Eosinophilic Airway Inflammation in Patients with Stable Biomass Smoke- versus Tobacco Smoke-Associated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease with predominant involvement of neutrophils, macrophages and CD8+ lymphocytes. Eosinophilic airway inflammations are reported in stable state and during acute exacerbations of tobacco smoke-associated COPD (TS-COPD). Women exposed to biomass fuel smoke are known to have eosinophils in sputum. However, little is known about the sputum cellular inflammatory profile in biomass fuel smoke-associated COPD (BMS-COPD). We therefore aimed to compare the sputum cellular inflammatory profile in tobacco smoke- and biomass smoke-associated COPD. METHODS: The study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Goa, India. A total of 113 patients with stable COPD reporting to the outpatient pulmonary clinic were recruited. All participants were ≥ 40 years of age. Sputum induction studies were performed by the method of Pizzichini et al. after baseline subject characterization. Significant eosinophilia was defined as induced sputum eosinophils ≥ 3%. RESULTS: There were 85 TS-COPD and 28 BMS-COPD patients. The mean age [standard deviation (SD)] was 64.7 (7.8) and 63.0 years (8.3), p = 0.32 in TS and BMS-COPD, respectively. Eighteen subjects (21.1%) were female smokers. The smoking pack-year median [interquartile range (IQR)] was 36 (20, 58) and hour-years of biomass smoke exposure mean (SD) was 192.4 (61). The TS-COPD and BMS-COPD cases showed a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) mean (SD) of 57.9 (17.1), and 62.6 (19.4), p= 0.22, respectively. Both groups had similar symptoms and severity of disease. Induced sputum total cell count per gram of sputum × 106 mean (SD) was 3.05 (1.53) for TS-COPD, and 2.55(1.37) for BMS-COPD p=0.12. The neutrophils % mean (SD) was 86.4 (16.5) and 87.9 (10.2), p = 0.64; eosinophils % median (IQR) was 2.5 (1, 10) and 8 (2, 12.8), p = 0.07; lymphocytes % median (IQR) was 0 (0, 0.75) and 0 (0, 1) p = 0.13; macrophages % median (IQR) was 2.5 (0.75, 5.7) and 1 (0, 4.7) p = 0.13; and significant eosinophilia (eosinophils ≥3%) was 42 (49.4%) and 20 (71%), p=0.04, for TS-COPD and BMS-COPD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For similar severity of disease and clinical symptoms, significant eosinophilic inflammation was observed in stable BMS-COPD, while both groups had similar neutrophilic inflammation. PARTICIPANT CONSENT: Obtained. ETHICS APPROVAL: The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Goa Medical College, Goa, India. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Utility of Cell-Block of Bronchial Washings in Diagnosis of Lung Cancer- A Comparative Analysis with Conventional Smear Cytology.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchoscopy is a safe & effective means of diagnosing bronchogenic carcinoma with a varying diagnostic yield of different bronchoscopic procedures. Cell-Block (CB) preparation of cytology specimen has been shown to increase the diagnostic yield further. To the authors' knowledge, the diagnostic value of CB as an adjunct to conventional smear cytology (CS) of bronchial washing specimens in the detection of bronchogenic carcinoma has not been well evaluated. AIM: The present study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of CB of bronchial washings when compared with CS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 104 patients of suspected bronchogenic carcinoma were subjected to bronchoscopy as per British Thoracic Society (BTS) protocol. Bronchial biopsy, brushings and washings were collected. Smears were prepared immediately of bronchial washings and another aliquot was subjected to CB preparation and further processing by paraffin embedding and H&E staining. RESULTS: Out of 104 patients, 92 were diagnosed by bronchoscopy with a cumulative diagnostic yield of all sampling techniques being 88.46%. Yield of CB of bronchial washings (44.23%) was higher than Bronchial washings - conventional smears (36.53%). CB detected additional 8 cases of malignancy where corresponding bronchial washings-conventional smears were negative. Exclusive diagnosis by CB was obtained in 2 cases. Brushings and biopsy confirmed malignancy in 49.03% and 57.69% cases. CONCLUSION: CB of bronchial washings had a higher yield as compared to corresponding conventional smears. Increase in yield was also noted when CB of bronchial washings was combined with biopsy and compared to bronchial washings- conventional smears combined with biopsy. In limited resource settings, CB preparation is a simple method that increases diagnostic yield of flexible bronchoscopy, is cost effective & hence can be routinely used. The immunohistochemical and molecular studies are possible with CB only, which is a distinct advantage over conventional smears of bronchial washings.

Tracheal agenesis with broncho-esophageal fistula in VACTERL / TACRD association.

Tracheal agenesis (TA) is an extremely rare malformation. We report here autopsy findings in a case of TA with bronchoesophageal fistula of Floyd type III. The other malformations present included laryngeal atresia, Right lung hypolobulation, ventricular septal defect in membranous portion, bilateral cystic renal dysplasia, spleninculus, Meckel's diverticulum, and imperforate anus. The constellations of malformations present in our case have overlapping features with Vertebral anomalies, Anal atresia, Cardiovascular anomalies, Tracheo-esophageal fistula, Esophageal atresia, Renal anomalies, Limb anomalies and Tracheal atresia or laryngo tracheal atresia, Cardiac anomalies, Renal anomalies, Duodenal atresia association described previously in the literature.