Transbronchial biopsies' histopathological findings leading to successful late steroid therapy in Covid-19 acute respiratory failure.

We present results from clinical, radiologic, gas exchange, lung mechanics, and fibre-optic bronchoscopy-guided transbronchial biopsies in a case of acute respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). This report highlights the pulmonary, immunological, and inflammatory changes found during acute diffuse alveolar damage and the later organizing phase. An early diffuse alveolar damage pattern with predominant epithelial involvement with active recruitment of T cells and monocytes was observed followed by a late organizing pattern with pneumocyte hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltration, prominent endotheliitis, and secondary germinal centers.

[Pharmacological and mechanical thrombolysis in submassive pulmonary embolism].

Thromboembolic pulmonary disease is challenging for physicians when diagnosed in acute, sub-acute and chronic clinical patients, not only due to its morbi-mortality, but also because of its complex therapeutic management. Severity of the acute condition and potential commitment of right ventricular systolic function require therapeutic strategies, sometimes combined, in order to change the disease's course, optimizing patient survival. Pharmacological and mechanical thrombolysis are useful therapeutic tools for patients suffering from severe acute pulmonary embolism.

Open lung biopsy for diffuse disease in patients with and without previously transplanted solid organs.

Background: Studies on whether surgical lung biopsy (SLB) modifies the treatment of patients with diffuse lung disease are conflicting, and information is limited on whether it alters treatment in solid-organ transplant recipients. Our objective was to determine and compare the rate of treatment change after SLB for diffuse lung disease in patients with and without a history of solid-organ transplantation.

Methods: Patients undergoing SLB for diffuse lung disease between March 2004 and March 2009 were identified.

[Serious and consecutive airway complications after lung transplantation].

Airway complications are relatively frequent after lung transplantation and represent a great challenge to the medical team. In spite of the development of different modalities of bronchoscopic treatment and a lower incidence of complications with new surgical techniques, morbidity and mortality are still elevated. We present the case of a woman who underwent right lung transplantation who afterward developed four severe and consecutive airway complications that solved with a successful therapy approach.

Failure of IL-8 to assess early reperfusion injury following lung transplantation of cardiac death donor pigs.

Although interleukins (IL) 8 and 10 predict lung viability in lung transplantation from heart beating donors (HBD) and IL-1beta is a marker of ex vivo performance from after cardiac death donors (ACDD), IL expression in the recipient remains unknown. This study assessed IL-1beta, IL-8 and IL-10 as indicators of functional performance in single-lung transplantation from ACDD pigs. Animals were divided into: (i) HBD: immediate lung excision; (ii) ACDD: fibrillation, 30 min warm ischemia and 3 h topical cooling.

Effects of short-term inhaled nitric oxide on interleukin-8 release after single-lung transplantation in pigs.

Background: Lung transplantation has evolved to become an effective treatment for a variety of end-stage lung diseases. However, severe reperfusion injury is still a major cause for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although lung reperfusion injury is complex and has not been fully comprehended yet, neutrophil infiltration and cytokine activation have been postulated to play a main role.

[Role of prostacyclin and its derivatives in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension].

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as a group of diseases characterised by a progressive increase of pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and death. A dysregulation of prostacyclin metabolic pathways has been demonstrated in patients with PAH and in experimental models. Recently, therapy with continuous intravenous prostacyclin (epoprostenol) has been shown to improve symptoms and prognosis in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III and IV patients with different types of PAH.