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Background: Occupational exposure to charcoal smoke and dust is a threat to workers' respiratory systems., Research Question: What is the prevalence of COPD in charcoal workers compared with that of farmers in rural areas of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)?, Study Design and Methods: This cross-sectional, comparative, and multisite study was performed in the charcoal-producing provinces of southwestern DRC. We randomly included charcoal workers and compared them with farmers (age range, 18-70 years). Air quality indexes, anthropometric features, physical activity, sociodemographic characteristics, and related medical events data were recorded. A lung function questionnaire was used to assess respiratory symptoms and spirometry was performed. COPD was defined as the presence of respiratory symptoms for > 3 months with an FEV 1 to FVC ratio less than the lower limit of normal. The prevalence of COPD was calculated, and logistic regression was used to identify COPD-associated factors., Results: We included 485 participants between August 2020 and July 2021. Charcoal producers (CPs; n = 229) were compared with farmers (n = 118), and charcoal saleswomen (n = 72) were compared with vegetable saleswomen (n = 66). Respective groups were similar in age, job seniority, height, and weight. The air was more polluted at charcoal workplaces. The prevalence of COPD was higher in CPs than in farmers (39.7% vs 14.4%; P < .0001) and higher in charcoal saleswomens compared with vegetable saleswomen (40.3% vs 13.6%; P < .0001). Being a charcoal worker was associated independently with COPD in the CP and farmers groups (adjusted OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.94-6.46) and in the saleswomen group (adjusted OR, 7.85; 95% CI, 2.85-21.5), where it was also associated independently with young age (adjusted OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80-0.93) and monthly income (adjusted OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.83-0.96)., Interpretation: In rural areas of DRC, producing or selling charcoal is associated with a higher risk of COPD., Competing Interests: Financial/Nonfinancial Disclosures None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The effect of bronchodilators is mainly assessed with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Their impact on oxygenation and lung periphery is less known. Our objective was to compare the action of long-acting β 2 -agonists (LABA-olodaterol) and muscarinic antagonists (LAMA-tiotropium) on tissue oxygenation in COPD, considering their impact on proximal and peripheral ventilation as well as lung perfusion. FEV 1 , Helium slope (S He ) from a single-breath washout test (S He decreases reflecting a peripheral ventilation improvement), frequency dependence of resistance (R5-R19), area under reactance (AX), lung capillary blood volume (Vc) from double diffusion (DL NO /DL CO ), and transcutaneous oxygenation (TcO 2 ) were measured before and 2 h post-LABA ( day 1 ) and LAMA ( day 3 ) in 30 patients with COPD (FEV 1 54 ± 18% pred; GOLD A 31%/B 48%/E 21%) after 5-7 days of washout, respectively. We found that TcO 2 increased more ( P = 0.03) after LAMA (11 ± 12% from baseline, P < 001) compared with LABA (4 ± 11%, P = 0.06) despite a lower FEV 1 increase ( P = 0.03) and similar S He ( P = 0.98), AX ( P = 0.63), and R5-R19 decreases ( P = 0.37). TcO 2 and S He changes were negatively correlated ( r = -0.47, P = 0.01) after LABA, not after LAMA ( r = 0.10, P = 0.65). DL NO /DL CO decreased and Vc increased after LAMA ( P = 0.04; P = 0.01, respectively) but not after LABA ( P = 0.53; P = 0.24). In conclusion, LAMA significantly improved tissue oxygenation in patients with COPD, while only a trend was observed with LABA. The mechanisms involved may differ between both drugs: LABA increased peripheral ventilation, whereas LAMA increased lung capillary blood volume. Should oxygenation differences persist over time, LAMA could arguably become the first therapeutic choice in COPD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) significantly improved tissue oxygenation in patients with COPD, while only a trend was observed with β 2 -agonists (LABAs). The mechanisms involved may differ between drugs: increased peripheral ventilation for LABA and likely lung capillary blood volume for LAMA. This could argue for LAMA as the first therapeutic choice in COPD.

Background: Exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) is used as a marker of type-2 airway inflammation in asthma management. Studies with airway challenges demonstrated that a reduction in airway caliber decreases Feno levels., Objective: To evaluate the impact of airway caliber reduction occurring spontaneously in patients with asthma on Feno values in daily clinical practice., Methods: In this post hoc analysis, Feno, FEV 1 , and asthma control questionnaire scores were recorded on each visit for 120 (1073 visits) adult patients with asthma. Blood eosinophils were measured intermittently. The intraindividual relationship between Feno and FEV 1 was evaluated via a linear mixed model. The determinants of the individual mean Feno were measured by a stepwise multivariate linear model including individual mean FEV 1 , inhaled corticosteroid dose, asthma control questionnaire score, and blood eosinophils., Results: Variations in the negative Feno-FEV 1 relationship within individuals at different times were significantly determined by the individual's mean FEV 1 . This relationship did not hold for individuals above the 75th and below the 25th quartiles. The best explanatory variables for individual mean Feno were FEV 1 (+4.3 parts per billion/10%pred) and blood eosinophil count (+1 part per billion per 100 cells/mm 3 )., Discussion: In the presence of variable degrees of heterogeneous patterns of airway inflammation, airway caliber is shown to be an independent and significant determinant of Feno when measured in patients with asthma. We would propose a +4-parts-per-billion correction factor to the measured Feno value for each 10% reduction below 100% predicted FEV 1 . Doing this should improve the rigor of interpretation of Feno as an indicator of type-2 inflammation in patients with low FEV 1 ., (Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), up to 12% may require intensive care unit (ICU) management. The aim of this prospective cohort study is to assess nutrition status and outcome in patients with COVID-19 following ICU discharge., Methods: Patients requiring a minimum of 14 days' stay in the ICU with mechanical ventilation were included. Nutrition status was assessed at inclusion (ICU discharge) and follow-up (after 15, 30, and 60 days). All patients had standardized medical nutrition therapy with defined targets regarding energy (30 kcal/kg/d) and protein intake (1.5 g/kg/d)., Results: Fifteen patients were included (67% males); the median age was 60 (33-75) years old. Body mass index at ICU admission was 25.7 (IQR, 24-31) kg/m². After a median ICU stay of 33 (IQR, 26-39) days, malnutrition was present in all patients (11.3% median weight loss and/or low muscle mass based on handgrip strength measurement). Because of postintubation dysphagia in 60% of patients, enteral nutrition was administered (57% nasogastric tube; 43% percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy). After 2 months, a significant improvement in muscle strength was observed (median handgrip strength, 64.7% [IQR, 51%-73%] of the predicted values for age vs 19% [IQR, 4.8%-28.4%] at ICU discharge [P < 0.0005]), as well as weight gain of 4.3 kg (IQR, 2.7-6.7 kg) (P < 0.0002)., Conclusions: Critically ill patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU admission and mechanical ventilation have malnutrition and low muscle mass at ICU discharge. Nutrition parameters improve during rehabilitation with standardized medical nutrition therapy., (© 2021 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

We previously documented, in patients with asthma, three different profiles of bronchodilation induced by short-acting β-2 mimetics (SABA), characterized by dilation up to central, preacinar, and intra-acinar airways assessed by ventilation distribution tests and associated with no change, increase, and decrease of fractional exhaled nitric oxide concentration (FENO), respectively. To investigate the dynamics of these profiles over the entire SABA action period, assuming that bronchodilation of proximal and peripheral airways could exhibit varying kinetics due to differences in the distribution of β-2 receptors in both the central and peripheral human airways. FENO, forced expired volume in one second (FEV 1 ), and the slope ( S ) of He and SF 6 phase III (single-breath test) were measured in asthma patients before, and up to 6 h after SABA inhalation (salbutamol 400 µg). S He and S SF6 decrease reflects pre- and intra-acinar obstruction relief, respectively. Thirty patients with asthma (12F/18M, aged 45 ± 18 yr) were divided into groups with positive (NO+, n = 9), negative (NO-, n = 11), and no (NO=, n = 10) FENO acute change. In the NO- group, FEV 1 increased for up to 4 h, whereas FENO, S He , and S F6 decreased in the early phase only. In stark contrast, in the NO+ group, FEV 1 increased in the early phase only whereas the FENO increase and the S He decrease lasted for up to 4 h. This study documents various profiles of SABA-induced bronchodilation in patients with asthma, differing both by sites and dynamics of the bronchodilator process. So, detailed understanding of the bronchodilator effect of β2-agonists in asthma should not solely be limited to studying their impact on FEV 1 . NEW & NOTEWORTHY FEV 1 increase usually observed after the inhalation of short-acting β2-agonists in asthma patients tends to involve peripheral airways. This study shows that the heterogeneity of responses to short-acting β2-agonists in asthma not only involves distinct sites of bronchodilation, but also distinct sequences between these sites. This indicates that a detailed understanding of the bronchodilator effect of β2-agonists in asthma should not be limited to studying its early impact on FEV 1 .

Background: Few data are available on the long-term effect of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and on long PR programs in interstitial lung diseases (ILD). We aimed to evaluate the effects of PR on exercise capacity (6-Minute Walking Distance, 6MWD; Peak Work Rate, W max ), quality of life (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ), quadriceps force (QF) and objectively measured physical activity in ILD after the 6-month PR-program and after 1 year., Methods: 60 patients (64 ± 11 years; 62% males; 23% with IPF) were randomly assigned to receive a 6 month-PR program or usual medical care., Results: Exercise capacity, quality of life and muscle force increased significantly after the program as compared to control (mean,95%CI[ll to ul]; 6MWD + 72,[36 to 108] m; W max 19, [8 to 29]%pred; SGRQ - 12,[- 19 to - 6] points; QF 10, [1 to 18] %pred). The gain was sustained after 1 year (6MWD 73,[28 to 118] m; Wmax 23, [10 to 35]%pred; SGRQ - 11,[- 18 to - 4] points; QF 9.5, [1 to 18] %pred). Physical activity did not change., Conclusions: PR improves exercise tolerance, health status and muscle force in ILD. The benefits are maintained at 1-year follow-up. The intervention did not change physical activity., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00882817 .

Introduction: The evidence on the effectiveness of rehabilitation in lung cancer patients is limited. Whole body vibration (WBV) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional resistance training (CRT)., Methods: We investigated the effect of radical treatment (RT) and of two rehabilitation programmes in lung cancer patients. The primary endpoint was a change in 6-min walking distance (6MWD) after rehabilitation. Patients were randomised after RT to either CRT, WBVT or standard follow-up (CON). Patients were evaluated before, after RT and after 12 weeks of intervention., Results: Of 121 included patients, 70 were randomised to either CON (24), CRT (24) or WBVT (22). After RT, 6MWD decreased with a mean of 38m (95% CI 22-54) and increased with a mean of 95m (95% CI 58-132) in CRT (p<0.0001), 37m (95% CI -1-76) in WBVT (p=0.06) and 1m (95% CI -34-36) in CON (p=0.95), respectively. Surgical treatment, magnitude of decrease in 6MWD by RT and allocation to either CRT or WBVT were prognostic for reaching the minimally clinically important difference of 54m increase in 6MWD after intervention., Conclusions: RT of lung cancer significantly impairs patients' exercise capacity. CRT significantly improves and restores functional exercise capacity, whereas WBVT does not fully substitute for CRT., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The authors review the literature concerning the possibilities of modifying the mechanical characteristics of the respiratory system with breathing retraining and other chest physiotherapy intervention. Breathing retraining techniques with prolonged and active expiration induce increased work of breathing and do not help diaphragmatic function. Only pursed lips breathing seems to produce some mechanical advantages. The seated and forward position with fixed arms may reduce dyspnea but this does not appear to be caused by a decrease in operating lung volumes. By contrast, the dorsal decubitus position may reduce hyperinflation, giving some mechanical advantage to the diaphragm but does not reduce dyspnea and is not a position spontaneously adopted by patients. General muscular training may reduce ventilatory demand, and by reducing respiratory frequency lead to a decrease in the end expiratory lung volume; therefore inducing improvement in exercise tolerance.

Varenicline orally administered nicotine acetylcholine receptor partial agonist is approved by the US FDA and the MEA for use as an aid to smoking cessation therapy. Varenicline is more effective than bupropion but does not reduce weight gain after cessation. The superiority of de varenicline on the nicotine is not demonstrated. Nausea is a frequent adverse effect. The long term safety of varenicline is unknown. The major weapons for smoking cessation are represented by the motivation of the patient and a long term psychotherapy. As to the subject of drugs, varenicline is situated in second position, after the failure of a nicotine substitute.