Pneumocystis jirovecii in the lower respiratory tract of immunocompetent individuals.

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization rates in healthy patients are unclear. Previously published studies suggest that the fungus could play a role in the physiopathology and progression of chronic respiratory diseases.

Aims: The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of colonization by this fungus in the lower respiratory tract of immunocompetent patients who are not at risk of dysbiosis.

Affinity of Malassezia and Other Yeasts for Pulmonary Lipids.

Pulmonary surfactant, the primary substance lining the epithelium of the human Lower Respiratory Tract (LRT), is rich in lipids, with dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) being the most abundant. Although surfactants are known to have antifungal activity against some yeast species, the significant presence of species like Malassezia restricta in the lung mycobiome suggests that these yeasts may exhibit some level of lipo-tolerance or even lipo-affinity for pulmonary lipids. This study explored the affinity and tolerance of yeasts, identified as significant members of the lung microbiome, to pulmonary lipids through culture-based methods.

PTH immunoassay interference: differential diagnosis with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism?

The main diagnostic dilemma in normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism is differentiating this condition from secondary hyperparathyroidism and other causes of elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in eucalcemic patients, including potential assay interferences. Despite the analytical sensitivity of immunoassays, they may lack adequate accuracy due to several analytical interferences, such as the presence of heterophilic antibodies. Immunoassays for PTH measurement use the immunometric "sandwich" technique, and only a few cases of interference with this assay have been reported to date.