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Quorum sensing plays a vital role in the environmental and host life cycles of Vibrio cholerae. The quorum-sensing circuit involves the consorted action of autoinducers, small RNAs, and regulatory proteins to control a plethora of physiological events in this bacterium. Among the regulatory proteins, LuxO is considered a low-cell-density master regulator. It is a homolog of NtrC, a two-component response regulator. NtrC belongs to an evolving protein family that works with the alternative sigma factor σ54 to trigger gene transcription. Structurally, these proteins comprise 3 domains: a receiver domain, a central AAA+ATPase domain, and a C-terminal DNA-binding domain (DBD). LuxO communicates with its cognate promoters by employing its DNA binding domain. In the present study, we desired to identify the critical residues in the DBD of LuxO. Our combined mutagenesis and biochemical assays resulted in the identification of eleven residues that contribute significantly to LuxO regulatory function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Question: For people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at high risk of exacerbations, does bisoprolol reduce the number of exacerbations? Finding: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 515 people with COPD, the number of exacerbations requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, or both did not differ significantly with use of bisoprolol (mean exacerbations, 2.03/y) vs placebo (mean exacerbations, 2.01/y). Meaning: Treatment with bisoprolol did not reduce COPD exacerbations requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, or both. This randomized clinical trial examines whether the addition of bisoprolol to treatment of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at high risk of exacerbation reduces the rate of moderate to severe exacerbations. Importance: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Observational studies report that β-blocker use may be associated with reduced risk of COPD exacerbations. However, a recent trial reported that metoprolol did not reduce COPD exacerbations and increased COPD exacerbations requiring hospital admission. Objective: To test whether bisoprolol decreased COPD exacerbations in people with COPD at high risk of exacerbations. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Bisoprolol in COPD Study (BICS) was a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial conducted in 76 UK sites (45 primary care clinics and 31 secondary clinics). Patients with COPD who had at least moderate airflow obstruction on spirometry (ratio of forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration [FEV1] to forced vital capacity <0.7; FEV1 <80% predicted) and at least 2 COPD exacerbations treated with oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, or both in the prior 12 months were enrolled from October 17, 2018, to May 31, 2022. Follow-up concluded on April 18, 2023. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to bisoprolol (n = 261) or placebo (n = 258). Bisoprolol was started at 1.25 mg orally daily and was titrated as tolerated during 4 sessions to a maximum dose of 5 mg/d, using a standardized protocol. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary clinical outcome was the number of patient-reported COPD exacerbations treated with oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, or both during the 1-year treatment period. Safety outcomes included serious adverse events and adverse reactions. Results: Although the trial planned to enroll 1574 patients, recruitment was suspended from March 16, 2020, to July 31, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two patients in each group were excluded postrandomization. Among the 515 patients (mean [SD] age, 68 [7.9] years; 274 men [53%]; mean FEV1, 50.1%), primary outcome data were available for 514 patients (99.8%) and 371 (72.0%) continued taking the study drug. The primary outcome of patient-reported COPD exacerbations treated with oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, or both was 526 in the bisoprolol group, with a mean exacerbation rate of 2.03/y, vs 513 exacerbations in the placebo group, with a mean exacerbation rate of 2.01/y. The adjusted incidence rate ratio was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.84-1.13; P =.72). Serious adverse events occurred in 37 of 255 patients in the bisoprolol group (14.5%) vs 36 of 251 in the placebo group (14.3%; relative risk, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.62-1.66; P =.96). Conclusions and Relevance: Among people with COPD at high risk of exacerbation, treatment with bisoprolol did not reduce the number of self-reported COPD exacerbations requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, or both. Trial Registration: isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN10497306 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing is defined as a progressive decline of homeostasis that occurs after the reproductive phase of life is complete, which is thought to arise because of impaired DNA repair following damage. This leads to an increased risk of disease or death. Ageing is one of the most important risk factors for most chronic diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents an important component of the increasingly prevalent multiple chronic debilitating diseases that are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly. There is increasing evidence that the pathogenesis of COPD is linked to an accelerated ageing process. This review discusses the evidence supporting a number of mechanisms, including oxidative stress and ageing, in the pathogenesis of COPD. Greater understanding of these mechanisms leads to novel therapeutic interventions targeted at this heterogeneous disease. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency results from carriage of a homozygous SERPINA1 "Z" mutation (proteinase inhibitor [PI] ZZ). The Z allele produces a mutant AAT protein called Z-AAT, which accumulates in hepatocytes and can lead to progressive liver disease and fibrosis. This open-label, phase 2 trial investigated the safety and efficacy of fazirsiran, an RNA interference therapeutic, in patients with liver disease associated with AAT deficiency.Methods: We assigned adults with the PI ZZ genotype and liver fibrosis to receive fazirsiran at a dose of 200 mg (cohorts 1 [4 patients] and 2 [8 patients]) or 100 mg (cohort 1b [4 patients]) subcutaneously on day 1 and week 4 and then every 12 weeks. The primary end point was the change from baseline to week 24 (cohorts 1 and 1b) or week 48 (cohort 2) in liver Z-AAT concentrations, which were measured by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.Results: All the patients had reduced accumulation of Z-AAT in the liver (median reduction, 83% at week 24 or 48). The nadir in serum was a reduction of approximately 90%, and treatment was also associated with a reduction in histologic globule burden (from a mean score of 7.4 [scores range from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating a greater globule burden] at baseline to 2.3 at week 24 or 48). All cohorts had reductions in liver enzyme concentrations. Fibrosis regression was observed in 7 of 15 patients and fibrosis progression in 2 of 15 patients after 24 or 48 weeks. There were no adverse events leading to trial or drug discontinuation. Four serious adverse events (viral myocarditis, diverticulitis, dyspnea, and vestibular neuronitis) resolved.Conclusions: In this small trial, fazirsiran was associated with a strong reduction of Z-AAT concentrations in the serum and liver and concurrent improvements in liver enzyme concentrations. (Funded by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals; AROAAT-2002 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03946449.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring supplemental oxygen, dexamethasone reduces acute severity and improves survival, but longer-term effects are unknown. We hypothesised that systemic corticosteroid administration during acute COVID-19 would be associated with improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 1 year after discharge., Methods: Adults admitted to hospital between February 2020 and March 2021 for COVID-19 and meeting current guideline recommendations for dexamethasone treatment were included using two prospective UK cohort studies (Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 and the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium). HRQoL, assessed by the EuroQol-Five Dimensions-Five Levels utility index (EQ-5D-5L UI), pre-hospital and 1 year after discharge were compared between those receiving corticosteroids or not after propensity weighting for treatment. Secondary outcomes included patient-reported recovery, physical and mental health status, and measures of organ impairment. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to account for survival and selection bias., Findings: Of the 1888 participants included in the primary analysis, 1149 received corticosteroids. There was no between-group difference in EQ-5D-5L UI at 1 year (mean difference 0.004, 95% CI -0.026-0.034). A similar reduction in EQ-5D-5L UI was seen at 1 year between corticosteroid exposed and nonexposed groups (mean±sd change -0.12±0.22 versus -0.11±0.22). Overall, there were no differences in secondary outcome measures. After sensitivity analyses modelled using a cohort of 109 318 patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, EQ-5D-5L UI at 1 year remained similar between the two groups., Interpretation: Systemic corticosteroids for acute COVID-19 have no impact on the large reduction in HRQoL 1 year after hospital discharge. Treatments to address the persistent reduction in HRQoL are urgently needed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: O.C. Leavy declares that their institute received joint funding from UKRI and NIHR (MR/V027859/1 and COV0319) to complete this work. A.B. Docherty declares that they were awarded funding from a Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship (216606/Z/19/Z) to complete this work. A Sheikh declares that their institute was awarded grant funding from NIHR and UKRI to complete this work; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for AstraZeneca's Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Taskforce; and leadership or fiduciary roles for UK and Scottish Government COVID-19 advisory groups. C.E. Bolton declares that their institute received grant funding from NIHR/UKRI and NIHR to complete this work; and their institute received grant funding from Nottingham Hospitals Charity and University of Nottingham. G. Choudhury declares funding from GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca; received honoraria for delivering talks from GSK, AZ, Chiesi and BI; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board as Chair on the Act on COPD Programme for AZ in Scotland; and a leadership or fiduciary role as Chair for the Lothian Respiratory Managed Clinical Network. N.D. Bakerly declares they have received nonrestrictive educational grants from Chiesi, AZ and Teva for attending conferences; honoraria from Teva, AZ and GSK; support for attending meetings and/or travel from Chiesi and AZ; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Teva; and receipt of equipment from Global Access Diagnostics (previously Mologic Inc). A. Shikotra declares that their institute was awarded joint funding from UKRI and the NIHR (MR/V027859/1 and COV0319) to complete this work. R. Aul declares lecture fees and support for attending a meeting from Boehringer Ingelheim. C. Echevarria declares a grant from GSK. J.R. Hurst declares funding from AstraZeneca; consulting fees from AstraZeneca and GSK; payment for lectures and presentations from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Sanofi and Takeda; support for attending meetings and/or travel from AstraZeneca; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for AstraZeneca; and receipt of equipment from Nonin. M. Jones declares funding from the MRC to complete this work; funding from the MRC, British Lung Foundation and Boehringer Ingelheim; consulting fees from Skyhawk Therapeutics; and a leadership or fiduciary role in the AAIR Charity Scientific Committee. P. Pfeffer declares funding from NIHR. S. Rowland-Jones declares that their institute received funding from UKRI to complete this work; and their institute received funding from NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research centre, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UKRI (MRC) and EDCTP. D. Parekh declares funding from NIHR and MRC; and a leadership or fiduciary role for the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Board. A.A.R. Thompson declares that their institute was awarded a fellowship from the British Heart Foundation, and grant funding from Heart Research UK and the National Institute for Health and Care Research; payment for lectures and presentations from Janssen-Cilag Ltd; and support for attending meetings from Janssen-Cilag Ltd. M.J. Davies declares grant funding from Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis, Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca and Janssen; consulting fees from Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi; payment for speaking for Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Napp Pharmaceuticals and Novartis; and is an advisory board member for Boehringer Ingelheim, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Lexicon, Pfizer, Medtronic and ShouTi Pharma Inc., and Zealand Pharma. A. De Soyza declares that their institute was awarded grant funding from AstraZeneca, Bayer, GSK, Chiesi, Novartis and Pfizer, outside the submitted manuscript; consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, GSK, Chiesi, Novartis, Pfizer, Insmed and Gilead; payment for lectures and presentations from AstraZeneca, Bayer, GSK, Chiesi, Novartis, Pfizer, Insmed, Gilead and 30T; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Bayer; and receipt of drugs from GSK outside the submitted manuscript. S. Heller declares consulting fees from NovoNordisk; and participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Eli Lilly with payments made to their institution. J. Jacob declares funding from Gilead, Microsoft Research and GlaxoSmithKline; consulting fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline and NHSX; payment for lectures and presentations received from Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche, GlaxoSmithKline and Takeda; support for attending meetings and/or travel from Boehringer Ingelheim; patents planned, issued or pending (UK patent application number 2113765.8 and UK patent application number GB2211487.0); and participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Boehringer Ingelheim and Roche. R.G. Jenkins declares that their institute received funding from AstraZeneca, Biogen, Galecto, GlaxoSmithKline, Nordic Biosciences, RedX and Pliant; consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Brainomix, Bristol Myers Squibb, Chiesi, Cohbar, Daewoong, GlaxoSmithKline, Veracyte, Resolution Therapeutics and Pliant; payment for lectures and presentations received from Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, Roche, PatientMPower and AstraZeneca; payment for expert testimony from Pinsent Masons LLP; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Boehringer Ingelheim, Galapagos and Vicore; and a leadership or fiduciary role for NuMedii and is president for Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis. W.D-C. Man declares that their institute received funding from National Institute for Health Research and NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative; and is Honorary President of the Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology, and an associate editor of ERJ Open Research. G.P. McCann declares funding from NIHR (RP-2017-ST2-007) to complete this work; funding from the British Heart Foundation, Wellcome Trust and NIHR; and research support from Resonance Health, Circle CVi and Perspectum. S. Neubauer declares grant funding from Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research centre. P.J.M. Openshaw declares funding from UKRI-MRC/DHSC NIHR and UKRI-BEIS. M.J. Rowland declares support for attending meetings and/or travel from Novartis Pharmaceuticals; stock or stock options from Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Roche Pharmaceuticals; and is employed full time as a Senior Clinical Development Medical Director at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. J. Porter declares funding from Breathing Matters and UCL/H BRC (NIHR), and consulting fees from The Limbic. L.G. Heaney declares that their institute received funding from GSK, AstraZeneca and Roche/Genentech; payment for lectures received from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Roche/Genentech, Sanofi, Circassia, GlaxoSmithKline, Chiesi and Teva; support to travel to meetings from AstraZeneca and GSK; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Novartis, Roche/Genentech, GSK, Teva and Celltrion; and funding from the NIHR (RfPB grant PB-PG-0317-20032). J.T. Scott declares funding from UKRI. M.G. Semple declares grant funding from National Institute of Health Research UK, Medical Research Council UK and Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, and University of Liverpool to complete this work; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Pfizer; leadership or fiduciary roles as Chair of Infectious Disease Scientific Advisory Board Integrum Scientific LLC and Director of MedEx Solutions Ltd; stock or stock options as minority owner of Integrum Scientific LLC and majority owner of MedEx Solutions Ltd; receipt of equipment, materials, drugs, medical writing, gifts or other services from Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA; and is a nonremunerated independent member of HMG UK Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), COVID-19 Response (March 2020 to March 2022) and a nonremunerated independent member of HMG UK New Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) (2014 to July 2023). S.J. Singh declares grants or contracts from NIHR (programme grant (NIHR 202020), Wellcome Doctoral Training Programme, HTA Project Grant (NIHR 131015), NIHR DHSC/UKRI COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative, NIHR Global Research Group (NIHR 17/63/20)), Actegy Limited and NIHR Senior Investigator; payment for presentations for GSK, Ministry of Justice, CIPLA, Sherbourne Gibbs; participation on NICE Expert Adviser Panel (long COVID), Wales Long COVID Advisory Board and NHS-E Long Covid Your Covid Recovery working group; and leadership or fiduciary roles as ATS Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assembly Chair, Clinical Lead RCP Pulmonary Rehabilitation Accreditation Scheme and Clinical Lead NACAP Audit for Pulmonary Rehabilitation. M. Toshner declares grant funding from the NIHR Cambridge BRC and NIHR HTA to complete this work; consulting fees from Janssen; support for attending meetings and/or travel from GSK and Janssen; and participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for ComCov and FluCov. A. Horsley declares that their institute was awarded funding from UK Research and Innovation (MR/V027859/1), the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) (COV0319) and NIHR Manchester BRC; and is Chair for the NIHR Translational Research Collaboration. M. Marks declares that their institute received joint funding from UKRI and NIHR to complete this work. K. Poinasamy declares funding from UKRI and NIHR to complete this work. A. Briggs declares consulting fees from Roche, Merck, Sanofi and GSK. J.K. Quint declares that their institute received funding from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, the Medical Research Council, Health Data Research, GSK, BI, Asthma+Lung UK and AZ; and consulting fees from GlaxoSmithKline, Evidera, Chiesi, AstraZeneca and Insmed. J.D. Chalmers declares funding from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Grifols, Gilead Sciences, Insmed, Genentech and GlaxoSmithKline; consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Grifols, Gilead Sciences, Insmed, Genentech, Glaxosmithkline, Antabio, Zambon and Trudell; and leadership or fiduciary roles as Chief Editor of the European Respiratory Journal and associate editor of ERJ Open Research, Chair of the British Thoracic Society Science and Research Committee, and Trustee of the British Thoracic Society. L.V. Wain declares funding from UK Research and Innovation (MR/V027859/1), GSK/Asthma+Lung UK (Professorship (C17-1)) and National Institute of Health Research (COV0319) to complete this work; funding from Orion Pharma, GSK, Genentech, AstraZeneca, Nordic Bioscience and Sysmex (OGT); consulting fees Galapagos, Boehringer Ingelheim and GSK; support for attending meetings and/or travel Genentech; participation on Advisory Board for Galapagos; leadership or fiduciary roles as an associate editor for the European Respiratory Journal, and Medical Research Council Board member and Deputy Chair. C.E. Brightling declares that their institute received grant funding from MRC/NIHR and NIHR to complete this work; their institute received grant funding from GSK, AZ, Sanofi, Regeneron, Roche, Genentech, BI, Novartis, Chiesi, 4Dpharma and Mologic; and consulting fees from GSK, AZ, Sanofi, Regeneron, Roche, Genentech, BI, Novartis, Chiesi, 4Dpharma, Mologic and Areteia. R.A. Evans declares funding from UKRI/MRC/NIHR to complete this work; funding from Wolfson Foundation and Genentech/Roche; consulting fees from AstraZeneca/Evidera; speaking fees from Boehringer and Moderna; support for attending meetings from Chiesi; and leadership or fiduciary roles as ERS Group 01.02 Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Chronic Care Secretary, and ATS Pulmonary Rehabilitation Assembly Chair. All other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright ©The authors 2024.)

Background: Alpha 1 -antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency results from carriage of a homozygous SERPINA1 "Z" mutation (proteinase inhibitor [PI] ZZ). The Z allele produces a mutant AAT protein called Z-AAT, which accumulates in hepatocytes and can lead to progressive liver disease and fibrosis. This open-label, phase 2 trial investigated the safety and efficacy of fazirsiran, an RNA interference therapeutic, in patients with liver disease associated with AAT deficiency., Methods: We assigned adults with the PI ZZ genotype and liver fibrosis to receive fazirsiran at a dose of 200 mg (cohorts 1 [4 patients] and 2 [8 patients]) or 100 mg (cohort 1b [4 patients]) subcutaneously on day 1 and week 4 and then every 12 weeks. The primary end point was the change from baseline to week 24 (cohorts 1 and 1b) or week 48 (cohort 2) in liver Z-AAT concentrations, which were measured by means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry., Results: All the patients had reduced accumulation of Z-AAT in the liver (median reduction, 83% at week 24 or 48). The nadir in serum was a reduction of approximately 90%, and treatment was also associated with a reduction in histologic globule burden (from a mean score of 7.4 [scores range from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating a greater globule burden] at baseline to 2.3 at week 24 or 48). All cohorts had reductions in liver enzyme concentrations. Fibrosis regression was observed in 7 of 15 patients and fibrosis progression in 2 of 15 patients after 24 or 48 weeks. There were no adverse events leading to trial or drug discontinuation. Four serious adverse events (viral myocarditis, diverticulitis, dyspnea, and vestibular neuronitis) resolved., Conclusions: In this small trial, fazirsiran was associated with a strong reduction of Z-AAT concentrations in the serum and liver and concurrent improvements in liver enzyme concentrations. (Funded by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals; AROAAT-2002 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03946449.)., (Copyright © 2022 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

PET with 18 F-FDG has been increasingly applied, predominantly in the research setting, to study drug effects and pulmonary biology and to monitor disease progression and treatment outcomes in lung diseases that interfere with gas exchange through alterations of the pulmonary parenchyma, airways, or vasculature. To date, however, there are no widely accepted standard acquisition protocols or imaging data analysis methods for pulmonary 18 F-FDG PET/CT in these diseases, resulting in disparate approaches. Hence, comparison of data across the literature is challenging. To help harmonize the acquisition and analysis and promote reproducibility, we collated details of acquisition protocols and analysis methods from 7 PET centers. From this information and our discussions, we reached the consensus recommendations given here on patient preparation, choice of dynamic versus static imaging, image reconstruction, and image analysis reporting., (© 2020 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.)