Respiratory Health

Several middle- to low-income countries experience deaths from acute respiratory infections (ARI) at a very high rate, reaching 4 million people per year. In Indonesia, acute respiratory infections (ARI) remain a serious health problem, with Papua recording the highest prevalence (8.5% in 2023), far above the national average (5.1%). Several factors that influence the incidence of ARI include awareness of the disease and proper treatment. When ARI occurs in toddlers, the most important parties are their parents, especially the mother, as the child's primary caregiver. This study aimed to investigate the influence of mothers’ knowledge and behaviour regarding ARI on the incidence of ARI in toddlers in the working area of ​​the Abepura Community Health Center, Papua. This research was conducted using a questionnaire instrument consisting of an informed consent section, respondent personal data, knowledge of ARI and attitudes towards ARI. The result showed demographic data of respondents and the incidence of ARI had no relation with mothers’ knowledge and behaviour about ARI and the treatment (indicated by the significance value > 0.05). The absence of this relationship may be influenced by the heterogeneous number of samples per category, and the perceptions and respondents’ personal conditions.

ARTICLE DETAILS Several middle-to low-income countries experience deaths from acute respiratory infections (ARI) at a very high rate, reaching 4 million people per year. In Indonesia, acute respiratory infections (ARI) remain a serious health problem, with Papua recording the highest prevalence (8.5% in 2023), far above the national average (5.1%). Several factors that influence the incidence of ARI include awareness of the disease and proper treatment. When ARI occurs in toddlers, the most important parties are their parents, especially the mother, as the child's primary caregiver. This study aimed to investigate the influence of mothers' knowledge and behaviour regarding ARI on the incidence of ARI in toddlers in the working area of the Abepura Community Health Center, Papua. This research was conducted using a questionnaire instrument consisting of an informed consent section, respondent personal data, knowledge of ARI and attitudes towards ARI. The result showed demographic data of respondents and the incidence of ARI had no relation with mothers' knowledge and behaviour about ARI and the treatment (indicated by the significance value > 0.05). The absence of this relationship may be influenced by the heterogeneous number of samples per category, and the perceptions and respondents' personal conditions.

Indoor cooking with solid biomass fuels is a daily practice in 30% of poor Filipino households, contributing to a 76% accruable burden of respiratory diseases. As indoor air pollution is a worsening burden in the Philippines, this study aimed to determine whether the use of a Fuel-Efficient Stove (FES) would reduce exposure and perceived respiratory symptoms, as compared with the traditional Three-Stone Fire (TSF) stoves, in two sub-units (30 households each) of Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Methodology. The study utilized a quasi-experimental interventional design. A laboratory analysis comparing the FES and TSF carbon monoxide (CO) point emission levels, and performance was done. Mothers aged 25 years old and above using solid biomass fuels indoors were selected using simple random sampling. The participants answered a questionnaire on perceived respiratory symptoms, and 10% from the experimental group was tested for ambient and stove CO concentrations before and after the stove deployment. Results. Results showed that the FES significantly reduced CO concentrations for both in the laboratory setting (77.18%) and in the household setting (overall 79.32%). The Water Boiling Test for stove efficiency showed that, in the laboratory, the FES boiled water 43.16% faster, and consumed 27.59% less wood per minute while heating 60.16% more water per gram of wood by transmitting 171.43% more heat to the pot, as compared to the TSF. After the three-month period, there were observed decreases in almost all respiratory symptoms in the experimental group, but these were not statistically significant. Conclusion. The FES was found to be more efficient and produced less emissions but did not significantly decrease respiratory health symptoms in the study population.

This publication examines respirable crystalline silica exposure within the ornamental stone and engineered stone industries through a multidisciplinary perspective combining occupational health science, industrial hygiene, worker-centered observation, and fabrication industry experience.

Drawing from OSHA, NIOSH, CDC, peer-reviewed medical literature, and real-world fabrication environments, this work explores the progression of silicosis, the rise of engineered stone-associated disease, and the urgent importance of modern dust control practices and occupational safety education.

Unlike traditional technical publications, this work incorporates the lived perspective of a hands-on stone industry professional in order to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and the daily realities of exposed workers.

The use of molecular tools with a great capacity to detect and differentiate strains of Pneumocystis has resulted: in the identification of low numbers of P. jiroveci organisms in clinically silent, colonized, immunocompromised patients and in immunocompetent persons. Considering this information, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of P. jiroveci carriers (subclinical infections) in Portuguese patients with pulmonary disorders and in healthy individuals. A total of 45 pulmonary specimens were collected from 45 immunocompetent adults with pulmonary disorders, and 37 oral washings from 37 healthy adults, between March 2001 and February 2004. All samples were analysed by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies and by amplification of the LSU mtrRNA by nested PCR. The results obtained in this study indicate that: 1) P. jiroveci is frequently detected (24.4%) in patients with pulmonary disorders in Portugal; 2) this population might play a role in circul...

INTRODUCTION Smoking and depression frequently co-occur, posing a major public health challenge. While the physical benefits of smoking cessation are well established, its impact on depressive disorders remains debated. Clarifying this relationship is essential for optimizing mental health interventions. METHODS We conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials and longitudinal cohort studies assessing changes in depressive symptoms following smoking cessation among adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with depressive disorders. In addition, the reference lists of three relevant meta-analyses were screened to identify additional eligible primary studies, but these meta-analyses were not counted as included studies. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO up to 30 April 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool for RCTs and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Effect sizes were pooled using a random-effects (DerSimonian-Laird) model, and heterogeneity (I²) was evaluated. RESULTS A total of 22 primary studies (10 randomized controlled trials and 12 cohort studies; >30000 participants) met the inclusion criteria, and 18 contributed to the quantitative synthesis. The primary outcome -change in depressive symptom severity measured using validated scales (PHQ-9, BDI, CES-D, HAM-D) -showed a pooled standardized mean difference of -0.25 (95% CI: -0.37 --0.12; p<0.001), indicating a modest but significant reduction in depressive symptoms among abstainers. Findings were consistent across study designs and populations, with moderate heterogeneity (I² about 60%). CONCLUSIONS This review provides consistent evidence that smoking cessation is safe and beneficial for individuals with depressive disorders, improving depressive symptoms and psychological well-being. Although some individuals experience transient increases in symptoms post-cessation, structured support effectively mitigates these effects. Integrating cessation treatment within mental healthcare and developing scalable, tailored interventions should be prioritized in future research.

Background: Ambient particulate air pollution is a major environmental determinant of acute respiratory morbidity, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions such as Punjab, Pakistan, where recurrent smog episodes coincide with increased healthcare demand. However, locally derived, hospital-based estimates quantifying short-term pollution-related emergency respiratory burden remain limited. Objective: To evaluate the association between short-term ambient air pollutant exposure, particularly PM₂.₅, and daily emergency department (ED) respiratory visits in an urban tertiary-care setting. Methods: A hospital-based ecological time-series study was conducted from 1 January to 31 December 2023. All ED visits with a primary respiratory diagnosis were included. Daily ambient pollutant concentrations (PM₂.₅, PM₁₀, NO₂, SO₂, O₃, CO) were obtained from official monitoring stations and linked to daily respiratory visit counts. Associations were estimated using negative binomial regression models adjusted for temperature, humidity, day of week, and seasonal trends, with evaluation of lag structures (0–3 days) and short moving averages. Results: A total of 1,680 respiratory ED visits were recorded (mean 26.5/day). Each 10 µg/m³ increase in same-day PM₂.₅ was associated with a 3.2% increase in daily respiratory visits (IRR 1.032; 95% CI 1.018–1.046; p < 0.001), with stronger effects observed for the 3-day moving average (IRR 1.041; 95% CI 1.022–1.061). Associations were more pronounced for asthma (IRR 1.048) and COPD exacerbations (IRR 1.039) than for pneumonia/LRTI. Conclusion: Short-term increases in ambient PM₂.₅ are significantly associated with heightened emergency respiratory demand, supporting integration of air-quality surveillance into hospital preparedness and urban pollution-control strategies.

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of Levolin 50 mcg Inhaler, highlighting its composition, mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, dosage, and safety profile. It also covers its role in managing asthma and COPD, along with key clinical benefits and precautions for effective respiratory care.

Background: To date, determinants of respiratory health in First Nations people living on reserves and means of addressing and redressing those determinants have not been well established. Hence the Saskatchewan First Nations Lung Health Project (FNLHP) is a new prospective cohort study of aboriginal people being conducted in two First Nations reserves to evaluate potential health determinants associated with respiratory outcomes. Using the population health framework (PHF) of Health Canada, instruments designed with the communities, joint ownership of data, and based on the 4-phase concept of the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey, the project aims to evaluate individual factors, contextual factors, and principal covariates on respiratory outcomes. The objective of this report is to clearly describe the methodology of (i) the baseline survey that consists of two components, an interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinical assessment; and (ii) potential intervention programs; and present descriptive results of the baseline data of longitudinal FNLHP.

Foreign body aspiration refers to accidental inhalation of foreign body into the respiratory tract. More commonly observed in children, foreign body aspiration is less common in adults. Traditionally observed amongst Indian women, nose piercing and jewellery are gaining popularity in various communities for the past decade. Aspiration of tiny nose jewellery such as nose stud screws is a serious and potentially fatal event. Small foreign bodies may dislodge further into the subsegmental bronchus, rendering bronchoscopic retrieval technically challenging. Herein, we report the first 2 cases of nose stud screw aspiration. Both of our patients were asymptomatic. Both foreign bodies were successfully retrieved via bronchoscopy using different tools and methods.

Background: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is an emerging technique for obtaining lung biopsy. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the performance and safety of TBLC performed on diffuse peripheral pulmonary lesions (DPPL) and localized peripheral pulmonary lesions (LPPL). Methods: 58 patients underwent TBLC. They were divided into two groups (DPPL and LPPL) based on radiological findings. The patients' demographic data, procedural details, complications, and radiological and pathologic diagnostic results were analyzed. Results: The overall diagnostic yield for TBLC was 72.4%. In the subgroup analysis, the diagnostic yield was 74.3% for DPPL and 69.6% for LPPL. For LPPL, the overall diagnostic yield was 87.5% and 12.5% for lesions with positive and negative bronchus signs, respectively (P = 0.01). In both groups, the success of TBLC was not influenced by the size, number, or location of the biopsy. Thirty-two (82%) patients had mild bleeding, while six (15.4%) had moderate bleeding. Pneumothorax occurred in four (6.9%) patients, with three patients requiring chest tube drainage. The mean duration of hospital stay was longer for patients who either bled or developed pneumothorax compared to those who did not (5.64 days vs. 3.47 days; P = 0.014) and (14.25 days vs. 4.24 days; P = 0.035) respectively. Conclusion: TBLC provided an acceptable diagnostic yield for DPPL and LPPL under fluoroscopy guidance without the use of ancillary devices such as radial endobronchial ultrasound or guide sheath. The safety profile of TBLC corresponded with a low incidence of pneumothorax and manageable bleeding complications with the routine use of an endobronchial balloon.