shown benefits in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Direct agonists like nicotine and GTS-1 have also demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties in models of sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, as have acetylcholinesterase inhibitors like Galantamine and Physostigmine. Experience with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced acute respiratory distress syndrome indicates that immunomodulators have a protective role in patient outcomes. Dexamethasone is the only medication currently in use that has shown to improve clinical outcomes. This is likely due to the suppression of what is referred to as a cytokine storm, which is implicated in the lethality of viral pneumonia. Nicotine transdermal patch activates CAP and harvests its anti-inflammatory potential by means of an easily administered depot delivery mechanism. It could prove to be a promising, safe and inexpensive additional tool in the currently limited armamentarium at our disposal for management of COVID-19 induced acute hypoxic respiratory failure.     

保留自主呼吸对于重度急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者的影响：弊大于利

急性呼吸窘迫综合征（ARDS）是临床上常见的以顽固性低氧为表现的呼吸功能不全或衰竭的综合征，肺不均一性是其主要病理生理特点。传统观点认为，保留ARDS患者自主呼吸有助于改善全身氧合。但是近年来发现，对于重度ARDS患者，保留患者自主呼吸会加重肺损伤，过强的自主呼吸会导致重度ARDS患者跨肺压升高、肺内气体摆动、肺水肿加重以及人机不同步，引起患者肺内炎症加重，氧合功能恶化，最终影响患者预后，增加病死率。本文就自主呼吸对重度ARDS患者呼吸功能的影响机制展开综述。