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).

Treatable traits in chronic cough: a prospective evaluation for predicting cough persistence.

Background: The concept of treatable traits has been proposed for managing chronic cough; however, evidence supporting its clinical utility remains limited. This study investigated the relationship between baseline traits and cough persistence in a prospective registry of patients with chronic cough.

Methods: We analysed data from 426 patients with chronic cough enrolled in the Korean Chronic Cough Registry.

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.

Efficacy and Safety of Fexuprazan Versus Esomeprazole for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Related Chronic Cough: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Active-Controlled Exploratory Trial.

Purpose: Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) are a newer class of acid suppressants with convenient dosing and a rapid onset of action, while showing efficacy comparable to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in treating peptic symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This study aimed to assess the effect of P-CABs on GERD-related chronic cough.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, exploratory trial evaluated adults with chronic cough (≥ 8 weeks) and a recent physician diagnosis of GERD or peptic symptoms (< 1 month).

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for escalation to anaphylaxis from non-severe drug hypersensitivity reaction.

Background: Drug hypersensitivity reaction (DHR) poses significant challenges in clinical practice, with some patients experiencing more severe reactions upon re-exposure. Understanding the factors contributing to escalation into more severe reactions is crucial for improving patient safety. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with the progression from non-severe DHR to anaphylaxis.

Comorbidities associated with adult asthma according to severity: analysis of data from the National Health Insurance Sharing Service.

Background: Asthma is a heterogenous disease having varied phenotypes. The comorbidities associated with asthma vary with age and disease severity. The well-known asthma related comorbid conditions include rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, hormonal disorders, and psychiatric disorders.

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.

Repeated and alternate stimulations with dsRNA and SEB alter responses in macrophages and epithelial cells.

Introduction: The innate immune system is activated by foreign molecules via pattern recognition receptors and other surveillance systems, producing diverse cytokines that recruit and activate other immune cells. Recent studies have shown that once activated by foreign molecules, the innate immune system exhibits altered responses upon subsequent exposure to the same or different infectious agents, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or bacteria. However, as these alterations in response to viral infection and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in the airways have not been fully elucidated, we focused on the changes in immune responses induced by repeated stimulation of macrophages and epithelial cells with foreign molecules.

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).

Efficacy of an Autologous Dermal Fibroblast Injection in Reducing the Retear Rate After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Interest in biological augmentation for improving bone-tendon interface (BTI) healing after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is growing. Dermal fibroblasts, known for collagen synthesis similar to tenocytes, have shown effectiveness in BTI healing in chronic rotator cuff tear (RCT) models in rabbits. However, no human clinical trials have been conducted.

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.

Could cough hypersensitivity symptom profile differentiate phenotypes of chronic cough?

Background: Recently, cough reflex hypersensitivity has been proposed as a common underlying feature of chronic cough in adults. However, symptoms and clinical characteristics of cough hypersensitivity have not been studied amongst phenotypes of chronic cough. This study aimed to compare symptom features, such as cough triggers and associated throat sensations, of cough hypersensitivity in patients with asthmatic chronic cough and those with refractory chronic cough (RCC).

Prescription patterns and symptom relief of antitussives and expectorants in patients with cough: a nationwide study in Korea.

Background: Limited data are available on the prescription patterns and efficacy of antitussives and expectorants for patients with acute and chronic cough. This study examined the use and efficacy of these medications in a nationally representative sample of Korean patients.

Methods: We examined 4,206,016 individuals from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)-National Health Information Database (NHID) between 2015 and 2017.

Reversal of Denervation Changes in Infraspinatus Muscle After Operative Management of Paralabral Cysts: An MRI-Based Study.

Background: Paralabral cysts at the spinoglenoid notch are rare disorders that can potentially lead to compressive suprascapular neuropathy. Given their infrequency, a standard treatment protocol has not yet been established.

Hypothesis/purpose: This study aimed to assess changes in the infraspinatus muscle using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to compare the outcomes of 2 different surgical methods.

Exploring the concept of disease control in chronic cough.

Background: Disease control in chronic diseases is an overarching concept that reflects the degree to which the goals of therapy are met. However, to date, there is no consensus on the definition of disease control in chronic cough. This study aimed to provide a conceptual exploration of patient-reported cough control in chronic cough.

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.

Deep learning-based prediction of Clostridioides difficile infection caused by antibiotics using longitudinal electronic health records.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis. It is recognized as one of the most significant hospital-acquired infections. Although CDI can develop severe complications and spores of Clostridioides difficile can be transmitted by the fecal-oral route, CDI is occasionally overlooked in clinical settings.

Development of a deep learning-based fully automated segmentation of rotator cuff muscles from clinical MR scans.

Background: The fatty infiltration and atrophy in the muscle after a rotator cuff (RC) tear are important in surgical decision-making and are linked to poor clinical outcomes after rotator cuff repair. An accurate and reliable quantitative method should be developed to assess the entire RC muscles.

Purpose: To develop a fully automated approach based on a deep neural network to segment RC muscles from clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Serum MRGPRX2 as a Long-term Biomarker for Iodinated Contrast Media-Induced Anaphylaxis.

The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is based on the clinical history. The utility of tryptase measurements in clinical setting is limited. Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor-X2 (MRGPRX2) is expressed in mast cells and is involved in the degranulation of these cells.