An Electronic Health Record-Based Strategy to Enhance Detection of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

Background: Because alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is severely underrecognized and delayed diagnosis is associated with harm, strategies to enhance early detection of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency are needed.

Methods: The study intervention was placing a reminder to test for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency within an electronic medical record health maintenance dashboard that houses prompts to providers to implement guideline-based recommendations. This recommendation was for all patients assigned a diagnosis of COPD based on relevant International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes.

Kaposi Sarcoma in Two Lung Transplant Recipients: A Single-Center Experience.

Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) is a malignant vascular tumor commonly seen in immunocompromised individuals, particularly patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Lung transplant recipients are at high risk of developing KS due to a strong immunosuppressive regimen that can lead to donor-derived infection or reactivation of recipient human herpesvirus 8, the causative organism for KS. In this overview, we describe 2 lung transplant recipients who developed pulmonary KS with poor outcomes, reviewing the diagnosis, bronchoscopy findings, and treatment and surveillance strategies for pulmonary KS.

Hypoxic and Autonomic Mechanisms from Sleep-Disordered Breathing Leading to Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder. Its prevalence has increased due to increasing obesity and improved screening and diagnostic strategies. OSA overlaps with cardiopulmonary diseases to promote intermittent hypoxia and autonomic dysfunction.

Noninvasive positive pressure in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose Of Review: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV) is standard of care for patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). We review the most current evidence and highlight areas of uncertainty and ongoing research. We highlight key concepts for the clinician caring for patients with AECOPD which require NIV.

Smoking-Related Interstitial Fibrosis (SRIF) in Patients Presenting With Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease.

Objectives: To describe the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings in cases where smoking-related interstitial fibrosis (SRIF) was diagnosed in surgical lung biopsy specimens from patients with clinical and imaging features of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD).

Methods: Cases were included in this study if patients had clinical and imaging evidence of DPLD and surgical lung biopsy specimens revealed SRIF. A dedicated multidisciplinary conference was held to correlate clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings.

Nitrous Oxide-induced B12 Deficiency Presenting With Myeloneuropathy.

Nitrous oxide abuse is an uncommon cause of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord. This is a case of a 27-year-old female exotic dancer who presented with clinical and laboratory manifestations of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord secondary to nitrous oxide-induced B12 deficiency from chronic whippets consumption.