Endoscopic and clinical features of gastric emphysema.

Gastric emphysema is characterized by the presence of intramural gas in the stomach without bacterial infection. Due to its rarity, most reports on gastric emphysema have been limited to single-case studies, and this condition's clinical and endoscopic features have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we analyzed 45 patients with gastric emphysema from 10 institutions and examined their characteristics, endoscopic features, and outcomes. The mean age at diagnosis of gastric emphysema in our study population (35 males and 10 females) was 68.6 years (range, 14-95 years). The top five underlying conditions associated with gastric emphysema were the placement of a nasogastric tube (26.7%), diabetes mellitus (20.0%), post-percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (17.8%), malignant neoplasms (17.8%), and renal failure (15.6%). Among the 45 patients, 42 were managed conservatively with fasting and administration of proton pump inhibitors. Unfortunately, seven patients died within 30 days of diagnosis, and 35 patients experienced favorable recoveries. The resolution of gastric emphysema was confirmed in 30 patients through computed tomography (CT) scans, with a mean duration of 17.1 ± 34.9 days (mean ± standard deviation [SD], range: 1-180 days) from the time of diagnosis to the disappearance of the gastric intramural gas. There were no instances of recurrence. Endoscopic evaluation was possible in 18 patients and revealed that gastric emphysema presented with features such as redness, erosion, coarse mucosa, and ulcers, with fewer mucosal injuries on the anterior wall (72.2%), a clear demarcation between areas of mucosal injury and intact mucosa (61.1%), and predominantly longitudinal mucosal injuries on the stomach folds (50.0%). This study is the first English-language report to analyze endoscopic findings in patients with gastric emphysema.

Pneumoparotid: Practical impact of Surgeon performed Ultrasound in an effective Diagnostic Approach.

OBJECTIVES: Pneumoparotid is characterized by air inclusions in the parotid duct system. Use of ultrasound has proved valuable for evaluating air inclusions in various parts of the body; the diagnostics of this condition has not been systematically analyzed, however. The aim of this study was to evaluate the value of ultrasound in the detection of air inclusions along the parotid duct system and its closer characterization. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was carried out of patients diagnosed with pneumoparotid between 2005 and 2020 in a salivary gland center. Ultrasound was performed in all cases, and features of air inclusions were described. Reference standard was the clinical demonstration of foamy saliva after gland massage and/or sialendoscopic evidence of intraductal air inclusions. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were identified (48.8 ± 3.8 years). Two were associated with wind instruments; seven were iatrogenic, following treatment for duct stenosis; one after radiotherapy; four with known bruxism and seven were idiopathic and without associated conditions. On ultrasound examination, pneumoparotid was characterized by three phenomena: flattened, mobile hyperechoic reflexes, dirty shadows with reverberation or "sunbeam effect," and shifting shadows during gland massage. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound was useful for characterizing pneumoparotid in a fast and practical way and could serve as imaging tool of first choice.

ZemairaMC: Déficit congénital en alpha1-antitrypsine

MANDAT: À la demande du fabricant CSL Behring Canada inc., l'Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) a procédé à l'évaluation du produit du système du sang ZemairaMC, inhibiteur de l'alpha1-protéinase humain hautement purifié qui s'administre par voie intraveineuse. Au Canada, ZemairaMC est indiqué pour le traitement d'entretien/de maintien chez les adultes présentant un déficit sévère en inhibiteur de l'alpha1-protéinase (phénotypes (Z,Z), (Z, null), (null, null) ou (S, Z)) et une maladie pulmonaire cliniquement avérée. L'indication demandée pour cette évaluation est la suivante : pour le traitement d'entretien des adultes atteints d'un déficit grave en inhibiteur de l'alpha1-protéinase (par exemple, génotypes PiZZ, PiZ[nul], Pi[null, null], PiSZ ou autres allèles causant un déficit) et présentant des signes cliniques d'emphysème. L'INESSS a réalisé les évaluations des produits ProlastinMC-C Liquid, ZemairaMC et GlassiaMC, tous des alpha1-antitrypsine plasmatiques humains, en simultané. Les avis pour ces 3 produits sont publiés au même moment. DÉMARCHE D'ÉVALUATION: Une revue des données issues de la littérature et de celles fournies par le fabricant a été réalisée afin de documenter l'efficacité, l'innocuité et l'efficience de ZemairaMC. Des données contextuelles et expérientielles issues de la consultation d'experts sont également présentées. Des analyses d'efficience et d'impact budgétaire ont été élaborées par l'INESSS. DIMENSION POPULATIONNELLE: Le déficit en inhibiteur de l'alpha1-protéinase, ou déficit en alpha1-antitrypsine (DAAT), est une condition génétique rare à présentation variable qui peut entraîner des symptômes pulmonaires (emphysème, bronchite chronique et bronchectasie) et hépatiques sévères et dont la progression est souvent lente. En raison des manifestations cliniques hétérogènes et souvent tardives et de la découverte de nouveaux variants pathogéniques associés à la maladie, le DAAT est une condition sous-diagnostiquée. Les traitements usuels visent l'atténuation des symptômes respiratoires et incluent les médicaments inhalés, la réhabilitation pulmonaire et, pour certains patients, la thérapie d'augmentation qui consiste en l'administration intraveineuse hebdomadaire d'alpha1-antitrypsine (AAT) dérivé du plasma. La thérapie d'augmentation a comme objectif de ralentir la progression de l'emphysème chez les individus atteints d'un DAAT. Présentement, seul le produit ProlastinMC-C est disponible au Québec et son remboursement public n'est possible que par la mesure du patient d'exception. Des traitements qui interrompent ou ralentissent la progression de l'emphysème et la détérioration des fonctions pulmonaires et hépatiques répondraient aux besoins de santé actuels, surtout s'ils permettaient d'améliorer la qualité de vie des individus atteints et de leurs proches. Une facilitation du processus d'accès à la thérapie d'augmentation est également souhaitable. DIMENSION CLINIQUE: L'évaluation de la valeur thérapeutique du produit ZemairaMC est basée sur 1 essai contrôlé à répartition aléatoire (étude RAPID-RCT) et sa prolongation (RAPID-OLE) ainsi que sur 1 essai de bioéquivalence avec ProlastinMC. Efficacité: La quantification de la densité pulmonaire par tomodensitométrie est un paramètre de substitution jugé adéquat par les experts consultés pour évaluer la progression de l'emphysème, même si les corrélations avec les manifestations cliniques de l'emphysème sont faibles. Dans l'étude RAPID-RCT, le traitement par ZemairaMC a significativement ralenti la perte de densité pulmonaire mesurée à la capacité pulmonaire totale par rapport au groupe placebo chez les individus atteints de déficit en inhibiteur de l'alpha1-protéinase. Un ralentissement de la dégradation est aussi observé dans le groupe « départ différé ¼ de la prolongation RAPID-OLE. Les résultats de la prolongation suggèrent aussi que l'effet du traitement peut se prolonger sur une période d'au moins 4 ans. En ce qui concerne les effets sur la qualité de vie liée à la santé, la fréquence des exacerbations et les fonctions respiratoires, l'utilisation de ZemairaMC n'a pas démontré de bénéfices cliniques comparativement au placebo. Le produit ZemairaMC est considéré comme bioéquivalent à ProlastinMC chez les individus atteints de déficit en inhibiteur de l'alpha1-protéinase. Innocuité:4 L'innocuité de ZemairaMC observé dans l'étude RAPID-RCT est comparable à celle du placebo. De plus, aucun nouveau signal important d'innocuité n'a été observé au cours de la prolongation RAPID-OLE. Dimension organisationnelle: Le remboursement de ProlastinMC-C est présentement offert par la mesure du patient d'exception de la RAMQ et par les régimes d'assurance privés. Dorénavant, les AAT plasmatiques devront être inscrits à la Liste des produits du système du sang du Québec et remporter un appel d'offres d'Héma-Québec pour pouvoir être distribués. Lors de ce changement de gestion, il serait prudent d'éviter les interruptions de traitement et minimiser les conséquences qui pourraient s'y lier. L'administration à domicile de ProlastinMC-C n'est pas une pratique courante au Québec. Celle-ci se fait généralement en CLSC ou en clinique spécialisée. DIMENSION ÉCONOMIQUE: Analyse d'efficience: Au prix soumis, ZemairaMC permettrait des économies de XX $ par semaine comparativement à ProlastinMC-C, dont l'efficience n'a pas été évaluée avant cette présente évaluation. Lorsque comparé à l'utilisation des meilleurs soins de soutien seuls, ZemairaMC, en ajout à ceux-ci, n'est pas efficient. Le ratio coût-utilité incrémental a été estimé entre 335 000 $ et 345 000 $ par QALY. Une réduction du prix de 90 % ou 75 % doit être présumée pour atteindre des seuils d'efficience de 50 000 $ et 100 000 $ par QALY, respectivement. Analyse d'impact budgétaire Advenant l'ajout de ZemairaMC à la Liste des produits du système du sang du Québec, une augmentation du nombre de patients peut être attendue en raison des patients utilisant actuellement ProlastinMC-C à travers le régime privé d'assurance médicaments qui poursuivraient leur traitement par inhibiteur d'AAT à travers le régime public. Cette hausse de personnes couvertes par le système public (XX %) se traduirait par des coûts supplémentaires estimés à plus de 8 M$ sur 3 ans. DIMENSION SOCIOCULTURELLE: Le Québec s'est doté en 2022 d'une politique visant à optimiser l'accès à des soins et à des services de santé de qualité qui sont adaptés aux besoins particuliers des patients atteints de maladies rares, et culturellement sensibles. Certains experts apprécient que le Québec soit à l'avant-garde pour la prise en charge de plusieurs maladies rares, dont le DAAT, par rapport à d'autres provinces canadiennes.

MANDATE: At the request of the manufacturer, CSL Behring Canada Inc., the Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) conducted an evaluation of the blood system product ZemairaTM, a highly purified human alpha1-proteinase inhibitor administered intravenously. In Canada, ZemairaTM is indicated for the maintenance treatment in adults with severe alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency (e.g. genotypes PiZZ, PiZ(null), Pi(null, null), PiS Z) and clinical evidence of emphysema. The indication requested for this evaluation is as follows: for the maintenance treatment of adults with severe alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency (e.g., PiZZ, PiZ[null], Pi[null, null], PiSZ or other deficiency-causing alleles) and presenting clinical signs of emphysema. INESSS conducted simultaneous assessments of ProlastinTM-C Liquid, ZemairaTM and GlassiaTM, all human plasma alpha1-antitrypsin products. Recommendations for these 3 products were published at the same time. ASSESSMENT APPROACH: A data review of the literature and those provided by the manufacturer was carried out to document the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of ZemairaTM. Contextual and experiential data from expert consultation are also presented. Efficiency and budget impact analyses were developed by the INESSS. POPULATION DIMENSION: Alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency, or alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (DAAT), is a rare genetic condition with a variable presentation that can lead to severe pulmonary (emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and bronchiectasis) and hepatic symptoms, often with a slow progression. Due to the heterogeneous and often delayed clinical manifestations, and the discovery of new pathogenic variants associated with the disease, DAAT is an under-diagnosed condition. Usual treatments are aimed at alleviating respiratory symptoms and include inhaled medications, pulmonary rehabilitation and, for some patients, augmentation therapy consisting of weekly intravenous administration of plasma-derived alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT). Augmentation therapy aims to slow the progression of emphysema in individuals with DAAT. Currently, only ProlastinTM-C is available in Quebec, and public reimbursement is possible only through the "mesure du patient d'exception." Treatments that halt or slow the progression of emphysema and the deterioration of lung and liver function would meet current healthcare needs, especially if they were to improve the quality of life of sufferers and their families. Facilitating access to augmentation therapy is also desirable. CLINICAL DIMENSION ASSESSMENT: of the therapeutic value of ZemairaTM is based on 1 randomized controlled trial (RAPID-RCT) and its extension (RAPID-OLE), as well as 1 bioequivalence trial with ProlastinTM. EFFICACY: CT lung density quantification is a surrogate parameter deemed adequate by the experts consulted for evaluating emphysema progression, even if correlations with clinical manifestations of emphysema are weak. In the RAPID-RCT study, treatment with ZemairaTM significantly slowed the loss of lung density at total lung capacity compared with the placebo group in individuals with alpha1- proteinase inhibitor deficiency. Slower deterioration was also observed in the "delayed start" group of the RAPID-OLE extension. The results of the extension also suggest that the treatment effect can be maintained over a period of 4 years. Regarding effects on health-related quality of life, frequency of exacerbations and on respiratory function, ZemairaTM has not demonstrated any clinical benefit compared with a placebo. ZemairaTM is considered bioequivalent to ProlastinTM in individuals with alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency. SAFETY The safety profile of ZemairaTM observed in the RAPID-RCT study is comparable to that of placebo. Moreover, no significant new safety findings were observed in the RAPIDOLE extension. ORGANIZATIONAL DIMENSION: ProlastinTM-C is currently reimbursed by the RAMQ through the "mesure du patient d'exception" and private insurance plans. From now on, plasma AATs will have to be registered on the Liste des produits du système du sang du Québec and obtain a call for tenders from Héma-Québec before they can be distributed. With this change in management, it would be prudent to avoid treatment interruptions and minimize the consequences that could arise. At the moment, home administration of ProlastinTM-C is not common practice in Quebec. It is generally administered in CLSCs or specialized clinics. ECONOMIC DIMENSION: Efficiency Analysis: At the submitted price, ZemairaTM would provide savings of $ XX per week compared with ProlastinTM-C, whose efficiency has not been evaluated prior to this assessment. When compared to the use of best supportive care alone, ZemairaTM, in addition to best supportive care, is not cost-effective. The incremental cost-utility ratio has been estimated at between $335,000 and $345,000 per QALY. A price reduction of 90% or 75% must be adopted to reach efficiency thresholds of $50,000 and $100,000 per QALY, respectively. Budget Impact Analysis: Should ZemairaTM be added to the Liste des produits du système du sang du Québec, an increase in the number of patients can be expected due to patients currently using ProlastinTM-C through private drug insurance plans to continue their AAT inhibitor treatment through the public plan. This increase in the number of people covered by the public system (XX %) would translate into additional costs estimated at over $8 million over 3 years. SOCIO-CULTURAL DIMENSION: In 2022, Quebec adopted a policy aimed at optimizing access to quality healthcare and services that are adapted to the specific needs of culturally sensitive patients and those with rare diseases. Some experts note that Quebec is at the forefront in the management of several rare diseases, including DAAT, compared to other Canadian provinces.

Symptomatic unilateral idiopathic giant bullous emphysema : a case report.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic Giant Bullous Emphysema (or Vanishing Lung Syndrome) is a rare condition which is usually associated with male gender, active smoking and underlying emphysematous disease. We present an unusual case of a giant bulla occurring in the absence of these risk factors. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old woman presented to the respiratory outpatient clinic with gradually worsening left sided chest discomfort, which was most marked during a recent flight. She had no significant dyspnoea or other symptoms. She had a remote 5-pack-year smoking history. Chest X-Ray revealed a large hyperlucent area in the left upper lobe. CT Thorax found this to be an isolated bulla occupying more than one-third of the hemithorax. The remaining lung parenchyma was normal. A diagnosis of Idiopathic Giant Bullous Emphysema was made. The patient was referred for VATS (Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) bullectomy which was carried out without complication. Her symptoms resolved completely following the operation. CONCLUSIONS: This is an unusual case of a solitary giant bulla occurring without major risk factors or underlying lung disease. VATS bullectomy was shown to be an effective therapeutic option, allowing re-expansion of compressed lung tissue and complete resolution of symptoms.

Propionibacterium acnes: an uncommon cause of lung abscess in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with bullous emphysema.

A 57-year-old man who had recurrent respiratory infections due to tobacco use and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was evaluated as an outpatient to discern the etiology. He was followed with a chest X-ray and a chest computed tomography (CT) scan that displayed a left upper lobe cavitary lung abnormality. The lesion was further evaluated with a CT-guided biopsy, and it was identified as a lung abscess. A tissue culture isolated Propionibacterium acnes. We present a rare case of a common skin commensal, P. acnes, that infected the left upper lobe of the lung. We presume that the patient was predisposed to infection secondary to degradation of pulmonary parenchyma by severe bullous emphysema. This destruction created an inflammatory and colonizing space for organisms, even uncommon forms, to flourish. Initially this presentation prompted a differential of pulmonary tuberculosis; however, with further workup, the diagnosis was excluded. This case highlights the potential of P. acnes, an uncommon lung microbe, to lead to a lung abscess in a patient who was otherwise immunocompetent. This case will allow osteopathic clinicians to detect an uncommon microorganism that can potentially cause a pulmonary abscess in a patient with a medical history of severe bullous emphysematous COPD.

Feline Emphysematous Gastritis in a Cat with Pancreatitis and Secondary Hepatic Lipidosis.

A 7 yr old female neutered domestic shorthair was presented with a 2 mo history of lethargy and hyporexia progressing to anorexia. Initial diagnostics indicated pancreatitis with secondary hepatic lipidosis. Supportive care, including the placement of an esophageal feeding tube, was initiated. The feeding tube was removed traumatically by the cat and thus replaced. The cat acutely deteriorated while hospitalized, developing marked hypersalivation and an obtunded mentation. Radiographs were taken to confirm placement of the feeding tube in case tube dislodgement was contributing to the hypersalivation; results confirmed appropriate positioning and gastric pneumatosis. Despite intensified medical management, the patient suffered cardiopulmonary arrest 7 days after hospital admission. Post-mortem examination confirmed necrotizing gastritis with emphysema alongside segmental mucosal necrosis in the jejunum, focal pancreatic necrosis, and diffuse hepatic lipidosis. Gas in the gastric wall is a rare finding in veterinary medicine and can arise due to gastric pneumatosis or emphysematous gastritis; there are scant reports of either in feline medicine. This report documents a case of emphysematous gastritis in a cat with concurrent pancreatitis and hepatic lipidosis. The cat developed emphysematous gastritis without undergoing gastrointestinal surgery which is currently the only reported feline predis-posing factor for development.

[Emphysematous gastritis. Report of a case in the elderly]. / Gastritis enfisematosa. Reporte de un caso en el adulto mayor.

Introduction: Emphysematous gastritis is an uncommon pathology but with high mortality, its clinical presentation is insidious, the tomography image is distinguished by a pattern of linear bubbles with thickening of the gastric wall. Background: This is a 78-year-old male, previously healthy, functional, who was admitted for pertrochanteric fracture of the left hip, who during hospitalization presented hyperactive delirium, abdominal distention with decreased perstalsis in addition to arterial hypotension, an abdominal tomography with evidence of gastric dilation and multiple air bubbles in the wall. He is managed with a broad spectrum antibiotic, fluid therapy and parenteral nutrition, with a favorable response. Conclusions: Advanced age does not in itself lead to a worse disease prognosis, the evidence supports that early diagnosis and early therapeutic intervention are the measures that have proven to be more effective in reducing mortality in patients with emphysematous gastritis.

Introducción: la gastritis enfisematosa es una patología poco común pero con alta mortalidad, su presentación clínica es insidiosa, la imagen por tomografía se distingue por un patrón de burbujas lineales con engrosamiento de la pared gástrica. Caso clínico: paciente masculino de 78 años, previamente sano, funcional, que fue ingresado por fractura pertrocantérica de cadera izquierda, quien durante la hospitalización presenta delirium hiperactivo, distención abdominal con disminución de perístalsis además de hipotensión arterial, se realiza tomografía abdominal con evidencia de dilatación gástrica y múltiples burbujas de aire en pared. Es manejado con antibiótico de amplio espectro, fluidoterapia y nutrición parenteral, con respuesta favorable. Conclusiones: la edad avanzada no conlleva por sí misma un peor pronóstico de la enfermedad, la evidencia apoya que un diagnóstico precoz y la intervención terapéutica temprana, son las medidas que han demostrado ser efectivas para la disminución de la mortalidad en pacientes con gastritis enfisematosa.

A Rare Case of Emphysematous Endocarditis Caused by Escherichia coli.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection of the heart endocardium with significant morbidity and mortality. Gram negative infection, particularly emphysematous IE, is an extremely rare and life-threatening disease. We report a 59-year-old diabetic female patient who was admitted to a secondary care hospital in Rustaq, Oman, in 2017 with the diagnosis of pneumonia for which she was started on antibiotics. Shortly afterwards, she developed facial and mouth deviation and became more tachypneic. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated bilateral multiple small infarcts. Pulmonary angiography computed tomography was performed which ruled out pulmonary embolism. Nonetheless, it revealed an air-containing lesion around the mitral valve. Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a hyperechoic mobile lesion related to the mitral valve. Blood culture grew Escherichia coli and the diagnosis of E. coli emphysematous IE was made based on modified Duke criteria. The patient's clinical condition deteriorated and she suffered cardiac arrest leading to her death. The recommended treatment for non-HACEK IE includes an extended antibiotic course and surgery for selected patients.

COPD identification and grading based on deep learning of lung parenchyma and bronchial wall in chest CT images.

OBJECTIVE: Chest CT can display the main pathogenic factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema and airway wall remodeling. This study aims to establish deep convolutional neural network (CNN) models using these two imaging markers to diagnose and grade COPD. METHODS: Subjects who underwent chest CT and pulmonary function test (PFT) from one hospital (n = 373) were retrospectively included as the training cohort, and subjects from another hospital (n = 226) were used as the external test cohort. According to the PFT results, all subjects were labeled as Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Grade 1, 2, 3, 4 or normal. Two DenseNet-201 CNNs were trained using CT images of lung parenchyma and bronchial wall to generate two corresponding confidence levels to indicate the possibility of COPD, then combined with logistic regression analysis. Quantitative CT was used for comparison. RESULTS: In the test cohort, CNN achieved an area under the curve of 0.899 (95%CI: 0.853-0.935) to determine the existence of COPD, and an accuracy of 81.7% (76.2-86.7%), which was significantly higher than the accuracy 68.1% (61.6%-74.2%) using quantitative CT method (p < 0.05). For three-way (normal, GOLD 1-2, and GOLD 3-4) and five-way (normal, GOLD 1, 2, 3, and 4) classifications, CNN reached accuracies of 77.4 and 67.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: CNN can identify emphysema and airway wall remodeling on CT images to infer lung function and determine the existence and severity of COPD. It provides an alternative way to detect COPD using the extensively available chest CT. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: CNN can identify the main pathological changes of COPD (emphysema and airway wall remodeling) based on CT images, to infer lung function and determine the existence and severity of COPD. CNN reached an area under the curve of 0.853 to determine the existence of COPD in the external test cohort. The CNN approach provides an alternative and effective way for early detection of COPD using extensively used chest CT, as an important alternative to pulmonary function test.

[Retroperitoneal drainage for apostematous pyelonephritis in a patient with severe COVID-19 infection and diabetes mellitus type 1]. / Retroperitoneal'noe drenirovanie pri apostematoznom pielonefrite na fone tyazhelogo techeniya Covid-19 pri sakharnom diabete 1-go tipa.

The authors report successful surgical treatment of apostematous pyelonephritis complicated by sepsis in an 18-year-old patient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia (CT-2) and diabetes mellitus type 1. Active surgical approach with retroperitoneal drainage and decapsulation of the right kidney ensured positive dynamics in the treatment of destructive pyelonephritis, course of diabetes mellitus and elimination of sepsis. These aspects determined favorable outcome of disease.

Emphysematous changes and lower levels of plasma irisin are associated with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after bilateral living-donor lobar lung transplantation.

PURPOSE: Decreased irisin levels may be associated with the development of emphysema. Similarly, emphysematous changes may develop in patients with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) after living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT). We investigated the severity of emphysematous changes and the relationship between irisin levels and CLAD after bilateral LDLLT and cadaveric lung transplantation (CLT). METHODS: The subjects of this retrospective study were 59 recipients of bilateral LDLLT (n = 31) or CLT (n = 28), divided into a non-CLAD group (n = 41), a LDLLT-CLAD group (n = 11), and a CLT-CLAD group (n = 7). We compared the severity of emphysematous changes, the skeletal muscle mass, and the plasma irisin levels among the groups. RESULTS: The emphysematous changes were significantly more severe in the LDLLT-CLAD and CLT-CLAD groups (p = 0.046 and 0.036), especially in patients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), than in the non-CLAD group. Although the skeletal muscle mass was similar in all the groups, the plasma irisin levels were significantly lower in the LDLLT-CLAD group (p = 0.022), especially in the patients with BOS after LDLLT, than in the non-CLAD group. CONCLUSION: Emphysematous changes and lower levels of plasma irisin were associated with CLAD, especially in patients with BOS, after bilateral LDLLT.

A 56-Year-Old Man With Emphysema, Rash, and Arthralgia.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old man presented to the pulmonary clinic with dyspnea and hypoxemia on exertion. He was an avid biker and skier who had noticed a significant decrease in high-level physical activity over the past 3 years. He reported dyspnea, desaturations at altitudes higher than 9,000 feet, dry cough, tachycardia, and palpitations with exercise. Review of systems was also notable for gluten-intolerance, Raynaud's phenomenon, recurrent skin lesions and joint swelling, pain, and stiffness in the areas overlying the jaw, wrists, knees, and ankles (after capsaicin exposure). He denied fever, chills, anorexia, weight loss, hair loss, ocular symptoms, jaw claudication, chest pain, or lower extremity swelling. He had a five pack-year smoking history, no history of prematurity, childhood asthma, recurrent infections, or environmental and occupational exposure. Based on pulmonary function tests from an outside provider, he had received a diagnosis of exercise-induced asthma and had been prescribed an albuterol inhaler to use on an as-needed basis, which failed to improve his symptoms. He was later prescribed a mometasone-formoterol inhaler, still with no symptomatic improvement.

Clinical characteristics of and risk factors for small airway dysfunction detected by impulse oscillometry.

BACKGROUND: Small airway dysfunction (SAD) is an early lesion of chronic respiratory disease that is best detected using impulse oscillometry (IOS). Few studies have investigated risk factors for IOS-defined SAD (IOS-SAD) in a large population. We aimed to explore the clinical features of and risk factors for IOS-SAD in a community-based population. METHODS: We divided subjects into IOS-SAD and non-SAD groups based on a cutoff of >0.07 kPa/L/s in the difference between the resistance at 5 Hz versus the resistance at 20 Hz (R5-R20). All participants underwent spirometry, IOS, and completed a questionnaire; some participants underwent computed tomography (CT). We analyzed the risk factors for SAD based on binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The total cohort comprised 1327 subjects. The prevalence of IOS-SAD was 32.9% (437/1327). Compared with the non-SAD group, the IOS-SAD group was older (64.0 ± 7.8 vs. 59.6 ± 7.8 years, p < 0.001), included less never-smokers (30.2% vs. 35.8%, p < 0.001), had greater airway resistance and worse lung function, indicated by a larger R5-R20 (0.15 ± 0.08 vs. 0.03 ± 0.02 kPa/L/s, p < 0.001) and smaller forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity after bronchodilation (60.2 ± 14.4% vs. 72.6 ± 10.0%, p < 0.001); on CT, the IOS-SAD group had higher prevalences of emphysema and gas trapping. Risk factors for SAD were older age, high BMI, smoking, childhood cough, and asthma. CONCLUSION: Subjects with IOS-SAD had increased airway resistance and visible CT changes. Individuals with smoking exposure, advanced age, high BMI, childhood cough, and asthma were more prone to SAD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR1900024643.

X-ray dark-field chest imaging for detection and quantification of emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a diagnostic accuracy study.

BACKGROUND: Although advanced medical imaging technologies give detailed diagnostic information, a low-dose, fast, and inexpensive option for early detection of respiratory diseases and follow-ups is still lacking. The novel method of x-ray dark-field chest imaging might fill this gap but has not yet been studied in living humans. Enabling the assessment of microstructural changes in lung parenchyma, this technique presents a more sensitive alternative to conventional chest x-rays, and yet requires only a fraction of the dose applied in CT. We studied the application of this technique to assess pulmonary emphysema in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: In this diagnostic accuracy study, we designed and built a novel dark-field chest x-ray system (Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany)-which is also capable of simultaneously acquiring a conventional thorax radiograph (7 s, 0·035 mSv effective dose). Patients who had undergone a medically indicated chest CT were recruited from the department of Radiology and Pneumology of our site (Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany). Patients with pulmonary pathologies, or conditions other than COPD, that might influence lung parenchyma were excluded. For patients with different disease stages of pulmonary emphysema, x-ray dark-field images and CT images were acquired and visually assessed by five readers. Pulmonary function tests (spirometry and body plethysmography) were performed for every patient and for a subgroup of patients the measurement of diffusion capacity was performed. Individual patient datasets were statistically evaluated using correlation testing, rank-based analysis of variance, and pair-wise post-hoc comparison. FINDINGS: Between October, 2018 and December, 2019 we enrolled 77 patients. Compared with CT-based parameters (quantitative emphysema ρ=-0·27, p=0·089 and visual emphysema ρ=-0·45, p=0·0028), the dark-field signal (ρ=0·62, p<0·0001) yields a stronger correlation with lung diffusion capacity in the evaluated cohort. Emphysema assessment based on dark-field chest x-ray features yields consistent conclusions with findings from visual CT image interpretation and shows improved diagnostic performance than conventional clinical tests characterising emphysema. Pair-wise comparison of corresponding test parameters between adjacent visual emphysema severity groups (CT-based, reference standard) showed higher effect sizes. The mean effect size over the group comparisons (absent-trace, trace-mild, mild-moderate, and moderate-confluent or advanced destructive visual emphysema grades) for the COPD assessment test score is 0·21, for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/functional vital capacity is 0·25, for FEV1% of predicted is 0·23, for residual volume % of predicted is 0·24, for CT emphysema index is 0·35, for dark-field signal homogeneity within lungs is 0·38, for dark-field signal texture within lungs is 0·38, and for dark-field-based emphysema severity is 0·42. INTERPRETATION: X-ray dark-field chest imaging allows the diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema in patients with COPD because this technique provides relevant information representing the structural condition of lung parenchyma. This technique might offer a low radiation dose alternative to CT in COPD and potentially other lung disorders. FUNDING: European Research Council, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Royal Philips, and Karlsruhe Nano Micro Facility.