Epidemiological survey of bovine gammaherpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) infection in cattle and buffalo from Pakistan.

This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of bovine gammaherpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4) among healthy cattle and buffaloes as well as those associated with different diseases (respiratory tract infection, mastitis and reproductive tract infection) in District Chakwal, Pakistan. Blood, swab and milk samples of cattle and buffaloes were randomly collected from different areas of Chakwal. DNA was isolated from the samples and subjected to nested PCR using thymidine kinase gene primers.

Comparative analysis of 1152 African-American and European-American men with prostate cancer identifies distinct genomic and immunological differences.

Racial disparities in prostate cancer have not been well characterized on a genomic level. Here we show the results of a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of 1,152 patients (596 African-American men (AAM) and 556 European-American men (EAM)) who underwent radical prostatectomy. Comparative analyses between the race groups were conducted at the clinical, genomic, pathway, molecular subtype, and prognostic levels.

Epigenetic analysis identifies factors driving racial disparity in prostate cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most leading cause of death in men worldwide. African-American men (AA) represent more aggressive form of the disease compared to Caucasian (CA) counterparts. Several lines of evidences suggest that biological factors are responsible for the observed racial disparity.

Inflammation and Prostate Cancer.

Chronic inflammation resulting from infections, altered metabolism, inflammatory diseases or other environmental factors can be a major contributor to the development of several types of cancer. In fact around 20% of all cancers are linked to some form of inflammation. Evidence gathered from genetic, epidemiological and molecular pathological studies suggest that inflammation plays a crucial role at various stages of prostatic carcinogenesis and tumor progression.

Differences in Renal Tumor Size Measurements for Computed Tomography Versus Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Implications for Patients on Active Surveillance.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting the final pathologic tumor size of partial nephrectomy specimens.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed a multi-institutional database of 807 patients who underwent robotic partial nephrectomy for a cT1a renal mass from 2006 to 2016. Patients who had a solitary tumor with complete data on the baseline imaging modality and the tumor size (baseline and pathologic) (n = 349) were included for analysis.

Bronchoscopy Safety in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease.

Background: Flexible bronchoscopy is a safe and minimally invasive diagnostic tool used by pulmonologists, but few studies have prospectively compared outcomes in patients with objectively defined obstructive lung disease to those without obstruction.

Methods: We determined whether complications in patients undergoing moderate sedation bronchoscopy differ in those without obstruction compared with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We prospectively followed all patients undergoing moderate sedation bronchoscopy in an inpatient or outpatient setting.

Sedation for Bronchoscopy and Complications in Obese Patients.

Background: Bronchoscopy is a safe and minimally invasive diagnostic tool, but no studies have reported prospectively on sedation and outcomes in patients with objectively defined obesity.

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine if obese patients require more sedation or had more procedural complications during bronchoscopy under moderate sedation than non-obese patients.

Methods: We evaluated complications and sedation requirements in non-obese versus obese patients, defined by multiple criteria including body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, abdominal height, and Mallampati scores.

Training in and experience with endobronchial ultrasound.

Background: Diagnosing mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy and staging lung cancer with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) are on the rise, but uncertainty surrounds the optimal number of cases needed to achieve acceptable yields.

Objectives: To determine the threshold at which EBUS-TBNA reaches adequate yields among trainees and skilled bronchoscopists.

Methods: We reviewed all EBUS-TBNAs performed at our medical center since implementing the use of EBUS (n = 222).

A new pattern of pulmonary graft vs host disease in a hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient.

Background: The primary pulmonary manifestation of chronic graft vs host disease (GvHD) is the development of bronchiolitis obliterans. Other pulmonary manifestations of chronic GvHD that have been reported include diffuse alveolar damage, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, bronchiolitis organising pneumonia and lymphocytic bronchiolitis/bronchitis.

Case Presentation: We report an unusual case of a 34-year-old patient with acute myeloid leukaemia, status post-allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who subsequently developed GvHD with skin involvement.

Survey of academic pulmonologists, oncologists, and infectious disease physicians on the role of bronchoscopy in managing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients with pulmonary infiltrates.

Background: In the absence of evidence-based guidelines, there is potential for variability in the management of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients with pulmonary infiltrates. We decided to perform a nationwide survey of pulmonologists, oncologists, and infectious disease physicians on the role of bronchoscopy in managing HSCT patients.

Methods: An 18-question survey was prepared, and after being internally reviewed it was sent through electronic mail to all hematology oncology, pulmonary and critical care, and infectious disease fellowship programs in the United States.

Use of microdebrider bronchoscopy for the treatment of endobronchial leiomyoma.

Aims: Pulmonary leiomyomas are rare benign tumors that may cause symptoms when they spread endobronchially. Traditionally they were managed surgically or through interventional bronchoscopy with the aid of thermal modalities to assist in debulking of tumor. We report the novel use of microdebrider bronchoscopy to debulk an endobronchial leiomyoma in a symptomatic patient.