Clinical, Radiological, and Lung Function Characteristics of Post-tuberculosis Bronchiectasis: An Experience From a Tertiary Care Center in India.

Introduction Among chronic respiratory diseases, bronchiectasis is one of the important causes of mortality and morbidity in developing countries. Objective This study aimed to assess the clinical, radiological, microbiological, and pulmonary function profiles of adult patients with post-tubercular bronchiectasis. Methods We enrolled 138 patients with bronchiectasis confirmed by high-resolution CT scans from July 2017 to August 2018. Results A total of 138 patients with bronchiectasis were enrolled. The data from 132 patients were analyzed; six patients were excluded from the study. The mean age of post-TB bronchiectasis (post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis) patients was 36.08±13.08, which was lower than the non-tuberculosis bronchiectasis group. The proportion of the male population was more in the post-TB bronchiectasis group (54.55% vs. 37.88%, p=0.48). Smoking prevalence was high in post-TB bronchiectasis (27.27% vs. 12.12%, p=0.04). The predominant symptom was cough in the post-tubercular bronchiectasis group (48.5% vs. 41.7%, p=0.019). The history of the recurrent common cold was seen most frequently in non-post-tubercular bronchiectasis (40.9% vs. 12.9%, p=0.001). The most common radiological variant of bronchiectasis found in all patients was a cystic type (75%). The most common site of involvement was the left lower lobe, followed by the lingula in all patients and post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis patients. Pulmonary function on spirometry revealed obstructive, restrictive, and mixed patterns in 55%, 25%, and 15%, respectively. Patients with post-tuberculosis bronchiectasis had lower lung function post-FEV1/FVC (forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity) ratio (70.31±15.56 vs. 76.85±11.82, p=0.015). Binary multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only recurrent cough cold was a significant independent risk factor for post-TB bronchiectasis. Conclusion Post-tuberculosis, and bronchiectasis followed by post-infectious causes, were the most common causes of bronchiectasis and poor lung function.

Curious case of primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is an uncommon tumor constituting only 0.1% to 0.2% of all lung carcinoma. It is classified under "salivary gland type" tumors in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of lung cancers. It generally carries a better prognosis than the more common small cell and nonsmall cell lung carcinomas. It is pathologically classified into high-grade and low-grade tumors. High-grade tumors are usually unresectable at presentation. However, surgery is the mainstay of treatment, which aims at surgically negative margins for a complete cure. In our patient, pulmonary MEC presented with intrathoracic mass with pericardial effusion. It came out to be low-grade neoplasm, which was treated with platinum-based doublet chemotherapy and responded well with near-total disappearance of tumor, like a vanishing lung tumor.

Clinical, demographic and radiological profile of smoker COPD versus nonsmoker COPD patients at a tertiary care center in North India.

INTRODUCTION: Cigarette smoking is the most predominant risk factor for development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, a considerable amount of patients do develop COPD without exposure to cigarette smoking. We aimed to analyze the incidence, demographic and clinical profile of nonsmoker COPD subjects at a tertiary care center. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 410 patients were screened for dyspnea. On the basis of spirometry findings, 360 patients were diagnosed as COPD and enrolled into the study. Patients were categorized into 2 groups on the basis of smoking habits (smoker and nonsmoker COPD). Clinical and demographic attributes were compared in between these two groups. This study was conducted over a period of one year, from August 2014 to July 2015. All statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 19.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Values were considered to be statistically significant at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Out of 360 COPD cases, about 2/3rd (60%) were smokers and the rest nonsmokers. Majority of the patients were in the age group of 51-70 years. The mean age of smokers with COPD was significantly higher than nonsmokers with COPD (59.29 ± 10.28 years vs. 53.90 ± 8.77 years; P = 0.0001). Overall, males were predominant (57.2%) but there were higher number of female patients in nonsmoker group (25% vs. 70%; P = 0.001). At presentation, majority of nonsmoker with COPD were in GOLD severity grade II while in the smoking cohort majority were in GOLD severity Grade III. Among the 144 nonsmoker COPD patients, the most important and statistically significant risk factor was exposure to biomass smoke (68.06%). Other risk factors were long-standing asthma (37.50%), lower respiratory tract infection in childhood (32.60%), exposure to outdoor air pollution (17.92%). CONCLUSION: Nonsmoker COPD is emerging as a distinctive phenotype. They have less impairment in airflow limitation, and a lower prevalence of emphysema, chronic cough, and sputum compared with their smoking counterparts.

Obstructive sleep apnea risk for driving license applicants in India - A community based study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for male permanent driving license (DL) applicants of Lucknow, India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional community based, study body mass index, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure of each subject were determined as an anthropometric parameter along with the history of habit of smoking, tobacco chewing, alcohol consumption. STOP-Bang (Snoring, Tired or sleepy, Observed apnea, high blood Pressure, Body mass index, Age, Neck, Gender) Questionnaire - a scoring risk assessment tool - was applied for assessment of OSA risk (high OSA risk defined by score ≥ 3) for 542 male DL recipients at 2 Regional Transport Office (RTO) centers in Lucknow, India. The statistical software SPSS 17.0 was applied to the testing. RESULTS: In total 23% (N = 125) of participants were found with the risk of OSA. High blood pressure (≥ 140/90 mm Hg) was found for the maximum number of participants (40.5%) followed by neck circumference > 40 cm (17.1%), age (> 50 years old) (15.3%), snoring (12.3%) and tired/sleepy (10.5%). Mean values of age, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were observed significantly higher (p < 0.001) for participants with the OSA risk. In this population the risk of OSA risk (STOP-Bang score ≥ 3) was observed for 6.7% of young (< 35 years old), 34% of middle (35-45 years old) and 73% of elder age adults (> 45 years old). CONCLUSIONS: In view of findings of this study a high number of male driving license applicants were observed with the risk of OSA. Therefore efforts should be made to develop a national screening guideline/protocol for the OSA risk assessment for driving license applicants in India. This may reduce the possibility of road traffic accidents due to the OSA-associated fatigue and drowsiness behind the wheels. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(1):25-36.

Multiple abdominal abscesses - A not so common presentation of NTM.

Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria/Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis (MOTT) are ubiquitous organisms. They are acid fast bacilli often giving trouble to the physician to distinguish it from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These organisms are a menace for the treating physician as when to treat and when not to treat. They are often difficult to diagnose and may present in a variety of forms with propensity to cause number of infections of different body parts and organs. They are more common in immunocompromised individuals e.g. HIV infection. Here we are reporting a not so common manifestation of NTM which presented as multiple abdominal abscesses in a middle aged female probably secondary to surgical site infection, however she responded dramatically to the designed treatment.

Study of oxidative stress biomarkers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their correlation with disease severity in north Indian population cohort.

BACKGROUND: Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance forms a prime component in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Studies of oxidative stress markers in South Asians were sparse. METHODS: One hundred and eighty COPD patients and eighty healthy nonsmokers were enrolled in the study. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and iron levels were estimated for oxidative stress. Three antioxidant markers evaluated-catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and serum copper. Patients on antioxidant therapy and with sepsis and chronic illness were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The mean age of COPD patients was 59.29 ± 10.3 years. Serum levels of MDA and iron were significantly higher in COPD patients compared to controls (5.21 ± 1.9 vs. 0.71 ± 0.29 nmol MDA/ml, P = 0.0001 and 69.85 ± 85.49 vs. 79.32 ± 24.39 µg/dl, P = 0.0001, respectively). Mean level of all antioxidant enzymes catalase, SOD, and copper were significantly diminished in cases when compared to control population (P = 0.001). Levels of MDA and iron were found to be significantly elevated in higher Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classes (III, IV) when compared to lower GOLD Classes (I, II). The levels of serum antioxidants were significantly depleted in higher GOLD grades too. COPD patients who were male and smoked had significantly higher levels of oxidants and depleted antioxidant levels compared to female and nonsmoking compatriots. Serum MDA levels negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume 1 s and forced vital capacity (r = -0.19 and r = -0.21, P ≤ 0.01). The presence of a cough significantly correlated with higher levels of MDA and iron (P = 0.001). The levels of MDA negatively correlated with SOD and catalase levels. CONCLUSION: Oxidative markers (MDA and iron) are higher whereas antioxidants (catalase, copper, and SOD) are significantly reduced in patients of COPD. Serum MDA levels correlate with lung functions and disease severity.

Tip of nose tuberculosis: A rare presentation of extra pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is notorious that it affects various sites of the human body and presents in different ways. One of the uncommon or rather rare presentation of extra pulmonary tuberculosis is nasal tuberculosis. The nose apart from its physiological functions also contributes to facial aesthetics and gives a defined appearance and its deformity imparts cosmetic disfigurement and unsightly appearance. Both primary and secondary forms of nasal tuberculosis are rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ulcerative or crusting lesions of the nose. Here we report such a case of nasal tuberculosis, which presented as an ulcerative and crusting lesion over the tip of the nose in a female child. The patient was given antituberculous chemotherapy after establishing the diagnosis and responded well to treatment.