Lung perfusion and emphysema distribution affect the outcome of endobronchial valve therapy.

The exclusion of collateral ventilation (CV) and other factors affect the clinical success of endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR). However, despite its benefits, the outcome of ELVR remains difficult to predict. We investigated whether clinical success could be predicted by emphysema distribution assessed by computed tomography scan and baseline perfusion assessed by perfusion scintigraphy.

Multiple, Successful Pregnancies in Pompe Disease.

Pompe disease is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease characterized in adult patients by slowly progressive limb-girdle muscle weakness and respiratory insufficiency. Data on pregnancy in women with Pompe disease, intrauterine development of the fetus and parturition are rare. Here we describe a twin pregnancy followed by a second pregnancy in a 38-year-old female patient with Pompe disease.

Modifying Post-Operative Medical Care after EBV Implant May Reduce Pneumothorax Incidence.

Objective: Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) with valves has been shown to improve COPD patients with severe emphysema. However, a major complication is pneumothoraces, occurring typically soon after valve implantation, with severe consequences if not managed promptly. Based on the knowledge that strain activity is related to a higher risk of pneumothoraces, we asked whether modifying post-operative medical care with the inclusion of strict short-term limitation of strain activity is associated with a lower incidence of pneumothorax.

Pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis: analysis of disease manifestation by region-based quantification of lung parenchyma.

Purpose: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is characterized by proliferation of smooth muscle tissue that causes bronchial obstruction and secondary cystic destruction of lung parenchyma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the typical distribution of cystic defects in LAM with quantitative volumetric chest computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: CT examinations of 20 patients with confirmed LAM were evaluated with region-based quantification of lung parenchyma.

Influenza A viruses target type II pneumocytes in the human lung.

Background: Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses preferentially infect alveolar type II pneumocytes in human lung. However, it is unknown whether this cellular tropism contributes to high viral virulence because the primary target cells of other influenza viruses have not been systematically studied.

Methods: We provide the first comparison of the replication, tropism, and cytokine induction of human, highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus subtype H5N1 and other animal influenza A viruses in primary human lung organ cultures.