Mast cells promote pathology and susceptibility in tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacterium (), infects approximately one-fourth of the world's population. While most infected individuals are asymptomatic, latent TB infection (LTBI) can progress to cause pulmonary TB (PTB). We recently reported an increased accumulation of mast cells (MCs) in lungs of macaques with PTB, compared with LTBI in macaques.

Bronchogenic Cyst and Pericardial Agenesis: A Case Report.

Bronchogenic cysts are a rare congenital condition, and their association with pericardial agenesis is even more uncommon. We present the case of a 23-year-old patient who was diagnosed with an upper lobe bronchogenic cyst and subsequently underwent an upper lobectomy. Further evaluation revealed the presence of complete left pericardial agenesis.

Case Report of a Young Adult with Fatal COVID-19 and Abundant SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein and Lipofuscin Accumulation in Tissues.

This is a case report of a young adult who died of COVID-19 twelve days after admission, with coronavirus nucleocapsid protein and lipofuscin found in the heart and kidney tissues, providing further evidence of the role of SARS-CoV-2 in cellular senescence.

Metastatic breast tumors downregulate miR-145 regulating the hypoxia-induced vasculogenic mimicry.

Tumor cells grow in three-dimensional (3D) channels-like structures denoted as vasculogenic mimicry (VM), which provides a route for nutrients and oxygen acquisition. VM is activated by hypoxia and associated with metastasis and poor prognosis. MetastamiRs are microRNAs regulating metastasis, however, if they control VM in breast cancer remains poorly understood.

Differential Leukocyte Expression of and in Patients with Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) and COVID-19.

Interferon-induced transmembrane (IFITM) proteins mediate protection against enveloped viruses by blocking membrane fusion at endosomes. IFITM1 and IFITM3 are crucial for protection against influenza, and various single nucleotide polymorphisms altering their function have been linked to disease susceptibility. However, bulk and mRNA expression dynamics and their correlation with clinical outcomes have not been extensively addressed in patients with respiratory infections.

Corrigendum: CXCL17 Is a Specific Diagnostic Biomarker for Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) That Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.

Clinical and Immunological Factors That Distinguish COVID-19 From Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1).

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a global health threat with the potential to cause severe disease manifestations in the lungs. Although COVID-19 has been extensively characterized clinically, the factors distinguishing SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory viruses are unknown. Here, we compared the clinical, histopathological, and immunological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and pandemic influenza A(H1N1).

CXCL17 Is a Specific Diagnostic Biomarker for Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) That Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome.

The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (CXCL17) is chemotactic for myeloid cells, exhibits bactericidal activity, and exerts anti-viral functions. This chemokine is constitutively expressed in the respiratory tract, suggesting a role in lung defenses. However, little is known about the participation of CXCL17 against relevant respiratory pathogens in humans.

Expression of Surfactant Protein D Distinguishes Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) from Coronavirus Disease 2019.

The differentiation between influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could constitute a diagnostic challenge during the ongoing winter owing to their clinical similitude. Thus, novel biomarkers are required to enable making this distinction. Here, we evaluated whether the surfactant protein D (SP-D), a collectin produced at the alveolar epithelium with known immune properties, was useful to differentiate pandemic influenza A(H1N1) from COVID-19 in critically ill patients.

IL-6, NLR, and SII Markers and Their Relation with Alterations in CD8+ T-Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Patients Treated for Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Cytokines, key contributors to tumorigenesis, are mediators between inflammatory immune or nonimmune and cancer cells. Here, IL-6 production by tumor cells was assessed in a cohort of patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated with conventional therapy. IL-6 levels and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) markers were evaluated.

Diagnostic discrepancy between bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial biopsy from bronchoscopies of HIV patients with pneumonia: toward an integral diagnosis.

Background: The key diagnostic method for the evaluation of lung diseases associated with HIV infection is bronchoscopy, with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) being the most commonly used sampling technique. Transbronchial biopsy (TBB) is often complementary.

Setting: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study to determine the diagnostic usefulness of bronchoscopy with simultaneous samples obtained through BAL and TBB in HIV-infected patients with pneumonia at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases Ismael Cosío Villegas.

Utility of Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy in Non-Interstitial Diseases.

Background: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TLCB), performed with a flexible cryoprobe, is an interventional pulmonology procedure that has proved its diagnostic value for interstitial pulmonary disease. However, it has not been explored extensively as a diagnostic tool for patients with non-interstitial lung pathology, including infectious and malignant diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of an interventional pulmonology approach that integrates TLCB and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for the diagnosis of non-interstitial pulmonary disease.

Usefulness of Endobronchial Ultrasound in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy.

Background: There are few published studies about the usefulness of endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The clinical spectrum of likely diseases in this population is varied and differs from patients not infected with HIV.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the usefulness of EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in HIV-infected patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Maraviroc Failed to Control Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy-Associated IRIS in a Patient with Advanced HIV Infection.

Due to the lack of therapeutic options for patients with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (PML-associated IRIS), maraviroc has generated expectations among the medical community. However, we report a patient with advanced HIV infection, who developed PML-associated IRIS and had a fatal outcome despite the addition of maraviroc to suppressive ART. Future studies are required to define the therapeutic role of maraviroc in PML-associated IRIS and differentiate individuals who may benefit from maraviroc from those who may develop neurological deterioration.