Chest
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Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a frequent event in patients with COPD, although it is not currently considered an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). To our knowledge, no studies have compared the inflammatory response of patients with COPD who develop CAP or AECOPD. The aim of our study was to compare clinical and evolutive manifestations and biologic signaling of AECOPD and CAP + COPD. ⋯ Our study confirms that two different clinical and inflammatory profiles exist in hospitalized patients with COPD in response to CAP (stronger response) and AECOPD, although with similar short-term and long-term outcomes.
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The aim of this study was to determine whether assessment of early CT scan-detected bronchiectasis in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF) depends on lung volume. ⋯ In young children with CF, radiologic assessment of early bronchiectasis with chest CT scan depends on lung volume; thus, expiratory scans may not be appropriate for evaluating bronchiectasis in this population. Lung volume during CT image acquisition should be standardized to evaluate airway dimensions in young children.
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Comparative Study
Persistent Pure Ground-Glass Opacity Lung Nodules ≥ 10 mm in Diameter at CT Scan: Histopathologic Comparisons and Prognostic Implications.
Little is known about the histopathology and prognosis of persistent pure ground-glass opacity nodules (GGNs) of ≥ 10 mm in diameter. We aimed to compare the morphologic features of persistent pure GGNs of ≥ 10 mm in diameter at thin-section CT (TSCT) scan with histopathology and patient prognosis. ⋯ In persistent pure GGNs of ≥ 10 mm in diameter, the size and mass of the nodule are determinants of invasive adenocarcinoma, for which surgical resection leads to excellent prognosis.
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Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is diagnosed using clinical criteria and detection of platelet-activating anti-platelet factor 4/heparin (anti-PF4/H) antibodies, usually through a surrogate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The high false-positive rate (FPR) of this ELISA prompted us to reexamine its interpretation. ⋯ Diagnostic accuracy of the anti-PF4/H ELISA can be optimized by using a higher cutoff and a stratified interpretation of the results. Our algorithm should significantly reduce overdiagnosis of HIT and the need for SRA testing.