British Airways (United Kingdom)

Abstract Rationale: Asthma is characterized by airflow obstruction and type 2 inflammation. Oscillometry identifies small airways dysfunction as resistance between 5 and 20Hz (Rrs5-20). We hypothesized whether integrating point-of-care physiological and inflammatory measures might better stratify exacerbation risk and poor symptom control. Objectives: A proof-of-concept study to assess whether combining oscillometry, as Rrs5-20, spirometry as FEV1 and type 2 inflammation as FeNO, may identify an at-risk asthma phenotype. Methods: 617 participants with moderate to severe asthma were included from two severe asthma centers in Dundee, UK and Bergamo, Italy as part of the Oscillometry Asthma Registry (OAR). Oscillometry was considered abnormal if resistance between 5Hz and 20Hz as ≥0.10kPa/L/s. Spirometry was impaired as FEV1<80% predicted. FeNO was considered elevated as ≥25ppb. Symptom control was assessed either using the GINA symptom assessment tool (n=360) or ACQ (n=257). Measurements and Main Results: Individuals with the triple asthma phenotype characterized by FEV1, Rrs5-20 and FeNO had the greatest likelihood for ≥2 severe exacerbations and poor symptom control (figure 1a/b). The triple phenotype was associated with an 89% and 98% greater likelihood of ≥2 severe asthma exacerbations and poor symptom control respectively. Conclusions: The present results highlight the importance of fully characterizing asthma phenotypes using a combination of airway physiology and type 2 inflammation. If refined and validated, this composite score could be used as a rapid point-of-care clinical risk-stratification tool. Figure 1 (a) Likelihood of ≥2 severe exacerbations using composite of Rrs5-20, FEV1 and FeNO. Green denotes aOR between 1 – 3.99; orange 4 – 7.99; red ≥8. (b) Likelihood of uncontrolled symptoms using Rrs5-20, FEV1 and FeNO. Green denotes aOR between 1 – 4.99; yellow 5 – 14.99; orange 15 – 39.99; red ≥40. Cut points: FeNO≥25ppb; FEV1<80%; and Rrs5-20≥0.10kPa/L/s. [asterisk][asterisk]p<0.01 [asterisk][asterisk][asterisk]p<0.001

Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) can be incidentally detected in patients undergoing low-dose CT screening for lung cancer. In this retrospective study, we explore the downstream impact of ILA detection on interstitial lung disease (ILD) diagnosis and treatment. Using a targeted approach in a lung cancer screening programme, the rate of de novo ILD diagnosis was 1.5%. The extent of abnormality on CT and severity of lung function impairment, but not symptoms were the most important factors in differentiating ILA from ILD. Disease modifying therapies were commenced in 39% of ILD cases, the majority being antifibrotic therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Traffic injuries and deaths are important road traffic issues worldwide, road accidents are a major reason of death, killing around 1.24 million people yearly and leaving 20–50 million be distressed with injuries, traffic accidents are still considered the prime factor in cause of mortality between 5–14 years old children and among 15–29 years old young adults [1]. These numbers could have been reduced if the vehicles had been travelling at more appropriate speed. The most commonly reported factors linked to the severity of accidents and deaths are due to reckless speeding or drivers may drive within the speed limits, but they are not aware of the sudden changes on road condition that could affect their safety and the safety of other road users. In response to the needed speed limit enforcement to save lives, health, and economy, this work presents a system that helps to minimize the speed-related accidents. The system is remotely operated and instantly preventing vehicles from speeding. The traffic management authorities can enforce the optimum safe speed limit whenever and wherever necessary in real time while the vehicles are running on the roads.

The paper briefly presents some models of aircraft considered avant-garde in 2020 and it is part of the reviews on news in aviation and aerospace. It briefly presents some basic features, news and more important data for each new model on display, so that the reader can get an image of that model but also an overall one, to compare different models from a particular manufacturer with each other, as well as with those belonging to another manufacturer. Aircraft manufacturers are constantly concerned with modifying their aircraft and building other new models that meet customer requirements as much as possible, but at the same time lead to reductions in total fuel consumption used in flight, to reduce pollution due to flights and the negative effects on planetary ecosystems, as well as the increase in the quality and safety of air travel.

The Boeing 777 (sometimes referred to as Triple 7) is a large-capacity subsonic long-haul bomber aircraft built by the American company Boeing. This type of aircraft holds the current record of autonomy for commercial jets (17,450 km without food). Other special features of the aircraft include the perfect circular fuselage, a set of six wheels on each axle of the landing gear and the ability to be equipped with the high-performance General Electric GE90 engine. The 777 has been exclusively designed using CAD technology (with CATIA version 3), being the first airplane designed without building test structures before. Verification of joints and construction techniques has also been done digitally, with all the structures built up being included in the actual aircraft. The aircraft was designed to serve as an immediately superior Boeing 767 model and was built in airline consultancy (United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, ANA, British Airways, JAL, Qantas and Cathay Pacific) came from United Airlines in 1990 and the first flight took place on June 14, 1994, at the Boeing factory in Everett, near Seattle. It was the first ETOPS 180 bimonthly aircraft (it can fly up to 180 min from any airport able to take it). It is one of the best-selling (two-color) passenger airplanes in history, of which 988 were ordered, of which 635 were already delivered to the airlines. Its main competitors are Airbus A330 (for medium distance routes), Airbus A340 (for long-distance routes, with the claim that this model has the disadvantage of having four engines) and the future of the Airbus A350XWB-1000. Boeing plans to replace the model with the Yellowstone 3 code model in 2012-2015. The aircraft is equipped with modern technologies: Digital flight instruments offered by Honeywell LCD panels, fly-by-wire control, manual back-up systems, fully controllable avionics from software, use of composite materials on a larger surface (9% by mass), optical fiber as the primary transmission and control system for avionics, the largest and most powerful engine ever installed in a commercial aircraft (GE90-115B1) and the largest landing gear plus, the landing train allows the highest maximum weight on a wheel of all commercial jets - 23.73 t). The aircraft also uses classic technologies - such as the classic jump, unlike the Airbus models that have switched to joysticks. Similarly, the front section (section 41) is identical to that of the Boeing 767. For the comfort of pilots and crew members over long distances, there is a special resting space above the passenger cabin, complete with beds. In fact, the entire interior of the plane was new and then used in other models.

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common monogenic disease that is eventually lethal. It is characterized by chronic bacterial infection of the lung and affecting additional organs including pancreas and liver. Neutrophils form the largest number of inflammatory cells in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients. Previous studies have shown that the killing function of neutrophils in CF patients is preserved, but maybe influenced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) colonization during the disease progression. Objective: To evaluate the phagocytosis and bacterial killing of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) by neutrophils in CF patients in comparison with cells of healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Our study was conducted in 10 CF patients (confirmed by clinical examination, sweat test and mutational analysis) in the Masih Daneshvari hospital (Tehran, Iran) and 10 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects in 2017. Neutrophils were isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with CF patients and control subjects. The cells were incubated with SA and PA -labeled with GFP in a FLUOstar OPTIMA Microplate Fluorescent Reader. The fluorescence was measured over time as a measure of bacterial counts. Results: Neutrophils of CF patients were able to contain SA for long periods of time (72±5 h) that were significantly longer than by cells from healthy control (25±6 h) P≤0.05). Whereas, no differences in releasing of PA was observed. Our data support the hypothesis that neutrophils of CF patients exhibit a primed phenotype that enables them to contain SA longer than unprimed cells isolated from control individuals.

BackgroundEpigenetic variations in peripheral blood have potential as biomarkers for disease. This systematic review assesses the association of lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with DNA methylation profiles in peripheral blood from population-based studies.MethodsOnline databases Medline, Embase, and Web of Science were searched. Google Scholar was searched to identify grey literature. After removing duplicate articles, 1155 articles were independently screened by two investigators. Peer reviewed reports on population-based studies that examined peripheral blood DNA methylation in participants with measured lung function (FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio) or known COPD status were selected for full-text review. Six articles were suitable for inclusion. Information regarding study characteristics, designs, methodologies and conclusions was extracted. A narrative synthesis was performed based on published results.ResultsThree of the six articles assessed the association of COPD with DNA methylation, and two of these also included associations with lung function. Overall, five reports examined the association of lung function with DNA methylation profiles. Five of the six articles reported ‘significant’ results. However, no consistent CpG sites were identified across studies for COPD status or lung function values.ConclusionsDNA methylation patterns in peripheral blood from individuals with reduced lung function or COPD may be different to those in people with normal lung function. However, this systematic review did not find any consistent associations of lung function or COPD with differentially methylated CpG sites. Large studies with a longitudinal design to address reverse causality may prove a more fruitful area of research.Trial registrationPROSPERO 2016: CRD42016037352.