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Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are major chronic conditions. It is possible to limit their impact by controlling symptoms, which limits exacerbations and worsening of the disease, by choosing the appropriate treatment and ensuring that the patient adheres to it. The main purpose of this study was to assess medication adherence and persistence with inhaled medications for chronic treatment of asthma and COPD, as well as to evaluate the factors influencing this adherence. Medication adherence was measured from January 2013 to December 2016 using continuous multiple-interval measures of medication availability (CMA). Persistence was evaluated by treatment episodes (TE). We analyzed the influence of different factors on CMA such as sex, age, type of device, and the realization of the "new medicines service" (NMS), introduced in Belgium in October 2013 to support patients in adhering to their treatment. We also analyzed the consumption of these inhaled medications within the Belgian population and compared them with the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommendations. Medication adherence varied greatly between the different pharmacological classes: inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone or in combination with long-acting beta agonists (LABA) had the lowest medication adherence and persistence, while adherence was highest for the long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) and LABA/LAMA associations. The NMS seemed to have a positive impact on medication adherence, although few patients completed the two guidance interviews offered by the service. In addition, only a minority of the targeted patients took advantage of this new service.

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BACKGROUND: Persistent tachypnea of infancy (PTI) is the most common interstitial lung disease in young children. As no standardized therapeutic guidelines exist, different pharmaceuticals are used to treat PTI; inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and bronchodilators being mostly used. This observation assessed the effectiveness of bronchodilators and ICS in children with PTI enrolled in the children's interstitial lung diseases (chILD)-EU Register. METHODS: Symptomatic children with PTI were observed according to a predetermined stepwise protocol including bronchodilators as the first choice treatment (6 weeks). In patients with incomplete response, additionally, ICS was given (12 weeks). Signs, symptoms, and pulmonary function were evaluated at three time points: at baseline, 6 (±1) weeks after initiation of bronchodilators, and 12 (±1) weeks after bronchodilators/ICS. RESULTS: Thirty-one children (median age: 44 months, interquartile range [IQR]: 15-67) were included. The therapy was associated with a significant reduction of tachypnea (53.3% of patients, p = 0.02), exercise intolerance (52.2% of patients, p < 0.001), chest retractions (43.8% of patients, p = 0.04), and crackles (29.2% of patients, p = 0.02). Also, a significant improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) (median z score: -2.21 vs. -0.47, p = 0.03), residual volume (RV) (median z score 5.28 vs. 1.07, p = 0.007), RV% total lung capacity (TLC) (median z score: 6.05 vs. 1.48, p = 0.01), sRaw (median z score: 6.6 vs. 4.64, p = 0.01), R5 (median z score: 1.27 vs. 0.31, p = 0.009), and R5-R20 (median: 0.58 vs. 0.26 kPa/(l/s), p = 0.002) was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled bronchodilators and ICS may exert a positive effect on the severity of symptoms and pulmonary function test (PFT) in symptomatic children with PTI. However, a randomized control trial should be conducted to confirm their effectiveness.

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The emphysema death toll has steadily risen over recent decades, causing the disease to become the third most common cause of death worldwide in 2019. Emphysema is currently incurable and could be due to a genetic condition (Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency) or exposure to pollutants/irritants, such as cigarette smoke or poorly ventilated cooking fires. Despite the growing burden of emphysema, the mechanisms behind emphysematous pathogenesis and progression are not fully understood by the scientific literature. A key aspect of emphysematous progression is the destruction of the lung parenchyma extracellular matrix (ECM), causing a drastic shift in the mechanical properties of the lung (known as mechanobiology). The mechanical properties of the lung such as the stiffness of the parenchyma (measured as the elastic modulus) and the stretch forces required for inhalation and exhalation are both reduced in emphysema. Fibroblasts function to maintain the structural and mechanical integrity of the lung parenchyma, yet, in the context of emphysema, these fibroblasts appear incapable of repairing the ECM, allowing emphysema to progress. This relationship between the disturbances in the mechanical cues experienced by an emphysematous lung and fibroblast behaviour is constantly overlooked and consequently understudied, thus warranting further research. Interestingly, the failure of current research models to integrate the altered mechanical environment of an emphysematous lung may be limiting our understanding of emphysematous pathogenesis and progression, potentially disrupting the development of novel treatments. This review will focus on the significance of emphysematous lung mechanobiology to fibroblast activity and current research limitations by examining: (1) the impact of mechanical cues on fibroblast activity and the cell cycle, (2) the potential role of mechanical cues in the diminished activity of emphysematous fibroblasts and, finally, (3) the limitations of current emphysematous lung research models and treatments as a result of the overlooked emphysematous mechanical environment.

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Introduction: Poor adherence to inhaled medication is a commonly encountered problem among children with asthma. However, there is a relatively paucity of data regarding the adherence of children with severe asthma, as well as the merit of any interventions to improve this adherence. Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to identify the available literature on the rate of adherence and the influence of interventions in improving adherence to controller inhaled medication, in children with severe asthma. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases. Studies were included in the present review if their target population were children and/or adolescents with severe asthma and presented data on medication adherence before and after a given intervention. Results: A total of seven studies, conducted in USA, Canada, and UK, and published between 2012 and 2018, met the inclusion criteria. Adherence to controller medication was assessed via either objective or subjective measures (questionnaires), or a combination of them. Interventions included communication during pediatric visits and audio-taped medical visits, individualized care programs, electronic monitoring devices, interactive website and peak-flow prediction with feedback. Adherence rates for the baseline (before intervention) or for the control groups ranged from 28 to 67%. In general, there was a significant improvement of adherence after intervention with rates increasing to 49-81%. Conclusion: Adherence rate in children with severe asthma is not satisfactory but it can be improved after proper interventions. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity among adherence assessment tools, and the variety of interventions, in combination with the lack of studies focusing on severe asthma, highlight the need for further research in this field.

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INTRODUCTION: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate if animated cartoons could increase the cooperation of young children with asthma during the delivery of their inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). METHODS: Subjects were children aged 6-47 months having a physician diagnosis of asthma, who required an ICS therapy delivered through a pMDI/spacer twice a day for at least 2 months. Families who reported on a questionnaire that their child was frequently crying or moving during treatment delivery were asked to participate in a prospective, cross-over, randomized study. After a first week of run-in, children watched alternatively, during the delivery of ICS, either an animated cartoon for 7 days and a black screen video for another 7 days. The main outcome was the median percentage of time of non-cooperation, defined by the length of time the child was crying and/or moving divided by the length of time required for delivering ICS. RESULTS: Parents of 50 children out of 113 (44%) reported that their child was frequently crying or moving during treatment delivery. Among these 50 children, 11 (22%) completed the study. The median percentages of time of non-cooperation (IQR 1-3) were 0% (0-3) and 56% (40-97) during the distraction and control periods, respectively, in the first group, and 100% (98-100) and 0% (0-5) during the control and distraction periods, respectively, in the second group. Animated cartoons increased cooperation up to 97% (55-100%) (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Bad cooperation among young children with asthma during the delivery of their treatment can be dramatically improved by the use of animated cartoons.

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INTRODUCTION: Asthma and COPD are under-diagnosed and undertreated in adult populations, mainly due to the discrepancy between guideline recommendations and clinicians' practices. One of the reasons of this discrepancy is the difficulty encountered in real life in sharing the management of chronic respiratory diseases between general practitioners (GPs) and respiratory physicians. METHODS: An explorative, population-based investigation was performed to test whether, and to what extent, an active collaboration between GPs and pulmonologists increases the diagnosis and proper treatment of chronic obstructive airway diseases. The "COPD action" involved an in-house intervention by pulmonologists who trained GPs on how to diagnose the disease and interpret the spirometry, yielding a final agreed diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 210 subjects (M/F: 156/54; age: 62.5 ± 13.8, mean ± SD) were consecutively invited by 20 GPs and classified in a) healthy, b) symptomatic with no airway obstruction, and 3) affected by chronic respiratory diseases. 11% of previously defined "healthy" subjects were diagnosed with COPD, and symptomatic subjects were diagnosed with asthma (20%) or COPD (23%). In addition, in those who already carried a diagnosis of chronic respiratory diseases as judged by GPs, the diagnosis of COPD decreased significantly after respiratory specialist intervention (p = 0.001), in favor of asthma and chronic bronchitis. Furthermore, following the clinical and lung function assessments performed by the respiratory physicians, changes in inhaled treatments were statistically significant for each therapeutic category (test-retest reliability: r = 0.42; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the collaboration between GPs and pulmonologists based on a pro-active approach to the individuals attending the primary care offices followed by an in-house intervention by specialists may largely improve the diagnosis and management of chronic respiratory diseases.

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Asthma in older populations is characterized by frequent comorbid conditions, which increase the risk of side effects and of detrimental interactions between respiratory and non-respiratory drugs. These observations lead to the need to manage asthma in older populations by applying a multidimensional assessment and a multidisciplinary treatment; therefore, we favor the use of the 'geriatric' term to define asthma in the elderly. Geriatric asthma is a complex disease, which may not necessarily imply that it is also complicated, although the two conditions may often coexist. On this basis, the switch from an organ-driven management to the holistic approach may be the key factor to attain optimal control of the disease in this age range. The current review discusses the age-related factors affecting asthma treatment in the oldest individuals, such as the comorbid conditions, and age-related changes of metabolism and excretion that can impair the efficacy and safety of drugs.

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The major influencing factors on persistent asthma control are the selected treatment(s), the drug delivery route and patient's adherence to therapy, together with the influence of lifestyle (i.e. sedentary habit), comorbid conditions and specific asthma phenotypes. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in combination with a long-acting ß2-agonist (LABA) are the gold standard for management of persistent asthma, with maximal local targeting and minimal systemic side effects. Several innovative inhaler devices have been developed for effective local drug administration and good patient compliance to therapy. Recently, a new ICS/LABA fixed combination, formulated with fluticasone propionate (FP) and formoterol fumarate (FF), has been proposed for maintenance treatment of asthma in adults and adolescent patients. FP/FF combines the anti-inflammatory and bronchodilating properties of powerful compounds in a single inhaler. Its pharmacological characteristics allow rapid speed of onset and dosage flexibility required for step-up and step-down strategies, improving adherence to treatment of asthmatic patients. The efficacy of the FP/FF fixed combination at all dosages in controlling asthma symptoms and the reduced rate of discontinuation have been demonstrated by all randomized trials conducted so far.

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Inhaled therapies are widely prescribed. Several aspects of these treatments were considered during the 4th meeting of the aerosol therapy workgroup (GAT) of the French-speaking respiratory society (Société de pneumologie de langue française [SPLF]). In this report, will be detailed the medications delivered by the nasal route, particularly corticosteroids and vaccines as well as the ultra long-acting beta2-agonists, and inhaled therapies for asthma due to allergy to cat dander.

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The working group on aerosol therapy (GAT) of the Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française (SPLF) has organized its third Aerosolstorming in 2012. During one single day, different aspects of inhaled therapies have been treated and are detailed in two articles, this one being the second. This text deals with the indications of inhaled corticosteroids in ENT, the development and technical challenges of powder inhalers, the advantages and disadvantages of each type of technologies to measure the particle sizes of inhaled treatments.

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Objective To observe the influence of long-term treatment with inhaled corticosteroid on biochemical bone indexes and bone mineral density (BMD) in children with asthma. Methods The design was a randomized, paralleled group study with 3 low dose regiments of 100, 200,300 micrograms of budesonide per day in 45 children with asthma aged 5-8 years old for 12 months. Before inhaled corticosteroid therapy and 6th,12th month,clinical effects were observed and lung function(FEV1) was measured; concentration of serum osteocalcin(OST),insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1),bony alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and urinary deoxypyridinolin: creatinine (DPD/Cr) were measured; BMD was examined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results Clinical evaluation was improved and there was significant increase in FEV1 of asthmatic children. The amount of serum OST was slightly higher,yet no significant compared with that of normal control group. There was significant increase of serum BALP in asthmatic children after treatment; there was significant increase in serum IGF-1 of patients group after treatment compared with in normal children at the same age group; there was significant decrease in urinary DPD/Cr after treatment.There was no significant decrease in BMD before and after treatment at the hip (neck of femur , trochanter of femur ,Ward′s triangle),the lumber area of the spine (L2-4) and forearm (ultradis, distal). Conclusion Long-term treatment with low does corticosteroid dose not restrictedly affect bone metabolism and BMD in children with asthma.