• Wei Chen, PhD, and Colleagues Published in Nature Communications. Dr. Chen and colleague's study is titled "A Unified Model-based Framework for Doublet or Multiplet Detection in Single-cell Multiomics Data."

• UPMC Children’s Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine Division Publishes New Study in JAMA Pediatrics on Race-Neutral Spirometry Findings. A new study just published in JAMA Pediatrics investigated the impact of implementing race-neutral reference equations, specifically the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLIN, 2023), on spirometry interpretation in children. Daniel J. Weiner, MD, FAAP, FCCP, ATSF, professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was a co-author of the investigation, along with former division colleague Erik Forno, MD, MPH, and Christian Rosas-Salazar, MD, MPH, from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Weiner is the medical director of the Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratory and co-director of The Antonio J. and Janet Palumbo Cystic Fibrosis Center at UPMC Children’s

• New Study from the Celedón Lab Highlights Link Between Social Vulnerability/Poverty and Asthma in Puerto Rican Youth. A new study from the Celedón Laboratory for Pediatric Asthma Research in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh provides insights into the relationship between social vulnerability, poverty, and asthma in Puerto Rican children. The research adds to the growing body of evidence around the importance of socioeconomic and demographic factors driving rates of asthma and the severity of disease in vulnerable populations. Celedón Lab researcher Yueh-Ying Han, PhD, was the study's first author. Franziska Rosser, MD, MPH, FAAP, collaborated on the research along with senior author Juan C. Celedón, MD, DrPH, ATSF, lab principal investigator and chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s. Dr. Celedon’s lab once again collaborated with Edna Acosta-Peréz, PhD, and Glorisa Canino, PhD, from the Behavioral Sciences Research Institute at the University of Puerto Rico.

• Exploring the Links Between Socioeconomic Factors and Asthma Severity in Puerto Rican Youths. The study, titled, “Socioeconomic Status, Diet, and Recurrent Severe Asthma Exacerbations in Puerto Rican Youth,” was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global. Kristina Gaietto, MD, MPH, instructor of Pediatrics was the study’s lead author.

• UPMC Children’s Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine Team Co-Authors Important Commentary on Needed Research for T2-Low Asthma in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Co-authoring the perspective from UPMC Children’s was first author, Pooja E. Mishra, MD, and division chief, Juan C. Celedón, MD, DrPh, ATSF.

• UPMC Children’s Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine Team Publishes New Review on Health Literacy and Asthma in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine and the Celedón Laboratory has a long-standing research interest examining the effects of health literacy on pediatric asthma outcomes.

Other Notable Publications from Division Faculty During 2024 Include:

• Omics approaches in asthma research: Challenges and opportunities. Yue M, Tao S, Gaietto K, Chen W. Chin Med J Pulm Crit Care Med. 2024 Mar 2;2(1):1-9. doi:10.1016/j.pccm.2024.02.002. eCollection 2024 Mar. Review.

• Obesity-related Asthma: A Pathobiology-based Overview of Existing and Emerging Treatment Approaches. Althoff MD, Gaietto K, Holguin F, Forno E. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Nov 15;210(10):1186-1200. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202406-1166SO. Review.

• Mapping a New Course to Understand Lung Biology Mechanisms: LungMAP.net. Yang S, Gaietto K, Chen W. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2024 Feb;70(2):91-93.

• What are Juvenile-onset systemic sclerosis providers thoughts, experiences, and reasons for autologous stem cell transplant? Result of a multinational survey. Foeldvari I, Branton S, Li SC, Rosser FJ, Torok KS.J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2024 Nov 8:23971983241293297. Online ahead of print.

• Outdoor Air Pollution and Pediatric Respiratory Disease. Rosser F.Clin Chest Med. 2024 Sep;45(3):531-541. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2024.02.025.PMID: 39069319 Review.

• Pulmonary fibrosis may begin in infancy: from childhood to adult interstitial lung disease. Griese M, Kurland G, Cidon M, Deterding RR, Epaud R, Nathan N, Schwerk N, Warburton D, Weinman JP, Young LR, Deutsch GH.Thorax. 2024 Nov 14;79(12):1162-1172.

• Neuromuscular Disorders in Pediatric Respiratory Disease. Taylor JB, Ingram DG, Kupfer O, Amin R.Clin Chest Med. 2024 Sep;45(3):729-747. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2024.02.021. Epub 2024 Apr 4.PMID: 39069334 Review.

• Cardiac Comorbidity and Exercise Intolerance in Bilateral Lung Transplant Recipients Followed at a Pediatric Center. Mangano CM, Midyat L, Freiberger D, Gauvreau K, Boyer D, Visner G, Chen MH.Pediatr Cardiol. 2024 Oct 17. doi: 10.1007/s00246-024-03674-8. Online ahead of print.

• Pediatric Lung Transplantation for Pulmonary Vascular Diseases: Recent Advances and Challenges. Midyat L, Muise ED, Visner GA.Clin Chest Med. 2024 Sep;45(3):761-769. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2024.02.023.PMID: 39069336 Review.

• Gastrointestinal complications in pediatric lung transplant recipients: Incidence, risk factors, and effects on patient outcomes. Klouda T, Ryan E M, Leonard JB, Freiberger D, Midyat L, Dahlberg S, Rosen R, Visner G.Pediatr Transplant. 2024 Feb;28(1):e14665. doi: 10.1111/petr.14665.

• ERS technical standard: Global Lung Function Initiative reference values for multiple breath washout indices. Ramsey KA, Stanojevic S, Chavez L, Johnson N, Bowerman C, Hall GL, Latzin P, O'Neill K, Robinson PD, Stahl M, Weiner DJ, Zwitserloot AM, Horsley A; contributing GLI MBW task force memberss.Eur Respir J. 2024 Sep 26:2400524. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00524-2024. Online ahead of print.

• Advances in Pediatric Lung Function Testing Techniques. Perrem L, Gaietto K, Weiner DJ, Rosenfeld M.Clin Chest Med. 2024 Sep;45(3):543-553. doi: 10.1016/j.ccm.2024.03.003.

• MOSES: a methylation-based gene association approach for unveiling environmentally regulated genes linked to a trait or disease. Kim S, Qin Y, Park HJ, Bohn RIC, Yue M, Xu Z, Forno E, Chen W, Celedón JC.Clin Epigenetics. 2024 Nov 18;16(1):161. doi: 10.1186/s13148-024-01776-x.

• Proximity to fast-food restaurants and pediatric asthma outcomes. Rao R, Han YY, Valentín-Rodríguez LA, Presto AA, Celedón JC, Rosser F. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024 Oct 28:S1081-1206(24)01631-4. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2024.10.024. Online ahead of print.

• Vitamin D Supplementation, Long-Term PM_2.5 Exposure, and Severe Asthma Exacerbations in Children with Low Vitamin D: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial (VDKA). Rosser FJ, Han YY, Forno E, Guilbert TW, Bacharier LB, Phipatanakul W, Celedón JC.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2024 Nov 1. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202407-1353RL. Online ahead of print.

• Inhaled corticosteroid response in youth with asthma and history of child maltreatment. Gaietto K, Han YY, Rosser FJ, Forno E, Canino G, Marsland AL, Celedón JC. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2024 Oct;35(10):e14252.

• Access to Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Americas: A Call for Action. A Joint Perspective from the Brazilian Thoracic Society, Canadian Thoracic Society, Latin American Thoracic Society, and the American Thoracic Society. Polverino F, Bhutani M, Zabert G, Fernandes FLA, Czischke K, Pereira Ferreira LF, Szabo L, Wisnivesky JP, Dalcolmo MP, Celedón JC. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2024 Nov;21(11):1463-1470.

• The effects of violence and related stress on asthma. Han YY, Celedón JC. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024 Jul 26:S1081-1206(24)00479-4. 

• Nasal Epithelium Transcriptomics Predict Clinical Response to Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor. Yue M, Weiner DJ, Gaietto KM, Rosser FJ, Qoyawayma CM, Manni ML, Myerburg MM, Pilewski JM, Celedón JC, Chen W, Forno E. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2024 Jul 19.

• Long-Term PM_2.5 Exposure and Upregulation of CLCA1 Expression in Nasal Epithelium from Youth with Asthma. Rosser FJ, Yue M, Han YY, Forno E, Qoyawayma C, Manni ML, Acosta-Pérez E, Canino G, Chen W, Celedón JC. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2024 Jul 10. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202403-309OC

• Persistent cat ownership and asthma in a longitudinal study of Puerto Rican youth. Mishra PE, Han YY, Hill K, Rosser FJ, Forno E, Acosta-Pérez E, Canino G, Celedón JC. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024 Nov;133(5):545-549.e2.

• Health literacy and asthma: An update. Han YY, Gutwein A, Apter A, Celedón JC. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 May;153(5):1241-1251. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.12.007. Epub 2023 Dec 20.

• IFNλ: balancing the light and dark side in pulmonary infection. Antos D, Alcorn JF.mBio. 2023 Aug 31;14(4):e0285022. doi: 10.1128/mbio.02850-22

• Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 Activation in Macrophages Contributes to Persistent Lung Inflammation following Respiratory Tract Viral Infection. Huckestein BR, Zeng K, Westcott R, Alder JK, Antos D, Kolls JK, Alcorn JF. Am J Pathol. 2024 Mar; 194(3):384-401.

• Effects of highly effective modulator therapy on the dynamics of the respiratory mucosal environment and inflammatory response in cystic fibrosis. Atteih SE, Armbruster CR, Hilliam Y, Rapsinski GJ, Bhusal JK, Krainz LL, Gaston JR, DuPont M, Zemke AC, Alcorn JF, Moore JA, Cooper VS, Lee SE, Forno E, Bomberger JM. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2024 May;59(5):1266-1273.

• Sex-based differences in persistent lung inflammation following influenza infection of juvenile outbred mice. Huckestein BR, Antos D, Manni ML, Zeng K, Miller LM, Parenteau KL, Gelhaus SL, Mullett SJ, Shoemaker JE, Alcorn JF. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2024 Aug 1;327(2):L189-L202.

• Cell-intrinsic regulation of phagocyte function by interferon lambda during pulmonary viral, bacterial super-infection. Antos D, Parks OB, Duray AM, Abraham N, Michel JJ, Kupul S, Westcott R, Alcorn JF. PLoS Pathog. 2024 Aug 23;20(8):e1012498.
  
  
• Nrf2 Regulates Inflammation by Modulating Dendritic Cell-T Cell Crosstalk during Viral-Bacterial Superinfection. Duray AM, Miller LM, Dresden BP, Rago F, Antos D, McHugh KJ, Alcorn JF.J Immunol. 2024 Nov 1:ji2400322. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2400322. Online ahead of print.

• Jane B. Taylor, MD, Appointed Clinical Director of Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s. Jane B. Taylor, MD, MsCR, FAAP, ATSF, was named the new clinical director for the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh at the start of 2024. Dr. Taylor is an associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Taylor joined the division in 2019, and since that time has made substantial impacts on various clinical and educational activities with the Division and the Department of Pediatrics, and in the broader field of pulmonary medicine.

   

• Jessica Reyes Angel, MD, Joined the Division. Dr. Reyes Angel, assistant professor of Pediatrics, joined the Division after completing her fellowship training at UPMC Children’s. She as a special emphasis on advanced lung disease and lung transplantation.

   

• Franziska Rosser, MD, Receives Robert B. Mellins Award at ATS 2024 Conference. The award is given annually to early career researchers who have made remarkable achievements in research. Also read the post about the award from the ATS website.

   

• Kristina Gaietto, MD, MPH, Earns Grant from Children's Trust for Asthma Research Project. Dr. Gaietto's research project, "The Quest for Easily Accessible Pediatric Asthma Endotype Biomarkers" earned the First Prize award at the Grant Makers Meeting of the Children's Trust on May 16, 2024.

   

• Franziska Rosser, MD, became a member of the Society for Pediatric Research as part of their 2024 incoming membership.

• Expanding Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplantation Programs at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is rapidly expanding its care for pediatric patients with complex lung diseases and who may need lung transplantation. Under the leadership of Midyat Levent, MD, director of the Pediatric Advanced Lung Diseases and Lung Transplantation Programs, the team is working to address the growing need for specialized care in conditions such as pulmonary hypertension (PH) and pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) — two of the more prevalent, primary conditions which create a need for lung transplantation in children. Collaborating with Dr. Levent in growing and enhancing the programs is division colleague, Jessica Reyes Angel, MD, who joined the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine in July 2024 after completing her fellowship training at UPMC Children’s. Longtime division faculty, Geoffrey Kurland, MD, professor of pediatrics and past lung transplant program director continues to be member of the team.

   

• Building the Trach/Vent Program at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is expanding its efforts to provide comprehensive care for children who require long-term mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy. Under the leadership of Hiren Muzumdar, MD, and Tiffany Turner, MD, the Chronic Home Ventilation Program addresses the unique needs of these children and their families. The program focuses on managing children who rely on invasive ventilation through tracheostomy, providing coordinated care from hospital discharge to long-term follow-up at home. With approximately 120 patients currently on chronic invasive ventilatory support, Dr. Muzumdar and Dr. Turner have developed protocols that work to ensure the best possible outcomes for this patient population with complex care needs.

• UPMC Children’s Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at 2024 American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting. Division faculty led numerous sessions and symposia and presenting some of the latest research abstracts and clinical case reports from our hospital at this year’s conference.

• Pittsburgh International Lung Conference. Hosted by the adult UPMC Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine (PACCSM), this year's conference focused on new insights on how the exposome impacts lung disease. Experts will present cutting-edge work on topics such as air pollution and its impact on respiratory health, the role of the microbiome in asthma and COPD, and the intersection of climate change and lung diseases. Speaking at the conference from the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at UPMC Children's was division chief Juan C. Celedón, MD, DrPH, ATSF. His lecture was titled "From Genes to Geography: The Multi-faceted Role of Ethnicity in Asthma and COPD."

• UPMC Children's at AAP National Conference and Exhibition 2024
  
  
• UPMC Children's at PAS 2024