Potassium-Competitive Acid Blocker Versus Proton Pump Inhibitor: A Pilot Study on Comparable Efficacy in the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux-Related Cough.

Acid inhibitors have been considered in treating gastroesophageal reflux-related cough (GERC). Compared to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) have more potent and durable effects on anti-acid secretion. However, whether vonoprazan and esomeprazole have different therapeutic effects on GERC remains unknown. Patients diagnosed with GERC were enrolled in our study and randomly treated with vonoprazan (20 mg, once daily, P-CAB) or esomeprazole (20 mg, twice daily, PPI) for two months. A prokinetic agent was also administered. Patients were followed up once a month. Cough severity visual analogue scale (VAS) was measured as the primary outcome, while cough symptom score (CSS) and scores for cough-related quality-of-life or reflux-related symptoms were the secondary endpoints. A total of 50 patients completed the study, with 25 patients in each group. P-CAB and PPI groups showed similar decreases in cough severity VAS and CSS scores after the 2-month treatment (all P < 0.001). For quality-of-life, the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) score increased significantly from baseline in both groups, but the P-CAB group had greater improvement and a higher LCQ score in month 2 (all P ≤ 0.05). For reflux-related symptoms, the Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire (HARQ) score declined substantially over time in the P-CAB group, while the reflux symptom index (RSI) score decreased in both groups. The P-CAB group tended to have a lower HARQ (P = 0.051) and RSI (P = 0.069) scores in month 2. In conclusion, vonoprazan may be comparable to esomeprazole in cough symptom relief in GERC during the 2-month treatment period, but possibly provides better gains on classic reflux symptoms and quality-of-life. The long-term efficacy of P-CABs on GERC may be worth further exploration. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2200067089.

Imaging features and deep learning for prediction of pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in CT images.

Background: Pulmonary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (PEH) is a rare vascular tumour, and its early diagnosis remains challenging. This study aims to comprehensively analyse the imaging features of PEH and develop a model for predicting PEH. Methods: Retrospective and pooled analyses of imaging findings were performed in PEH patients at our center (n=25) and in published cases (n=71), respectively. Relevant computed tomography (CT) images were extracted and used to build a deep learning model for PEH identification and differentiation from other diseases. Results: In this study, bilateral multiple nodules/masses (n=19) appeared to be more common with most nodules less than 2 cm. In addition to the common types and features, the pattern of mixed type (n=4) and isolated nodules (n=4), punctate calcifications (5/25) and lymph node enlargement were also observed (10/25). The presence of pleural effusion is associated with a poor prognosis in PEH. The deep learning model, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.72], has a differentiation accuracy of 100% and 74% for the training and test sets respectively. Conclusions: This study confirmed the heterogeneity of the imaging findings in PEH and showed several previously undescribed types and features. The current deep learning model based on CT has potential for clinical application and needs to be further explored in the future.

Real-world effectiveness and predictors of super-responders to dupilumab in a Chinese uncontrolled asthma cohort.

Background: Dupilumab has been shown to be effective in clinical trials for moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma. However, the efficacy of dupilumab in the real world and the prediction of treatment response have not been well studied in patients with asthma. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of dupilumab and explore predictors of super-responders in a Chinese retrospective cohort. Methods: From January 2021 through December 2022, the patients with uncontrolled asthma who were treated with dupilumab for 4 months were included. Symptom control, type 2 inflammatory biomarkers, and lung function were collected at baseline and follow-up for efficacy assessment. Super-responders were defined as exacerbation-free, off maintenance of oral corticosteroids (mOCS), and with a score of the five-item Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-5) of <0.5. The uni- and multivariable logistic regressions were used to construct predictive models for super-responders based on baseline features. Results: A total of 53 patients were included. After 4 months treatment, the median (interquartile range [IQR]) ACQ-5 score decreased from 1.8 (1.6-2.4) to 0.4 (0.2-0.8) (p < 0.001), the median (IQR) number of exacerbations, from 0.0 (0.0-1.0) to 0.0 (0.0-0.0) (p = 0.005). The median (IQR) dose of mOCS (prednisone equivalent) decreased from 15.0 mg/day (8.8-22.5 mg/day) to 2.5 mg/day (0.0-10.0 mg/day) (p = 0.008) in nine patients who were receiving mOCS. All efficacy assessment parameters, including sputum eosinophil were significantly improved, while blood eosinophil count did not decline (530 cells/mm³ [300-815 cells/mm³] versus 560 cells/mm³ [220-938 cells/mm³], p = 0.710). After taking dupilumab, 25 of 53 patients (47.2%) achieved a super-response. The age of onset < 42 years (odds ratio [OR] 7.471 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.286-43.394) and the baseline fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) of 25-50 ppb (OR 35.038 [95% CI, 3.104-395.553]) predicted super-responders, which showed a C-index of 0.822 (95% CI, 0.697-0.947). Conclusion: Dupilumab significantly improved symptom control, type 2 inflammatory markers, and lung function in Chinese patients with uncontrolled asthma. Airway eosinophils, rather than blood eosinophils, can be a reliable indicator of therapeutic efficacy. The early-onset asthma as well as the medium-high level of baseline FeNO contributed to the prediction of super-responders.

Efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy for refractory or unexplained chronic cough: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Refractory chronic cough (RCC) has a significant impact on patient's health-related quality of life and represents a challenge in clinical management. However, the optimal treatment for RCC remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate and compare the efficacy and safety of the current pharmacological therapeutic options for RCC. Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Ovid databases from January 1, 2008 to March 1, 2023. All randomised control trials (RCTs) reporting outcomes of efficacy or/and safety were included in the Bayesian network meta-analysis. Here, we compared the effects on Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and objective cough frequency of patients with RCC. Besides, we also compared the incidence of adverse events (AEs) for analysis of safety. PROSPERO registration: CRD42022345940. Findings: 19 eligible RCTs included 3326 patients and 7 medication categories: P2X3 antagonist, GABA modulator, Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) modulator, NK-1 agonist, opioid analgesic, macrolide, and sodium cromoglicate. Compared with placebo, mean difference (MD) of LCQ and 24 h cough frequency for P2X3 antagonist relief were 1.637 (95% CI: 0.887-2.387) and -11.042 (P = 0.035). Compared with placebo, effect sizes (MD for LCQ and cough severity VAS) for GABA modulator were 1.347 (P = 0.003) and -7.843 (P = 0.003). In the network meta-analysis, gefapixant is the most effective treatment for patients with RCC (The Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking Curves (SUCRA) is 0.711 in LCQ, 0.983 in 24 h cough frequency, and 0.786 in cough severity VAS). Lesogaberan had better efficacy than placebo (SUCRA: 0.632 vs. 0.472) in 24 h cough frequency. Eliapixant and lesogaberan had better efficacy than placebo in cough severity VAS. However, TRP modulator had worse efficacy than placebo. In the meta-analysis of AEs, the present study found P2X3 antagonist had a significant correlation to AEs (RR: 1.129, 95% CI: 1.012-1.259), especially taste-related AEs (RR: 6.216, P < 0.05). Interpretation: In this network meta-analysis, P2X3 antagonist showing advantages in terms of efficacy is currently the most promising medication for treatment of RCC. GABA modulator also showed potential efficacy for RCC but with AEs of the central system. Nevertheless, the role of TRP modulator needed to be revisited. Further research is needed to determine the potential beneficiary population for optimizing the pharmacological management of chronic cough. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (81870079), Guangdong Science and Technology Project (2021A050520012), Incubation Program of National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (GMU2020-207).

Temporal trend in burden of asthma in China, South Korea, and Japan, 1990-2019: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: Asthma is a public health problem worldwide. However, only a few studies have reported the epidemiology of asthma in various age groups in East Asia. The present study aimed to analyze and predict trends in the incidence of asthma in East Asia through the Global Burden of Disease 2019 (GBD 2019) study and provide information for prevention and control strategies. Methods: The estimates of incidence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and risk factors of asthma in China, South Korea, Japan, and the world from 1990-2019 were retrieved from the GBD 2019 study. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) and the average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) assessed the incidence, deaths, and DALYs of asthma, and the projection was assessed by applying the age-period-cohort model. Results: The burden of asthma in South Korea and Japan was slightly higher than in China and slightly lower than that worldwide. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of asthma in China decreased slightly from 394.58/100,000 in 1990 to 355.33/100,000 in 2019 (with an AAPC of -0.59), while the age-standardized death rate (ASDR) and the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDALR) decreased significantly (with a AAPCs of -5.22 and -2.89, respectively), which were lower than those in South Korea and Japan. Moreover, males in China, South Korea, and Japan were significantly more affected by tobacco and environmental/occupational factors than females, while the proportion of metabolic factors in females was higher than that in males. The prediction for the burden of asthma in the three East Asian countries continued to decline or stabilize until 2030, especially in China and Japan. Conclusions: Although the overall asthma burden has a downward trend according to GBD 2019, it is still heavy in East Asia, especially South Korea. In addition, increased concern and control measures are needed for the disease burden in elderly patients.

The Association Between Insulin Use and Asthma: An Epidemiological Observational Analysis and Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a common respiratory disease caused by genetic and environmental factors, but the contribution of insulin use to the risk of asthma remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between insulin use and asthma in a large population-based cohort, and further explore their causal relationship by Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. METHODS: An epidemiological study including 85,887 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2018 was performed to evaluate the association between insulin use and asthma. Based on the inverse-variance weighted approach, MR analysis were conducted to estimate the causal effect of insulin use on asthma from the UKB and FinnGen datasets, respectively. RESULTS: In the NHANES cohort, we found that insulin use was associated with an increased risk of asthma [odd ratio (OR) 1.38; 95% CI 1.16-1.64; p < 0.001]. For the MR analysis, we found a causal relationship between insulin use and a higher risk of asthma in both Finn (OR 1.10; p < 0.001) and UK Biobank cohorts (OR 1.18; p < 0.001). Meanwhile, there was no causal association between diabetes and asthma. After multivariable adjustment for diabetes in UKB cohort, the insulin use remained significantly associated with an increased risk of asthma (OR 1.17, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An association between insulin use and an increased risk of asthma was found via the real-world data from the NHANES. In addition, the current study identified a causal effect and provided a genetic evidence of insulin use and asthma. More studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the association between insulin use and asthma.