Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Endobronchial Ultrasound Guided TBNA vs. Conventional TBNA in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is superior to conventional transbronchial needle aspiration (cTBNA) in the staging of lung cancer. However, its efficiency in diagnosis of sarcoidosis when combined with endobronchial biopsy (EBB) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) has not been studied. This randomized controlled trial compares diagnostic yield of EBUS-TBNA vs cTBNA in combination with EBB and TBLB. ⋯ Individually, EBUS-TBNA has the highest diagnostic yield in sarcoidosis, but it should be combined with TBLB for the optimal yield. The diagnostic yield of cTBNA (plus EBB and TBLB) is similar to EBUS-TBNA plus TBLB.
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Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is severely impaired in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We aimed to assess the effect of PAH-specific therapies on HRQoL. ⋯ This review shows that PAH-specific therapies improve HRQoL in PAH. However, it remains difficult to draw any firm conclusion about the clinical significance of these improvements. Further work is mandatory to validate PAH-specific questionnaires that are responsive to clinical changes as well as to establish their interpretability.
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Multicenter Study
QUALITY INDICATORS FOR THE EVALUATION OF PATIENTS WITH LUNG CANCER.
Ideally, quality indicators are developed with the input of professional groups involved in the care of patients. This project, led by the Thoracic Oncology Network and Quality Improvement Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), had the goal of developing quality indicators related to the evaluation and staging of patients with lung cancer. ⋯ We have defined seven process-of-care quality indicators related to the evaluation and staging of patients with lung cancer, which are felt to be valid, feasible, and relevant by lung cancer specialists.
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Observational Study
Respiratory Exacerbations in Indigenous Children from Two Countries with Non-Cystic Fibrosis Chronic Suppurative Lung Disease/Bronchiectasis.
Acute respiratory exacerbations (AREs) cause morbidity and lung function decline in children with chronic suppurative lung disease (CSLD) and bronchiectasis. In a prospective longitudinal cohort study, we determined the patterns of AREs and factors related to increased risks for AREs in children with CSLD/bronchiectasis. ⋯ AREs are common in children with CSLD/bronchiectasis, but with clinical care and time AREs occur less frequently. All children with CSLD/bronchiectasis require comprehensive care; however, treatment strategies may differ for these patients based on their changing risks for AREs during each year of care.