Virginia A. Schad, PharmD, RPh

Is there an association between COPD and functional gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD, irritable bowel syndrome, and functional dyspepsia?

Researchers examined BLOCK COPD trial data to explore whether COPD exacerbation risk was associated with baseline bronchodilator response or early reduction in FEV1/FVC.

Can long-COVID lung diseases be better understood and classified via analysis of abnormalities seen on transbronchial lung cryobiopsies?

Researchers examined the clinical, histological, and molecular features of patients with never-decompensated alcohol-related liver disease vs alcohol-related hepatitis.

Researchers sought to identify the clinical factors of inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease that are associated with receiving a positive stool GIPCR test.

Researchers in South Korea found poverty and pre-existing respiratory conditions were among the diverse risk factors for hospital-acquired pneumonia.

A Scottish study examined the need for psychosocial support post ICU discharge among patients who have recovered from severe COVID-19.

In patients with COVID-19, visual assessment of computed tomography images may be useful in predicting the severity of illness.

RECOVERY, a large, randomized clinical trial, assessed the efficacy of colchicine, a proposed treatment for inflammation associated with COVID-19.

A meta-trial of 6 clinical trials evaluated the efficacy of awake prone positioning in preventing intubation and death in patients with severe COVID-19.

Does use of CPAP or high-flow nasal oxygen by inpatients with COVID-19 expose nearby healthcare workers to a greater risk of viral contamination?

Clinical trial results indicate that ciclesonide inhalation may be an effective early antiviral therapy for mild to moderate COVID-19.

Can peripheral oxygen saturation levels be used instead of arterial blood gas analysis to calculate SOFA scores in patients with suspected sepsis?

Researchers examining COVID-19 data from a 13-month period found variations in US usage of dexamethasone, remdesivir, and hydroxychloroquine.

An NIH review explored whether Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors decreased oxygen requirements and hospitalizations for patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Further metabolite-based analysis may help identify the mechanisms underlying pulmonary dysfunction in COVID-19 survivors and provide potential therapeutic targets in the future.

In patients requiring mechanical ventilation for ARDS related to COVID-19, combining the lung ultrasound aeration score and the recruitment-to-inflation ratio can provide additional information on lung recruitment.

Light sedation with dexmedetomidine does not lead to more days alive without acute brain dysfunction compared with propofol in mechanically ventilated adults with sepsis.

There appears to be a low risk of invasive fungal secondary infection, especially aspergillosis, in patients with SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia and no underlying immunosuppression.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a higher risk of incident nontuberculous mycobacteria respiratory isolation in adults with cystic fibrosis.

The effects of positive end expiratory pressure in COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are similar to those reported in classical ARDS.

Pneumomediastinum, although a rare phenomenon, is more prevalent in patients with COVID-19 compared with historical patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.

In settings where acid-fast bacilli pulmonary diseases are suspected, gastric aspirate culture may be helpful for diagnosing Mycobacterium avium complex and M kansasii pulmonary disease.

In patients hospitalized with COVID-19, thrombi in segmental pulmonary arteries are common and are located in opacitated lung segments, which may suggest local clot formation.

High flow nasal cannula oxygen significantly reduced intubation and subsequent invasive mechanical ventilation, but did not affect case fatality in patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU for acute respiratory failure.

Preliminary evidence suggests that the CFHealthHub criteria are valid and useful in diagnosing chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Treatment with mavrilimumab is associated with improved clinical outcomes compared with standard care in non-mechanically ventilated patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and systemic hyperinflammation.

Lifting “lockdown” restrictions imposed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 would most likely result in a resurgence of infections.

An international team of investigators assessed the effect of quantity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen and length of exposure on lymphocytes and HBV-specific T cells.

A team of investigators from China assessed the impact of cesarean section delivery and avoidance of breastfeeding on mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus infection.