A recent study showed that the use of respiratory distress symptom intervention (RDSI) has shown to be an effective and low-risk intervention in aiding the management of the respiratory distress symptom cluster in individuals diagnosed with lung cancer. This study’s findings were published in the journal, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

A total of 263 patients diagnosed with lung cancer were enrolled in this clinical trial, with 132 patients assigned to receive RDSI and 131 patients assigned to receive standard care. To be eligible for the trial, participants had to self-report experiencing adverse effects in their daily lives from at least two out of the three symptoms, in any combination. The outcomes measured were the changes in each symptom within the cluster, namely Dyspnoea-12 (D-12), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness-Fatigue, and Manchester Cough in Lung Cancer (MCLC) at the 12-week mark.

Nearly 60% of the participants reported experiencing all three symptoms at the baseline. By the end of the trial, there was a total attrition of 109 participants (41.4%). When compared to the control group, the RDSI group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in D-12 (p=0.007) and MCLC (p<0.001). Each outcome reached the minimal clinically important difference (MCID): MCLC -5.49 (MCID >3), D-12 -4.13 (MCID >3), and FACIT-F 4.91 (MCID >4).

Thus, RDSI has proven its effectiveness and safety in supporting the management of the respiratory distress symptom cluster in patients with lung cancer. However, it is important to consider the significant attrition observed in the study while interpreting these findings.

According to a recent study, thymus vulgaris (TV) syrup may be an effective adjunctive therapy in the management of asthma exacerbations in children. This study’s results were published in the journal, Allergologia et Immunopathologia.

In this triple blinded, randomized clinical trial, a total of 60 children aged between 5 and 12, who were experiencing asthma exacerbations, were divided into two groups. The intervention group, consisting of 30 children, received TV powder in syrup form at a dosage of 20 mg/kg every 8 hours, in addition to their regular medical treatment, for a duration of one week. On the other hand, the control group, also comprising 30 children, received a placebo syrup along with their regular medical treatment. At the end of the week, clinical and laboratory symptoms, as well as spirometry data, were recorded again for both groups.

Following the intervention, there was a decrease in activity-induced cough, with a statistically significant difference observed between the two groups (p = 0.042). Analysis of spirometry data revealed a significant variance in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) between the two groups post-intervention (p = 0.048).

Thus, it can be concluded that TV syrup may be a beneficial supplementary treatment in the control of asthma exacerbations among children.

According to a recent study, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the severity of non-specific chronic cough to some extent, regardless of treatment duration. This study’s results were published in the journal, Scientific Reports.

This study included placebo-controlled randomized trials where the impact of acid-suppressive medications on persistent cough was assessed. A systematic search was carried out on November 1, 2022, across three databases. The calculations was conducted utilizing a random-effects model. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was the effect size. The meta-analysis included a total of 11 double-blinded placebo-controlled randomized trials.

Data indicated that PPIs reduced cough severity compared to placebo (SMD 0.33, confidence interval 0.05; 0.61). There was no difference in therapeutic response between patients with non-specific chronic cough and those with laryngopharyngeal reflux. Longer treatment durations did not lead to significant symptomatic improvement, with SMD values of 0.33 (confidence interval - 0.22; 0.88), 0.31 (confidence interval - 1.74; 2.35), 0.32 (confidence interval - 0.29; 0.93), and 0.34 (confidence interval - 0.16; 0.85) after four, six, eight, and twelve weeks of treatment, respectively. The pooled analysis of quality of life improvement with proton pump inhibitors showed an SMD of 0.39 (confidence interval - 0.51; 1.29).

Therefore, it can be concluded that PPIs lead to a mild decrease in the severity of non-specific chronic cough, regardless of how long the treatment lasts.

According to a recent study, nintedanib exhibited reduced deterioration of dyspnoea, fatigue, and cough, along with the impact of interstitial lung disease (ILD) over a duration of 52 weeks in progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) patients, as indicated by the changes in Living with Pulmonary Fibrosis (L-PF) questionnaire scores. This study's findings were published in the European Respiratory Journal.

This study included 663 patients who had a fibrosing[DKJ1] [SB2]  interstitial lung disease (ILD) other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that affected more than 10% of their lungs on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and met the interstitial lung disease progression criteria within before 24 months. They were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either nintedanib or placebo. Mixed models for repeated measures were used to analyze the variations in L-PF questionnaire scores from baseline to week 52.

The nintedanib group exhibited significantly smaller increases [worsening’s] in various measures when compared to the placebo group. The adjusted mean L-PF questionnaire total score showed a difference of 0.5 versus 5.1, symptoms score showed a difference of 1.3 versus 5.3, dyspnoea score showed a difference of 4.3 versus 7.8, and fatigue score showed a difference of 0.7 versus 4.0 at week 52. The nintedanib group exhibited a decrease in the L-PF cough score (-1.8) while the placebo group exhibited an increase in the cough score (4.3). Additionally, the L-PF impacts score exhibited a slight reduction (-0.2) in the nintedanib group while the placebo group exhibited an increase (4.6) in the impacts score. These findings were similar among patients with a usual interstitial pneumonia-like fibrotic pattern on HRCT as well as those with other fibrotic patterns on HRCT.

The above study demonstrated that nintedanib decreased the worsening of dyspnoea, fatigue, and cough, as well as the impact of ILD in patients with PPF throughout a 52-week period. This positive effect was measured by the changes observed in the scores of the L-PF questionnaire.