Pulmonary Medicine

BACKGROUND: The denomination of noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) includes several causes, and differences may be expected between the patient subgroups regarding age, comorbidities, and clinical and functional evolution. This study sought to identify the main causes of NCFB in a cohort of stable adult patients and to investigate whether such conditions would be different in their clinical, functional, and quality of life aspects. METHODS: Between 2017 and 2019, all active patients with NCFB were prospectively evaluated searching for clinical data, past medical history, dyspnea severity grading, quality of life data, microbiological profile, and lung function (spirometry and six-minute walk test)...

BACKGROUND: Prevalence surveys in Ethiopia indicate smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis (SNPTB) taking the major share of the overall TB burden. It has also been a diagnostic dilemma worldwide leading to diagnostic delays and difficulty in monitoring treatment outcomes. This study determines and compares the clinical and imaging findings in SNPTB and smear positive PTB (SPPTB). Methodology . A case-control study was conducted on 313 PTB (173 SNPTB) patients. Data and sputum samples were collected from consented patients...

METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with pleural infection requiring intrapleural therapy at two tertiary referral centres. RESULTS: We included 84 (62.2%) and 51 (37.8%) patients who received sequential and concurrent intrapleural therapy, respectively. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics, including age, RAPID score, and percentage of pleural opacity on radiographs before intrapleural therapy, were similar in both groups. Treatment failure rates (defined by either in-hospital mortality, surgical intervention, or 30-day readmission for pleural infection) were 9...

OBJECTIVE: Little is known concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the disease remains underdiagnosed. We aimed to estimate its prevalence in Cameroon and look for its predictors. METHODS: Adults aged 19 years and older were randomly selected in 4 regions of Cameroon to participate in a cross-sectional community-based study. Data were collected in the participant's home or place of work. Spirometry was performed on selected participants...

BACKGROUND: Although SARS-CoV-2 infection primarily affects adults, the increasing emergence of infected pediatric patients has been recently reported. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the value of imaging in relation to the clinical severity of this pandemic emergency. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the relationships between clinical and radiological COVID-19 findings and to determine the most effective standardized pediatric clinical and imaging strategies predicting the disease severity...

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a well-known cause of bronchiolitis in children, can cause community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults, but this condition is not well studied. Hence, we described the characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized for CAP due to RSV. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients admitted to a tertiary-care hospital between 2016 and 2019 with CAP due to RSV diagnosed by a respiratory multiplex PCR within 48 hours of admission...

AIM: It is known that children and adolescents with obesity are more prone to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and that their lung function may show some disturbance. Literature is scarce about potential associations; therefore, we aimed to study the relationship between OSAS, lung function, and adiposity in a population of children suspected of OSAS. Material and Methods . We performed home respiratory polygraphy and spirometry in all subjects. The relationships between body mass index z -score (zBMI), polygraphy, and spirometry data were analyzed...

BACKGROUND: Digital health technologies (DHTs) have shown potential to improve health outcomes through improved medication adherence in different disease states. Cystic fibrosis (CF) requires care coordination across pharmacies, patients, and providers. DHTs can potentially support patients, providers, and pharmacists in diseases like CF, where high medication burden can negatively impact patient quality of life and outcomes. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, a CF-specific mobile application (Phlo) was distributed to adults with CF who received care at the University of Utah Cystic Fibrosis Center, used an iPhone, and filled prescriptions through the University of Utah Specialty Pharmacy services...

Tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP) are a family of four endogenous proteins that primarily function to inhibit the activities of proteases such as the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). Altered MMP/TIMP ratios are frequently observed in several human diseases. During aging and disease progression, the extracellular matrix (ECM) undergoes structural changes in which elastin and collagens serve an essential role. MMPs and TIMPs significantly influence the ECM. Classically, elevated levels of TIMPs are suggested to result in ECM accumulation leading to fibrosis, whereas loss of TIMP responses leads to enhanced matrix proteolysis...

METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the medical electronic charts of patients with TEF that were followed at Sidra Medicine in the state of Qatar. The review included the patients who were operated upon in the period of 2011-2021 but continued to follow at our institution in the period of 2018-2021. Demographic data, associated anomalies, preoperative, operative, and postoperative courses, and growth parameters were collected. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients with TEF (24 males and 11 females) were collected...

BACKGROUND: It was established that the high biological diversity of intestinal microorganisms promotes the needed SCFAs production, which induces immune regulatory pathways and contributes to the anti-inflammatory response. Study . A group of 30 patients with allergic bronchial asthma (BA) were investigated in our study. All of the patients were tested for the presence of SIBO by the SCFA spectrum determination. For the SIBO treatment, 10 patients from the studied group were prescribed Rifaximinum with the 200 mg dose at 3 times a day for a week; the other 10 patients were prescribed Rifaximinum at the same dose, followed by the administration of the Lactobalance probiotic in capsules at 3 times a day for a month...

BACKGROUND: The global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing, and the risk of lung cancer in these patients is high. The use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in COPD patients could help to decrease potential lung cancer risk. We planned to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the role of ICS in the risk of lung cancer among COPD patients. METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library and a manual search of the list of references were conducted...

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to electrical and electronic equipment waste (e-waste) has become a growing health concern. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of exposure to e-waste on respiratory symptoms and on lung function parameters in workers involved in informal recycling activities in Cotonou city, Benin. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, in which exposed e-waste workers in Cotonou city were randomly selected. A matching nonexposed group based on age and sex was recruited from the general population...

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether in adults with a nonobstructive spirometry a reduced FEF25-75% is associated with a positive methacholine challenge test (MCT). METHODS: Data was collected for all the patients who had a MCT done between April 2014 and January 2020 but had nonobstructive baseline spirometry. Logistic regression was utilized to estimate the log odds of a positive methacholine test as a function of FEF25-75% and also for age, gender, BMI, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC...

Objectives: We studied the safety and efficacy of warfarin compared to direct acting oral anticoagulant use in patients with IPF. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with IPF who were prescribed warfarin or direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for cardiac or thromboembolic indications and followed at our institute for their care. Univariate tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used for assessing association of variables with outcomes...

Periodontal diseases are a range of polymicrobial infectious disorders, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, which affect tooth-supporting tissues and are linked to playing a role in the exacerbation of several pulmonary diseases. Pulmonary diseases, such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and bronchiectasis, significantly contribute to poor quality of life and mortality. The association between periodontal disease and pulmonary outcomes is an important topic and requires further attention...

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease is characterized by progressive airway inflammation, which not only affects the airways but also has systemic effects that are associated with comorbidities. Although comorbid conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease are very well-known in COPD patients, diseases of the thyroid gland have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, thyroid diseases are not considered among the comorbid conditions of COPD...

When managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, radiological imaging complements clinical evaluation and laboratory parameters. We aimed to assess the sensitivity of chest radiography findings in detecting COVID-19, describe those findings, and assess the association of positive chest radiography findings with clinical and laboratory findings. A multicentre, cross-sectional study was conducted involving all primary health care corporation-registered patients (2485 patients) enrolled over a 1-month period during the peak of the 2020 pandemic wave in Qatar...

INTRODUCTION: The SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is useful for diagnosing COVID-19, and the RT-PCR positive rate is an important indicator for estimating the incidence rate and number of infections. COVID-19 pneumonia is also associated with characteristic findings on chest CT, which can aid in diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated patient background characteristics, the number of cases, the positivity rate, and chest CT findings for positive and negative cases in 672 patients who underwent RT-PCR for suspected COVID-19 at our hospital between April 3 and August 28, 2020...

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is an important reason for morbidity and mortality according to the last records that referred to high incidence rate of disease. Cardiovascular problems are common in pulmonary diseases, in general, and it can symptom by ECG abnormalities. The objective of this study was to define the most ECG abnormalities in patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis and to study the correlation between the cardiac disorder and the other risk factors of the exacerbation...