We discuss the viral load of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the potential protracted course of COVID-19 infection than initially thought. The data within this study further supports the use of face masks in the community to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Read the paper: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2020/08/28/thoraxjnl-2020-215042

Thorax podcast

No Symptoms? Why wearing a mask still matters

This podcast discusses the exposure and potential viral carriage of healthcare workers in a large UK Hospital. It also discusses the impact of exposure, the importance of personal protective equipment and how we can use the findings ot help prepare for future pandemics. Read the article on the Thorax website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2020-215414

Behind the mask: COVID-19 exposure and viral carriage in healthcare workers

An expedition ship departed on an Antarctic cruise mid-March 2020 with no known COVID passengers or crew members. However after 8 days the first passenger became febrile and isolation procedures were followed. A further 24 members of the ship developed symptoms (some as late as 23 days later) with 8 requiring medical evacuation. Of the 217 passengers and crew on board, 128 tested positive for COVID-19 with 81% of those positive being asymptomatic. This paper demonstrates how quickly COVID-19 can spread as well as the high number of COVID positive people being asymptomatic showcasing the importance of testing in this group. Rachael Moses, Multimedia Editor Thorax BMJ, talks to the Professor Alvin Ing, Clinical Program Head, Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medicine, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia, and author of the paper published by Thorax (https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2020/05/27/thoraxjnl-2020-215091)

COVID-19: In the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton

Childhood obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an independent determinant of blood pressure in adulthood – a longitudinal follow-up study’ with host Rachael Moses and Dr Kate Chan, Chinese University of Hong Kong. This podcast discusses the relationship between Childhood OSA and adverse BP in adulthood as well as the long term health implications and why it is important this is treated. Read the paper on the Thorax website: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2020/03/23/thoraxjnl-2019-213692

Childhood obstructive sleep apnoea: it's more than a snore

Smoking with children in a car has been illegal since 2015 in England and 2016 in Scotland. This podcast explores the importance and impact of this ban on children and the important message it gives to the public to ensure smoking rates continue to fall. Listen to the conversation between Rachael Moses and Dr Anthony Laverty, Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK and lead author of https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2020/01/08/thoraxjnl-2019-213998

Smoking in cars: how the recent ban is affecting young people in England and Scotland

In this podcast, Multimedia Editor of Thorax Rachael Moses, discusses with Dr Magnus Ekstrom, Lund University, Sweden, the key findings of a population-based study investigating the relationship between increased body mass index with breathlessness and lung function. Read the paper on the Thorax website: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/74/10/958.

Overweight and out of breath: cause and effect?

The study discussed in this podcast introduces evidence that supports a biological explanation behind the observed asthma discordance between males and females. Read the paper on the Thorax website: https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2019/01/29/thoraxjnl-2018-212207

The role of sex hormones on the development of asthma

Assisted reproduction techniques might increase asthma risk in children conceived this way, a study published by Thorax concludes. Maria Magnus, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, talks with Thorax podcast editor Rachel Moses about her research group findings, that you can also read for free at http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-211886. A related editorial can also be found on the journal website (thorax.bmj.com).

Assisted reproductive technologies and asthma risk in children

The study discussed in this podcast cautions against the widely held opinion that e-cigarettes are safe. Listen to the conversation between the Multimedia Associate Editor of Thorax Rachael Moses and Professor David Thickett (Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham, UK) and read the study 'Pro-inflammatory effects of e-cigarette vapour condensate on human alveolar' on the Thorax website: https://thorax.bmj.com/ You can subscribe to the Thorax Podcast in all major podcast Apps. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a podcast review at https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/thorax-podcast/id343304910?mt=2.

How toxic is your vape?

In this podcast Jennifer Quint talks to Shyamali Dharmage and Brittany Campbell about their recent press released paper "Growing up on a farm as related to adult lung function and allergic phenotypes: An international population based study".

Growing up on a farm as related to adult lung function and allergic phenotypes

Patients exposed to air pollution after diagnosis of lung cancer have shorter survival, in particular those patients with early-stage non-small cell cancers (specially adenocarcinomas), according to a study published by Thorax and conducted by researchers from the Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California. The first study of this kind was based on a population of over 300 thousand patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer over more than two decades. In this podcast, Dr Jaime Hart, from the Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and author of the Thorax editorial about this study, tells Dr Jennifer Quint the details of this study and its impact on how air pollution is considered by general population. Read the original article ’Air pollution affects lung cancer survival’, which corresponding author is Dr Sandrah P Eckel, here: http://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2016/06/22/thoraxjnl-2015-207927.full. The editorial is available here: http://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2016/07/20/thoraxjnl-2016-208967.full. 

Air Pollution affects Lung Cancer Survival

In this podcast Dr Ian Mudway talks to Dr Elizabeth Batalla-Duran about his recent paper in Plos-One entitled "Effects of air pollution and introduction of the London low emission zone on the prevalence of respiratory and allergic symptoms on the school children of East London". 

Air pollution and the London low emission zone

In this podcast Dr Elizabeth Batalla-Duran talks to Dr Adam Leventhal from the University Southern California about his paper "Association of Electronic Cigarette Use With Initiation of Combustible Tobacco Product Smoking in Early Adolescence" recently published in JAMA.

E-cigarette use and smoking in early adolescence

In this podcast Dr Janice Higginson talks to Dr Helena Anderson from Oslo University Hospital about her recent paper published in Rheumatology. The paper is a retrospective review of research done into rituximab's effect on the rare Antisynthetase Syndrome.

Long-term experience with rituximab in anti-synthetase syndrome-related interstitial lung disease

Thorax deputy editor Paul Cullinan talks to David Coggon, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, about pneumococcal vaccination for welders. Read the full article: http://goo.gl/p3qN8s

Pneumococcal vaccination for welders

Thorax, the official journal of the British Thoracic Society, publishes influential clinical and experimental research in respiratory medicine, paediatrics, immunology, pharmacology, pathology, and surgery. The focus is on work that advances scientific understanding and impacts clinical practice. http://thorax.bmj.com/ * The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for a healthcare practitioner’s judgement, patient care or treatment. The views expressed by contributors are those of the speakers. BMJ does not endorse any views or recommendations discussed or expressed on this podcast. Listeners should also be aware that professionals in the field may have different opinions. By listening to this podcast, listeners agree not to use its content as the basis for their own medical treatment or for the medical treatment of others.

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