Differences in microenvironment of lung cancer and pleural effusions by single-cell RNA sequencing.

Background: Direct comparison of tumor microenvironment of matched lung cancer biopsies and pleural effusions (PE) from the same patients is critical in understanding tumor biology but has not been performed. This is the first study to compare the lung cancer and PE microenvironment by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).

Methods: Matched lung cancer biopsies and PE were obtained prospectively from ten patients.

Interventional Pulmonology Productivity, Compensation, and Practice Benchmarks: The AABIP 2022 Report.

Background: Interventional pulmonology (IP) is a growing field that has not yet been recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties or incorporated into national benchmark organizations. As a result, there is a lack of data on IP practice patterns, physicians' compensation and productivity targets.

Methods: We sent an anonymous survey to 647 current or past physician members of the AABIP.

High Yield of Pleural Cell-Free DNA for Diagnosis of Oncogenic Mutations in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background: Pleural cytology is currently used to assess targetable mutations in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. However, it is fraught with low diagnostic yield.

Research Question: Can pleural cell-free DNA (cfDNA) be used to assess targetable mutations in lung adenocarcinoma patients with malignant pleural effusions (MPE)?

Study Design And Methods: Patients with lung adenocarcinoma MPE were recruited prospectively between January 2017 and September 2021.

Electronic Cigarettes: A Pro-Con Review of the Current Literature.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, e-cigs, or electronic nicotine delivery systems) are battery-operated devices typically containing glycerol and/or propylene glycol-based solutions with varying nicotine content, known as e-liquids. Although e-cigarettes were originally developed as a potentially less harmful alternative to traditional combustible tobacco cigarette smokers, several factors have driven their popularity among smokers and nonsmokers alike, including their sleek product designs, innumerable appealing flavors, lack of combustible smoke and odor, and high potential nicotine concentrations. Furthermore, many advocates have promoted the idea that e-cigarettes are safe to use, or at least safer than conventional tobacco, despite limited longitudinal data to support these claims.

Meta-analysis and Systematic Review of Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Through Endobronchial Valves in Severe Emphysema.

Background: Pharmacologic therapeutics for advanced emphysema have limited benefit. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves (EBVs) have reported improvements in lung function, breathlessness, and quality of life through randomized clinical trials, with less morbidity as comparted to Surgical Lung volume Reduction. We here present a Meta-analysis and systematic review of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction in advanced chronic obstructive lung disease patients.

Comparison of Forceps, Cryoprobe, and Thoracoscopic Lung Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease - The CHILL Study.

Rationale: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has emerged as a less invasive method to obtain a tissue diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). The diagnostic yield of TBLC compared to surgical lung biopsy (SLB) remains uncertain.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of forceps transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) and TBLC compared to SLB when making the final diagnosis based on multidisciplinary discussion (MDD).

Immunofibrotic drivers of impaired lung function in postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

BACKGROUNDIndividuals recovering from COVID-19 frequently experience persistent respiratory ailments, which are key elements of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC); however, little is known about the underlying biological factors that may direct lung recovery and the extent to which these are affected by COVID-19 severity.METHODSWe performed a prospective cohort study of individuals with persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19, collecting clinical data, pulmonary function tests, and plasma samples used for multiplex profiling of inflammatory, metabolic, angiogenic, and fibrotic factors.RESULTSSixty-one participants were enrolled across 2 academic medical centers at a median of 9 weeks (interquartile range, 6-10 weeks) after COVID-19 illness: n = 13 participants (21%) had mild COVID-19 and were not hospitalized, n = 30 participants (49%) were hospitalized but were considered noncritical, and n = 18 participants (30%) were hospitalized and in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Immuno-fibrotic drivers of impaired lung function in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).

Introduction: Subjects recovering from COVID-19 frequently experience persistent respiratory ailments; however, little is known about the underlying biological factors that may direct lung recovery and the extent to which these are affected by COVID-19 severity.

Methods: We performed a prospective cohort study of subjects with persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19, collecting clinical data, pulmonary function tests, and plasma samples used for multiplex profiling of inflammatory, metabolic, angiogenic, and fibrotic factors.

Results: Sixty-one subjects were enrolled across two academic medical centers at a median of 9 weeks (interquartile range 6-10) after COVID-19 illness: n=13 subjects (21%) mild/non-hospitalized, n=30 (49%) hospitalized/non-critical, and n=18 subjects (30%) hospitalized/intensive care ("ICU").

Pilot Study of the Performance of 19-G Needle in Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Aspiration for the Diagnosis and Testing of Molecular Markers in Lung Cancer.

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has become the standard for diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. Historically, 21- and 22-G needles have been paired with EBUS. We evaluated the performance of EBUS-TBNA using a larger 19-G needle in the assessment of tumor tissue obtained and success of testing for molecular markers.

Hypercapnia in Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Secondary Analysis of the National Emphysema Treatment Trial.

Rationale: Hypercapnia develops in one third of patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Multiple factors in COPD are thought to contribute to the development of hypercapnia including increased carbon dioxide (CO) production, increased dead space ventilation, and the complex interactions of deranged respiratory system mechanics, inspiratory muscle overload and the ventilatory control center in the brainstem. However, these factors have not previously been systematically analyzed in a large, well-characterized population of severe COPD patients.

Operator Perception of a Single-Use Flexible Bronchoscope: Comparison With Current Standard Bronchoscopes.

Background: Single-use flexible bronchoscopes have gained popularity in recent years for various advantages over the traditional reusable bronchoscope. There are several commercially available disposable bronchoscopes; however, all have limitations compared to reusable bronchoscopes. The Vathin H-SteriScope is a single-use flexible bronchoscope that may have overcome some of these limitations.

EBUS-FNA cytologic-histologic correlation of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry in non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint pathway markers induce immune tolerance to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Therapeutic antibodies targeting the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway have demonstrated efficacy in tumors expressing relatively high PD-L1 levels. Minimally invasive endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration allows patients with inoperable tumors or comorbidities to attain a confirmatory diagnosis.

Clinical and radiographic predictors of successful therapeutic bronchoscopy for the relief of malignant central airway obstruction.

Background: Malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) occurs in approximately 20-30% of patients with lung cancer and is associated with debilitating symptoms and poor prognosis. Multimodality therapeutic bronchoscopy can relieve malignant CAO, though carries risk. Evidence to guide clinicians regarding which patients may benefit from such interventions is sparse.

Titrating Oxygen Requirements During Exercise: Evaluation of a Standardized Single Walk Test Protocol.

Background: Oxygen supplementation for exercise-induced hypoxemia is a common clinical practice that improves exercise tolerance. However, we know of no standardized exercise oxygen titration protocol using a single walk test. We report our experience with a protocol developed in our laboratory.

Use and Perceived Risk of Electronic Cigarettes Among North Carolina Middle and High School Students.

Purpose: Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use continues to rise among adolescents, but little is known regarding their risk perceptions of e-cigarette use. We aimed to describe the lifetime use and perceived risk of e-cigarette use in the context of other risk-taking behaviors among adolescents in North Carolina.

Methods: Data were derived from the 2015 North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which was administered to 503 middle school and 444 high school students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro public school district.