Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a well-recognized complication of sarcoidosis. Patients with sarcoidosis-associated PH (SAPH) have poorer functional status and greater supplemental oxygen requirements than sarcoidosis patients without PH, and are more likely to be listed for lung transplantation. PH is an independent risk factor for mortality in sarcoidosis patients awaiting lung transplantation. ⋯ Management of SAPH is based on reversal of resting hypoxaemia, treatment of comorbidities and treatment of the underlying sarcoidosis. The use of corticosteroids in SAPH is controversial. Specific PH therapy is not routinely recommended in SAPH as there are no successful placebo-controlled trials, although there is limited data to suggest that endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors may be useful.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of 21-gauge and 22-gauge aspiration needle during endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration.
Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has typically been performed using the 22 gauge (G) dedicated TBNA needle. Recently a new 21G TBNA needle has been introduced. The efficacy of using a larger gauge biopsy needle during EBUS-TBNA has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield and utility of 21G and 22G needles during EBUS-TBNA. ⋯ There were no differences in the diagnostic yield between the 21G and 22G needles during EBUS-TBNA. The preserved histological structure of the samples obtained by the 21G needle may be useful for the diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar adenopathy of unknown aetiology which may be a challenge with the 22G needle.
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The expression of Fc receptors for IgG (FcγRs) on neutrophils, including CD16, CD32 and CD64, may be modulated in response to sepsis. We investigated the expression of FcγRs on neutrophils and procalcitonin (PCT) as biomarkers of sepsis among critically ill patients. ⋯ CD64 and CD16 were differentially modulated by sepsis. CD64, CD64/CD16 and PCT may be biomarkers of sepsis. CD64 was better than PCT for identifying patients who required treatment with antibiotics.
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Acute lung injury contributes to the mortality of patients after lung resection and one-lung ventilation (OLV). The objective of this study was to characterise the effect of lung resection and OLV on proposed biomarkers of lung injury in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and plasma. ⋯ Lung resection and OLV was associated with a rapid reduction in EBC pH and differential changes in plasma biomarkers of lung injury. Further investigation of EBC pH as a marker of ventilator-induced lung injury is warranted.