Temporal changes in biomarkers in individuals with and without acute mountain sickness following rapid ascent.

Background: Field studies have reported conflicting results regarding changes in biomarkers at high altitude. This study measured temporal changes in biomarkers and compared the differences between individuals with and without acute mountain sickness (AMS).

Materials And Methods: This study included 34 nonacclimatized healthy participants.

Artificial Intelligence Assisted Computational Tomographic Detection of Lung Nodules for Prognostic Cancer Examination: A Large-Scale Clinical Trial.

Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has emerged as a standard method for detecting early-stage lung cancer. However, the tedious computer tomography (CT) slide reading, patient-by-patient check, and lack of standard criteria to determine the vague but possible nodule leads to variable outcomes of CT slide interpretation. To determine the artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted CT examination, AI algorithm-assisted CT screening was embedded in the hospital picture archiving and communication system, and a 200 person-scaled clinical trial was conducted at two medical centers.

Successful rechallenge of alectinib after remission of severe alectinib-induced interstitial lung disease.

Introduction: Even though alectinib is a potent second-generation ALK inhibitor with a favorable safety profile, alectinib-induced interstitial lung disease (ILD) could be fatal. There are case reports described successful alectinib rechallenge in mild ILD. However, the feasibility and safety of rechallenge in severe cases remains to be elucidated.

Clinical usefulness of bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with interstitial lung diseases: a pilot study.

Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a useful tool in the diagnostic work-up of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). In this prospective study, we investigated the clinical usefulness of BAL in patients with ILD radiographically.

Methods: The enrolled patients were classified into outpatient department (OPD), and inpatients groups who was admitted to general ward (GW) or intensive care unit (ICU) groups based on the time when BAL done.

The usefulness of prophylactic use of acetazolamide in subjects with acute mountain sickness.

Background: The mechanisms of acetazolamide (ACZ) in the prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness (AMS) remain unclear. This study evaluated the changes in physiological variables of sleep and heart rate variability (HRV) in subjects with earlier history of AMS who underwent prophylactic treatment of ACZ.

Methods: Nonacclimatized healthy subjects were transported using a bus from 555 m to 3150 m within 3 hours.

The impact of concomitant pulmonary infection on immune dysregulation in Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.

Background: Concurrent infection may be found in Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) of non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, however, its impact on immune dysregulation of PJP in non-AIDS patients remains unknown.

Methods: We measured pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, IL-17, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and inflammatory markers including high mobility group box 1, Krebs von den Lungen-6, receptor for advanced glycation end product, advanced glycation end product, surfactant protein D in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood in 47 pure PcP and 18 mixed PJP and other pulmonary infections (mixed PJP) in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients and explored their clinical relevance. The burden of Pneumocystis jirovecii in the lung was determined by counting number of clusters of Pneumocystis jirovecii per slide and the concentration of β-D-glucan in BALF.

The importance of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.

The role of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) of non-AIDS immunocompromised patients remains unclear. We measured the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and blood in 36 non-AIDS immunocompromised patients with PcP diagnosed by BAL and explored their clinical importance. The severity of PcP was determined by arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen concentration (PaO2/FiO2) ratio, the need of mechanical ventilation and the death.

Differentiating pyopneumothorax and peripheral lung abscess: chest ultrasonography.

Background: Differentiation between pyopneumothorax and lung abscess can be difficult but has important therapeutic consequences. The role of chest ultrasonography in this issue remains undetermined. Sonographic features of hydropneumothorax and/or pyopneumothorax are characteristic and not difficult to recognize.

Pleuritis as a presenting manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis: diagnostic clues in pleural fluid cytology.

Pleural effusion is a recognized but relatively uncommon complication of rheumatoid arthritis and has distinctive cytopathologic features. It may occur before, concurrently with, or after the development of joint manifestations of the disease. Clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid pleuritis may be delayed or overlooked in a patient without obvious evidence of arthritis.