Changes in airway hyperresponsiveness following smoking cessation: Comparisons between Mch and AMP

SummaryBackgroundGiven the observed association between smoking, inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) one may predict that smoking cessation may improve AHR. However, only a few studies have investigated the effect of smoking on AHR and their results appear to be conflicting depending on the stimulus used in their bronchoprovocation protocol. The aim of the current study was to compare changes in AHR between direct (methacholine (Mch)) and indirect (adenosine 5′monophosphate (AMP)) stimuli before and at different time points after smoking cessation in smokers with allergic rhinitis (±asthma).MethodsWe have prospectively studied changes in AHR to inhaled Mch and AMP in smokers with allergic rhinitis (±asthma), before and at 6 and 12 months after smoking cessation.ResultsIt was found that 28% (16/57) of the participants had quit smoking by the end of the study. No significant change in AHR was observed in smoking cessation failures. A significant improvement in AHR to AMP but not Mch was observed 6 months after smoking cessation in quitters; a 1.2 doubling concentrations change in PC20 AMP was measured whereas only a 0.4 doubling concentrations change was observed for PC20 Mch. However, after 12 months smoking cessation the improvement in AHR became significant for both AMP and Mch, their dose–response curves being displaced to the right to a similar extent (1.4 and 1.1 doubling concentrations for AMP and Mch, respectively).ConclusionSmoking cessation can improve AHR in smokers who quit with a 6 months improvement being reported for the airways response to AMP but not Mch. AMP challenge may detect earlier changes in AHR in smokers during smoking cessation

Ultrasound-Guided Infiltrative Treatment Associated with Early Rehabilitation in Adhesive Capsulitis Developed in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

Background and Objectives: Post-COVID-19 syndrome is commonly used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 for more than 12 weeks. The study aimed to evaluate a treatment strategy in patients with adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID-19 syndrome. Materials and Methods: The method used was an interventional pilot study in which 16 vaccinated patients presenting with the clinical and ultrasound features of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed during post-COVID-19 syndrome were treated with infiltrative hy- drodistension therapy under ultrasound guidance associated with early rehabilitation treatment. Results: Sixteen patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome treated with ultrasound-guided infiltration and early rehabilitation treatment showed an important improvement in active joint ROM after 10 weeks, especially in shoulder elevation and abduction movements. The VAS mean score before the treatment was 6.9 ± 1.66. After 10 weeks of treatment, the VAS score was 1 ± 0.63. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the management of adhesive capsulitis (phase 1) developed in post-COVID- 19 syndrome, as conducted by physiotherapists in a primary care setting using hydrodistension and a rehabilitation protocol, represented an effective treatment strategy

Ultraviolet optical properties of silica controlled by hydrogen trapping at Ge-related defects

International audienceWe studied the effects induced by the ultraviolet-laser and -lamp exposure sequences on the twofold coordinated germanium (=Ge··) and the H(II) center (=Ge·-H) in silica. The H(II) centers, generated after the first laser irradiation stage by the trapping of atomic hydrogen H0 at the (=Ge··), are destroyed by the subsequent lamp exposure with efficiency depending on photon energy. The H(II) photodestruction is activated from ~4 eV, and its cross section is here quantitatively measured, so giving the absorption profile of this center. Consistent with the observed correlated recovering of (=Ge··), the photodestruction is mainly due to the photolysis of the G-H bond leading to hydrogen detrapping

Ultraviolet optical properties of silica controlled by hydrogen trapping at Ge-related defects

International audienceWe studied the effects induced by the ultraviolet-laser and -lamp exposure sequences on the twofold coordinated germanium (=Ge··) and the H(II) center (=Ge·-H) in silica. The H(II) centers, generated after the first laser irradiation stage by the trapping of atomic hydrogen H0 at the (=Ge··), are destroyed by the subsequent lamp exposure with efficiency depending on photon energy. The H(II) photodestruction is activated from ~4 eV, and its cross section is here quantitatively measured, so giving the absorption profile of this center. Consistent with the observed correlated recovering of (=Ge··), the photodestruction is mainly due to the photolysis of the G-H bond leading to hydrogen detrapping

Optical and photonic material hardness for energetic environments

We studied the effects of dielectric change in the chemical composition and in the realization procedures under radiation exposure. We have compared the radiation effects on Ge-doped and F-doped fibers and preforms: the first play a crucial role in the photosensitivity property, the second improves the dielectric radiation hardness even at low concentrations. The use of different spectroscopic techniques (RIA, OA, EPR) allow the identification of the point defect formation mechanisms at the origin of the optical degradation properties

Radiation-Induced Defects in Fluorine-doped Silica-Based Optical Fibers: Influence of the H2-Loading

International audienceWe investigated the effects of 10-keV X-ray radiation on the transmission properties of F-doped optical fibers in the 200-850 nm range of wavelengths (1.5 – 6 eV). The influence of a H2-loading of the fiber on its radiation sensitivity is also presented

Optical and photonic material hardness for energetic environments

We studied the effects of dielectric change in the chemical composition and in the realization procedures under radiation exposure. We have compared the radiation effects on Ge-doped and F-doped fibers and preforms: the first play a crucial role in the photosensitivity property, the second improves the dielectric radiation hardness even at low concentrations. The use of different spectroscopic techniques (RIA, OA, EPR) allow the identification of the point defect formation mechanisms at the origin of the optical degradation properties