Vol.30, No.1 (January 2021) Newsletter Editor: Yoichi Nakanishi Associate Editors: Yoshinosuke Fukuchi, David CL Lam, Suga Konno

Message from the President A Happy New Year to all APSR members.

Last year was a year of COVID-19. The APSR was also influenced by the disease, and the APSR 2020 Congress in Kyoto was postponed to 2021. I would express sincere appreciation to the Japanese Local Congress Committee team for their tremendous efforts to re-arrange the Congress, and also to the Korean Local Congress Committee team for their kind acceptance of postponement of the APSR Congress in Seoul to 2022.

Under this difficult situation, we should not stagnate scientific progress and educational activities. We have held two COVID-19 webinars, three APSR virtual meetings, an ATS-APSR joint webinar, joint symposia with the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), the Malaysian Thoracic Society (MTS) and the Taiwan Society of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (TSPCCM). It is a great pleasure that many APSR members joined these web meetings and all of them were so successful. I am profoundly grateful to the Central Congress Committee members, Assembly members, presenters, facilitators, audiences, en bloc members, sponsors and the APSR secretariat office.

The Asia-Pacific region has the biggest population in the world and is accomplishing rapid development, though it still has many health problems such as air pollution, tobacco smoking, respiratory infection including tuberculosis, and poor medical infrastructure. We are happy to have lots of projects to solve these problems. This year, we are going to further enhance our activities in order to achieve our objectives, i.e., “The advancement and promotion of knowledge of the respiratory system in health and disease, which strives to encourage research, improve clinical practice through teaching, increase awareness of health problems in the area and promote the exchange of knowledge among respirologists in the Asia-Pacific region”.

Although we cannot feel completely refreshed in mind and body due to the COVID-19 surge, we can still be in this world and can feel at least average-sized happiness. I would like to thank our society, friends and family with great sincerity. Let’s make this year better than last year.

Finally, I would introduce one famous haiku made by the haiku poet, Issa Kobayashi. (Haiku is the shortest poetry in the world) my “Happy New Year!” about average my spring

Yoichi Nakanishi

Message from the new President-Elect

The Beginning of a Year is always a good time to review, to sum up, to evaluate and to look forward to the new year with hope.

In 2020, I was really honoured to have gathered enough support from colleagues in the APSR to take up this position in preparation to serve the APSR further. It’s my fortune to have all the predecessors who laid down a strong and solid foundation for the APSR. Strengths have been built up but we do need to face up to challenges.

‐1‐ The COVID-19 pandemic imposes a great screening new submissions. The pre-screening challenge for the APSR. The annual Congress has process continues to be very competitive, with had to be postponed. Educational activities have only 12% of Original Articles being approved for had to be conducted online, and we seem to be a external peer review. But more than 50% of those long and tough distance away from the possible are eventually accepted for publication. The Asia- end of this pandemic. Pacific region continues to be well-represented with more than half of the published papers We are, however, looking forward to the reporting research from this region. challenge of working even more closely with colleagues in the APSR. The online platform The 2019 impact factors were announced in doesn’t separate us but enables us to meet and to June and it was pleasing to see that Respirology’s host educational activities even more frequently Impact Factor has increased to 4.88 (from 4.756 than having physical meetings as before. last year) and the journal remains in the top 20% of Respiratory System journals (Clarivate As President-Elect, I have the luxury of working Journal Citation Reports) ranking 12th out of 64. with current office bearers and with great help A list of the top cited papers is available on our from the APSR Secretariat. We are planning website and includes many review papers. Since ahead to revamp the APSR strategic planning and the last newsletter, Respirology has published action in the region to face up to the challenges two new series of reviews of great interest – the ahead of us and to move forward in the New ‘Interventional Pulmonology Pearls’ series edited by Normal state to come. Phan Nguyen, Pyng Lee and Noriaki Kurimoto, was published as a Special Issue in September; I would wish you all stay Safe and Healthy for the and the ‘Essential Update in Lung Cancer Medicine’ New Year. edited by Alistair Miller and Emily Stone, was published as a Supplement in November. David CL Lam We’d also like to draw your attention to the winning papers of the 2020 Fukuchi Award for Message from the Co-Editors Best Original Research Paper in Respirology - in Chief of Respirology Predictive factors and prognostic effect of telomere shortening in pulmonary fibrosis and Novel endosomal NOX2 oxidase inhibitor ameliorates pandemic Firstly, we’d like to wish all APSR members a influenza A virus-induced lung inflammation in healthy and prosperous new year. 2020 has been mice. With the help of a generous donation by Dr very challenging and we hope that 2021 will bring Fukuchi, we can now reward two papers per year, relief for everyone. starting 2020. We congratulate the authors on this achievement and we look forward to meeting In November 2020, we presented Respirology’s them at the award ceremony at the 2021 APSR 2020 Annual Report to the APSR Executive Congress in Kyoto. Committee. A copy of the report is also available to members via the APSR website. Despite the This year has highlighted the importance of challenges of the pandemic, we’re happy to thorough peer review and rapid publication of report that Respirology performed well in 2020, its th high-quality respiratory research. We’re proud 25 year of publishing. The journal experienced that Respirology is part of this important mission a significant jump in manuscript submissions this and we thank all our Editors, Editorial Board year, especially during the months of April, May members, Editorial Office staff, APSR staff and and June when submissions doubled compared to Wiley for supporting us in this goal by offering last year. Close to a quarter of submissions were their time, knowledge and expertise. on topics related to COVID-19, and 12% of these were accepted and fast-tracked for publication. A Philip Bardin collection of all COVID-19 related publications is Paul Reynolds available on Respirology’s website, and the journal has dedicated the cover of its December issue to the topic of COVID-19. Message from the Editor in Chief of Respirology Case Reports We’re very thankful to our editors, Editorial Board members and reviewers for continuing to dedicate their time to Respirology while also dealing with Respirology Case Reports saw a 66% increase in the demands of being at the frontline. Thanks publication in 2020. Submissions almost tripled to their support, Respirology was able to maintain during the period of March to July and overall the same turnaround time (9 days until rejection increased by 34% in 2020 compared to 2019. We before review, and 56 days until first decision received manuscripts from 29 different countries after review). Since the last newsletter, we’ve (compared to 27 last year). The majority of welcomed Garun Hamilton, Stavros Selemidis submissions originated from Japan (40%), and Emily Stone, and promoted Frits Franssen, followed by Australia (14%) Malaysia (9%) to the Deputy Editor team responsible for pre- and Taiwan (6%). To cater for this increase in

‐2‐ publication, we are pleased to announce that we the journal’s website. will publish 12 issues in 2021 (compared to 9 in 2020). The journal continues to be widely marketed by Wiley and has electronic table of content (eTOC) We received 24 manuscripts on COVID-19 and alerts. We have continued to advertise the published 9 in 2020. All COVID-19 related papers journal on the Respirology and APSR websites, published are accessible in a special collections as well as that of other societies. There have on our website: Special collection COVID-19. been advertisements in the WABIP and Wiley’s Respiratory Medicine Newsletters and flyers at The acceptance rate remains high and stable the APSR, ATS and ERS conferences. We send at about 70% and on average, the authors are a message on Twitter each time a case report informed of a first decision within 23 days of is published and have noticed that some case submission. The articles, once accepted, are reports have attracted a lot of comments and published online within a few weeks and then activity on this social media. available on PubMed Central within a couple of weeks. In 2020, we farewelled our Editorial Board members, Garun Hamilton from Australia, Respirology Case Reports is strongly supported Fabien Maldonado from the US and Wai-Cho by the APSR members, who represent about Yu from Hong Kong, who stepped down due to 75% of the manuscripts published. We would other commitments, and Hiromasa Inoue from like to take this opportunity to thank them for Japan who had come to the end of his term. We their support of our journal. APSR individual welcomed new Editors Diego M Castillo Villegas members and members with en-bloc membership from Spain, Simon Joosten, Yet Hong Khor and to the APSR via their societies continue to Phan Nguyen from Australia, Jasleen Kaur Pannu benefit from a 50% discount of the open access from the US and Cameron Sullivan from New publication charge when their manuscript is Zealand who have now settled into their new published in Respirology Case Reports and roles. We are indebted to our Editorial Board we hope to see many more members submit members for their work in reviewing all the case to our journal. Some other countries in the reports submitted to the journal in particular this region, are offered a waiver of the open access year, when they accepted a heavier workload than publication fee by our publisher, Wiley, so we usual despite all the additional challenges they encourage authors from these countries to take faced in their practices. We would like to thank advantage of this opportunity to publish in each one of them for their commitment and our journal. For an up-to-date list of countries support, their expert advice and for championing benefiting from discount or waiver, please visit the journal. We also acknowledge our Deputy the journal’s website: https://onlinelibrary. Editors, Philip Bardin, Peter Eastwood, Gary Lee wiley.com/page/journal/20513380/homepage/ and Paul Reynolds who provide guidance and article_publication_charges_and_discounts.htm support to the journal. There is a hardworking and https://authorservices.wiley.com/open- team behind Respirology Case Reports who need research/open-access/for-authors/waivers-and- to be acknowledged and thanked including Dr discounts.html Lieve Bultynck, Managing Editor, and Dr Christel Norman, Deputy Managing Editor who ensure We are pleased to report that we have now that the journal runs smoothly on a daily basis, published the case report that won the poster as well as the rest of the Editorial Office staff, award at the APSR congress in Hanoi: Huan, the team at Wiley who managed to continue N-C, Mohamed Arifin, N, Khoo, T-S, Lai, Y-C. publication without interruption despite the (2020) Management of extensive subcutaneous global pandemic and the APSR Secretariat. emphysema using negative pressure wound therapy dressings. Respirology Case Reports, 8(3), May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a e00544. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcr2.544. Dr healthy and prosperous 2021. Huan and colleagues received a waiver of the open access publication fee for their case report Christopher Lai as well as editorial assistance to prepare their case for publication. We also published the runner- up case report: Sarkar, NK, Gope, BP. (2020) Message from the new APSR Pulmonary tuberculosis in an immunocompetent Education Committee Chairperson patient with primary laryngeal aspergillosis. Respirology Case Reports, 8(5), e00586. https://doi. Dear friends org/10.1002/rcr2.586 It gives me great pleasure to serve as Chairperson Readership remains global and has again of the Education Committee of the APSR. Indeed increased with the number of downloads it has been a challenging in the past 12 months reaching over 200,000 (from Wiley’s 2019 Annual because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, 63 Report). The list of the top 10 downloaded case million cases have been reported worldwide with reports from Wiley Online library is available on 1.3 million deaths. The economic impact has

‐3‐ spared very few countries and individuals, with to the JRS, ATS, ERS, CHEST annual conferences many losing their jobs. Despite this, there seems and the APSR Annual Congress every year. In to be a light at the end of the tunnel with positive the era of COVID-19, even though most of the news of at least three effective vaccines in the international meetings are held in a virtual near future. format, the APSR continues to sponsor our members to these scientific meetings. I believe that in every situation, there must be important lessons for us to learn. With regard to Young Whan Kim COVID-19, I will share two thoughts that have echoed loudly in my mind in current times. Message from the new APSR 1. We are all interconnected. If we are irresponsible Membership Committee Chairperson and do not follow safe distancing and universal masking rules, we might be infected Happy New Year to all members of the APSR. with the virus. The younger folks amongst us may escape with nothing more than a few The APSR has been growing with en bloc sniffles, but they might bring the potentially members in the Asia-Pacific region. There are deadly virus home to their vulnerable elderly two types of membership in the APSR, en bloc parents. membership and individual membership. New 2. Importance of alternative forms of education, membership categories for individual members like on-line forums and webinars. I have never will start from the next membership term starting 'Zoomed' so much in my life. In the current in April 2021. pandemic, up to date information via on-line

educational meetings and symposiums are extremely useful for us in our clinical practice. New membership dues for individual members from This helps us stay the course amidst the cyber April 2021 world filled with fake news. Tier1 Tier2 Tier3 With these thoughts in mind, I look forward to Ordinary membership 60 40 25 working with all of you in the APSR. Education Associate membership 30 20 15 has remained a foremost mission of the Society Undergraduate since its inception in 1982. If you have any new 20 15 10 ideas or thoughts or are willing to contribute your Student membership time and expertise to the Education Committee, please feel free to drop me a note. Currently 633 individual members have been registered from 40 countries, showing the increase Stay safe. of 15 individual members compared with the previous year. Philip Eng En bloc member societies are divided into three tiers according to their GNI. Message from the APSR Research Committee Chairperson Tier 1 societies are JRS, Japanese Respiratory Society (12,768 members), TSANZ, Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (1,655 Happy new year to all members of the APSR. members), TSPCCM, Taiwan Society of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (650 In 2020, the APSR launched the new “Multi- members), KATRD, Korean Academy of Country Research Project”. Nine research Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (500 proposals were submitted before the deadline members), STS, Singapore Thoracic Society (93 and sent to 25 research committee members for members), and HKTS, Hong Kong Thoracic evaluation and scoring. The best scored research Society (223 members). These six societies’ total project was from Dr Ho Namkoong, Dr Naoki membership is 15,889. Hasegawa, Dr Kozo Morimoto and Dr Takanori Asakura from Japan, Dr Rachel Thomson from Tier 2 society is MTS, Malaysian Thoracic Society Australia and Dr Byung Woo Jhun from South (254 members). Korea. This research project was approved by the APSR Executive Committee members in October. Tier 3 societies are PCCP, Philippine College of After the approval, the agreement was signed by Chest Physicians (218 members), ISR, Indonesian the APSR and the selected project team, and the Society of Respirology (515 members), SLCP, Sri ‘selected research project’ was announced on the Lanka College of Pulmonologists (72 members), APSR webpage apsresp.org/research.html This VNRS, Vietnam Respiratory Society (75 new project started on 1 January 2021. members), BLF, Bangladesh Lung Foundation (150 members), and MSR, Mongolian Respiratory The APSR has sponsored APSR Short-Term Society (59 members). These six societies’ total Research Scholarships and APSR Travel Awards membership is 1,089.

‐4‐ Joan P.Y. Sim (Australia）*Gold Award Naoya Tanabe (Japan) *Silver Award Tomohiro Handa (Japan) *Silver Award

 Asthma Assembly sponsored by AstraZeneca "Asthma Paradoxes" Date: 28 November 2020 Main speaker: Prof Hao-Chien Wang Abstract presenters: Keiko Kan-o (Japan) *Gold Award Tsunahiko Hirano (japan) *Silver Award Noriyuki Tashima (japan) *Silver Award Total number of en bloc membership is currently Lan Wei (Australia) Duminda Yasaratne (Sri Lanka) 17,232, which shows the increase of 1,040 ～Reports from awardees presented at members compared with the last year (as of 1 the Assembly Virtual Meeting～ November 2020) Kazuto Matsunaga, Chairperson of the Central Congress Committee

As the chairperson of the APSR Membership ～Reports fromRespiratory awardees presented Infections at the Assembly Virtual Meetings～ Committee, I hope all members of the APSR (non-tuberculous) Assembly Symposium enjoy the privilege of membership of the APSR. Respiratory Infections (non-tuberculous) Assembly symposium

Yasutaka Nakano Being able able to to receive receive the thenews that my abstract was one of the chosen studiesnews thatto be presentedmy abstract for the APSR Assembly Virtual Meeting was somethingwas one ofthat the boosted chosen our morale especially during these trying Report of the APSR times.studies Few to daysbe presented after, I was able to receive bigger news that my Assembly Virtual Meeting abstractfor the wasAPSR the Assemblyrecipient of the Gold Award among the chosen abstractsVirtual for Meeting the respiratory was infections (non-tuberculous) symposium. Itsomething was definitely that a boostedblessing to be given the opportunity to represent Under the current difficult situation, we had theour Philippines morale andespecially the St. Luke’s Medical Center, and to be able to series of sponsored Assembly Virtual Meeting shareduring our studythese on antrying international platform with a bonus of being successfully. It is a great pleasure that more than chosentimes. as Few the best days abstract after, for this assembly. one hundred abstracts were accepted. Among the I was able to receive accepted abstracts, three abstracts were awarded Ibigger would likenews to extendthat mymy sincerestabstract gratitude was the and recipient congratulations to all the organizers of this virtual in each symposium. The awardees list and reports assemblyof the Gold who reallyAward put amonga lot of effortthe chosenand hard abstractswork in order for this conference to push through from awardees are in this issue. Please enjoy despitefor the and respiratory in spite of the infections odds of pandemic (non-tuberculous). Indeed, this virtual conference has provided us with an the reports. All accepted abstracts are shown at opportunitysymposium. to showcaseIt was definitely our research, a blessingexpress our to thoughts,be given share our knowledge and gain new ones apsresp.org/archive/avm/abstract-index.html in return from the presentations and discussions during the assembly. It was well organized and all the opportunity to represent the Philippines and of the staff have been very accommodating even to my most trivial queries despite us working in the St. Luke’s Medical Center, and to be able to Assembly Virtual Symposia different time zones. Despite not being able to meet face-to-face, this assembly was able to serve as share our study on an international platform with ➢ Respiratory Infections (non-tuberculous) an effective avenue for learning and certainly, a lot of new ideas and information have been a bonus of being chosen as the best abstract for Assembly Symposium sponsored by bioMérieux conveyed not only to the presenters, but also to the rest of the attendees. this assembly. and BioFire “Achieving Better Diagnoses and Outcomes for After my presentation in the assembly, I received a lot of positive feedback and valuable input I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude and Patients with Respiratory Infections, With or regarding our study. All the questions posted and comments given during my presentation were congratulations to all the organizers of this virtual Without a Pandemic” highly appreciated. These remarks have inspired and challenged me at the same time to come up meeting who really put a lot of effort and hard Date: 10 November 2020 with better research in the future. work in order for this conference to push through Main speaker: Dr Tufik Assad despite and in spite of the odds of pandemic. Abstract presenters: Finally, allow me to take this opportunity to extend my sincerest appreciation and gratitude to my coIndeed,-authors ,thisDr Timmons virtual conferenceCruz, Dr Armin has Masbang provided and Drus Marites Tan-Ang. This study would not Catherine Jordan (Philippines) *Gold Award havewith beenan opportunitya success without to showcaseyour valuable our input research, and guidance. I would also like to thank the Muhammad Imran (Pakistan) *Silver Award Departmentexpress our of Medicinethoughts, and share Institute our of Pulmonaryknowledge M edicineand of St. Luke’s Medical Center for their Matthew Ing (Australia) *Silver Award unwaveringgain new support.ones in return from the presentations Aniket Inamdar (India) and discussions during the symposium. It was Santony (Indonesia) well organized and all of the staff have been very accommodating even to my most trivial queries ➢ Respiratory Structure & Function Assembly despite us working in different time zones. Symposium sponsored by Orient EuroPharma Despite not being able to meet face-to-face, this “Exploring the Small Airway Disease” symposium was able to serve as an effective avenue Date: 21 November 2020 for learning and certainly, a lot of new ideas and Main speaker: Prof Alberto Papi information have been conveyed not only to the Abstract presenters: presenters, but also to the rest of the attendees. Joan P.Y. Sim (Australia) *Gold Award Naoya Tanabe (Japan) *Silver Award After my presentation in the symposium, I received Tomohiro Handa (Japan) *Silver Award a lot of positive feedback and valuable input regarding our study. All the questions posted and ➢ Asthma Assembly Symposium sponsored by comments given during my presentation were AstraZeneca highly appreciated. These remarks have inspired “Asthma Paradoxes” and challenged me at the same time to come up Date: 28 November 2020 with better research in the future. Main speaker: Prof Hao-Chien Wang Abstract presenters: Finally, allow me to take this opportunity to Keiko Kan-o ( Japan) *Gold Award extend my sincerest appreciation and gratitude Tsunahiko Hirano ( Japan) *Silver Award to my co-authors, Dr Timmons Cruz, Dr Armin Noriyuki Tashima ( Japan) *Silver Award Masbang and Dr Marites Tan-Ang. This study Duminda Yasaratne (Sri Lanka) would not have been a success without your valuable input and guidance. I would also like to Kazuto Matsunaga, the APSR Central Congress thank the Department of Medicine and Institute Committee Chairperson of Pulmonary Medicine of St. Luke’s Medical Yuanlin Song, Assembly Virtual Meeting Organizer

‐5‐ Again, thank you APSR for giving me a source of joy and inspiration during these difficult times. I hope and pray that I will be given another opportunity to participate and present in upcoming congress once this pandemic is over. Here’s to wishing that everyone will remain safe and healthy as we work our way towards winning this battle against the pandemic!

Catherine E. Jordan

I am Dr Muhammad Imran, Consultant Pulmonologist at Covid-19 Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan. In the midst of the corona pandemic when all activities were at a standstill, the APSR Assembly Virtual Meeting gave an excellent platform for sharing our experience with rest of the world. It was great event, where I had the opportunity to present my abstract titled “Prevalence of Covid-19 in asymptomatic healthy residents of border quarantine facilities of district Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan”. Special thanks to the APSR committee for honouring me with a Silver Award. It is indeed, a moment of great pride for me. Thankyou!

In our study the overall prevalence of Covid-19 was 10%. Men were involved much more than women. Moreover, taxi and truck driving came out to be significant risk factor for contracting infection. Most of the drivers usually transport patients from border areas to different hospitals of Peshawar, stay in groups for their meals and refreshment, which puts them at increased risk for contracting infection. Most of the positive individuals remained asymptomatic throughout study periods.

Apart from sharing of our research, the Assembly Virtual Meeting provided an opportunity to meet with renowned researchers like Dr Tufik Assad. His experience about achieving better diagnoses and outcomes for patients with respiratory infections with or without a pandemic, compelled us to review our standard operating procedures and make space for BioFire-FilmArray. The data for BioFire-Film Array was very convincing and would help us to make swift diagnosis and manage patients appropriately. Center for their unwavering support. Lastly, I would like to thank the APSR Secretariat Furthermore,for arranging fellow abstractsuch knowledgeablepresenters also shared events. their experience I on various aspects of non-TB Again, thank you the APSR for giving me a respiratoryam also infections. planning Some to importantattend symposiumstopics, like role on of thrombolysis in thoracic empyema, source of joy and inspiration during these pulmonaryexploring rehabilitation the small and airway comparison disease between by one CRB of and my qSOFA score, were really helpful. difficult times. I hope and pray that I will be given favorite presenters Prof Alberto Papi and Asthma another opportunity to participate and present in Lastlyparadoxes, I would likeby Profto thank Hao-Chienthe APSR S ecretariatWang. Onfor arranging the such knowledgeable events. I am Again,upcoming thank you congress APSR for once giving this me pandemica source of joy is over.and inspiration also whole,during planning these the to difficultevent attend helped times.symposiums I us a onlot exploring in uplifting the small our airway disease by one of my favorite hopeHere’s and topray wishing that I willthat be everyone given another will remainopportunity safe to participatepresenterresearch and spresentProf and Alberto inprofessional up comingPapi and Asthmaexperience paradoxes and by I Profam Hao-Chien Wang. On the whole, the congressand healthy once this as pandemicwe work is our over. way Here’s towards to wishing winning that everyone event willlookingremain helped safe forwardus a and lot healthyin touplifting being as our an research active and member professional of experience and I am looking forward wethis work battle our wayagainst towards the winning pandemic! this battle against the pandemic! to thebeing APSRan active and member attend of futurethe APSR events and attendwell. future events well.

Catherine E. Jordan Catherine E. Jordan Muhammad Imran Muhammad Imran

I I amam DrDr Muhammad Muhammad Imran, Consultant Pulmonologist at Covid-19ItIt waswas anan honour honour to be to able be to participate and present at the recent Imran,Hospital Peshawar, Consultant Pakistan. In the midst of the corona pandemicableAPSR to A ssemblyparticipate Virtual andMeeting for respiratory infections. It has Pulmonologistwhen all activities at COVID-19 were at a standstill, the APSR Assembly Virtualpresentbeen the first at international the recent virtual symposium I have been involved in HospitalMeeting gave Peshawar,an excellent platform for sharing our experience withAPSRduring Assembly2020 and I canVirtual only speak glowingly about the fantastic Pakistan.rest of the world.In the It was midst great event, where I had the opportunity toMeetingorganisation forand respiratory efficiency surrounding this event. It is a testament to ofpresent the coronamy abstract pandemic titled “Prevalence of Covid-19 in asymptomaticinfections.the dedication Itof hasDr Yoichibeen Nakanishi and the APSR team that whenhealthy all residents activities of border were quarantine facilities of district Khyber,thecoordinated first internationalan international symposium in the midst of a global atKhyber a standstill, Pakhtunkhwa, the APSR Pakistan”. Special thanks to the APSRvirtualpandemic. symposium I have Assemblycommittee Virtualfor hono Meetinguring me with a Silver Award. It is indeed, beena involved in during I thoroughly enjoyed the symposium and was impressed with the gavemoment an excellent of great pride platform for me. Thankyou! 2020 and I can only speak for sharing our experience with rest of the world. In our study the overall prevalence of Covid-19 was 10%. Men wereglowingly involved muchabout more the than fantastic organisation and women.It was greatMoreover, event, taxi where and truck I had driving the opportunity came out to beto significantefficiency risk factor surroundingfor contracting this event. It is a testament infepresentction. Mostmy abstract of the drivers titled usually “Prevalence transport of patients Covid-19 from border areasto the to dedicationdifferent hospitals of Dr of Yoichi Nakanishi and the Peshawar,in asymptomatic stay in groups healthy for their residents meals and refreshment,of border which putAPSRs them teamat increased that riskcoordinated for an international contractingquarantine infection. facilities Most of of districtthe positive Khyber, individuals Khyber remain ed asymptomaticsymposium throughout in the midst study of a global pandemic. periods.Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan”. Special thanks to the APSR committee for honouring me with a Silver I thoroughly enjoyed the symposium and was ApartAward. from It sharing is indeed, of our a research, moment the ofAssembly great pride Virtual for Meeting providedimpressed an opportunity with theto meet significant contributions withme. renowned Thank you!researchers like Dr Tufik Assad. His experience about achievingby all of better the diagnos authorses and to the growing literature outcomes for patients with respiratory infections with or without a pandemic,surrounding compelled respiratory us to review infections. On reflection ourIn standardour study operating the overall procedures prevalence and make spaceof COVID-19 for BioFire -FilmArray.it isThe uplifting data for BioF thatire -Filmdespite a global pandemic Awasrray 10%.was very Men convincing were involved and would much help moreus to makethan swift diagnosisand international and manage patients restrictions, we are all a part appropriately.women. Moreover, taxi and truck driving came of a worldwide medical fraternity that continues out to be significant risk factor for contracting to strive, through evidence-based medicine, to Furthermore,infection. fellowMost abstractof the presentersdrivers usuallyalso shared transport their experience onimprove various aspectspatient of outcomes. non-TB respiratorypatients frominfections. border Some areas important to different topics, likehospitals role of thrombolysis in thoracic empyema, pulmonaryof Peshawar, rehabilitation stay in and groups comparison for theirbetween meals CRB andand qSOFA scoreI had, were the really pleasure helpful. of receiving the Silver Award refreshment, which puts them at increased risk for our study entitled “Management of thoracic Lastlyfor contracting, I would like toinfection. thank the APSR Most S ecretariatof the positive for arranging suchempyema knowledgeable in an events. Australian I am tertiary referral hospital; also planning to attend symposiums on exploring the small airway disease by one of my favorite presenterindividualss Prof remainedAlberto Papi asymptomatic and Asthma paradoxes throughout by Prof Hao-Chiena 36-monthWang. On theretrospectivewhole, the study.” I’m incredibly eventstudy helped periods. us a lot in uplifting our research and professional experiencehumbled and I am by loo thisking awardforward and would like to thank to being an active member of the APSR and attend future events well. the APSR on behalf of all the authors for the Apart from sharing of our research, the Assembly recognition of our work. The symposium gave me Virtual Meeting provided an opportunity to meet an excellentMuhammad opportunity Imran to present our work and with renowned researchers like Dr Tufik Assad. field questions that were insightful and thought His experience about achievingIt was an betterhonour todiagnoses be able to participateprovoking. and present at the recent and outcomes for patientsAPSR Awithssembly respiratory Virtual Meeting for respiratory infections. It has infections with or withoutbeen a pandemic, the first international compelled virtual symposiumThank I have you. been involved in us to review our standardduring operating 2020 and procedures I can only speak glowingly about the fantastic and make space for BioFire-FilmArray.organisation and efficiency The surrounding this event. It is a testament to Matthew Ing data for BioFire-Film Arraythe dedication was very ofconvincing Dr Yoichi Nakanishi and the APSR team that and would help us to makecoordinated swift andiagnosis international and symposium in the midst of a global manage patients appropriately.pandemic. Respiratory Structure and Function Assembly Symposium Furthermore, fellow abstractI thoroughly presenters enjoyed the also symposium and was impressed with the shared their experience on various aspects of I am very honoured to have been selected to non-TB respiratory infections. Some important receive the APSR Assembly Virtual Meeting Gold topics, like role of thrombolysis in thoracic Award and to attend the APSR Assembly Virtual empyema, pulmonary rehabilitation and Meeting 2020. My study was on the “Investigation comparison between CRB and qSOFA score, were of airway oscillometry indices in post-lung really helpful. transplantation: a cross sectional study”, where we found that oscillometry indices – in particular R5,

‐6‐ significant contributions by all of the authors to the growing literature surrounding respiratory infections. On reflection it is uplifting that despite a global pandemic and international restrictions, we are all a part of a worldwide medical fraternity that continues to strive, through evidence-based medicine, to improve patient outcomes.

I had the pleasure of receiving the Silver Award for our study entitled “Management of thoracic empyema in an Australian tertiary referral hospital; a 36-month retrospective study.” I’m incredibly humbled by this award and would like to thank the APSR on behalf of all the authors for the recognition of our work. The symposium gave me an excellent opportunity to present our work and field questions that were insightful and thought provoking.

Thankyou

Matthew Ing

Respiratory Structure and Function Assembly symposium

I am very honoured to have been selected to receive the APSR R5-20, X5 and Ax – reflect relative to FEV1 was commonly found in both significant contributions by allallograftAssembly of the authors Virtualdysfunction to Meeting the growing in Gold literatureAwardcohorts. and surrounding to Furthermore,attend respiratorythe APSR the data showed that the Assembly Virtual Meeting 2020. My study was on the “Investigation infections. On reflection it is upliftinglung transplant that despite recipients a global pandemic anddisproportionally international restrictions, impaired DLCO relative to FEV1 we are all a part of a worldwidethroughof medical airway fraterni oscillometrya comparisonty that indicescontinues in postto strive,-waslung associatedthroughtransplantation: evidence with a-based crossgreater symptoms, reduced medicine, to improve patient outcomes.sectional study”, where we found that oscillometry indices – in with spirometry FEV1, and exercise capacity, paraseptal and centrilobular couldparticular also R5 , differentiateR5-20, X5 and Ax – reflectemphysema, allograft dysfunction arterial in bloodlung gas abnormality (lower I had the pleasure of receivingtransplant the Silver recipients Award for through our study a comparison entitled “Management with spirometry of thoracic FEV1, between Chronic Lung PaO2 and PaCO2), and increased long-term empyema in an Australian tertiaryand referral could hospitalalso differentiate; a 36-month betweenretrospective Chronic study.” LungI’m incrediblyAllograft AllograftDysfunction seDysfunctionverity. mortality in COPD patients. Although we could humbled by this award and wouldseverity. like to thank the APSR on behalfnot of attend all the authors a face-to-face for the meeting due to the recognition of our work. The symposium gave me an excellent opportunity to present our work and The APSR AVM 2020 was an amazing worldwideexperience where pandemic I was given of COVID-19, I made my fieldThe questions APSR thatAVM were 2020 insightf wasul an and amazing thought provoking.experience Universitypresentation cohort. online Airflow and limitation got important was assessed feedback. using FEV1 and diffusion capacity was assessed a platform to present my work to an international audience. It hasusing been DLCO.a challenging The results year showedfor that a disproportionally impaired DLCO relative to FEV1 was where I was given a platform to present my Thankyoueveryone, and it is regrettable that the APSR Kyoto Congress had to becommonly postponed. found Neverth in botheless, cohorts. this Furthermore, the data showed that the disproportionally impaired work to an international audience. It has Finally, I would like to thank all the collaborators Assembly Virtual Meeting was very well organized and delivered a valuableDLCO relative experience. to FEV Presenters1 was associated with greater symptoms, reduced exercise capacity, paraseptal whobeen shared a challenging different findings year from for a myriadeveryone, of topics and contributed it is to theandin success Japancentrilobular of and the MatthewAVM. Koreaemphysema, It for wasIng their arterial great blood contributions gas abnormality (lower PaO2 and PaCO2), and excitingregrettable to learn thatfrom manythe APSR respectable Kyoto senior Congress doctors, somehad of whomincreased andhave alsodevoted longthank -decadesterm the mortality membersof hard in ofCOPD the APSR, patients. especially Although we could not attend a face-to-face Respiratoryworkto beresearching postponed. Structure in the and Nevertheless,field Function of respiratoryAssembly this medicine. symposiumAssembly The sessionsmeeting thethat Respiratory I attendeddue to the offered Structureworldwide new andpandemic Function of COVID Assembly,-19, I made my presentation online and got perspectivesVirtual Meeting in respiratory was medicine very well and furtheredorganized my interest and in this importantfield.for givingI also feedback. appreciate me this Finally, dopportunity.all the I would like Hopefully, to thank all we the can collaborators in Japan and Korea for their quesdeliveredtions and acomments valuable from experience. I theam audience, very Presentershonoured which servedto whohave as beena great selectedgreat seeopportunity contributionseach to receive other for us theandtoface interact APSRalso to thankface theand members directly of discussAPSR, especially the Respiratory Structure and andshared learn fromdifferent each other. findingsAssembly from a Virtualmyriad Meeting of topics Gold AwardFtheunction and pathophysiology toA ssembly,attend the for APSR giving of lungme this disease opportunity. in the Hopefully, next we can see each other face to face contributed to the successAssembly of the Virtual AVM. Meeting It was 2020. My studyandAPSR directlywas conference. on discussthe “Investigation the pathophysiology of lung disease in the next APSR conference. Finally,exciting my sincerestto learn gratitude from manyofgoes airway to respectablemy oscillometry supervisors: senior indicesDr David in Darley,post-lung Dr transplantation:Katrina Tonga anda crossProf Marshalldoctors, Plit some for theirof whom expertise sectionalhave and devotedunwavering study”, decadesw support.here we of I found would thatalso likeoscillometry to thank everyoneindices – elsein Naoya Tanabe Naoya Tanabe whohard have work helped researching make this studyinparticular the possible. field R5, RAsof5-20 arespiratory, Xmedical5 and A student,x – reflect I am allograft deeply dysfunctionhumbled to inreceive lung thismedicine. recognition The and sessionsit is a greattransplant that encouragement I attended recipients for offeredthroughme to pursue a comparison future research with work.spirometry FEV1,II was very very hono honouredured to receive the APSR Assembly Virtual Meeting new perspectives in andrespiratory could also medicinedifferentiate between Chronic Lung Allograftto Silver receive Award atthe the APSRRespiratory Structure and Function Assembly I andam extr furtheredemely grateful my to interest APSRDysfunction for in providing this se verity.field. me this I alsoopportunity to participate in this meeting. IAssembly Symposium. Virtual During Meeting this hard situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I sincerelyappreciated hope to all attend the thequestions APSR Congress and comments in person in from future. Silverwish all Awardof the APSR at membersthe are keeping safe. This symposium the audience, which servedThe asAPSR a great AVM opportunity 2020 was an amazing experience whereJoan I was P.Y. given SimRespiratory was one of the steStructureps to overcome this difficult situation and continue a forplatform us to to interact present andmy worklearn to from an international each other. audience. It has been a challenging year forand academic Function exchanges Assembly between researchers. It was my great honour to receive the APSR Assembly Virtual everyone, and it is regrettable that the APSR Kyoto Congress had to be postponed. Nevertheless, thisSymposium. During this Assembly Virtual Meeting wasMeeting very well Silver organized Award. and My delivered presentation a valuable was aboutexperience. disproportionally Presenters The main theme of this symposium was small airway disease (SAD). Finally, my sincerest impairedgratitude diffusion goes capacity to my relative to airflow limitation on chronichard situation of the whosupervisors: shared different Dr findingsDavid Darley,from a myriad Dr Katrina of topics Tongacontributed to the success of the AVM. It wasCOVID-19 Prof Alberto Papipandemic, made an excellent lecture about SAD in asthma exciting to learn from many respectableobstructive senior pulmonary doctors, disease some of (COPD). whom have This devoted study was decades based of on hard the and COPD. Dr Tanabe presented his research on COPD phenotyping and Prof Marshall Plit collaborationfor their expertise by Japanese and and Korean research groups. We analyzedI wish all of the APSR workunwavering researching support. in the field I wouldof respiratory also like medicine. to thank The sessions membersthat I attended are offered keeping new usingsafe. pulmonaryThis symposium function parameters, and Dr Sim presented her clinical and structural features and longstudy-term on prognosisthe clinical in utility the twoof oscillometry in the assessment of CLAD. perspectiveseveryone in else respiratory who have medicine helped and furtheredmake this my intereststudy in this field.was Ione also appreciateof the stepsd all theto overcome this difficult questions and comments from cohortsthe audience, including which the servedKorea COPDas a great Subgroup opportunity Study forcohort us toand interact Kyoto possible. As a medical student, I am deeply situation and continue academic exchanges and learn from each other. I made a presentation about my research conducted in collaboration with Fujifilm Corporation. We humbled to receive this recognition and it is a developedbetween anresearchers. artificial intelligence -based quantitative CT technology, and quantified parenchymal Finally,great my encouragement sincerest gratitude forgoes me to my to supervisors: pursue future Dr David Darley,and Dr vascular Katrina volumesTonga and in Profpatients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We found that the Marshallresearch Plit work. for their expertise and unwavering support. I would alsovascularThe like maintovolumes thank theme everyone in upper of else thisregions symposium were independently was small associated with survival in IPF, while the who have helped make this study possible. As a medical student, I amextentairway deeply of hyperlucent diseasehumbled (SAD).to lung receive volumes Prof wereAlberto not. Papi made thisI am recognition extremely and grateful it is a great to encouragementthe APSR for for providing me to pursue futurean research excellent work. lecture about SAD in asthma and me this opportunity to participate in this meeting. I COPD.really enjoyed Dr Tanabe all of the presentations.presented Ihis would research like to express on my sincere gratitude to the APSR for I amI sincerely extremely hopegrateful to to attend APSR forthe providing APSR Congress me this opportunity in tothis COPDparticipate opportunity, phenotyping in this and meeting. I look usingforward I pulmonary to seeing you functionat the APSR annual congress next year in Kyoto. sincerelyperson hope in future. to attend the APSR Congress in person in future. parameters, and Dr Sim presented her study Joan P.Y. Sim on the clinicalJoan P.Y.utility Sim of oscillometry in the Tomohiro Handa assessment of CLAD. ItIt was mymy greatgreat hono honourur to receive theAsthma APSRAssembly Assembly symposium Virtual toMeeting receive Silver Award.the APSR My presentation I was made about adisproportionally presentation about my research Assemblyimpaired diffusion Virtual capacity relative to airflowconducted limitation in on collaboration chronic It was an honour with andFujifilm privilege to be selected as a recipient of the Meetingobstructive pulmonarySilver Award. disease (COPD). Corporation.This study was based We on developedthe APSR Asthma an Assembly artificial Gold Award. I would like to thank Mycollaboration presentation by Japanese was and Korean researchintelligence-based groups. We analyzed quantitative everyone whoCT organizedtechnology, the APSR Assembly Virtual Meeting aboutclinical disproportionallyand structural features and longand-term quantifiedprognosis in theparenchymal two (AVM). We and were forcedvascular to stop all experiments in our lab after the impairedcohorts including diffusion the Korea COPD Subgroupvolumes Study incohort patients and Kyoto with government idiopathic declared pulmonary a nationwide state of emergency on April due capacity relative to airflow fibrosis (IPF). We foundto the thatCOVID the-19 pandemic,vascular and many physician scientists have been limitation on chronic volumes in upper regionsstill werein a difficult independently situation here in Japan. It was a great pleasure to obstructive pulmonary associated with survival inpresent IPF, while our basic the research extent inof the APSR AVM which encouraged me to pursue further research. disease (COPD). This study was based on the hyperlucent lung volumes were not. collaboration by Japanese and Korean research The title of my presentation was “Incense smoke induces airway groups. We analyzed clinical and structural hyperresponsiveness,I really enjoyed all alterations of the presentations.of tight junction I proteinswould and loss of airway epithelial barrier features and long-term prognosis in the two integritylike to viaexpress oxidative my stress”. sincere As gratitudeyou know, incenseto the burningAPSR is a common cultural practice in many cohorts including the Korea COPD Subgroup Asianfor this countries. opportunity, Recent clinical and I studieslook forward have suggested to seeing that inhalation of incense smoke may result Study cohort and Kyoto University cohort. Airflow you at the APSR annual congress next year in limitation was assessed using FEV1 and diffusion Kyoto. capacity was assessed using DLCO. The results showed that a disproportionally impaired DLCO Tomohiro Handa

‐7‐ University cohort. Airflow limitation was assessed using FEV1 and diffusion capacity was assessed using DLCO. The results showed that a disproportionally impaired DLCO relative to FEV1 was commonly found in both cohorts. Furthermore, the data showed that the disproportionally impaired DLCO relative to FEV1 was associated with greater symptoms, reduced exercise capacity, paraseptal and centrilobular emphysema, arterial blood gas abnormality (lower PaO2 and PaCO2), and increased long-term mortality in COPD patients. Although we could not attend a face-to-face meeting due to the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, I made my presentation online and got important feedback. Finally, I would like to thank all the collaborators in Japan and Korea for their great contributions and also thank the members of APSR, especially the Respiratory Structure and Function Assembly, for giving me this opportunity. Hopefully, we can see each other face to face and directly discuss the pathophysiology of lung disease in the next APSR conference.

Naoya Tanabe

I was very honoured to receive the APSR Assembly Virtual Meeting Silver Award at the Respiratory Structure and Function Assembly Symposium. During this hard situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wish all of the APSR members are keeping safe. This symposium was one of the steps to overcome this difficult situation and continue academic exchanges between researchers.

The main theme of this symposium was small airway disease (SAD). Prof Alberto Papi made an excellent lecture about SAD in asthma and COPD. Dr Tanabe presented his research on COPD phenotyping using pulmonary function parameters, and Dr Sim presented her study on the clinical utility of oscillometry in the assessment of CLAD.

I made a presentation about my research conducted in collaboration within impaired Fujifilm lung Corpora functiontion. and We asthma. In the presentation, we tried to show experimental evidence to developed an artificial intelligence-based quantitative CT technology,link and incense quantified smoke parenchymal exposure with airway dysfunction and suggest its detrimental effects. I greatly and vascular volumes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisappreciate (IPF). WeDr Lee’s found good that comments the and suggestions on our study. vascular volumes in upper regions were independently associated with survival in IPF, while the extent of hyperlucent lung volumes were not. I sincerely hope to attend 25th Congress of the APSR 2021 and make face to face conversation with many researchers. I really enjoyed all of the presentations. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the APSR for this opportunity, and I look forward to seeing you at the APSR annual congress next year in Kyoto. Keiko Kan-o

Tomohiro Handa I was deeply hounored to be a part of the APSR Assembly Virtual stimulation such as smoking,Meeting air-pollution and receive andthe silver award of Asthma Assembly AsthmaAsthmaAssembly symposium Assembly Symposium virus, could provide extracellularSymposium matrixin 2020. (ECM) The title of my presentation was “Airway dysregulation, neutrophilTNF / T-LIGHT cell activation expression and and associated molecular inflammatory ItIt waswas an anhonour honourand privilege and to be selectedoxidative as a recipient / nitrative of the stressprofiles through in asthma LIGHT. patients Our with persistent airflow limitation.” New privilegeAPSR Asthma to Assemblybe selected Gold Award. I resultswould like suggested to thank that cooperativeTNF family involvement ligand, LIGHT induces inflammation by aseveryone a recipient who organized of thethe APSR Assemblyof LIGHT Virtual Meetingwith inflammatory proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and promotes fibrosis in the airway and APSR(AVM). Asthma We were forcedAssembly to stop all experimentsradical/molecules in our lab after maythe havethe moa pivotallecule has role been in thethought to be a crucial driver of the Goldgovernment Award. declared I awould nationwide state ofpersistently emergency onsteroid-resistant April due mechanism airflow of limitationdifficult asthma. of Therefore, we demonstrated that liketo the toCOVID thank-19 pandemic,everyone and many physicianpatients scientists with asthma. have been abundant LIGHT in the asthmatic airway was associated with still in a difficult situation here in Japan.persistent It was a greatairflow pleasure limitation to during treatment by ICS and the overexpression of cells and mediators who organized the present our basic research in the APSR whichAVMI know whichare linkedthatencouraged Ito wouldn’t airway me remodeling have been and steroidat the resistance. AVM In short, inflammatory cells, which APSRto pursue Assembly further research. Virtual was induced by stimulation such as smoking, air-pollution and virus, could provide extracellular Meeting (AVM). We if it was not for the support of my supervisor matrixKazuto (ECM) Matsunaga dysregulation, and neutrophil my coworkers. / T cell activationI would and oxidative / nitrative stress through wereThe title forced of my topresentation stop all was “IncenseLIGHT. smoke Our resultsinduces suggested airway that cooperative involvement of LIGHT with inflammatory and experiments in our lab like to express my gratitude to everyone have hyperresponsiveness, alterations of tight junction proteins and lossprofibrogenic beenof airway supporting epithelial radical/molecules barrier to me, may people have a pivotalinvolved role inin the persistently steroid-resistant airflow integrityafter thevia oxidativegovernment stress”. declared As you know, a nationwide incense burning state is a commonlimita culturtion ofal patientspractice with in many asthma. the selections and all related people. I hope I Asianof emergencycountries. Recent on clinicalApril studiesdue to have the suggested COVID-19 that inhalation of incense smoke may result pandemic, and many physician scientists have I contributeknow that I wouldn’t to the have further been atsuccess the AVM ofif the it was APSR not for the support of my supervisor Kazuto been still in a difficult situation here in Japan. It Matsunagaand respiratory and my medicine.coworkers. Furthermore,I would like to I wantexpress to my gratitude to everyone have been was a great pleasure to present our basic research supportingattend the to me,APSR people annual involved congress in the selectionsand am lookingand all related people. I hope I contribute to the in the APSR AVM which encouraged me to furtherforward success to being of the ableAPSR to and see respiratory the APSR medicine. members Furthermore, I want to attend the APSR pursue further research. annualagaincongress in the future.and am looking forward to being able to see APSR members again in the future.

The title of my presentation was “Incense smoke Tsunahiko Hirano Thunahiko Hirano induces airway hyperresponsiveness, alterations of tight junction proteins and loss of airway I I wasvery very honoured honoured to receive the APSR Assembly Virtual Meeting epithelial barrier integrity via oxidative stress”. As toaward receive in 2020. Thisthe was APSR the first time for me to attend an international you know, incense burning is a common cultural Assemblyvirtual meeting. Virtual It was Meeting a great pity that the APSR 2020 congress had practice in many Asian countries. Recent clinical Silverbeen postponedAward in due 2020. to the This COVID -19 pandemic. However, thanks to studies have suggested that inhalation of incense wasthe effortsthe first of APSR time presidentfor me Prof Nakanishi, the chairs, the smoke may result in impaired lung function and tosecretariats, attend an and international AstraZeneca, the Asthma Assembly Virtual Meeting asthma. In the presentation, we tried to show virtualwas held meeting. in November It 2020.was a I am grateful to be given the opportunity experimental evidence to link incense smoke greatto present pity our that resea therch APSRat the meeting. exposure with airway dysfunction and suggest its 2020 Congress had been postponedMy title was “Elevated due to serum the free fatty acids may be a risk factor of indetrimental impaired lung effects.function andI greatly asthma. appreciate In the presentation, Dr Lee’s we tried to showadult experimentalonset asthma: evidence Nagahama to Study”. Obesity is a risk factor for asthma, especially in females. linkgood incense comments smoke exposure and suggestions with airway on dysfunction our study. and suggest its COVID-19detrimental effects. pandemic. I greatly However, thanks to the Plasmaefforts free of fattythe acidAPSR levels President, are usually Prof elevated Nakanishi, in obesity. There were reports of metabolome appreciate Dr Lee’s good comments and suggestions on our study. analysis focusing the relationship between serum fatty acids and the morbidity or the severity of th the chairs, the secretariats, and AstraZeneca, I sincerely hope to attend 25 Congress of the asthma. The associations between levels of serum fatty acids and long-term asthma incidence remain th the Asthma Assembly Virtual Meeting was held I sincerelyAPSR 2021 hope andto attend make 25 faceCongress to face of the conversation APSR 2021 and make unknown.face to face In conversationthis study, we with comp rehensively performed mass spectrometry of serum fatty acids and in November 2020. I am grateful to be given manywith researchers. many researchers. identified the fatty acids that contribute to the asthma incidence by partial least squares discriminant analysis.the opportunityThe Nagahama to epidemiologicalpresent our researchstudy is a long at -theterm, large-scale cohort study that includes Keiko Kan-o detailedmeeting. interviewsKeiko on diet,Kan -oprescription of hyperlipidemic drugs, time between meal and blood sampling, and so on. We could obtain reliable analysis results with the cooperation of the subjects. I Iwaswas deeplydeeply ho uhounorednored to be a part of Mythe APSRtitle was Assembly “Elevated Virtual serum free fatty acids may toM eetingbe a andpart receive of the silver awardbe a ofrisk Asthma factor ofAssembly adult onset asthma: Nagahama APSRSymposium Assembly in 2020. Virtual The title of myStudy”. presentation Obesity was “ Airwayis a risk factor for asthma, MeetingTNF-LIGHT and expressionreceive theand associatedespecially molecular in females.inflammatory Plasma free fatty acid levels Silverprofiles Award in asthma of patientsAsthma with persistentare airflowusually limitation.” elevated inNew obesity. There were reports AssemblyTNF family Symposium ligand, LIGHT inducesof metabolome inflammation analysis by focusing the relationship inproinflammatory 2020. The title cytokines of my and promotesbetween fibrosis serumin the airway fatty andacids and the morbidity or the molecule has been thought to be a crucial driver of the presentation was “Airway the severity of asthma. The associations between mechanism of difficult asthma. Therefore,levels weof serumdemonstrated fatty acidsthat and long-term asthma TNF-LIGHTabundant LIGHT expression in the asthmatic airway was associated with and associated molecular incidence remain unknown. In this study, we persistent airflow limitation during treatment by ICS and the overexpressioncomprehensively of cells and mediators performed mass spectrometry whichinflammatory are linked to airway profiles remodeling in asthma and steroid patients resistance. In short, inflammatory cells, which with persistent airflow limitation.” New TNF of serum fatty acids and identified the fatty was induced by stimulation such as smoking, air-pollution and virus,acids could that provide contribute extracellular to the asthma incidence by matrixfamily (ECM) ligand, dysregulation, LIGHT neutrophil induces / Tinflammation cell activation and oxidative / nitrative stress through partial least squares discriminant analysis. The LIGHT.by proinflammatory Our results suggested cytokines that cooperative and promotes involvement of LIGHT with inflammatory and profibrogenicfibrosis in radical/molecules the airway and may the have molecule a pivotal hasrole beenin the persistentlyNagahama steroid- resistantepidemiological airflow study is a long-term, limitathoughttion of topatients be a withcrucial asthma. driver of the mechanism large-scale cohort study that includes detailed of difficult asthma. Therefore, we demonstrated interviews on diet, prescription of hyperlipidemic I knowthat thatabundant I wouldn’t LIGHT have been in atthe the asthmaticAVM if it was airway not for the supportdrugs, of my time supervisor between Kazuto meal and blood sampling, Matsunagawas associated and my withcoworkers. persistent I would airflow like tolimitation express my gratitudeand to so everyone on. We have could been obtain reliable analysis supportingduring treatmentto me, people by involved ICS and in thetheselections overexpression and all related people.results I hope with I contribute the cooperation to the of the subjects. furtherof cells success and of themediators APSR and which respiratory are medicine. linked Furthermore,to I want to attend the APSR annualairwaycongress remodeling and am looking and forwardsteroid to beresistance.ing able to see In APSR membersAt the again virtual in the meeting, future. I was amazed important short, inflammatory cells, which was induced by findings which motivate me to further research. Thunahiko Hirano

I was very honoured to receive the‐ 8APSR‐ Assembly Virtual Meeting award in 2020. This was the first time for me to attend an international virtual meeting. It was a great pity that the APSR 2020 congress had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, thanks to the efforts of APSR president Prof Nakanishi, the chairs, the secretariats, and AstraZeneca, the Asthma Assembly Virtual Meeting was held in November 2020. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to present our research at the meeting.

My title was “Elevated serum free fatty acids may be a risk factor of adult onset asthma: Nagahama Study”. Obesity is a risk factor for asthma, especially in females. Plasma free fatty acid levels are usually elevated in obesity. There were reports of metabolome analysis focusing the relationship between serum fatty acids and the morbidity or the severity of asthma. The associations between levels of serum fatty acids and long-term asthma incidence remain unknown. In this study, we comprehensively performed mass spectrometry of serum fatty acids and identified the fatty acids that contribute to the asthma incidence by partial least squares discriminant analysis. The Nagahama epidemiological study is a long-term, large-scale cohort study that includes detailed interviews on diet, prescription of hyperlipidemic drugs, time between meal and blood sampling, and so on. We could obtain reliable analysis results with the cooperation of the subjects. I am looking forward to seeing you at the APSR (Virtual) Congress in Kyoto in November 2021. Finally, I 2-5 March would like to thank everyone who helped this Email: [email protected] study, the APSR staff, my boss Dr Matsumoto, and Website: philchest.org/xp/40th-annual- colleagues in our department. convention/

Noriyuki Tashima Hong Kong Thoracic Society (HKTS) Annual Scientific Meeting 28 March APSR COVID-19 Educational Webinar 131st Conference of the Korean Academy of Title: “Rapid Syndromic Molecular Detection in the Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) ED and ICU: a game-changer for the management of 10 April COVID-19 patients” Pusan, Korea Date: 14 January 2021 Email: [email protected] Sponsor: bioMérieux and BioFire Website: eng.lungkorea.org/ Speakers: Dr Chien-Chang Lee / Dr Hari Kishan Gonuguntla 61st Annual Meeting of the Japanese Respiratory Registration: Free for APSR members. Society (JRS) 23-25 April Tokyo, Japan Message from the 25th APSR Email: [email protected] Congress President Website: jrs.or.jp/jrs61/en/index.html ATS 2021 The 25th Congress of the APSR will be held at 14-19 May the Kyoto International Conference Center (ICC San Diego, USA Kyoto), Japan, 18–21 November 2021. We are currently working on the details of how to hold ERS 2021 the event and the programme. We will let you 4-8 September know as soon as it is decided. My message "Letter Barcelona, Spain from Japan: Rethinking our future" can be found in Respirology at 2020 Dec 8. doi: 10.1111/ 2021 KATRDIC (Korean Academy of Tuberculosis resp.13989 and Respiratory Diseases International Conference) We hope you enjoy reading that article. 11-12 November Seoul, Korea Shu Hashimoto Email: [email protected] Websites: eng.lungkorea.org, katrdic.org/ Assembly Reports and Newsletters 25th Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of Assembly reports are available via apsresp.org/ Respirology assemblies/annual-reports.html (members-only 18-21 November access) Kyoto, Japan Website: apsr2021.jp Councillor Reports

Council reports are available via apsresp.org/ 2022 about/councils.html (members-only access). The 62nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Respiratory Society 22-24 April Forthcoming Meetings Kyoto, Japan

2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer Singapore 26th Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of (Virtual) Respirology 28-31 January 17-20 November Website: wclc2020.iaslc.org Seoul, Korea

40th Annual Chest Convention Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) “RED Pulmo: Reinventing EveryDay Pulmonology”

‐9‐ Organization of the APSR

Officers President: Yoichi Nakanishi President-Elect: David CL Lam Co-Editors in Chief: Philip Bardin, Paul Reynolds

Executive Members Representing the Council Members Mary Sau-Man Ip Paul Reynolds Faisal Yunus

Chairpersons of the Permanent Committees Steering Committee: Yoichi Nakanishi Strategic Planning Committee: Mary Sau-Man Ip Research Committee: Young Whan Kim Education Committee: Philip Eng Nomination Committee: Yoshinosuke Fukuchi Membership Committee: Yasutaka Nakano Central Congress Committee: Kazuto Matsunaga

Assembly Troika Leadership

Clinical Respiratory Medicine Asthma Head Dushantha Madegedara Head Kang-Yun Lee Head-Elect Roland Leung Head-Elect Phan Thu Phuong Deputy Head Chao-Chi Ho Deputy Head Shih-Lung Cheng Cell and Molecular Biology Respiratory Neurobiology and Sleep Head Takahide Nagase Head Yoshitaka Oku Head-Elect Tomoaki Hoshino Head-Elect Ning-Hung Chen Deputy Head Chul-Gyu Yoo Deputy Head Hiromasa Ogawa Clinical Allergy and Immunology Critical Care Medicine Head Yasuhiro Gon Head Rex Chin-Wei Yung Head-Elect Takashi Iwanaga Head-Elect Phunsup Wongsurakiat Deputy Head Janet Rimmer Deputy Head Kuo-Chin Kao Environmental & Occupational Health and Epidemiology Bronchoscopy and Interventional Techniques Head Woo Jin Kim Head Fumihiro Asano Head-Elect Kazuhiro Yatera Head-Elect Phan Nguyen Deputy Head Jun-Pyo Myong Deputy Head Chih-Yen Tu Respiratory Infections (non-tuberculous) Paediatric Lung Disease Head Yuanlin Song Head Jessie Anne de Bruyne Head-Elect Chieh-Liang Wu Head-Elect Anna Marie Nathan Deputy Head Masaki Fujita Deputy Head Anne Goh Tuberculosis Respiratory Structure and Function Head Erlina Burhan Head Hajime Kurosawa Head-Elect Jennifer Ann Wi Head-Elect Greg King Deputy Head Lalaine Mortera Deputy Head Tsuyoshi Oguma COPD Pulmonary Circulation Head Kazuto Matsunaga Head Nobuhiro Tanabe Head-Elect Chin Kook Rhee Head-Elect Masayuki Hanaoka Deputy Head Hao-Chien Wang Deputy Head Talant Sooronbaev Lung Cancer Interstitial Lung Disease Head Emily Stone Head Arata Azuma Head-Elect Laksmi Sita Andarini Head-Elect Takafumi Suda Deputy Head David Chi-Leung Lam Deputy Head Moo Suk Park

‐10‐ Council Members

Australia: Phil Hansbro Korea: Ki-Suck Jung Guy Marks Chin Kook Rhee Paul Reynolds Jae-Joon Yim Bruce Thompson Malaysia: Chong-Kin Liam Bangladesh: Ashraful Alam Khan Yong Kek Pang Hena Khatun Philippines: Malbar G. Ferrer Asif Mujtaba Mahmud Gregorio P. Ocampo China: Nanshan Zhong Ivan N. Villespin Hong Kong: Mary Sau-Man Ip New Zealand: Richard Laing David Hui Singapore: Adrian Chan David Lam Alvin Ng Indonesia: Arifin Nawas Sri Lanka: Manil Peiris Agus Dwi Susanto Eshanth Perera Faisal Yunus Taiwan: Reury-Perng Perng Japan: Arata Azuma Ying-Huang Tsai Yasuhiro Gon Pan-Chyr Yang Yasutaka Nakano Vietnam: Chau Ngo Quy Yasuhiko Nishioka Vu Van Giap Le Thi Tuyet Lan

Presidents of the Congresses: 1st Congress Tokyo 1988 Michiyoshi Harasawa 2nd Congress Bali 1990 Hood Alsagaff 3rd Congress Singapore 1993 Wan-Cheng Tan 4th Congress Beijing 1996 Wei-Ci Luo 5th Congress Sydney 1998 J. Paul Seale 6th Congress Florence 2000 Ann J. Woolcock 7th Congress Taiwan 2002 Kwen-Tay Luh 8th Congress Selangor 2003 Chong-Kin Liam 9th Congress Hong Kong 2004 Wah Kit Lam 10th Congress Guangzhou 2005 Nan Shan Zhong 11th Congress Kyoto 2006 Yoshinosuke Fukuchi 12th Congress Gold Coast 2007 Christine Jenkins 13th Congress Bangkok 2008 Arth Nana 14th Congress Seoul 2009 YoungSoo Shim 15th Congress Manila 2010 Teresita de Guia 16th Congress Shanghai 2011 Chunxue Bai 17th Congress Hong Kong 2012 David Hui 18th Congress Yokohama 2013 Toshihiro Nukiwa 19th Congress Bali 2014 Faisal Yunus 20th Congress Kuala Lumpur 2015 Roslina Abdul Manap 21st Congress Bangkok 2016 Sumalee Kiatboonsri 22nd Congress Sydney 2017 Jane Bourke, Mathew Peters 23rd Congress Taipei 2018 Chong-Jen Yu 24th Congress Hanoi 2019 Chau Ngo Quy 25th Congress Kyoto 2021 Shu Hashimoto 26th Congress Seoul 2022 Ki-Suck Jung

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The Asian Pacific Society of Respirology The Asian Pacific2nd Floor, Society UK's Bldg. of Respirology 16 / 16 2-29-3, Hongo,2nd Bunkyo Floor,- ku,UK's Tokyo, Bldg. 113 -0033 Japan 2-29-3,Phone: Hongo, +81- 3Bunkyo-ku,-5684-3370, Tokyo, Fax: +81 113-0033-3-5684-3382 Japan Phone: +81-3-5684-3370,Email: [email protected] Fax: +81-3-5684-3382 Email:Website: [email protected] www.apsresp.org Website: www.apsresp.org

‐12‐