Local and systemic effects in e-cigarette users compared to cigarette smokers, dual users, and non-smokers.

Background: The use of electronic (e)-cigarettes in the long term has been associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases. Dual use of e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes may increase these risks even more due to the combined exposure effects of these products. The aim of this study was to investigate the local and systemic effects of e-cigarette use for more than one year and compare them with healthy non-smokers, cigarette smokers, and dual users.

Cell line-based models of normal and chronic bronchitis-like airway mucosa to study the toxic potential of aerosolized palladium nanoparticles.

Background: Physiologically relevant cell line-based models of human airway mucosa are needed to assess nanoparticle-mediated pulmonary toxicity for any xenbiotics expsoure study. Palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NP) originating from catalytic converters in vehicles pose health risks. We aimed to develop airway models to assess the toxic potential of Pd-NP in normal (Non-CB) and chronic bronchitis-like (CB-like) mucosa models.

Contrasting effects of intracellular and extracellular human PCSK9 on inflammation, lipid alteration and cell death.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is one of the major regulators of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Information on role and regulation of PCSK9 in lung is very limited. Our study focuses on understanding the role and regulation of PCSK9 in the lung.

Factors Affecting Survival in Severe and Very Severe COPD after Admission in ICUs of Tertiary Care Centers of India (FAST COPD): Study Protocol for a Multicentric Cohort Study.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) regarding factors influencing COPD outcomes, particularly in regions where biomass exposure is prevalent.

Objective: The Factors Affecting Survival in Severe and Very Severe COPD Patients Admitted to Tertiary Centers of India (FAST) study aims to address this gap by evaluating factors impacting survival and exacerbation rates among COPD patients in LMICs like India, with a specific focus on biomass exposure, clinical phenotypes, and nutritional status in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The Validity of the ROX Index and APACHE II in Predicting Early, Late, and Non-Responses to Non-Invasive Ventilation in Patients with COVID-19 in a Low-Resource Setting.

The use of the Ratio of Oxygen Saturation (ROX) index to predict the success of high-flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO) is well established. The ROX can also predict the need for intubation, mortality, and is easier to calculate compared with APACHE II. In this prospective study, the primary aim is to compare the ROX (easily administered in resource limited setting) to APACHE II for clinically relevant outcomes such as mortality and the need for intubation.

Lipid from electronic cigarette-aerosol both with and without nicotine induced pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization and disrupted phagocytosis.

Clinical cases and experimental evidence revealed that electronic cigarettes (ECIG) induce serious adverse health effects, but underlying mechanisms remain to be fully uncovered. Based on recent exploratory evidence, investigating the effects of ECIG on macrophages can broadly define potential mechanisms by focusing on the effect of ECIG exposure with or without nicotine. Here we investigated the effect of ECIG-aerosol exposure on macrophages (MQ) phenotype, inflammatory response, and function of macrophages.

The Use of High-Flow Nasal Cannula and Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in the Management of COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Study.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and ventilator-delivered non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) were used to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19 pneumonia, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), due to lack of ventilators and manpower resources despite the paucity of data regarding their efficacy. This prospective study aimed to analyse the efficacy of HFNC versus NIV in the management of COVID-19 ARDS. A total of 88 RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients with moderate ARDS were recruited.

Heated Tobacco Products: Insights into Composition and Toxicity.

Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are novel products that allow users to inhale nicotine by heating (350 °C) reconstituted tobacco rather than combustion (900 °C) as in conventional cigarettes. HTP sticks containing reconstituted tobacco come in various flavours such as menthol, citrus, etc., like electronic cigarette liquids.

Comparable Response Following Exposure to Biodiesel and Diesel Exhaust Particles in Advanced Multicellular Human Lung Models.

Biodiesel is considered to be a sustainable alternative for fossil fuels such as petroleum-based diesel. However, we still lack knowledge about the impact of biodiesel emissions on humans, as airways and lungs are the primary target organs of inhaled toxicants. This study investigated the effect of exhaust particles from well-characterized rapeseed methyl ester (RME) biodiesel exhaust particles (BDEP) and petro-diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) and macrophages (MQ).

Circulatory Serum Krebs von Den Lungen-6 and Surfactant Protein-D Concentrations Predict Interstitial Lung Disease Progression and Mortality.

There is a need for biomarkers to predict outcomes, including mortality, in interstitial lung disease (ILD). Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) are associated with lung damage and fibrosis in all ILDs and are related to important clinical outcomes. Though these two biomarkers have been associated with ILD outcomes, there are no studies that have evaluated their predictive potential in combination.

Impact of Acute Exacerbation and Its Phenotypes on the Clinical Outcomes of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Hospitalized Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) are clinically significant events having therapeutic and prognostic consequences. However, there is a lot of variation in its clinical manifestations described by phenotypes. The phenotypes of AECOPD were categorized in this study based on pathology and exposure.

The Role of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Risk Stratification and Prognostication of COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Several studies have proposed that the neutrophil−lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is one of the various biomarkers that can be useful in assessing COVID-19 disease-related outcomes. Our systematic review analyzes the relationship between on-admission NLR values and COVID-19 severity and mortality. Six different severity criteria were used.

Willingness to Accept the COVID-19 Vaccine and Related Factors among Indian Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.

To achieve herd immunity to a disease, a large portion of the population needs to be vaccinated, which is possible only when there is broad acceptance of the vaccine within the community. Thus, policymakers need to understand how the general public will perceive the vaccine. This study focused on the degree of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and refusal and explored sociodemographic correlations that influence vaccine hesitancy and refusal.

Establishment of Repeated In Vitro Exposure System for Evaluating Pulmonary Toxicity of Representative Criteria Air Pollutants Using Advanced Bronchial Mucosa Models.

There is mounting evidence that shows the association between chronic exposure to air pollutants (particulate matter and gaseous) and onset of various respiratory impairments. However, the corresponding toxicological mechanisms of mixed exposure are poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to establish a repeated exposure setting for evaluating the pulmonary toxicological effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) as representative criterial air pollutants.

Predictors of electronic cigarette use and its association with respiratory health and obesity in young adulthood in Sweden; findings from the population-based birth cohort BAMSE.

Despite the growing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) over the last decade, few epidemiological studies have examined the influence on respiratory health in young adulthood. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with e-cigarette use in young adulthood in Sweden, and to examine associations between e-cigarette use and lung function, respiratory symptoms, and obesity. This cross-sectional study included 3055 young adults from Sweden and used questionnaire and clinical data obtained at age 22-25 years.

Differential Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein 1 on Human Bronchial and Alveolar Lung Mucosa Models: Implications for Pathogenicity.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein mediates attachment of the virus to the host cell receptor and fusion between the virus and the cell membrane. The S1 subunit of the spike glycoprotein (S1 protein) contains the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor binding domain. The SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern contain mutations in the S1 subunit.

Circulating Secretoglobin Family 1A Member 1 (SCGB1A1) Levels as a Marker of Biomass Smoke Induced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Secretoglobin family 1A member 1 (SCGB1A1) alternatively known as club cell protein 16 is a protective pneumo-protein. Decreased serum levels of SCGB1A1 have been associated with tobacco smoke induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (TS-COPD). Exposure to biomass smoke (BMS) is an important COPD risk factor among women in low and lower-middle income countries.

Addressing the challenges of E-cigarette safety profiling by assessment of pulmonary toxicological response in bronchial and alveolar mucosa models.

Limited toxicity data on electronic cigarette (ECIG) impede evidence-based policy recommendations. We compared two popular mixed fruit flavored ECIG-liquids with and without nicotine aerosolized at 40 W (E-smoke) with respect to particle number concentrations, chemical composition, and response on physiologically relevant human bronchial and alveolar lung mucosa models cultured at air-liquid interface. E-smoke was characterized by significantly increased particle number concentrations with increased wattage (25, 40, and 55 W) and nicotine presence.

Analysis of Acrolein Exposure Induced Pulmonary Response in Seven Inbred Mouse Strains and Human Primary Bronchial Epithelial Cells Cultured at Air-Liquid Interface.

Background: Acrolein is a major component of environmental pollutants, cigarette smoke, and is also formed by heating cooking oil. We evaluated the interstrain variability of response to subchronic inhalation exposure to acrolein among inbred mouse strains for inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue injury responses. Furthermore, we studied the response to acrolein vapor in the lung mucosa model using human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) cultured at an air-liquid interface (ALI) to evaluate the findings of mouse studies.

Genetic determinants of ammonia-induced acute lung injury in mice.

In this study, a genetically diverse panel of 43 mouse strains was exposed to ammonia, and genome-wide association mapping was performed employing a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assembly. Transcriptomic analysis was used to help resolve the genetic determinants of ammonia-induced acute lung injury. The encoded proteins were prioritized based on molecular function, nonsynonymous SNP within a functional domain or SNP within the promoter region that altered expression.

Clinical, Epidemiological and Experimental Approaches to Assess Adverse Health Outcomes of Indoor Biomass Smoke Exposure: Conclusions from An Indo-Swedish Workshop in Mysuru, January 2020.

This report summarizes the outcome of a workshop held in Mysuru, India in January 2020 addressing the adverse health effects of exposure to biomass smoke (BMS). The aim of the workshop was to identify uncertainties and gaps in knowledge and possible methods to address them in the Mysuru study on Determinants of Health in Rural Adults (MUDHRA) cohort. Specific aims were to discuss the possibility to improve and introduce new screening methods for exposure and effect, logistic limitations and other potential obstacles, and plausible strategies to overcome these in future studies.

Exposure of normal and chronic bronchitis-like mucosa models to aerosolized carbon nanoparticles: comparison of pro-inflammatory oxidative stress and tissue injury/repair responses.

Carbon nanoparticles (CNP) are generated by incomplete combustion of diesel engines. Several epidemiological studies associated higher susceptibility to particulate matter related adverse respiratory outcomes with preexisting conditions like chronic bronchitis (CB). Therefore, we compared the effect of CNP exposure on primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) developed in air-liquid interface (ALI) models of normal versus CB-like-mucosa.

Evaluation of diacetyl mediated pulmonary effects in physiologically relevant air-liquid interface models of human primary bronchial epithelial cells.

Diacetyl is an artificial flavouring agent, known to cause bronchiolitis obliterans. Diacetyl-induced pulmonary effects were assessed in human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) cultured at air-liquid interface (ALI). The PBEC-ALI models were exposed to clean air (sham) and diacetyl vapour (1, 3, 10 and 30 ppm) for 30 min.