Prognosis of COPD patients requiring frequent hospitalization: Role of airway infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway infection increases risks of exacerbations and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to elucidate the role of IL-17 in the pathogenesis. We examined the expression and influences of IL-23/IL-17A in patients with stable COPD (n = 33) or acute COPD exacerbations with P. aeruginosa infection (n = 34). A mouse model of COPD (C57BL/6) was used to investigate the role of IL-17A in host inflammatory responses against P. aeruginosa infection through the application of IL-17A–neutralizing antibody or recombinant IL-17A. We found that P. aeruginosa infection increased IL-23/17A signaling in lungs of both COPD patients and COPD mouse models. When COPD mouse models were treated with neutralizing antibody targeting IL-17A, P. aeruginosa induced a significantly less polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and less bacterial burden in their lungs compared to those of untreated counterparts. The lung function was also improved by neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, IL-17A-signaling blockade significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α, CXCL1, CXCL15 and MMP-9, and increased the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and IL-1Ra. The application of mouse recombinant IL-17A exacerbated P. aeruginosa-mediated inflammatory responses and pulmonary dysfunction in COPD mouse models. A cytokine protein array revealed that the expression of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) was down-regulated by IL-17A, and exogenous RBP4-recombinant protein resulted in a decrease in the severity of P. aeruginosa-induced airway dysfunction. Concurrent application of IL-17A-neutralizing antibody and ciprofloxacin attenuated airway inflammation and ventilation after inoculation of P. aeruginosa in COPD mouse models. Our results revealed that IL-17 plays a detrimental role in the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa airway infection during acute exacerbations of COPD. Targeting IL-17A is a potential therapeutic strategy in controlling the outcomes of P. aeruginosa infection in COPD patients.

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Nutrition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A review

Journal of Translational Internal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jtim-2015-0021 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 151-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Gautam Rawal ◽

Sankalp Yadav

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Pulmonary Disease ◽

Exercise Tolerance ◽

Muscle Wasting ◽

Nutritional Supplement ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Copd Patients ◽

Supplement Therapy

AbstractCachexia and muscle wasting is a frequent but partly reversible complication in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and affects the disease progression and prognosis. Weight loss in COPD is a consequence of increased energy requirements unbalanced by dietary intake. Nutritional supplement therapy has been shown to be effective for maintaining and improving the muscle strength and exercise tolerance in poorly nourished COPD patients, thereby decreasing morbidity and mortality. This mini review discusses the role of nutritional supplement therapy in the treatment of COPD.

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Reassessing the Role of Eosinophils as a Biomarker in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm8070962 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 962 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tinè ◽

Biondini ◽

Semenzato ◽

Bazzan ◽

Cosio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Pulmonary Disease ◽

Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽

Real Life ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Copd Patients ◽

Exacerbation Risk ◽

Blood Eosinophils

Blood eosinophils measurement, as proxy for tissue eosinophils, has become an important biomarker for exacerbation risk and response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Its use to determine the pharmacological approach is recommended in the latest COPD guidelines. The potential role of blood eosinophils is mainly based on data derived from post-hoc and retrospective analyses that showed an association between increased blood eosinophils and risk of exacerbations, as well as mitigation of this risk with ICS. Yet other publications, including studies in real life COPD, do not confirm these assumptions. Moreover, anti-eosinophil therapy targeting interleukin (IL)-5 failed to reduce exacerbations in COPD patients with high blood eosinophils, which casts significant doubts on the role of eosinophils in COPD. Furthermore, a reduction of eosinophils might be harmful since COPD patients with relatively high eosinophils have better pulmonary function, better life quality, less infections and longer survival. These effects are probably linked to the role of eosinophils in the immune response against pathogens. In conclusion, in COPD, high blood eosinophils are widely used as a biomarker for exacerbation risk and response to ICS. However, much is yet to be learned about the reasons for the high eosinophil counts, their variations and their controversial effects on the fate of COPD patients.

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M10 Demonstrating the potential role of community pharmacists in improving care of copd patients

10.1136/thoraxjnl-2017-210983.432 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

D Attar-Zadeh ◽

A Guirguis ◽

CE Heading ◽

S Shah ◽

U Shah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Potential Role ◽

Community Pharmacists ◽

Copd Patients

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Role of the Management Pathway in the Care of Advanced COPD Patients in Their Own Homes

Care Management Journals ◽

10.1891/1521-0987.11.4.249 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 249-253 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ashok A. Ramani ◽

Anthony A. Pickston ◽

James L. Clark ◽

Courtney A. Clark ◽

Michael Brown

Keyword(s):

Home Visits ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Respiratory Therapists ◽

The Third ◽

Home Based ◽

Copd Patients ◽

Home Based Intervention

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the incidence and prevalence are rising every decade. The cost of hospital admission is substantial and is the single largest source of expenditure in care of COPD patients. Home-based intervention has been shown to provide long-term cost benefit in a range of chronic illnesses; however, the role of home visits by respiratory therapists (RT) in COPD management has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a management pathway in the care of oxygen dependent COPD patients in their homes. Oxygen-dependent COPD patients were enrolled in the management pathway after discharge from the hospital or referred from a provider’s office. At least three home visits were made: the first within 3 days of enrollment, the second in 1 month, and the third 10 months later. Three hundred and twenty-four patients were enrolled in the study. During the study period, the overall hospitalization rate dropped (11% per month at the second visit vs. 2.1% per month at the third visit). The patients’ understanding of the disease improved substantially (21.6% vs. 83.9%), knowledge of medications the patients were taking improved (56.0% vs. 87.0%), and appropriate use of medications increased (52.0% vs. 86.0%). In our community, this RT-led program helped patients’ self-management of COPD in their own homes by increasing understanding of the disease, assisted physicians in monitoring their patients, and reduced hospitalization.

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Telemonitoring Interventions in COPD Patients: Overview of Systematic Reviews

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/5040521 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Xuanlin Li ◽

Yang Xie ◽

Hulei Zhao ◽

Hailong Zhang ◽

Xueqing Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Exercise Capacity ◽

Systematic Reviews ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Grade System ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Exacerbation Rate ◽

Copd Patients

Objective. The role of telemonitoring interventions (TIs) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been studied in many systematic reviews (SRs) and meta-analyses (MAs), but robust conclusions have not been reached due to wide variations in scopes, qualities, and outcomes. The aim of this overview was to determine the effectiveness of TIs on COPD patients. Methods. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for all reviews on the topic of TI in treating COPD from inception to July 8, 2019, without restrictions on language. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the retrieved literature studies were screened to select SRs and MAs of randomized control trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of TIs in COPD patients. The methodological quality of SRs and MAs was assessed with the AMSTAR-2 tool, and the strength of evidence was assessed with the grades of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) system for concerned outcomes in terms of mortality, quality of life (SGRQ total scores), exercise capacity (6MWD), and exacerbation-related outcomes (hospitalizations, exacerbation rate, and emergency room visits). Results. Our overview included eight SRs and MAs published in 2011 to 2019, from 95 RCTs involving 10632 participants. After strict evaluation by the AMSTAR-2 tool, 75% of the SRs and MAs in this overview had either low or critically low methodological quality. The effects of TIs for COPD on mortality, quality of life, exercise capacity, and exacerbation-related outcomes are limited, and all of these outcomes scored either low or very low quality of evidence on the GRADE system. Conclusions. There might be insufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of TIs for COPD currently, but the results of this overview should be interpreted dialectically and prudently, and the role of TIs in COPD needs further exploration.

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The Mechanisms of Benefit of High-Flow Nasal Therapy in Stable COPD

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9123832 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 3832

Author(s):

Massa Zantah ◽

Aloknath Pandya ◽

Michael R. Jacobs ◽

Gerard J. Criner

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Mucociliary Clearance ◽

High Flow ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Flow Rates ◽

Copd Patients ◽

Unique System ◽

Co2 Washout

High-flow nasal therapy (HFNT) is a unique system that delivers humidified, heated oxygen-enriched air via nasal cannula at high flow rates. It is a promising therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Several studies have examined the physiologic effects of this therapy in the patient population and have revealed that it improves mucociliary clearance, reduces nasopharyngeal dead space, and subsequently increases CO2 washout. It also improves alveolar recruitment and gas exchange. These mechanisms may explain the promising results observed in recently published studies that examined the role of HFNT in stable COPD patients.

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