Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases

INTRODUCTION: There is no consensus regarding the most appropriate management of suspected malignant pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs). OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the feasibility and safety of synchronous computed tomography guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) and microwave ablation (MWA) for patients highly suspicious of having malignant GGNs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records between July 2020 and April 2023 from our medical center...

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) in Macaronesia (i.e., Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands and Cape Verde archipelagos) is poorly known. Our goal is to update it by selecting the most reliable available articles. METHOD: Literature search using Medline, EMBASE (via Ovid) and Google Scholar, until December 2023, for studies on prevalence of AATD in the general population and in screenings, published in peer-reviewed journals. RESULTS: Three studies carried out in the general population of Madeira, La Palma and Cape Verde, and three screenings carried out in La Palma (2) and Gran Canaria (1) were selected...

INTRODUCTION: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TMC), a novel technique, has been reported to improve the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for mediastinal lesions in recent studies. Current literature suggests that this procedure has greater diagnostic efficacy compared to conventional EBUS-TBNA. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield and complications associated with EBUS-TMC in comparison to EBUS-TBNA, thereby exploring the potential of this novel technique in enhancing the diagnostic utility for mediastinal lesions...

INTRODUCTION: Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (ELVR) with endobronchial valves has been widely recognized for treating hyperinflation in advanced COPD and emphysema patients. The main challenges include the technical complexity of upper lobe implantation and the number of endobronchial valves required. These issues might be addressed by placing larger-diameter valves in the lobar bronchus. This study evaluated the feasibility, efficiency, and safety of the new valve PulmValve (model PV-13) in porcine models...

BACKGROUND: Observational data suggest that the 19-gauge (G) needle for endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) offers a higher diagnostic yield in sarcoidosis than the 22-G needle. No randomized trial has compared the yield of the two needles. METHODS: We randomized consecutive subjects with suspected sarcoidosis and enlarged thoracic lymph nodes to undergo EBUS-TBNA with either the 19-G or the 22-G needle. We compared the study groups for diagnostic sensitivity (primary outcome) assessed by the yield of granulomas in subjects finally diagnosed with sarcoidosis...

INTRODUCTION: Exacerbations are common in individuals with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) related lung disease. This study intended to identify independent predictive factors for exacerbations in AATD using the Portuguese European Alpha-1 Research Collaboration (EARCO) registry. METHODS: This study includes patients from the Portuguese EARCO registry, a prospective multicentre cohort (NCT04180319). From October 2020 to April 2023 this registry enrolled 137 patients, 14 of whom were excluded for analysis for either missing 12 months of follow-up or baseline pulmonary function...

INTRODUCTION: Data on factors related to mortality in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation are insufficient. Computerized tomography (CT) can measure the pectoralis muscle area (PMA) and is a useful tool to diagnose sarcopenia. This study aimed to evaluate whether PMA can predict mortality in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation. METHODS: Patients hospitalized due to bronchiectasis exacerbation at a single center were retrospectively divided into survivors and non-survivors based on 1-year mortality...

BACKGROUND: Lung tumors are prevalent malignancies associated with a high mortality rate, imposing significant medical and societal burdens. Although immunotherapy shows promise in improving survival, response rates are relatively modest. Thermal ablation can not only eliminate tumor cells directly but also enhance anti-tumor immunity response, thus manifesting a remarkable propensity to synergize with immunotherapy. SUMMARY: In this review, we provided a brief overview of the application of thermal ablation in peripheral lung tumors...

INTRODUCTION: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Subsolid nodules (SSN), including ground glass nodules (GGN) and part solid nodules (PSN), are slow growing but have a higher risk for malignancy. Therefore, timely diagnosis is imperative. Shape-sensing robotic-assisted bronchoscopy (ssRAB) has emerged as reliable diagnostic procedure, but data on SSN and how ssRAB compares to other diagnostic interventions such as CT-guided transthoracic biopsy (CTTB) is scarce...

INTRODUCTION: Today, the increasing number of incidentally detected peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL) within and outside lung cancer screening trials is a diagnostic challenge. This fact encourages further improvement of diagnostic procedures to increase the diagnostic yield of transbronchial biopsy, which has been shown to have a low complication rate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a new ultrathin 1.1 cryoprobe that can be placed through an ultrathin bronchoscope using fluoroscopy and radial EBUS navigation for assessing PPLs...

INTRODUCTION: The high morbidity and mortality of tuberculosis has led to the development of numerous therapeutic interventions during the pre-antibiotic era. In 1894, Forlanini proposed the technique of collapse therapy, using spontaneous pneumothorax. In 1926, Bernou developed the Oleothorax technique to induce an iatrogenic collapse of the lung through the instillation of oil into the pleural cavity, which was subsequently removed. Nowadays, there are few patients that still represent a living testimony of this historic technique and have been described through traditional radiology...

INTRODUCTION: The use of cryobiopsy in conjunction with robotic assisted bronchoscopy is on the rise due to the safety and increased diagnostic yield of cryobiopsy. The incorporation of 3D fluoroscopy in the procedure improves the workflow and helps confirm the accuracy of sampling of peripheral pulmonary nodules. METHODS: We describe an observational series of 12 patients comprising of 15 nodules where cryobiopsy was performed during Shaped sensing robot assisted bronchoscopy cryobiopsy (ssRABcb) under general anesthesia...

BACKGROUND: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in pregnancy, affecting approximately 8-10% of pregnant women. Uncontrolled asthma is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, and maternal complications such as pre-eclampsia. SUMMARY: A current approach to the management of chronic airway diseases is based on targeting treatable traits. The aim of this review was to define treatable traits in pregnant women with asthma based on recent literature and to determine personalized treatment options according to these traits...

INTRODUCTION: The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Assessment Test (CAT) score is widely used for evaluating the health status of patients diagnosed with COPD. The aim of this study was to identify which components of the CAT are associated with exacerbation in severe COPD patients. METHODS: Using data from the Korean COPD Subgroup Study (KOCOSS), we identified 3,440 COPD patients, among which 1,027 patients are classified as having severe COPD based on spirometry results...

Introduction Lung transplant recipients are often physically inactive and are at risk of developing comorbidities. We investigated whether objectively measured physical activity was associated with the prevalence of comorbidities. Methods Physical activity (accelerometry) and the presence of cardiovascular disease, symptoms of depression and anxiety, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, lower extremity artery disease, muscle weakness, obesity and osteoporosis were assessed in 108 lung transplant recipients...

INTRODUCTION: To objectify self-reported sleep disorders in individuals with post-COVID-syndrome (PCS), we aimed to investigate the prevalence and nature of sleep disturbances by polysomnography (PSG) in PCS compared to healthy individuals. METHODS: People with PCS (n = 21) and healthy controls (CON, n = 10) were included in this prospective trial. At baseline, clinical and social anamnesis, lung function, 1 min sit-to-stand test (STST) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were assessed...

INTRODUCTION: Distinguishing between malignant pleural effusion (MPE) and benign pleural effusion (BPE) poses a challenge in clinical practice. We aimed to construct and validate a combined model integrating radiomic features and clinical factors using computerized tomography (CT) images to differentiate between MPE and BPE. METHODS: A retrospective inclusion of 315 patients with pleural effusion (PE) was conducted in this study (training cohort: n = 220; test cohort: n = 95)...

Introduction Many COVID-19 survivors suffer from persisting sequelae after acute disease. This is referred to as Long COVID. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with Long COVID and to analyze differences in persistent symptoms, findings on chest imaging and pulmonary function between intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU hospitalized patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective study including patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Patients were stratified into ICU patients and non-ICU patients...

Pulmonary infections, such as tuberculosis, can result in numerous pleural complications including empyemas, pneumothoraces with broncho-pleural fistulas, and persistent air leak. While definitive surgical interventions are often initially considered, management of these complications can be particularly challenging if a patient has an active infection and is not a surgical candidate. Autologous blood patch pleurodesis and endobronchial valve placement have both been described in remedying persistent air leaks (PALs) effectively and safely...

INTRODUCTION: Mental health disorders figure among the many comorbidities of obstructive respiratory diseases. The multisystemic characteristics of chronic respiratory disease and its impact on quality of life could affect depressive and/or anxiety disorders. We aimed to evaluate the association of spirometric indices, ventilatory disorders and self-reported respiratory diseases with psychiatric disorders considering potential confounders. METHODS: We analysed data from CoLaus|PsyCoLaus, a Swiss population-based cohort study, consisting of 2'774 participants (56% women; mean age: 62...