Cough is more frequent, more severe and more often productive in IPF and chronic HP compared to SSc-ILD, despite similar ILD severity in these cohorts. Cough severity is strongly and independently associated with dyspnoea and pulmonary function, and is a significant contributor to reduced quality of life in both IPF and SSc-ILD.

Burn injuries are one of the most common sources of trauma globally that comprise a significant drain on long-term personal and healthcare cost. Large surface area burn wounds are difficult to manage and may result in significant physiologic and psychologic sequelae. The goal of burn wound healing research is to fully repair and restore skin's original structure and functionality while minimizing problems such as hypertrophic scarring and contracture. One of the ways this can be achieved is through augmentation of the skin's natural healing process using the regenerative capability of stem cells. In this review, the authors highlight some recent developments in treatment of burn wounds employing stem cells. We compare and contrast the benefits and drawbacks to various sources of stem cells and techniques of delivery into damaged tissues that have been the focus of established and ongoing research, and avenues of exploration this burgeoning arena offers for the future.

The current body of evidence on the efficacy and safety of aflibercept for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is steadily growing as large clinical trials and observational studies are continually completed. Our aim was to analyse 1-year visual acuity (VA) outcomes in response to aflibercept therapy and identify factors affecting treatment response using evidence generated from a pooled analysis of current studies. A literature review of multiple electronic databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, MedMEME) revealed 12 studies meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria for statistical analysis. Treatment posology, baseline patient characteristics, study type, sample size and 12-month change in VA were pooled in a meta-analysis with VA change as the main outcome. Data were then stratified by study design and posology in subgroup analyses. A meta-regression was conducted to regress 12-month VA change against posology, baseline VA and age. Users of aflibercept experienced an overall increase of 7.37 letters (95% confidence interval: 6.27-8.48, p heterogeneity: <0.001) in VA at 12 months of follow-up. In subgroup analyses, mean VA change was higher for randomized control trials and cohorts following regular posology (>7 injections/year) compared to observational studies and irregular posology. The meta-regression showed larger VA gains with regular posology compared to an irregular posology, and decreased effect size as age increased. This meta-analysis strongly suggests improved VA outcomes at 12 months in patients with wet AMD for 2.0 mg aflibercept, comparable to but slightly lower than landmark trials. Increased injection frequency and younger age demonstrates a trend with improved outcomes.

The local regulation of vitamin D in sinonasal tissue during CRS may be independent of serum 25(OH)D levels. Vitamin D may be dysregulated at multiple levels, with decreased transcription of the metabolic gene CYP27B1 and increased transcription of the catabolic gene CYP24A1 observed.