Effused and Confused: A Case of Severe Adenovirus Pneumonia in a Teen.

Adenovirus is a common pathogen responsible for respiratory infections, including pneumonia, predominantly in pediatric populations but also in immunocompromised adults. This case report details an 18-year-old immunocompetent male presenting with severe lobar pneumonia and pleural effusion, initially suggesting a bacterial origin. Despite antibiotic treatment, the patient's symptoms persisted, prompting further investigation.

Detection and Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles in Sputum Samples of COPD Patients.

Background: Only one study has reported the presence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in COPD patients' sputum. Thus, we aimed to isolate and characterize EVs from COPD and healthy individuals' sputum.

Methods: A total of 20 spontaneous sputum samples from COPD patients (m/f: 19/1) and induced sputum samples from healthy controls (m/f: 8/2) were used for EV isolation.

Identifying the Relationship Between Economic Prosperity and Quality of Life in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) places a significant economic burden on national healthcare systems, and the economic effects of diseases have long been known. The study aimed to evaluate the association of parental family financial wealth with current economic prosperity and the combined effect of both on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a sample of patients with COPD. The moderating effect of birth order is further investigated.

Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency in Greece: Focus on rare variants.

Purpose: AAntitrypsin deficiency (AATD) pathogenic mutations are expanding beyond the PI*Z and PI*S to a multitude of rare variants.

Aim: to investigate genotype and clinical profile of Greeks with AATD.

Methods: Symptomatic adult-patients with early-emphysema defined by fixed airway obstruction and computerized-tomography scan and lower than normal serum AAT levels were enrolled from reference centers all over Greece.

Are younger COPD patients adequately vaccinated for influenza and pneumococcus?

Influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia are major causes of increased morbidity and mortality among elderly and COPD patients. Vaccines against influenza and pneumococcus are recommended for COPD patients according to GOLD 2020 guidelines to prevent serious illnesses. Despite their high morbidity and mortality burden, the vaccination coverage rates remain far below the WHO's recommended targets.

Molecular investigation of artificial and natural sweeteners as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

Repurposing existing drugs, as well as natural and artificial sweeteners for novel therapeutic indications could speed up the drug discovery process since numerous associated risks and costs for drug development can be surpassed. In this study, natural and artificial sweeteners have been evaluated by and experimental studies for their potency to inhibit lipoxygenase enzyme, an enzyme participating in the inflammation pathway. A variety of different methods pinpointed that aspartame inhibits the lipoxygenase isoform 1 (LOX-1).

2-Deoxy-glucose Enhances the Effect of Cisplatin and Pemetrexed in Reducing Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cell Proliferation But Not Spheroid Growth.

Background/aim: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a therapy-resistant neoplasm of the pleura. Standard chemotherapy consists of a combination of cisplatin (CPDD) and pemetrexed (PEM). The aim of this study was to assess whether inhibition of aerobic glycolysis by 2-deoxy-glucose (2DG) would enhance the effects of standard chemotherapy.

A complex spondylodiscitis in a middle-aged woman with diabetes.

Spondylodiscitis, the inflammation of the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral disk space, is the reason for low back pain in a minority of cases. This is caused by various pathogens. is responsible for 17-39% of all the cases of spondylodiscitis.

The pharmacological cost of COPD during Greek economic crisis.

Introduction: The economic crisis in Greece has substantially affected patients with COPD. The reduction of disposable income has its consequences on patients' ability to afford their medication. The aim of the study is to evaluate the cost of treatment for patients with COPD and the influence of the financial crisis to the patients.

The -938C>A Polymorphism in Is Associated with Susceptibility to Tuberculosis: A Pilot Study.

. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major disease worldwide, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) pathway plays a crucial role in the recognition of MTB.

Isolation and identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria from hospitalized patients and drinking water samples--examination of their correlation by chemometrics.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been found to be widely dispersed in the environment and are being considered potentially pathogenic for humans and animals, while reports of their human to human transmission are absent. Water and aerosols are potential transmission modes of NTM to humans. Hospitalized patients with NTM infections were studied together with drinking water samples from their respective residence areas during 2003-2013.

Risk assessment of tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients. A TBNET study.

Rationale: In the absence of active tuberculosis, a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) or interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) result defines latent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, although test results may vary depending on immunodeficiency.

Objectives: This study compared the performance of TST and IGRAs in five different groups of immunocompromised patients, and evaluated their ability to identify those at risk for development of tuberculosis.

Methods: Immunocompromised patients with HIV infection, chronic renal failure, rheumatoid arthritis, solid-organ or stem-cell transplantation, and healthy control subjects were evaluated head-to-head by the TST, QuantiFERON-TB-Gold in-tube test (ELISA), and T-SPOT.

Disseminated Bacillus Calmette-Guerin infections after intravesical therapy.

Intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the treatment of choice for superficial bladder carcinoma. Disseminated BCG infection presenting as granulomatous hepatitis or pneumonitis is a very rare complication of this treatment. Here we report a case series of seven patients previously treated with BCG presenting with pneumonitis.

A multicentre evaluation of the accuracy and performance of IP-10 for the diagnosis of infection with M. tuberculosis.

IP-10 has potential as a diagnostic marker for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with comparable accuracy to QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-IT). The aims were to assess the sensitivity and specificity of IP-10, and to evaluate the impact of co-morbidity on IP-10 and QFT-IT. 168 cases with active TB, 101 healthy controls and 175 non-TB patients were included.

Tuberculous disseminated lymphadenopathy in an immunocompetent non-HIV patient: a case report.

Introduction: In cases of patients with disseminated lymphadenopathy, the differential diagnosis has to include both benign and malignant causes, including sarcoidosis, metastatic disease, lymphoma and, although rarely present, tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is still one of the most frequently occurring infectious diseases worldwide. However, disseminated mycobacterial lymphadenitis is rare in immunocompetent patients.