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BackgroundSputum-based testing is a barrier to increasing access to molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis (TB). Many people with TB are unable to produce sputum, and sputum processing increases assay complexity and cost. Tongue swabs are emerging as an alternative to sputum, but performance limits are uncertain.MethodsFrom June 2022 to July 2023, we enrolled 397 consecutive adults with cough >2 weeks at 2 health centers in Kampala, Uganda. We collected demographic and clinical information, sputum for TB testing (Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and 2 liquid cultures), and tongue swabs for same-day quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing. We evaluated tongue swab qPCR diagnostic accuracy versus sputum TB test results, quantified TB targets per swab, assessed the impact of serial swabbing, and compared 2 swab types (Copan FLOQSWAB and Steripack spun polyester).ResultsAmong 397 participants, 43.1% were female, median age was 33 years, 23.5% were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus, and 32.0% had confirmed TB. Sputum Xpert Ultra and tongue swab qPCR results were concordant for 98.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 96.2-99.1) of participants. Tongue swab qPCR sensitivity was 92.6% (95% CI: 86.5 to 96.0) and specificity was 99.1% (95% CI: 96.9 to 99.8) versus microbiological reference standard. A single tongue swab recovered a 7-log range of TB copies, with a decreasing recovery trend among 4 serial swabs. Swab types performed equivalently.ConclusionsTongue swabs are a promising alternative to sputum for molecular diagnosis of TB, with sensitivity approaching sputum-based molecular tests. Our results provide valuable insights for developing successful tongue swab-based TB diagnostics.

BackgroundNon-sputum-based triage tests for tuberculosis are a priority for ending tuberculosis. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the late-prototype Xpert MTB Host Response (Xpert HR) blood-based assay.MethodsWe conducted a prospective diagnostic accuracy study among outpatients with presumed tuberculosis in outpatient clinics in Viet Nam, India, the Philippines, Uganda, and South Africa. Eligible participants were aged 18 years or older and reported cough lasting at least 2 weeks. We excluded those receiving tuberculosis treatment in the preceding 12 months and those who were unwilling to consent. Xpert HR was performed on capillary or venous blood. Reference standard testing included sputum Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and mycobacterial culture. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify the optimal cutoff value for the Xpert HR to achieve the target sensitivity of 90% or more while maximising specificity, then calculated diagnostic accuracy using this cutoff value. This study was prospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04923958.FindingsBetween July 13, 2021, and Aug 15, 2022, 2046 adults with at least 2 weeks of cough were identified, of whom 1499 adults (686 [45·8%] females and 813 [54·2%] males) had valid Xpert HR and reference standard results. 329 (21·9%) had microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis. Xpert HR had an area under the ROC curve of 0·89 (95% CI 0·86-0·91). The optimal cutoff value was less than or equal to -1·25, giving a sensitivity of 90·3% (95% CI 86·5-93·3; 297 of 329) and a specificity of 62·6% (95% CI 59·7-65·3; 732 of 1170). Sensitivity was similar across countries, by sex, and by subgroups, although specificity was lower in people living with HIV (45·1%, 95% CI 37·8-52·6) than in those not living with HIV (65·9%, 62·8-68·8; difference of 20·8%, 95% CI 13·0-28·6; p

IntroductionIn high-burden settings, low-complexity screening tests for tuberculosis (TB) could expand the reach of community-based case-finding efforts. The potential costs and cost-effectiveness of approaches incorporating these tests are poorly understood.MethodsWe developed a microsimulation model assessing 3 approaches to community-based case-finding in hypothetical populations (India-, South Africa-, The Philippines-, Uganda-, and Vietnam-like settings) with TB prevalence 4 times that of national estimates: (1) screening with a point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) test, (2) screening with a more sensitive "Hypothetical Screening test" (95% sensitive for Xpert Ultra-positive TB, 70% specificity; equipment/labor costs similar to Xpert Ultra, but using a $2 cartridge) followed by sputum Xpert Ultra if positive, or (3) testing all individuals with sputum Xpert Ultra. Costs are expressed in 2023 US dollars and include treatment costs.ResultsUniversal Xpert Ultra was estimated to cost a mean $4.0 million (95% uncertainty range: $3.5 to $4.6 million) and avert 3200 (2600 to 3900) TB-related disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100 000 people screened ($670 [The Philippines] to $2000 [Vietnam] per DALY averted). CRP was projected to cost $550 (The Philippines) to $1500 (Vietnam) per DALY averted but with 44% fewer DALYs averted. The Hypothetical Screening test showed minimal benefit compared to universal Xpert Ultra, but if specificity were improved to 95% and per-test cost to $4.5 (all-inclusive), this strategy could cost $390 (The Philippines) to $940 (Vietnam) per DALY averted.ConclusionsScreening tests can meaningfully improve the cost-effectiveness of community-based case-finding for TB but only if they are sensitive, specific, and inexpensive.

Simple Summary: Recent research has helped us understand more about the role of microbes in the health and disease of the lungs. The detection of microbes and microbial products in sputum may improve early lung cancer diagnosis. The monitoring of the microbiome of the lungs over time may help predict the response to and side effects of treatment. However, studies have not yet examined how diet and air pollution affect the lung microbiome and how it might be linked to the development and progression of lung cancer. By examining the lung microbiome, dietary patterns, and air pollutants, we hope to prevent and manage lung cancer in the future. The past several years have provided a more profound understanding of the role of microbial species in the lung. The respiratory tract is a delicate ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Detecting microbial DNA, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and metabolites in sputum is poised to revolutionize the early diagnosis of lung cancer. The longitudinal monitoring of the lung microbiome holds the potential to predict treatment response and side effects, enabling more personalized and effective treatment options. However, most studies into the lung microbiota have been observational and have not adequately considered the impact of dietary intake and air pollutants. This gap makes it challenging to establish a direct causal relationship between environmental exposure, changes in the composition of the microbiota, lung carcinogenesis, and tumor progression. A holistic understanding of the lung microbiota that considers both diet and air pollutants may pave the way to improved prevention and management strategies for lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xpert MTB/RIF is recommended for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children. We determined the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in children. The characteristics of children influencing Xpert MTB/RIF positivity were explored. Children aged <15 years with symptoms suggestive of pulmonary TB were prospectively enrolled from 2013 to 2019. Two sputum/early morning gastric aspirate specimens were collected for examination by smear (fluorescence microscopy), Xpert MTB/RIF, and culture [Mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT)/Lowenstein–Jensen (LJ) medium]. Diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF was evaluated using LJ and or MGIT culture positivity as the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Stratified analysis was done; P  < .05 was considered statistically significant. Of the total 1727 enrolled children, 1674 (97%) with complete results for at least one sputum/gastric aspirate sample were analyzed. The sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF was 68.5% in sputum and 53.6% in gastric aspirate while the specificity was 99% for both. The sensitivity compared to smear was 68.5% vs. 33.7% (P  < .001) and 53.6% vs. 14.5%; (P  < .001) in sputum and gastric aspirate, respectively. The sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF was 23.9% with decision to treat as reference standard. Xpert MTB/RIF positivity was significantly influenced by sex, age, nutritional status, chest X-ray abnormality, TB infection status, and symptoms suggestive of TB. Xpert MTB/RIF as an upfront test compared to smear improves diagnosis of pulmonary TB in children yet the sensitivity is suboptimal. Newer TB diagnostic tools with improved sensitivity is warranted in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human adenovirus (HAdV) infection in newborns is a rare condition that typically affects multiple organ systems and has a high mortality rate. We report a case of neonatal HAdV-D37 infection that presented with fever and respiratory distress that was confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing using blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. We treated the patient with intravenous immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone, and anticoagulants, and the patient recovered. Our review of 41 cases of HAdV found that treatment with intravenous immunoglobin might have improved the outcome of HAdV-D infection. We further suggest that glucocorticoid therapy may have additional therapeutic validity in the setting of severe or disseminated disease and that monitoring coagulation function and timely anticoagulation treatment should be considered to prevent complications associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document presents two studies on the use of reslizumab as a treatment for severe asthma with persistent sputum eosinophilia. The first study examines the effects of higher doses of reslizumab on sputum eosinophils in patients who did not respond to the standard dose. The study found that 40% of patients achieved normalized sputum eosinophils after four infusions, while the remaining 60% required a higher dose. The second study focuses on the use of inhaled corticosteroids and found that higher doses of reslizumab led to better suppression of eosinophils and improved asthma control. The studies highlight the potential benefits of higher doses of reslizumab in treating severe asthma with persistent sputum eosinophilia and the importance of assessing and classifying patients based on sputum cytokines. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this study was to explore the related factors linked to the development and infectivity of tuberculosis. This was achieved by comparing the clinical characteristics of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) who tested positive in smear Mycobacterium tuberculosis tests with this who tested negative in smear mycobacterium tests but positive in sputum Gene Xpert tests. We gathered clinical data of 1612 recently hospitalized patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis who tested positive either in sputum Gene-Xpert test or sputum smear Mycobacterium tuberculosis tests. The data was collected from January 1, 2018 to August 5, 2023, at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital. We conducted separately analyzes and comparisons of the clinical characteristics between the two groups of patients, aiming to discussed the related factors influencing the development and infectivity of tuberculosis. In comparison to the GeneXpert positive group, the sputum smear positive group exhibited a higher proportion of elderly patients (aged 75–89) and individuals classified as underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2). Furthermore, this group was more prone to experiencing symptoms such as weight loss, coughing and sputum production, hemoptysis, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. Moreover, they are also more likely to develop extrapulmonary tuberculosis, such as tuberculous meningitis, tuberculous pleurisy, and tuberculous peritonitis. These clinical features, when present, not only increase the likelihood of a positive result in sputum smear tests but also suggest a high infectivity of pulmonary tuberculosis. Elderly individuals (aged 75 to 89) who are underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), display symptom of cough, expectoration, hemoptysis and dyspnea-particularly cough and expectoration-and those with extra pulmonary tuberculosis serve as indicators of highly infectious pulmonary tuberculosis patients. These patients may present with more severe condition, carrying a higher bacteria, and being more prone to bacterial elimination. Identification of these patients is crucial, and prompt actions such as timely and rapid isolation measures, cutting off transmission routes, and early empirical treatment of tuberculosis are essential to control the development of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) causes increased time of mechanical ventilation (MV), prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and a higher mortality risk. The systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacies between fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and general sputum suction for the prevention of VAP in patients with invasive MV. Methodology: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were obtained via a search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, and CNKI databases. A random-effects model was used to pool the results if significant heterogeneity was observed. Otherwise, a fixed-effects model was used. Results: Sixteen RCTs were included. Compared to general sputum suction, sputum suction with FOB was associated with a significantly reduced risk of VAP (risk ratio [RR]: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.67, p < 0.001; I2 = 0%). Subgroup analyses showed that the combination of FOBassisted sputum suction with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) further reduced the risk of VAP as compared to FOB-assisted sputum suction alone (p for subgroup difference = 0.04). In addition, FOB-assisted treatment was also associated with a reduced MV time (mean difference [MD]: -2.19 days, 95% CI: -2.69 to -1.68, p < 0.001; I2 = 18%), a shorter ICU stay (MD: 2.9 days, 95% CI: -3.68 to -2.13, p < 0.001; I2 = 34%), and a reduced mortality risk (RR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.90, p = 0.02; I2 = 0%) in patients with invasive MV. Conclusions: FOB for sputum suction and BAL in patients with invasive MV is effective in reducing the incidence of VAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the frequency of microbiological etiology of respiratory infections in patients with long COVID and their associated clinical and radiological findings. Methods Nasopharyngeal swabs and sputum specimens were collected from 97 patients with respiratory illness stemming from long COVID. The specimens were assessed for their microbiological profile (bacteria and virus) and their association with the overall clinical and radiological picture. Results In total, 23 (24%) patients with long COVID had viral infection (n = 12), bacterial infection (n = 9), or coinfection (n = 2). Microorganisms were detected at significantly higher rates in hospitalized patients, patients with moderate COVID-19, and patients with asthma (P <.05). Tachycardia (65%) was the most common symptom at presentation. A statistically significant number of patients with long COVID who had viral infection presented with cough and myalgia; and a statistically significant number of patients with long COVID who had bacterial infection presented with productive coughing (P <.05). Post-COVID fibrotic changes were found in 61% of cohort patients (31/51). Conclusion A decreasing trend of respiratory pathogens (enveloped viruses and bacteria) was found in long COVID. An analysis including a larger group of viral- or bacterial-infected patients with long COVID is needed to obtain high-level evidence on the presenting symptoms (cough, myalgia) and their association with the underlying comorbidities and severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis remains a global health concern, and half of cured patients have permanent lung injury. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown beneficial antimicrobial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects in preclinical tuberculosis models. We examined its effects on tuberculosis treatment outcomes. Methods: This prospective, randomized, controlled trial nested within the TB SEQUEL cohort study enrolled 140 adults with moderate or far-advanced tuberculosis. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to standard therapy with or without 1200 mg of oral NAC twice daily for days 1 to 112. Clinical evaluations, sputum culture, and spirometry were performed at specified intervals through day 168, after which participants returned to the TB SEQUEL cohort. The primary outcome was culture conversion. Secondary outcomes included whole-blood glutathione levels and lung function. Results: Participants were predominantly young, male, and human immunodeficiency virus 1-negative and had heavy sputum Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection burdens. NAC increased glutathione levels (NAC × day interaction, 8.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.93 to 15.02) but did not increase stable culture conversion (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.20; P=0.33). NAC treatment was associated with improved recovery of lung function (NAC × month, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.02 to 0.95] and 0.42 [95% CI, -0.06 to 0.91] for forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second, respectively, as percentages of predicted values). The effects of NAC on lung function were greatest in participants with severe baseline lung impairment and appeared to persist beyond the period of NAC administration. Rates of serious or grade 3 to 4 nonserious adverse events did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: Despite increasing whole-blood glutathione levels, NAC did not affect eradication of MTB infection in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis that was moderate to far advanced. Secondary outcomes of lung function showed changes that merit further investigation. (Funded by TB SEQUEL grant 01KA1613 of the German Ministry for Education and Research, the Health Africa Project, and the German Center for Infection Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03702738.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stool samples have been reported to be useful for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), especially in patients who are unable to produce sputum. However, contamination limits the usefulness of stool specimens in mycobacterial culture. In this study, a novel decontamination method of power ultrasound (PU) was evaluated for mycobacterial isolation from suspected PTB cases. Stool samples (n = 650) were collected, and each sample was divided into approximately three equal groups. In addition to an AFB smear (Auramine O method), the stool samples were treated using different decontamination methods (NaOH-NALC vs. PU methods). The sensitivity (calculated against CRS) and contamination rates between the two methods were compared using McNemar's test. Of the 650 samples, 32 (4.92%) stool samples treated with the NaOH-NALC method were culture-positive, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.TB; n = 21, 3.23%) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM; n = 11, 1.69%). Sixty-one (9.38%) stool samples treated with the PU method were culture-positive, including M.TB (n = 37, 5.69%) and NTM (n = 24, 3.69%). Statistical analysis showed that a significant difference was found in the isolation rate of M.TB and NTM between the two methods (p < 0.05). Additionally, compared with the NALC-NaOH method (19.07%), stool samples treated with the PU method (13.23%) had a significantly lower contamination rate (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that the utilization of the PU method as a novel decontamination technique could significantly enhance the isolation rates of both NTM and M.TB when stool specimens are employed for culture. Compared to the NaOH-NALC method, this approach proves to be more effective in facilitating stool mycobacterial culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), a major cause of disease and antimicrobial resistance, is spread via aerosols. Aerosols have diagnostic potential and airborne-microbes other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) may influence transmission. We evaluated whether PneumoniaCheck (PMC), a commercial aerosol collection device, captures MTBC and the aeromicrobiome of people with TB. Methods: PMC was done in sputum culture-positive people (≥ 30 forced coughs each, n = 16) pre-treatment and PMC air reservoir (bag, corresponding to upper airways) and filter (lower airways) washes underwent Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing (sequencing also done on sputum). In a subset (n = 6), PMC microbiota (bag, filter) was compared to oral washes and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Findings: 54% (7/13) bags and 46% (6/14) filters were Ultra-positive. Sequencing read counts and microbial diversity did not differ across bags, filters, and sputum. However, microbial composition in bags (Sphingobium-, Corynebacterium-, Novosphingobium-enriched) and filters (Mycobacterium-, Sphingobium-, Corynebacterium-enriched) each differed vs. sputum. Furthermore, sequencing only detected Mycobacterium in bags and filters but not sputum. In the subset, bag and filter microbial diversity did not differ vs. oral washes or BALF but microbial composition differed. Bags vs. BALF were Sphingobium-enriched and Mycobacterium-, Streptococcus-, and Anaerosinus-depleted (Anaerosinus also depleted in filters vs. BALF). Compared to BALF, none of the aerosol-enriched taxa were enriched in oral washes or sputum. Interpretation: PMC captures aerosols with Ultra-detectable MTBC and MTBC is more detectable in aerosols than sputum by sequencing. The aeromicrobiome is distinct from sputum, oral washes and BALF and contains differentially-enriched lower respiratory tract microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed whether multiplex real-time PCR plus conventional microbiological testing is safe and more effective than conventional microbiological testing alone for reducing antibiotic use in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In this randomised trial, we recruited adults hospitalised with CAP at four Spanish hospitals. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to undergo either multiplex real-time PCR in non-invasive respiratory samples plus conventional microbiological testing or conventional microbiological testing alone. The primary endpoint was antibiotic use measured by days of antibiotic therapy (DOT). Between February 20, 2020, and April 24, 2023, 242 patients were enrolled; 119 were randomly assigned to multiplex real-time PCR plus conventional microbiological testing and 123 to conventional microbiological testing alone. All but one of the patients allocated to multiplex real-time PCR plus conventional microbiological testing underwent PCR, which was performed in sputum samples in 77 patients (65.2%) and in nasopharyngeal swabs in 41 (34.7%). The median DOT was 10.04 (IQR 7.98, 12.94) in the multiplex PCR plus conventional microbiological testing group and 11.33 (IQR 8.15, 16.16) in the conventional microbiological testing alone group (difference −1.04; 95% CI, −2.42 to 0.17; p = 0.093). No differences were observed in adverse events and 30-day mortality. Our findings do not support the routine implementation of multiplex real-time PCR in the initial microbiological testing in hospitalised patients with CAP. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT04158492. Here, the authors report the results of a randomised trial assessing whether adding multiplex real-time PCR to conventional testing reduces antibiotic use in community-acquired pneumonia and observe no significant reduction in days of antibiotic therapy or in 30-day mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in asthma management include non-invasive methodologies such as sputum analysis, exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). These techniques offer a means to assess airway inflammation, a critical feature of asthma, without invasive procedures. Sputum analysis provides detailed insights into airway inflammation patterns and cellular composition, guiding personalized treatment strategies. EBC collection, reflecting bronchoalveolar lining fluid composition, provides a non-invasive window into airway physiology. FeNO emerges as a pivotal biomarker, offering insights into eosinophilic airway inflammation and aiding in asthma diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and the prediction of exacerbation risks. Despite inherent limitations, each method offers valuable tools for a more comprehensive assessment of asthma. Combining these techniques with traditional methods like spirometry may lead to more personalized treatment plans and improved patient outcomes. Future research is crucial to refine protocols, validate biomarkers, and establish comprehensive guidelines in order to enhance asthma management with tailored therapeutic strategies and improved patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions The airway microbiome in severe asthma has not been characterised at species‐level by metagenomic sequencing, nor have the relationships between specific species and mucosal immune responses in ‘type‐2 low’, neutrophilic asthma been defined. We performed an integrated species‐level metagenomic data with inflammatory mediators to characterise prevalence of dominant potentially pathogenic organisms and host immune responses.Sputum and nasal lavage samples were analysed using long‐read metagenomic sequencing with Nanopore and qPCR in two cross‐sectional adult severe asthma cohorts, Wessex (n = 66) and Oxford (n = 30). We integrated species‐level data with clinical parameters and 39 selected airway proteins measured by immunoassay and O‐link.The sputum microbiome in health and mild asthma displayed comparable microbial diversity. By contrast, 23% (19/81) of severe asthma microbiomes were dominated by a single respiratory pathogen, namely H. influenzae (n = 10), M. catarrhalis (n = 4), S. pneumoniae (n = 4) and P. aeruginosa (n = 1). Neutrophilic asthma was associated with H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, S. pneumoniae and T. whipplei with elevated type‐1 cytokines and proteases; eosinophilic asthma with higher M. catarrhalis, but lower H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae abundance. H. influenzae load correlated with Eosinophil Cationic Protein, elastase and IL‐10. R. mucilaginosa associated positively with IL‐6 and negatively with FGF. Bayesian network analysis also revealed close and distinct relationships of H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis with type‐1 airway inflammation. The microbiomes and cytokine milieu were distinct between upper and lower airways.This species‐level integrated analysis reveals central, but distinct associations between potentially pathogenic bacteria and airways inflammation in severe asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive obstruction of the airflow that is often fatal if not appropriately managed. COPD is prevalent among older adults worldwide, and diagnosis is often missed in comprehensive geriatric assessment. According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, the management approach includes pharmacological, non-pharmacological treatment, and surgery in severe cases. This case report determines the effect of physiotherapy intervention (a non-pharmacological approach) on geriatric patients with COPD. Case presentation: This is a case report of a 72-year-old male patient who presented as an outpatient with COPD grade D (GOLD guidelines) with a forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) value of 52%. The patient had 3 acute episodes of exacerbation but was stabilized. The first episode of shortness of breath was 2 years ago while taking a brisk walk at home. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was placed on hospital admission and managed for about 2 weeks and was discharged but to continue physiotherapy on an outpatient basis due to the proximity of his home from the hospital. On physical examination with chronic obstructive pulmonary assessment test (CAT), 6-min walk test (6MWT), and functional assessment with the Barthel Index, the patient was easily fatigued and had challenges in performing basic activities of daily living (BADL). The patient had 72 sessions of physiotherapy interventions for 6 months which consisted of education, purse-lip breathing, active cycle of breathing technique, incentive spirometry exercise, aerobic exercise, and home exercise aimed at improving activity tolerance, encouraging diaphragmatic breathing, enhancing sputum clearance, improving function, and overall quality of life. Improvement was initially gradual and then significant in about the third month of the intervention. Activity tolerance improved with a 6MWT of 2 laps. The patient developed more confidence in performing ADL and leaving his home despite his lung condition as seen in CAT scores. Conclusions: Overall, results from this study showed that COPD is a treatable condition that is amenable to physiotherapy interventions in a multidisciplinary approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of sputum from positive to negative is one of the indicators to evaluate the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). We investigate the factors associated with delayed sputum conversion after 2 or 5 months of ATT from the perspectives of bacteriology and genomics. A retrospective study of sputum conversion in sputum positive 1782 pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) was conducted from 2021 to 2022 in Beijing, China. We also designed a case-matched study including 24 pairs of delayed-sputum-conversion patients (DSCPs) and timely-sputum-conversion patients (TSCPs), and collect clinical isolates from DSCPs before and after ATT and initial isolates of TSCPs who successfully achieved sputum conversion to negative after 2 months of ATT. A total of 75 strains were conducted drug sensitivity testing (DST) of 13 anti-TB drugs and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to analyze the risk factors of delayed conversion and the dynamics changes of drug resistance and genomics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) during ATT. We found TSCPs have better treatment outcomes and whose initial isolates show lower levels of drug resistance. Clinical isolates of DSCPs showed dynamically changing of resistance phenotypes and intra-host heterogeneity. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiles showed large differences between groups. The study provided insight into the bacteriological and genomic variation of delayed sputum conversion. It would be helpful for early indication of sputum conversion and guidance on ATT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Only one study has reported the presence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in COPD patients' sputum. Thus, we aimed to isolate and characterize EVs from COPD and healthy individuals' sputum. Methods: A total of 20 spontaneous sputum samples from COPD patients (m/f: 19/1) and induced sputum samples from healthy controls (m/f: 8/2) were used for EV isolation. The sputum supernatants were resuspended in PBS, precleared by centrifugation at 800× g for 10 min at 4 °C, and passed through a 0.22 μm filter (Millipore, Burlington, MA, USA). EVs were isolated by a standard membrane affinity spin column method (exoEasy maxi kit, Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The EVs were then characterized by assessing their morphology and size using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and determining the CD9 and CD81 EV-markers with Western blot analysis. Results: The EVs had a spherical shape and their mean diameter in the COPD patients was significantly greater than in the controls. Enrichment of the EV markers, CD9 and CD81, were detected in both the healthy and COPD individuals. Total EV-associated protein was significantly increased in the COPD patients compared to the controls. ROC analysis showed that total EV-associated protein in the sputum could be used to differentiate between the controls and COPD patients, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 70% at a cut-off point of 55.59 μg/mL (AUC = 0.8150). Conclusions: EVs were detectable in both the COPD and healthy individuals' sputum. The ratio of EVs in the 150–200 nm range was twice as high in the COPD patients than in the controls. The COPD patients' sputum contained increased total EV-associated protein as compared to controls, highlighting their value as a new source of specific exoproteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The respiratory microbiome may influence the development and progression of COPD by modulating local immune and inflammatory events. We aimed to investigate whether relative changes in respiratory bacterial abundance are also associated with systemic inflammation, and explore their relationship with the main clinical COPD phenotypes. Multiplex analysis of inflammatory markers and transcript eosinophil-related markers were analyzed on peripheral blood in a cohort of stable COPD patients (n = 72). Respiratory microbiome composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA microbial sequencing on spontaneous sputum. Spearman correlations were applied to test the relationship between the microbiome composition and systemic inflammation. The concentration of the plasma IL-8 showed an inverted correlation with the relative abundance of 17 bacterial genera in the whole COPD cohort. COPD patients categorized as eosinophilic showed positive relationships with blood eosinophil markers and inversely correlated with the degree of airway obstruction and the number of exacerbations during the previous year. COPD patients categorized as frequent exacerbators were enriched with the bacterial genera Pseudomonas which, in turn, was positively associated with the severity of airflow limitation and the prior year's exacerbation history. The associative relationships of the sputum microbiome with the severity of the disease emphasize the relevance of the interaction between the respiratory microbiota and systemic inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) often suffer from chronic symptoms such as sputum production, which reduces quality of life. Oscillatory positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) devices are used in physiotherapy to promote the clearance of respiratory secretions. We report two cases of improved lung function and improved scores on the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and the Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum Scale (BCSS) after the use of OPEP in patients with MAC-PD where treatment with guideline-based therapy, including amikacin liposome inhalation suspension, had proved ineffective for symptoms. Use of OPEP might maximize the efficacy of therapy and thereby improves outcomes in patients with MAC-PD. It is important to use both guideline-based therapy and OPEP, especially in patients whose health-related quality of life is affected by sputum symptoms. Further prospective studies are warranted to assess the benefit of adding OPEP to guidelines concerning therapy for patients with MAC-PD and sputum symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis is associated with airway pathogen colonization. We planned to investigate the inflammatory markers in patients with different airway pathogens and their correlation with disease severity. Methods: We enrolled patients aged between 20 and 75 from October 2021 to August 2022. All patients had sputum evaluation for bacterial and fungal cultures before enrollment, and were classified into four groups according to the culture results. Results: Forty-four patients with non-CF bronchiectasis and six controls were enrolled and categorized as follows: Group 1, no pathogens identified in sputum cultures (n = 14); Group 2, positive fungal culture results (n = 18); Group 3, positive P. aeruginosa culture results (n = 7); and Group 4, positive culture results for both fungi and P. aeruginosa (n = 5). Group 4 had significantly higher serum defensin α 1, IL-6 and tissue inhibitors of MMP (TIMP)-1 levels than group 1 patients. The serum levels of IL-6 and TIMP-1 were positively correlated with the FACED score and negatively correlated with distance-saturation product. Conclusion: Significantly higher levels of serum IL-6 and TIMP-1 were found in the patients who had concomitant fungal and P. aeruginosa colonization, and were closely related to clinical severity and may have important roles in disease monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sputum immunoglobulin G (Sp-IgG) has been discovered to induce cytolytic extracellular trap cell death in eosinophils, suggesting a potential autoimmune mechanism contributing to asthma. This study aimed to explore the potential origin of Sp-IgG and identify clinically relevant subtypes of Sp-IgG that may indicate autoimmune events in asthma. Methods: This study included 165 asthmatic patients and 38 healthy volunteers. We measured Sp-IgG and its five subtypes against eosinophil inflammatory proteins (Sp-IgGEPs), including eosinophil peroxidase, eosinophil major basic protein, eosinophilderived neurotoxin, eosinophil cationic protein, and Charcot-Leyden Crystal protein in varying asthma severity. Clinical andMendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted. A positive Sp-IgGEPs signature (Sp-IgGEPs+) was defined when any of the five Sp-IgGEPs values exceeded the predefined cutoff thresholds, calculated as the mean values of healthy controls plus twice the standard deviation. Results: The levels of Sp-IgG and Sp-IgGEPs were significantly elevated in moderate/severe asthma than those in mild asthma/healthy groups (all p < 0.05). Sp-IgG levels were positively correlated with airway eosinophil and Sp-IgGEPs. MR analysis showed causality between eosinophil and IgG (OR = 1.02, 95%CI = 1.00-1.04, p = 0.020), and elevated IgG was a risk factor for asthma (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.00-4.17, p = 0.049). Subjects with Sp-IgGEPs+ exhibited worse disease severity and served as an independent risk factor contributing to severe asthma (adjusted-OR = 5.818, adjusted-95% CI = 2.193-15.431, adjusted-p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of Sp-IgGEPs+ with non-allergic status, an ACT score < 15, and age = 45 years, effectively predicted severe asthma (AUC = 0.84, sensitivity = 86.20%, specificity = 67.80%). Conclusion: This study identifies a significant association between airway eosinophilic inflammation, Sp-IgG, and asthma severity. The Sp-IgGEPs panel potentially serves as the specific biomarker reflecting airway autoimmune events in asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bronchoalveolar lavage is commonly used in clinical practice for unresolved pneumonia. However, bronchoalveolar lavage is not suitable for all patients as it is an invasive procedure and can worsen oxygenation. The diagnostic value of bronchial wash and sputum has been debated extensively over the years. In this study, we aim to compare the diagnostic value in several pathogens of bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial wash, and secondarily bronchoalveolar lavage and sputum. Methods: We retrospectively included all adult patients in our hospital who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial wash, and where sputum sampling was done between January 1st of 2018 and December 31st of 2021. The intraclass correlation coefficient was computed for the three tests. Results: In total, 308 patients were included. We found a level of correlation of 0.819 and 0.865, respectively, between bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial wash for two pathogens: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Aspergillus fumigatus, we found an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.568 and 0.624, respectively. Between bronchoalveolar lavage and sputum, we found varying levels of agreement. Conclusion: Our study shows reasonably well agreement levels between bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial wash, suggesting that bronchial wash could potentially be an alternative to bronchoalveolar lavage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hui Sun,&ast; Yan Liu,&ast; Ling Wang, Xiaoling Liu, WenHui Wang Department of Tuberculosis, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ling Wang; Xiaoling Liu, Department of Tuberculosis, The Second Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 1-1 Zhongfu Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 83626512, Email liuxiaoling15l@163.comObjective: Accurate diagnosis is very important to block the transmission of tuberculosis. The quality of sputum culture affects the diagnostic accuracy. The quality of sputum samples is not optimistic. Therefore, this study investigated whether health care failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) can improve specimen quality and detection efficiency in sputum specimen management in tuberculosis departments.Methods: This study is a non-randomized controlled trial study. A convenience sampling method was used to select 110 patients who visited the Department of Tuberculosis of the Second Hospital of Nanjing from September to November 2022 and December 2022 to February 2023 as the control group and the experimental group. Control groups followed standard operating procedures for sputum specimen collection. In the experimental group, HFMEA model was used to control the quality on this basis. After 3 months of intervention, the qualified rate and positive detection rate of sputum samples were compared between the two groups.Results: A total of 634 sputum specimens were included in the experimental group and 647 in the control group. Compared with the control group, the qualification rate of sputum specimens was higher in the experimental group (84.54% vs 79.13%); the positive detection rates of the X-Pert assay (27.88% vs 16.19%), sputum culture (20.29% vs 12.68%), and sputum smear (22.29% vs 15.81%) were all higher in the experimental group (all P < 0.05). Patients in the experimental group had higher knowledge mastery and nurse sputum sample management scores (P < 0.05). However, patient satisfaction with sputum specimen management in the experimental group was lower than in the control group (7.72 ± 0.74 vs 8.38 ± 0.85, P < 0.001).Conclusion: The application of the HFMEA model in sputum specimen management can effectively improve specimen quality and positive detection rates.Keywords: healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA), tuberculosis, sputum, nursing care, risk management

Background and Aim: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an infectious agent of great importance for animals and humans. It causes serious infections that show high resistance to antibiotics. This study investigated the molecular detection of blaOXA-23 gene in antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa strains isolated from cows and humans. Materials and Methods: In total, 120 samples, comprised 60 from cows (30 milk and 30 nasal discharge) and 60 from their owners (30 urine and 30 sputum), were individually collected, cultured, and tested for P. aeruginosa through molecular analysis targeting the blaOXA-23 gene. P. aeruginosa antibiotic-resistant isolates were identified by performing antibiotic susceptibility testing and detecting biofilm formation. Results: In total, 74.17% positive P. aeruginosa isolates, including 66.67% and 81.67% for cows and humans, respectively. Subsequently, positive cow isolates were detected in 60% of milk samples and 73.33% of nasal discharge samples; while positive human isolates were detected in 76.67% of urine samples and 86.66% of sputum samples. Targeting blaOXA-23 gene, 58.43% of cultured isolates were positive for P. aeruginosa by polymerase chain reaction. Respectively, positive isolates were detected in 66.67% and 45.46% of cow milk and nasal discharges as well as in 60.87% and 61.54% of human urine and sputum. The antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all isolates were resistant to all applied antibiotics, particularly imipenem. Results of biofilm formation revealed 67.31% total positives, including 51.43% strong, 34.285% moderate, and 14.285% weak reactions. In addition, although values of the total positive cows and humans differed insignificantly, total positives showed insignificant variation between values of milk and nasal discharges of cows as well as between urine and sputum of humans; however, significant differences were identified in the distribution of strong, moderate, and weak positivity of these samples. Conclusion: Antibiotic overuse contributes extensively to increasing the prevalence of resistant P. aeruginosa isolates carrying the blaOXA-23 gene in both cows and humans. Furthermore, studies in other Iraqi areas are necessary to support our findings. The main limitations include that the number of tested samples is relatively low, and there is a need to use a large number of samples from different sources. Also, the current methods for detection of resistant isolates are still culture-based approaches.

Background and purpose: Lophomoniasis is a relatively common emerging parasitic disease caused by a pathogenic protozoan called Lophomonas, which mostly affects the lower respiratory tract (lungs and bronchi) of humans. The parasite lives symbiotically in the digestive system of insects such as cockroaches and mites. Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that has two forms of trophozoite and cyst in its life cycle. The respiratory system and airways serve as passage and deployment sites for a wide range of non-pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms, making it a suitable place for the entry and spread of different species of Acanthamoeba amoeba and the Lophomonas pathogen in the respiratory system, which can cause clinical manifestations similar to tuberculosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the frequency of these two parasites in sputum clinical samples from suspected tuberculosis patients referred to the tuberculosis laboratory in Babolsar City to rule out the two mentioned infections. Materials and methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 201 sputum samples of people suspected of tuberculosis who were referred to the tuberculosis laboratory of Babolsar Health Center in Mazandaran province in 202-2023, and all the demographic and epidemiological information of the patients was recorded. In the morphological method, Giemsa staining was used for Lophomonas and Ziehl-Neelsen staining for Acanthamoeba. To identify the presence of Acanthamoeba, sputum samples were cultured in a 1.5% non-nutrient agar culture medium for 72 to 96 hours. Approximately 50 microliters of patients' sputum were added to the NNA medium, along with 20 microliters of trypticase-yeast extract and maltose (TYM) culture medium, and 20 microliters of an autoclaved Escherichia coli bacteria mixture to enrich the culture medium. The cultured plates were then placed in an incubator at 26ºC and checked daily under a light microscope for trophozoite growth. To accurately confirm the presence of parasites, DNA extraction was performed on the patient's sputum samples using the phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method. Subsequently, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted using specific primers on the extracted DNA samples. Results: In the study of 201 people suspected of tuberculosis, it was found that 80 individuals (39.8%) lived in urban areas and 121 individuals (60.2%) lived in rural areas. The age range of participants varied from 7 to 88 years old. There were 113 females (56.2%) and 88 males (43.8%) in the study, with 12 individuals from Afghanistan living in urban areas. Out of the 201 sputum samples examined, a total of 23 samples (11.4%) tested positive for the Lophomonas parasite using the PCR method. Among these positive cases, 7 individuals (30.4%) resided in urban areas (Babolsar), while 16 individuals (69.5%) lived in rural areas. However, none of the samples tested positive for Acanthamoeba in this study using staining and PCR methods. Conclusion: The present study showed that due to the similarity of the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis and lophomoniasis, there is a possibility of mistaking these two diseases clinically. Therefore, it is recommended to check fresh sputum samples of people suspected of tuberculosis, especially in endemic areas, in terms of pulmonary lophomoniasis.

Abstract Background High blood eosinophils seem to predict exacerbations and response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate for 2 years, blood and sputum eosinophils in COPD patients treated with bronchodilators only at recruitment. Methods COPD patients in stable condition treated with bronchodilators only underwent monitoring of lung function, blood and sputum eosinophils, exacerbations and comorbidities every 6 months for 2 years. ICS was added during follow-up when symptoms worsened. Results 63 COPD patients were enrolled: 53 were followed for 1 year, 41 for 2 years, 10 dropped-out. After 2 years, ICS was added in 12/41 patients (29%) without any statistically significant difference at time points considered. Blood and sputum eosinophils did not change during follow-up. Only FEV1/FVC at T0 was predictive of ICS addition during the 2 year-follow-up (OR:0.91; 95% CI: 0.83–0.99, p = 0.03). ICS addition did not impact on delta (T24-T0) FEV1, blood and sputum eosinophils and exacerbations. After 2 years, patients who received ICS had higher blood eosinophils than those in bronchodilator therapy (p = 0.042). Patients with history of ischemic heart disease increased blood eosinophils after 2 years [p = 0.03 for both percentage and counts]. Conclusions Blood and sputum eosinophils remained stable during the 2 year follow-up and were not associated with worsened symptoms or exacerbations. Almost 30% of mild/moderate COPD patients in bronchodilator therapy at enrollment, received ICS for worsened symptoms in a 2 year-follow-up and only FEV1/FVC at T0 seems to predict this addition. History of ischemic heart disease seems to be associated with a progressive increase of blood eosinophils.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) or ventilated hospital-acquired pneumonia (vHAP) in extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) carriers is challenging. BioFire® FilmArray® Pneumonia plus Panel (mPCR) can detect bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, including blaCTX-M, the most common ESBL-encoding gene. Methods: This monocentric, prospective study was conducted on a group of ESBL-E carriers from March 2020 to August 2022. The primary objective was to evaluate the concordance between the results of mPCR and conventional culture performed on respiratory samples of ESBL-E carriers to investigate suspected VAP/vHAP. The secondary objective was to appraise the impact of performing or not mPCR on initial antibiotic therapy adequacy in ESBL-E carriers with confirmed VAP/vHAP. Results: Over the study period, 294 patients with ESBL-E carriage were admitted to the ICU, of who 168 (57%) were mechanically ventilated. (i) Diagnostic performance of mPCR was evaluated in suspected 41 episodes of VAP/vHAP: blaCTX-M gene was detected in 15/41 (37%) episodes, where 9/15 (60%) were confirmed ESBL-E-induced pneumonia. The culture and blaCTX-M were concordant in 35/41 (85%) episodes, and in all episodes where blaCTX-M was negative (n = 26), the culture never detected ESBL-E. (ii) The impact of mPCR on initial antibiotic therapy adequacy was assessed in 95 episodes of confirmed VAP/vHAP (22 episodes were tested with mPCR and 73 without); 47 (49%) episodes were ESBL-E-induced, and 24 (25%) were carbapenem-resistant bacteria-induced. The use of mPCR was significantly associated with higher prescription of adequate empirical antibiotic therapy in the multivariable logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95% CI) of 7.5 (2.1–35.9), p = 0.004), propensity-weighting (aOR of 5.9 (1.6–22.1), p = 0.008), and matching-cohort models (aOR of 5.8 (1.5–22.1), p = 0.01). Conclusion: mPCR blaCTX-M showed an excellent diagnostic value to rule out the diagnosis of ESBL-E related pneumonia in ESBL-E carriers with suspected VAP/vHAP. In addition, in patients with confirmed VAP/vHAP, a mPCR-based antibiotic therapy was associated with an increased prescription of adequate empirical antibiotic therapy. Performing mPCR on respiratory samples seems to be a promising tool in ESBL-E carriers with suspected vHAP/VAP. However, if mPCR is used in very low pre-test clinical probability of pneumonia, due to the high sensitivity and the rate of overdiagnosed pneumonia, the risk of overconsumption of carbapenem may prevail. Further studies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antimicrobial resistance affects the treatment of several bacterial infections, including pneumonia. This subsequently increased the morbidity and mortality rates of patients with bacterial pneumonia, especially in resource-limited settings. In this study, we aimed to determine the patterns of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria isolated from the sputum samples of patients with bacterial pneumonia attending a tertiary hospital in Tanzania. Methodology: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted. It involved reviewing the laboratory sputum data in the laboratory information system at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania. The sputum samples were previously processed using standard methods (culture, Gram staining, and biochemical tests) to isolate and identify the bacteria. At the same time, antibiogram profiles were determined using antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Bacterial isolates that expressed MDR patterns were identified. Demographic information was collected from patients' medical records. We used the chi-square test to determine factors associated with MDR. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: We retrieved and analysed 169 laboratory records of patients with a provisional clinical diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia confirmed in the microbiology laboratory. Nearly 98% of the records were from adult patients. The patients' mean age was 48.3 years and 17.3 standard deviations. About 84% of the isolated bacteria were Gram-negative; the most predominant was Klebsiella pneumoniae (59/142; 41.5%). The predominant Gram-positive bacteria was Staphylococcus aureus (25/27; 92.6%). Furthermore, 80 out of 169 (47.3%) bacteria were MDR; Klebsiella pneumoniae (32.5%) was predominant. In addition, 50% of Staphylococcus aureus was methicillin resistance. MDR bacterial pneumonia was highly observed in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Although our study was limited by variations in the number of bacterial isolates subjected to the same antibiotic drugs and a lack of information on risk factors such as occupation, smoking history, and marital status, we observed that a high proportion of bacterial pneumonia is caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria in our local setting. These results inform the need to improve infection prevention control measures in hospitals to reduce the burden of MDR bacteria in our settings and other similar resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SARS-CoV-2, a severe respiratory disease primarily targeting the lungs, was the leading cause of death worldwide during the pandemic. Understanding the interplay between the oral microbiome and inflammatory cytokines during acute infection is crucial for elucidating host immune responses. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the oral microbiome and cytokines in COVID-19 patients, particularly those with and without sputum production. Saliva and blood samples from 50 COVID-19 patients were subjected to 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing for oral microbiome analysis, and 65 saliva and serum cytokines were assessed using Luminex multiplex analysis. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare cytokine levels between individuals with and without sputum production. Logistic regression machine learning models were employed to evaluate the predictive capability of oral microbiome, salivary, and blood biomarkers for sputum production. Significant differences were observed in the membership (Jaccard dissimilarity: p = 0.016) and abundance (PhILR dissimilarity: p = 0.048; metagenomeSeq) of salivary microbial communities between patients with and without sputum production. Seven bacterial genera, including Prevotella, Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Atopobium, Filifactor, Leptotrichia, and Selenomonas, were more prevalent in patients with sputum production (p<0.05, Fisher's exact test). Nine genera, including Prevotella, Megasphaera, Stomatobaculum, Selenomonas, Leptotrichia, Veillonella, Actinomyces, Atopobium, and Corynebacteria, were significantly more abundant in the sputum-producing group, while Lachnoanaerobaculum was more prevalent in the non-sputum-producing group (p<0.05, ANCOM-BC). Positive correlations were found between salivary IFN-gamma and Eotaxin2/CCL24 with sputum production, while negative correlations were noted with serum MCP3/CCL7, MIG/CXCL9, IL1 beta, and SCF (p<0.05, Mann-Whitney test). The machine learning model using only oral bacteria input outperformed the model that included all data: blood and saliva biomarkers, as well as clinical and demographic variables, in predicting sputum production in COVID-19 subjects. The performance metrics were as follows, comparing the model with only bacteria input versus the model with all input variables: precision (95% vs. 75%), recall (100% vs. 50%), F1-score (98% vs. 60%), and accuracy (82% vs. 66%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This meta-analysis examines the comparative diagnostic performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) on different respiratory tract samples, in both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and non-HIV populations. Methods A total of 55 articles met inclusion criteria, including 11 434 PCR assays on respiratory specimens from 7835 patients at risk of PCP. QUADAS-2 tool indicated low risk of bias across all studies. Using a bivariate and random-effects meta-regression analysis, the diagnostic performance of PCR against the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer–Mycoses Study Group definition of proven PCP was examined. Results Quantitative PCR (qPCR) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid provided the highest pooled sensitivity of 98.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 96.8%–99.5%), adequate specificity of 89.3% (95% CI, 84.4%–92.7%), negative likelihood ratio (LR−) of 0.014, and positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 9.19. qPCR on induced sputum provided similarly high sensitivity of 99.0% (95% CI, 94.4%–99.3%) but a reduced specificity of 81.5% (95% CI, 72.1%–88.3%), LR− of 0.024, and LR+ of 5.30. qPCR on upper respiratory tract samples provided lower sensitivity of 89.2% (95% CI, 71.0%–96.5%), high specificity of 90.5% (95% CI, 80.9%–95.5%), LR− of 0.120, and LR+ of 9.34. There was no significant difference in sensitivity and specificity of PCR according to HIV status of patients. Conclusions On deeper respiratory tract specimens, PCR negativity can be used to confidently exclude PCP, but PCR positivity will likely require clinical interpretation to distinguish between colonization and active infection, partially dependent on the strength of the PCR signal (indicative of fungal burden), the specimen type, and patient population tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: The airway microbiome has the potential to shape chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathogenesis, but its relationship to outcomes in milder disease is unestablished. Objectives: To identify sputum microbiome characteristics associated with markers of COPD in participants of the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures of COPD Study (SPIROMICS). Methods: Sputum DNA from 877 participants was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Relationships between baseline airway microbiota composition and clinical, radiographic, and mucoinflammatory markers, including longitudinal lung function trajectory, were examined. Measurements and Main Results: Participant data represented predominantly milder disease (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage 0–2 obstruction in 732 of 877 participants). Phylogenetic diversity (i.e., range of different species within a sample) correlated positively with baseline lung function, decreased with higher Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage, and correlated negatively with symptom burden, radiographic markers of airway disease, and total mucin concentrations (P < 0.001). In covariate-adjusted regression models, organisms robustly associated with better lung function included Alloprevotella, Oribacterium, and Veillonella species. Conversely, lower lung function, greater symptoms, and radiographic measures of small airway disease were associated with enrichment in members of Streptococcus, Actinobacillus, Actinomyces, and other genera. Baseline sputum microbiota features were also associated with lung function trajectory during SPIROMICS follow-up (stable/improved, decline, or rapid decline groups). The stable/improved group (slope of FEV1 regression ⩾66th percentile) had greater bacterial diversity at baseline associated with enrichment in Prevotella, Leptotrichia, and Neisseria species. In contrast, the rapid decline group (FEV1 slope ⩽33rd percentile) had significantly lower baseline diversity associated with enrichment in Streptococcus species. Conclusions: In SPIROMICS, baseline airway microbiota features demonstrate divergent associations with better or worse COPD-related outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The performance of the new Respiratory Pathogen panel (fluorescent probe melting curve, FPMC) for the qualitative detection of 12 organisms (chlamydia pneumoniae, mycoplasma pneumoniae, adenovirus, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, etc.) was assessed. Methods: Prospectively collected nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and sputum specimens (n = 635) were detected by using the FPMC panel, with the Sanger sequencing method as the comparative method. Results: The overall percent concordance between the FPMC analysis method and the Sanger sequencing method was 100% and 99.66% for NPS and sputum specimens, respectively. The FPMC testified an overall positive percent concordance of 100% for both NPS and sputum specimens. The FPMC analysis method also testified an overall negative percent concordance of 100% and 99.38% for NPS and sputum specimens, respectively. Conclusions: The FPMC analysis method is a stable and accurate assay for rapid, comprehensive detecting for respiratory pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tailoring asthma interventions based on biomarkers could substantially impact the high cost associated with asthma morbidity. For policymakers, the main concern is the economic impact of adopting this technology, especially in developing countries. This study evaluates the budget impact of asthma management using sputum eosinophil counts in Colombia patients between 4 and 18 years of age. A budget impact analysis was performed to evaluate the potential financial impact of sputum eosinophil counts (EO). The study considered a 5-year time horizon and the Colombian National Health System perspective. The incremental budget impact was calculated by subtracting the cost of the new treatment, in which EO is reimbursed, from the cost of the conventional therapy without EO (management based on clinical symptoms (with or without spirometry/peak flow) or asthma guidelines (or both), for asthma-related). Univariate one-way sensitivity analyses were performed. In the base-case analysis, the 5-year costs associated with EO and no-EO were estimated to be US$ 532.865.915 and US$ 540.765.560, respectively, indicating savings for Colombian National Health equal to US$ 7.899.645, if EO is adopted for the routine management of patients with persistent asthma. This result was robust in univariate sensitivity one-way analysis. EO was cost-saving in guiding the treatment of patients between 4 and 18 years of age with persistent asthma. Decision-makers in our country can use this evidence to improve clinical practice guidelines, and it should be replicated to validate their results in other middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of morbimortality in sickle cell disease (SCD). In this prospective observational study, we investigated sputum interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) level as an ACS severity marker during 30 ACS episodes in 26 SCD children. Sputum IL‐6 levels measured within the first 72 h of hospitalisation for ACS were significantly higher in patients with oxygen requirement ≥2 L/min, ventilation (invasive and/or non‐invasive) length ≥5 days, bilateral and/or extensive opacities on chest X‐ray or erythrocytapheresis requirement. Sputum IL‐6 could serve as an ACS severity marker to help identify patients requiring targeted anti‐inflammatory treatments such as tocilizumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an infectious agent of great importance for animals and humans. It causes serious infections that show high resistance to antibiotics. This study investigated the molecular detection of blaOXA-23 gene in antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa strains isolated from cows and humans. Materials and Methods: In total, 120 samples, comprised 60 from cows (30 milk and 30 nasal discharge) and 60 from their owners (30 urine and 30 sputum), were individually collected, cultured, and tested for P. aeruginosa through molecular analysis targeting the blaOXA-23 gene. P. aeruginosa antibiotic-resistant isolates were identified by performing antibiotic susceptibility testing and detecting biofilm formation. Results: In total, 74.17% positive P. aeruginosa isolates, including 66.67% and 81.67% for cows and humans, respectively. Subsequently, positive cow isolates were detected in 60% of milk samples and 73.33% of nasal discharge samples; while positive human isolates were detected in 76.67% of urine samples and 86.66% of sputum samples. Targeting blaOXA-23 gene, 58.43% of cultured isolates were positive for P. aeruginosa by polymerase chain reaction. Respectively, positive isolates were detected in 66.67% and 45.46% of cow milk and nasal discharges as well as in 60.87% and 61.54% of human urine and sputum. The antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all isolates were resistant to all applied antibiotics, particularly imipenem. Results of biofilm formation revealed 67.31% total positives, including 51.43% strong, 34.285% moderate, and 14.285% weak reactions. In addition, although values of the total positive cows and humans differed insignificantly, total positives showed insignificant variation between values of milk and nasal discharges of cows as well as between urine and sputum of humans; however, significant differences were identified in the distribution of strong, moderate, and weak positivity of these samples. Conclusion: Antibiotic overuse contributes extensively to increasing the prevalence of resistant P. aeruginosa isolates carrying the blaOXA-23 gene in both cows and humans. Furthermore, studies in other Iraqi areas are necessary to support our findings. The main limitations include that the number of tested samples is relatively low, and there is a need to use a large number of samples from different sources. Also, the current methods for detection of resistant isolates are still culture-based approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) are non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria that can chronically colonize the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), causing a severe and progressive respiratory failure, post-transplant complications and epidemic outbreaks. Therefore, rapid and accurate identification of these bacteria is relevant for pwCF, in order to facilitate early eradication and prevent chronic colonization. However, BCCs are often quite difficult to detect on culture media as they have a slow growth rate and can be hidden by other fast-growing microorganisms, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and filamentous fungi. Material and methods: We evaluated the sensitivity of CHROMagar™ B. cepacia agar using 11 isolates from a well-characterized BCC collection, using BCA agar (Oxoid, UK) as a gold standard. We also studied 180 clinical sputum samples to calculate positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values. Furthermore, we used three of the well-characterized BCC isolates to determine the limit of detection (LOD). Results: Eleven isolates grew on CHROMagar™ B. cepacia at 37ºC after 48 h. The NPV and PPV of CHROMagar™ B. cepacia were 100% and 87.5%, respectively. The LOD of CHROMagar™ B. cepacia was around 1 × 103 CFU/ml, requiring a ten-fold dilution lower bacterial load than BCA for BCC detection. Conclusion: CHROMagar™ B. cepacia agar proved to have a very good sensitivity and specificity for the detection of clinical BCCs. Moreover, the chromogenic nature of the medium allowed us to clearly differentiate BCC from other Gram-negative species, filamentous fungi and yeasts, thereby facilitating the identification of contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the potential application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification technology (LAMP) in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: The clinical data of 305 patients with suspected tuberculosis admitted to Baoding Second Central Hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the pathological results, the non-tuberculosis group (123 cases) and tuberculosis group (182 cases) were included. The sputum samples with different traits, using modified Roche culture method, smear acid stain method and LAMP detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Results: Compared with the smear acid-fast staining method and the improved Roche culture method, the positive rate of LAMP samples was relatively high, and the positive rate of LAMP samples with cheese sputum was relatively high compared with other samples. The results of acid-fast staining showed that 80 cases were positive, 119 cases were negative, 4 cases were misdiagnosed and 102 cases were missed. The results of modified Roche culture showed that 104 cases were positive, 120 cases were negative, 3 cases were misdiagnosed and 78 cases were missed. LAMP results showed that 135 cases were positive, 121 cases were negative, 2 cases were misdiagnosed and 47 cases were missed. Compared with smear acid staining method and modified Roche culture method, the sensitivity, negative predictive value, accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) value of LAMP examination were relatively high, in which the sensitivity, accuracy and AUC value of smear acid staining method were lower than those of modified Roche culture method (P<0.05). Conclusion: LAMP technique was beneficial to the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in various trait samples, and had high diagnostic sensitivity, negative predictive value and accuracy for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples, which had higher diagnostic value for pulmonary tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of Bufei Jiedu (BFJD) ranules as adjuvant therapy for patients with multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-PTB). Methods: A large-scale, multi-center, double-blinded, and randomized controlled trial was conducted in 18 sentinel hospitals in China from December 2012 to December 2016. A total of 312 MDR-PTB patients were randomly assigned to BFJD Granules or placebo groups (1:1) using a stratified randomization method, which both received the long-course chemotherapy regimen for 18 months (6 Am-Lfx-P-Z-Pto, 12 Lfx-P-Z-Pto). Meanwhile, patients in both groups also received BFJD Granules or placebo twice a day for a total of 18 months, respectively. The primary outcome was cure rate. The secondary outcomes included time to sputum-culture conversion, changes in lung cavities and quality of life (QoL) of patients. Adverse reactions were monitored during and after the trial. Results: A total of 216 cases completed the trial, 111 in the BFJD Granules group and 105 in the placebo group. BFJD Granules, as an adjuvant treatment, increased the cure rate by 13.6% at the end of treatment, compared with the placebo (58.4% vs. 44.8%, P=0.02), and accelerated the median time to sputum-culture conversion (5 months vs. 11 months). The cavity closure rate of the BFJD Granules group (50.6%, 43/85) was higher than that of the placebo group (32.1%, 26/81; P=0.02) in patients who completed the treatment. At the end of the intensive treatment, according to the 36-item Short Form, the BFJD Granules significantly improved physical functioning, general health, and vitality of patients relative to the placebo group (all P<0.01). Overall, the death rates in the two groups were not significantly different; 5.1% (8/156) in the BFJD Granules group and 2.6% (4/156) in the placebo group. Conclusions: Supplementing BFJD Granules with the long-course chemotherapy regimen significantly increased the cure rate and cavity closure rates, and rapidly improved QoL of patients with MDR-PTB (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-12002850) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Neutrophils play a complex and important role in the immunopathology of TB. Data suggest they are protective during early infection but become a main driver of immunopathology if infection progresses to active disease. Neutrophils are now recognized to exist in functionally diverse states, but little work has been done on how neutrophil states or subsets are skewed in TB disease. Methods: To address this, we carried out comprehensive phenotyping by flow cytometry of neutrophils in the blood and airways of individuals with active pulmonary TB with and without HIV co-infection recruited in Durban, South Africa. Results: Active TB was associated with a profound skewing of neutrophils in the blood toward phenotypes associated with activation and apoptosis, reduced phagocytosis, reverse transmigration, and immune regulation. This skewing was also apparently in airway neutrophils, particularly the regulatory subsets expressing PDL-1 and LOX-1. HIV co-infection did not impact neutrophil subsets in the blood but was associated with a phenotypic change in the airways and a reduction in key neutrophil functional proteins cathelicidin and arginase 1. Discussion: Active TB is associated with profound skewing of blood and airway neutrophils and suggests multiple mechanisms by which neutrophils may exacerbate the immunopathology of TB. These data indicate potential avenues for reducing neutrophil-mediated lung pathology at the point of diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are widely used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients as a treatment option. However, ICS may also increase the risk of pneumonia and alter the composition of airway microbiota. In clinical application, the overuse of ICS exists pervasively and may potentially lead to adverse effects. Whether the long-term use of ICS confers enough benefit to COPD patients to justify its use so far remains unknown. Therefore, this study employed a single-center retrospective cohort study to compare alterations in airway function and the sputum microbial community structure between COPD patients who had undergone either long-term or short-term treatment with ICS. Methods: Sixty stable COPD patients who had used ICS were recruited and classified into the long-term use group (more than 3 months) and short-term use group (less than 3 months). The demographic features and clinical information of the subjects were investigated and their sputum samples were collected and subjected to metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Results: The study found that compared with short-term ICS use, long-term ICS use did not further improve the clinical airway function, decrease the number of acute exacerbations, or decrease hospital readmission. In terms of sputum microbiota, the long-term use of ICS significantly altered the beta diversity of the microbial community structure (p < 0.05) and the top three phyla differed between the two groups. At the genus level, long-term ICS induced higher relative abundances of Abiotrophia, Schaalia, Granulicatella, Mogibacterium, Sphingobium, and Paraeggerthella compared to short-term ICS use. Additionally, alpha diversity was positively associated with clinical airway indicators (pre-bronchodilatory FEV1 and pre-bronchodilatory FVC) in the long-term ICS group. The relative abundances of Rothia, Granulicatella, Schaalia, and Mogibacterium genera had positive correlations with the eosinophil % (of all white blood cells). Conclusion: This study reveals the effect of long-term and short-term ICS use on sputum microbiota among COPD patients and provides a reference for the appropriate application of clinical ICS treatment in COPD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the association between meteorological data three days before admission and the status of sputum pathogens culture in hospitalized patients with Acute exacerbation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and respiratory infections. Methods: Data from 1,370 AECOPD patients (80.66% males, approximately 80% age > 70) with respiratory infections hospitalized in Fujian Provincial Hospital between December 2013 and December 2019 were collected. This cohort comprised, along with concurrent meteorological data from Fuzhou. Group differences were analyzed to compare the meteorological data three days prior to admission between patients with positive sputum pathogen cultures and those without. Logistic regression models were employed to investigate the association between meteorological parameters and the status of sputum pathogen cultures in patients with AECOPD and respiratory infections. Sensitivity analyses was conducted among the hospitalized patients from 2013 to 2016 and 2017–2019. Stratified analysis was performed to explore the factors affecting the effect of temperature differences and their interactions. Results: 578(42.19%) cases had a positive sputum culture report indicating pathogen growth. 323 cases were found with Gram-negative bacteria, 160 with Gram-positive bacteria, and 114 with fungi. Uni-variate analysis revealed statistical differences in DTD three days prior to admission (DTD-3d) between the positive and negative sputum culture groups (p = 0.019). Multivariate analysis indicated that an increase in the risk of positive sputum pathogen cultures was associated with greater DTD three days before admission (DTD-3d), with OR1.657 (95%CI [ 1.328–1.981]). The risk of positive sputum pathogen cultures was higher in groups with greater DTD-3d. The findings were consistent across different admission periods. Stratified analysis showed that patients without respiratory failure were more affected by DTD-3d, and an interaction effect was observed (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In coastal areas, the diurnal temperature difference three days prior to admission affects the sputum pathogen status in AECOPD patients with respiratory infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study examined the time to sputum smear and culture conversion and determinants of conversion, as well as variables associated with treatment outcomes among drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (DR-PTB) cases. Methods: The electronic database and written medical records of patients were utilized to assess the sociodemographic, clinical, microbiological, and treatment characteristics and outcomes of study participants. Results: Among 736 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), the mean age was 36.5 ± 16.5 years, with males comprising 53.4% and a mean weight of 47.76 ± 11.97 kg. The median time period for sputum smear conversion and sputum culture conversion was a month. The first-month culture conversion (p < 0.001, aOR = 5.817, and 95% CI = 3.703-9.138) was the determinant of sputum smear conversion and receiver operating curve analysis with AUC = 0.881, 95% CI = 0.855-0.907, and p < 0.001, which showed a high level of predictive ability for the regression model for the initial sputum smear conversion. However, the firstmonth sputum conversion (p < 0.001, aOR = 7.446, and 95% CI = 4.869-11.388) was attributed to sputum culture conversion, and the model has shown excellent predictive ability for regression with ROC curve analysis demonstrating AUC = 0.862, 95% CI = 0.835-0.889, and p < 0.001. A total of 63.2% of patients showed favorable treatment outcomes, with 63.1% of cases achieving treatment-cured status. The previous use of SLD, history of smoking, duration of illness = 1 year. Conclusions: Within 2months of treatment, most patients had converted their sputum cultures and sputum smears. The determinants of early sputum smear and sputum culture conversion, as well as favorable treatment outcomes, were identified. These factors should be considered during the design and implementation of effective strategies for drug-resistant tuberculosis control programs. extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, and first-month sputum conversion were the variables attributed to favorable treatment outcomes observed in drugresistant pulmonary tuberculosis cases. ROC curve analysis with AUC = 0.902, 95% CI = 0.877-0.927, and p < 0.001) has shown outstanding ability for regression model prediction for the variables influencing treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early detection and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) are of great importance to stop its spread. However, optimising the active case findingstrategy is critical to improving its feasibility in regions where TB is epidemic. Method: The different pooled ratios between TB-positive and TB-negative sputum specimens were evaluated and a pooling ratio of 5:1 was used for the active case finding screening by Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra among high-risk groups in Beijing. Results: The sensitivity of pooling ratio at 5:1 was 97.5% (39/40). Between October 2022 and March 2023, among 17,681 participants, 1729 metthe active case finding criteria and were screened by 350 5:1 sputum pools by Xpert MTB/ RIF Ultra. Four pools (1.1%) tested positive and were further confirmed as definite active TB cases. In our study population with high TB incidence (231/100,000), the cost for detection of individual patients was reduced by 77.4% at a 5:1 pooling ratio. Conclusions: pooled sputum testing at a suitable ratio using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra provides a rapid, efficient, and cost-effective method for active TB case finding among high-risk groups in a low-incidence area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ailments can be diagnosed while they are asymptomatic, meaning that the patient has no signs or symptoms of a progressing disease. If caught in their initial stage of formation, these disorders can be effectively treated, leading to successful outcomes; curative therapies can halt illnesses from advancing, thus improving the quality of life and long-term survival of the patient. Still, cutting-edge upgrades in precision technologies are necessary for early, reliable, affordable, and rapid disease detection, but also vital for the well-being of people and the future of global public health. The emerging role and utility of non-invasive and repeatable diagnostic test approaches for the detection of health conditions have been exemplified by liquid biopsies based on genomic biomarkers. As such, biological fluids permit any measurable molecular indicator or signature (e.g., proteins) to provide valuable information on an individual's wellness and/or disease. Among the bodily secretions used for non-invasive diagnostics is sputum, a complex viscous gel-like biopolymeric network that has gained growing recognition as a rich source of biomarkers of airway infections and pulmonary diseases, and serves as a determinant to reveal other illnesses. As per the World Health Organization, the burden of respiratory conditions is exacerbated by factors ranging from considerable subjection to air pollution and occupational contaminants to tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke, in addition to poor socio-economic status. Due to the likely increase in these determinants, respiratory tract ailments are on the rise, affecting the health of many individuals, in addition to putting stress on healthcare facilities and services worldwide. The aim of this study was to perform a narrative review of sputum constituents with an emphasis on proteins and glycoproteins assessed as possible biomarkers of lung and other organ diseases. A search was conducted using mucus, sputum proteomics, sputum biomarkers, and point-of-care testing as keywords employing Google, PubMed (MEDLINE), and Web of Science, selecting the most referenced and related papers of the last decade. We, therefore, highlight the need to use expectorated or induced sputum specimens as a routine sample source for testing valuable protein biomarkers to diagnose these chronic disorders, predict inflammation and disease progression, as well as monitor the effectiveness of treatments. Further, we discuss the urgent need for fast and reliable point-of-care methods to detect and quantify crucial protein biomarkers in sputum specimens, and the limitations faced when dealing with their complex matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: TB infection is one of the most challengeable epidemiological issues. Complex interactions between microbiota and TB infection have been demonstrated. Alteration in microbial population during TB infection may act as a useful biomarker. The present study examined the microbiota patterns of blood and sputum samples collected from Afghan immigrants and Iranian patients with active TB. Materials and Methods: Sixty active pulmonary TB patients were enrolled in the study. Blood and sputum samples were collected. To detect phylum bacterial composition in the blood and sputum samples, bacterial 16S rRNA quantification by Real-Time qPCR was performed. Results: A significant decrease in Bacteroidetes in Iranian sputum and blood samples of Afghan immigrants and Iranian TB active subjects were seen. While, sputum samples of Afghan immigrants showed no significant differences in Bacteroidetes abundance among TB active and control. Firmicutes were also presented no significant difference between sputum samples of the two races. Actinobacteria showed a significant increase in Iranian and Afghan sputum samples while this phylum showed no significant abundance in Iranian and Afghan TB positive blood samples. Proteobacteria also showed an increase in sputum and blood samples of the two races. Conclusion: An imbalance in Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes abundance may cause an alteration in the microbiota composition, resulting in dysregulated immune responses and resulting in the augmentation of opportunistic pathogens during TB infection, notably Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Evaluation of human microbiota under different conditions of TB infection can be critical to a deeper understanding of the disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Lophomoniasis is a relatively common emerging parasitic disease caused by a pathogenic protozoan called Lophomonas, which mostly affects the lower respiratory tract (lungs and bronchi) of humans. The parasite lives symbiotically in the digestive system of insects such as cockroaches and mites. Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that has two forms of trophozoite and cyst in its life cycle. The respiratory system and airways serve as passage and deployment sites for a wide range of non-pathogenic and pathogenic microorganisms, making it a suitable place for the entry and spread of different species of Acanthamoeba amoeba and the Lophomonas pathogen in the respiratory system, which can cause clinical manifestations similar to tuberculosis. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the frequency of these two parasites in sputum clinical samples from suspected tuberculosis patients referred to the tuberculosis laboratory in Babolsar City to rule out the two mentioned infections. Materials and methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 201 sputum samples of people suspected of tuberculosis who were referred to the tuberculosis laboratory of Babolsar Health Center in Mazandaran province in 202-2023, and all the demographic and epidemiological information of the patients was recorded. In the morphological method, Giemsa staining was used for Lophomonas and Ziehl-Neelsen staining for Acanthamoeba. To identify the presence of Acanthamoeba, sputum samples were cultured in a 1.5% non-nutrient agar culture medium for 72 to 96 hours. Approximately 50 microliters of patients' sputum were added to the NNA medium, along with 20 microliters of trypticase-yeast extract and maltose (TYM) culture medium, and 20 microliters of an autoclaved Escherichia coli bacteria mixture to enrich the culture medium. The cultured plates were then placed in an incubator at 26ºC and checked daily under a light microscope for trophozoite growth. To accurately confirm the presence of parasites, DNA extraction was performed on the patient's sputum samples using the phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method. Subsequently, conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted using specific primers on the extracted DNA samples. Results: In the study of 201 people suspected of tuberculosis, it was found that 80 individuals (39.8%) lived in urban areas and 121 individuals (60.2%) lived in rural areas. The age range of participants varied from 7 to 88 years old. There were 113 females (56.2%) and 88 males (43.8%) in the study, with 12 individuals from Afghanistan living in urban areas. Out of the 201 sputum samples examined, a total of 23 samples (11.4%) tested positive for the Lophomonas parasite using the PCR method. Among these positive cases, 7 individuals (30.4%) resided in urban areas (Babolsar), while 16 individuals (69.5%) lived in rural areas. However, none of the samples tested positive for Acanthamoeba in this study using staining and PCR methods. Conclusion: The present study showed that due to the similarity of the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis and lophomoniasis, there is a possibility of mistaking these two diseases clinically. Therefore, it is recommended to check fresh sputum samples of people suspected of tuberculosis, especially in endemic areas, in terms of pulmonary lophomoniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]