Chest
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Clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), a subtype of dermatomyositis with subtle or no muscle involvement, is occasionally accompanied by fatal, rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) that is resistant to aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. The presence of anti-CADM-140/MDA5 antibodies is diagnostic for patients with dermatomyositis (particularly CADM) and is known to be strongly associated with the pathogenesis, disease activity, and mortality of RP-ILD. ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first case to indicate a serial reduction of anti-CADM-140/MDA5 autoantibodies, associated with clinical improvement, following PMX-DHP. Early intervention using PMX-DHP may improve the prognosis of RP-ILD accompanied by CADM.
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The goal of the 6-min walk test (6MWT) is to enable patients to walk "as far as possible" as a measure of their functional ability. The impact of the specific walk instructions on patient 6MWT performance is unknown. ⋯ Patients do not walk as far as they are able with the standard American Thoracic Society instruction for 6MWT. Changing the wording from "far" to "fast" may facilitate a better effort and greater distance during the test. It is possible that this modified 6MWT instruction may result in improved accuracy and reproducibility, thereby enhancing its clinical and research trial usefulness.
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The increasing frequency of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by colistin-only susceptible (COS) gram-negative bacteria (GNB) is of great concern. Adjunctive aerosolized (AS) colistin can reportedly increase alveolar levels of the drug without increasing systemic toxicity. Good clinical results have been obtained in patients with cystic fibrosis, but conflicting data have been reported in patients with VAP. ⋯ Our results suggest that AS colistin might be a beneficial adjunct to IV colistin in the management of VAP caused by COS GNB.
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Comparative Study
Quality Gaps and Comparative Effectiveness in Lung Cancer Staging: The impact of test sequencing on outcomes.
Evidence-based guidelines recommend mediastinal sampling as the first invasive test in patients with suspected lung cancer and mediastinal adenopathy. The goal of this study was to assess practice patterns and outcomes of diagnostic strategies in this patient population. ⋯ Quality gaps in lung cancer staging in patients with mediastinal adenopathy are common and lead to unnecessary testing and increased complications. In patients with suspected lung cancer without distant metastatic disease with mediastinal adenopathy, EBUS-TBNA should be the first test.
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Observational Study
Focused sonography of the heart, lungs and deep veins identifies missed life-threatening conditions in acute admitted patients with respiratory symptoms.
Patients with acute respiratory symptoms still remain a diagnostic challenge. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether focused sonography could potentially diagnose life-threatening conditions missed at the primary assessment in a patient population consisting of admitted patients with acute respiratory symptoms. ⋯ Focused sonography of the heart, lungs, and deep veins is fast, highly feasible, and able to diagnose life-threatening conditions missed at the primary assessment in admitted patients with acute respiratory symptoms. In an ED setting sonography can be used both for ruling in and ruling out acute life-threatening conditions in these patients.