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American Journal of Respiratory Cell... Mar 2023Microorganisms colonize the human body. The lungs and respiratory tract, previously believed to be sterile, harbor diverse microbial communities and the genomes of...
Microorganisms colonize the human body. The lungs and respiratory tract, previously believed to be sterile, harbor diverse microbial communities and the genomes of bacteria (bacteriome), viruses (virome), and fungi (mycobiome). Recent advances in amplicon and shotgun metagenomic sequencing technologies and data-analyzing methods have greatly aided the identification and characterization of microbial populations from airways. The respiratory microbiome has been shown to play roles in human health and disease and is an area of rapidly emerging interest in pulmonary medicine. In this review, we provide updated information in the field by focusing on four lung conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. We evaluate gut, oral, and upper airway microbiomes and how they contribute to lower airway flora. The discussion is followed by a systematic review of the lower airway microbiome in health and disease. We conclude with promising research avenues and implications for evolving therapeutics.
Topics: Humans; Lung; Asthma; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Microbiota; Cystic Fibrosis
PubMed: 36476129
DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0208TR -
JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Sep 2022To review studies reporting pulmonary physical therapy techniques for the management of coronavirus disease-2019 patients.
OBJECTIVE
To review studies reporting pulmonary physical therapy techniques for the management of coronavirus disease-2019 patients.
METHODS
The systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines Comprised search of MEDLINE via PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED) and Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL) for Observational and interventional studies published in English language between December 2019 and January 2022 describing pulmonary physical therapy techniques for the management of coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Google Scholar and reference lists of relevant studies were also searched to identify additional articles. Methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using either the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale for interventional studies or the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for observational studies.
RESULTS
Of the 3767 studies found, 17(0.45%) were analysed; 13(76.5%) observational and 4(23.5%) interventional. The most common pulmonary physical therapy techniques used were active cycle of breathing techniques, positive expiratory pressure device, breathing exercises, percussions, and chest abdomen muscle exercises. However, majority of the studies applied prone positioning and suctioning as priority treatment. During mechanical ventilation, mucus clearance and alveolar recruitment manoeuvres were commonly applied.
CONCLUSIONS
There was scarcity of high-quality studies regarding the use of different pulmonary physical therapy techniques in coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Based on available literature, different techniques can be used, depending on stage and severity of the disease.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise Therapy; Respiration, Artificial; Exercise
PubMed: 36280983
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.4748 -
Fish & Shellfish Immunology Nov 2022Nanoparticles-based treatments is of utmost importance for aquaculture. In this scenario, chitosan-based nanoparticles have been proposed due to the properties of... (Review)
Review
Nanoparticles-based treatments is of utmost importance for aquaculture. In this scenario, chitosan-based nanoparticles have been proposed due to the properties of chitosan, which include mucoadhesiveness. Nevertheless, pivotal parameters of chitosan, such as degree of acetylation and molecular weight, are commonly underestimated in the available literature despite the influence they seem to have on the properties of chitosan-based nanoparticles. In this systematic review, the immunomodulator capacity of chitosan nanoparticles used as mucosal vaccines on teleost fish has been evaluated paying special attention to the chitosan properties. Four databases were used for literature search, yielding 486 documents, from which 14 meet the inclusion criteria. Only 21% of the available studies reported properly chitosan properties, which should be improved in future works to generate reproducible data as well as valuable information. To the best of our knowledge, this work objectively compares for the first time, by quantifying the mg of chitosan/g of fish applied in each study, the chitosan nanoparticle preparation and doses applied to fish, as well as the effects of the treatments applied on fish immune status.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Chitosan; Immunity, Mucosal; Nanoparticles; Vaccines
PubMed: 36038102
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.08.030 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Aug 2022Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder in which abnormal mucus in the lungs is associated with susceptibility to persistent infection. Pulmonary exacerbations are when... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder in which abnormal mucus in the lungs is associated with susceptibility to persistent infection. Pulmonary exacerbations are when symptoms of infection become more severe. Antibiotics are an essential part of treatment for exacerbations and inhaled antibiotics may be used alone or in conjunction with oral antibiotics for milder exacerbations or with intravenous antibiotics for more severe infections. Inhaled antibiotics do not cause the same adverse effects as intravenous antibiotics and may prove an alternative in people with poor access to their veins. This is an update of a previously published review.
OBJECTIVES
To determine if treatment of pulmonary exacerbations with inhaled antibiotics in people with cystic fibrosis improves their quality of life, reduces time off school or work, and improves their long-term lung function.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis Group's Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register. Date of the last search: 7 March 2022. We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov, the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry and WHO ICTRP for relevant trials. Date of last search: 3 May 2022.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials in people with cystic fibrosis with a pulmonary exacerbation in whom treatment with inhaled antibiotics was compared to placebo, standard treatment or another inhaled antibiotic for between one and four weeks.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently selected eligible trials, assessed the risk of bias in each trial and extracted data. They assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE criteria. Authors of the included trials were contacted for more information.
MAIN RESULTS
Five trials with 183 participants are included in the review. Two trials (77 participants) compared inhaled antibiotics alone to intravenous antibiotics alone and three trials (106 participants) compared a combination of inhaled and intravenous antibiotics to intravenous antibiotics alone. Trials were heterogenous in design and two were only available in abstract form. Risk of bias was difficult to assess in most trials but, for four out of five trials, we judged there to be a high risk from lack of blinding and an unclear risk with regards to randomisation. Results were not fully reported and only limited data were available for analysis. One trial was a cross-over design and we only included data from the first intervention arm. Inhaled antibiotics alone versus intravenous antibiotics alone Only one trial (18 participants) reported a perceived improvement in lifestyle (quality of life) in both groups (very low-certainty evidence). Neither trial reported on time off work or school. Both trials measured lung function, but there was no difference reported between treatment groups (very low-certainty evidence). With regards to our secondary outcomes, one trial (18 participants) reported no difference in the need for additional antibiotics and the second trial (59 participants) reported on the time to next exacerbation. In neither case was a difference between treatments identified (both very low-certainty evidence). The single trial (18 participants) measuring adverse events and sputum microbiology did not observe any in either treatment group for either outcome (very low-certainty evidence). Inhaled antibiotics plus intravenous antibiotics versus intravenous antibiotics alone Inhaled antibiotics plus intravenous antibiotics may make little or no difference to quality of life compared to intravenous antibiotics alone. None of the trials reported time off work or school. All three trials measured lung function, but found no difference between groups in forced expiratory volume in one second (two trials; 44 participants; very low-certainty evidence) or vital capacity (one trial; 62 participants). None of the trials reported on the need for additional antibiotics. Inhaled plus intravenous antibiotics may make little difference to the time to next exacerbation; however, one trial (28 participants) reported on hospital admissions and found no difference between groups. There is likely no difference between groups in adverse events (very low-certainty evidence) and one trial (62 participants) reported no difference in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms (very low-certainty evidence).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
We identified only low- or very low-certainty evidence to judge the effectiveness of inhaled antibiotics for the treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis. The included trials were not sufficiently powered to achieve their goals. Hence, we are unable to demonstrate whether one treatment was superior to the other or not. Further research is needed to establish whether inhaled tobramycin may be used as an alternative to intravenous tobramycin for some pulmonary exacerbations.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans; Lung; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Tobramycin
PubMed: 35914011
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008319.pub4 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022Pulmonary diseases represent four out of ten most common causes for worldwide mortality. Thus, pulmonary infections with subsequent inflammatory responses represent a...
Pulmonary diseases represent four out of ten most common causes for worldwide mortality. Thus, pulmonary infections with subsequent inflammatory responses represent a major public health concern. The pulmonary barrier is a vulnerable entry site for several stress factors, including pathogens such as viruses, and bacteria, but also environmental factors e.g. toxins, air pollutants, as well as allergens. These pathogens or pathogen-associated molecular pattern and inflammatory agents e.g. damage-associated molecular pattern cause significant disturbances in the pulmonary barrier. The physiological and biological functions, as well as the architecture and homeostatic maintenance of the pulmonary barrier are highly complex. The airway epithelium, denoting the first pulmonary barrier, encompasses cells releasing a plethora of chemokines and cytokines, and is further covered with a mucus layer containing antimicrobial peptides, which are responsible for the pathogen clearance. Submucosal antigen-presenting cells and neutrophilic granulocytes are also involved in the defense mechanisms and counterregulation of pulmonary infections, and thus may directly affect the pulmonary barrier function. The detailed understanding of the pulmonary barrier including its architecture and functions is crucial for the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic treatment strategies of pulmonary diseases. Thus, considering multiple side effects and limited efficacy of current therapeutic treatment strategies in patients with inflammatory diseases make experimental and models necessary to improving clinical therapy options. This review describes existing models for studyying the pulmonary barrier function under acute inflammatory conditions, which are meant to improve the translational approaches for outcome predictions, patient monitoring, and treatment decision-making.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Antigen-Presenting Cells; Antimicrobial Peptides; Chemokines; Cytokines; Granulocytes; Humans; Lung; Mucus; Pneumonia
PubMed: 35874776
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.895100 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2022Respiratory disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF), and many different therapies are used by people with CF in the management of... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Respiratory disease is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF), and many different therapies are used by people with CF in the management of respiratory problems. Bronchodilator therapy is used to relieve symptoms of shortness of breath and to open the airways to allow clearance of mucus. Despite the widespread use of inhaled bronchodilators in CF, there is little objective evidence of their efficacy. A Cochrane Review looking at both short- and long-acting inhaled bronchodilators for CF was withdrawn from the Cochrane Library in 2016. That review has been replaced by two separate Cochrane Reviews: one on long-acting inhaled bronchodilators for CF, and this review on short-acting inhaled bronchodilators for CF. For this review 'inhaled' includes the use of pressurised metered dose inhalers (MDIs), with or without a spacer, dry powder devices and nebulisers.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate short-acting inhaled bronchodilators in children and adults with CF in terms of clinical outcomes and safety.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register, compiled from electronic database searches and handsearching of journals and conference abstract books on 28 March 2022 and searched trial registries for any new or ongoing trials on 12 April 2022. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles and reviews.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs that looked at the effect of any short-acting inhaled bronchodilator delivered by any device, at any dose, at any frequency and for any duration compared to either placebo or another short-acting inhaled bronchodilator in people with CF. We screened references as per standard Cochrane methodology.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB 1 tool. Where we were not able to enter data into our analyses we reported results directly from the papers. We assessed the certainty of evidence using GRADE.
MAIN RESULTS
We included 11 trials from our systematic search, with 191 participants meeting our inclusion criteria; three of these trials had three treatment arms. Eight trials compared short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists to placebo and four trials compared short-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonists to placebo. Three trials compared short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists to short-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonists. All were cross-over trials with only small numbers of participants. We were only able to enter data into the analysis from three trials comparing short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists to placebo. Short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists versus placebo All eight trials (six single-dose trials and two longer-term trials) reporting on this comparison reported on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), either as per cent predicted (% predicted) or L. We were able to combine the data from two trials in a meta-analysis which showed a greater per cent change from baseline in FEV L after beta-2 agonists compared to placebo (mean difference (MD) 6.95%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.88 to 12.02; 2 trials, 82 participants). Only one of the longer-term trials reported on exacerbations, as measured by hospitalisations and courses of antibiotics. Only the second longer-term trial presented results for participant-reported outcomes. Three trials narratively reported adverse events, and these were all mild. Three single-dose trials and the two longer trials reported on forced vital capacity (FVC), and five trials reported on peak expiratory flow, i.e. forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% (FEF). One trial reported on airway clearance in terms of sputum weight. We judged the certainty of evidence for each of these outcomes to be very low, meaning we are very uncertain about the effect of short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists on any of the outcomes we assessed. Short-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonists versus placebo All four trials reporting on this comparison looked at the effects of ipratropium bromide, but in different doses and via different delivery methods. One trial reported FEV % predicted; three trials measured this in L. Two trials reported adverse events, but these were few and mild. One trial reported FVC and three trials reported FEF. None of the trials reported on quality of life, exacerbations or airway clearance. We judged the certainty of evidence for each of these outcomes to be very low, meaning we are very uncertain about the effect of short-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonists on any of the outcomes we assessed. Short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists versus short-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonists None of the three single-dose trials reporting on this comparison provided data we could analyse. The original papers from three trials report that both treatments lead to an improvement in FEV L. Only one trial reported on adverse events; but none were experienced by any participant. No trial reported on any of our other outcomes. We judged the certainty of evidence to be very low, meaning we are very uncertain about the effect of short-acting inhaled beta-2 agonists compared to short-acting inhaled muscarinic antagonists on any of the outcomes we assessed.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
All included trials in this review are small and of a cross-over design. Most trials looked at very short-term effects of inhaled bronchodilators, and therefore did not measure longer-term outcomes. The certainty of evidence across all outcomes was very low, and therefore we have been unable to describe any effects with certainty.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Bronchodilator Agents; Child; Cystic Fibrosis; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Muscarinic Antagonists
PubMed: 35749226
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013666.pub2 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jun 2022There are many accepted airway clearance techniques (ACTs) for managing the respiratory health of people with cystic fibrosis (CF); none of which demonstrate... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
There are many accepted airway clearance techniques (ACTs) for managing the respiratory health of people with cystic fibrosis (CF); none of which demonstrate superiority. Other Cochrane Reviews have reported short-term effects related to mucus transport, but no evidence supporting long-term benefits. Exercise is an alternative ACT thought to produce shearing forces within the lung parenchyma, which enhances mucociliary clearance and the removal of viscous secretions. Recent evidence suggests that some people with CF are using exercise as a substitute for traditional ACTs, yet there is no agreed recommendation for this. Additionally, one of the top 10 research questions identified by people with CF is whether exercise can replace other ACTs. Systematically reviewing the evidence for exercise as a safe and effective ACT will help people with CF decide whether to incorporate this strategy into their treatment plans and potentially reduce their treatment burden. The timing of this review is especially pertinent given the shifting landscape of CF management with the advent of highly-effective small molecule therapies, which are changing the way people with CF are cared for.
OBJECTIVES
To compare the effect of exercise to other ACTs for improving respiratory function and other clinical outcomes in people with CF and to assess the potential adverse effects associated with this ACT.
SEARCH METHODS
On 28 February 2022, we searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register, compiled from electronic database searches and handsearching of journals and conference abstract books. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles and reviews. We searched online clinical trial registries on 15 February 2022. We emailed authors of studies awaiting classification or potentially eligible abstracts for additional information on 1 February 2021.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We selected randomised controlled studies (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing exercise to another ACT in people with CF for at least two treatment sessions.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias for the included studies. They assessed the certainty of the evidence using GRADE. Review authors contacted investigators for further relevant information regarding their publications.
MAIN RESULTS
We included four RCTs. The 86 participants had a wide range of disease severity (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) ranged from 54% to 95%) and were 7 to 41 years old. Two RCTs were cross-over and two were parallel in design. Participants in one RCT were hospitalised with an acute respiratory exacerbation, whilst the participants in three RCTs were clinically stable. All four RCTs compared exercise either alone or in combination with another ACT, but these were too diverse to allow us to combine results. The certainty of the evidence was very low; we downgraded it due to low participant numbers and high or unclear risks of bias across all domains. Exercise versus active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT) One cross-over trial (18 participants) compared exercise alone to ACBT. There was no change from baseline in our primary outcome FEV, although it increased in the exercise group before returning to baseline after 30 minutes; we are unsure if exercise affected FEV as the evidence is very low-certainty. Similar results were seen for other measures of lung function. No adverse events occurred during the exercise sessions (very low-certainty evidence). We are unsure if ACBT was perceived to be more effective or was the preferred ACT (very low-certainty evidence). 24-hour sputum volume was less in the exercise group than with ACBT (secondary outcome). Exercise capacity, quality of life, adherence, hospitalisations and need for additional antibiotics were not reported. Exercise plus postural drainage and percussion (PD&P) versus PD&P only Two trials (55 participants) compared exercise and PD&P to PD&P alone. At two weeks, one trial narratively reported a greater increase in FEV % predicted with PD&P alone. At six months, the other trial reported a greater increase with exercise combined with PD&P, but did not provide data for the PD&P group. We are uncertain whether exercise with PD&P improves FEV as the certainty of evidence is very low. Other measures of lung function did not show clear evidence of effect. One trial reported no difference in exercise capacity (maximal work rate) after two weeks. No adverse events were reported (1 trial, 17 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Adherence was high, with all PD&P sessions and 96% of exercise sessions completed (1 trial, 17 participants; very low-certainty evidence). There was no difference between groups in 24-hour sputum volume or in the mean duration of hospitalisation, although the six-month trial reported fewer hospitalisations due to exacerbations in the exercise and PD&P group. Quality of life, ACT preference and need for antibiotics were not reported. Exercise versus underwater positive expiratory pressure (uPEP) One trial (13 participants) compared exercise to uPEP (also known as bubble PEP). No adverse events were recorded in either group (very low-certainty evidence). Trial investigators reported that participants perceived exercise as more fatiguing but also more enjoyable than bubble PEP (very low-certainty evidence). There were no differences found in the total weight of sputum collected during treatment sessions. The trial did not report the primary outcomes (FEV, quality of life, exercise capacity) or the secondary outcomes (other measures of lung function, adherence, need for antibiotics or hospitalisations).
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
As one of the top 10 research questions identified by clinicians and people with CF, it is important to systematically review the literature regarding whether or not exercise is an acceptable and effective ACT, and whether it can replace traditional methods. We identified an insufficient number of trials to conclude whether or not exercise is a suitable alternative ACT, and the diverse design of included trials did not allow for meta-analysis of results. The evidence is very low-certainty, so we are uncertain about the effectiveness of exercise as an ACT. Longer studies examining outcomes that are important to people with CF are required to answer this question.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Child; Cystic Fibrosis; Drainage, Postural; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Mucociliary Clearance; Young Adult
PubMed: 35731672
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013285.pub2 -
British Journal of Neurosurgery Jun 2022Congenital hydrocephalus affects approximately one in 1000 newborn children and is fatal in approximately 50% of untreated cases. The currently known management... (Review)
Review
Congenital hydrocephalus affects approximately one in 1000 newborn children and is fatal in approximately 50% of untreated cases. The currently known management protocols usually necessitate multiple interventions and long-term use of healthcare resources due to a relatively high incidence of complications, and many of them mostly provide a treatment of the effect rather than the cause of cerebrospinal fluid flow reduction or outflow obstruction. Future studies discussing etiology specific hydrocephalus alternative treatments are needed. We systematically reviewed the available literature on the effect of ciliary abnormality on congenital hydrocephalus pathogenesis, to open a discussion on the feasibility of factoring ciliary abnormality in future research on hydrocephalus treatment modalities. Although there are different forms of ciliopathies, we focused in this review on primary ciliary dyskinesia. There is growing evidence of association of other ciliary syndromes and hydrocephalus, such as the reduced generation of multiple motile cilia, which is distinct from primary ciliary dyskinesia. Data for this review were identified by searching PubMed using the search terms 'hydrocephalus,' 'Kartagener syndrome,' 'primary ciliary dyskinesia,' and 'immotile cilia syndrome.' Only articles published in English and reporting human patients were included. Seven studies met our inclusion criteria, reporting 12 cases of hydrocephalus associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia. The patients had variable clinical presentations, genetic backgrounds, and ciliary defects. The ependymal water propelling cilia differ in structure and function from the mucus propelling cilia, and there is a possibility of isolated non-syndromic ependymal ciliopathy causing only hydrocephalus with growing evidence in the literature for the association ependymal ciliary abnormality and hydrocephalus. Abdominal and thoracic situs in children with hydrocephalus can be evaluated, and secondary damage of ependymal cilia causing hydrocephalus in cases with generalized ciliary abnormality can be considered.
Topics: Cilia; Ependyma; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Infant, Newborn; Kartagener Syndrome
PubMed: 35579079
DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2022.2074373 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Jun 2022Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinically manifest airway mucus hypersecretion as sputum expectoration and cough. Evidence... (Review)
Review
Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinically manifest airway mucus hypersecretion as sputum expectoration and cough. Evidence accumulated in the past decade has shown that the cholinergic system not only regulates airway smooth muscle contraction but also the activity of inflammatory and airway epithelial cells, including goblet cells, and submucosal gland activity. Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) with the most favourable M/M muscarinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptors residency properties are not only excellent bronchodilators but potentially also mucus-modifying agents, able to positively impact on mucus hypersecretion and cough. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the impact of LAMAs on mucus hypersecretion and cough in COPD patients. The evidence confirmed that LAMAs, mainly tiotropium and aclidinium, improved sputum production and cough in moderate to severe COPD. Thus, LAMAs not only antagonise the ACh-induced bronchoconstriction of the airways but also appear to limit the production of mucus secreted in response to ACh by airway goblet cells and/or submucosal glands. Further clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the impact of LAMAs exclusively on sputum symptoms and cough as primary end-points and to investigate whether LAMAs have a modulatory action on the rheological properties of mucus.
Topics: Cough; Humans; Mucus; Muscarinic Antagonists; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Tiotropium Bromide
PubMed: 35508331
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0196-2021 -
Therapeutic Advances in Respiratory... 2022Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease that involves the cells that produce mucus and sweat, affecting many organs, especially the lungs. Positive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease that involves the cells that produce mucus and sweat, affecting many organs, especially the lungs. Positive expiratory pressure (PEP) devices generate a pressure opposite to that exerted by the airways during expiration, thus improving mucociliary clearance.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the efficacy of PEP devices as a resource to facilitate the mucus removal and other outcomes in people with CF, as well as the possible adverse effects derived from their use.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA standards. The descriptors were 'cystic fibrosis', 'PEP', and 'physiotherapy and/or physical therapy'. The search was performed in four databases: PubMed, PEDro, and Web of Science and Scopus, in July 2021. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) over the last 10 years. The methodological quality of the studies was analyzed and meta-analysis was performed with Review Manager software.
RESULTS
Ten RCTs met the objectives and criteria, with a total of 274 participants. The trials score a moderate methodological quality on the PEDro scale. No clear results were obtained on whether PEP provides better lung function than other breathing techniques (such as airway clearance); but it does achieve a higher rate of lung clearance than physical exercise.
CONCLUSIONS
PEP is more effective than usual care or no intervention, although there is not enough evidence to confirm that PEP achieves improvements in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV) compared with other techniques. It is a safe technique, without adverse effects.
Topics: Cystic Fibrosis; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Mucociliary Clearance; Mucus; Respiratory Function Tests
PubMed: 35485916
DOI: 10.1177/17534666221089467