Mast cells and exosomes in hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung disease.

Chronic lung disease of prematurity (CLD) is a frequent sequela of premature birth and oxygen toxicity is a major associated risk factor. Impaired alveolarization, scarring, and inflammation are hallmarks of CLD. Mast cell hyperplasia is a feature of CLD but the role of mast cells in its pathogenesis is unknown. We hypothesized that mast cell hyperplasia is a consequence of neonatal hyperoxia and contributes to CLD. Additionally, mast cell products may have diagnostic and prognostic value in preterm infants predisposed to CLD. To model CLD, neonatal wild-type and mast cell-deficient mice were placed in an O2 chamber delivering hyperoxic gas mixture [inspired O2 fraction (FiO2 ) of 0.8] (HO) for 2 wk and then returned to room air (RA) for an additional 3 wk. Age-matched controls were kept in RA (FiO2 of 0.21). Lungs from HO mice had increased numbers of mast cells, alveolar simplification and enlargement, and increased lung compliance. Mast cell deficiency proved protective by preserving air space integrity and lung compliance. The mast cell mediators ß-hexosaminidase (ß-hex), histamine, and elastase increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of HO wild-type mice. Tracheal aspirate fluids (TAs) from oxygenated and mechanically ventilated preterm infants were analyzed for mast cell products. In TAs from infants with confirmed cases of CLD, ß-hex was elevated over time and correlated with FiO2 Mast cell exosomes were also present in the TAs. Collectively, these data show that mast cells play a significant role in hyperoxia-induced lung injury and their products could serve as potential biomarkers in evolving CLD.

Practices and perspectives on advanced diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy among pediatric pulmonologists in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy includes endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guided transbronchial lung and lymph node biopsies, CT navigation and robotic bronchoscopy. Interventional bronchoscopy refers to procedures performed for therapeutic purposes such as balloon dilation of the airway, tissue debulking, cryotherapy, removal of foreign bodies and insertion of endobronchial valves [1]. For adult patients, these procedures are standard of care [2, 3]. Despite a lack of formalized training, there are numerous case reports and case series describing the use of advanced diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy techniques in children. The safety and feasibility of EBUS-TBNA, cryotherapy techniques, endobronchial valves among other techniques have been demonstrated in these publications [1, 4-9]. METHODS: We sought to better understand the current practices and perspectives on interventional and advanced bronchoscopy among pediatric pulmonologists through surveys sent to pediatric teaching hospitals across the United States. RESULTS: We received 43 responses representing 28 programs from 25 states. The highest bronchoscopy procedure volume occurred in the 0-5 years age group. Among our respondents, 31% self-identified as a pediatric interventional/advanced bronchoscopist. 79% believe that advanced and interventional training is feasible in pediatric pulmonology and 77% believe it should be offered to pediatric pulmonary fellows. DISCUSSION: This is the first study to characterize current practices and perspectives regarding advanced diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy procedures among pediatric pulmonologists in the United States. Pediatric interventional pulmonology (IP) is in its infancy and its beginnings echo those of the adult IP where only certain centers were performing these procedures.

Increased chitinase expression and fungal-specific antibodies in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic children.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence highlights the contribution of chitinases and fungal infection to the development of asthma. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize chitinase expression and serological markers of fungal infection in children with severe asthma. METHODS: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected from children undergoing clinically indicated flexible bronchoscopy. A diagnosis of asthma was confirmed by pulmonary function testing. BALF was tested for chitinase activity and YKL-40 (an enzymatically inactive chitinase) concentrations. Specimens were cultured for fungal organisms and tested for cryptococcal antigen by ELISA. IgG and IgA reactivity to whole extract fungal (Aspergillus fumigatus, Alternaria alternata, Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans) proteins were determined by immunoblot assay. RESULTS: Among the 37 patients studied, 30 were asthmatic and 7 were non-asthmatic. Asthmatics exhibited elevated serum IgE levels (median: 748 IU/mL, IQR: 219-1765 IU/mL). Chitinase activity was greater in the BALF of asthmatics (mean, 0.85 ± 1.2 U/mL) compared with non-asthmatics (mean: 0.23 ± 0.21 U/mL, P = 0.012). Likewise YKL-40 concentrations were higher in the BALF of asthmatics and correlated with chitinase activity. There was a trend towards increased fungal-specific IgG in the BALF of asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics and for C. albicans this difference reached statistical significance. IgA reactivity to C. neoformans and A. fumigatus was greater in the BALF of asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Compared with non-asthmatics, asthmatic children exhibited increased chitinase activity and increased YKL-40 levels in BALF. Increased IgG and IgA reactivity to fungal proteins in the BALF of asthmatics may reflect a local response to fungal infection. Our findings are consistent with and suggest a role for chitinases in asthma pathogenesis among Bronx children and provide serological evidence of an association between fungal infection and severe asthma.

Pediatric advanced diagnostic and interventional bronchoscopy.

The indications and utility of flexible bronchoscopy have expanded over the past few decades with major innovations in design and development of new tools for endobronchial interventions and image-guided tissue sampling techniques. This review highlights the application of advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy (including endobronchial ultrasound and CT navigational techniques), cryotherapy and the use of one-way endobronchial valves for persistent air leak in the pediatric setting.

Long-term follow-up of tension-free Lichtenstein hernioplasty: application of a qualitative-and-quantitative measurement instrument.

Real outcomes for the inguinal tension-free Lichtenstein hernioplasty are not reflected by the usual parameters by which they are measured and habitually reported. It is possible to measure these outcomes from the point of view of the surgeon, as well as from the patient's, using an instrument specifically designed for that purpose. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of the tension-free hernioplasty in 236 patients. Based upon the concept of quality-of-life, we designed a structured questionnaire in the form of a qualitative-and-quantitative measurement instrument. The study had two phases. First, we analyzed retrospectively the clinical records. Second, we interviewed the patients applying the instrument. The score demonstrated that 83% of the patients feel that the outcomes of their surgery are excellent, 9.7% feel that they are very good, and 3.8% feel that they are bad or very bad. Outcomes of the Lichtenstein hernioplasty should not only reflect the technological progress of hernia surgery but also the more intimate aspects of the patient's experience. It is possible to measure the outcomes of this common surgical procedure in a more complete way using a simple measurement instrument.

Loxapine succinate as a neuroleptic agent: evaluation in two populations of elderly psychiatric patients.

Loxapine succinate, a newly developed neuroleptic drug, was administered to two groups of geropsychiatric patients: (a) 12 with psychosis and organic brain syndrome, and (b) 14 with chronic schizophrenia. After a two-week baseline period, loxapine was given for 12 weeks. The moderate therapeutic effect of loxapine in the "responders" was similar to that of other neuroleptic drugs. The therapeutic dosage range was found to be from 10 to 80 mg daily--about half that used for younger patients. The chief side effects were drowsiness, mild extrapyramidal symptoms, and a slight increase in blood pressure.

Factores de riesgo de retención urinaria aguda en cirugía mayor ambulatoria bajo anestesia espinal / Risk factors for acute urinary retention after spinal surgery

Introducción: Estimar la prevalencia de retención urinaria aguda en el Programa de Cirugía mayor ambulatoria con anestesia espinal, e identificar los principales factores de riesgo para su desarrollo. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo de casos y controles. De 859 pacientes operados en programa de cirugía mayor ambulatoria entre abril 2003 y julio 2006, se seleccionaron 652 pacientes sometidos a cirugía con anestesia espinal. Los casos fueron 18 pacientes que desarrollaron retención urinaria aguda y 45 controles seleccionados al azar de los pacientes sin complicaciones en el postoperatorio. Se analizó estadística por pruebas estándares. Resultados: La prevalencia de retención urinaria aguda fue 2,76 por ciento. Se asociaron significativamente al desarrollo de retención urinaria aguda en postoperatorio las variables sexo masculino, p =0.026 OR =5.76 (IC 95 por ciento 1.17-28.24), edad sobre 50 años p =0.046 OR =3.14 (IC 95 por ciento 1.01-9.86) y cirugía hemiaria p =0.001 OR =7.59 (IC 95 por ciento 1.71-33.61). En todos los casos se manejó con cateterismo intermitente y la prolongación de estadía hospitalaria fue de un día en el 91 por ciento de los casos, y dos en el resto.

Background: The identified risk factors for acute urinary retention after spinal anesthesia are the dose and duration of anesthesia, old age and ano rectal surgical procedures. Aim: To assess the prevalence and risk factors of acute urinary retention in the program of ambulatory surgery with spinal anesthesia. Material and methods: Descriptive case control study. The medical records of 859 patients operated with spinal anesthesia between 2003 and 2006 were reviewed, and 18 patients aged 52 + 16 years, that had an acute urinary retention, were identified. Forty vive randomly chosen patients aged 46 + 14 years, without urinary retention were analyzed as controls. Results: The calculated prevalence of acute urinary retention was 2.8 percent. Male sex, an age over 50 years and hernia surgery were identified as risk factors for urinary retention with odds ratios of 5.8 (95 percent confidence interval (Cl) 17-28), 3.1 (95 percentCI 1.-9.9) and 7.6 (95 percentCI 1.7-33.6), respectively. All cases were managed with intermittent catheterization. Hospital stay was one day in 91 percent and two days in the rest. Conclusions: in this series, acute urinary retention occurred in 2.8 percent of patients after spinal surgery. Male sex, age over 50 years and hernia repair procedures were identified ads risk factors for the complication.

Neumonía por Legionella: primera comunicación de un caso diagnosticado en Chile / Pneumonia cased by Legionella: first communication of a case reported in Chile

Se presenta el caso de un enfermo de 27 años previamente sano, que 2 días después de sufrir una caída al río Mapocho, presentó un cuadro de pleuro-neumonía bilateral grave ocasionado por Legionella pneumophila y que, luego del fracaso. se%. Se de otras terapias antimicrobianas, respondió exitosamente al empleio de Eritromicina intravenosa. se comenta lo llamativo que resulta el hecho de que éste sea el primer caso comunicado en nuestrom país, en circunstancias de tratarse de una enfermedad relativamente frecuente en otras partes. Se discuten las dificultades que ofrece el diagnóstico, la necesidad de iniciar el tratamiento frente a la presunción fundada, las recomendaciones relativas al tratamiento y finalmente, los distintos métodos de confirmación etiológica. Nuestro caso fue confirmado por seroconversión con inmunofuorescencia indirecta