Estimating the abundance of airborne pollen and fungal spores at variable elevations using an aircraft: how high can they fly?

Airborne pollen and fungal spores are monitored mainly in highly populated, urban environments, for allergy prevention purposes. However, their sources can frequently be located outside cities' fringes with more vegetation. So as to shed light to this paradox, we investigated the diversity and abundance of airborne pollen and fungal spores at various environmental regimes. We monitored pollen and spores using an aircraft and a car, at elevations from sea level to 2,000 m above ground, in the region of Thesssaloniki, Greece. We found a total of 24 pollen types and more than 15 spore types. Pollen and spores were detected throughout the elevational transect. Lower elevations exhibited higher pollen concentrations in only half of plant taxa and higher fungal spore concentrations in only Ustilago. Pinaceae and Quercus pollen were the most abundant recorded by airplane (>54% of the total). Poaceae pollen were the most abundant via car measurements (>77% of the total). Cladosporium and Alternaria spores were the most abundant in all cases (aircraft: >69% and >17%, car: >45% and >27%, respectively). We conclude that pollen and fungal spores can be diverse and abundant even outside the main source area, evidently because of long-distance transport incidents.

Determinants of Outcome in Burn ICU Patients with Septic Shock.

Infectious complications remain one of the most challenging concerns for the burn team. The goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and prognosis in burn patients with septic shock. This retrospective study included patients with severe burn injury who were admitted to a burn intensive care unit (ICU). Demographic and clinical data were recorded for each patient. The diagnostic and prognostic value of a number of clinical and laboratory parameters and various treatment options were evaluated. Sixty-four of the 378 patients (16.9%) were identified as having experienced a septic shock during ICU stay. The mortality rate of patients with septic shock was 46.9%. The main bacterial strains responsible for infection were Gram-negative bacteria (78.1%). Factors associated with outcome of septic shock on logistic regression analysis were presence of stage III of acute kidney injury (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.03 [1.06-3.84]; P = 0.019), and lactate levels > 4 mmol/L during the first 48 hours of shock (odds ratio 1.92; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-3.62; P = 0.043). Prognosis of septic shock remains poor in burn patients with septic shock. The main causative pathogens of septic shock identified in our burn ICU were Gram-negative species. The main prognostic factors identified in this study were the presence of AKI, stage III, and high lactate levels early after the onset of septic shock.

Pneumothorax and asthma.

This review is focused on the relationship between asthma, pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum while presenting a number of case reports that include these conditions. The association between pneumothorax and asthma is not widely known. While asthma includes a common disorder and is prevalent worldwide, its morbidity and mortality is high when is associated with pneumothorax. Furthermore, the delayed diagnosis of pneumothorax while focusing on asthma includes the higher risk of coincidental pneumothorax in asthmatic patients. In addition, pneumomediastinum is considered benign and self-limiting condition that responds to conservative therapy. Although it is rare, the concurrence of pneumomediastinum with pneumothorax may prove fatal during a serious asthma attack. In conclusion, the symptoms of chest pain, dyspnea or focal chest findings when presented in asthmatic patients, must always create suspicion of pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum to the physician.

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the trachea-a rare entity case report.

Epithelial-myoepithelial tumors of the lung are rare neoplasms whose biological behavior and clinical course still remain to be defined. Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMCa) is a low-grade malignant tumour. According to literature, most commonly occurs in salivary glands, particularly in parotic gland, but it can also occur in unusual locations such as breast, lachrymal gland, nose, paranasal sinus, lung, bronchus and, as in our case, trachea. There are no many documented case reports of a primary myoepithelial carcinoma in the trachea. We report a case of a 34-year-old man diagnosed with this unusual location of an epithelial-myoepithelial tumor. The tumour was removed by segmental tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis.

Lung ossification: an orphan disease.

Diffuse pulmonary ossification (DPO) is a rare entity which is characterized by metaplastic bone formation in the lung parenchyma. It is an uncommon condition without significant symptoms, which is usually diagnosed on autopsy. Diffuse pulmonary ossification can be easily misdiagnosed as one of interstitial lung diseases due to diffuse pulmonary lesions. Two types of diffuse ossification are described in medicine: dendriform and nodular. In this article, the authors present a patient with persistent pneumothorax who underwent investigation of the cause of his disease and a diagnosis of DPO was revealed.

Difficult airway and difficult intubation in postintubation tracheal stenosis: a case report and literature review.

Management of a "difficult airway" remains one of the most relevant and challenging tasks for anesthesiologists and pulmonary physicians. Several conditions, such as inflammation, trauma, tumor, and immunologic and metabolic diseases, are considered responsible for the difficult intubation of a critically ill patient. In this case report we present the case of a 46-year-old male with postintubation tracheal stenosis. We will focus on the method of intubation used, since the patient had a "difficult airway" and had to be intubated immediately because he was in a life-threatening situation. Although technology is of utter importance, clinical examination and history-taking remain invaluable for the appropriate evaluation of the critically ill patient in everyday medical life. Every physician who will be required to perform intubation has to be familiar with the evaluation of the difficult airway and, in the event of the unanticipated difficult airway, to be able to use a wide variety of tools and techniques to avoid complications and fatality.

A case of typical pulmonary carcinoid tumor treated with bronchoscopic therapy followed by lobectomy.

Carcinoid bronchopulmonary tumors represent approximately 25% of all carcinoid tumors and 1%-2% of all lung neoplasms. The most common symptoms are: persistent cough, asthma-like wheezing, chest pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis and obstructive pneumonitis. We present a case of a young adult diagnosed with a typical carcinoid tumor. The diagnosis was established on the basis of imaging examination and bronchoscopic biopsy. The patient was treated with bronchoscopic electrocautery therapy to relieve the obstructed airway, followed by surgical lobectomy in order to entirely remove the exophytic damage. This approach was not only a palliative management to bronchial obstruction but also avoided pneumonectomy. Recent studies support the use of such interventional resection methods, as they may result in a more conservative surgical resection.

Williams-Campbell syndrome: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Williams-Campbell syndrome, also known as bronchomalacia, is a rare disorder characterized by a deficiency of cartilage in subsegmental bronchi, leading to distal airway collapse and bronchiectasis. There have been few reports about patients affected by saccular bronchiectasis, paracicatricial emphysema, and diminished cartilage. These are all characteristic of Williams-Campbell syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: This report presents a 57-year-old woman with progressive dyspnea, cough, sputum production, and fever. The clinical and laboratory examination revealed that the patient had a respiratory infection due to bronchiectasis caused by Williams-Campbell syndrome, which was undiagnosed in the patient until then. CONCLUSION: Although a rare syndrome, when patients' signs and symptoms include recurrent respiratory infections, bronchiectasis, productive cough, and dyspnea, Williams-Campbell syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Fat embolism due to bilateral femoral fracture: a case report.

Fat embolism syndrome is usually associated with surgery for large bone fractures. Symptoms usually occur within 36 hours of hospitalization after traumatic injury. We present a case with fat embolism syndrome due to femur fracture. Prompt supportive treatment of the patient's respiratory system and additional pharmaceutical treatment provided the positive clinical outcome. There is no specific therapy for fat embolism syndrome; prevention, early diagnosis, and adequate symptomatic treatment are very important. Most of the studies in the last 20 years have shown that the incidence of fat embolism syndrome is reduced by early stabilization of the fractures and the risk is even further decreased with surgical correction rather than conservative management.

Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy after treatment with treprostenil in a chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patient: a case report.

In recent years, there has been a major advance in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. New medications are continually added to the therapeutic arsenal. The prostanoids are among the first agents used to treat pulmonary hypertension and are currently considered the most effective. This case study describes a 63-year-old man who was diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and successfully treated with subcutaneously administered treprostenil for 6 months before a successful pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension often requires a multidisciplinary approach before surgery. Further evaluation of prostanoids is needed to define their role and time of initiation of medical therapy in these patients.

Serratia pneumonia presenting as hemoptysis in a patient with sarcoidosis: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Serratia marcescens is a Gram-negative bacillus which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a facultative anaerobe and produces red pigment at room temperature. It naturally occurs in soil and water as well as the intestines, and it is responsible for nosocomial infections. There have been few reports about community acquired pneumonia of Serratia. CASE PRESENTATION: This report presents a 37-year-old man with hemoptysis, fever, and shortness of breath. The clinical and laboratory examinations revealed that the patient had pseudohemoptysis due to S. marcescens pneumonia, on an immunocompromised pattern, because of the coexistence of sarcoidosis (stage 1). CONCLUSION: Appropriate antibiotic therapy for Serratia was administered, and the patient's symptoms regressed. The patient is healthy and asymptomatic after 1-year follow-up. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a pseudohemoptysis in a patient with pulmonary sarcoidosis.