Another journal club episode featuring guest-host Dr. Kristina Montemayor of the PulmPEEPs, in conversation with Thorax education editor Dr. Christopher Turnbull, and Dr. Natalie McCleod, author of a recent journal club article focussing on the theme of ventilation and sleep. They discuss the four papers selected by Natalie, covering topics including CPAP therapy's benefit on blood pressure, and Hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnoea. Links: Journal club Effect of CPAP therap...
Jun 17, 2025•44 min•Ep. 80
There are many factors which might contribute to asthma patients not adhering to their medication, such as access to services, or convenience of use. One well-known and important barrier in the United States is simply cost. Thorax social media editor Dr. Kate Diomede speaks to Dr. Chun-Tse Hung¹, Dr. Steven Erickson², and Prof. Chung-Hsuen Wu¹, the authors of a recent study on the subject. Read the paper: Cost-related non-adherence to medications among adults with asthma in the USA, 2011–2022 1....
Feb 14, 2025•20 min•Ep. 79
With no identified cause or cure, sarcoidosis is a challenging disease that has a heterogeneous presentation and an unpredictable clinical course. A recent paper in Thorax examined the outcomes for patients grouped by pulmonary function phenotypes, race and sex. First author for the study, Dr. Michelle Sharp¹, joins social media editor Dr. Kate Diomede to talk through the findings. Read the paper: Pulmonary sarcoidosis: differences in lung function change over time 1. Medicine, Division of Pulmo...
Jan 16, 2025•29 min•Ep. 78
The PulmPEEPs are back with another journal club episode. Dr. Kristina Montemayor and Dr. David Furfaro are joined by Thorax education editor Dr. Christopher Turnbull, and journal club author Dr. Ewan Mackay. They discuss a handful of selected papers focussing on COPD, covering the global impact of different household fuels on lung disease, early signs of CT changes in smokers before the detection of COPD, and a trial of treprostinil for the treatment of COPD related pulmonary hypertension. Link...
Dec 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 77
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 t...
Nov 19, 2024•22 min•Ep. 76
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 series Relationship between cumulative silica exposure and sili...
Oct 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 75
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 club Blood eosinophil...
Sep 10, 2024•43 min•Ep. 74
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 training NCSCT briefings and practice guidance (1) Department of ...
Jun 21, 2024•26 min•Ep. 73
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...
May 16, 2024•17 min•Ep. 72
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 Chil...
Apr 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 71
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...
Mar 13, 2024•22 min•Ep. 70
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...
Feb 13, 2024•24 min•Ep. 69
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 med...
Jan 15, 2024•24 min•Ep. 68
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...
Nov 24, 2023•35 min•Ep. 67
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 channel...
Oct 20, 2023•22 min•Ep. 66
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 ; Fa...
Sep 19, 2023•23 min•Ep. 65
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-y...
Aug 17, 2023•13 min•Ep. 64
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 Un...
Jul 18, 2023•28 min•Ep. 63
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, U...
Jun 16, 2023•21 min
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 ...
Jun 02, 2023•28 min
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, Associ...
Apr 17, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1
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. Pl...
Mar 10, 2023•19 min
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...
Feb 10, 2023•15 min
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 Thor...
Jan 17, 2023•9 min
In this episode, Thorax social media editor Dr. Puja Mehta speaks with Professor Ian Hall, Director of the Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre and the University of Nottingham about his paper "Respiratory Research in the UK: investing for the next 10 years". They discuss some of the biggest challenges facing respiratory research in the UK, and why respiratory diseases need more investment. Read the paper here: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/77/9/851 Please engage in the conversation through th...
Dec 12, 2022•27 min
Welcome back to the Thorax Podcast, home to the discussion of new research and hot topics in respiratory research and clinical practice. In this first episode, we introduce you to the three new Editors of the Thorax journal: Dr. Mark Griffiths and Dr. Jennifer Quint, both from Imperial College London, and Dr. Cecilia O'Kane, from Queen's University Belfast. They outline plans for the Thorax journal, including the social media strategy and engaging readers and trainees. You'll also get to know a ...
Nov 01, 2022•8 min
In this podcast, Rachael Moses, Multimedia Editor of Thorax BMJ, is joined by Professor Ashley Woodcock, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, The University of Manchester, UK, to discuss the paper "Effects of switching from a metered dose inhaler to a dry powder inhaler on climate emissions and asthma control: post-hoc analysis." This paper was a secondary analysis of the Salford Lung Study in Asthma. In a real world study SLS asthma showed that a once daily combination treatment in a dry...
Jan 31, 2022•8 min
Do hospitalised COVID-19 patients receiving treatment with CPAP and HFNOT present a significant added risk of viral contamination to the surrounding environment used by healthcare workers? And is there enough evidence to suggest or recommend levels of PPE that should be used for healthcare workers caring for patients on CPAP or HFNOT? Two of the main questions this short podcast addresses. Rachael Moses, Multimedia Editor Thorax BMJ, interviews Dr Chris Green, Consultant in Infectious Diseases &...
Nov 26, 2021•10 min
In this podcast, Rachael Moses, Multimedia Editor of Thorax BMJ, talks to Dr Ash Clift Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. The evidence surrounding COVID-19 has been conflicting and inconsistent. This podcast discusses the findings of this observational and Mendelian randomisation study using the UK Biobank cohort. The author discusses the findings with regards to the potential causal effect of cigarette smoking on the severity of COVID-19 infection and wha...
Oct 06, 2021•9 min
In this podcast, we discuss the impact of Best Practice Tariffs (BPT) in improving outcomes for people with COPD admitted to hospital following an acute exacerbation. The key question was to understand if the combination of specialist review within 24 hours and a discharge care bundle incentivised by the English COPD BPT scheme was associated with improved mortality and readmission rates for those admitted with an acute exacerbation of COPD. Thorax Multimedia Editor, Rachael Moses, talks to Phil...
Aug 19, 2021•7 min
