Functional patterns of healthy human respiratory dynamics by 3D MR spirometry.

Objectives: Functional pulmonary MRI can assess the pathophysiology of regional ventilation, provided that nominal ventilatory patterns are characterised as a baseline. This study investigates common features and their associated gravity dependence using 3D MR spirometry in freely breathing healthy volunteers.

Materials And Methods: Repeated dynamic lung MR acquisitions were performed at 3 T on 25 healthy volunteers breathing freely in the supine and prone positions.

Diagnosis of Dysfunctional Breathing in Severe Asthma.

Background: Dysfunctional breathing (DB) is common in severe asthma and is associated with poor asthma control. Diagnosing DB remains challenging owing to the lack of a gold standard.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of patients with severe asthma identified with DB using 2 distinct diagnostic modalities: the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ) combined with the hyperventilation provocation test (HVPT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Implementing pulmonary arterial hypertension screening among mutation carriers: a timely endeavour.

https://bit.ly/4eKaPzY.

Comparing methods to measure the dispersion of breathing parameters during exercise testing: A simulation study based on real-life parameters from patients with dysfunctional breathing.

The dispersion of the tidal volume and of the breathing frequency have been used to diagnose dysfunctional breathing during cardio-pulmonary exercise testing. No validated methods to objectively describe this dispersion exist. We aimed to validate such a method.

Effect of Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty and Riociguat on Right Ventricular Afterload and Function in CTEPH: Insights From the RACE Trial.

Background: Riociguat and balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improve hemodynamics in inoperable chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Importantly, comparative effects of riociguat and BPA on different components of right ventricular (RV) afterload and function remain not fully elucidated.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis including patients from the RACE trial (Riociguat Versus Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty in Non-Operable Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension) with complete data for the primary end point assessment (49 riociguat and 51 BPA).

Comprehensive exploration of unexplained dyspnoea in subjects with normal ejection fraction and low natriuretic peptides.

Background: Unexplained exertional dyspnoea without significant elevation of natriuretic peptides is common. One of the causes might be early heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Aims: This study aimed to characterize patients with exertional dyspnoea and normal/near-to-normal N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels with regard to early stages of HFpEF and non-cardiac causes.

Role of Exercise Hemodynamics in the Prediction of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in BMPR2 Mutation Carriers.

Background: Exercise hemodynamics are recommended for early detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and have been suggested to be predictive of future development of PAH in high-risk populations such as BMPR2 mutation carriers. However, the optimal exercise hemodynamic screening parameter remains to be determined. Recent data suggest that pulmonary vascular distensibility (α) may serve as a useful parameter for early detection of PAH.

Four- and sixteen-month clinical status of a cohort of patients following hospitalization for COVID-19.

Background And Objectives: Although many symptoms of post-COVID syndrome have been described, a comprehensive evaluation of their prevalence is lacking. We aimed to describe symptoms at 16 months from hospitalization for COVID-19.

Methods: A telephone assessment was performed one year later in a cohort of COVID-19 survivors hospitalized between March and May 2020 and already evaluated four months after discharge.

Risk stratification refinements with inclusion of haemodynamic variables at follow-up in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Haemodynamic variables are prognostic factors in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, right heart catheterisation (RHC) is not systematically recommended to assess the risk status during follow-up. This study aimed to assess the added value of haemodynamic variables in prevalent patients to predict the risk of death or lung transplantation according to their risk status assessed by the non-invasive four-strata model as recommended by the European guidelines.

Characterisation of airway disease associated with Sjögren disease.

Objective: Although airway disease associated with Sjögren's disease (Sjo-AD) is common, it is poorly studied compared with interstitial lung disease (ILD). In this study, we aimed to assess factors associated with Sjo-AD, the characteristics and prognosis of this manifestation.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multicentric study involving nine centres.

Outcomes and risk assessment in pulmonary veno-occlusive disease.

Introduction: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare and severe subtype of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) guidelines advise assessing PAH severity at baseline and during follow-up, no existing risk assessment methods have been validated for PVOD. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors, examine the impact of treatment strategies and evaluate risk assessment methods for PVOD patients.

Improvement in severe asthma patients receiving biologics and factors associated with persistent insufficient control: a real-life national study.

Background: Biological therapies have revolutionized the treatment of severe asthma with type 2 inflammation. Although such treatments are very effective in reducing exacerbation and the dose of oral steroids, little is known about the persistence of symptoms in severe asthma patients treated with biologics.

Purpose: We aim to describe asthma control and healthcare consumption of severe asthma patients treated with biologics.

KCNK3 channel is important for the ventilatory response to hypoxia in rats.

To clarify the contribution of KCNK3/TASK-1 channel chemoreflex in response to hypoxia and hypercapnia, we used a unique Kcnk3-deficient rat. We assessed ventilatory variables using plethysmography in Kcnk3-deficient and wild-type rats at rest in response to hypoxia (10% O) and hypercapnia (4% CO). Immunostaining for C-Fos, a marker of neuronal activity, was performed to identify the regions of the respiratory neuronal network involved in the observed response.

Diagnosis and management of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease.

Introduction: Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is an orphan disease and uncommon etiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) characterized by substantial small pulmonary vein and capillary involvement.

Areas Covered: PVOD, also known as 'PAH with features of venous/capillary involvement' in the current ESC/ERS classification.

Expert Opinion: In recent years, particular risk factors for PVOD have been recognized, including genetic susceptibilities and environmental factors (such as exposure to occupational organic solvents, chemotherapy, and potentially tobacco).

Radiological pulmonary sequelae after COVID-19 and correlation with clinical and functional pulmonary evaluation: results of a prospective cohort.

Objectives: Whether COVID-19 leads to long-term pulmonary sequelae or not remains unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of persisting radiological pulmonary fibrotic lesions in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective single-center study among patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between March and May 2020.

Clinical relevance and prognostic value of renal Doppler in acute decompensated precapillary pulmonary hypertension.

Aims: We aim to evaluate the clinical relevance and the prognostic value of arterial and venous renal Doppler in acute decompensated precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods And Results: The renal resistance index (RRI) and the Doppler-derived renal venous stasis index (RVSI) were monitored at admission and on Day 3 in a prospective cohort of precapillary PH patients managed in intensive care unit for acute right heart failure (RHF). The primary composite endpoint included death, circulatory assistance, urgent transplantation, or rehospitalization for acute RHF within 90 days following inclusion.

Functional respiratory complaints among COVID-19 survivors: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Dyspnoea is a common persistent symptom after COVID-19. Whether it is associated with functional respiratory disorders remains unclear.

Methods: We assessed the proportion and characteristics of patients with "functional respiratory complaints" (FRCs) (as defined by Nijmegen Questionnaire >22) among 177 post-COVID-19 individuals who benefited from outclinic evaluation in the COMEBAC study (, symptomatic and/or intensive care unit (ICU) survivors at 4 months).

Serum and Pulmonary Expression Profiles of the Activin Signaling System in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Background: Activins are novel therapeutic targets in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We therefore studied whether key members of the activin pathway could be used as PAH biomarkers.

Methods: Serum levels of activin A, activin B, α-subunit of inhibin A and B proteins, and the antagonists follistatin and follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) were measured in controls and in patients with newly diagnosed idiopathic, heritable, or anorexigen-associated PAH (n=80) at baseline and 3 to 4 months after treatment initiation.