Clinical features of plastic bronchitis in children after congenital heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: Plastic bronchitis (PB) can occur in patients who have undergone congenital heart surgery (CHS). This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of PB in children after CHS. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the electronic medical record system. The study population consisted of children diagnosed with PB after bronchoscopy in the cardiac intensive care unit after CHS from May 2016 to October 2021. RESULTS: A total of 68 children after CHS were finally included in the study (32 in the airway abnormalities group and 36 in the right ventricular dysfunction group). All children were examined and treated with fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Pathogens were detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 41 children, including 32 cases in the airway abnormalities group and 9 cases in the right ventricular dysfunction group. All patients were treated with antibiotics, corticosteroids (intravenous or oral), and budesonide inhalation suspension. Children with right ventricular dysfunction underwent pharmacological treatment such as reducing pulmonary arterial pressure. Clinical symptoms improved in 64 children, two of whom were treated with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) due to recurrent PB and disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: Children with airway abnormalities or right ventricular dysfunction after CHS should be alerted to the development of PB. Pharmacological treatment such as anti-infection, corticosteroids, or improvement of right ventricular function is the basis of PB treatment, while fiberoptic bronchoscopy is an essential tool for the diagnosis and treatment of PB. ECMO assistance is a vital salvage treatment for recurrent critically ill PB patients.

Comparative analysis of antibodies to four major periodontal bacteria in respiratory diseases: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To make a descriptive comparison of antibodies to four major periodontal bacteria and their relation to the respiratory diseases asthma and bronchitis/emphysema, and to cancer incidence. METHODS: The serum of a random sample of men with no history of cancer incidence (n=621) was analysed by the ELISA method for antibody levels of four periodontal bacteria; the anaerobes of the so-called red complex Tannerella forsythia (TF), Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG), and Treponema denticola (TD), and the facultative anaerobe Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (AA). The antibody readings were divided into quartiles and the distribution of cases of the relevant diseases as compared with the non-cases. Comparisons of the quartile distributions were by the Pearson χ2 test. Data and serum from the Oslo II study of Norwegian men from 2000 were used. The ELISA analyses were performed on thawed frozen serum. Cancer data from 17.5 years of follow-up were provided by the Norwegian Cancer Registry. RESULTS: In all, 52 men had reported asthma and 23 men had bronchitis/emphysema at the health screening. Results on cancer incidence are given for all respiratory cancers, n=23, and bronchi and lung cancers separately, n=18. Stratified analyses were performed for the four endpoints showing significant association with low levels of TD antibodies for bronchitis; p=0.035. Both TF and TD were significant for low levels of antibodies among daily smokers; p=0.030 for TF and p<0.001 for TD in the analysis of the full study sample. For PG and AA, no such associations were observed. An association with respiratory cancers was not observed. CONCLUSION: A low level of TD was associated with bronchitis/emphysema compared with the rest of the cohort. In the total study sample, low levels of antibodies to both TF and TD were associated with daily smoking.

The impact of formaldehyde exposure on lung inflammatory disorders: Insights into asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Lung inflammatory disorders are a major global health burden, impacting millions of people and raising rates of morbidity and death across many demographic groups. An industrial chemical and common environmental contaminant, formaldehyde (FA) presents serious health concerns to the respiratory system, including the onset and aggravation of lung inflammatory disorders. Epidemiological studies have shown significant associations between FA exposure levels and the incidence and severity of several respiratory diseases. FA causes inflammation in the respiratory tract via immunological activation, oxidative stress, and airway remodelling, aggravating pre-existing pulmonary inflammation and compromising lung function. Additionally, FA functions as a respiratory sensitizer, causing allergic responses and hypersensitivity pneumonitis in sensitive people. Understanding the complicated processes behind formaldehyde-induced lung inflammation is critical for directing targeted strategies aimed at minimizing environmental exposures and alleviating the burden of formaldehyde-related lung illnesses on global respiratory health. This abstract explores the intricate relationship between FA exposure and lung inflammatory diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, allergic inflammation, lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis.

Chronic Pasteurella Multocida Bronchitis Diagnosed 3 Years After Onset of Symptoms.

We report a case of chronic infection with Pasteurella multocida in the lower respiratory tract in a man with a cat. A 77-year-old man presented with recurrent hemoptysis accompanied by bronchiectasis and an opacity in the left lung on chest computed tomography. Although the patient was seropositive for Mycobacterium avium complex, repeated sputum cultures were negative for any specific pathogen. Three years later, he was referred to our hospital for hemoptysis with enhanced opacity in the lower lobe of the left lung. Culture of bronchial lavage fluid obtained via bronchoscopy was positive for P. multocida. The patient was treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid for 14 days and was instructed to avoid close contact with his cat. His symptoms and chest imaging findings improved and have not recurred during more than 1 1/2 years of follow up. P. multocida can cause chronic lower respiratory infections.

Estimated health effects from domestic use of gaseous fuels for cooking and heating in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to household air pollution from polluting domestic fuel (solid fuel and kerosene) represents a substantial global public health burden and there is an urgent need for rapid transition to clean domestic fuels. Gas for cooking and heating might possibly affect child asthma, wheezing, and respiratory health. The aim of this review was to synthesise the evidence on the health effects of gaseous fuels to inform policies for scalable clean household energy. METHODS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarised the health effects from cooking or heating with gas compared with polluting fuels (eg, wood or charcoal) and clean energy (eg, electricity and solar energy). We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), Environment Complete, GreenFile, Google Scholar, Wanfang DATA, and CNKI for articles published between Dec 16, 2020, and Feb 6, 2021. Studies eligible for inclusion had to compare gas for cooking or heating with polluting fuels (eg, wood or charcoal) or clean energy (eg, electricity or solar energy) and present data for health outcomes in general populations. Studies that reported health outcomes that were exacerbations of existing underlying conditions were excluded. Several of our reviewers were involved in screening studies, data extraction, and quality assessment (including risk of bias) of included studies; 20% of studies were independently screened, extracted and quality assessed by another reviewer. Disagreements were reconciled through discussion with the wider review team. Included studies were appraised for quality using the Liverpool Quality Assessment Tools. Key health outcomes were grouped for meta-analysis and analysed using Cochrane's RevMan software. Primary outcomes were health effects (eg, acute lower respiratory infections) and secondary outcomes were health symptoms (eg, respiratory symptoms such as wheeze, cough, or breathlessness). This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021227092. FINDINGS: 116 studies were included in the meta-analysis (two [2%] randomised controlled trials, 13 [11%] case-control studies, 23 [20%] cohort studies, and 78 [67%] cross-sectional studies), contributing 215 effect estimates for five grouped health outcomes. Compared with polluting fuels, use of gas significantly lowered the risk of pneumonia (OR 0·54, 95% CI 0·38-0·77; p=0·00080), wheeze (OR 0·42, 0·30-0·59; p<0·0001), cough (OR 0·44, 0·32-0·62; p<0·0001), breathlessness (OR 0·40, 0·21-0·76; p=0·0052), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 0·37, 0·23-0·60; p<0·0001), bronchitis (OR 0·60, 0·43-0·82; p=0·0015), pulmonary function deficit (OR 0·27, 0·17-0·44; p<0·0001), severe respiratory illness or death (OR 0·27, 0·11-0·63; p=0·0024), preterm birth (OR 0·66, 0·45-0·97; p=0·033), and low birth weight (OR 0·70, 0·53-0·93; p=0·015). Non-statistically significant effects were observed for asthma in children (OR 1·04, 0·70-1·55; p=0·84), asthma in adults (OR 0·65, 0·43-1·00; p=0·052), and small for gestational age (OR 1·04, 0·89-1·21; p=0·62). Compared with electricity, use of gas significantly increased risk of pneumonia (OR 1·26, 1·03-1·53; p=0·025) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 1·15, 1·06-1·25; p=0·0011), although smaller non-significant effects were observed for higher-quality studies. In addition, a small increased risk of asthma in children was not significant (OR 1·09, 0·99-1·19; p=0·071) and no significant associations were found for adult asthma, wheeze, cough, and breathlessness (p>0·05). A significant decreased risk of bronchitis was observed (OR 0·87, 0·81-0·93; p<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: Switching from polluting fuels to gaseous household fuels could lower health risk and associated morbidity and mortality in resource-poor countries where reliance on polluting fuels is greatest. Although gas fuel use was associated with a slightly higher risk for some health outcomes compared with electricity, gas is an important transitional option for health in countries where access to reliable electricity supply for cooking or heating is not feasible in the near term. FUNDING: WHO.

Intra-breath changes in respiratory mechanics are sensitive to history of respiratory illness in preschool children: the SEPAGES cohort.

BACKGROUND: Intra-breath oscillometry has been proposed as a sensitive means of detecting airway obstruction in young children. We aimed to assess the impact of early life wheezing and lower respiratory tract illness on lung function, using both standard and intra-breath oscillometry in 3 year old children. METHODS: History of doctor-diagnosed asthma, wheezing, bronchiolitis and bronchitis and hospitalisation for respiratory problems were assessed by questionnaires in 384 population-based children. Association of respiratory history with standard and intra-breath oscillometry parameters, including resistance at 7 Hz (R7), frequency-dependence of resistance (R7 - 19), reactance at 7 Hz (X7), area of the reactance curve (AX), end-inspiratory and end-expiratory R (ReI, ReE) and X (XeI, XeE), and volume-dependence of resistance (ΔR = ReE-ReI) was estimated by linear regression adjusted on confounders. RESULTS: Among the 320 children who accepted the oscillometry test, 281 (88%) performed 3 technically acceptable and reproducible standard oscillometry measurements and 251 children also performed one intra-breath oscillometry measurement. Asthma was associated with higher ReI, ReE, ΔR and R7 and wheezing was associated with higher ΔR. Bronchiolitis was associated with higher R7 and AX and lower XeI and bronchitis with higher ReI. No statistically significant association was observed for hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the good success rate of oscillometry in 3-year-old children and indicate an association between a history of early-life wheezing and lower respiratory tract illness and lower lung function as assessed by both standard and intra-breath oscillometry. Our study supports the relevance of using intra-breath oscillometry parameters as sensitive outcome measures in preschool children in epidemiological cohorts.

Retreatment of symptomatic chronic bronchitis with bronchial rheoplasty.

A man in his early 70s with a long-standing history of chronic bronchitis presented to our department 3 years ago with debilitating chronic cough and excessive sputum production. He had no previous diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and without evidence of severe respiratory tract infections. Due to his symptom burden and impairments in daily activities, the patient was considered to be an appropriate candidate for bronchial rheoplasty, a novel endoscopic treatment for patients with chronic bronchitis. The patient responded well to bilateral treatment but then experienced symptom recurrence roughly 14 months after completing the initial treatment. In the absence of an alternative explanation for the return of these symptoms, he then underwent uneventful retreatment. The patient, again, reported significant symptom improvement and no adverse effects since retreatment. While further studies are necessary to assess the safety and efficacy of retreatment, the findings from this case are encouraging.

Identifying causal relationships between gastroesophageal reflux and extraesophageal diseases: A Mendelian randomization study.

Traditional observational and in vivo studies have suggested an etiological link between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the development of extraesophageal diseases (EEDs), such as noncardiac chest pain. However, evidence demonstrating potential causal relationships is lacking. This study evaluated the potential causal relationship between GERD and EEDs, including throat and chest pain, asthma, bronchitis, chronic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis and pharyngitis, gingivitis and periodontal disease, cough, using multiple Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, and sensitivity analysis was performed. The Mendelian randomization Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier and PhenoScanner tools were used to further check for heterogeneous results and remove outliers. MR with inverse-variance weighted (IVW) showed a significant causal relationship between GERD and EEDs after Bonferroni correction. IVW results indicated that GERD increased the risk of chronic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis and pharyngitis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.482, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.267-1.734, P < .001], gingivitis and periodontal disease (OR = 1.166, 95% CI = 1.046-1.190, P = .001), throat and chest pain (OR = 1.585, 95% CI = 1.455-1.726, P < .001), asthma (OR = 1.539, 95% CI = 1.379-1.717, P < .001), and bronchitis (OR = 1.249, 95% CI = 1.168-1.335, P < .001). Sensitivity analysis did not detect pleiotropy. Leave-one-out analysis shows that MR results were not affected by individual single nucleotide polymorphisms. The funnel plot considers the genetic instrumental variables to be almost symmetrically distributed. This MR supports a causal relationship among GERD and EEDs. Precise moderation based on causality and active promotion of collaboration among multidisciplinary physicians ensure high-quality diagnostic and treatment recommendations and maximize patient benefit.

The relationship between use of SGLT2is and incidence of respiratory and infectious diseases and site-specific fractures: a meta-analysis based on 32 large RCTs.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and incidence of various respiratory and infectious diseases and site-specific fractures. METHODS: Large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SGLT2is enrolling more than 400 subjects were included. Outcomes of interest were various serious adverse events regarding to respiratory and infectious disorders and site-specific fractures. Meta-analysis was done using risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) as effect size. RESULTS: Thirty-two large RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. Use of SGLT2is was significantly associated with the lower incidences of 6 kinds of noninfectious respiratory diseases {e.g., Asthma (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43-0.96; P = 0.0299), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62-0.91; P = 0.0027), and Respiratory failure (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.61-0.99; P = 0.0447)} and 4 kinds of infectious respiratory diseases {e.g., Bronchitis (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.46-0.81; P = 0.0007), and Pneumonia (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.93; P = 0.0002)}. Use of SGLT2is was not significantly associated with the incidences of 31 kinds of site-specific fractures (e.g., Hip fracture, Femoral neck fracture, and Spinal fracture; P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis confirmed the benefits of SGLT2is against 6 kinds of noninfectious respiratory diseases (e.g., Asthma, COPD, and Respiratory failure) and 4 kinds of infectious respiratory diseases (e.g., Bronchitis, and Pneumonia). These findings suggest a likelihood that SGLT2is might be used to prevent or treat these respiratory diseases. Moreover, our meta-analysis for the first time revealed no association between use of SGLT2is and incidence of various site-specific fractures.

Polyphyllin II inhibits NLPR3 inflammasome activation and inflammatory response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis–infected human bronchial epithelial cells

Background: The bronchial infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is increasing in prevalence and severity worldwide. Despite appropriate tuberculosis treatment, most patients still develop bronchial stenosis, which often leads to disability. Polyphyllin II (PP2) is a steroidal saponin extracted from Rhizoma Paridis. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of PP2 on the advancement of Mtb-induced bronchial infection. Method: The effects of PP2 on cell viability were measured by using MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit. The mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-8 were elucidated by RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. The expression of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) related inflammasome (NLRP3, IL-1β, and cleaved-caspase-1) and the activated degree of protein kinase B (AKT)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB; p-AKT and p-NF-κB) were detected by Western blotting. Results: PP2 at 0, 1, 5, and 10 μM had little cytotoxicity on 16HBE cells. PP2 inhibited Mtb-induced cell proliferation and decreased LDH levels. We further found that PP2 could suppress Mtb-induced inflammatory responses and activation of NLPR3 inflammasome. Additionally, the role of PP2 in Mtb is associated with the AKT/NF-kB signaling pathway. Conclusion: PP2 inhibited Mtb infection in bronchial epithelial cells, by inhibiting Mtb-induced inflammatory reactions and activation of NLPR3 inflammasome. These effects may be exerted by suppressing the AKT/NF-kB pathway, which will provide a prospective treatment (AU)

Polyphyllin II inhibits NLPR3 inflammasome activation and inflammatory response of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected human bronchial epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: The bronchial infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is increasing in prevalence and severity worldwide. Despite appropriate tuberculosis treatment, most patients still develop bronchial stenosis, which often leads to disability. Polyphyllin II (PP2) is a steroidal saponin extracted from Rhizoma Paridis. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of PP2 on the advancement of Mtb-induced bronchial infection. METHOD: The effects of PP2 on cell viability were measured by using MTT and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) kit. The mRNA and protein levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-8 were elucidated by RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. The expression of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) related inflammasome (NLRP3, IL-1ß, and cleaved-caspase-1) and the activated degree of protein kinase B (AKT)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB; p-AKT and p-NF-κB) were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: PP2 at 0, 1, 5, and 10 µM had little cytotoxicity on 16HBE cells. PP2 inhibited Mtb-induced cell proliferation and decreased LDH levels. We further found that PP2 could suppress Mtb-induced inflammatory responses and activation of NLPR3 inflammasome. Additionally, the role of PP2 in Mtb is associated with the AKT/NF-kB signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: PP2 inhibited Mtb infection in bronchial epithelial cells, by inhibiting Mtb-induced inflammatory reactions and activation of NLPR3 inflammasome. These effects may be exerted by suppressing the AKT/NF-kB pathway, which will provide a prospective treatment.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and the risk of respiratory diseases: a Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have suggested a suspected association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and respiratory diseases, but the causality remains equivocal. The goal of this study was to evaluate the causal role of GERD in respiratory diseases by employing Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. METHODS: We conducted Mendelian randomization analysis based on summary data of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) and three MR statistical techniques (inverse variance weighted, weighted median and MR-Egger) were employed to assess the probable causal relationship between GERD and the risk of respiratory diseases. Sensitivity analysis was also carried out to ensure more trustworthy results, which involves examining the heterogeneity, pleiotropy and leave-one-SNP-out method. We also identified 33 relevant genes and explored their distribution in 26 normal tissues. RESULTS: In the analysis, for every unit increase in developing GERD, the odds ratio for developing COPD, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer and pulmonary embolism rose by 72% (ORIVW = 1.72, 95% CI 1.50; 1.99), 19% (ORIVW = 1.19, 95% CI 1.11; 1.28), 16% (ORIVW = 1.16, 95% CI 1.07; 1.26), 0. 3% (ORIVW = 1.003, 95% CI 1.0012; 1.0043) and 33% (ORIVW = 1.33, 95% CI 1.12; 1.58), respectively, in comparison with non-GERD cases. In addition, neither heterogeneity nor pleiotropy was found in the study. This study also found that gene expression was higher in the central nervous system and brain tissue than in other normal tissues. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence that people who developed GERD had a higher risk of developing COPD, bronchitis, pneumonia, lung cancer and pulmonary embolism. Our research suggests physicians to give effective treatments for GERD on respiratory diseases. By exploring the gene expression, our study may also help to reveal the role played by the central nervous system and brain tissue in developing respiratory diseases caused by GERD.

Flexible bronchoscopy findings and management impact in children with oropharyngeal dysphagia.

INTRODUCTION: Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are frequently performed in children with known or suspected aspiration, however, the additive value of FB in conjunction with direct laryngoscopy and rigid bronchoscopy (DLB) has not been previously quantified. This study details the common endoscopic/cytological findings and associated management impact of FB and BAL in pediatric Aerodigestive patients undergoing combined airway evaluation (FB and DLB) for oropharyngeal dysphagia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed in children <3 years of age followed through a large Aerodigestive center undergoing outpatient, combined airway endoscopy for dysphagia. Patient and procedural characteristics, endoscopic and BAL findings, and management metrics were collected and analyzed. A secondary analysis evaluated the association between endoscopic findings and medication changes. RESULTS: Ninety-one procedures (median patient age, 15 months) were identified. All procedures included both FB and DLB, and just over half (52.7%) included esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Common endoscopic findings included bronchitis (73.6%), adenoidal hypertrophy (31.9%), and tracheomalacia (10.8%). BAL cytology frequently identified neutrophilic inflammation (mean 39.6% neutrophils [interquartile range 6.5%-71%)]. Cultured pathogens commonly included Streptococcus viridans (46.6%), Hemophilus influenzae (36.3%), Moraxella catarrhalis (30.1%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (25.0%). FB and BAL results contributed to clinical decisions in 65 of 91 (71.4%) patients. Endoscopically-diagnosed bronchitis (odds ratio [OR] 7.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4-21.99) and tracheomalacia (OR 5.79, 95% CI 1.20-27.85) were significantly associated with increased odds of medication adjustments following FB. CONCLUSION: In pediatric Aerodigestive patients undergoing combined airway evaluation for oropharyngeal dysphagia, FB and BAL are high-yield and clinically impactful procedures.

Associations between ultrafine particle pollution and daily outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in Shanghai, China: a time-series analysis.

Previous epidemiological studies have linked short-term exposure to particulate matter with outpatient visits for respiratory diseases. However, evidence on ultrafine particle (UFP) is still scarce in China. To investigate the association between short-term UFP exposure and outpatient visits for respiratory diseases as well as the corresponding lag patterns, information on outpatient visits for main respiratory diseases during January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2019 was collected from electronic medical records of two large tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China. Generalized additive models employing a Quasi-Poisson distribution were employed to investigate the relationships between UFP and respiratory diseases. We computed the percentage change and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for outpatient visits related to respiratory diseases per interquartile range (IQR) increase in UFP concentrations. Based on a total of 1,034,394 hospital visits for respiratory diseases in Shanghai, China, we found that the strongest associations of total UFP with acute upper respiratory tract infection (AURTI), bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia occurred at lag 03, 03, 0, and 03 days, respectively. Each IQR increase in the total UFP concentrations was associated with increments of 9.02% (95% CI: 8.64-9.40%), 3.94% (95% CI: 2.84-5.06%), 4.10% (95% CI: 3.01-5.20%), and 10.15% (95% CI: 9.32-10.99%) for AURTI, bronchitis, COPD, and pneumonia, respectively. Almost linear concentration-response relationship curves without apparent thresholds were observed between total UFP and outpatient-department visits for four respiratory diseases. Stratified analyses illustrated significantly stronger associations of total UFP with AURTI, bronchitis, and pneumonia among female patients, while that with COPD was stronger among male patients. After adjustment of criteria air pollutants, these associations all remained robust. This time-series study indicates that short-term exposure to UFP was associated with increased risk of hospital visits for respiratory diseases, underscoring the importance of reducing ambient UFP concentrations for respiratory diseases control and prevention.

Prognostic performance of IL-6 and IL-10 in febrile pediatric hematology/oncology patients with normal procalcitonin.

INTRODUCTION: It is important to predict adverse outcomes in febrile children with hematology/oncology diseases. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a promising biomarker for the prediction of infection severity, but further studies have revealed its performance in excluding adverse outcomes of infection. IL-6 and IL-10 were reported to have a close association with those infection outcomes. The aim of the study was to investigate the performance of IL-6 and IL-10 in febrile pediatric hematology/oncology patients with normal PCT. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary children's hospital in China over the past ten years. Inflammatory biomarkers, including IL-6, IL-10, PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP), were detected at the onset of infection. Separate analyses were conducted in patients with neutropenia and without neutropenia. RESULTS: In total, 5987 febrile cases were enrolled. For patients with neutropenia, IL-6, IL-10 and PCT were significantly increased in patients with bloodstream infection (BSI), gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) and severe sepsis (SS), but only IL-6 and IL-10 were predictive of GNB and SS. For patients without neutropenia, IL-6, IL-10 and PCT were significantly increased in patients with BSI, GNB and SS, but no biomarkers were predictive of adverse outcomes. All biomarkers failed to exclude patients with fever of unknown origin or upper respiratory infection/bronchitis in patients with neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: IL-6 and IL-10 could be predictors for GNB and SS in febrile patients with neutropenia and had some association with unfavorable outcomes in febrile patients without neutropenia. All biomarkers failed to exclude patients with fever of unknown origin or upper respiratory infection/bronchitis.

Brady-arrhythmias requiring permanent pacemaker implantation during and after staged Fontan palliation.

BACKGROUND: Brady-arrhythmia requiring pacemaker implantation remains one of the Fontan-specific complications before and after total cavopulmonary connection. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 620 patients who underwent total cavopulmonary connection between 1994 and 2021 was performed to evaluate the incidence of brady-arrhythmia and the outcomes after pacemaker implantation. Factors associated with the onset of brady-arrhythmia were identified. RESULTS: A total of 52 patients presented with brady-arrhythmia and required pacemaker implantation. Diagnosis included 16 sinus node dysfunctions, 29 atrioventricular blocks, and 7 junctional escape rhythms. Pacemaker implantation was performed before total cavopulmonary connection (n = 16), concomitant with total cavopulmonary connection (n = 8), or after total cavopulmonary connection (n = 28, median 1.8 years post-operatively). Freedom from pacemaker implantation following total cavopulmonary connection at 10 years was 92%. Twelve patients needed revision of electrodes due to lead dysfunction (n = 9), infections (n = 2), or dislocation (n = 1). Lead energy thresholds were stable, and freedom from pacemaker lead revision at 10 years after total cavopulmonary connection was 78%. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (odds ratio: 6.6, confidence interval: 2.0-21.5, p = 0.002) was identified as a factor associated with pacemaker implantation before total cavopulmonary connection. Pacemaker rhythms for Fontan circulation were not a risk factor for survival (p = 0.226), protein-losing enteropathy/plastic bronchitis (p = 0.973), or thromboembolic complications (p = 0.424). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of patients following total cavopulmonary connection, freedom from pacemaker implantation at 10 years was 92% and stable atrial and ventricular lead energy thresholds were observed. Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries was at increased risk for pacemaker implantation before total cavopulmonary connection. Having a pacemaker in the Fontan circulation had no adverse effect on survival, protein-losing enteropathy/plastic bronchitis, or thromboembolic complications.