BMC pulmonary medicine
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Nov 2017
Pleural plaques in lung cancer screening by low-dose computed tomography: prevalence, association with lung cancer and mortality.
To report the prevalence of pleural plaques in a lung cancer screening trial by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) and to test the association with incidence of lung cancer and mortality. ⋯ Pleural plaques are a risk factor for lung cancer mortality that can be detected in lung cancer screening by LDCT, also in subjects that are not aware of asbestos exposure.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Nov 2017
Observational StudyTracking dyspnea up to supplemental oxygen prescription among patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
Dyspnea is the hallmark symptom of pulmonary fibrosis. Supplemental oxygen (O2) is prescribed to many patients with pulmonary fibrosis in hopes of alleviating dyspnea and improving physical functioning. We used response data from the University of California San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (UCSD) which was administered monthly in the context of a longitudinal, observational study to plot a rich trajectory for dyspnea over time in patients with pulmonary fibrosis. We used other data from that study to identify clinical predictors of being prescribed O2 and to provide additional information for how UCSD scores could be used for clinical purposes. ⋯ Baseline dyspnea and rise in dyspnea over time predict timing of O2 prescription. Accounting for disease severity, patients with IPF are more likely than patients with other forms of pulmonary fibrosis to be prescribed O2. UCSD scores provide clinically useful information; frequent administration could yield timely data on changes in disease status in patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Nov 2017
Review Meta Analysis Comparative StudyCan high-flow nasal cannula reduce the rate of reintubation in adult patients after extubation? A meta-analysis.
The effects of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) on adult patients after extubation remain controversial. We aimed to further determine the effectiveness of HFNC in comparison to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and conventional oxygen therapy (COT). ⋯ In patients after extubation, HFNC is a reliable alternative of NIPPV to reduce rate of reintubation compared with COT.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Nov 2017
Analytical performance of Envisia: a genomic classifier for usual interstitial pneumonia.
Clinical guidelines specify that diagnosis of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) requires identification of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern. While UIP can be identified by high resolution CT of the chest, the results are often inconclusive, making surgical lung biopsy necessary to reach a definitive diagnosis (Raghu et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 183(6):788-824, 2011). The Envisia genomic classifier differentiates UIP from non-UIP pathology in transbronchial biopsies (TBB), potentially allowing patients to avoid an invasive procedure (Brown et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 195:A6792, 2017). To ensure patient safety and efficacy, a laboratory developed test (LDT) must meet strict regulatory requirements for accuracy, reproducibility and robustness. The analytical characteristics of the Envisia test are assessed and reported here. ⋯ The Envisia test demonstrates the robust analytical performance required of an LDT. Envisia can be used to inform the diagnoses of patients with suspected IPF.
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BMC pulmonary medicine · Nov 2017
Serum concentrations of Krebs von den Lungen-6, surfactant protein D, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 as diagnostic biomarkers in patients with asbestosis and silicosis: a case-control study.
Asbestosis and silicosis are progressive pneumoconioses characterized by interstitial fibrosis following exposure to asbestos or silica dust. We evaluated the potential diagnostic biomarkers for these diseases. ⋯ KL-6, SP-D, and MMP-2 are available biomarkers for the adjuvant diagnosis of asbestosis and silicosis. The combination of all three biomarkers may improve the diagnostic sensitivity for asbestosis and silicosis.