Biomarkers of type 2 inflammation as predictors of response to biologics for severe eosinophilic asthma.

Background: The relationship between pre-treatment levels of blood eosinophil count (BEC), fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( ) and sputum eosinophils (Sp-EOS) and treatment response to monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) remains unclear. We evaluated pre-treatment levels of BEC, , Sp-EOS and their combinations as predictors of treatment responses in patients with SEA undergoing anti-interleukin (IL)-5/IL-5Rα or anti-IL-4Rα antibody therapies.

Methods: The study included 153 adult patients with SEA (59 anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα and 94 anti-IL-4Rα users).

Association of throat sensation severity with quality of life in patients with chronic cough.

Background: Patients with chronic cough frequently present with abnormal throat sensations, but the clinical significance of such sensations remains unknown. This study examined the severity of throat sensations and their relationships with quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic cough.

Methods: The analysis used baseline cross-sectional data from the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Severe Asthma With Fungal Sensitization in Korea.

Purpose: Severe asthma with fungal sensitization (SAFS) is associated with life-threatening exacerbation and severe airflow limitation. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of fungal sensitization in asthma and clinical characteristics of SAFS.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the Cohort for Reality and Evolution of Adult Asthma in Korea and the Korean Severe Asthma Registry cohorts.

Concurrent Blood Eosinophils and FeNO as Biological Therapy Indicators in Severe Asthma: Findings From the Precision Medicine Intervention in Severe Asthma Study.

Background: The combination of pretreatment peripheral blood eosinophil count (BEC) and FeNO levels for optimizing the therapeutic response of T2-biologics in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) remains unclear.

Objective: To compare longitudinal clinical outcome changes across subgroups stratified by the combination of high and low levels of BEC and FeNO.

Methods: Overall, 278 patients with SEA (anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα users: n = 82; and anti-IL-4Rα users: n = 196) were stratified based on pretreatment BEC and FeNO levels and observed for 6 to 12 months.

COVID-19 infection and pulmonary sarcoidosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of morbidity, severity and mortality.

Background: The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) influenced millions of lives, not only healthy subjects but also patients with various comorbidities. Of those, interstitial lung disease (ILD) is known to be specifically vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2, sometimes leading to a lethal outcome. Sarcoidosis, one of the ILDs, has been suggested to be more susceptible to COVID-19, but the results of previous studies are in disagreement.

Serum and urine eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) levels predict biologic response in severe asthma.

Background: Eosinophils are crucial in allergic inflammation, and their correlation with asthma severity has made them a focal point in predicting treatment outcomes. Blood eosinophil count is a commonly utilized marker. However, its limitations have prompted alternative biomarker exploration, such as eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN).

Essential role of Card11 in airway hyperresponsiveness in high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

A high-fat diet (HFD) can induce airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in obese mice, independent of allergic sensitization. This study aimed to identify the key molecules related to AHR in HFD-induced obese mice. In a cluster analysis of time series gene expression in the adipose and lung tissues of HFD-induced obese mice, we identified the Caspase Recruitment Domain Family Member 11 (Card11) gene as an essential molecule.

Longitudinal multi-trajectory phenotypes of severe eosinophilic asthma on type 2 biologics treatment.

Background: Limited understanding exists regarding the progression trajectory of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) patients on type 2 biologics therapies.

Objective: We aim to explore distinct longitudinal phenotypes of these patients based on crucial asthma biomarkers.

Methods: We enrolled 101 adult patients with SEA.

Exploring Traits Associated With Central Sensitization Features in Patients With Chronic Cough.

The concept of cough hypersensitivity suggests that central sensitization plays a role in the pathophysiology of chronic cough. However, it remains unclear which traits are associated with central sensitization features in patients with chronic cough. A cohort of 317 Korean patients with newly referred chronic cough underwent clinical evaluations.

Clinical Characteristics of T2-Low and T2-High Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Overlap: Findings From COREA Cohort.

Purpose: Despite the emerging biologics, biomarkers and treatment options for asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) are still limited, requiring further research.

Methods: We enrolled 378 ACO patients from a multicenter real-world asthma cohort in Korea and compared the clinical characteristics, lung function, and exacerbation between type 2 (T2)-high and T2-low groups. We used the following comparisons: 1) low vs.

MiR-107 and Its Association With House Dust Mite Sensitisation: Implications for Asthma.

Introduction: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been linked to allergic diseases but their effects on sensitisation to allergens in individuals with asthma are unknown. We aimed to identify miRNAs associated with house dust mite (HDM) sensitisation in childhood asthma.

Methods: Serum samples from 1126 children with asthma who participated in the Genetics of Asthma in Costa Rica Study (GACRS) were profiled for 304 miRNAs.

Innate lymphoid cell population distributions and related gene expression characteristics in blood from allergic and nonallergic patients with eosinophilic asthma.

Background: Non-allergic eosinophilic asthma (NAEA) is a distinct subtype of asthma. However, the immune mechanisms associated with NAEA are not yet clearly understood.

Objective: To gain further insight into the pathogenesis of NAEA.

Effect of biologic therapies on quality of life in severe asthma: Findings from the PRISM study.

Background: Anti-type 2 (T2) biologic therapies (biologics) improve exacerbation rates, lung function, and asthma-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with severe T2 asthma. However, studies comparing different biologics are lacking. We evaluated the QoL in patients with severe asthma comprehensively and compare the efficacy of different T2-directed biologics using QoL questionnaires.

Effects of indoor environments and outdoor air pollutants in residential areas on acute exacerbation in patients with severe asthma.

This study aimed to determine the effects of indoor environment (IE) and outdoor air pollutants (OAPs) in residential areas on acute exacerbation (AE) in patients with severe asthma. A total of 115 participants were recruited. To characterize IE, we used structured questionnaires and estimated OAP concentrations using a land-use regression model.

Real-World Effectiveness of Biologics in Patients With Severe Asthma: Analysis of the KoSAR.

Purpose: Severe asthma is associated with high morbidity and healthcare utilization; however, treatment options for these patients are limited. This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of biologics in clinical practice.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study included 136 patients who received biologics for at least 4 months between September 2017 and July 2022 at 25 medical centers affiliated with the Korean Severe Asthma Registry (KoSAR).

Association of Cough Severity with Asthma Control and Quality of Life in Patients with Severe Asthma.

Purpose: Symptoms are important components in determining asthma control and in the adjustment of treatment levels. However, clinical relevance of cough in severe asthma is not well-understood. This study aimed to evaluate the severity and association of cough with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with severe asthma.

Relationship of computed tomography-based measurements with symptom perception and quality of life in patients with severe asthma.

Background: Symptom perception and quality of life (QOL) are important domains for properly managing severe asthma. This study aimed to assess the relationship between airway structural and parenchymal variables measured using chest computed tomography (CT) and subjective symptom perception and QOL in patients with severe asthma enrolled in the Korean Severe Asthma Registry.

Methods: This study used CT-based objective measurements, including airway wall thickness (WT), hydraulic diameter, functional small airway disease (fSAD), and emphysematous lung (Emph), to assess their association with subjective symptom (cough, dyspnea, wheezing, and sputum) perception measured using the visual analog scale, and QOL measured by the Severe Asthma Questionnaire (SAQ).

Isolated respiratory tract microorganisms and clinical characteristics in asthma exacerbation of obese patients: a multicenter study.

Background: Viral infection is a risk factor for asthma exacerbation (AE). However, bacterial infections related to AE in adults are poorly known. On the other hand, obese patients with asthma have their own clinical and biological characteristics compared with non-obese patients.

Predictors of Early and Late Lung Function Improvement in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma on Type2-Biologics in the PRISM Study.

Background: The determinants linked to the short- and long-term improvement in lung function in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) on biological treatment (BioT) remain elusive.

Objective: We sought to identify the predictors of early and late lung function improvement in patients with SEA after BioT.

Methods: 140 adult patients with SEA who received mepolizumab, dupilumab, or reslizumab were followed up for 6 months to evaluate improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV).

A comparison of treatment response to biologics in asthma-COPD overlap and pure asthma: Findings from the PRISM study.

Background: Despite the increasing use of biologics in severe asthma, there is limited research on their use in asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap (ACO). We compared real-world treatment responses to biologics in ACO and asthma.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study using data from the Precision Medicine Intervention in Severe Asthma (PRISM).