Bronchodilators in Tobacco-Exposed Persons with Symptoms and Preserved Lung Function.

BACKGROUND: Many persons with a history of smoking tobacco have clinically significant respiratory symptoms despite an absence of airflow obstruction as assessed by spirometry. They are often treated with medications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but supporting evidence for this treatment is lacking. METHODS: We randomly assigned persons who had a tobacco-smoking history of at least 10 pack-years, respiratory symptoms as defined by a COPD Assessment Test score of at least 10 (scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating worse symptoms), and preserved lung function on spirometry (ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1] to forced vital capacity [FVC] ≥0.70 and FVC ≥70% of the predicted value after bronchodilator use) to receive either indacaterol (27.5 µg) plus glycopyrrolate (15.6 µg) or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was at least a 4-point decrease (i.e., improvement) in the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score (scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating worse health status) after 12 weeks without treatment failure (defined as an increase in lower respiratory symptoms treated with a long-acting inhaled bronchodilator, glucocorticoid, or antibiotic agent). RESULTS: A total of 535 participants underwent randomization. In the modified intention-to-treat population (471 participants), 128 of 227 participants (56.4%) in the treatment group and 144 of 244 (59.0%) in the placebo group had at least a 4-point decrease in the SGRQ score (difference, -2.6 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -11.6 to 6.3; adjusted odds ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.60 to 1.37; P = 0.65). The mean change in the percent of predicted FEV1 was 2.48 percentage points (95% CI, 1.49 to 3.47) in the treatment group and -0.09 percentage points (95% CI, -1.06 to 0.89) in the placebo group, and the mean change in the inspiratory capacity was 0.12 liters (95% CI, 0.07 to 0.18) in the treatment group and 0.02 liters (95% CI, -0.03 to 0.08) in the placebo group. Four serious adverse events occurred in the treatment group, and 11 occurred in the placebo group; none were deemed potentially related to the treatment or placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled dual bronchodilator therapy did not decrease respiratory symptoms in symptomatic, tobacco-exposed persons with preserved lung function as assessed by spirometry. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and others; RETHINC ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02867761.).

Association Between Emergency Medical Service Agency Volume and Mortality in Trauma Patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of annual trauma patient volume on outcomes for emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. BACKGROUND: Regionalization of trauma care saves lives. The underlying concept driving this is a volume-outcome relationship. EMS are the entry point to the trauma system, yet it is unknown if a volume-outcome relationship exists for EMS. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of prospective cohort including 8 trauma centers and 20 EMS air medical and metropolitan ground transport agencies. Patients 18 to 90 years old with injury severity scores ≥9 transported from the scene were included. Patient and agency-level risk-adjusted regression determined the association between EMS agency trauma patient volume and early mortality. RESULTS: A total of 33,511 were included with a median EMS agency volume of 374 patients annually (interquartile range: 90-580). Each 50-patient increase in EMS agency volume was associated with 5% decreased odds of 6-hour mortality (adjusted odds ratio=0.95; 95% CI: 0.92-0.99, P =0.03) and 3% decreased odds of 24-hour mortality (adjusted odds ratio=0.97; 95% CI: 0.95-0.99, P =0.04). Prespecified subgroup analysis showed EMS agency volume was associated with reduced odds of mortality for patients with prehospital shock, requiring prehospital airway placement, undergoing air medical transport, and those with traumatic brain injury. Agency-level analysis demonstrated that high-volume (>374 patients/year) EMS agencies had a significantly lower risk-standardized 6-hour mortality rate than low-volume (<374 patients/year) EMS agencies (1.9% vs 4.8%, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: A higher volume of trauma patients transported at the EMS agency level is associated with improved early mortality. Further investigation of this volume-outcome relationship is necessary to leverage quality improvement, benchmarking, and educational initiatives.

Early Cold Stored Platelet Transfusion Following Severe Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of early cold stored platelet transfusion compared to standard care resuscitation in patients with hemorrhagic shock. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Data demonstrating the safety and efficacy of early cold stored platelet transfusion are lacking following severe injury. METHODS: A phase 2, multicenter, randomized, open label, clinical trial was performed at five U.S. trauma centers. Injured patients at risk of large volume blood transfusion and the need for hemorrhage control procedures were enrolled and randomized. The intervention was the early transfusion of a single apheresis cold stored platelet unit, stored for up to 14 days vs. standard care resuscitation. The primary outcome was feasibility and the principal clinical outcome for efficacy and safety was 24-hour mortality. RESULTS: Mortality at 24 hours was 5.9% in patients who were randomized to early cold stored platelet transfusion compared to 10.2% in the standard care arm (difference, -4.3%; 95% CI, -12.8% to 3.5%; P=0.26). No significant differences were found for any of the prespecified ancillary outcomes. Rates of arterial and/or venous thromboembolism and adverse events did not differ across treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In severely injured patients, early cold stored platelet transfusion is feasible, safe and did not result in a significant lower rate of 24-hour mortality. Early cold stored platelet transfusion did not result in a higher incidence of arterial and/or venous thrombotic complications or adverse events. The storage age of the cold stored platelet product was not associated with significant outcome differences.

Prehospital Time Following Traumatic Injury Is Independently Associated With the Need for In-Hospital Blood and Early Mortality for Specific Injury Types.

OBJECTIVE: Treating traumatic hemorrhage is time sensitive. Prehospital care and transport modes (eg, helicopter and ground) may influence in-hospital events. We hypothesized that prehospital time (on-scene time [OST] and total prehospital time [TPT]) and transport mode are associated with same-day transfusion and mortality. Furthermore, we sought to identify regions of anatomic injury that modify the relationship between prehospital time and outcomes in strata corresponding to transport types. METHODS: We obtained prehospital, in-hospital, and trauma registry data from an 8-center cohort of adult nonburn trauma patients from 2017 to 2022 directly transported from the scene to the hospital and having an Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 9 for the Task Order 1 project of the Linking Investigators in Trauma and Emergency Services research network. We excluded patients missing prehospital times, patients < 18 years of age, patients from interfacility transfers, and recipients of prehospital blood. Our same-day outcomes were in-hospital transfusions within 4 hours and 24-hour mortality. Each outcome was adjusted using multivariable logistic regression for covariates of prehospital phases (OST and TPT), mode of transport (helicopter and ground), age, sex, ISS, Glasgow Coma Scale motor subscale score < 6, and field hypotension (systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg). We evaluated the association of prehospital time on outcomes for scene missions by transport mode across severe injury patterns defined by Abbreviated Injury Scale > 2 body regions. RESULTS: Of 78,198 subjects, 34,504 were eligible for the study with a mean age of 47.6 ± 20.3 years, ISS of 18 ± 11, OST of 15.9 ± 9.5 minutes, and TPT of 48.7 ± 20.3 minutes. Adjusted for injury severity and demographic factors, transport type significantly modified the relationship between prehospital time and outcomes. The association of OST and TPT with the odds of 4-hour transfusion was absent for the ground emergency medical services (GEMS) cohort and present for the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) ambulance cohort, whereas these times were associated with decreased 24-hour mortality for both transport types. When stratifying by injury to most anatomic regions, OST and TPT were associated with a decreased need for 4-hour transfusions in the GEMS cohort. However, OST was associated with increased early transfusion only among patients with severe injuries of the thorax, and this association persisted after adjusting additionally for injury type (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.05; P = .02). The presence of polytrauma supported an association between prehospital time and decreased 24-hour mortality for the GEMS cohort (OST: OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.99; P < .01; TPT: OR = 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99; P = .02), whereas no injuries showed significant association of helicopter prehospital time on mortality after adjustment. CONCLUSION: We determined that transport type affects the relationship between prehospital time and hospital outcomes (4-hour transfusion: positive relationship for HEMS and negative for GEMS, 24-hour mortality: negative for both transport types). Furthermore, we identified regions of anatomic injury that modify the relationship between prehospital time and outcomes in strata corresponding to transport types. Of these regions, most notable were severe isolated injuries to the thorax that supported a positive relationship between HEMS OST and 4-hour transfusions and polytrauma that showed a negative relationship between GEMS OST or TPT and 24-hour mortality after adjustment.

A data-driven approach finds RNA polymerase III antibody and tendon friction rubs as enrichment tools for early diffuse scleroderma trials.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical trials in early diffuse SSc have consistently shown a placebo group response with a declining modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), with negative outcomes. Our objective was to identify strategies using clinical characteristics or laboratory values to improve trial design. METHODS: We identified early diffuse SSc patients first seen at the University of Pittsburgh from 1980-2015. Eligible patients had ≥3 visits, with at least two mRSS scores within the first year of follow-up. We performed Kaplan-Meier analyses, group-based trajectory analysis of mRSS scores, followed by multivariable regression analysis and classification tree analysis. We applied the results to the abatacept in early diffuse systemic sclerosis (ASSET) trial outcome data. RESULTS: We identified 403 patients with <18 months, and 514 with <36 months disease duration. The median number of mRSS follow-up scores was 14 (interquartile range 8, 25). All methodologic approaches identified skin thickness progression rate, RNA polymerase III (RNAP3) antibody positivity and presence of tendon friction rubs (TFR) as predictors of mRSS trajectory over 5 years of follow-up, and thereby as potential enrichment variables. When applied to the ASSET data, adjustment for both RNAP3 and TFR demonstrated reduction of the placebo mRSS response, particularly at 6 months. A significant difference in the ACR Composite Response Index in Systemic Sclerosis (CRISS) score was found with adjustment by RNAP3 at 6 months, and TFR or RNAP3 at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Adjustment for both RNAP3 and TFR predicts mRSS trajectory and diminished the mRSS decline in ASSET placebo group, and identified significant differences in CRISS. RNAP3, particularly, is a stratification or enrichment approach to improve early diffuse SSc trial design.

Blood component ratios in children with non-traumatic life-threatening bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In paediatric trauma patients, there are limited prospective data regarding blood components and mortality, with some literature suggesting decreased mortality with high ratios of plasma and platelets to red blood cells (RBCs) in massive transfusions; however, most paediatric massive transfusions occur for non-traumatic aetiologies and few studies assess blood product ratios in these children. This study's objective was to evaluate whether high blood product ratios or low deficits conferred a survival benefit in children with non-traumatic life-threatening bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the five-year, multicentre, prospective, observational massive transfusion epidemiology and outcomes in children study of children with life-threatening bleeding from US, Canadian and Italian medical centres. Primary interventions were plasma:RBC and platelets:RBC (high ratio ≥1:2 ml/kg) and plasma and platelet deficits. The primary outcome was mortality at 6 h, 24 h and 28 days. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine independent associations with mortality. RESULTS: A total of 222 children were included from 24 medical centres: 145 children (median [interquartile range] age 2.1 years [0.3-11.8]) with operative bleeding and 77 (8.0 years [1.2-14.7]) with medical bleeding. In adjusted analyses, neither blood product ratios nor deficits were associated with mortality at 6 h, 24 h or 28 days. CONCLUSION: This paper addresses a lack of prospective data in children regarding optimal empiric massive transfusion strategies in non-traumatic massive haemorrhage and in finding no decrease in mortality with high plasma or platelet to RBC ratios or lower deficits supports an exploratory analysis for mortality.

The Geography of Injuries in Trauma Systems: Using Home as a Proxy for Incident Location.

INTRODUCTION: Effective trauma system organization is crucial to timely access to care and requires accurate understanding of injury and resource locations. Many systems rely on home zip codes to evaluate geographic distribution of injury; however, few studies have evaluated the reliability of home as a proxy for incident location after injury. METHODS: We analyzed data from a multicenter prospective cohort collected from 2017 to 2021. Injured patients with both home and incident zip codes were included. Outcomes included discordance and differential distance between home and incident zip code. Associations of discordance with patient characteristics were determined by logistic regression. We also assessed trauma center catchment areas based on home versus incident zip codes and variation regionally at each center. RESULTS: Fifty thousand one hundred seventy-five patients were included in the analysis. Home and incident zip codes were discordant in 21,635 patients (43.1%). Injuries related to motor vehicles (aOR: 4.76 [95% CI 4.50-5.04]) and younger adults 16-64 (aOR: 2.46 [95% CI 2.28-2.65]) were most likely to be discordant. Additionally, as injury severity score increased, discordance increased. Trauma center catchment area differed up to two-thirds of zip codes when using home versus incident location. Discordance rate, discordant distance, and catchment area overlap between home and incident zip codes all varied significantly by geographic region. CONCLUSIONS: Home location as proxy for injury location should be used with caution and may impact trauma system planning and policy, especially in certain populations. More accurate geolocation data are warranted to further optimize trauma system design.

Effect of vitamin D supplementation on total and allergen-specific IgE in children with asthma and low vitamin D levels.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have yielded inconsistent findings for the relation between vitamin D level and total IgE or allergic sensitization. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether vitamin D supplementation reduces levels of total IgE and IgE to each of 2 common indoor allergens in children with asthma and low vitamin D levels. METHODS: Total IgE, IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, and IgE to Blattella germanica were measured at the randomization and exit visits for 174 participants in the Vitamin D Kids Asthma Study, a multicenter, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation (4000 IU/d) to prevent severe exacerbations in children with persistent asthma and vitamin D levels less than 30 ng/mL. Multivariable linear regression was used for the analysis of the effect of vitamin D supplementation on change in each IgE measure. RESULTS: Participants were followed for an average of 316 days. At the exit visit, more subjects in the vitamin D arm achieved a vitamin D level equal to or more than 30 ng/mL compared with those in the placebo arm (87% vs 30%; P < .001). In a multivariable analysis, vitamin D3 supplementation had no significant effect on change in total IgE, IgE to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, or IgE to Blattella germanica between the exit and randomization visits (eg, for log10 total IgE, ß = 0.007; 95% CI, -0.061 to 0.074; P = .85). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation, compared with placebo, has no significant effect on serum levels of total IgE, IgE to dust mite, or IgE to cockroach in children with asthma and low vitamin D levels.

Incidence and visual outcomes of acute endophthalmitis post intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors in a single referral center.

BACKGROUND: To describe the incidence and factors predicting visual outcome in patients with infectious endophthalmitis following intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. METHODS: Retrospective, single-site, cohort study. Patients with acute endophthalmitis within 6 weeks of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection who were referred to our practice after inciting injection or were injected by us between January 2010 and July 2017 were included. All patients received intravitreal antibiotics with either vitreous/anterior chamber tap (TAP) or pars plana vitrectomy. Visual outcomes pre/post treatment, baseline variables (age, gender, ocular disease) and cultures results were studied. RESULTS: Seventy eyes of 69 patients were included. Presenting VA was the strongest factor associated with final visual outcome after adjusting for other variables including culture status and baseline VA (p = .0002). Cultures were positive in 62.8% of eyes and were associated with worse visual outcome (p = .0087). Growth of Streptococcus or microorganisms other than coagulase negative Staphylococci (CNS) was also associated with worse prognosis, regardless of baseline and presenting VA (p = .0002). The crude incidence of post-injection endophthalmitis was 0.028% in our practice (40 eyes in 143,628 injections) during the study time. No significant difference was found between pre-filled bevacizumab versus ranibizumab or aflibercept drawn from a vial. CONCLUSIONS: In a large, single center, retrospective study, the incidence of acute endophthalmitis post anti-VEGF injection was relatively low. Worse visual acuity at presentation of endophthalmitis and growth of Streptococcus or organisms other than CNS were associated with the worst visual outcomes.

Violence-related distress and lung function in two longitudinal studies of youth.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to violence has been associated with lower lung function in cross-sectional studies. METHODS: We examined whether increasing violence-related distress over time is associated with worse lung function and worse asthma control or quality of life in a secondary analysis of a 48-week randomised clinical trial in 98 youth with asthma (aged 9-16 years) treated with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (Vitamin D Kids Asthma Study (VDKA)). We then replicated our findings for lung function in a prospective study of 232 Puerto Rican youth followed for an average of 5.4 years. Violence-related distress was assessed using the Checklist of Children's Distress Symptoms (CCDS) scale. Our outcomes of interest were percent predicted lung function measures and (in VDKA only) asthma control (assessed using the Asthma Control Test) and asthma-related quality of life (assessed using the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ)). RESULTS: In a multivariable analysis in VDKA, each 1-point increment in CCDS score was associated with decrements of 3.27% in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % pred (95% CI -6.44- -0.22%; p=0.04), 2.65% in forced vital capacity (FVC) % pred (95% CI -4.86- -0.45%; p=0.02) and 0.30 points in the overall PAQLQ score (95% CI -0.50- -0.10 points; p<0.01). Similar findings for FEV1 and FVC were obtained in the prospective study of Puerto Rican youth. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that violence-related distress may worsen lung function and quality of life in youth with asthma (even those treated with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids), and further support policies to reduce exposure to violence among children in the USA and Puerto Rico.

Use of Antifibrinolytics in Pediatric Life-Threatening Hemorrhage: A Prospective Observational Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of antifibrinolytics in children with life-threatening hemorrhage. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the MAssive Transfusion epidemiology and outcomes In Children study dataset, a prospective observational study of children with life-threatening bleeding events. SETTING: Twenty-four children's hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Italy. PATIENTS: Children 0-17 years old who received greater than 40 mL/kg of total blood products over 6 hours or were transfused under activation of massive transfusion protocol. INTERVENTION/EXPOSURE: Children were compared according to receipt of antifibrinolytic medication (tranexamic acid or aminocaproic acid) during the bleeding event. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient characteristics, medications administered, and clinical outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The primary outcome was 24-hour mortality. Of 449 patients analyzed, median age was 7 years (2-15 yr), and 55% were male. The etiology of bleeding was 46% traumatic, 34% operative, and 20% medical. Twelve percent received antifibrinolytic medication during the bleeding event (n = 54 unique subjects; n = 18 epsilon aminocaproic acid, n = 35 tranexamic acid, and n = 1 both). The antifibrinolytic group was comparable with the nonantifibrinolytic group on baseline demographic and physiologic parameters; the antifibrinolytic group had longer massive transfusion protocol duration, received greater volume blood products, and received factor VII more frequently. In the antifibrinolytic group, there was significantly less 6-hour mortality overall (6% vs 17%; p = 0.04) and less 6-hour mortality due to hemorrhage (4% vs 14%; p = 0.04). After adjusting for age, bleeding etiology, Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, and plasma deficit, the antifibrinolytic group had decreased mortality at 6- and 24-hour postbleed (adjusted odds ratio, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.09-0.93]; p = 0.04 and adjusted odds ratio, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.21-0.98]; p = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Administration of antifibrinolytic medications during the life-threatening event was independently associated with improved 6- and 24-hour survivals in bleeding children. Consideration should be given to use of antifibrinolytics in pediatric patients with life-threatening hemorrhage.

Transfusion Ratios and Deficits in Injured Children With Life-Threatening Bleeding.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of plasma and platelet ratios and deficits in injured children with life-threatening bleeding. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of the MAssive Transfusion epidemiology and outcomes In Children study dataset, a prospective observational study of children with life-threatening bleeding events. SETTING: Twenty-four childrens hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Italy. PATIENTS: Injured children 0-17 years old who received greater than 40 mL/kg total blood products over 6 hours or were transfused under activation of massive transfusion protocol. INTERVENTION/EXPOSURE: Weight-adjusted blood product volumes received during the bleeding event were recorded. Plasma:RBC ratio (plasma/RBC weight-adjusted volume in mL/kg) and platelet:RBC ratio (platelet/RBC weight-adjusted volume in mL/kg) were analyzed. Plasma deficit was calculated as RBC mL/kg - plasma mL/kg; platelet deficit was calculated as RBC mL/kg - platelet mL/kg. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 191 patients analyzed, median (interquartile range) age was 10 years (5-15 yr), 61% were male, 61% blunt mechanism, and median (interquartile range) Injury Severity Score was 29 (24-38). After adjusting for Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, cardiac arrest, use of vasoactive medications, and blunt mechanism, a high plasma:RBC ratio (> 1:2) was associated with improved 6-hour survival compared with a low plasma:RBC ratio (odds ratio [95% CI] = 0.12 [0.03-0.52]; p = 0.004). Platelet:RBC ratio was not associated with survival. After adjusting for age, Pediatric Risk of Mortality score, cardiac arrest, and mechanism of injury, 6-hour and 24-hour mortality were increased in children with greater plasma deficits (10% and 20% increased odds of mortality for every 10 mL/kg plasma deficit at 6 hr [p = 0.04] and 24 hr [p = 0.01], respectively); 24-hour mortality was increased in children with greater platelet deficits (10% increased odds of 24-hr mortality for every 10 mL/kg platelet deficit [p = 0.02)]). CONCLUSIONS: In injured children, balanced resuscitation may improve early survival according to this hypothesis generating study. Multicenter clinical trials are needed to assess whether clinicians should target ratios and deficits as optimal pediatric hemostatic resuscitation practice.

Effects of inpatient rehabilitation after acute care on functional and quality-of-life outcomes in children with severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have assessed the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process in children surviving severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We evaluated whether receiving inpatient rehabilitation after acute hospitalization was associated with better functional outcomes compared to receiving only non-inpatient rehabilitation in children with severe TBI and explored an effect modification for Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at hospital discharge. METHODS: We included 254 children who received rehabilitation following severe TBI from a multinational observational study. The Pediatric Glasgow Outcome Scale - Extended (GOS-E Peds), parent/guardian-reported and child-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) at 12 months post-injury were assessed and described using summary statistics. Unadjusted and propensity score-weighted linear/ordinal logistic regression modeling were also performed. RESULTS: 180 children received inpatient rehabilitation and 74 children received only non-inpatient rehabilitation after acute hospitalization. Among children with a GCS<13 at discharge, those receiving inpatient rehabilitation had a more favorable GOS-E Peds score (OR = 0.12, p = 0.045). However, no such association was observed in children with a higher GCS. We found no differences in PedsQL scores between rehabilitation groups. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies are warranted to confirm the benefits of inpatient rehabilitation for children with more severely impaired consciousness when medically stable.

Gene coexpression networks reveal novel molecular endotypes in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic condition that causes early onset pulmonary emphysema and airways obstruction. The complete mechanisms via which AATD causes lung disease are not fully understood. To improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of AATD, we investigated gene expression profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in AATD individuals. METHODS: We performed RNA-Seq on RNA extracted from matched BAL and PBMC samples isolated from 89 subjects enrolled in the Genomic Research in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and Sarcoidosis (GRADS) study. Subjects were stratified by genotype and augmentation therapy. Supervised and unsupervised differential gene expression analyses were performed using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify gene profiles associated with subjects' clinical variables. The genes in the most significant WGCNA module were used to cluster AATD individuals. Gene validation was performed by NanoString nCounter Gene Expression Assay. RESULT: We observed modest effects of AATD genotype and augmentation therapy on gene expression. When WGCNA was applied to BAL transcriptome, one gene module, ME31 (2312 genes), correlated with the highest number of clinical variables and was functionally enriched with numerous immune T-lymphocyte related pathways. This gene module identified two distinct clusters of AATD individuals with different disease severity and distinct PBMC gene expression patterns. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully identified novel clusters of AATD individuals where severity correlated with increased immune response independent of individuals' genotype and augmentation therapy. These findings may suggest the presence of previously unrecognised disease endotypes in AATD that associate with T-lymphocyte immunity and disease severity.

Life-Threatening Bleeding in Children: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to describe children with life-threatening bleeding. DESIGN: We conducted a prospective observational study of children with life-threatening bleeding events. SETTING: Twenty-four childrens hospitals in the United States, Canada, and Italy participated. SUBJECTS: Children 0-17 years old who received greater than 40 mL/kg total blood products over 6 hours or were transfused under massive transfusion protocol were included. INTERVENTIONS: Children were compared according bleeding etiology: trauma, operative, or medical. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient characteristics, therapies administered, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Among 449 enrolled children, 55.0% were male, and the median age was 7.3 years. Bleeding etiology was 46.1% trauma, 34.1% operative, and 19.8% medical. Prior to the life-threatening bleeding event, most had age-adjusted hypotension (61.2%), and 25% were hypothermic. Children with medical bleeding had higher median Pediatric Risk of Mortality scores (18) compared with children with trauma (11) and operative bleeding (12). Median Glasgow Coma Scale scores were lower for children with trauma (3) compared with operative (14) or medical bleeding (10.5). Median time from bleeding onset to first transfusion was 8 minutes for RBCs, 34 minutes for plasma, and 42 minutes for platelets. Postevent acute respiratory distress syndrome (20.3%) and acute kidney injury (18.5%) were common. Twenty-eight-day mortality was 37.5% and higher among children with medical bleeding (65.2%) compared with trauma (36.1%) and operative (23.8%). There were 82 hemorrhage deaths; 65.8% occurred by 6 hours and 86.5% by 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: Patient characteristics and outcomes among children with life-threatening bleeding varied by cause of bleeding. Mortality was high, and death from hemorrhage in this population occurred rapidly.

Survey to inform trial of low-titer group O whole-blood compared to conventional blood components for children with severe traumatic bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Low-titer group O whole-blood (LTOWB) is being used for children with life-threatening traumatic bleeding. A survey was conducted to determine current LTOWB utilization and interest in participation in a randomized control trial (RCT) of LTOWB versus standard blood component transfusion in this population. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Transfusion medicine (TM) directors and pediatric trauma directors at 36 US children's hospitals were surveyed by e-mail in June 2020. Hospitals were selected by participation in the Massive Transfusion Epidemiology and Outcomes in Children Study or being among the largest 30 children's hospitals by bed capacity per the Becker Hospital Review. RESULTS: The response rate was 83.3% (30/36) from TM directors and 88.9% (32/36) from trauma directors. The median of massive transfusion protocol activations for traumatic bleeding was reported as 12 (IQR 5.8-20) per year by TM directors. LTOWB was used by 18.8% (6/32) of trauma directors. Survey responses indicate that 86.7% (26/30) of TM directors and 90.6% (29/32) of trauma directors either moderately or strongly agree that a LTOWB RCT is important to perform. About 83.3% (25/30) of TM directors and 93.8% (30/32) of trauma directors were willing to participate in the proposed trial. About 80% (24/30) of TM directors and 71.9% (23/32) of trauma directors would transfuse RhD+ LTOWB to male children, but fewer would transfuse Rh + LTOWB to females [20% (6/30) TM directors and 37.5% (12/32) of trauma directors]. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of respondents supported an RCT comparing LTOWB to component therapy in children with severe traumatic bleeding.

Accuracy of Ultrasound Compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis of Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries: A Prospective Case Series.

This prospective case series compared the accuracy of ultrasound (US) to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differentiating complete displaced (CD) thumb ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tears from nondisplaced injuries in 10 patients with suspected traumatic thumb UCL injuries. Ultrasound identified 100% (2 of 2) of MRI-documented CD tears, both of which were further confirmed during surgical repair. Ultrasound identified the absence of CD tears in the remaining 8 patients. Although MRI is the reference standard imaging modality for characterizing thumb UCL injuries, ultrasound should be considered an accurate, cost-effective, and alternative imaging modality to differentiate surgical versus nonsurgical thumb UCL injuries.

Effect of Antimicrobial Therapy on Respiratory Hospitalization or Death in Adults With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: The CleanUP-IPF Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Alteration in lung microbes is associated with disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Objective: To assess the effect of antimicrobial therapy on clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: Pragmatic, randomized, unblinded clinical trial conducted across 35 US sites. A total of 513 patients older than 40 years were randomized from August 2017 to June 2019 (final follow-up was January 2020). Interventions: Patients were randomized in a 1:1 allocation ratio to receive antimicrobials (n = 254) or usual care alone (n = 259). Antimicrobials included co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim 160 mg/sulfamethoxazole 800 mg twice daily plus folic acid 5 mg daily, n = 128) or doxycycline (100 mg once daily if body weight <50 kg or 100 mg twice daily if ≥50 kg, n = 126). No placebo was administered in the usual care alone group. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was time to first nonelective respiratory hospitalization or all-cause mortality. Results: Among the 513 patients who were randomized (mean age, 71 years; 23.6% women), all (100%) were included in the analysis. The study was terminated for futility on December 18, 2019. After a mean follow-up time of 13.1 months (median, 12.7 months), a total of 108 primary end point events occurred: 52 events (20.4 events per 100 patient-years [95% CI, 14.8-25.9]) in the usual care plus antimicrobial therapy group and 56 events (18.4 events per 100 patient-years [95% CI, 13.2-23.6]) in the usual care group, with no significant difference between groups (adjusted HR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.71-1.53; P = .83]. There was no statistically significant interaction between the effect of the prespecified antimicrobial agent (co-trimoxazole vs doxycycline) on the primary end point (adjusted HR, 1.15 [95% CI 0.68-1.95] in the co-trimoxazole group vs 0.82 [95% CI, 0.46-1.47] in the doxycycline group; P = .66). Serious adverse events occurring at 5% or greater among those treated with usual care plus antimicrobials vs usual care alone included respiratory events (16.5% vs 10.0%) and infections (2.8% vs 6.6%); adverse events of special interest included diarrhea (10.2% vs 3.1%) and rash (6.7% vs 0%). Conclusions and Relevance: Among adults with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the addition of co-trimoxazole or doxycycline to usual care, compared with usual care alone, did not significantly improve time to nonelective respiratory hospitalization or death. These findings do not support treatment with these antibiotics for the underlying disease. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02759120.

Design and rationale of a multi-center, pragmatic, open-label randomized trial of antimicrobial therapy - the study of clinical efficacy of antimicrobial therapy strategy using pragmatic design in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (CleanUP-IPF) clinical trial.

Compelling data have linked disease progression in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with lung dysbiosis and the resulting dysregulated local and systemic immune response. Moreover, prior therapeutic trials have suggested improved outcomes in these patients treated with either sulfamethoxazole/ trimethoprim or doxycycline. These trials have been limited by methodological concerns. This trial addresses the primary hypothesis that long-term treatment with antimicrobial therapy increases the time-to-event endpoint of respiratory hospitalization or all-cause mortality compared to usual care treatment in patients with IPF. We invoke numerous innovative features to achieve this goal, including: 1) utilizing a pragmatic randomized trial design; 2) collecting targeted biological samples to allow future exploration of 'personalized' therapy; and 3) developing a strong partnership between the NHLBI, a broad range of investigators, industry, and philanthropic organizations. The trial will randomize approximately 500 individuals in a 1:1 ratio to either antimicrobial therapy or usual care. The site principal investigator will declare their preferred initial antimicrobial treatment strategy (trimethoprim 160 mg/ sulfamethoxazole 800 mg twice a day plus folic acid 5 mg daily or doxycycline 100 mg once daily if body weight is < 50 kg or 100 mg twice daily if ≥50 kg) for the participant prior to randomization. Participants randomized to antimicrobial therapy will receive a voucher to help cover the additional prescription drug costs. Additionally, those participants will have 4-5 scheduled blood draws over the initial 24 months of therapy for safety monitoring. Blood sampling for DNA sequencing and genome wide transcriptomics will be collected before therapy. Blood sampling for transcriptomics and oral and fecal swabs for determination of the microbiome communities will be collected before and after study completion. As a pragmatic study, participants in both treatment arms will have limited in-person visits with the enrolling clinical center. Visits are limited to assessments of lung function and other clinical parameters at time points prior to randomization and at months 12, 24, and 36. All participants will be followed until the study completion for the assessment of clinical endpoints related to hospitalization and mortality events. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02759120.

Improving Cost-effectiveness and Access to Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depression: Providing Remote-Ready, Computer-Assisted Psychotherapy in Times of Crisis and Beyond.

INTRODUCTION: There is growing evidence that computer-delivered or computer-assisted forms of cognitive behavior therapy (CCBT) are helpful, but cost-effectiveness versus standard therapies is not well established. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a therapist-supported method for CCBT in comparison to standard cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). METHODS: A total of 154 drug-free major depressive disorder outpatients were randomly assigned to either 16 weeks of standard CBT (up to twenty 50-min sessions) or CCBT using the Good Days Ahead program (including up to 5.5 h of therapist contact). Outcomes were assessed at baseline, weeks 8 and 16, and at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Economic analyses took into account the costs of services received and work/social role impairment. RESULTS: In the context of almost identical efficacy, a form of CCBT that used only about one third the amount of therapist contact as conventional CBT was highly cost-effective compared to conventional therapy and reduced the adjusted cost of treatment by USD 945 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: A method of CCBT that blended internet-delivered modules and abbreviated therapeutic contact reduced the cost of treatment substantially without adversely affecting outcomes. Results suggest that use of this approach can more than double the access to CBT. Because clinician support in CCBT can be provided by telephone, videoconference, and/or email, this highly efficient form of treatment could be a major advance in remote treatment delivery.