Specificity of tilt illusion reduction through perceptual learning.

Human perceptual ability can be improved by perceptual learning through repeated exposure or training. Perceptual learning studies have focused on achieving accurate perception of stimuli by improving perceptual sensitivity. However, eliminating illusions can also be one of the ways of accurate perception. To determine whether the illusion can be attenuated by perceptual learning, the current study used a tilt illusion where the orientation of the grating presented in the center (central grating) was misperceived because of the orientation of the grating presented in the periphery (surrounding grating). In Experiment 1, participants were trained either in the illusion training condition, in which they trained with illusory stimuli presenting both surrounding and central gratings together, or in the control training condition, where only the central grating was presented. The results confirmed that the tilt illusion was reduced only in the illusion training condition. Experiment 2 tested the transfer effect of learning, which is not often observed in perceptual learning. During training, the orientation of the surrounding grating was fixed to see whether the elimination of the illusion also occurred in the surrounding grating with an orientation that was not used during training. A decrease in the illusion was found only in the case of a surrounding grating with trained orientations, and not in the case of surrounding gratings with untrained orientations. These results suggest that the reduction in tilt illusion through training is due to perceptual learning.

Clinical relevance of false-negative interferon-gamma release assays in patients with tuberculous pleurisy in an intermediate tuberculosis burden country.

Background: There have been few studies to verify factors associated with a false-negative interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) in patients with tuberculous pleurisy. We investigated the clinical relevance of false-negative results of the blood QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay and its risk factors in patients diagnosed with pleural tuberculosis (TB). Methods: Medical records of 650 pleural TB patients in a tertiary hospital between January 2009 and December 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who underwent the blood QFT-GIT assay and pleural fluid analysis before starting anti-TB medication were included. Results: Of 199 patients with pleural TB who were performed QFT-GIT assay, 36 (18.1%) were false-negative results. These patients tended to be older than those with a positive result (P=0.060). The QFT-GIT-false-negative group of had significantly more comorbidities such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), haematological cancer or pneumoconiosis than the QFT-GIT-positive group. Hypoproteinaemia and pH >6 in pleural fluid were associated with a false-negative QFT-GIT. Of the 199 patients, 163 (81.9%) were cured or completed anti-TB treatment; 13 patients (6.5%) died. The QFT-GIT-negative patients had significantly worse outcomes including mortality [unfavourable outcome: 33.3% (12/36 patients) in QFT-GIT-negative groups vs. 14.7% (24/163 patients) in QFT-GIT-positive groups, P<0.017; overall mortality: 16.7% (6/36 patients) vs. 4.3% (7/163 patients), respectively, P<0.015]. Conclusions: In pleural TB, a false-negative QFT-GIT result was 18.1% in a country of intermediate TB incidence. This discordant result in GFT-GIT was associated with ESRD, pneumoconiosis, hypoproteinaemia and a poor outcome. Clinicians should keep in mind the possibility of false-negativity in the blood IGRA test, especially in specific situations and its impact on TB outcome in managing patients with pleural TB.

Usefulness of impulse oscillometry for the assessment of bronchodilator response in elderly patients with chronic obstructive airway disease.

BACKGROUND: Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a noninvasive and convenient technique to measure both airway resistance and reactance. This study aimed to evaluate whether IOS can be used to measure bronchodilator response (BDR) in elderly patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and also describe the difference between asthma and COPD. METHODS: Seventy patients (30 and 40 with asthma and COPD, respectively) over 65 years of age were enrolled. IOS and spirometry measurements were obtained before and after bronchodilator administration. Correlation analysis was used to compare the percentage changes in spirometry and IOS parameters after bronchodilator administration between the asthma and COPD groups. RESULTS: The changes in IOS parameters after bronchodilator administration were strongly correlated with changes in forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow at 25-75% (FEF25-75). However, the percentage changes in IOS parameters failed to discriminate between the asthma and COPD groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis of resistance at 5 and 20 Hz (R5-20) at the best cutoff (-15.4% change) showed both high sensitivity and specificity for BDR. CONCLUSIONS: IOS serves as a reliable and useful technique for identifying BDR in elderly patients with chronic obstructive airway disease. There was a difference in IOS parameters between the asthma and COPD groups; however, it was difficult to distinguish between both diseases. Further larger studies are required to investigate the real implications of using IOS in the clinical practice.

A case of tracheobronchomalacia due to relapsing polychondritis treated with Montgomery T-tube.

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare and multi-system autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by inflammation and destruction of cartilaginous structures. Its clinical manifestations include recurrent chondritis of the ears, nose, pinna, peripheral joints, and laryngotracheobronchial tree and can be life-threatening in advanced cases of laryngotracheal stenosis. Because of the rarity of relapsing polychondritis and lack of understanding of its pathogenesis, there is no standard medical therapy, and treatment is tailored according to disease activity and site of organ involvement. In respiratory failure due to laryngotracheal involvement, which has been reported in up to 50% of relapsing polychondritis patients and is a major cause of death, immediate procedures such as stenting and tracheostomy are very important. This report describes a 70-year-old male patient suffering from tracheobronchomalacia due to relapsing polychondritis who was treated with Montgomery T-tube insertion.

Lipoid pneumonitis in a patient with an accidental ingestion of kerosene successfully treated with bronchoscopic segmental lavage and systemic steroid: Case report.

RATIONALE: Standard treatment of lipoid pneumonitis remains unclear. This study reports a case of kerosene pneumonitis successfully treated with systemic steroid and segmental bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). PATIENT CONCERNS: A 30-year-old woman referred to our hospital because of worsening of respiratory symptoms and fever despite antibiotic therapy following accidental ingestion of kerosene. She had no underlying disease. DIAGNOSES: Chest CT scan showed necrotic consolidation, ground glass opacity (GGO), bronchial wall thickening in the right middle/lower lobe (RML/RLL) and right pleural effusion. The lipoid pneumonitis was confirmed by identification of a lipid laden macrophage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with systemic corticosteroid and segmental BAL. OUTCOMES: The patient's symptoms rapidly improved after treatment and she was discharged one week after admission. A follow-up CT scan a week after discharge revealed marked resolution of consolidation. No recurrence was reported for 8 months. LESSONS: This is the first case of kerosene pneumonitis successfully treated with systemic steroid and bronchoscopic segmental lavage therapy in Korea. Very few cases have been reported worldwide.

Huge idiopathic pulmonary artery aneurysm.

A pulmonary artery aneurysm is an uncommon anomaly. The clinical manifestations are mostly nonspecific, and management is controversial. We report a case of a 67-year-old woman with a main pulmonary artery aneurysm who did not take surgical intervention. Subsequently, there was no increase in size for 3 years.

Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma - Multimodality Imaging.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare and fatal disease. PAS can often be misdiagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism. Moreover, the correct diagnosis is frequently delayed due to nonspecific signs and symptoms. The prognosis of patients with PAS is poor. We report a case of a woman with a primary PAS who was initially diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism.

Antibiotic and synergistic effect of Leu-Lys rich peptide against antibiotic resistant microorganisms isolated from patients with cholelithiasis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has eventually developed resistance against flomoxef sodium, isepamicin and cefpiramide. Therefore, in this study, the antibacterial activity and synergistic effects of the amphipathic-derived P5-18mer antimicrobial peptide were tested against pathogens associated with cholelithiasis that have developed resistance against commonly used antibiotics. The results were then compared with the activities of the amphipathic-derived peptide, P5-18mer, melittin and common antibiotics. Growth inhibition of planktonic bacteria was tested using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). The bactericidal activity of the antimicrobial peptides was measured using time-kill curves. Synergistic effects were evaluated by testing the effects of P5-18mer alone and in combination with flomoxef sodium, isepamicin or cefpiramide at 0.5xMIC. P5-18mer peptide displayed strong activity against pathogens and flomoxef sodium, isepamicin and cefpiramide-resistant bacteria cell lines obtained from a patient with gallstones; however, it did not exert cytotoxicity against the human keratinocyte HaCat cell line. In addition, the results of time-kill curves indicated that P5-18mer peptide exerted bactericidal activity against four strains of P. aeruginosa. Finally, the use of P5-18mer and antibiotics exerted synergistic effects against cell lines that were resistant to commonly used antibiotics. These results indicate that this class of peptides has a rapid microbicidal effect on flomoxef sodium, isepamicin and cefpiramide-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa. Therefore, these peptides may be used as a lead drug for the treatment of acquired pathogens from patients with cholelithiasis who are affected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.