The Importance of Imaging in the Assessment of Interstitial Lung Diseases.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is an essential component of the diagnosis and assessment of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs). In some cases, a diagnosis of ILD can be made solely based on a multidisciplinary discussion of HRCT findings and clinical evaluation. HRCT findings also inform prognosis and may influence treatment decisions.

Post COVID Interstitial Lung Abnormalities-Incidence and Management.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to summarize the available literature to identify the incidence and risk factors for persistent interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) following hospitalization for COVID-19. The current and prospective treatment options are reviewed in an effort to help pulmonary practitioners care for this burgeoning patient population.

Recent Findings: Statistical modeling suggests that 11.

Machine learning prediction for COVID-19 disease severity at hospital admission.

Importance: Early prognostication of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who may require mechanical ventilation and have worse outcomes within 30 days of admission is useful for delivering appropriate clinical care and optimizing resource allocation.

Objective: To develop machine learning models to predict COVID-19 severity at the time of the hospital admission based on a single institution data.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We established a retrospective cohort of patients with COVID-19 from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center from May 2020 to March 2022.

COVID-19 Vaccination is Associated With Favorable Outcomes Among Lung Transplant Patients With Breakthrough Infections.

Background: There are limited data regarding the clinical efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines among lung transplant (LT) patients.

Methods: We included all LT patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and December 10, 2021 (n = 84; median age 55, range, 20-73 years; males 65.5%).

ECMO Long Haulers: A Distinct Phenotype of COVID-19-Associated ARDS With Implications for Lung Transplant Candidacy.

Background: Studies indicate that the recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome may be slower than other viral pneumonia. There are limited data to guide decisions among patients who need extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support, especially the expected time of recovery and considering lung transplantation (LT).

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome placed on ECMO between March 1, 2020, and September 15, 2021 (n = 20; median age, 44 y; range, 22-62 y; male:female, 15:5).

Characteristics and outcomes among vaccinated lung transplant patients with breakthrough COVID-19.

Background: Despite multiple studies evaluating the immunological responsiveness to vaccines, the clinical effectiveness of the two-dose mRNA vaccine schedule among lung transplant (LT) patients has not been evaluated.

Methods: We included LT patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on a nasopharyngeal swab between March 1, 2020, and August 25, 2021 (n = 70). The study group was divided based on their vaccination status.

Palliative care consultation and end-of-life outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Rationale: The impact of palliative care consultation on end-of-life care has not previously been evaluated in a multi-center study.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of palliative care consultation on the incidence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) performed and comfort care received at the end-of-life in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: We used the Society of Critical Care Medicine's COVID-19 registry to extract clinical data on patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 31st, 2020 to March 17th, 2021 and died during their hospitalization.

Predictors and outcomes of respiratory failure among lung transplant patients with COVID-19.

Background: There is limited data on the predictors and outcomes of new or worsening respiratory failure among lung transplant (LT) patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: We included all the LT patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during a 1-year period (March 2020 to February 2021; n = 54; median age: 60, 20-73 years; M:F 37:17). Development of new or worsening respiratory failure (ARF) was the primary outcome variable.

Post-infection pulmonary sequelae after COVID-19 among patients with lung transplantation.

Background: There is limited data on outcomes among lung transplant (LT) patients who survive Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: Any single or bilateral LT patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between March 1, 2020, to February 15, 2021 (n = 54) and survived the acute illness were included (final n = 44). Each patient completed at least 3 months of follow-up (median: 4.

Clinical characteristics, management practices, and outcomes among lung transplant patients with COVID-19.

Background: There are limited data on management strategies and outcomes among lung transplant (LT) patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We implemented management protocols based on the best available evidence and consensus among multidisciplinary teams. The current study reports our experience and outcomes using this protocol-based management strategy.

Characteristics and evaluation of acute exacerbations in chronic interstitial lung diseases.

Acute exacerbations of fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) occur in both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as well as non-IPF ILDs. An expert consensus definition has allowed for more frequent reporting of IPF exacerbations. The same is lacking for non-IPF ILD exacerbations.

Alcoholic lung disease.

In addition to its well-known association with lung infection (i.e., pneumonia), alcohol abuse now is recognized as an independent factor that increases by three- to four-fold the incidence of the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a severe form of acute lung injury with a mortality rate of 40 to 50 percent.

Na,K-ATPase expression is increased in the lungs of alcohol-fed rats.

Background: Alcohol abuse independently increases the risk of developing the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a disease characterized by diffuse alveolar epithelial damage, lung edema, and consequent severe hypoxemia. Chronic alcohol abuse increases alveolar epithelial permeability both in vitro and in vivo, in part due to altered tight junction formation. However, both alcohol-fed animals and otherwise healthy alcoholic humans do not have pulmonary edema at baseline, even though their lungs are highly susceptible to acute edematous injury in response to inflammatory stresses.

Mechanical ventilation exacerbates alveolar macrophage dysfunction in the lungs of ethanol-fed rats.

Background: Patients with alcohol abuse have a two- to three-fold increased risk of acute lung injury and respiratory failure after sepsis or trauma but are also at increased risk of nosocomial pneumonia. Mechanical ventilation exacerbates lung injury during critical illnesses. In this study we tested whether mechanical ventilation of the alcoholic lung promotes on balance a proinflammatory phenotype favoring ventilator-induced lung injury or an immunosuppressive phenotype favoring ventilator-associated pneumonia.