Outcome measures for clinical trials in cystic fibrosis. Summary of a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation consensus conference

Electronic home monitoring of children with cystic fibrosis to detect and treat acute pulmonary exacerbations and its effect on 1-year FEV1

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the effect of the use of electronic home spirometry in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) on 1-year FEV1 (% predicted, pp) change.

METHODS

This is a randomised, one-year prospective study including children with CF between 6 and 18 years of age. Subjects were randomised into home spirometry group (HSG) and usual care group (UCG). Children in HSG performed two pulmonary function tests (PFT) per week. Data regarding acute pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) was obtained from patients' records. At baseline and 12th month, health related quality of life questionnaire for CF patients (CFQ-R) and lung clearance index (LCI) were performed.

RESULTS

Sixty children were recruited with a median (IQR) age of 13.3 (11.4-15.4) years. Absolute change in FEV1pp from baseline to 12th month as median (IQR) was +1% (-6.75-9.75) in HSG and -2.50% (-7.50-3.25) in UCG (p = 0.10). Sensitivity analysis including only adherent children in HSG (n = 22), yielded an increase of 5% (-3.50-12) in HSG and a decrease of 2.50% (-7.50-3.25) in UCG (p = 0.009). A total of 29 (96.7%) subjects in HSG and 23 (76.7%) in UCG had PEx (p = 0.05). Absolute change in median (IQR) LCI2.5 from baseline to the 12th month was -1.6 [-2.9-0] (p<0.001) in HSG and -1.5 [-2.8-(-0.6)] (p<0.001) in UCG (p = 0.94). There was a significant increase in the social domain of the CFQ-R in HSG (from 59.1 to 76.2, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Electronic home monitoring of children with CF by spirometry may result in improvement in lung function.

Assessment highlights need for improvement in standards of development of core outcome sets for rare genetic diseases

OBJECTIVES

A rare disease is classified as such if it affects less than one person in 2,000. The Core Outcome Set STandards for Development (COS-STAD) is a set of standards that represent the minimum recommendations to be considered in the process of core outcome set (COS) development. The aim of this study was to provide a baseline assessment of COS development standards for rare genetic diseases.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) database contains nearly 400 published COS studies according to the latest systematic review. Studies focusing on COS development for rare genetic diseases were eligible for inclusion and were assessed by two independent evaluators.

RESULTS

Nine COS studies were included in the analysis. Eight different rare genetic diseases were investigated. None of the studies met all the standards for development. The number of standards met ranged from 6 to 10, and the median was 7.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first study to assess COS-STAD for rare genetic diseases, and it highlights a great need for improvement. First in terms of numbers of rare diseases considered for COS developments, second in methodology, particularly regarding the consensus process, and third in reporting of the COS development studies.

Diagnosis and Management of Cystic Fibrosis Exacerbations

With the improving survival of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and the advent of highly effective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) therapy, the clinical spectrum of this complex multisystem disease continues to evolve. One of the most important clinical events for patients with CF in the course of this disease is acute pulmonary exacerbation (PEx). Clinical and microbial epidemiology studies of CF PEx continue to provide important insight into the disease course, prognosis, and complications. This work has now led to several large-scale clinical trials designed to clarify the treatment paradigm for CF PEx. The primary goal of this review is to provide a summary and update of the pathophysiology, clinical and microbial epidemiology, outcome and treatment of CF PEx, biomarkers for exacerbation, and the impact of highly effective modulator therapy on these events moving forward.

Core Outcome Sets in Child Health: A Systematic Review

IMPORTANCE

Developing core outcome sets is essential to ensure that results of clinical trials are comparable and useful. A number of core outcome sets in pediatrics have been published, but a comprehensive in-depth understanding of core outcome sets in this field is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically identify core outcome sets in child health, collate the diseases to which core outcome sets have been applied, describe the methods used for development and stakeholder participation, and evaluate the methodological quality of existing core outcome sets.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were searched using relevant search terms, such as clinical trials, core outcome, and children, along with relevant websites, such as Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET). Four researchers worked in teams of 2, performed literature screening and data extraction, and evaluated the methodological quality of core outcome sets using the Core Outcome Set-Standards for Development (COS-STAD).

FINDINGS

A total of 77 pediatric core outcome sets were identified, mainly developed by organizations or researchers in Europe, North America, and Australia and mostly from the UK (22 [29%]) and the US (22 [29%]). A total of 77 conditions were addressed; the most frequent International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision category was diseases of the digestive system (14 [18%]). Most of the outcomes in pediatric core outcome sets were unordered (34 [44%]) or presented in custom classifications (29 [38%]). Core outcome sets used 1 or more of 8 development methods; the most frequent combination of methods was systematic review/literature review/scoping review, together with the Delphi approach and consensus for decision-making (10 [14%]). Among the 6 main types of stakeholders, clinical experts were the most frequently involved (74 [100%]), while industry representatives were rarely involved (4 [5%]). Only 6 core outcome sets (8%) met the 12 criteria of COS-STAD.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Future quality of pediatric core outcome sets should be improved based on the standards proposed by the COMET initiative, while core outcome sets methodology and reporting standards should be extended to pediatric populations to help improve the quality of core outcome sets in child health. In addition, the COMET outcome taxonomy should also add items applicable to children.

Jaw and neck muscle activity during chewing and craniocervical dysfunction index in children, adolescents, and adults with and without cystic fibrosis: a comparative analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare masticatory muscle activity between people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) and healthy controls and to verify whether craniocervical dysfunction is associated with the presence of CF.

METHODS

Fifty-six participants were assessed and divided into pwCF and healthy control (HC) groups, each one composed of 13 children and adolescents at 9 (SD 3) years old and 15 adults at 25 (SD 6) years old. Craniocervical Dysfunction Index assessed symptoms of dysfunction and cervical spine mobility. Electromyography was used to evaluate the jaw and neck muscle activity during chewing.

RESULTS

Muscle activity during chewing was not statistically different between groups. Prevalence of craniocervical dysfunction was 75% for pwCF vs 64% for healthy controls. Individuals with CF are 1.53 [1.260, 1.870] times more likely to have reduced cervical mobility compared to healthy controls (p = 0.000).

CONCLUSION

These results reinforce the need for musculoskeletal disorders treatment in the management of pwCF.

Use of Dynamic Chest Radiography to Assess Treatment of Pulmonary Exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis

Background Although spirometry is an important marker in the management of pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis (CF), it is a forced maneuver and can generate aerosol. Therefore, it may be difficult to perform in some individuals. Dynamic chest radiography (DCR) provides real-time information regarding pulmonary dynamics alongside fluoroscopic-style thoracic imaging. Purpose To assess the effect of pulmonary exacerbation treatment by using both spirometry and DCR and assess the clinical utility of DCR in participants with CF experiencing pulmonary exacerbations. Materials and Methods In this prospective, observational, single-center pilot study, spirometry and DCR were performed before and after treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in participants with CF between December 2019 and August 2020. Spirometry measured forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity. DCR helped to measure projected lung area (PLA), hemidiaphragm midpoint position, and speed during tidal and deep breathing. Data were analyzed by using the paired t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Correlation was assessed by using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Results Twenty participants with CF (mean age, 25 years ± 7 [standard deviation]; 14 women) were evaluated. Spirometry showed that percentage predicted FEV₁ improved from a median of 44% (interquartile range [IQR], 17%) before treatment to 55% (IQR, 16%) after treatment (P = .004). DCR showed improvement in median deep breathing excursion for left and right hemidiaphragms (from 18 [IQR, 11] to 25 [IQR, 16] mm [P = .03] and from 13 [IQR, 6] to 19 [IQR, 14] mm [P = .03], respectively) and in median expiratory speed following deep breathing for left and right hemidiaphragms (from 7 [IQR, 2] to 11 [IQR, 5] mm/sec [P = .004] and 6 [IQR, 3] to 9 [IQR, 6] mm/sec [P = .004], respectively). PLA rate of change during full expiration and change in PLA during tidal breathing improved (from a mean of 42 cm²/sec ± 16 to 56 cm²/sec ± 24 [P = .03] and from a mean of 29 cm² ± 14 to 35 cm² ± 10 [P = .03], respectively). Conclusion Dynamic chest radiography demonstrated improvement in diaphragm speed and range of chest wall movement during respiration aftere treatment for pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis and showed potential as a tool to investigate the effect of pulmonary exacerbations on lung mechanics. Clinical trials registration no. NCT01234567 Published under a CC BY 4.0 license. Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Relationship between peripheral muscle strength, exercise capacity and body composition in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

STUDY DESIGN

This was a transversal analytical study.

BACKGROUND

Exercise capacity is usually decreased in cystic fibrosis, impacting the disease prognosis. As well, peripheral muscle strength and nutritional status seem to be related to exercise capacity (EC).

OBJECTIVE

To verify the relationship between peripheral muscle strength, pulmonary function and body composition with EC in children and adolescents with CF.

METHODS

The study included CF children/adolescents that were clinically stable. The disease's severity was classified according to the Schwachman-Doerschuk score. Initially the subjects underwent bioimpedance and spirometry tests. Quadriceps muscle strength (QMS) and handgrip strength (HG) were evaluated by dynamometry. The Modified Shuttle Walk Test (MSWT) was conducted along with gas analysis in order to measure EC.

RESULTS

Twenty-five children/adolescents (10.30 ± 2.33 years old) participated in the survey. 72% were eutrophic, with a mean FEV1 of 68.55%, predicted percentage of the MSWT walked distance (%WD) was 70.91%, and QMS 65.80%. QMS presented significant correlations with absolute WD (r = 0.54), oxygen peak consumption (r = 0.72), lean body mass (LM) (r = 0.83), and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.69). HG was related with BMI (r = 0.45) and LM (r = 0.65). There was a difference in the %WD between the groups with higher/lower strength (p = .02).

CONCLUSION

There was no correlation between HG and EC in this studied sample. Early involvement of QMS was observed even in individuals with low disease severity. This finding reinforces the importance of including this QMS assessment in CF reference centers to monitor, prevent and prescribe adequate exercise training for these individuals.

Drug development for cystic fibrosis

The first regulatory approval for a drug developed specifically for cystic fibrosis (CF) occurred in 1993, and since then, several other drugs have been approved. Median predicted survival in people with CF in the United States has increased from approximately 30 years to 44.4 years over that same period. Highly effective modulators of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator became available to approximately 90% of people with CF ages 12 years and older in the United States in 2019 and in Europe in 2020. These transformative therapies will surely reduce morbidity and further extend longevity. The drug development pipeline is filled with therapies that address most aspects of CF disease. As survival and CF therapies advance, and the complexity of CF care increases, the process of drug development has become more sophisticated. In addition, detecting meaningful changes in outcome measures has become more difficult as the health status of people with CF improves. Innovative approaches are required to continue to advance drug development in CF. This review provides a general overview of drug development from the preclinical phase through Phase IV. Special considerations with respect to CF are integrated into the discussion of each phase of drug development. As CF care evolves, drug development must continue to evolve as well, until a one-time cure is available to all people with CF.

"Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change in TGlittre-P test in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis"

OBJECTIVE

to provide test-retest reliability for the TGlittre-P in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CFG) and healthy controls (HCG), to establish the minimal detectable change for time in TGlittre-P and comparing the performance in the TGlittre-P test between these populations.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study evaluated 36 children and adolescents aged 6 to 13. Anthropometric and spirometric evaluation was performed, as well as, on the same day, two TGlittre-P tests with a 30-minute interval between them.

RESULTS

TGlittre-P time test-retest reliability was excellent for both groups (CFG: intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.849, p < 0.001 and HCG: ICC = 0.913, p < 0.001). As concerning absolute reliability, the time spent presented a small variability with a standard error of measurement of 8.4 s (s) to CFG and 5.3 s to HCG. The minimal detectable change at 95% confidence level (MDC95) was 23.2 s and 14.6 s, respectively. There was no difference between the groups regarding performance in the TGlittre-P test (CFG 179.1 s ± 25.7 s vs. HCG 174.7 s ± 22.3 s) p = 0.589.

CONCLUSION

The TGlittre-P is a reliable tool in children and adolescents with CF and healthy controls. The TGlittre-P appears not to be sensitive enough to discriminate a group of children and adolescents with mild cystic fibrosis from healthy counterparts.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONTGlittre-P is a multitasking test that has been used to assess the functional capacity of children and adolescents with chronic diseases.TGlittre-P has excellent reliability in children and adolescents with and without CF.TGlittre-P differences time greater than 12% could indicate changes in the functional capacity of children and adolescents with CF.Other functional capacity tests may be preferred to detect continuous increases in functional capacity through rehabilitation or training, whether children and adolescents obtain performance values close to 100% of predicted.

Força muscular respiratória e qualidade de vida em crianças e adolescentes com fibrose cística

RESUMO A fibrose cística (FC) é uma doença genética multissistêmica caracterizada por obstrução crônica que, associada a outras alterações pulmonares, pode comprometer a força muscular respiratória (FMR) e, em consequência, interferir no desempenho de atividades típicas da infância, alterando a qualidade de vida (QV) dessa população. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a relação entre FMR e QV de crianças e adolesceantes com FC. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, que incluiu pacientes com idades entre 6 e 14 anos, provenientes de um centro de referência no Brasil. Realizou-se avaliação antropométrica e da FMR, esta utilizando as pressões inspiratória (PImáx) e expiratória máximas (PEmáx) por meio da manovacuômetria digital (Globalmed® MVD300). Aplicou-se o Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire (QFC), questionário específico para a avaliar a QV nessa doença, nas versões para crianças (QFC-C) e para os pais ou responsáveis (QFC-R). A gravidade da doença foi classificada segundo o escore de Schwachman Doeurshuk (ESD). Dados sobre a colonização de bactérias e o genótipo da doença foram consultados por meio da análise dos prontuários. Analisou-se os dados por meio do software SPSS version 20.0 for Windows. Após o teste Shapiro-Wilk, aplicou-se o teste de correlação de Pearson ou Spearman. Em toda a análise foi adotado nível de significância de 5%. Participaram do estudo 28 crianças (15 meninos) com média de idade de 10,10±1,79 anos, as quais apresentaram FMR próxima ao predito e pontuações do QFC indicando boa QV. O ESD relacionou-se negativamente com domínio digestivo (p=0,03; rho=-0,400). A PEmáx apresentou correlação negativa com domínio corpo do QFC-R (p=0,002; rho=-0,426) e com domínio tratamento do QFC-C (p=0,01; rho=-0,453). A PImáx apresentou correlação positiva com os domínios físico (p=0,03; rho=0,410), emocional (p=≤0,001; rho=0,573) e tratamento (p=≤0,01; rho=-0,605) do QFC-C. A PImáx também mostrou correlação positiva com o domínio respiratório (p=0,01; rho=0,572) do QFC-R. Em conclusão, identificou-se associação entre domínios da QV e FMR, bem como com o ESD e aspectos nutricionais. Essa amostra apresentou valores de FMR acima do esperado e boa QV.

Single layer suturing in intracapsular myomectomy of intramural myomas is sufficient for a normal wound healing

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate surgical outcomes of intracapsular single-layer myomectomy in terms of efficacy and safety as well as examine potential alterations based on kind of surgical approach.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed between January 2010 and December 2018. Women in reproductive age, affected by intramural or subserous myomas (FIGO type 3-6) of 4-14 cm diameter were enrolled. Primary outcomes included initial and final uterine incision length, time to wound healing and uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies. Furthermore, a sub-analysis was also performed regarding surgical approach, namely laparoscopical or laparoscopically-assisted myomectomy, in order to confirm whether overall observations are similar for both potential surgical approaches.

RESULTS

There were finally 273 patients included in the present study. Overall mean uterine incision was initially 3.1 cm and was shortened to 2.2 cm at the end of operation, indicating a reduction of 29.1 %. Mean estimated blood loss was 154.2 mL and mean operative time was 82.1 min. No severe intraoperative and postoperative complications were presented. 121 of the studied women had pregnancy 3-36 months after myomectomy, without reporting any uterine rupture. When comparing LIM vs. LAIM, all outcomes were also favorable in the total of patients.

CONCLUSION

Intracapsular myomectomy either by LIM or LAIM is a safe and attractive alternative to abdominal myomectomy in setting of premenopausal patients with myomas up to 14 cm. A single-layer continuous suturing in intracapsular myomectomies is enough for a successful wound healing.

Acute Pulmonary Exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis

With the improving survival of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and the advent of highly effective cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator therapy, the clinical spectrum of this complex multisystem disease continues to evolve. One of the most important clinical events for patients with CF in the course of this disease is an acute pulmonary exacerbation. Clinical and microbial epidemiology studies of CF pulmonary exacerbations continue to provide important insight into the disease course, prognosis, and complications. This work has now led to a number of large scale clinical trials with the goal of improving the treatment paradigm for CF pulmonary exacerbation. The primary goal of this review is to provide a summary of the pathophysiology, the clinical epidemiology, microbial epidemiology, outcome and the treatment of CF pulmonary exacerbation.

Força muscular respiratória e desempenho no Modified Shuttle Walk Test em escolares com fibrose cística

RESUMO O Modified Shuttle Walk Test (MSWT) é um teste de exercício potencialmente máximo que, associado à avaliação da força muscular respiratória (FMR), reflete a condição respiratória e a capacidade de exercício de escolares com fibrose cística (FC). O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar a relação entre FMR e distância percorrida (DP) no MSWT realizado por escolares com FC e comparar os dados obtidos com valores preditos na literatura. Trata-se de um estudo observacional transversal que incluiu escolares com FC. Realizou-se avaliação antropométrica, espirometria e FMR, utilizando as pressões inspiratória máxima (PImáx) e expiratória máxima (PEmáx) por meio da manovacuometria. Dois MSWT foram realizados, com intervalo de 30 minutos entre eles. Verificou-se a distribuição dos dados pelo teste de Shapiro-Wilk e aplicou-se teste t pareado para comparação entre valores das avaliações e predito, bem como para comparação entre gêneros. Aplicou-se teste de Pearson para correlação entre PImáx e PEmáx e DP no MSWT. Aceitou-se significância de 5%. Participaram 28 crianças (9,9±1,9 anos) destas, 57,14% apresentaram PImáx abaixo do predito (15 crianças) e 53,57% da PEmáx (16 crianças). A média da DP foi 730,4±266,1m, abaixo do predito na literatura. Não houve relação entre DP e FMR. Identificou-se correlação moderada entre valores de PImáx e PEmáx (r=0,58 e p=0,01). Não houve relação entre FMR e desempenho no MSWT nos escolares com FC estudados. A FMR, bem como o DP no MSWT, apresentou-se abaixo do predito na literatura.

Supporting medication adherence for adults with cystic fibrosis: a randomised feasibility study

BACKGROUND

Preventative medication reduces hospitalisations in people with cystic fibrosis (PWCF) but adherence is poor. We assessed the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention, which combines display of real time adherence data and behaviour change techniques.

METHODS

Design: Pilot, open-label, parallel-group RCT with concurrent semi-structured interviews.

PARTICIPANTS

PWCF at two Cystic Fibrosis (CF) units. Eligible: aged 16 or older; on the CF registry. Ineligible: post-lung transplant or on the active list; unable to consent; using dry powder inhalers.

INTERVENTIONS

Central randomisation on a 1:1 allocation to: (1) intervention, linking nebuliser use with data recording and transfer capability to a software platform, and behavioural strategies to support self-management delivered by trained interventionists (n = 32); or, (2) control, typically face-to-face meetings every 3 months with CF team (n = 32).

OUTCOMES

RCT feasibility defined as: recruitment of ≥ 48 participants (75% of target) in four months (pilot primary outcome); valid exacerbation data available for ≥ 85% of those randomised (future RCT primary outcome); change in % medication adherence; FEV1 percent predicted (key secondaries in future RCT); and perceptions of trial procedures, in semi-structured interviews with intervention (n = 14) and control (n = 5) participants, interventionists (n = 3) and CF team members (n = 5).

RESULTS

The pilot trial recruited to target, randomising 33 to intervention and 31 to control in the four-month period, June-September 2016. At study completion (30th April 2017), 60 (94%; Intervention = 32, Control =28) participants contributed good quality exacerbation data (intervention: 35 exacerbations; control: 25 exacerbation). The mean change in adherence and baseline-adjusted FEV1 percent predicted were higher in the intervention arm by 10% (95% CI: -5.2 to 25.2) and 5% (95% CI -2 to 12%) respectively. Five serious adverse events occurred, none related to the intervention. The mean change in adherence was 10% (95% CI: -5.2 to 25.2), greater in the intervention arm. Interventionists delivered insufficient numbers of review sessions due to concentration on participant recruitment. This left interventionists insufficient time for key intervention procedures. A total of 10 key changes that were made to RCT procedures are summarised.

CONCLUSIONS

With improved research processes and lower monthly participant recruitment targets, a full-scale trial is feasible.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN13076797 . Prospectively registered on 07/06/2016.

High-resolution computed tomography findings in young infants with cystic fibrosis detected by newborn screening

OBJECTIVE

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) allows the early detection of pathological changes in the lung structure, and reproducible scoring systems can be used to quantify chest computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of the study was to describe early HRCT findings according to a validated scoring system in infants with CF diagnosed by newborn screening (NBS).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included infants with CF diagnosed by NBS who were born between January 2013 and January 2017 and who underwent HRCT scanning within the first year after diagnosis when they were clinically stable. The CT scans were evaluated using the modified Bhalla score.

RESULTS

Thirty-two subjects underwent HRCT scanning. The mean total-modified Bhalla score was 3.6±2.1, and 93.8% of the scans were abnormal. Pseudomonas aeruginosa airway colonization was associated with increased modified Bhalla score values. Bronchial wall thickening was the most common feature (90.6%), followed by bronchial collapse/consolidation (59.4%), mosaic attenuation/perfusion (50%), bronchiectasis (37.5%) and mucus plugging (15.6%). Bronchial wall thickening was diffuse in most of the patients.

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of infants diagnosed with CF after detection by NBS already showed evidence of lung disease. P. aeruginosa colonization was associated with increased Bhalla scores, highlighting the importance of this CF pathogen in early structural lung disease. The presence of bronchial wall thickening at such a young age may reflect the presence of airway inflammatory processes. The detection and quantification of structural abnormalities with the modified Bhalla score may aid in the identification of lung disease before it is clinically apparent.

Reevaluating approaches to cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by intermittent acute episodes of worsening signs, symptoms, and pulmonary function; these so-called pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) appear to be important drivers of long-term declines in lung function, quality of life, and life expectancy. Surveillance for development of PEx and their treatment is a fundamental component of chronic CF management, and the merits of novel CF therapies are often judged based on their ability to reduce the frequency of PEx. Given the central role that they play, it is surprising how poorly PEx are understood, how thin is the evidence base for their treatment and how often they are left unrecognized and untreated in clinical practice. This paper reviews what is known and what is unknown regarding the nature of PEx, and discusses the impact of missed recognition and treatment of these episodes as well as the apparent variation in practice across CF care centers. The arguments supporting a liberal, highly sensitive approach to the diagnosis of PEx are presented, as well as recommendation for how care programs can achieve consistency in their early recognition and treatment. A stepwise approach to personalized treatment supported by close follow-up to ensure the successful resolution of all signs and symptoms will lead to the stabilization of patients' lung function and quality of life. Recommendations are made regarding important priorities for research into evidence-based approaches to improving the care of PEx.

Accelerating the Drug Delivery Pipeline for Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis-Knowledge Gaps and Research Opportunities: Overview Summary of a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Workshop

A workshop was sponsored by the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, on July 25, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Penn. The workshop was designed to bring together a multidisciplinary group of experts to accelerate the development of therapeutics for clinical application in inflammatory diseases of the exocrine pancreas. Three separate working groups (acute pancreatitis, recurrent acute pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis) were formed to address the needs, gaps, and opportunities. The working groups included patients with pancreatic diseases, pharmaceutical company leaders, basic scientists, clinical researchers, and representatives from the US Food and Drug Administration to assist with regulatory considerations and to identify the unmet needs, research targets, and opportunities to provide direction for successful development of therapeutic agents in these diseases. This article represents the summary of the overview presentations at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases workshop including an ongoing drug trial in acute pancreatitis; a successful drug development network developed by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; and considerations for subject selection in drug trials, incorporating Food and Drug Administration guidelines on clinical trial design and clinical outcome measures. The summaries of each working group follow separately in accompanying articles.

Congruence Between Pulmonary Function and Computed Tomography Imaging Assessment of Cystic Fibrosis Severity

In cystic fibrosis, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and computed tomography are used to assess lung function and structure, respectively. Although both techniques of assessment are congruent there are lingering doubts about which PFTs variables show the best congruence with computed tomography scoring. In this study we addressed the issue by reinvestigating the association between PFTs variables and the score of changes seen in computed tomography scans in patients with cystic fibrosis with and without pulmonary exacerbation. This retrospective study comprised 40 patients in whom PFTs and computed tomography were performed no longer than 3 weeks apart. Images (inspiratory: 0.625 mm slice thickness, 0.625 mm interval; expiratory: 1.250 mm slice thickness, 10 mm interval) were evaluated with the Bhalla scoring system. The most frequent structural abnormality found in scans were bronchiectases and peribronchial thickening. The strongest relationship was found between the Bhalla sore and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). The Bhalla sore also was related to forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, residual volume (RV), and RV/total lung capacity (TLC) ratio. We conclude that lung structural data obtained from the computed tomography examination are highly congruent to lung function data. Thus, computed tomography imaging may supersede functional assessment in cases of poor compliance with spirometry procedures in the lederly or children. Computed tomography also seems more sensitive than PFTs in the assessment of cystic fibrosis progression. Moreover, in early phases of cystic fibrosis, computed tomography, due to its excellent resolution, may be irreplaceable in monitoring pulmonary damage.

Potential for Therapeutic Benefit among Cystic Fibrosis Populations Excluded from Clinical Trials or Labeling of Marketed Therapies

Remarkable advances in the management of individuals born with cystic fibrosis (CF) would not have been realized without empiric trial and error by CF clinicians with treatments developed and available for other purposes. As the testing and registration of CF-specific treatments have increased, so too have associated health care costs, particularly those of chronic medications. The transition of CF from a lethal pediatric disease to a life-shortening one with an adult majority, concurrent with sharp increases in chronic medication costs, has placed many CF treatments under increased scrutiny by third-party payers, particularly when prescribed to individuals from CF subpopulations that may not have been included in registration trials. Despite overall health improvements in the CF cohort and the increasing availability of CF-specific therapies, many physicians remain tasked with managing the health of patients from subpopulations that may be too young, too sick, or too complicated to have been included in clinical trials. An understanding of why particular CF subpopulations may have been excluded from registration trials, as well as consideration of a treatment's described mechanism of action, can support assessment for the potential for benefit (and risk) in these populations and help physicians advocate for patient access to treatments.

Effect of oral glycine on the clinical, spirometric and inflammatory status in subjects with cystic fibrosis: a pilot randomized trial

Background

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have airway inflammation that contributes to symptoms and to pulmonary function derangement. Current drugs used to diminish airway inflammation improve the clinical and spirometric status of patients with CF, but their use is limited due to their undesired side effects, for example, glucose intolerance, growth retardation, and cataracts with corticosteroids, gastrointestinal toxicity with ibuprofen, and macrolide resistance with azythromycin. Glycine is known to decrease activation of inflammatory cells, including alveolar macrophages and neutrophils, and is relatively inexpensive, palatable, and virtually devoid of untoward effects. These features make glycine a good candidate for antiinflammatory treatment of CF. Thus, we aimed to explore whether glycine can exert a beneficial effect in a population of patients with CF.

Methods

This was a randomized, double blinded, cross-over pilot clinical trial. Subjects with CF received, in random order, oral glycine (0.5 g/kg/day, dissolved in any liquid) and placebo (glass sugar), each during 8 weeks with an intermediate 2-week wash-out period.

Results

Thirteen subjects aged 6–23 years, 8 females, completed the two arms of the study. As compared with placebo, after glycine intake patients had better symptom questionnaire scores (p = 0.02), mainly regarding sputum features and dyspnea. While spirometric variables tended to decline during placebo intake, they remained stable or even increased during glycine treatment (p = 0.04 to p = 0.003). In this context, FEV₁ declined 8.6% after placebo and increased 9.7% at the end of the glycine period. Pulse oximetry improved after glycine intake (p = 0.04 vs. placebo). TNF-α in serum and IL-6 and G-CSF in sputum tended to decline at the end of the glycine period (p = 0.061, p = 0.068 and p = 0.04, respectively, vs placebo). Glycine was remarkably well tolerated.

Conclusions

The clinical, spirometric and inflammatory status of subjects with CF improved after just 8 weeks of glycine intake, suggesting that this amino acid might constitute a novel therapeutic tool for these patients. Thus, further studies are warranted.

Trial registration

www.clinicaltrials.gov, registration number: NCT01417481, date of registration: March 12, 2012.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12890-017-0528-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Respiratory System Disease

Respiratory system involvement in cystic fibrosis is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene throughout the sinopulmonary tract result in recurrent infections with a variety of organisms including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and nontuberculous mycobacteria. Lung disease occurs earlier in life than once thought and ideal methods of monitoring lung function, decline, or improvement with therapy are debated. Treatment of sinopulmonary disease may include physiotherapy, mucus-modifying and antiinflammatory agents, antimicrobials, and surgery. In the new era of personalized medicine, CFTR correctors and potentiators may change the course of disease.

Recommendations and evidence for reporting items in pediatric clinical trial protocols and reports: two systematic reviews

BACKGROUND

Complete and transparent reporting of clinical trial protocols and reports ensures that these documents are useful to all stakeholders, that bias is minimized, and that the research is not wasted. However, current studies repeatedly conclude that pediatric trial protocols and reports are not appropriately reported. Guidelines like SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials) and CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) may improve reporting, but do not offer guidance on issues unique to pediatric trials. This paper reports two systematic reviews conducted to build the evidence base for the development of pediatric reporting guideline extensions: 1) SPIRIT-Children (SPIRIT-C) for pediatric trial protocols, and 2) CONSORT-Children (CONSORT-C) for pediatric trial reports.

METHOD

MEDLINE, the Cochrane Methodology Register, and reference lists of included studies were searched. Publications of any type were eligible if they included explicit recommendations or empirical evidence for the reporting of potential items in a pediatric protocol (SPIRIT-C systematic review) or trial report (CONSORT-C systematic review). Study characteristics, recommendations and evidence for pediatric extension items were extracted. Recurrent themes in the recommendations and evidence were identified and synthesized. All steps were conducted by two reviewers.

RESULTS

For the SPIRIT-C and CONSORT-C systematic reviews 366 and 429 publications were included, respectively. Recommendations were identified for 48 of 50 original reporting items and sub-items from SPIRIT, 15 of 20 potential SPIRIT-C reporting items, all 37 original CONSORT items and sub-items, and 16 of 22 potential CONSORT-C reporting items. The following overarching themes of evidence to support or refute the utility of reporting items were identified: transparency; reproducibility; interpretability; usefulness; internal validity; external validity; reporting bias; publication bias; accountability; scientific soundness; and research ethics.

CONCLUSION

These systematic reviews are the first to systematically gather evidence and recommendations for the reporting of specific items in pediatric protocols and trials. They provide useful and translatable evidence on which to build pediatric extensions to the SPIRIT and CONSORT reporting guidelines. The resulting SPIRIT-C and CONSORT-C will provide guidance to the authors of pediatric protocols and reports, respectively, helping to alleviate concerns of inappropriate and inconsistent reporting, and reduce research waste.

Efficacy response in CF patients treated with ivacaftor: post-hoc analysis

Clinical studies in patients with cystic fibrosis and G551D-CFTR showed that the group treated with ivacaftor had improved clinical outcomes. To better understand the effect of ivacaftor therapy across the distribution of individual FEV(1) responses, data from Phase 3 studies (STRIVE/ENVISION) were re-examined. In this post-hoc analysis of patients (n = 209) who received 48 weeks of ivacaftor or placebo, patients were assigned to tertiles according to FEV(1) response. These groups were then used to evaluate response (FEV(1), sweat chloride, weight, CFQ-R, and pulmonary exacerbation). The number needed to treat (NNT) was calculated for specific thresholds for each outcome. Across all tertiles, numerical improvements in FEV(1), sweat chloride, CFQ-R and the frequency of pulmonary exacerbations were observed in ivacaftor-treated patients: the treatment difference versus placebo was statistically significant for all outcomes in the upper tertile and for some outcomes in the lower and middle tertiles. The NNT for a ≥ 5% improvement in %predicted FEV(1) was 1.90, for a ≥ 5% body weight increase was 5.74, and to prevent a pulmonary exacerbation was 3.85. This analysis suggests that the majority of patients with clinical characteristics similar to STRIVE/ENVISION patients have the potential to benefit from ivacaftor therapy.

Identification of neutrophil activation markers as novel surrogate markers of CF lung disease

Background and aims

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by progressively declining lung function and represents a major factor contributing to the high morbidity and mortality associated with CF. However, apart from spirometry, respiratory disease surrogate markers reliably indicating CF lung disease and the occurrence of pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) are still lacking. Within this study, we aimed to identify new experimental biomarkers for the detection of CF lung disease.

Methods

54 adult and 26 pediatric CF patients were included in the study and serum concentrations of MMP-1, -2, -8, -9, -13, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, YKL-40, hyaluronic acid, procollagen III peptide were quantified by ELISA. CF lung disease was diagnosed by lung function test, PEx was defined based on a clinical scoring established by Rosenfeld in 2001.

Results

Adults and children with moderate to severe CF lung disease exhibited significantly increased serum expression of MMP-8, MMP-9, YKL-40 and TIMP-1. Further, MMP-8, MMP-9 and YKL-40 were significantly increased in adult CF patients suffering from PEx compared to those without clinical signs of respiratory exacerbation. MMP-8, MMP-9, YKL-40, and TIMP-1 serum levels were unaffected by the presence or absence of CF liver disease or pancreatic insufficiency.

Conclusions

MMP-8, MMP-9, and YKL-40 might serve as novel non-invasive biomarkers of CF lung disease and PEx.

Pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis: assessment with chest CT at chest radiography dose levels

PURPOSE

To investigate a computed tomographic (CT) protocol with iterative reconstruction at conventional radiography dose levels for the assessment of structural lung abnormalities in patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF cystic fibrosis ).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this institutional review board-approved study, 38 patients with CF cystic fibrosis (age range, 6-58 years; 21 patients <18 years and 17 patients >18 years) underwent investigative CT (at minimal exposure settings combined with iterative reconstruction) as a replacement of yearly follow-up posteroanterior chest radiography. Verbal informed consent was obtained from all patients or their parents. CT images were randomized and rated independently by two radiologists with use of the Bhalla scoring system. In addition, mosaic perfusion was evaluated. As reference, the previous available conventional chest CT scan was used. Differences in Bhalla scores were assessed with the χ(2) test and intraclass correlation coefficients ( ICC intraclass correlation coefficient s). Radiation doses for CT and radiography were assessed for adults (>18 years) and children (<18 years) separately by using technical dose descriptors and estimated effective dose. Differences in dose were assessed with the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

The median effective dose for the investigative protocol was 0.04 mSv (95% confidence interval [ CI confidence interval ]: 0.034 mSv, 0.10 mSv) for children and 0.05 mSv (95% CI confidence interval : 0.04 mSv, 0.08 mSv) for adults. These doses were much lower than those with conventional CT (median: 0.52 mSv [95% CI confidence interval : 0.31 mSv, 3.90 mSv] for children and 1.12 mSv [95% CI confidence interval : 0.57 mSv, 3.15 mSv] for adults) and of the same order of magnitude as those for conventional radiography (median: 0.012 mSv [95% CI confidence interval : 0.006 mSv, 0.022 mSv] for children and 0.012 mSv [95% CI confidence interval : 0.005 mSv, 0.031 mSv] for adults). All images were rated at least as diagnostically acceptable. Very good agreement was found in overall Bhalla score ( ICC intraclass correlation coefficient , 0.96) with regard to the severity of bronchiectasis ( ICC intraclass correlation coefficient , 0.87) and sacculations and abscesses ( ICC intraclass correlation coefficient , 0.84). Interobserver agreement was excellent ( ICC intraclass correlation coefficient , 0.86-1).

CONCLUSION

For patients with CF cystic fibrosis , a dedicated chest CT protocol can replace the two yearly follow-up chest radiographic examinations without major dose penalty and with similar diagnostic quality compared with conventional CT.

Translational research in pediatrics III: bronchoalveolar lavage

The role of flexible bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for the care of children with airway and pulmonary diseases is well established, with collected BAL fluid most often used clinically for microbiologic pathogen identification and cellular analyses. More recently, powerful analytic research methods have been used to investigate BAL samples to better understand the pathophysiological basis of pediatric respiratory disease. Investigations have focused on the cellular components contained in BAL fluid, such as macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells, as well as the noncellular components such as serum molecules, inflammatory proteins, and surfactant. Molecular techniques are frequently used to investigate BAL fluid for the presence of infectious pathologies and for cellular gene expression. Recent advances in proteomics allow identification of multiple protein expression patterns linked to specific respiratory diseases, whereas newer analytic techniques allow for investigations on surfactant quantification and function. These translational research studies on BAL fluid have aided our understanding of pulmonary inflammation and the injury/repair responses in children. We review the ethics and practices for the execution of BAL in children for translational research purposes, with an emphasis on the optimal handling and processing of BAL samples.

Rationale and design of a randomized trial of home electronic symptom and lung function monitoring to detect cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations: the early intervention in cystic fibrosis exacerbation (eICE) trial

BACKGROUND

Acute pulmonary exacerbations are central events in the lives of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Pulmonary exacerbations lead to impaired lung function, worse quality of life, and shorter survival. We hypothesized that aggressive early treatment of acute pulmonary exacerbation may improve clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE

Describe the rationale of an ongoing trial designed to determine the efficacy of home monitoring of both lung function measurements and symptoms for early detection and subsequent early treatment of acute CF pulmonary exacerbations.

STUDY DESIGN

A randomized, non-blinded, multi-center trial in 320 individuals with CF aged 14 years and older. The study compares usual care to a twice a week assessment of home spirometry and CF respiratory symptoms using an electronic device with data transmission to the research personnel to identify and trigger early treatment of CF pulmonary exacerbation. Participants will be enrolled in the study for 12 months. The primary endpoint is change in FEV1 (L) from baseline to 12 months determined by a linear mixed effects model incorporating all quarterly FEV1 measurements. Secondary endpoints include time to first acute protocol-defined pulmonary exacerbation, number of acute pulmonary exacerbations, number of hospitalization days for acute pulmonary exacerbation, time from the end of acute pulmonary exacerbation to onset of subsequent pulmonary exacerbation, change in health related quality of life, change in treatment burden, change in CF respiratory symptoms, and adherence to the study protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is a first step in establishing alternative approaches to the care of CF pulmonary exacerbations. We hypothesize that early treatment of pulmonary exacerbations has the potential to slow lung function decline, reduce respiratory symptoms and improve the quality of life for individuals with CF.

Prospective evaluation of respiratory exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis from newborn screening to 5 years of age

BACKGROUND

Newborn screening allows novel treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) to be trialled in early childhood before irreversible lung injury occurs. As respiratory exacerbations are a potential trial outcome variable, we determined their rate, duration and clinical features in preschool children with CF; and whether they were associated with growth, lung structure and function at age 5 years.

METHODS

Respiratory exacerbations were recorded prospectively in Australasian CF Bronchoalveolar Lavage trial subjects from enrolment after newborn screening to age 5 years, when all participants underwent clinical assessment, chest CT scans and spirometry.

RESULTS

168 children (88 boys) experienced 2080 exacerbations, at an average rate of 3.66 exacerbations per person-year; 80.1% were community managed and 19.9% required hospital admission. There was an average increase in exacerbation rate of 9% (95% CI 4% to 14%; p<0.001) per year of age. Exacerbation rate differed by site (p<0.001) and was 26% lower (95% CI 12% to 38%) in children receiving 12 months of prophylactic antibiotics. The rate of exacerbations in the first 2 years was associated with reduced forced expiratory volume in 1 s z scores. Ever having a hospital-managed exacerbation was associated with bronchiectasis (OR 2.67, 95% CI 1.13 to 6.31) in chest CT scans, and lower weight z scores at 5 years of age (coefficient -0.39, 95% CI -0.74 to -0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Respiratory exacerbations in young children are markers for progressive CF lung disease and are potential trial outcome measures for novel treatments in this age group.

Selective reporting of outcomes in randomised controlled trials in systematic reviews of cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Outcome reporting bias (ORB) in randomised trials has been identified as a threat to the validity of systematic reviews. Previous work highlighting this problem is limited to considering a single primary review outcome. The aim of this study was to assess ORB across all efficacy outcomes in the Cochrane systematic reviews of cystic fibrosis.

METHODS

Systematic reviews of interventions for cystic fibrosis published on the Cochrane Library by the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group before 2010 were assessed for discrepancies in outcomes between review protocol and full review. ORB in eligible trials was also assessed for all efficacy review outcomes. Two authors independently classified each outcome using a nine-point classification system developed by the Outcome Reporting Bias In Trials study. These classifications were used to inform the assessment of the risk of bias for selective outcome reporting for each trial.

RESULTS

-46 Cochrane cystic fibrosis systematic reviews were included. The median number of primary outcomes, number of trials and participants per trial in the reviews were 3 (IQR 2, 3), 4 (IQR 2, 8) and 21 (IQR 14, 41), respectively. 18 reviews (39%, 18/46) had a discrepancy in outcomes between protocol and full review. 37 reviews were eligible to be included in the ORB assessment. When considering review primary outcomes and all review outcomes, ORB was suspected in at least one trial in 86% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of ORB within a systematic review of a single primary outcome underestimates the risk of ORB in comparison to the assessment of multiple primary and secondary outcomes. ORB in trials is highly prevalent within systematic reviews of cystic fibrosis when assessed across all outcomes. This could be reduced by the development of a core outcome set for trials and systematic reviews in cystic fibrosis.

Serum proteome profiling identifies novel and powerful markers of cystic fibrosis liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cystic Fibrosis associated liver disease (CFLD) develops in approximately 30% of CF patients. However, routine sensitive diagnostic tools for CFLD are lacking. Within this study, we aimed to identify new experimental biomarkers for the detection of CFLD.

METHODS

45 CF patients were included in the study and received transient elastography. Differential regulation of 220 different serum proteins was assessed in a subgroup of patients with and without CFLD. Most interesting candidate proteins were further quantified and validated by ELISA in the whole patient cohort. To assess a potential relation of biomarker expression to the degree of hepatic fibrosis, serum biomarkers were further determined in 18 HCV patients where liver histology was available.

RESULTS

43 serum proteins differed at least 2-fold in patients with CFLD compared to those without liver disease as identified in proteome profiling. In ELISA quantifications, TIMP-4 and Endoglin were significantly up-regulated in patients with CFLD as diagnosed by clinical guidelines or increased liver stiffness. Pentraxin-3 was significantly decreased in patients with CFLD. Serum TIMP-4 and Endoglin showed highest values in HCV patients with liver cirrhosis compared to those with fibrosis but without cirrhosis. At a cut-off value of 6.3 kPa, transient elastography compassed a very high diagnostic accuracy and specificity for the detection of CFLD. Among the biomarkers, TIMP-4 and Endoglin exhibited a high diagnostic accuracy for CFLD. Diagnostic sensitivities and negative predictive values were increased when elastography and TIMP-4 and Endoglin were combined for the detection of CFLD.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum TIMP-4 and Endoglin are increased in CFLD and their expression correlates with hepatic staging. Determination of TIMP-4 and Endoglin together with transient elastography can increase the sensitivity for the non-invasive diagnosis of CFLD.

Utilização da técnica de resistência do interruptor na avaliação da resistência das vias aéreas em pacientes com fibrose cística

OBJETIVO: Medir a resistência de vias aéreas utilizando a técnica de resistência do interruptor (Rint) em pacientes com fibrose cística (FC) e correlacioná-la com parâmetros espirométricos, assim como avaliar a acurácia de Rint para determinar a resposta das vias aéreas a um broncodilatador. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 38 crianças e adolescentes com FC acompanhados no Ambulatório de FC do Hospital São Lucas, em Porto Alegre (RS). Após a determinação de Rint, os pacientes foram submetidos à espirometria. Para a avaliação da resposta ao broncodilatador, as medições foram repetidas após o uso de salbutamol inalatório. RESULTADOS: Houve uma forte correlação entre o inverso de Rint e VEF1 (r = 0,8; p < 0,001) e moderadas correlações entre o inverso de Rint e FEF25-75% (r = 0,74; p < 0,001) e entre o inverso de Rint e índice de massa corpórea (r = 0,62; p < 0,001). A curva ROC foi utilizada na comparação da resposta ao broncodilatador determinada por Rint com aquela determinada por valores espirométricos. Para um ponto de corte de -28% para Rint, a área sob a curva foi de 0,75, com uma sensibilidade de 66% e uma especificidade de 82%. CONCLUSÕES: Nossos achados indicam que Rint apresenta uma boa correlação com parâmetros espirométricos, embora a técnica Rint não tenha sido suficientemente acurada para substituir a espirometria na avaliação da resposta ao broncodilatador.

Outcome measures for clinical trials assessing treatment of cystic fibrosis lung disease

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex genetic disease characterized by death from loss of lung function. Therapies target pathophysiologic changes associated with pulmonary disease progression. Although therapeutic mechanisms differ, efficacy demonstration is limited to a few accepted outcome measures, each with shortcomings that are becoming more pronounced as CF population health improves. Pulmonary function improvement (as forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV₁]) and reduction of pulmonary exacerbation risk are commonly used outcomes. Changes in FEV₁ decline rate, quality of life, linear growth and/or weight gain are less utilized outcomes. Validated outcomes tend to work best in subjects with more aggressive or advanced lung disease and less so in healthier subjects. Assays of effects on primary therapeutic targets have yet to be validated as surrogate measures of clinical efficacy. As CF population health improves, it will become increasingly difficult to employ current clinical outcome measures to demonstrate efficacy.

Using bacterial biomarkers to identify early indicators of cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbation onset

Acute periods of pulmonary exacerbation are the single most important cause of morbidity in cystic fibrosis patients, and may be associated with a loss of lung function. Intervening prior to the onset of a substantially increased inflammatory response may limit the associated damage to the airways. While a number of biomarker assays based on inflammatory markers have been developed, providing useful and important measures of disease during these periods, such factors are typically only elevated once the process of exacerbation has been initiated. Identifying biomarkers that can predict the onset of pulmonary exacerbation at an early stage would provide an opportunity to intervene before the establishment of a substantial immune response, with major implications for the advancement of cystic fibrosis care. The precise triggers of pulmonary exacerbation remain to be determined; however, the majority of models relate to the activity of microbes present in the patient's lower airways of cystic fibrosis. Advances in diagnostic microbiology now allow for the examination of these complex systems at a level likely to identify factors on which biomarker assays can be based. In this article, we discuss key considerations in the design and testing of assays that could predict pulmonary exacerbations.

Acceptance and well-being in adolescents and young adults with cystic fibrosis: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To prospectively investigate the role of acceptance in well-being in adolescents and young adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).

METHOD

A total of 40 adolescents and young adults with CF (ages 14-22 years) completed questionnaires assessing acceptance, anxiety and depressive symptoms, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, and social functioning. After 6 months, 28 of them completed the questionnaires on anxiety and depressive symptoms, physical functioning, role functioning, emotional functioning, and social functioning a second time.

RESULTS

More acceptance (Time 1) was related to less depressive symptoms (Time 1 and 2), and to better role, emotional, and social functioning (Time 1).

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate that accepting the limitations imposed by chronic disease and readjusting life goals may have a positive effect upon well-being in adolescents and young adults with CF. Further research is needed to clarify whether acceptance-based interventions are useful in promoting well-being in adolescents and young adults with CF.

Telemonitoring in chronic obstructive airway disease and adult patients with cystic fibrosis

We compared the use of telemonitoring in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Seventy patients (51 CF and 19 COPD) were enrolled in two studies of six months' duration. Patients used a personal data assistant (PDA) attached to a spirometer to score symptoms and to perform daily spirometry. Criteria for diagnosis of exacerbations of COPD and CF were pre-defined. When exacerbations were detected, patients were offered treatment according to a pre-designed protocol. Thirty-two (63%) CF patients and one (5%) COPD patient withdrew from the studies due to lack of adherence to daily recording. For those who remained in the study, COPD patients recorded more study days (139) than CF patients (113), P = 0.03. The median number of exacerbations detected during the study was greater in COPD than in CF patients, although this was not significant. The median number of device-detected exacerbations in the COPD group was significantly greater than in the CF group, P = 0.024. When compared to a parallel period in the previous year, the number of hospitalisations for COPD exacerbations was reduced, whereas the number of intravenous antibiotics in CF patients did not differ. Adherence to telemonitoring was much greater for COPD than CF patients and the results appear to be more favourable for COPD patients than for CF patients.

Bronchiectasis and pulmonary exacerbations in children and young adults with cystic fibrosis

OBJECTIVE

Respiratory tract exacerbation rate (RTE-R) is a key clinical efficacy end point in cystic fibrosis (CF) trials. Chest CT scanning holds great potential as a surrogate end point. Evidence supporting the ability of CT scan scores to predict RTE-R is an important step in validating CT scanning as a surrogate end point. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between CT scan scores and RTE-R in a cohort of pediatric patients with CF.

METHODS

A retrospective review of data from pediatric patients with CF included chest CT scans, spirometry, and 2 years follow-up. RTE-R was defined as the number of IV antibiotics courses per year. CT scans were scored with the Brody-II system, assessing bronchiectasis, airway wall thickening, mucus, and opacities.

RESULTS

One hundred fifteen patients contributed 170 CT scans. Median age and FEV(1) at first CT scan were 12 years (range, 5-20 years) and 90% predicted (range, 23% predicted-132% predicted), respectively. Analyzing exacerbation counts using Poisson regression models, bronchiectasis score and FEV(1) both were found to be strong independent predictors of RTE-R in the subsequent 2 years. For the bronchiectasis score categorized in quartiles, RTE-R increased by factors of 1.8 (95% CI, 0.6-6.1; P = .31), 5.5 (95% CI, 1.9-15.4; P = .001), and 10.6 (95% CI, 3.8-29.4; P < .001), respectively, for each quartile compared with the quartile with the best (ie, lowest) scores. Similarly, time to first respiratory tract exacerbation was significantly associated with quartiles of both bronchiectasis score and FEV(1).

CONCLUSIONS

The CT scan bronchiectasis score is strongly associated with RTE-R in pediatric patients with CF, providing an important piece of evidence in the validation of CT scans as an end point for CF clinical trials.

Treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in adult cystic fibrosis patients: a review

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a complex multisystemic disease requiring specialized care. It is characterized by progressive pulmonary decline, with intermittent worsening of lung function, often called pulmonary exacerbations. Eighty-five percent of all deaths from CF are a result of pulmonary disease, and pulmonary exacerbations are associated with decline in lung function. Treating pulmonary exacerbations requires a multifaceted approach and includes a multidisciplinary team composed of a physician, nurse, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, and nutritionist. Recently, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation published guidelines addressing the comprehensive treatment of pulmonary exacerbations. This article outlines the treatment goals established by these guidelines, including the evaluation and treatment of comorbid conditions (eg, CF-related diabetes) and serious complications associated with CF exacerbations (eg, pneumothorax). Proper treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in CF patients will continue to improve their health and quality of life.

Revealing the dynamics of polymicrobial infections: implications for antibiotic therapy

As a new generation of culture-independent analytical strategies emerge, the amount of data on polymicrobial infections will increase dramatically. For these data to inform clinical thinking, and in turn to maximise benefits for patients, an appropriate framework for their interpretation is required. Here, we use cystic fibrosis (CF) lower airway infections as a model system to examine how conceptual and technological advances can address two clinical questions that are central to improved management of CF respiratory disease. Firstly, can markers of the microbial community be identified that predict a change in infection dynamics and clinical outcomes? Secondly, can these new strategies directly characterize the impact of antimicrobial therapies, allowing treatment efficacy to be both assessed and optimized?

Exercise testing in children with lung diseases

Exercise is an important aspect of health and development in children. By placing the pulmonary system under stress, exercise testing may reveal subtle dynamic abnormalities that are not apparent on conventional static pulmonary function tests. Furthermore, exercise testing assesses the functional impact of respiratory disease on children. Exercise testing has been used in children with a variety of respiratory diseases such as exercise induced bronchoconstriction, asthma, cystic fibrosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia to assess the severity of disease as well as response to various interventions. Furthermore, there is good evidence that exercise testing is a useful tool to help determine prognosis in patients with cystic fibrosis. In addition to the clinical utility, exercise testing is also becoming an increasingly important outcome measure in research studies.