A ring-like accretion structure in M87 connecting its black hole and jet.

The nearby radio galaxy M87 is a prime target for studying black hole accretion and jet formation1,2. Event Horizon Telescope observations of M87 in 2017, at a wavelength of 1.3 mm, revealed a ring-like structure, which was interpreted as gravitationally lensed emission around a central black hole3. Here we report images of M87 obtained in 2018, at a wavelength of 3.5 mm, showing that the compact radio core is spatially resolved. High-resolution imaging shows a ring-like structure of [Formula: see text] Schwarzschild radii in diameter, approximately 50% larger than that seen at 1.3 mm. The outer edge at 3.5 mm is also larger than that at 1.3 mm. This larger and thicker ring indicates a substantial contribution from the accretion flow with absorption effects, in addition to the gravitationally lensed ring-like emission. The images show that the edge-brightened jet connects to the accretion flow of the black hole. Close to the black hole, the emission profile of the jet-launching region is wider than the expected profile of a black-hole-driven jet, suggesting the possible presence of a wind associated with the accretion flow.

Single-Cell Profiling Reveals Immune Aberrations in Progressive Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

RATIONALE: Changes in peripheral blood cell populations have been observed but not detailed at single-cell resolution in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). OBJECTIVES: To provide an atlas of the changes in the peripheral immune system in stable and progressive IPF. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from IPF patients and controls were profiled using 10x Chromium 5' single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Flow cytometry was used for validation. Protein concentrations of Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and Monocytes chemoattractants were measured in plasma and lung homogenates from patients and controls. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-eight PBMC samples from 25 patients with IPF and 13 matched controls yielded 149,564 cells that segregated into 23 subpopulations. Classical monocytes were increased in progressive and stable IPF compared to controls (32.1%, 25.2%, 17.9%, respectively, p<0.05). Total lymphocytes were decreased in IPF vs controls, and in progressive vs stable IPF (52.6% vs 62.6%, p=0.035). Tregs were increased in progressive vs stable IPF (1.8% vs 1.1% of all PBMC, p=0.007), although not different than controls, and may be associated with decreased survival (P=0.009 in Kaplan-Meier analysis; P=0.069 after adjusting for age, sex, and baseline FVC). Flow cytometry analysis confirmed this finding in an independent cohort of IPF patients. Fraction of Tregs out of all T cells was also increased in two cohorts of lung scRNA-seq. CCL22 and CCL18, ligands for CCR4 and CCR8 Treg chemotaxis receptors, were increased in IPF. CONCLUSIONS: The single-cell atlas of the peripheral immune system in IPF, reveals an outcome-predictive increase in classical monocytes and Tregs, as well as evidence for a lung-blood immune recruitment axis involving CCL7 (for classical monocytes) and CCL18/CCL22 (for Tregs).

Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation: pathophysiology, definition, diagnosis, and treatment.

Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation (A-STR) is a distinct phenotype of secondary tricuspid regurgitation with predominant dilation of the right atrium and normal right and left ventricular function. Atrial secondary tricuspid regurgitation occurs most commonly in elderly women with atrial fibrillation and in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in sinus rhythm. In A-STR, the main mechanism of leaflet malcoaptation is related to the presence of a significant dilation of the tricuspid annulus secondary to right atrial enlargement. In addition, there is an insufficient adaptive growth of tricuspid valve leaflets that become unable to cover the enlarged annular area. As opposed to the ventricular phenotype, in A-STR, the tricuspid valve leaflet tethering is typically trivial. The A-STR phenotype accounts for 10%-15% of clinically relevant tricuspid regurgitation and has better outcomes compared with the more prevalent ventricular phenotype. Recent data suggest that patients with A-STR may benefit from more aggressive rhythm control and timely valve interventions. However, little is mentioned in current guidelines on how to identify, evaluate, and manage these patients due to the lack of consistent evidence and variable definitions of this entity in recent investigations. This interdisciplinary expert opinion document focusing on A-STR is intended to help physicians understand this complex and rapidly evolving topic by reviewing its distinct pathophysiology, diagnosis, and multi-modality imaging characteristics. It first defines A-STR by proposing specific quantitative criteria for defining the atrial phenotype and for discriminating it from the ventricular phenotype, in order to facilitate standardization and consistency in research.

An Approach to Diversifying the Selection of a Guideline Panel-The Process Utilized for the Updated Adult Critical Care Ultrasound Guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical practice guidelines are essential for promoting evidence-based healthcare. While diversification of panel members can reduce disparities in care, processes for panel selection lack transparency. We aim to share our approach in forming a diverse expert panel for the updated Adult Critical Care Ultrasound Guidelines. DESIGN: This process evaluation aims to understand whether the implementation of a transparent and intentional approach to guideline panel selection would result in the creation of a diverse expert guideline panel. SETTING: This study was conducted in the setting of creating a guideline panel for the updated Adult Critical Care Ultrasound Guidelines. PATIENTS: Understanding that family/patient advocacy in guideline creations can promote the impact of a clinical practice guideline, patient representation on the expert panel was prioritized. INTERVENTIONS: Interventions included creation of a clear definition of expertise, an open invitation to the Society of Critical Care Medicine membership to apply for the panel, additional panel nomination by guideline leadership, voluntary disclosure of pre-identified diversity criteria by potential candidates, and independent review of applications including diversity criteria. This resulted in an overall score per candidate per reviewer and an open forum for discussion and final consensus. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The variables of diversity were collected and analyzed after panel selection. These were compared with historical data on panel composition. The final guideline panel comprised of 33 panelists from six countries: 45% women and 79% historically excluded people and groups. The panel has representation from nonphysician professionals and patients advocates. Of the healthcare professionals, there is representation from early, mid, and late career stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our intentional and transparent approach resulted in a panel with improved gender parity and robust diversity along ethnic, racial, and professional lines. We hope it can serve as a starting point as we strive to become a more inclusive and diverse discipline that creates globally representative guidelines.

Point-of-care ultrasonography in Ukraine: a survey of anesthesiologists-intensivists participating in ultrasonography courses.

PURPOSE: Despite the potential value of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in resource-limited environments, it is not widely used in low- and middle-income countries compared with high-income countries. We sought to evaluate the current POCUS practice of Ukrainian anesthesiologists who attended POCUS courses to guide future POCUS training in Ukraine. METHODS: We conducted a 25-question web-based survey. It was distributed to 255 participants of POCUS courses held in Ukraine in 2023. The survey sections described current POCUS practice, perception of POCUS value, POCUS skills self-assessment, and perceived barriers to implementing POCUS in clinical practice. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-four out of 255 course participants completed the survey, representing 214 unique respondents. Those who self-rated their skills identified themselves as either novices or beginners in areas of POCUS knowledge (118/157, 75%), image acquisition (110/158, 70%), image interpretation (117/158, 74%), and integration into clinical decision-making (105/155, 68%). Among all survey responders, 55% (118/214) reported using POCUS for vascular access procedures, 45% (97/214) for trauma assessment, and 44% (93/214) for regional anesthesia. Reported barriers to POCUS implementation included lack of ultrasound devices (101/214, 47%) and lack of trained faculty (112/214, 52%). CONCLUSION: Among anesthesiologists who participated in POCUS courses in Ukraine, the majority were in early stages of ultrasound practice. Respondents identified POCUS applications not currently practiced and evaluated barriers to POCUS use. Based upon these survey findings, we propose the following measures in Ukraine: 1) developing a standardized national POCUS curriculum; 2) increasing the number of experienced instructors of POCUS; and 3) acquiring ultrasound devices to support clinical applications of POCUS, especially in the Central, Southern, and Eastern regions.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Malgré la valeur potentielle de l'échographie ciblée (POCUS) dans les environnements à ressources limitées, cette modalité n'est pas très répandue dans les pays à revenu faible et intermédiaire par rapport aux pays à revenu élevé. Nous avons cherché à évaluer la pratique actuelle des anesthésiologistes en Ukraine qui ont suivi des cours d'échographie ciblée afin d'orienter la future formation en POCUS dans ce pays. MéTHODE: Nous avons mené un sondage en ligne de 25 questions. Il a été distribué à 255 personnes ayant suivi des cours de POCUS organisés en Ukraine en 2023. Les sections de l'enquête décrivaient la pratique actuelle en échographie ciblée, la perception de sa valeur, l'auto-évaluation des compétences en POCUS et les obstacles perçus à sa mise en œuvre dans la pratique clinique. RéSULTATS: Deux cent quarante-quatre des 255 personnes ayant pris part au cours ont répondu au sondage, représentant 214 répondant·es uniques. Les personnes ayant auto-évalué leurs compétences se sont identifiées comme novices ou débutantes dans les domaines de la connaissance de l'échographie ciblée (118/157, 75 %), de l'acquisition d'images (110/158, 70 %), de l'interprétation d'images (117/158, 74 %) et de l'intégration dans la prise de décision clinique (105/155, 68 %). Parmi toutes les personnes ayant répondu à l'enquête, 55 % (118/214) ont déclaré utiliser l'échographie ciblée pour les procédures d'accès vasculaire, 45 % (97/214) pour l'évaluation des traumatismes et 44 % (93/214) pour l'anesthésie régionale. Les obstacles signalés à la mise en œuvre de l'échographie ciblée comprenaient le manque d'appareils d'échographie (101/214, 47 %) et le manque de professeur·es formé·es (112/214, 52 %). CONCLUSION: Parmi les anesthésiologistes qui ont participé aux cours d'échographie ciblée en Ukraine, la majorité en étaient aux premiers stades de la pratique de l'échographie. Les répondant·es ont identifié les applications de l'échographie ciblée qui ne sont pas actuellement pratiquées et ont évalué les obstacles à son utilisation. Sur la base des résultats de cette enquête, nous proposons les mesures suivantes en Ukraine : 1) la création d'un programme national normalisé d'échographie ciblée; 2) l'augmentation du nombre d'instructrices et instructeurs expérimenté·es en échographie ciblée; et 3) l'acquisition d'appareils d'échographie pour soutenir les applications cliniques de cette modalité, en particulier dans les régions du Centre, du Sud et de l'Est du pays.

Deep learning prediction of hospital readmissions for asthma and COPD.

QUESTION: Severe asthma and COPD exacerbations requiring hospitalization are linked to increased disease morbidity and healthcare costs. We sought to identify Electronic Health Record (EHR) features of severe asthma and COPD exacerbations and evaluate the performance of four machine learning (ML) and one deep learning (DL) model in predicting readmissions using EHR data. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Observational study between September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2017, of patients hospitalized with asthma and COPD exacerbations. RESULTS: This study included 5,794 patients, 1,893 with asthma and 3,901 with COPD. Patients with asthma were predominantly female (n = 1288 [68%]), 35% were Black (n = 669), and 25% (n = 479) were Hispanic. Black (44 vs. 33%, p = 0.01) and Hispanic patients (30 vs. 24%, p = 0.02) were more likely to be readmitted for asthma. Similarly, patients with COPD readmissions included a large percentage of Blacks (18 vs. 10%, p < 0.01) and Hispanics (8 vs. 5%, p < 0.01). To identify patients at high risk of readmission index hospitalization data of a subset of 2,682 patients, 777 with asthma and 1,905 with COPD, was analyzed with four ML models, and one DL model. We found that multilayer perceptron, the DL method, had the best sensitivity and specificity compared to the four ML methods implemented in the same dataset. INTERPRETATION: Multilayer perceptron, a deep learning method, had the best performance in predicting asthma and COPD readmissions, demonstrating that EHR and deep learning integration can improve high-risk patient detection.

Forensic age estimation: comparison and validation of the Iscan method in 3D reconstructions using a surface scanner in a Spanish population.

When investigating a death, post-mortem identification provides with results of great legal and humanitarian significance. The effectiveness of the methods used to estimate age depends on the reference population, considering variables such as sex and ancestry. The aim of this study was to validate the Iscan method to estimate age in a Spanish forensic population, comparing the estimates obtained in dry bones and 3D reconstructions created with a surface scanner. We carried out a cross-sectional study on 109 autopsied corpses (67% male), scanning the sternal end of the right fourth rib in a 3D mesh, using an EinScan-Pro® surface scanner (precision: 0.05 mm). Two observers estimated the phases in dry bones and 3D images according to the Iscan method and to the sex of the subject. The mean age was 57.73 years (SD = 19.12 years;18-93 years). The intra-observer agreement was almost perfect in bones (κ = 0.877-0.960) and 3D images (κ = 0.954), while the inter-observer agreement was almost perfect in bones (κ = 0.813) and substantial in 3D images (κ = 0.727). The correlation with the Iscan phases was very strong in bones (Rho = 0.794-0.820; p < 0.001) and strong in 3D images (Rho = 0.690-0.691; p < 0.001). Both sex-adjusted linear regression models were significant (dry bones: R2 = 0.65; SEE = ± 11.264 years; 3D images: R2 = 0.50; SEE = ± 13.537 years) from phase 4 onwards. An overestimation of age was observed in the first phases, and an underestimation in the later ones. Virtual analysis using a surface scanner in the fourth rib is a valid means of estimating age. However, the error values and confidence intervals were considerable, so the joint use of different methods and anatomical sites is recommended.

CD38 Mediates Lung Fibrosis by Promoting Alveolar Epithelial Cell Aging.

Rationale: A prevailing paradigm recognizes idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) originating from various alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injuries, and there is a growing appreciation of AEC aging as a key driver of the pathogenesis. Despite this progress, it is incompletely understood what main factor(s) contribute to the worsened alveolar epithelial aging in lung fibrosis. It remains a challenge how to dampen AEC aging and thereby mitigate the disease progression. Objectives: To determine the role of AEC CD38 (cluster of differentiation 38) in promoting cellular aging and lung fibrosis. Methods: We used single-cell RNA sequencing, real-time PCR, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. Measurements and Main Results: We discovered a pivotal role of CD38, a cardinal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) hydrolase, in AEC aging and its promotion of lung fibrosis. We found increased CD38 expression in IPF lungs that inversely correlated with the lung functions of patients. CD38 was primarily located in the AECs of human lung parenchyma and was markedly induced in IPF AECs. Similarly, CD38 expression was elevated in the AECs of fibrotic lungs of young mice and further augmented in those of old mice, which was in accordance with a worsened AEC aging phenotype and an aggravated lung fibrosis in the old animals. Mechanistically, we found that CD38 elevation downregulated intracellular NAD, which likely led to the aging promoting impairment of the NAD-dependent cellular and molecular activities. Furthermore, we demonstrated that genetic and pharmacological inactivation of CD38 improved these NAD dependent events and ameliorated bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Conclusions: Our study suggests targeting alveolar CD38 as a novel and effective therapeutic strategy to treat this pathology.

Co-Training for Unsupervised Domain Adaptation of Semantic Segmentation Models.

Semantic image segmentation is a core task for autonomous driving, which is performed by deep models. Since training these models draws to a curse of human-based image labeling, the use of synthetic images with automatically generated labels together with unlabeled real-world images is a promising alternative. This implies addressing an unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) problem. In this paper, we propose a new co-training procedure for synth-to-real UDA of semantic segmentation models. It performs iterations where the (unlabeled) real-world training images are labeled by intermediate deep models trained with both the (labeled) synthetic images and the real-world ones labeled in previous iterations. More specifically, a self-training stage provides two domain-adapted models and a model collaboration loop allows the mutual improvement of these two models. The final semantic segmentation labels (pseudo-labels) for the real-world images are provided by these two models. The overall procedure treats the deep models as black boxes and drives their collaboration at the level of pseudo-labeled target images, i.e., neither modifying loss functions is required, nor explicit feature alignment. We test our proposal on standard synthetic and real-world datasets for onboard semantic segmentation. Our procedure shows improvements ranging from approximately 13 to 31 mIoU points over baselines.

Inhibition of PDIA3 in club cells attenuates osteopontin production and lung fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: The role of club cells in the pathology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is not well understood. Protein disulfide isomerase A3 (PDIA3), an endoplasmic reticulum-based redox chaperone required for the functions of various fibrosis-related proteins; however, the mechanisms of action of PDIA3 in pulmonary fibrosis are not fully elucidated. OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of club cells and PDIA3 in the pathology of pulmonary fibrosis and the therapeutic potential of inhibition of PDIA3 in lung fibrosis. METHODS: Role of PDIA3 and aberrant club cells in lung fibrosis was studied by analyses of human transcriptome dataset from Lung Genomics Research Consortium, other public resources, the specific deletion or inhibition of PDIA3 in club cells and blocking SPP1 downstream of PDIA3 in mice. RESULTS: PDIA3 and club cell secretory protein (SCGB1A1) signatures are upregulated in IPF compared with control patients. PDIA3 or SCGB1A1 increases also correlate with a decrease in lung function in patients with IPF. The bleomycin (BLM) model of lung fibrosis showed increases in PDIA3 in SCGB1A1 cells in the lung parenchyma. Ablation of Pdia3, specifically in SCGB1A1 cells, decreases parenchymal SCGB1A1 cells along with fibrosis in mice. The administration of a PDI inhibitor LOC14 reversed the BLM-induced parenchymal SCGB1A1 cells and fibrosis in mice. Evaluation of PDIA3 partners revealed that SPP1 is a major interactor in fibrosis. Blocking SPP1 attenuated the development of lung fibrosis in mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a new relationship with distally localised club cells, PDIA3 and SPP1 in lung fibrosis and inhibition of PDIA3 or SPP1 attenuates lung fibrosis.

Comparison of qualitative information obtained with the echocardiographic assessment using subcostal-only view and focused transthoracic echocardiography examinations: a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether echocardiographic assessment using the subcostal-only window (EASy) compared with focused transthoracic echocardiography (FTTE) using three windows (parasternal, apical, and subcostal) can provide critical information to serve as an entry-point technique for novice sonographers. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study to compare diagnostic information acquired during EASy and FTTE examinations on qualitative left ventricular (LV) size, LV contractility, right ventricular (RV) size, RV contractility, interventricular septal position, and the presence of a significant pericardial effusion. Anesthesiology residents (novice users) performed FTTE for hemodynamic instability and/or respiratory distress or to define volume status in the perioperative setting, and later collected images were grouped into EASy and FTTE examinations. Both examinations were reviewed independently by a board-certified cardiologist and an anesthesiologist proficient in critical care echocardiography. FTTE and EASy findings were compared utilizing Gwet's AC1 coefficient to consider disagreement due to chance. RESULTS: We reviewed 102 patients who received FTTE over a period of 14 months. Of those, 82 had usable subcostal views and were included in the analysis. There was substantial agreement for qualitatively evaluating RV size (Gwet's AC1, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 0.85), LV size (Gwet's AC1, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.88), and LV contractility (Gwet's AC1, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.88) utilizing EASy and FTTE. Additionally, there was an almost perfect agreement when assessing the presence of pericardial effusion (Gwet's AC1, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.0) and RV contractility (Gwet's AC1, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.95) and evaluating the motion of the interventricular septum (Gwet's AC1, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.85 to 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: When images could be obtained from the subcostal window (the EASy examination), qualitative diagnostic information was sufficiently accurate compared with information obtained during FTTE examination. Our findings suggest that the EASy examination can serve as the entry point technique to FTTE for novice clinicians.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Déterminer si l'évaluation échocardiographique se fondant sur la fenêtre unique sous-costale (EASy) par rapport à une échocardiographie transthoracique ciblée (ETTC) fondée sur trois fenêtres (parasternale, apicale et sous-costale) pouvait fournir des informations critiques et servir de technique de départ pour enseigner l'échographie aux novices. MéTHODE: Nous avons réalisé une étude rétrospective afin de comparer les informations diagnostiques acquises lors des examens échocardiographiques EASy et ETTC concernant la taille qualitative du ventricule gauche (VG), la contractilité du VG, la taille du ventricule droit (VD), la contractilité du VD, la position septale interventriculaire et la présence d'un épanchement péricardique significatif. Les résidents en anesthésiologie (utilisateurs novices) ont réalisé une ETTC pour détecter une instabilité hémodynamique et / ou une détresse respiratoire ou pour définir l'état volémique dans un contexte périopératoire; par la suite les images colligées ont été regroupées en examens EASy et ETTC. Les deux examens ont été indépendamment passés en revue par un cardiologue certifié et un anesthésiologiste formé en échocardiographie de soins intensifs. Les résultats des examens d'ETTC et d'EASy ont été comparés en utilisant le coefficient AC1 de Gwet pour tenir compte des désaccords dus au hasard. RéSULTATS: Nous avons passé en revue 102 patients ayant reçu une ETTC sur une période de 14 mois. De ce nombre, 82 ont présenté des vues sous-costales utilisables qui ont été incluses dans l'analyse. Il y avait une importante concordance entre les examens EASy et ETTC pour évaluer qualitativement la taille du VD (AC1 de Gwet, 0,70; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, 0,54 à 0,85), la taille du VG (AC1 de Gwet, 0,73; IC 95 %, 0,58 à 0,88) et la contractilité du VG (AC1 de Gwet, 0,73; IC 95 %, 0,58 à 0,88). De plus, il y avait une concordance quasi parfaite lors de l'évaluation de la présence d'épanchement péricardique (AC1 de Gwet, 0,98; IC 95 %, 0,95 à 1,0) et de la contractilité du VD (AC1 de Gwet, 0,84; IC 95 %, 0,74 à 0,95) et de l'évaluation du mouvement du septum interventriculaire (AC1 de Gwet, 0,92; IC 95 %, 0,85 à 0,99). CONCLUSION: Lorsque les images pouvaient être obtenues à partir de la fenêtre sous-costale (examen EASy), les informations diagnostiques qualitatives étaient suffisamment précises par rapport aux informations obtenues lors de l'examen d'ETTC. Nos résultats suggèrent que l'examen EASy peut servir de technique d'apprentissage précédant l'ETTC pour les cliniciens novices.

SPLUNC1: a novel marker of cystic fibrosis exacerbations.

BACKGROUND: Acute pulmonary exacerbations (AE) are episodes of clinical worsening in cystic fibrosis (CF), often precipitated by infection. Timely detection is critical to minimise morbidity and lung function declines associated with acute inflammation during AE. Based on our previous observations that airway protein short palate lung nasal epithelium clone 1 (SPLUNC1) is regulated by inflammatory signals, we investigated the use of SPLUNC1 fluctuations to diagnose and predict AE in CF. METHODS: We enrolled CF participants from two independent cohorts to measure AE markers of inflammation in sputum and recorded clinical outcomes for a 1-year follow-up period. RESULTS: SPLUNC1 levels were high in healthy controls (n=9, 10.7 µg·mL-1), and significantly decreased in CF participants without AE (n=30, 5.7 µg·mL-1; p=0.016). SPLUNC1 levels were 71.9% lower during AE (n=14, 1.6 µg·mL-1; p=0.0034) regardless of age, sex, CF-causing mutation or microbiology findings. Cytokines interleukin-1ß and tumour necrosis factor-α were also increased in AE, whereas lung function did not decrease consistently. Stable CF participants with lower SPLUNC1 levels were much more likely to have an AE at 60 days (hazard ratio (HR)±se 11.49±0.83; p=0.0033). Low-SPLUNC1 stable participants remained at higher AE risk even 1 year after sputum collection (HR±se 3.21±0.47; p=0.0125). SPLUNC1 was downregulated by inflammatory cytokines and proteases increased in sputum during AE. CONCLUSION: In acute CF care, low SPLUNC1 levels could support a decision to increase airway clearance or to initiate pharmacological interventions. In asymptomatic, stable patients, low SPLUNC1 levels could inform changes in clinical management to improve long-term disease control and clinical outcomes in CF.

Single-cell characterization of a model of poly I:C-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: Asthma has been associated with impaired interferon response. Multiple cell types have been implicated in such response impairment and may be responsible for asthma immunopathology. However, existing models to study the immune response in asthma are limited by bulk profiling of cells. Our objective was to Characterize a model of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with severe asthma (SA) and its response to the TLR3 agonist Poly I:C using two single-cell methods. METHODS: Two complementary single-cell methods, DropSeq for single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and mass cytometry (CyTOF), were used to profile PBMCs of SA patients and healthy controls (HC). Poly I:C-stimulated and unstimulated cells were analyzed in this study. RESULTS: PBMCs (n = 9414) from five SA (n = 6099) and three HC (n = 3315) were profiled using scRNA-Seq. Six main cell subsets, namely CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and monocytes, were identified. CD4 + T cells were the main cell type in SA and demonstrated a pro-inflammatory profile characterized by increased JAK1 expression. Following Poly I:C stimulation, PBMCs from SA had a robust induction of interferon pathways compared with HC. CyTOF profiling of Poly I:C stimulated and unstimulated PBMCs (n = 160,000) from the same individuals (SA = 5; HC = 3) demonstrated higher CD8 + and CD8 + effector T cells in SA at baseline, followed by a decrease of CD8 + effector T cells after poly I:C stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Single-cell profiling of an in vitro model using PBMCs in patients with SA identified activation of pro-inflammatory pathways at baseline and strong response to Poly I:C, as well as quantitative changes in CD8 + effector cells. Thus, transcriptomic and cell quantitative changes are associated with immune cell heterogeneity in this model to evaluate interferon responses in severe asthma.

A Network of Sputum MicroRNAs Is Associated with Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation in Asthma.

Rationale: MicroRNAs are potent regulators of biologic systems that are critical to tissue homeostasis. Individual microRNAs have been identified in airway samples. However, a systems analysis of the microRNA-mRNA networks present in the sputum that contribute to airway inflammation in asthma has not been published.Objectives: Identify microRNA and mRNA networks in the sputum of patients with asthma.Methods: We conducted a genome-wide analysis of microRNA and mRNA in the sputum from patients with asthma and correlated expression with clinical phenotypes. Weighted gene correlation network analysis was implemented to identify microRNA networks (modules) that significantly correlate with clinical features of asthma and mRNA expression networks. MicroRNA expression in peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes and in situ hybridization of the sputum were used to identify the cellular sources of microRNAs. MicroRNA expression obtained before and after ozone exposure was also used to identify changes associated with neutrophil counts in the airway.Measurements and Main Results: Six microRNA modules were associated with clinical features of asthma. A single module (nely) was associated with a history of hospitalizations, lung function impairment, and numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the sputum. Of the 12 microRNAs in the nely module, hsa-miR-223-3p was the highest expressed microRNA in neutrophils and was associated with increased neutrophil counts in the sputum in response to ozone exposure. Multiple microRNAs in the nely module correlated with two mRNA modules enriched for TLR (Toll-like receptor) and T-helper cell type 17 (Th17) signaling and endoplasmic reticulum stress. hsa-miR-223-3p was a key regulator of the TLR and Th17 pathways in the sputum of subjects with asthma.Conclusions: This study of sputum microRNA and mRNA expression from patients with asthma demonstrates the existence of microRNA networks and genes that are associated with features of asthma severity. Among these, hsa-miR-223-3p, a neutrophil-derived microRNA, regulates TLR/Th17 signaling and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Single-Cell Transcriptional Archetypes of Airway Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis.

Rationale: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening, multisystem hereditary disease caused by abnormal chloride transport. CF lung disease is driven by innate immune dysfunction and exaggerated inflammatory responses that contribute to tissue injury. To define the transcriptional profile of this airway immune dysfunction, we performed the first single-cell transcriptome characterization of CF sputum.Objectives: To define the transcriptional profile of sputum cells and its implication in the pathogenesis of immune function and the development of CF lung disease.Methods: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of sputum cells from nine subjects with CF and five healthy control subjects. We applied novel computational approaches to define expression-based cell function and maturity profiles, herein called transcriptional archetypes.Measurements and Main Results: The airway immune cell repertoire shifted from alveolar macrophages in healthy control subjects to a predominance of recruited monocytes and neutrophils in CF. Recruited lung mononuclear phagocytes were abundant in CF and were separated into the following three archetypes: activated monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages, and heat shock-activated monocytes. Neutrophils were the most prevalent in CF, with a dominant immature proinflammatory archetype. Although CF monocytes exhibited proinflammatory features, both monocytes and neutrophils showed transcriptional evidence of abnormal phagocytic and cell-survival programs.Conclusions: Our findings offer an opportunity to understand subject-specific immune dysfunction and its contribution to divergent clinical courses in CF. As we progress toward personalized applications of therapeutic and genomic developments, we hope this inflammation-profiling approach will enable further discoveries that change the natural history of CF lung disease.

Tracheal, Lung, and Diaphragmatic Applications of M-Mode Ultrasonography in Anesthesiology and Critical Care.

Today, proficiency in cardiopulmonary ultrasound is considered essential for anesthesiologists and critical care physicians. Conventional 2-dimensional images, however, do not permit optimal characterization of specific conditions (eg, diaphragmatic paralysis, major atelectasis, and pneumothorax) that may have relevant clinical implications in critical care and perioperative settings. By contrast, M-mode (motion-based) ultrasonographic imaging modality offers the highest temporal resolution in ultrasonography; this modality, therefore, can provide important information in ultrasound-driven approaches performed by anesthesiologists and intensivists for diagnosis, monitoring, and procedural guidance. Despite its practicability, M-mode has been progressively abandoned in echocardiography and is often underused in lung and diaphragmatic ultrasound. This review describes contemporary applications of M-mode ultrasonography in the practice of critical care and perioperative medicine. Information presented for each clinical application includes image acquisition and interpretation, evidence-based clinical implications in critically ill and surgical patients, and main limitations. The article focuses on tracheal, lung, and diaphragmatic ultrasound. It reviews tracheal ultrasound for procedural guidance during endotracheal intubation, confirmation of correct tube placement, and detection of esophageal intubation; lung ultrasound for the confirmation of endotracheal and endobronchial (selective) intubation and for the diagnosis of pneumothorax, alveolar-interstitial syndrome (cardiogenic v noncardiogenic pulmonary edema), pulmonary consolidation (pneumonia v major atelectasis) and pleural effusion; and diaphragmatic ultrasound for the diagnosis of diaphragmatic dysfunction and prediction of extubation success.

Co-Training for Deep Object Detection: Comparing Single-Modal and Multi-Modal Approaches.

Top-performing computer vision models are powered by convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Training an accurate CNN highly depends on both the raw sensor data and their associated ground truth (GT). Collecting such GT is usually done through human labeling, which is time-consuming and does not scale as we wish. This data-labeling bottleneck may be intensified due to domain shifts among image sensors, which could force per-sensor data labeling. In this paper, we focus on the use of co-training, a semi-supervised learning (SSL) method, for obtaining self-labeled object bounding boxes (BBs), i.e., the GT to train deep object detectors. In particular, we assess the goodness of multi-modal co-training by relying on two different views of an image, namely, appearance (RGB) and estimated depth (D). Moreover, we compare appearance-based single-modal co-training with multi-modal. Our results suggest that in a standard SSL setting (no domain shift, a few human-labeled data) and under virtual-to-real domain shift (many virtual-world labeled data, no human-labeled data) multi-modal co-training outperforms single-modal. In the latter case, by performing GAN-based domain translation both co-training modalities are on par, at least when using an off-the-shelf depth estimation model not specifically trained on the translated images.

An endothelial microRNA-1-regulated network controls eosinophil trafficking in asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Airway eosinophilia is a prominent feature of asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and the endothelium plays a key role in eosinophil trafficking. To date, microRNA-1 (miR-1) is the only microRNA known to be regulated in the lung endothelium in asthma models. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the role of endothelial miR-1 in allergic airway inflammation. METHODS: We measured microRNA and mRNA expression using quantitative RT-PCR. We used ovalbumin and house dust mite models of asthma. Endothelium-specific overexpression of miR-1 was achieved through lentiviral vector delivery or induction of a transgene. Tissue eosinophilia was quantified by using Congo red and anti-eosinophil peroxidase staining. We measured eosinophil binding with a Sykes-Moore adhesion chamber. Target recruitment to RNA-induced silencing complex was assessed by using anti-Argonaute2 RNA immunoprecipitation. Surface P-selectin levels were measured by using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Serum miR-1 levels had inverse correlations with sputum eosinophilia, airway obstruction, and number of hospitalizations in asthmatic patients and sinonasal tissue eosinophilia in patients with CRS. IL-13 stimulation decreased miR-1 levels in human lung endothelium. Endothelium-specific overexpression of miR-1 reduced airway eosinophilia and asthma phenotypes in murine models and inhibited IL-13-induced eosinophil binding to endothelial cells. miR-1 recruited P-selectin, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, eotaxin-3, and thrombopoietin receptor to the RNA-induced silencing complex; downregulated these genes in the lung endothelium; and reduced surface P-selectin levels in IL-13-stimulated endothelial cells. In our asthma and CRS cohorts, miR-1 levels correlated inversely with its target genes. CONCLUSION: Endothelial miR-1 regulates eosinophil trafficking in the setting of allergic airway inflammation. miR-1 has therapeutic potential in asthmatic patients and patients with CRS.