scholarly journals A common model for the breathlessness experience across cardiorespiratory disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 00818-2020
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Finnegan ◽  
Kyle T.S. Pattinson ◽  
Josefin Sundh ◽  
Magnus Sköld ◽  
Christer Janson ◽  
...  

IntroductionChronic breathlessness occurs across many different conditions, often independently of disease severity. Yet, despite being strongly linked to adverse outcomes, the consideration of chronic breathlessness as a stand-alone therapeutic target remains limited. Here we use data-driven techniques to identify and confirm the stability of underlying features (factors) driving breathlessness across different cardiorespiratory diseases.MethodsStudy of questionnaire data on 182 participants with main diagnoses of asthma (21.4%), COPD (24.7%), heart failure (19.2%), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (18.7%), other interstitial lung disease (5.5%), and “other diagnoses” (8.8%) were entered into an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Participants were stratified based on their EFA factor scores. We then examined model stability using six-month follow-up data and established the most compact set of measures describing the breathlessness experience.ResultsIn this dataset, we have identified four stable factors that underlie the experience of breathlessness. These factors were assigned the following descriptive labels: 1) body burden, 2) affect/mood, 3) breathing burden and 4) anger/frustration. Stratifying patients by their scores across the four factors revealed two groups corresponding to high and low burden. These two groups were not related to the primary disease diagnosis and remained stable after six months.DiscussionIn this work we identified and confirmed the stability of underlying features of breathlessness. Previous work in this domain has been largely limited to single-diagnosis patient groups without subsequent re-testing of model stability. This work provides further evidence supporting disease independent approaches to assess breathlessness.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Louise Finnegan ◽  
Kyle T S Pattinson ◽  
Josefin Sundh ◽  
Magnus Skold ◽  
Christer Janson ◽  
...  

Introduction: Chronic breathlessness occurs across many different diseases, independently of severity. Yet, despite being strongly linked to adverse outcomes, chronic breathlessness is generally not considered a stand-alone treatment target. Here we move focus from identifying the "best" measurement tool and use data-driven techniques to identify and confirm the stability of underlying features (factors) driving breathlessness across different cardiorespiratory diseases. Such frameworks could provide an opportunity to address the underlying mechanisms of breathlessness and over-come issues with co-morbidities, particularly when medical therapies have been optimised. Methods: Longitudinal study of questionnaire data on 182 participants with main diagnoses of asthma (21.4%), COPD (24.7%), heart failure (19.2%), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (18.7%), other interstitial lung disease (5.5%), and "other diagnoses" (8.8%) were entered into an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Participants were stratified based on their EFA factor scores, allowing us to examine whether the breathlessness experience differed across disease diagnosis. We then examined model stability after six months and established through an iterative process the most compact, and therefore least burdensome assessment tool. Results: From the 25 input measures, 16 measures were retained for model validation. The resulting model contained four factors to which we assigned the following descriptive labels: 1) body burden, 2) affect/mood, 3) breathing burden and 4) anger/frustration. Stratifying patients by their scores across the four factors revealed two groups corresponding to high and low burden. These were not found to be predictive of primary disease diagnosis and did remain stable after six months. Conclusions: We have identified four stable and disease-independent factors that seem to underlie the experience of breathlessness. We suggest that interventions may target factors within this framework to answer the question of whether they are also driving the experience itself.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Behnood Bikdeli ◽  
David Jimenez ◽  
Jorg Del Toro ◽  
Gregory Piazza ◽  
Augussina Rivas ◽  
...  

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may occur prior to or early in the course of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The impact of AF on outcomes of patients with PE remains uncertain. Methods: Using the data from a large prospective multicenter registry of patients with objectively-confirmed PE (04/2014 to 01/2020), we identified three patient groups: 1) those with pre-existing AF 2) patients with newly identified AF within 2 days from the index PE (incident AF) and 3) patients without AF. We assessed the 90-day and 1-year risk of mortality and stroke in patients with AF, in unadjusted and multivariable adjusted models considering those without AF as referent. Results: Among 16,497 patients with PE, 792 had pre-existing AF. Compared with those without AF, patients with pre-existing AF, had increased odds of 90-day all-cause (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.81 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.33-3.38) and PE-related mortality (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.37-4.14). After multivariable adjustment, pre-existing AF significantly increased the odds of all-cause mortality (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.57-2.32) but not PE-related mortality (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 0.85-2.66). Pre-existing AF was associated with increased hazard for ischemic stroke at 1-year follow-up (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.48; 95% CI: 3.10-9.69). Among 16,497 patients with PE, 445 developed incident AF within 2 days of acute PE. Incident AF was associated with increased odds of 90-day all-cause (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.75-2.97) and PE-related (OR: 3.64; 95% CI: 2.01-6.59) mortality. Findings were similar in multivariable analyses and at 1-year follow-up (Figure). No patients with incident AF developed ischemic stroke. Conclusion: In patients with acute symptomatic PE, both pre-existing AF and incident AF predict an adverse clinical course, although the type of adverse outcomes may be different depending on the timing of AF onset.


Hematology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 (1) ◽  
pp. 483-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ira A. Shulman ◽  
Sunita Saxena

Abstract Healthcare institutions in the United States must review blood transfusion practices and adverse outcomes in order to receive payments from the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid program, but it is not required for a specific committee to be assigned to oversee the review process. Regardless of the group or individuals responsible, the review process must include a program of quality assessment and performance improvement that is ongoing, hospital-wide, and data-driven, reflects the complexity of the hospital’s organization and services, and involves all hospital departments and services (including those contracted). To be most effective, the performance improvement activity should be prioritized around high-risk, high-volume activities and/or in problem-prone areas. Even if a hospital elects not to receive payments from Medicare, it must still comply with applicable sections of the Code of Federal Regulations pertaining to transfusion services such as the follow up of adverse outcomes of transfusion.


1989 ◽  
Vol 61 (01) ◽  
pp. 081-085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Panzer ◽  
Christoph Stain ◽  
Hubert Hartl ◽  
Robert Dudczak ◽  
Klaus Lechner

SummaryLevels of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were measured in 55 patients with haemophilia A in serum samples obtained in 1983 and in 1987. Twenty-one patients were negative for anti HIV-1 antibodies in 1983 and remained negative in 1987; 34 patients had anti HIV-1 antibodies in 1983; 17 of these latter patients remained asymptomatic, whereas 17 patients developed ARC or AIDS during the 4 years follow-up. Thirteen anti HIV-1 negative patients had elevated ACA levels in 1983; subsequently, a significant decrease was observed in all these subjects (p <0.001). All anti HIV-1 positive patients had elevated ACA levels in 1983; normal values were found in 9 patients in 1987. Yet, these changes were not significant (p >0.05). ACA levels were significantly higher in HIV-1 infected patients than in those without anti HIV-1 antibodies (p <0.05). There was no difference of ACA levels between the two anti HIV-1 positive patient groups, be it in 1983 or be it in 1987 (p >0.05). There was no correlation of ACA levels with serum IgG concentrations, CD4+ lymphocytes, or the consumption of factor VIII concentrates.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuela Onesti ◽  
Vittorio Frasca ◽  
Marco Ceccanti ◽  
Giorgio Tartaglia ◽  
Maria Cristina Gori ◽  
...  

Background: The cannabinoid system may be involved in the humoral mechanisms at the neuromuscular junction. Ultramicronized-palmitoylethanolamide (μm-PEA) has recently been shown to reduce the desensitization of Acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked currents in denervated patients modifying the stability of ACh receptor (AChR) function. <p> Objective: To analyze the possible beneficial effects of μm-PEA in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) on muscular fatigue and neurophysiological changes. <p> Method: The duration of this open pilot study, which included an intra-individual control, was three weeks. Each patient was assigned to a 1-week treatment period with μm-PEA 600 mg twice a day. A neurophysiological examination based on repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) of the masseteric and the axillary nerves was performed, and the quantitative MG (QMG) score was calculated in 22 MG patients every week in a three-week follow-up period. AChR antibody titer was investigated to analyze a possible immunomodulatory effect of PEA in MG patients. <p> Results: PEA had a significant effect on the QMG score (p=0.03418) and on RNS of the masseteric nerve (p=0.01763), thus indicating that PEA reduces the level of disability and decremental muscle response. Antibody titers did not change significantly after treatment. <p> Conclusion: According to our observations, μm-PEA as an add-on therapy could improve muscular response to fatigue in MG. The possible modulation of AChR currents as a means of eliciting a direct effect from PEA on the conformation of ACh receptors should be investigated. The co-role of cytokines also warrants an analysis. Given the rapidity and reversibility of the response, we suppose that PEA acts directly on AChR, though further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 713-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Hwan Choi ◽  
Kyung-Keun Shi ◽  
Jung-Yul Cha ◽  
Young-Chel Park ◽  
Kee-Joon Lee

ABSTRACT Objective:  To evaluate the stability of nonsurgical miniscrew-assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARME) in young adults with a transverse maxillary deficiency. Materials and Methods:  From a total of 69 adult patients who underwent MARME followed by orthodontic treatment with a straight-wire appliance, 20 patients (mean age, 20.9 ± 2.9 years) with follow-up records (mean, 30.2 ± 13.2 months) after debonding were selected. Posteroanterior cephalometric records and dental casts were obtained at the initial examination (T0), immediately after MARME removal (T1), immediately after debonding (T2), and at posttreatment follow-up (T3). Results:  Suture separation was observed in 86.96% of subjects (60/69). An increase in the maxillary width (J-J; 1.92 mm) accounted for 43.34% of the total expansion with regard to the intermolar width (IMW) increase (4.43 mm; P &lt; .001) at T2. The amounts of J-J and IMW posttreatment changes were −0.07 mm (P &gt; .05) and −0.42 mm (P  =  .01), respectively, during retention. The postexpansion change in middle alveolus width increased with age (P &lt; .05). The postexpansion change of interpremolar width (IPMW) was positively correlated with the amount of IPMW expansion (P &lt; .05) but not with IMW. The changes of the clinical crown heights in the maxillary canines, first premolars, and first molars were not significant at each time point. Conclusions:  Nonsurgical MARME can be a clinically acceptable and stable treatment modality for young adults with a transverse maxillary deficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1829
Author(s):  
Davide Grande ◽  
Catherine A. Harris ◽  
Giles Thomas ◽  
Enrico Anderlini

Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) are increasingly being used for model identification, forecasting and control. When identifying physical models with unknown mathematical knowledge of the system, Nonlinear AutoRegressive models with eXogenous inputs (NARX) or Nonlinear AutoRegressive Moving-Average models with eXogenous inputs (NARMAX) methods are typically used. In the context of data-driven control, machine learning algorithms are proven to have comparable performances to advanced control techniques, but lack the properties of the traditional stability theory. This paper illustrates a method to prove a posteriori the stability of a generic neural network, showing its application to the state-of-the-art RNN architecture. The presented method relies on identifying the poles associated with the network designed starting from the input/output data. Providing a framework to guarantee the stability of any neural network architecture combined with the generalisability properties and applicability to different fields can significantly broaden their use in dynamic systems modelling and control.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2632
Author(s):  
Aparajita Budithi ◽  
Sumeyye Su ◽  
Arkadz Kirshtein ◽  
Leili Shahriyari

Many colon cancer patients show resistance to their treatments. Therefore, it is important to consider unique characteristic of each tumor to find the best treatment options for each patient. In this study, we develop a data driven mathematical model for interaction between the tumor microenvironment and FOLFIRI drug agents in colon cancer. Patients are divided into five distinct clusters based on their estimated immune cell fractions obtained from their primary tumors’ gene expression data. We then analyze the effects of drugs on cancer cells and immune cells in each group, and we observe different responses to the FOLFIRI drugs between patients in different immune groups. For instance, patients in cluster 3 with the highest T-reg/T-helper ratio respond better to the FOLFIRI treatment, while patients in cluster 2 with the lowest T-reg/T-helper ratio resist the treatment. Moreover, we use ROC curve to validate the model using the tumor status of the patients at their follow up, and the model predicts well for the earlier follow up days.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
CB Graversen ◽  
JB Valentin ◽  
ML Larsen ◽  
S Riahi ◽  
T Holmberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): The Danish Heart Foundation Background A large proportion of patients fail to reach optimal adherence to medication following incident ischemic heart disease (IHD) despite amble evidence of the beneficial effect of medication. Non-adherence to medication increases risk of disease-related adverse outcomes but none has explored how perception about pharmacological treatment detail on non-adherence using register-based follow-up data. Purpose To investigate the association between patients’ perception of pharmacological treatment and risk of non-initiation and non-adherence to medication in a population with incident IHD. Methods This cohort study followed 871 patients until 365 days after incident IHD. The study combined patient-reported survey data on perception about pharmacological treatment (categorised by ‘To a high level’, ‘To some level’, and ‘To a lesser level’) with register-based data on reimbursed prescription of cardiovascular medication (antithrombotics, statins, ACE-inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and β-blockers). Non-initiation was defined as no pick-up of medication in the first 180 days following incident IHD and analysed by Poisson regression. Two different measures evaluated non-adherence in patients initiating treatment: 1) proportion of days covered (PDC) analysed by Poisson regression, and 2) risk of discontinuation analysed by Cox proportional hazard regression. All analyses were adjusted for confounding variables (age, sex, ethnicity, income, educational level, civil status, occupation, charlson comorbidity index, supportive relatives, and individual consultation in medication) identified by directed acyclic graph and obtained from national registers and the survey. Item non-response was handled by multiple imputation and item consistency was evaluated by McDonalds omega. Results Lower perceptions about pharmacological treatment was associated with increased risk of non-initiation and non-adherence to medication irrespectively of drug class and adherence measure in the multiple adjusted analyses (please see figure illustrating results on antithrombotics). A dose-response relationship was observed both at 180- and 365-days of follow-up, but the steepest decline in adherence differed when comparing the two adherence measures (results not shown). Moderate internal consistency was found for the summed measure of perception (McDonalds omega = 0.67). Conclusion Lower perception of pharmacological treatment was associated with subsequent non-initiation and non-adherence to medication, irrespectively of measurement method and drug class. Abstract Figure. Figre: Multiple adjusted analyses


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