CHEST Guidelines-Response_chest

Response_chest_2

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The document comprises responses and academic correspondence primarily focusing on the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cancer, as well as the clinimetric properties of the lung clearance index (LCI) in cystic fibrosis research.<br /><br />In the first section, Miguel Ángel Martínez-García, Francisco Campos-Rodriguez, and Ferrán Barbé respond to Dr. Marvisi's interest in their article discussing the association between OSA and cancer. They acknowledge that recent research has highlighted multiple pathophysiological pathways linking OSA to cancer, including hypoxia and sleep fragmentation, which impact the immune system. They highlight studies exploring the role of microvesicles/exosomes and their effects on the sympathetic system, reinforcing the hypothesis of a connection between sleep disorders and cancer progression. The authors focus on reviewing clinical studies concerning OSA's links to cancer incidence and mortality, addressing the limitations and encouraging further reading of works by Gozal et al. for deeper insight.<br /><br />The second section addresses new findings in the study of cystic fibrosis. In a letter to the editor of a CHEST journal issue, the authors discuss a study by O'Neill et al., which examines the lung clearance index (LCI) in individuals with cystic fibrosis. The correspondence notes the significance of O'Neill et al.'s findings which establish variability and repeatability of LCI in the context of cystic fibrosis. These findings are crucial for defining thresholds applicable in interventional studies and tracking disease progression through LCI measurements.<br /><br />Overall, both sections encapsulate current research depicting complex interrelations in medical sciences—between sleep disorders and cancer and the evaluation of lung function in cystic fibrosis, capturing the dual nature of medical research into pathology and its clinical implications.

Keywords

obstructive sleep apnea

cancer

lung clearance index

cystic fibrosis

pathophysiological pathways

hypoxia

sleep fragmentation

immune system

microvesicles

clinical studies