-
The Science of the Total Environment Jan 2024We report the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seawater and air, and the air-sea dynamics through diffusive exchange...
We report the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seawater and air, and the air-sea dynamics through diffusive exchange analysis in Fildes Bay, King George Island, Antarctica, between November 2019 and January 30, 2020. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was the most abundant compound in both air and seawater with concentrations around 39 ± 2.1 pg m and 3.2 ± 2.4 pg L respectively. The most abundant PCB congener was PCB 11, with a mean of 3.16 ± 3.7 pg m in air and 2.0 ± 1.1 pg L in seawater. The fugacity gradient estimated for the OCP compounds indicate a predominance of net atmospheric deposition for HCB, α-HCH, γ-HCH, 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDE and close to equilibrium for the PeCB compound. The observed deposition of some OCs may be driven by high biodegradation rates and/or settling fluxes decreasing the concentration of these compounds in surface waters, which is supported by the capacity of microbial consortium to degrade some of these compounds. The estimated fugacity gradients for PCBs showed differences between congeners, with net volatilization predominating for PCB-9, a trend close to equilibrium for PCB congeners 11, 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, and 153, and deposition for PCB 180. Snow amplification may play an important role for less hydrophobic PCBs, with volatilization predominating after snow/glacier melting. As hydrophobicity increases, the biological pump decreases the concentration of PCBs in seawater, reversing the fugacity gradient to atmospheric deposition. This study highlights the potential impacts of climate change, through glacier retreat, on the biogeochemistry of POPs, remobilizing those compounds previously trapped within the cryosphere which in turn will transform the Antarctic cryosphere into a secondary source of the more volatile POPs in coastal areas, influenced by snow and ice melting.
Topics: Polychlorinated Biphenyls; Antarctic Regions; Hexachlorobenzene; Bays; Air Pollutants; Environmental Monitoring; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Pesticides; Seawater
PubMed: 37949125
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168323 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Mar 2024In order to clarify the characteristics of microplastics in the atmosphere of Anyang city, TSP, PM, and PM samples are collected when the ambient air quality is good,...
In order to clarify the characteristics of microplastics in the atmosphere of Anyang city, TSP, PM, and PM samples are collected when the ambient air quality is good, slightly polluted, and severely polluted. After pretreatment, the physical and chemical characteristics are observed and identified by using stereomicroscope and micro-infrared spectrometer. The results show that the average abundance of microplastics is 0.19 items/m, 0.26 items/m, and 0.42 items/m, respectively, when the ambient air quality is good, light pollution, and heavy pollution in Anyang City. It can be seen that with the decline of ambient air quality, the average abundance of microplastics in TSP, PM, and PM gradually increases. The black fiber strip microplastics account for about 80% of the total TSP, PM, and PM in the ambient air of Anyang City, followed by yellow flake and black granular microplastics and a small amount of green, red, and blue fiber strip microplastics. AQI has a good correlation with the abundance of microplastics in TSP, PM, and PM, and the maximum microplastic trapping effect could be obtained according to the sampling method of PM in the ambient air. The main components of microplastics are cellophane, followed by PET and EVA. The explorations of human respiratory exposure risk assessment show that with the increase of AQI, the daily intake of microplastics in adults also increased. At high levels of pollution, the human body breathes an average of 222 ± 5 microplastics per day.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Air Pollutants; Microplastics; Plastics; Environmental Monitoring; Air Pollution; Atmosphere; Particulate Matter
PubMed: 38460005
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12493-6 -
Radiology Jan 2024With the COVID-19 pandemic having lasted more than 3 years, concerns are growing about prolonged symptoms and respiratory complications in COVID-19 survivors,... (Review)
Review
With the COVID-19 pandemic having lasted more than 3 years, concerns are growing about prolonged symptoms and respiratory complications in COVID-19 survivors, collectively termed post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). Up to 50% of patients have residual symptoms and physiologic impairment, particularly dyspnea and reduced diffusion capacity. Studies have also shown that 24%-54% of patients hospitalized during the 1st year of the pandemic exhibit radiologic abnormalities, such as ground-glass opacity, reticular opacity, bronchial dilatation, and air trapping, when imaged more than 1 year after infection. In patients with persistent respiratory symptoms but normal results at chest CT, dual-energy contrast-enhanced CT, xenon 129 MRI, and low-field-strength MRI were reported to show abnormal ventilation and/or perfusion, suggesting that some lung injury may not be detectable with standard CT. Histologic patterns in post-COVID-19 lung disease include fibrosis, organizing pneumonia, and vascular abnormality, indicating that different pathologic mechanisms may contribute to PCC. Therefore, a comprehensive imaging approach is necessary to evaluate and diagnose patients with persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms. This review will focus on the long-term findings of clinical and radiologic abnormalities and describe histopathologic perspectives. It also addresses advanced imaging techniques and deep learning approaches that can be applied to COVID-19 survivors. This field remains an active area of research, and further follow-up studies are warranted for a better understanding of the chronic stage of the disease and developing a multidisciplinary approach for patient management.
Topics: Humans; Lung Injury; COVID-19; Pandemics; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Bronchi
PubMed: 38193836
DOI: 10.1148/radiol.231643 -
American Journal of Respiratory and... Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Body Mass Index; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Aged
PubMed: 38574369
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202402-0353LE -
Archivos de Bronconeumologia Apr 2024Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) frequently coexist, increasing the prevalence of both entities and impacting on symptoms...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) frequently coexist, increasing the prevalence of both entities and impacting on symptoms and prognosis. CVD should be suspected in patients with COPD who have high/very high risk scores on validated scales, frequent exacerbations, precordial pain, disproportionate dyspnea, or palpitations. They should be referred to cardiology if they have palpitations of unknown cause or angina pain. COPD should be suspected in patients with CVD if they have recurrent bronchitis, cough and expectoration, or disproportionate dyspnea. They should be referred to a pulmonologist if they have rhonchi or wheezing, air trapping, emphysema, or signs of chronic bronchitis. Treatment of COPD in cardiovascular patients should include long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAMA) or long-acting beta-agonists (LABA) in low-risk or high-risk non-exacerbators, and LAMA/LABA/inhaled corticosteroids in exacerbators who are not controlled with bronchodilators. Cardioselective beta-blockers should be favored in patients with CVD, the long-term need for amiodarone should be assessed, and antiplatelet drugs should be maintained if indicated.
Topics: Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Administration, Inhalation; Muscarinic Antagonists; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Drug Therapy, Combination; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Dyspnea; Pain; Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; Bronchodilator Agents
PubMed: 38383272
DOI: 10.1016/j.arbres.2024.01.013 -
American Journal of Respiratory and... May 2024
Topics: Humans; Asthma; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Severity of Illness Index; Lung
PubMed: 38335179
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202312-2284ED -
Respiratory Research Aug 2023Data from clinical trials of lumacaftor-ivacaftor (LUM-IVA) demonstrate improvements in lung clearance index (LCI) but not in FEV in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF)... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Data from clinical trials of lumacaftor-ivacaftor (LUM-IVA) demonstrate improvements in lung clearance index (LCI) but not in FEV in children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) aged 6-11 years and homozygous for the Phe508del mutation. It is not known whether LUM/IVA use in children can impact the progression of structural lung disease. We sought to determine the real-world impact of LUM/IVA on lung structure and function in children aged 6-11 years.
METHODS
This real-world observational cohort study was conducted across four paediatric sites in Ireland over 24-months using spirometry-controlled CT scores and LCI as primary outcome measures. Children commencing LUM-/IVA as part of routine care were included. CT scans were manually scored with the PRAGMA CF scoring system and analysed using the automated bronchus-artery (BA) method. Secondary outcome measures included rate of change of ppFEV, nutritional indices and exacerbations requiring hospitalisation.
RESULTS
Seventy-one participants were recruited to the study, 31 of whom had spirometry-controlled CT performed at baseline, and after one year and two years of LUM/IVA treatment. At two years there was a reduction from baseline in trapped air scores (0.13 to 0.07, p = 0.016), but an increase from baseline in the % bronchiectasis score (0.84 to 1.23, p = 0.007). There was no change in overall % disease score (2.78 to 2.25, p = 0.138). Airway lumen to pulmonary artery ratios (AA ratio) were abnormal at baseline and worsened over the course of the study. In 28 participants, the mean annual change from baseline LCI (-0.055 (-0.61 to 0.50), p = 0.85) measurements over two years were not significant. Improvements from baseline in weight (0.10 (0.06 to 0.15, p < 0.0001), height (0.05 (0.02 to 0.09), p = 0.002) and BMI (0.09 (0.03 to 0.15) p = 0.005) z-scores were seen with LUM/IVA treatment. The mean annual change from baseline ppFEV (-2.45 (-4.44 to 2.54), p = 0.66) measurements over two years were not significant.
CONCLUSION
In a real-world setting, the use of LUM/IVA over two years in children with CF aged 6-11 resulted in improvements in air trapping on CT but worsening in bronchiectasis scores. Our results suggest that LUM/IVA use in this age group improves air trapping but does not prevent progression of bronchiectasis over two years of treatment.
Topics: Humans; Child; Cystic Fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; Aminopyridines; Lung; Drug Combinations; Bronchiectasis; Mutation
PubMed: 37568199
DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02497-0 -
European Radiology Mar 2024To compare clinical image quality and perceived impact on diagnostic interpretation of chest CT findings between ultra-high-resolution photon-counting CT (UHR-PCCT) and...
OBJECTIVES
To compare clinical image quality and perceived impact on diagnostic interpretation of chest CT findings between ultra-high-resolution photon-counting CT (UHR-PCCT) and conventional high-resolution energy-integrating-detector CT (HR-EIDCT) using visual grading analysis (VGA) scores.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty patients who underwent a UHR-PCCT (matrix 512 × 512, 768 × 768, or 1024 × 1024; FOV average 275 × 376 mm, 120 × 0.2 mm; focal spot size 0.6 × 0.7 mm) between November 2021 and February 2022 and with a previous HR-EIDCT within the last 14 months were included. Four readers evaluated central and peripheral airways, lung vasculature, nodules, ground glass opacities, inter- and intralobular lines, emphysema, fissures, bullae/cysts, and air trapping on PCCT (0.4 mm) and conventional EIDCT (1 mm) via side-by-side reference scoring using a 5-point diagnostic quality score. The median VGA scores were compared and tested using one-sample Wilcoxon signed rank tests with hypothesized median values of 0 (same visibility) and 2 (better visibility on PCCT with impact on diagnostic interpretation) at a 2.5% significance level.
RESULTS
Almost all lung structures had significantly better visibility on PCCT compared to EIDCT (p < 0.025; exception for ground glass nodules (N = 2/50 patients, p = 0.157)), with the highest scores seen for peripheral airways, micronodules, inter- and intralobular lines, and centrilobular emphysema (mean VGA > 1). Although better visibility, a perceived difference in diagnostic interpretation could not be demonstrated, since the median VGA was significantly different from 2.
CONCLUSION
UHR-PCCT showed superior visibility compared to HR-EIDCT for central and peripheral airways, lung vasculature, fissures, ground glass opacities, macro- and micronodules, inter- and intralobular lines, paraseptal and centrilobular emphysema, bullae/cysts, and air trapping.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT
UHR-PCCT has emerged as a promising technique for thoracic imaging, offering improved spatial resolution and lower radiation dose. Implementing PCCT into daily practice may allow better visibility of multiple lung structures and optimization of scan protocols for specific pathology.
KEY POINTS
• The aim of this study was to verify if the higher spatial resolution of UHR-PCCT would improve the visibility and detection of certain lung structures and abnormalities. • UHR-PCCT was judged to have superior clinical image quality compared to conventional HR-EIDCT in the evaluation of the lungs. UHR-PCCT showed better visibility for almost all tested lung structures (except for ground glass nodules). • Despite superior image quality, the readers perceived no significant impact on the diagnostic interpretation of the studied lung structures and abnormalities.
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Emphysema; Blister; Phantoms, Imaging; Lung; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Cysts; Photons; Lung Diseases
PubMed: 37650968
DOI: 10.1007/s00330-023-10174-5 -
Perfusion Sep 2023Trendelenburg position (TP) is used to transport gaseous emboli away from the cerebral region during cardiac surgery. However, TP effectiveness has not been fully...
INTRODUCTION
Trendelenburg position (TP) is used to transport gaseous emboli away from the cerebral region during cardiac surgery. However, TP effectiveness has not been fully considered when combined with varying the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) flow. This study simulated the supine and TP at different pump flows and assessed the trapped emboli and embolic load entering the aortic arch branch arteries (AABA).
METHODS
A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach used a centrally cannulated adult patient-specific aorta model replicating a CPB circuit. Air emboli of 0.1 mm, 0.5 mm, and 1.0 mm ( = 700 each) were injected into the aorta placed in the supine position (0°) and the TP (-20°) at 2 L/min and 5 L/min. The number of emboli entering the AABA were compared. An aortic phantom flow experiment was performed to validate air bubble behaviour.
RESULTS
TP at 5 L/min had the lowest 0.1 mm mean (±SD) embolic load compared to the supine 2 L/min (55.3 ± 30.8 vs 64.3 ± 35.4). For both the supine and TP, the lower flow of 2 L/min had the highest number of simulated trapped emboli in higher elevated regions than at 5 L/min (541 ± 185 and 548 ± 191 vs 520 ± 159 and 512 ± 174), respectively. The flow experiment demonstrated that 2 L/min promoted bubble coalescence and high amounts of trapped emboli and 5 L/min transported air emboli away from the AABA.
CONCLUSIONS
TP effectiveness was improved by using CPB flow to manage air emboli. These results provide insights for predicting emboli behaviour and improving emboli de-airing procedures.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Head-Down Tilt; Aorta; Embolism; Embolism, Air
PubMed: 35703549
DOI: 10.1177/02676591221108810 -
Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology Apr 2024Air-trapping affects clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may be detected by reactance at 5 Hz (X5) on respiratory... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
INTRODUCTION
Air-trapping affects clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may be detected by reactance at 5 Hz (X5) on respiratory oscillometry because X5 sensitively reflects the elasticity of the chest wall, airway and lung. However, the longitudinal association between X5 and air-trapping remains to be explored. This study aimed to test whether longitudinal changes in X5 could be associated with air-trapping progression, exacerbations, and mortality in patients with COPD.
METHODS
In this prospective COPD observational study, the follow-up period consisted of the first 4 years to obtain longitudinal changes in X5 and residual volume (RV) and number of exacerbations and the remaining years (year 4 to 10) to test mortality. Patients were divided into large, middle, and small X5 decline groups based on the tertiles of longitudinal change in X5, and mortality after 4 years was compared between the groups.
RESULTS
Patients with COPD (n = 114) were enrolled. The large X5 decline group (n = 38) showed a greater longitudinal change in RV and more exacerbations compared with the small X5 decline group (n = 39) in multivariable models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and smoking history. Long-term mortality after the 4-year follow-up was higher in the large X5 decline group than in the small X5 decline group (hazard ratio [95 % confidence interval] = 8.37[1.01, 69.0]) in the multivariable Cox proportional hazard model.
CONCLUSION
Longitudinal changes in respiratory reactance could be associated with progressive air-trapping, exacerbation frequency, and increased mortality in patients with COPD.
Topics: Humans; Prospective Studies; Forced Expiratory Volume; Spirometry; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Lung
PubMed: 38237883
DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2024.104216