Respiratory investigation
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Respiratory investigation · Sep 2020
Single-center experience of patients with interstitial lung diseases during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD) can be suspected to be at risk of experiencing a rapid flare-up due to COVID-19. However, no specific data are currently available for these patients. ⋯ Our study did not demonstrate any increased occurrence of severe COVID-19 in ILD patients compared to the global population. Based on our findings, we could not make any conclusion on the incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with ILDs, or on the overall outcome of immunocompromised patients affected by COVID-19.
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Respiratory investigation · Sep 2020
Comparative StudyComparison of ultrathin bronchoscopy with conventional bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions without virtual bronchial navigation.
For the precise management of advanced lung cancers, bronchoscopy with a high diagnostic yield and abundant tumor specimens are required. In recent years, new devices and techniques have been rapidly developed, including the endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) using a guide sheath, virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN), and ultra-thin bronchoscope (UTB), for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). These techniques increase the diagnostic yield for PPL, thus requiring fewer biopsy specimens. VBN is generally not available at the city hospitals in Japan. In this study, using fluoroscopy without VBN, we studied whether the histologic diagnostic yield of radial EBUS for PPLs would be higher using a UTB (without guide sheath) or conventional bronchoscope (CB) (with guide sheath). ⋯ UTB had a significantly higher tissue diagnostic yield than CB, without the use of VBN.
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Respiratory investigation · Jul 2020
Histology is critical but not always for the diagnosis of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
The diagnosis of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) is often based on the pathology, but evidence is scarce that a pathological diagnosis of CHP may mislead the multidisciplinary diagnosis. ⋯ Cases of suspected CHP on pathology may be determined to be non-CHP through MDD.
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Respiratory investigation · May 2020
Deterioration of high-resolution computed tomography findings predicts disease progression after initial decline in forced vital capacity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients treated with pirfenidone.
Pirfenidone suppresses the decline of forced vital capacity (FVC) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, IPF progresses in some patients despite treatment. We analyzed patients with meaningful FVC declines during pirfenidone treatment and explored the factors predictive of disease progression after FVC decline. ⋯ We revealed that deterioration of HRCT findings may predict disease progression after the initial decline in %FVC in IPF patients treated with pirfenidone.