The clinical respiratory journal
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Comparative Study
Utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in diagnosing non-specific inflammatory intrathorcacic lymphadenitis.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has emerged as a minimally invasive technique for diagnosing intrathoracic malignancies and some benignancies; however, there are no data available on the utility of EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of non-specific inflammatory intrathoracic lymphadenitis. ⋯ EBUS-TBNA can provide pathological and microbiological evidences for diagnosing non-specific inflammatory intrathoracic lymphadenopathy, and it is a safe and effective first-line investigation for ruling out malignancies and other benign diseases.
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Multicenter Study
Lung cancer in patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema revisited with the 2015 World Health Organization classification of lung tumors.
Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a newly defined entity that comprises upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis. Patients with CPFE are at high risk for lung cancer and have poor prognoses. To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of lung cancer with CPFE, lung cancers with CPFE and non-CPFE interstitial lung disease (ILD) were reevaluated by 2015 WHO classification and compared. ⋯ Lung cancers with CPFE show some unique clinical characteristics, and the distinct histological subtype may have therapeutic implication.
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Comparative Study
Respiratory muscle strength in patients with pulmonary hypertension: The relationship with exercise capacity, physical activity level, and quality of life.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is characterized by exertional dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain, dizziness, and syncope. Physical activity, peripheral, and respiratory muscle strength reduces in pateints with PH. Little is known about respiratory muscle weakness and related outcomes. ⋯ The relationship between maximum inspiratory pressure, exercise capacity, and physical activity level showed that a decrease in exercise capacity or physical activity level may be a predictor for decreased MIP.
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Comparative Study
The declined levels of inflammatory cytokines related with weaning rate during period of septic patients using ventilators.
Approximately 50% of patients with sepsis-induced acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome require mechanical ventilation. Patients with extended mechanical ventilator use routinely develop reinfections, which increases hospital stay, mortality, and health care cost. Some studies have pointed out inflammatory factors concentrations can affect ventilator weaning, but do not indicate changed inflammatory factors related to ventilator weaning during using ventilators. ⋯ The factors of ventilators weaning successfully such as disease control, nutritional status, and so on. The declined levels of serum inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-6, improved inflammation status might be one factor of successfully weaning during septic patients on ventilators.
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Comparative Study
Usefulness of admission red blood cell distribution width as a predictor of severity of acute pulmonary embolism.
Previous researches have represented a considerable relation between acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and red blood cell distribution width (RDW). To the authors' knowledge no research has been informed in subjects with PE severity. Pulmonary arterial obstruction index (PAOI) is associated with the severity of acute PE. ⋯ PAOI was correlated with PE severity, D-dimer level, sPAP and clinical probability scores. PAOI was correlated with RDW levels. RDW levels, an inexpensive and easily measurable laboratory factor, were considerable associated with the severity and presence of PE.