Efficacy of slow negative pleural suction in thoracic trauma patients undergoing tube thoracostomy-A randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Thoracic injuries are prevalent in polytrauma patients, with road traffic accidents being a major cause. In India alone, over 400,000 people were injured in such accidents in 2022. Rib fractures, haemothorax, and pneumothorax are common chest injuries, often managed with tube thoracostomy. While standard procedures for chest tube placement are established, consensus on post-insertion management, particularly regarding negative pleural suction, is lacking. Research on this topic mostly pertains to planned thoracotomies rather than trauma cases. This study seeks to compare outcomes of slow negative suction versus conventional drainage in blunt or penetrating thoracic trauma. METHODS: This single-centre, open-label, randomized controlled trial in a western Indian hospital from Jan 2021 to June 2022 included adult patients with thoracic trauma requiring intercostal drainage tubes. Patients needing emergency thoracotomy, mechanical ventilation, or bilateral chest tubes were excluded. Sample size (n = 64) was calculated based on prior studies. Patients were randomly assigned to experimental (slow negative pleural suction) or control (conventional water seal drainage) groups. Both groups received standard care. Primary outcome was time to chest tube removal; secondary outcomes included hospital stay length, complications, and need for further intervention. Data were analysed using SPSS. Significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: During the study 64 patients were randomised into experimental (n = 32) or conventional (n = 32) groups. Most of the patients were males (88 %, n = 56). Both groups had similar baseline characteristics. Experimental group patients had shorter median chest tube duration (3 [IQR 2-3.75] vs. 5 [3-8.75] days, p < 0.001) and hospital stay (5 [4-8.75] vs. 10 [6-16.75] days, p = 0.004). No discomfort was reported with slow continuous negative pleural suction. Mortality was 1 (3 %) in the experimental group vs. 2 (6 %) in the conventional group. Four patients suffered retained haemothorax, with only one occurrence in the experimental group (3 %). CONCLUSION: Application of slow continuous negative pleural suction to chest tubes in patients of thoracic trauma can decrease the chest tube duration and the hospital stay. This study ought to be followed up with multicentric randomised clinical trials with larger sample sizes to better characterise the effects of slow continuous negative pleural suction.

Bronchoscopic Electrocautery Versus Adrenaline and Cold Saline Instillation for Prophylactic Haemostasis Prior to Biopsy of Endobronchial Lesions (BEVACS): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Flexible bronchoscopy-guided endobronchial biopsy (EBB) is routinely performed as an outpatient daycare procedure. Bleeding after EBB is a common complication, that at times disrupts the procedure and can rarely lead to a catastrophe. We aimed to compare the efficacy of prebiopsy prophylactic bronchoscopic electrocautery with adrenaline and cold saline instillation in achieving hemostasis in patients with endobronchial lesions with a higher risk of bleeding during EBB. METHODS: In this open-label, randomized controlled trial, 60 patients with endobronchial lesions were randomized to either the prophylactic electrocautery arm or the adrenaline and cold saline arm. Postbiopsy endobronchial bleed was quantified in millimeters using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and graded as per the British Thoracic Society grading system. Electrocautery-induced tissue damage was graded by the pathologist as "no damage," "mild," "moderate," and "severe." RESULTS: The median VAS score of bleeding was 6.14 mm (interquartile range: 8 mm) in the electrocautery arm and 10.17 mm (interquartile range: 7 mm) in the adrenaline and cold saline arm. Though the difference in the VAS score of bleeding between the two groups was statistically significant, there was no significant difference in the proportion of grade 2 or higher bleeding. CONCLUSION: No difference in postbiopsy bleed was observed between the application of electrocautery or instillation of cold saline plus adrenaline before biopsy of those endobronchial lesions which were likely to bleed more after biopsy. Although controlled prophylactic electrocautery using 15 watts did not impair the quality of EBB specimens, a higher wattage may change this observation, as well as the bleeding quantity.

Clinical Utility of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Neutrophilia and Biomarkers for Evaluating Severity of Chronic Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Diseases.

Introduction It is hypothesized that bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophilia, Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) predict the severity of chronic fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (CF-ILDs). Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 30 CF-ILD patients. Using Pearson's correlation analysis, BAL neutrophils, KL-6, and CRP were correlated with forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), six-minute walk distance (6MWD), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), computed tomography fibrosis score (CTFS), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). Using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, BAL KL-6 and CRP were evaluated against FVC% and DLCO% in isolation and combination with BAL neutrophilia for predicting the severity of CF-ILDs. Results BAL neutrophilia significantly correlated only with FVC% (r = -0.38, P = 0.04) and DLCO% (r = -0.43, P = 0.03). BAL KL-6 showed a good correlation with FVC% (r = -0.44, P < 0.05) and DLCO% (r = -0.50, P = 0.02), while BAL CRP poorly correlated with all parameters (r = 0.0-0.2). Subset analysis of BAL CRP in patients with CTFS ≤ 15 showed a better association with FVC% (r = -0.28, P = 0.05) and DLCO% (r = -0.36, P = 0.04). BAL KL-6 cut-off ≥ 72.32 U/ml and BAL CRP ≥ 14.55 mg/L predicted severe disease with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.77 and 0.71, respectively. The combination of BAL neutrophilia, KL-6, and CRP predicted severity with an AUC value of 0.89. Conclusion The combination of BAL neutrophilia, KL-6, and CRP facilitates the severity stratification of CF-ILDs complementing existing severity parameters.

Pulmonary embolism and gastric bleed with disseminated mucormycosis - treading dangerous waters.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection seen in immunocompromised patients or in surgical and trauma settings with Mucorales wound contamination. In immunocompetent people, disseminated mucormycosis is uncommon. To ensure survival, patients with mucormycosis require early diagnosis and aggressive treatment using a multi-modality approach. We present a case of disseminated mucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient who also had pulmonary embolism and gastrointestinal bleeding. A recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, identified retrospectively by a positive IgM against SARS-CoV-2, was the only risk factor present. This report emphasizes the increased risk of mucormycosis and thromboembolic complications following a recent SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as its successful treatment with medical therapy alone.

Co-infections in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients- A Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: SARS -CoV-2 was first reported in Wuhan and declared a pandemic in March 2020. Co-infections during other pandemics have been associated with severe outcomes, but data are scarce regarding co-infections in COVID-19 patients. Our study evaluated co-infections prevalence and its impact on morbidity and mortality in hospitalized COVID -19 patients. METHODS: This prospective observational study included 100 patients admitted to a high-dependency unit at a tertiary care hospital in India. Prevalence of co-infections and clinical outcome-related data were analyzed in COVID-19 patients satisfying the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: 14% of patients had co-infections, out of which urinary tract infection was found in 9%. Patients with co-infections had a higher mortality rate (p<0.0004). Urinary co-infection emerged as an independent risk factor for mortality (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: Co-infections associated with COVID-19 infections are an essential risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Early identification and timely treatment of co-infections may help in improving clinical outcomes.

Effectiveness of BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield vaccines against severe COVID-19 and B.1.617.2/Delta variant in India, 2021: a multi-centric hospital-based case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: India introduced BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield vaccines in January 2021. We estimated the effectiveness of these vaccines against severe COVID-19 among individuals aged ≥45 years. METHODS: We did a multi-centric, hospital-based, case-control study between May and July 2021. Cases were severe COVID-19 patients, and controls were COVID-19 negative individuals from 11 hospitals. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated for complete (2 doses ≥ 14 days) and partial (1 dose ≥ 21 days) vaccination; interval between two vaccine doses and vaccination against the Delta variant. We used the random effects logistic regression model to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) after adjusting for relevant known confounders. RESULTS: We enrolled 1143 cases and 2541 control patients. The VE of complete vaccination was 85% (95% CI: 79-89%) with AZD1222/Covishield and 71% (95% CI: 57-81%) with BBV152/Covaxin. The VE was highest for 6-8 weeks between two doses of AZD1222/Covishield (94%, 95% CI: 86-97%) and BBV152/Covaxin (93%, 95% CI: 34-99%). The VE estimates were similar against the Delta strain and sub-lineages. CONCLUSION: BBV152/Covaxin and AZD1222/Covishield were effective against severe COVID-19 among the Indian population during the period of dominance of the highly transmissible Delta variant in the second wave of the pandemic. An escalation of two-dose coverage with COVID-19 vaccines is critical to reduce severe COVID-19 and further mitigate the pandemic in the country.

Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in primary lung cancer: Results from a tertiary care centre.

Context: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) parameters can be used to evaluate the vascular flow dynamics of lung tumours. We set out to evaluate the CTP parameters in lung cancer and correlate them with histopathological subtype and other characteristics of patients with Lung Cancer. Settings and Design: This prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care referral hospital in western India. Methods: Between January 2019 and July 2020, CTP was performed in 46 patients of lung cancer with histopathological confirmation. The CTP parameters were evaluated in detail and correlated with histopathological subtypes, staging and immunohistochemistry (IHC) markers. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, Box and whiskers plot graph and Pearson correlation tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The most common subtype was adenocarcinoma (AC) in 21 patients, followed by squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 15 patients and others in 10 patients. Statistically significant difference in blood flow (BF) (f = 5.563, P = 0.007), blood volume (BV) (f = 3.548, P = 0.038) and permeability/flow extraction (FE) (f = 3.617, P = 0.036) were seen in different histopathological subtypes of lung cancer. BF is the main perfusion parameter for differentiation of AC from SCC. P63 positive lesions showed statistically significant lower BF, BV and FE parameters compared to P63 negative lesions (P = 0.013, 0.016 and 0.014, respectively). Different T stages showed statistically significant differences in BF (f = 3.573, P = 0.037), BV (f = 5.145, P = 0.010) and in FE (f = 4.849, P = 0.013). Conclusion: CTP is a non-invasive imaging method to assess the vascular flow dynamics of the tumours that may predict the histopathological subtypes in lung cancer. It can be used to target large-sized lesions during biopsy and to predict the chemotherapy response.

Forgotten Chemo-Port Leading to Chylothorax: A Rare Presentation.

Chylothorax is an uncommon cause of pleural effusion in routine clinical practice. Thoracic surgery, trauma and malignancy are the leading causes of chylothorax accounting for more than 90% of cases.1,2 We report this rare case of a middle aged lady with treated carcinoma breast who presented with left-sided chylothorax secondary to subclavian vein and superior vena cava thrombosis caused by a longstanding indwelling chemo-port in the right internal jugular vein. Patient was managed on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) leading to complete resolution of chylothorax.

Emotional distress among health professionals involved in care of inpatients with COVID-19: a survey based cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Health care workers (HCWs) are directly involved in processes linked with diagnosis, management, and assistance of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) patients which could have direct implications on their physical and emotional health. Emotional aspects of working in an infectious pandemic situation is often neglected in favour of the more obvious physical ramifications. This single point assessment study aimed to explore the factors related to stress, anxiety and depression among HCWs consequent to working in a pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving healthcare workers who were working in COVID-19 inpatient ward, COVID-19 screening area, suspect ward, suspect intensive care unit (ICU) and COVID-19 ICU across four hospitals in India. A web-based survey questionnaire was designed to elicit responses to daily challenges faced by HCWs. The questionnaire was regressed using machine-learning algorithm (Cat Boost) against the standardized Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS 21) which was used to quantify emotional distress experienced by them. RESULTS: A total of 156 participants were included in this study. As per DASS-21 scoring, severe stress was seen in ∼17% of respondents. We could achieve an R² of 0.28 using our machine-learning model. The major factors responsible for stress were decreased time available for personal needs, increasing age, being posted out of core area of expertise, setting of COVID-19 care, increasing duty hours, increasing duty days, marital status and being a resident physician. CONCLUSIONS: Factors elicited in this study that are associated with stress in HCWs need to be addressed to provide wholesome emotional support to HCWs battling the pandemic. Targeted interventions may result in increased emotional resilience of the health-care system.

Diagnostic accuracy and adequacy of rapid on-site evaluation performed by a pulmonologist on transbronchial needle aspiration specimens (DREPA): a prospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) during transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is conventionally performed by pathologists. However, availability of a pathologist in the bronchoscopy suite is often an issue. We aimed to study if a pulmonologist, after receiving a short period of training in cytopathology, is able to assess the adequacy of onsite samples during TBNA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A pulmonologist was initially trained by a pathologist in examining cytology slides and assessing sample adequacy on TBNA smears. During TBNA, one slide from each needle pass was stained on-site using rapid Giemsa stain and was labelled as ROSE slide. The remaining slides were sent to the pathology laboratory for definitive cytological analysis. The ROSE slides were examined by a pulmonologist and a pathologist blinded to each other's interpretation. Level of agreement between the pulmonologist and pathologist was assessed by estimating Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: A total of 172 slides from 35 patients were prepared for ROSE and evaluated independently by pulmonologist and pathologist. For adequacy, the pulmonologist and pathologist agreed in 143 out of the 172 slides (83% agreement), κ 0.649 (p < 0.001). For diagnostic categories, the pulmonologist and the pathologist agreed in 143 out of the 172 slides (83% agreement); κ 0.696 (p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ROSE performed by the pulmonologist with respect to that performed by the pathologist was 66.2%, 96.8% and 83.1% respectively. CONCLUSION: After a short period of training in cytopathology, a pulmonologist can assess for adequacy of TBNA ROSE slides in the bronchoscopy suite.

Determinants, risk factors and spatial analysis of multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis in Jodhpur, India.

This study was planned to estimate the proportion of confirmed multi-drug resistance pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases out of the presumptive cases referred to DTC (District Tuberculosis Center) Jodhpur for diagnosis; to identify clinical and socio-demographic risk factors associated with the multidrug-resistant pulmonary TB and to assess the spatial distribution to find out clustering and pattern in the distribution of pulmonary TB with the help of Geographic Information System (GIS). In the Jodhpur district, 150 confirmed pulmonary multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases, diagnosed by probe-based molecular drug susceptibility testing method and categorized as MDR in DTC's register (District Tuberculosis Center), were taken. Simultaneously, 300 control of confirmed non-MDR or drug-sensitive pulmonary TB patients were taken. Statistical analysis was done with logistic regression. In addition, for spatial analysis, secondary data from 2013-17 was analyzed using Global Moran's I and Getis and Ordi (Gi*) statistics. In 2012-18, a total of 12563 CBNAAT (Cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test) were performed. 2898 (23%) showed M. TB positive but rifampicin sensitive, and 590 (4.7%) showed rifampicin resistant. Independent risk factors for MDR TB were ≤60 years age (AOR 3.0, CI 1.3-7.1); male gender (AOR 3.4, CI 1.8-6.7); overcrowding (AOR 1.6, CI 1.0-2.7); using chulha (smoke appliance) for cooking (AOR 2.5, CI 1.2-4.9), past TB treatment (AOR 5.7, CI 2.9-11.3) and past contact with MDR patient (AOR 10.7, CI 3.7-31.2). All four urban TUs (Tuberculosis Units) had the highest proportion of drug-resistant pulmonary TB. There was no statistically significant clustering, and the pattern of cases was primarily random. Most of the hotspots generated were present near the administrative boundaries of TUs, and the new ones mostly appeared in the area near the previous hotspots. A random pattern seen in cluster analysis supports the universal drug testing policy of India. Hotspot analysis helps cross administrative border initiatives with targeted active case finding and proper follow-up.

Safe Practice of Flexible Bronchoscopy for Non-COVID-19 Indications during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Background: Flexible bronchoscopy is an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP), which increases the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aimed to find COVID-19 symptoms among healthcare workers (HCWs) involved in flexible bronchoscopies for non-COVID-19 indications during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Materials and Methods: The participants of this hospital-based single-center descriptive study were HCWs of our hospital involved in flexible bronchoscopies of patients with non-COVID-19 indications. These patients had no clinical features of COVID-19 and were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by the real-time polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal and throat swabs before the procedure. The study outcome was the occurrence of COVID-19 in study participants after exposure to bronchoscopies. Results: Thirteen HCWs performed 81 bronchoscopies on 62 patients. Indications for bronchoscopies included malignancy (61.30%), suspected infections (19.35%), non-resolving pneumonia (6.45%), mucus plug removal (6.45%), central airway obstruction (4.84%), and hemoptysis (1.61%). The mean age of patients was 50.44 ± 15.00 years, and the majority was males (72.58%). Bronchoscopic procedures included 51 bronchoalveolar lavages, 32 endobronchial ultrasound- transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), 26 endobronchial biopsies, 10 transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB), 3 mucus plug removals, 2 conventional TBNA, and 2 radial EBUS-TBLB. Except for two HCWs who complained of transient throat irritation of non-infectious cause, none of the cases developed any clinical features suggestive of COVID-19. Conclusion: A dedicated bronchoscopy protocol helps in minimizing the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs involved in flexible bronchoscopies for non-COVID-19 indications during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Clinical features and mortality in COVID-19 SARI versus non COVID-19 SARI cases from Western Rajasthan, India.

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) issued guidelines that all patients presenting with severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) should be investigated for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Following the same protocol, in our institute, all patients with SARI were transferred to the COVID-19 suspect intensive care unit (ICU) and investigated for COVID-19. METHODS: This study was planned to examine the demographical, clinical features, and outcomes of the first 500 suspected patients of COVID-19 with SARI admitted in the COVID-19 suspect ICU at a tertiary care center. Between March 7 and July 20, 2020, 500 patients were admitted to the COVID-19 suspect ICU. We analyzed the demographical, clinical features, and outcomes between COVID-19 positive and negative SARI cases. The records of all the patients were reviewed until July 31, 2020. RESULTS: Of the 500 suspected patients admitted to the hospital, 88 patients showed positive results for COVID-19 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the nasopharyngeal swabs. The mean age in the positive group was higher (55.31 ± 16.16 years) than in the negative group (40.46 ± 17.49 years) (P < 0.001). Forty-seven (53.4%) of these patients in the COVID-19 positive group and 217 (52.7%) from the negative group suffered from previously known comorbidities. The common symptoms included fever, cough, sore throat, and dyspnea. Eighty-five (20.6%) patients died in the COVID-19 negative group, and 30 (34.1%) died in the COVID-19 positive group (P = 0.006). Deaths among the COVID-19 positive group had a significantly higher age than deaths in the COVID-19 negative group (P < 0.001). Among the patients who died with positive COVID-19 status had substantially higher neutrophilia and lymphopenia (P < 0.001). X-ray chest abnormalities were almost three times more likely in COVID-19 deaths (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the present article, 17.6% of SARI were due to COVID-19 infection with significantly higher mortality (34.1%) in COVID-19 positive patients with SARI. Although all patients presenting as SARI have considerable mortality rates, the COVID-19-associated SARI cases thus had an almost one-third risk of mortality.

Predictors of Clinical Outcomes in Adult COVID-19 Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in India: an analytical cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak ofsevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has resulted inexponential rise in the number of patients getting hospitalised with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There is a paucity of data from South East Asian Region related to the predictors of clinical outcomes in these patients. This formed the basis of conducting our study. METHODS: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical, radiological and laboratory data of 125 patients was collected on admission. The study outcome was death or discharge after recovery. For univariate analysis, unpaired t-test, Chi-square and Fisher's Exact test were used. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and few laboratory parameters. Logistic regression was applied for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Elderly age, ischemic heart disease and smoking were significantly associated with mortality. Elevated levels of D-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reduced lymphocyte counts were the predictors of mortality. The ROCs for SOFA score curve showed a cut-off value ≥ 3.5 (sensitivity- 91.7% and specificity- 87.5%), for IL-6 the cut-off value was ≥ 37.9 (sensitivity- 96% and specificity- 78%) and for lymphocyte counts, a cut off was calculated to be less than and equal to 1.46 x 109per litre (sensitivity-75.2%and specificity- 83.3%). CONCLUSION: Old age, smoking history, ischemic heart disease and laboratory parameters including elevated D-dimer, raised LDH and low lymphocyte counts at baseline are associated with COVID-19 mortality. A higher SOFA score at admission is a poor prognosticator in COVID-19 patients.

Esophageal Cancer, Central Airway Obstruction, and Lots More: A Collaborative Approach to a Challenging Scenario.

Esophageal cancer is the most common cause of extrapulmonary malignant central airway obstruction (MCAO). MCAO is usually managed by a multidisciplinary approach involving tumor debulking, stent placement, and palliative radiotherapy. MCAO is a challenge in itself; here, it becomes even more challenging as it was accompanied by grade 3 oral submucous fibrosis, nasal synechiae, and multiple enlarged cervical nodes causing excessive compression of the trachea along with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. Herein, a 65-year-old woman with multiple challenges, where death was imminent, managed with a collaborative approach involving awake nasal intubation in the sitting position and placement of a stent via a flexible bronchoscope, as rigid bronchoscopy was not possible in view of limited mouth opening. Overcoming these challenges led to completing the procedure successfully and palliating the symptoms.

Vascular patterns on narrow band imaging (NBI) video bronchoscopy of lung cancer patients and its relationship with histology: an analytical cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Narrow band imaging (NBI) video bronchoscopy provides better visualisation of submucosal vascular patterns in malignant airway lesions compared to white light bronchoscopy. This analytical cross-sectional study was aimed to look for any relationship between these NBI vascular patterns and the histologic type of lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After screening 78 patients with suspected lung cancer, 53 subjects underwent video bronchoscopy. Thirty-two patients showing abnormal bronchial mucosa or endobronchial growth with any of the NBI vascular patterns on bronchoscopy were enrolled in the study. These abnormal areas were then biopsied and sent for histologic examination. RESULTS: NBI bronchoscopy revealed a dilated tortuous vascular pattern in 54.8% of the patients, a non-specific pattern in 32%, a dotted pattern in 9.7% and an abrupt ending vessels pattern in 3.2% of the patients. We did not find any statistically significant relationship between a dilated tortuous pattern and squamous-cell carcinoma (p = 0.48), adenocarcinoma (p = 0.667) or small-cell carcinoma (p = 1); between a dotted pattern and squamous-cell carcinoma (p = 1), adenocarcinoma (p = 0.54) or small-cell carcinoma (p = 1), and between an abrupt ending capillary pattern and squamous-cell carcinoma (p = 1), adenocarcinoma (p = 1) or small-cell carcinoma (p =1). CONCLUSION: No relationship exists between NBI vascular patterns and the histology of lung cancer. Endobronchial lesions showing any vascular pattern on NBI needs to be adequately sampled for proper histologic and molecular studies in lung cancer patients.

Viral Ribonucleic Acid Shedding and Transmission Potential of Asymptomatic and Paucisymptomatic Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients.

We studied the pattern and duration of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) shedding in 32 asymptomatic and 11 paucisymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 cases. Viral RNA shedding in exhaled breath progressively diminished and became negative after 6 days of a positive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction test. Therefore, the duration of isolation can be minimized to 6 days.