Characteristics of central nervous system tuberculosis in a low-incidence country: a series of 20 cases and a review of the literature.

Central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS-TB) is a devastating manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) caused by the hematogenous spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here, I present a retrospective analysis of 20 CNS-TB cases in Israel, a country with a low incidence of TB over an 11-year period (2000-2010). Most of the cases were those of African migrants, with an increased prevalence in adult females and in those with HIV coinfections.

Pulmonary resection for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: the Israeli experience (1998-2011).

Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-1B) presents a difficult therapeutic problem due to the failure of medical treatment. Pulmonary resection is an important adjunctive therapy for selected patients with MDR-TB.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of pulmonary resection in the management of MDR-TB patients.

The effect of anti-tuberculosis treatment on levels of anti-phospholipid and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies in patients with active tuberculosis.

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and effect of anti-tuberculosis treatment on anti-phospholipid antibodies and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies (ANCA) in patients with active mycobacterial infections. Thirty-three consecutive patients (age 56 years, 26 males) with recently diagnosed active tuberculosis (TB) were enrolled. Data included clinical disease features, symptom duration, multidrug resistance and presence of HIV.

The role of interferon-gamma release assays in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis.

Background: Interferon-gamma release tests are appealing alternatives to the tuberculin skin test (TST) for latent tuberculosis infection.

Objectives: To determine the yield of the Quantiferon TB Gold test (QFT-G) in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis disease, with a focus on elderly patients, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB).

Methods: The QFT-G test was performed in 98 patients suspected of having active tuberculosis.

Active tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in Israel: a retrospective study.

Background: Tuberculosis is the most common opportunistic infection among people infected with human immunodeficiency virus and its first cause of morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To analyze the characteristics of a population in Israel with both tuberculosis disease and HIV infection in order to identify factors that contribute to outcome.

Methods: The study group comprised patients hospitalized in the Pulmonary and Tuberculosis Department of Shmuel Harofeh Hospital during the period January 2000 to December 2006.

The anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide response in tuberculosis patients is not citrulline-dependent and sensitive to treatment.

Introduction: Patients with tuberculosis (TB) frequently produce anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). The objective of this study is to characterize the citrulline-dependence of the ACPA reactivity in sera of patients with mycobacterium infections.

Methods: Serum samples of 134 patients with untreated mycobacterium infections (122 TB, 12 nontuberculous mycobacterium) were tested for antibodies against both the citrullinated (Cit) and the non-citrullinated (Arg) form of 2 cyclic synthetic peptides.

Peripheral arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction in idiopathic and scleroderma associated pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Objective: Pulmonary endothelial dysfunction and increased reflection of pulmonary pressure waves have been reported in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the systemic vascular involvement is not fully understood. Our study focused on the systemic arterial stiffness and endothelial involvement in idiopathic and scleroderma associated PAH.

Combination therapy with prostacyclin and tadalafil for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension: a pilot study.

Despite the introduction of new drugs that have changed the course of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), some patients are still refractory to treatment and deteriorate rapidly. Long-acting phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are a new class of drugs that are effective in PAH. This prospective study assessed the potential of combination therapy with prostacyclin and tadalafil for treatment of severe PAH.

Successful lung transplantation for talcosis secondary to intravenous abuse of oral drug.

Talcosis due to intravenous injection of oral drugs can cause severe pulmonary disease with progressive dyspnea even when drug use is discontinued. We describe a 54-year-old woman with severe emphysema who underwent left lung transplantation. The patient had a remote history of intravenous injection of crushed methylphenidate (Ritalin) tablets.

Peripheral endothelial dysfunction in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Pulmonary endothelium plays an important role in the mechanism of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, there is only a few data regarding the systemic endothelium in this syndrome. This study focused on the systemic endothelial involvement in PAH.

[Azithromycin as a novel treatment for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome].

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is one of the main causes of mortality after lung and bone marrow transplantation. Up to 75% of lung transplantation patients develop BOS within 5 years, whereas after bone marrow transplantation 14% of the patients develop the disease with 65% mortality within 3 years. Patients demonstrate gradual decrease in pulmonary functions with no significant anatomic/imagine findings.

Association of elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with patient age rather than with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome severity.

Background: Although certain studies report high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), the effect of systemic hypoxia on circulating VEGF remains controversial.

Objectives: To study the association of serum VEGF and OSAS in a large group of patients.

Methods: One hundred patients with OSAS (mean age 58.

Right upper lobe 'window' in right main bronchus stenting.

Stent insertion for bronchial stenosis has become common practice in lung transplantation and advanced lung malignancy, and for external compression of the airways for other reasons. Right main bronchus stenting may require blocking the right upper lobe by the stent, placing the patient at risk of recurrent pneumonia and atelectasis. In this study, three patients after insertion of a metal stent to the right main bronchus are described.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with autoimmune disease: a single medical center experience.

Background: New drugs have significantly improved the prognosis and quality of life of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, PAH associated with autoimmune disease, particularly progressive sclerosis, remains a very serious problem.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the course of the disease and survival is significantly different in patients with PAH related to autoimmune disease as compared to other patients with PAH and to determine the prognostic factors in these patients.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium kansasii infection in Israel, 1999-2004: clinical features, drug susceptibility, and outcome.

Background: Mycobacterium kansasii infection is one of the most common causes of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in world. However, little is known about its background characteristics or drug sensitivity in nonendemic areas.

Design: We assessed the clinical features, radiologic findings, and drug sensitivity associated with M kansasii infection in Israel.

Development of malignancy following lung transplantation.

Background: A substantial excess risk of certain malignancies has been demonstrated after organ transplantation. Immunosuppressive treatment to prevent allograft rejection is probably the main cause.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively all medical records of the 121 patients that underwent lung and heart-lung transplantation from 1992 until December 2004.

Two successful lung transplantations from a dialysis-dependent donor.

The shortage of organs for lung transplantation has led to the growing use of "marginal" donors. Although patients on hemodialysis are still excluded as lung transplant donors because of the possible effects of renal failure on the lungs, recent data suggest that they may be suitable in selected cases. This article describes the successful transplantation of two lungs from a single donor who had been receiving long-term hemodialysis treatment.

Accuracy of virtual bronchoscopy for grading tracheobronchial stenosis: correlation with pulmonary function test and fiberoptic bronchoscopy.

Study Objectives: To compare the accuracy of virtual bronchoscopy (VB) with fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) and pulmonary function testing (PFT) for the assessment of tracheal stenosis and bronchial anastomotic stenosis.

Design: Prospective case series.

Setting: Pulmonary institute of major tertiary university-affiliated center.

Pregnancy outcome in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension receiving prostacyclin therapy.

Background: Pregnancy is contraindicated in cases of pulmonary hypertension, a highly morbid disease affecting young women of childbearing age.

Cases: We describe the pregnancies of 3 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (idiopathic, Eisenmenger syndrome, and related to systemic lupus erythematosus). They received epoprostenol and low-molecular-weight heparin throughout pregnancy.

Long-term azithromycin use for treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in lung transplant recipients.

Short-term improvement in lung function was observed in 5 of 6 lung transplant recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) who were treated with oral azithromycin. We assessed the long-term effect (mean duration 10 months) of treatment with oral azithromycin in 11 lung transplant recipients with BOS. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 40 +/- 9% at initiation of azithromycin treatment, 39 +/- 10% after 1 month, 39 +/- 12% after 4 months, 38 +/- 10% after 7 months and 38 +/- 10% after 10 months, respectively (statistically non-significant for all data).

Concomitant upper-lobe bullous emphysema, lower-lobe interstitial fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension in heavy smokers: report of eight cases and review of the literature.

Introduction: Smoking can cause a variety of pulmonary interstitial diseases. Pulmonary fibrosis has traditionally been considered a non-smoking-related disease. Recently, however, evidence of smoking-induced fibrosis has emerged.

[Pulmonary hypertension--classification and treatment: new guidelines].

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a severe pulmonary vascular disease characterized by elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and low cardiac output. Prior to prostacyclin therapy, it was a fatal disease with a median survival of 3 years. In recent years, the understanding and treatment of the disease have significantly improved patient outcome.