Thorax Podcast

Lung conditions remain one of the biggest causes of death and cost the economy billions annually. Despite this they receive only 2.5% of total public research investment in the UK. The Asthma + Lung UK charity brought together a number of experts and stakeholders in an effort to improve the working approach to this problem. This group published a letter in Thorax recently with a number of recommendations. One of the authors, Dr. Samantha Walker¹, joins the podcast. Links: Fixing lung health in the UK: accelerating respiratory research and innovationAsthma + Lung UK 1. Research and Innovation, Asthma + Lung UK, London, UK Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The growing use of artificial stone has seen the emergence of an aggressive, progressive respiratory disease, which is causing silicosis in young people. Dr. Johanna Feary¹ ² joins Thorax's Dr. Kate Diomede in the studio, to discuss. They talk through some the UK's earliest cases, the background to this phenomenon, international response, and the broader history of silicosis as a disease. Links: Artificial stone silicosis: a UK case seriesRelationship between cumulative silica exposure and silicosis: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis  1. National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK 2. Department of Occupational Lung Disease, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

A special journal club episode featuring guest-hosts Dr. Kristina Montemayor and Dr. David Furfaro of the PulmPEEPs. They're joined in conversation with Thorax education editor Dr. Christopher Turnbull, and Dr. Imran Howell, author of a recent journal club article in Thorax. Focussing on the theme of airway disease, they discuss the four papers in Imran's roundup, covering topics from nutritional impact on tuberculosis rates to infant vaccination against RSV. Links: Journal clubBlood eosinophil-guided oral prednisolone for COPD exacerbations in primary care in the UK (STARR2): a non-inferiority, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised controlled trialNutritional supplementation to prevent tuberculosis incidence in household contacts of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in India (RATIONS): a field-based, open-label, cluster-randomised, controlled trialThe airway microbiome mediates the interaction between environmental exposure and respiratory health in humansRespiratory syncytial virus infection during infancy and asthma during childhood in the USA (INSPIRE): a population-based, prospective birth cohort study For more from the PulmPEEPs, visit their podcast's website. You can find them Twitter (@PulmPEEPs) and Instagram (pulmpeeps), and hear past episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. To submit a journal club article of your own, you can contact Chris directly - christopher.turnbull@ouh.nhs.uk Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

A new clinical statement from the British Thoracic Society was recently published in Thorax. It describes a building-block approach for how to manage patients with tobacco dependency in a hospital setting. Thorax podcast host Dr. Kate Diomede speaks with two of the authors, Prof. Sanjay Agrawal (1) and Dr. Matthew Evison (2).  Read the statement: Medical management of inpatients with tobacco dependency Further reading: NCSCT online trainingNCSCT briefings and practice guidance (1) Department of Respiratory Medicine, Glenfield Hospital, Institute for Lung Health, Leicester, UK (2) Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

What are the effects of high levels of social media consumption amongst young people? New research published in Thorax quantifies the impact that exposure to marketing on online platforms is having, showing a greater likelihood of smoking or vaping with greater time spent on these platforms. Thorax associate editor Prof. Nick Hopkinson (1) joins Dr. Kate Diomede to discuss the paper's findings. Read the paper: Association of time spent on social media with youth cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use in the UK: a national longitudinal study  (1) Prof. of Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College London, Respiratory Consultant, Royal Brompton Hospital, Associate Editor of Thorax, Chair of ASH (Action on Smoking in Health) UK Charity https://twitter.com/COPDdoc Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Asthma prevalence is increasing around the world, and is theorised to be due to a number of environmental factors. One such factor is a sensitivity to house dust mite (HDM) allergens, which is common in asthma patients. Dr. Klaus Bønnelykke (1) joins the podcast to speak with Dr. Kate Diomede about this topic, following the publication of the paper, "Genetic and T2 biomarkers linked to the efficacy of HDM sublingual immunotherapy in asthma". (1) Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Socioeconomic deprivation is a driving factor in lung cancer rates. With the roll out of a national lung cancer screening programme in the UK, it's important that the right invitation strategies are used for reaching community members who may be at risk. This episode, Dr. Patrick Goodley (@patrick_goodley) joins host Dr. Kate Diomede to discuss the recent paper, "Invitation strategies and participation in a community-based lung cancer screening programme located in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation." Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

What impact do reproductive events, like menarche, miscarriage or menopause have on female lung health? Prof. Gita Mishra (1) joins Thorax host Dr. Kate Diomede to discuss this question. They consider how recurrent fertility issues can point to an increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease later in life, and how variance in oestrogen levels throughout the lifespan affect lung development. The conversation is centred around the recently-published study, "Female Reproductive Histories and the Risk of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease" (https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax-2023-220388). (1) School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Australia Relevant links: A Life Course Approach to Women's Health (2nd ed): https://academic.oup.com/book/46697 Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Lung cancer screening in the UK has only been introduced in recent years, and its processes around smoking cessation guidance may have opportunities for improvement. Visiting the studio today is PhD student Parris Williams (1), to discuss the newly published Thorax research paper, "Immediate smoking cessation support during lung cancer screening: long-term outcomes from two randomised controlled trials" (https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2023/10/24/thorax-2023-220367). Along with social media editor Dr. Kate Diomede, Parris discusses what has been learnt from QuLIT (Quit smoking Lung health Intervention Trial) 1 & 2, and how patients might benefit from greater integration of smoking cessation support during targeted lung health checks.   (1) National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Head and neck consultant Dr. Tobias Todsen (1) joins the podcast from Copenhagen to speak with social media editor Dr. Kate Diomede. The topic of conversation is the recent paper, "Higher SARS-CoV-2 detection of oropharyngeal compared with nasopharyngeal or saliva specimen for molecular testing: a multicentre randomised comparative accuracy study" (https://thorax.bmj.com/content/78/10/1028). They discuss the sensitivity of different test combinations, cultural inclinations for certain kinds of testing, and the cost implications of each approach.   (1) Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology, Rigshospitalet – Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

In a conversation touching on diet, fat distribution, and inflammatory pathways, Dr. Hayley Scott (1) speaks with host Dr. Kate Diomede about the recent paper, “Effect of obesity on airway and systemic inflammation in adults with asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Read the article here: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/78/10/957  (1) School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, The University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Dr. Wei Shen Lim (1) joins Thorax's podcast host and social media editor Dr. Kate Diomede to talk over the recent research paper, “Readmission following hospital admission for community-acquired pneumonia in England”. Read the article here: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2023/07/28/thorax-2022-219925 (1) Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Dr. Kate Diomede, podcast host and Thorax social media editor, is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Smith (1) to discuss a study on the longterm respiratory outcomes for survivors of very preterm birth, titled "Risk factors for poorer respiratory outcomes in adolescents and young adults born preterm." Read the article here: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2023/05/18/thorax-2022-219634  Find more info on the team's work at: https://walyanrespiratory.telethonkids.org.au/news-and-events/2023/may/WALHIP-young-adult-follow-up-study/   (1) Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia   Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Dr. Kate Diomede, podcast host and Thorax social media editor, is joined by Prof. Najib Rahman (1) and Prof. Nick Maskell (2) to discuss the July 2023 update of the British Thoracic Society's guideline for treatment of pleural disease. This document was last updated in 2010, and now accounts for the high quality data provided by more recent trials, as well as modern practices informed by those. Read the guideline here: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/78/Suppl_3/s1 (1) Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit, Oxford University, UK (2) Academic Respiratory Unit, Bristol University, UK   Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - Thorax.BMJ) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. We would love to hear your thoughts on the podcast, you can leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Dr. Kate Diomede, social media editor at Thorax, is joined by Dr. Sam Janes (1) to discuss the history of lung cancer screening, and its use in early detection. They also examine the process and results of his recent paper, "Growing small solid nodules in lung cancer screening: safety and efficacy of a 200 mm3 minimum size threshold for multidisciplinary team referral". The paper is available online: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/78/2/202 (1) Lungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, University College London, UK. Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - @Thorax.BMJ · Pulmonologist) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month.

Dr. Kate Diomede, social media editor at Thorax, is joined by Dr. Yasmin Thanavala (1) to discuss her group's recent research paper, "Not all vaping is the same: differential pulmonary effects of vaping cannabidiol versus nicotine". Their study used a using a mouse model of vaping and in vitro experiments with human cells. The paper is available online: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2023/04/02/thorax-2022-218743 Hear the previous discussion with Prof. Nick Hopkinson on policy relating to vaping and smoking: https://on.soundcloud.com/cjFhd (1) Prof. Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA. Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - @Thorax.BMJ · Pulmonologist) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month.

Dr. Kate Diomede, social media editor at Thorax, is joined by Prof. Nick Hopkinson(1) to delve into the history of smoking policy in the UK, as well as detailing the lay of the land in current smoking-cessation practices, especially pertaining to vaping. Hear the previous discussion with Prof. Andrew Bush on recent developments in paediatric therapy: https://on.soundcloud.com/PY9Nz (1) Prof. of Respiratory Medicine, Imperial College London, Respiratory Consultant, Royal Brompton Hospital, Associate Editor of Thorax, Chair of ASH (Action on Smoking in Health) UK Charity https://twitter.com/COPDdoc Relevant papers and references: Millennium cohort – child smoking uptake related to parents and peers smoking https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30442657/ Confirming the impact of standardised packaging https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33093164/  Effectiveness of ban on smoking in cars with children https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31988266/  Smoking and increased risk from COVID https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33402392/  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34580193/ Javed Khan’s independent report commissioned by UK Govt: Making Smoking Obsolete https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-khan-review-making-smoking-obsolete/making-smoking-obsolete-summary Cochrane systematic review suggests vaping is more effective for smoking cessation than NRT https://www.cochrane.org/CD010216/TOBACCO_can-electronic-cigarettes-help-people-stop-smoking-and-do-they-have-any-unwanted-effects-when-used Recent evidence update on risk of vaping for OHID concludes, “vaping poses only a small fraction of the risks of smoking.” https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nicotine-vaping-in-england-2022-evidence-update/nicotine-vaping-in-england-2022-evidence-update-summary NICE guidance on nicotine vapes to help smokers quit https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng209/chapter/recommendations-on-treating-tobacco-dependence#stop-smoking-interventions British Thoracic Society guidance on tobacco harm reduction https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/document-library/governance-and-policy-documents/position-statements/tobacco-and-smoking-march-2020/ National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training https://www.ncsct.co.uk/publication_Support_stop_vaping.php Cigarette Smoking: An Assessment of Tobacco's Global Environmental Footprint Across Its Entire Supply Chain https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.8b01533 ASH: Use of e-cigarettes (vapes) among young people in Great Britain https://ash.org.uk/uploads/Use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-Great-Britain-2022.pdf Competing interests: None declared. Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - @Thorax.BMJ · Pulmonologist) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month.

In this episode Dr. Kate Diomede, social media editor at Thorax, speaks with Prof. Andrew Bush(1) about the state of paediatric treatment for thoracic issues, including discussion of cystic fibrosis and asthma. Hear the previous discussion with Prof. Ian Hall on the future of respiratory medicine: https://on.soundcloud.com/yb7pJ (1) Consultant paediatric chest physician at Royal Brompton Hospital; Professor of paediatric respirology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London. Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - @Thorax.BMJ · Pulmonologist) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. If you enjoy the Thorax Podcast, please leave us a rating and a review on the Thorax Podcast page on iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thorax-podcast/id343304910.

Dr. Kate Diomede, social media editor at Thorax, speaks with Dr. Anna Podolanczuk(1) and Dr. John Kim(2) about their article, "MUC5B, telomere length and longitudinal quantitative interstitial lung changes: the MESA Lung Study", published in Thorax: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2022/08/04/thorax-2021-218139 Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - @Thorax.BMJ · Pulmonologist) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. (1) Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA (2) Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA This episode was produced by Letícia Amorim and edited by Brian O'Toole. If you enjoy the Thorax Podcast, please leave us a rating and a review on the Thorax Podcast page on iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thorax-podcast/id343304910.

Thorax social media editor, Dr. Puja Mehta, caught up with several Respiratory consultants from across the UK at the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Winter Meeting 2022, and asked them the question, 'What makes the Winter BTS meeting special?' Please engage in the conversation through the social media channels (Twitter - @ThoraxBMJ; Facebook - @Thorax.BMJ · Pulmonologist) and subscribe on your preferred platform, to get the latest episodes directly on your device each month. If you enjoy the Thorax Podcast, please leave us a rating and a review on the Thorax Podcast page on iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/thorax-podcast/id343304910.