Persistent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Pneumonia in Patients Treated With Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibodies.

We report 8 cases of persistent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia in patients previously treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. Polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in most cases; viral cell cultures confirmed that viable SARS-Co-2 virus was present. Four patients were treated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune globulins with rapid resolution of disease.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria infections of the pleura: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pleuritis is an uncommon manifestation of NTM infection. Case reports and small case series have shown a variable clinical course and high mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: To describe patients' characteristics, clinical presentation and outcomes of NTM pleural infections. METHODS: A systematic review of cases of NTM pleural infections published in PubMed-indexed journals from 1980 to 2021. RESULTS: A total of 206 cases of NTM pleural infections were found and analyzed. Fifty-eight percent of cases were males. The mean age was 57.5 yrs (range 9-87 yrs). Forty-three percent of patients were immunosuppressed, and 43% had a chronic lung disease; thirty-two percent had neither risk factor. In addition to the pleural infection, 67% of cases had a concurrent pulmonary NTM infection, and in 18 cases there was another extrapulmonary site of NTM infection. In 29% of cases the pleural infection was the sole manifestation of NTM disease. The most common isolated mycobacterium was Mycobacterium avium complex (65%). Fifty-three percent and 26% of patients required pleural effusion drainage and a surgical intervention, respectively, to treat the infection, in addition to anti-NTM chemotherapy. Forty percent of patients developed pneumothorax, 16% suffered from empyema, and 16.5% had broncho-pleural fistula. The reported mortality rate was 24%. CONCLUSION: NTM pleural infections may arise in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients, with or without chronic lung disease or concurrent NTM pulmonary infection. These infections carry a poor prognosis and a high risk of complications requiring surgical interventions in addition to anti-NTM chemotherapy.

Pleuritis due to Mycobacterium xenopi without pulmonary infection.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) may cause pulmonary and extra-pulmonary disease in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Pleuritis is an uncommon manifestation on NTM disease, and pleuritis caused by Mycobacterium xenopi has only been described once before. Because it is considered to be an environmental contaminant, isolation of M. xenopi from bronchopulmonary secretions or other sites is often dismissed. The disease caused by M. xenopi is usually a pulmonary infection and typically occurs in severely immunocompromised individuals or in immunocompetent patients with an underlying chronic lung disease. We describe an unusual case of pleuritis caused by M. xenopi in a patient without an underlying chronic lung disease and with no evidence of a concurrent M. xenopi pulmonary infection.

Catheter Injectable Hydrogel-Based Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications in lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lung diseases, especially emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, are the third leading cause of mortality worldwide. Their treatment includes symptom alleviation, slowing of the disease progression, and ultimately organ transplant. Regenerative medicine represents an attractive alternative. OBJECTIVES: To develop a dual approach to lung therapy by engineering a platform dedicated to both remodeling pulmonary architecture (bronchoscopic lung volume reduction) and regeneration of lost respiratory tissue (scaffold). METHODS: The authors developed a hydrogel scaffold based on the natural polymers gelatin and alginate. The unique physical properties allow its injection through long catheters that pass through the working channel of a bronchoscope. The scaffold might reach the diseased area; thus, serving a dual purpose: remodeling the lung architecture as a lung volume reduction material and developing a platform for tissue regeneration to allow for cell or organoid implant. RESULTS: The authors' novel hydrogel scaffold can be injected through long catheters, exhibiting the physical and mechanical properties necessary for the dual treatment objectives. Its biocompatibility was analyzed on human fibroblasts and mouse mesenchymal cells. Cells injected with the scaffold through long narrow catheters exhibited at least 70% viability up to 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: The catheter-injectable gelatin-alginate hydrogel represents a new concept, which combines tissue engineering with minimal invasive procedure. It is an inexpensive and convenient to use alternative to other types of suggested scaffolds for lung tissue engineering. This novel concept may be used for additional clinical applications in regenerative medicine.

Flexible bronchoscopy and cryoextraction for critical airway obstruction caused by an endobronchial angioleiomyoma.

Angioleiomyomas are rare airway tumours with potential to cause central airway obstruction or haemoptysis. Methods described to manage them include surgical resection, or rigid bronchoscopy and thermal ablation techniques. We describe a case presenting with central airway obstruction, safely and effectively treated with cryoextraction of the tumour using flexible bronchoscopy.

Neo-adjuvant Chemo-Radiation to 60 Gray Followed by Surgery for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: Evaluation of Trimodality Strategy.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy (CRT) dosages in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were traditionally limited to 45 Gray (Gy). OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively analyze outcomes of patients treated with 60 Gy CRT followed by surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified patients selected for CRT to 60 Gy followed by surgery between August 2012 and April 2016. Selection for surgery was based on the extent of disease, cardiopulmonary function, and response to treatment. Pathological response after neoadjuvant CRT was scored using the modified tumor regression grading. Local control (LC), disease free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Our cohort included 52 patients: 75% (39/52) were stage IIIA. A radiation dose of 60 Gy (range 50-62Gy) was delivered in 82.7%. Surgeries performed included: lobectomy, chest-wall resection, and pneumonectomy in 67.3%, 13.4%, and 19.2%, respectively. At median follow-up of 22.4 months, the 3 year OS was 74% (95% confidence interval [CI] 52-87%), LC was 84% (95%CI 65-93), and DFS 35% (95%CI 14-59). Grade 4-5 postoperative complications were observed in 17.3% of cases and included chest wall necrosis (5.7%), bronco-pleural fistula (7.7%), and death (3.8%). A major pathologic regression with < 10% residual tumor occurred in 68.7% of patients (36/52) and showed a trend to improved OS (P = 0.1). Pneumonectomy cases had statistically worse OS (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Major pathologic regression was observed 68.7% with 60 Gy neoadjuvant CRT with a trend to improved survival. Pneumonectomy correlated with worse survival.

Long-term Imaging of the Lungs After Sealant Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess the pulmonary temporal changes after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) using sealants for treatment of emphysema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively assessed all chest computerized tomography (CT) and F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography CT scans of patients treated at our institution with BLVR. RESULTS: Eleven patients were treated with sealants: 4 with biological sealants and 7 with synthetic sealants. The first CT scan after biological sealant treatment showed no abnormalities in 8 lobes and 5 nodules, and 3 consolidations in 7 lobes. All findings resolved within 3 months, except for a nodule that decreased after 2 months and remained stable for 9 years. The first CT scan after utilizing the synthetic sealant showed abnormalities in each treated lobe: 19 nodules/masses (16 cavitary, 3 solid) and 3 consolidations. Follow-up CT scans were available for 16 nodules/masses: 1 resolved, 12 slowly decreased in size, 1 remained unchanged, and 2 grew. Of 3 consolidations 1 resolved and 2 decreased in size. FDG positron emission tomography CT scans performed in 2 patients showed FDG uptake higher than mediastinal background activity in 2 nodules in the same patient. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary changes after BLVR are variable. After treatment with biological sealants, most findings resolve within 3 months. In contrast, after synthetic sealants, although the majority regress over time, some show waxing and waning in growth that can mimic malignancy. FDG uptake in some of these lesions is suggestive of chronic inflammation. Radiologists should be aware of the spectrum of these pulmonary changes to avoid misdiagnosis of lung cancer.

Feasibility of Confocal Laser Microscopy in CT-Guided Needle Biopsy of Pulmonary and Mediastinal Tumors: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study.

This report describes the use of confocal laser microscopy (CLM) with CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) for the diagnosis of heterogeneous large mediastinal and lung tumors. The procedure was performed in five patients diagnosed with a mediastinal mass and five patients diagnosed with a lung mass. CLM was used before CT-guided TTNB. Fluorescein administration allowed for the identification of blood vessels in both locations. Malignant cells were identified in mediastinal masses. Complications included one case of pneumothorax. In large tumors, CLM allows vascularized tissue to be differentiated from necrotic and fibrotic areas before biopsy.

Enfermedad pulmonar relacionada con IgG4 - Tres casos no tratados con resultado benigno / IgG4-Related Lung Disease - Three Untreated Cases with a Benign Outcome

La enfermedad relacionada con IgG4 es una condición fibroinflamatoria en la cual los distintos órganos afectados comparten similitudes patológicas. Recientemente se ha caracterizado clínica y radiológicamente esta enfermedad en órganos torácicos. La mayoría de los casos descritos abogan por un tratamiento precoz con terapia inmunosupresora y observan una respuesta rápida y favorable. Describimos 3 casos de enfermedad pulmonar relacionada con IgG4 que no recibieron tratamiento farmacológico y que tuvieron una respuesta clínica y radiológica favorable o estable durante el seguimiento. La terapia inmunosupresora puede no ser necesaria en algunos casos de enfermedad pulmonar relacionada con IgG4

IgG4-related disease is a fibroinflammatory disease in which the organs involved share similar pathological findings. Chest disease has been recently clinically and radiologically characterized. Most reports advocate prompt immunosuppressive therapy and describe a fast and good response. We report 3 cases of untreated IgG4-related lung disease that on follow-up have been clinically asymptomatic and radiologically stable or improved. In some cases of IgG4-related lung disease immunosuppressive therapy may not be warranted

IgG4-Related Lung Disease - Three Untreated Cases with a Benign Outcome.

IgG4-related disease is a fibroinflammatory disease in which the organs involved share similar pathological findings. Chest disease has been recently clinically and radiologically characterized. Most reports advocate prompt immunosuppressive therapy and describe a fast and good response. We report 3 cases of untreated IgG4-related lung disease that on follow-up have been clinically asymptomatic and radiologically stable or improved. In some cases of IgG4-related lung disease immunosuppressive therapy may not be warranted.

Interventional pulmonology: a new medical specialty.

Interventional pulmonology (IP) is the newest chapter in respiratory medicine. IP includes both diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Nanotechnology, in both instrumental engineering and optical imaging, will further advance this competitive discipline towards cell diagnosis and therapy as part of the future's personalized medicine.

National asthma observational survey of severe asthmatics in Israel: the no-air study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is considered a global public health issue requiring a significant medical expenditure as a result of its high prevalence and the low rate of disease control. OBJECTIVE: This is the first nationwide survey of severe asthma patients carried out in Israel. In this study we aimed to assess health resources utilization, compliance with treatment and disease-control in a subgroup of patients with severe asthma in Israel. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and twenty-three patients with a diagnosis of asthma for more then one year, as well as a hospitalization during the last 12 months due to asthma exacerbation or maintenance systemic steroids therapy, were included in this non-interventional observational study. RESULTS: Asthma was uncontrolled in 43.9%, partly controlled in 50.4% and well controlled in only 5.7%. The majority of the patients (83%) were compliant with drug treatment. CONCLUSION: The fact that 83% of the asthma patients included in this study were compliant with their asthma therapy was not manifested in asthma control. Therefore concrete tools are required for achieving and maintaining asthma control, especially in the treatment of the most severe asthmatic patients.