Correlating Reiff scores with clinical, functional, and prognostic factors: characterizing noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis severity: validation from a nationwide multicenter study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to confirm a simplified radiological scoring system, derived from a modified Reiff score, to evaluate its relationship with clinical symptoms and predictive outcomes in Taiwanese patients with noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB). METHODS: This extensive multicenter retrospective study, performed in Taiwan, concentrated on patients diagnosed with NCFB verified through high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. We not only compared the clinical features of various types of bronchiectasis (cylindrical, varicose, and cystic). Furthermore, we established relationships between the severity of clinical factors, including symptom scores, pulmonary function, pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, exacerbation and admission rates, and HRCT parameters using modified Reiff scores. RESULTS: Data from 2,753 patients were classified based on HRCT patterns (cylindrical, varicose, and cystic) and severity, assessed by modified Reiff scores (mild, moderate, and severe). With increasing HRCT severity, a significant correlation was found with decreased forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (p < 0.001), heightened clinical symptoms (p < 0.001), elevated pathogen colonization (pseudomonas aeruginosa) (p < 0.001), and an increased annual hospitalization rate (p < 0.001). In the following multivariate analysis, elderly age, pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia, and hospitalizations per year emerged as the only independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSION: Based on our large cohort study, the simplified CT scoring system (Reiff score) can serve as a useful adjunct to clinical factors in predicting disease severity and prognosis among Taiwanese patients with NCFB.

High-intensity aerobic exercise training improves exercise capacity, dyspnea, and fatigue in patients with severe asthma using triple inhaler.

Objectives: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects millions of people worldwide and causes severe symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, and breathing difficulty. Despite modern treatments, 3%-10% of patients develop severe asthma, which requires high-dose medications, and they may still experience frequent and severe symptoms, exacerbations, and psychological impacts. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-intensity aerobic exercise training (HIAET) in patients with severe asthma. Materials and Methods: Patients with severe asthma were recruited, and cardiopulmonary exercise tests, dyspnea, and leg fatigue scores were performed before HIAET. Participants underwent a 12-week hospital-based HIAET, which involved exercising twice weekly to reach 80% of their peak oxygen uptake (VO2). Results: Eighteen patients with severe asthma underwent HIAET, which resulted in significant improvement in peak VO2 (1214.0 ± 297.9-1349.4 ± 311.2 mL/min, P = 0.004) and work rate (80.6 ± 21.2-96.2 ± 24.8 watt, P < 0.001) and decrease in dyspnea (5.1 ± 1.8-4.1 ± 1.2, P = 0.017) and fatigue scores (5.2 ± 2.3-4.0 ± 1.2, P = 0.020) at peak exercise. No significant changes were observed in spirometry results, respiratory muscle strength, or circulatory parameters. Conclusion: HIAET can lead to improved exercise capacity and reduced dyspnea and fatigue scores at peak exercise without changes in spirometry, respiratory muscle strength, and circulatory parameters.

Clinical progression of asynchronous cutaneous lesions in a patient with locally acquired mpox infection.

We present one of the earliest domestic mpox cases in Taiwan, highlighting the asynchronous and atypical progression of cutaneous lesions which could pose significant diagnostic challenges for clinicians.

Different Responses to Pulmonary Rehabilitation in COPD Patients with Different Work Efficiencies.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often involves the cardiopulmonary dysfunction that deteriorates health-related quality of life (HRQL) and exercise capacity. Work efficiency (WE) indicates the efficiency of overall oxygen consumption (VO2) during exercise. This study investigated whether different WEs have different effects on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Methods: Forty-five patients with stable COPD were scheduled for PR. The PR programs consisted of twice-weekly sessions for three months. These patients were comprehensively evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing and COPD assessment test (CAT) before and after PR. We compared these parameters between patients with a normal versus poor WE. Results: Twenty-one patients had a normal WE and twenty-four patients had a poor WE (<8.6 mL/min/watt). Patients with a poor WE had earlier anaerobic metabolism, a poorer oxygen pulse, lower exercise capacity, more exertional dyspnea, and a poorer HRQL than those with a normal WE. PR improved exercise capacity, HRQL, anaerobic threshold, exertional dyspnea and leg fatigue in patients with either normal or poor WE. However, significant improvement of WE, oxygen pulse, respiratory frequency (Rf) during exercise, chest tightness, activity and sleepiness by CAT were noted only in patients with a poor WE. Among the patients with a poor WE, 29% patients had WE returned to normal after PR. Conclusion: Patients with different WE had different responses to PR. PR improved exercise capacity and HRQL regardless of a normal or poor WE. However, WE, oxygen pulse, Rf during exercise, chest tightness, activity and sleepiness were only improved in patients with a poor WE.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia presenting as a solitary pulmonary granuloma due to unclean continuous positive airway pressure equipment: a case report.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy can spread infections if the equipment is not cleaned properly. We report a case of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia likely spread by unclean CPAP equipment and accessories. A 48-year-old man with severe obstructive sleep apnea was using CPAP equipment that had never been cleaned for 5 years. He experienced intermittent mild fever for 6 weeks. His chest images showed a solitary pulmonary granuloma. Pneumocystis jirovecii was identified from the bronchoalveolar fluid, the CPAP mask, and the air tubing. The fever subsided immediately after changing to a clean CPAP device. We prescribed sulfamethoxazole 400 mg and trimethoprim 80 mg twice daily for 1 month. Three months later, the pulmonary granuloma disappeared, and P. jirovecii was absent in the bronchoalveolar fluid. Poorly cleaned CPAP devices could harbor P. jirovecii and spread pulmonary infection in immunocompetent persons. Appropriate cleaning of CPAP equipment is essential to minimize infection risk. CITATION: Jao L-Y, Su W-L, Chang H-C, Lan C-C, Wu Y-K, Yang M-C. Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia presenting as a solitary pulmonary granuloma due to unclean continuous positive airway pressure equipment: a case report. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(6):1717-1721.