Pectoralis Muscle Flap Repair Reduces Paradoxical Motion of the Chest Wall in Complex Sternal Wound Dehiscence.

Background: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that in patients with chronic complex sternum dehiscence, the use of muscle flap repair minimizes the occurrence of paradoxical motion of the chest wall (CWPM) when compared to sternal rewiring, eventually leading to better respiratory function and clinical outcomes during follow-up.

Methods: In a propensity score matching analysis, out of 94 patients who underwent sternal reconstruction, 20 patients were selected: 10 patients underwent sternal reconstruction with bilateral pectoralis muscle flaps (group 1) and 10 underwent sternal rewiring (group 2). Eligibility criteria included the presence of hemisternum diastases associated with multiple (≥3) bone fractures and radiologic evidence of synchronous chest wall motion (CWSM).

Iron laden macrophages in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: the telltale of occult alveolar hemorrhage?

Rationale: A number of observations suggest that iron accumulates in the lungs of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with vascular abnormalities, including pulmonary hypertension.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of accumulation of alveolar epithelial lining fluid (ELF) iron and of alveolar macrophage hemosiderin in IPF and its relationship with disease severity.

Methods: Forty seven IPF patients and 14 healthy controls were retrospectively evaluated for iron accumulation in the lower respiratory tract using total iron spectrophotometric measures and for hemosiderin accumulation using the Perls' stain with the Golde score.