Gaseous nitric oxide (NO) is bactericidal in vitro. However whether and how it can be used for the treatment of bacterial lung infections in patients with cystic fibrosis is unclear. Here we assessed the bactericidal effect of intermittently inhaled 160 ppm NO for 30 min every 4 h in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia model in rats. NO significantly reduced P. aeruginosa colony count in rat lungs but did not affect neutrophil myeloperoxidase function methemoglobin percentage nor plasma nitrite/nitrate levels. This regimen warrants exploration in infected patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths worldwide, leading to symptoms of grief among the bereaved. Neither the burden of severe grief nor its predictors are fully known within the context of the pandemic. Aim: To determine the prevalence and predictors of severe grief in family members who were bereaved early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Prospective, matched cohort study. Setting/Participants: Family members of people who died in an acute hospital in Ottawa, Canada between November 1, 2019 and August 31, 2020. We matched relatives of patients who died of COVID (COVID +ve) with those who died of non-COVID illness either during wave 1 of the pandemic (COVID −ve) or immediately prior to its onset (pre-COVID). We abstracted decedents’ medical records, contacted family members >6 months post loss, and assessed grief symptoms using the Inventory of Complicated Grief-revised. Results: We abstracted data for 425 decedents (85 COVID +ve, 170 COVID −ve, and 170 pre-COVID), and 110 of 165 contacted family members (67%) consented to participate. Pre-COVID family members were physically present more in the last 48 h of life; the COVID +ve cohort were more present virtually. Overall, 35 family members (28.9%) had severe grief symptoms, and the prevalence was similar among the cohorts ( p = 0.91). Grief severity was not correlated with demographic factors, physical presence in the final 48 h of life, intubation, or relationship with the deceased. Conclusion: Severe grief is common among family members bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of the cause or circumstances of death, and even if their loss took place before the onset of the pandemic. This suggests that aspects of the pandemic itself contribute to severe grief, and factors that normally mitigate grief may not be as effective.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-associated pulmonary hypertension (COPD-PH) is an increasingly recognised condition which contributes to worsening dyspnea and poor survival in COPD. It is uncertain whether specific treatment of COPD-PH, including use of medications approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), improves clinical outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses potential benefits and risks of therapeutic options COPD-PH.We searched Medline and Embase for relevant publications until Sep 2020. Articles were screened for studies on treatment of COPD-PH for at least 4 weeks in 10 or more patients. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed independently in duplicate. When possible, relevant results were pooled using the random effects model.Supplemental long-term O2 therapy (LTOT) mildly reduced mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), slowed progression of PH, and reduced mortality, but other clinical or functional benefits were not assessed. Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors significantly improved systolic PAP (pooled treatment effect −5.9 mmHg; 95%CI −10.3, −1.6), but had inconsistent clinical benefits. Calcium-channel blockers and endothelin receptor antagonists had limited hemodynamic, clinical, or survival benefits. Statins had limited clinical benefits despite significantly lowering systolic PAP (pooled treatment effect −4.6 mmHg; 95% CI: −6.3, −2.9).This review supports guideline recommendations for LTOT in hypoxemic COPD-PH patients as well as recommendations against treatment with PAH-targeted medications, Effective treatment of COPD-PH depends upon research into the pathobiology, and future high-quality studies comprehensively assessing clinically relevant outcomes are needed.