Aetiology of Community-Acquired Pneumonia and the Role of Genetic Host Factors in Hospitalized Patients in Cyprus.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains the leading cause of hospitalization among infectious disease in Europe, and a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In order to determine and characterize the aetiology of CAP in hospitalized adults in Cyprus, respiratory and blood samples were obtained from hospitalized patients with CAP, and analyzed using Multiplex Real-Time PCR/RT-PCR, and ID/AMR enrichment panel (RPIP) analysis. Probe-based allelic discrimination was used to investigate genetic host factors in patients.

Predicting malignant pleural effusion during diagnostic pleuroscopy with biopsy: A prospective multicentre study.

Background And Objective: Pleuroscopy with pleural biopsy has a high sensitivity for malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Because MPEs tend to recur, concurrent diagnosis and treatment of MPE during pleuroscopy is desired. However, proceeding directly to treatment at the time of pleuroscopy requires confidence in the on-site diagnosis.

Pulmonary Mucormycosis (Zygomycosis) Presenting as an Infective Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Unlabelled: Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection whose incidence has been rising recently, mainly due to the increasing use of immunosuppressive and corticosteroid treatment. In previous decades, mucormycosis was associated with a very poor prognosis as mortality was approximately 100%. Mortality rates reported in recent literature have only slightly improved despite the availability of targeted therapy with amphotericin B.

Rapid on-site evaluation with the Hemacolor rapid staining method of medical thoracoscopy biopsy specimens for the management of pleural disease.

Background And Objective: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is useful for the management of pleural disease. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) of transbronchial needle aspirates proved to be useful during bronchoscopy. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ROSE of MT biopsy specimens and thoracoscopists' impression of the macroscopic appearance and assess the intermodality agreement between ROSE and final histopathologic diagnosis.

A rare clinical case - Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.

We present a case of a 58 years old man with a large heterogeneous and well circumscribed soft tissue mass arising from the right pleural surface, found at a computer tomography of his chest. This mass after complete resection through a right lateral open thoracotomy, proved to be a Solitary Fibrous Tumor, previously known as 'benign mesothelioma'. This tumor is usually discovered at routine chest X-rays since patients are either asymptomatic or report atypical symptoms.

C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, clinical pulmonary infection score, and pneumonia severity scores in nursing home acquired pneumonia.

Background: Patients with nursing home acquired pneumonia (NHAP) present a distinct group of lower respiratory track infections with different risk factors, clinical presentation, and mortality rates.

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic value of clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS), C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin and to compare the accuracy of pneumonia severity scores (confusion, urea nitrogen, breathing frequency, blood pressure, ≥ 65 y of age [CURB-65]; pneumonia severity index; NHAP index; systolic blood pressure, multilobar involvement, albumin, breathing frequency, tachycardia, confusion, oxygen, arterial pH [SMART-COP]; and systolic blood pressure, oxygen, age > 65 y, breathing frequency [SOAR]) in predicting in-patient mortality from NHAP.

Methods: Nursing home residents admitted to the hospital with acute respiratory illness were enrolled in the study.

Clinical prediction of pulmonary embolism in respiratory emergencies.

Introduction: The initial management of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) is commonly done in respiratory departments, but is based on clinical prediction rules developed in other settings.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of established prediction rules for PE in patients with respiratory emergencies.

Design: A prospective study

Materials And Methods: Patients presenting to respiratory emergency department with acute symptoms and signs suggestive of PE (n=183) and subsequently admitted to hospital were prospectively enrolled.

Diagnostic value of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 and C-reactive protein for patients with lung infiltrates: an observational study.

Background: Differential diagnosis of patients with lung infiltrates remains a challenge. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-1 is a neutrophil and monocyte receptor up-regulated during infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of TREM-1 and of C-reactive protein (CRP) from patients with lung infiltrates to discern community acquired lung infections.

Silver nitrate through flexible bronchoscope in the treatment of bronchopleural fistulae.

Objective: Bronchopleural fistula is a severe complication after pneumonectomy or lobectomy. Local application of silver nitrate to seal bronchopleural fistulae was reported once 25 years ago with considerable success but was never repeated. We aimed to develop and evaluate a concrete technique of applying silver nitrate through a flexible bronchoscope to treat bronchopleural fistulae in central airways.

A central role for tumor-derived monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in malignant pleural effusion.

Background: Tumor cells in malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are an important source of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. However, the role of tumor-derived MCP-1 in the pathogenesis and progression of MPE has not been determined.

Methods: B16 mouse skin melanoma cells, which are deficient in MCP-1 expression, and mouse Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells, which express high levels of MCP-1, were engineered to stably express MCP-1 and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting the MCP-1 transcript, respectively.

Exclusive diagnostic contribution of the histology specimens obtained by 19-gauge transbronchial aspiration needle in suspected malignant intrathoracic lymphadenopathy.

Background: Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) performed with a 19-gauge needle provides both cytologic and histologic specimens. However, the diagnostic yield for malignancy gained by histologic examination is unclear. Moreover, this kind of needle is often reserved only for selected cases, in part due to fear for complications.