Transmission electron microscopy study of suspected primary ciliary dyskinesia patients.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare autosomal recessive condition often presenting with chronic respiratory infections in early life. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used to detect ciliary ultrastructural defects. In this study, we aimed to assess ciliary ultrastructural defects using quantitative methods on TEM to identify its diagnostic role in confirming PCD.

Interleukin 9 serum level and single nucleotide polymorphism in patients with asthma.

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways which accounts for a huge economic, morbidity and mortality burden. There are different cytokines that contribute to asthma pathophysiology. Learning about these cytokines leads to attaining novel anti-inflammatory treatments for asthma control.

Value and Safety of High Flow Oxygenation in the Treatment of Inpatient Asthma: A Randomized, Double-blind, Pilot Study.

This study was aimed to compare the value and safety of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in patients with asthma exacerbation. In this randomized double-blind study, forthy patients with moderate-to-severe asthma exacerbations, aged 18 years or older were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either HFNC or COT for 24 hours.

A preliminary study to propose a diagnostic algorithm for PET/CT-detected incidental breast lesions: application of BI-RADS lexicon for US in combination with SUVmax.

Objectives: To develop a diagnostic algorithm for positron emission tomography (PET)-detected incidental breast lesions using both breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) criteria.

Methods: Fifty-six PET-detected incidental breast lesions from 51 patients, which were subsequently investigated by breast ultrasound within 1 month of the PET study, constituted the study cohort and they were finally verified by tissue diagnosis or a 2-year follow-up. Based on the maximum specificity with sensitivity > 60.

CT-measured pulmonary artery diameter as an independent predictor of pulmonary hypertension in cystic fibrosis.

Purpose: The role of computed tomography (CT) scan, as a promising prognostic imaging modality in cystic fibrosis (CF), has been widely investigated, focusing on parenchymal abnormalities. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of thoracic vascular parameters on CT to detect pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Material And Methods: CF patients who contemporaneously underwent CT and echocardiography were retrospectively enrolled.

Role of Innate Lymphoid Cells in Lung Disease.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are identified as novel population of hematopoietic cells which protect the body by coordinating the innate immune response against a wide range of threats including infections, tissue damages and homeostatic disturbances. ILCs, particularly ILC2 cells, are found throughout the body including the brain. ILCs are morphologically similar to lymphocytes, express and release high levels of T-helper (Th)1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines but do not express classical cell-surface markers that are associated with other immune cell lineages.

Flow cytometry applications in the study of immunological lung disorders.

The use of flow cytometry in the clinical laboratory has grown substantially in the past decade. Flow cytometric analysis provides a rapid qualitative and quantitative description of multiple characteristics of individual cells. For example, it is possible to detect the cell size and granularity, aspects of DNA and RNA content and the presence of cell surface and nuclear markers which are used to characterize the phenotype of single cells.

Evaluation of plethysmography for diagnosis of postintubation tracheal stenosis.

Objectives: Post-intubation tracheal stenosis is a serious disease caused by cuff pressure during tracheal intubation. The reported prevalence of post-intubation tracheal stenosis is 10%-22% in intubated patients. Invasive diagnostic methods based on fiberoptic or rigid bronchoscopy are suggested for initial assessment and treatment.

Association between Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Function Tests.

Background: The burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is quite high and its prevalence is increasing. We aimed to evaluate the correlation of COPD severity according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria with spirometric measurements in patients admitted to the emergency ward.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 50 randomly selected patients with COPD admitted to the emergency ward in a tertiary care center were evaluated.

Evaluation of maximum O2 consumption: using ergo-spirometry in severe heart failure.

Although sport-physiologists have repeatedly analyzed respiratory gases through exercise, it is relatively new in the cardiovascular field and is obviously more acceptable than standard exercise test, which gives only information about the existence or absence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Through the new method of exercise test, parameters including aerobic and anaerobic are checked and monitored. 22 severe cases of heart failure, who were candidates of heart transplantation, referring to Massih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran from Nov.

Performance assessment of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II in a referral respiratory intensive care unit in Iran.

Background/purpose: Nowadays, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) scoring systems have drawn much attention for the evaluation and prediction of disease process in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). To use these scoring tools, their predicting power must be initially validated for the target patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of these two scoring systems in an ICU for respiratory diseases in Iran.

Improving the Practice of Nutrition Therapy in the NRITLD Critically Ill Patients: An International Quality Improvement Project.

Background: In previous decades several studies have been performed demonstrating that providing appropriate nutritional support to intensive care unit patients affects complications, time of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and risk of death. In this study we provided a report of nutrition statuses in Masih Daneshvari's ICU as compared to 156 ICUs from 20 countries that participated in an international nutrition survey.

Materials And Methods: All patients admitted to an intensive care unit during a specified one-month period who required artificial nutrition were included in this study.

Extralobar sequestration in anterior mediastinum with pericardial agenesis.

We report a very rare case of extralobar sequestration and pericardial agenesis in a 22-year-old man. A computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated an anterior mediastinal mass. No aberrant artery was preoperatively identified.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the lung and thyroid, co-existing with papillary thyroid cancer.

A 24-year-old man presented to our center with a huge goiter compressing his airway. He had a previous diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of the lung. Core needle biopsy was consistent with histiocytosis.

The effects of air pollution on acute respiratory conditions.

Objective: Air pollution and its potential health effects are very important worldwide. It is particularly problematic in densely populated cities of developing countries that suffer from a lack of both short- and long-term programmes for air pollution control. We decided to study the short-term effects of air pollution on lung health by assessing the relationship between the levels of six air pollutants and emergency visits for asthma and COPD exacerbations in Tehran, Iran.