A case of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor producing lung adenocarcinoma with anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangements.

A 49-year-old woman was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, stage IIIB, with increased leukocytes and neutrophils. Positron emission tomography showed dense uptake in right lung, but not in the bone marrow or bone. Biopsy revealed positive anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( gene rearrangements.

Methylprednisolone pulse therapy for critically ill patients with COVID-19: a cohort study.

Background: The guidelines recommend the use of dexamethasone 6 mg or an equivalent dose in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who require supplemental oxygen. Given that the severity of COVID-19 varies, we investigated the effect of a pulse dose of corticosteroids on the clinical course of critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted between September and December 2021, which was when the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus was predominant.

Comparison of clinical features and prognosis in patients with cryptogenic and secondary organizing pneumonia.

Background: Organizing pneumonia (OP) can be diagnosed pathologically, and cryptogenic OP (COP) and secondary OP (SOP) have been classified by cause and particular underlying context. Because it is clinically difficult to differentiate between COP and SOP, this study investigated characteristics that could distinguish between COP and SOP.

Methods: The medical records of patients who underwent lung biopsy for a diagnosis of OP at a single tertiary hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

Impact of Computed Tomography-Quantified Emphysema Score on Clinical Outcome in Patients with COVID-19.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered a risk factor for poor outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, data on the prognostic impact of radiological emphysema extent on patients with COVID-19 are limited. Thus, this study aimed to examine whether computed tomography (CT)-quantified emphysema score is associated with a worse clinical outcome in patients with COVID-19.

The Association between Mortality and the Oxygen Saturation and Fraction of Inhaled Oxygen in Patients Requiring Oxygen Therapy due to COVID-19-Associated Pneumonia.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can manifest in a range of symptoms, including both asymptomatic systems which appear nearly non-existent to the patient, all the way to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Specifically, COVID-19-associated pneumonia develops into ARDS due to the rapid progression of hypoxia, and although arterial blood gas analysis can assist in halting this deterioration, the current environment provided by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to an overall lack of medical resources or equipment, has made it difficult to administer such tests in a widespread manner. As a result, this study was conducted in order to determine whether the levels of oxygen saturation (SpO2) and the fraction of inhaled oxygen (FiO2) (SF ratio) can also serve as predictors of ARDS and the patient's risk of mortality.

Clinical Significance of Timing of Intubation in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study.

The effect of intubation timing on the prognosis of critically ill patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is not yet well understood. We investigated whether early intubation is associated with the survival of COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This multicenter, retrospective, observational study was done on 47 adult COVID-19 patients with ARDS who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in Daegu, Korea between February 17 and April 23, 2020.

A case of pulmonary anthracofibrosis presented as multiple lung nodules.

A 73-year-old female living in the rural area presented with chronic cough. She had multiple rounded nodules less than 1cm in size in both lungs, and bilateral mediastinal lymphadenopathy in chest images, which could be confused with metastatic cancer. Bronchoscopy did not show bronchial anthracofibrosis, and positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F FDG) uptake.

Multimarker Prognostication for Hospitalized Patients with Community-acquired Pneumonia.

Objective: The optimal prognostic model for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains unclear. In this study, we sought to identify independent predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with CAP and to determine whether adding specific prognostic factors to each of the two clinical prediction scores could improve the prognostic yield.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 797 CAP patients who had been hospitalized at a tertiary referral center.

Factors determining clot resolution in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

There are limited data on the rate of clot resolution after acute pulmonary embolism and risk factors for residual emboli. The aim of the present study was to investigate the rate of clot resolution over time and identify risk factors of residual emboli in pulmonary embolism patients. We retrospectively analyzed pulmonary embolism patients with follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans taken between day 3 and day 90.

Clinical characteristics of pulmonary embolism with concomitant pneumonia.

Although pneumonia is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, patients with pulmonary embolism and concomitant pneumonia are uncommon. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical features of pulmonary embolism with coexisting pneumonia. We retrospectively compared clinical, radiologic and laboratory parameters between patients with pulmonary embolism and concomitant pneumonia (pneumonia group) and those with unprovoked pulmonary embolism (unprovoked group), and then between the pneumonia group and those with pulmonary infarction (infarction group).

Clinical characteristics of in-situ pulmonary artery thrombosis in Korea.

Little is known regarding the clinical features and course of in-situ pulmonary artery thrombosis (PAT). The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of PAT. Patients with PAT were retrospectively identified from a tertiary referral center in South Korea.

Clinical Characteristics of Community-Acquired Viridans Streptococcal Pneumonia.

Background: Viridans streptococci (VS) are a large group of streptococcal bacteria that are causative agents of community-acquired respiratory tract infection. However, data regarding their clinical characteristics are limited. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical and radiologic features of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with or without parapneumonic effusion caused by VS.

Prognostic value of serum growth differentiation factor-15 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Background: Information regarding prognostic value of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum levels of GDF-15 and H-FABP predict an adverse outcome for COPD exacerbation.

Methods: Clinical variables, including serum GDF-15 and H-FABP levels were compared in prospectively enrolled patients with COPD exacerbation that did or did not experience an adverse outcome.

Central emboli rather than saddle emboli predict adverse outcomes in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: In patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), the prognostic implications of saddle or central emboli, as observed on computed tomography (CT), remain to be established. The aim of the present study was to assess whether the presence of saddle and central emboli could be used to predict clinical outcomes in patients with PE.

Materials And Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed 743 consecutive patients hospitalized at a tertiary referral center with a diagnosis of PE based on multi-detector row CT scan.

Clinical relevance of ground glass opacity in 105 patients with miliary tuberculosis.

Background: After the application of chest computed tomography (CT), ground glass opacity (GGO) was introduced as one of major accompanying findings of miliary tuberculosis (MT) in addition to miliary nodules. However, little is known about whether GGO is associated with the clinical manifestations and outcomes of MT. Therefore, the present study examined the clinical relevance of GGO in patients with MT.

Prognostic implications of computed tomographic right ventricular dilation in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Introduction: Whether right ventricular (RV) dilation on computerized tomography (RVD-CT) is a useful predictor for clinical outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) remains debatable. Furthermore, data regarding the best combination of prognostic markers for predicting the adverse outcome of PE are limited.

Materials And Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed 657 consecutive patients hospitalized at a tertiary referral center with a diagnosis of PE based on multi-detector row CT scan.

Propylthiouracil-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia.

Propylthiouracil (PTU) is commonly used to treat hyperthyroidism. However, it is also associated with a number of adverse events. In particular, pulmonary complications, although rare, can be serious.

Clinical Utility of CT-Based Bronchial Aspirate TB-PCR for the Rapid Diagnosis of Pleural Tuberculosis.

Background: Thoracoscopic pleural biopsy is often required for rapid and confirmative diagnosis in patients with suspected pleural tuberculosis (PL-TB). However, this method is more invasive and costly than its alternatives. Therefore, we evaluated the clinical utility of the chest computed tomography (CT)-based bronchial aspirate (BA) TB-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test in such patients.

Comparative analysis of whole-blood interferon-γ and flow cytometry assays for detecting post-treatment immune responses in patients with active tuberculosis.

Background: Intracellular cytokine flow cytometry (ICCFC) has been explored to detect tuberculosis (TB) infections; however, there are little data regarding its use to examine the dynamic responses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific T-cells after anti-tuberculous therapy. The aim of this study was to analyze both dynamic changes in functional MTB antigen-specific T-cell subsets and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels using ICCFC and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) test, respectively, following anti-tuberculous treatment in patients with active TB.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with active TB were enrolled in the study, and QFT-IT and ICCFC were performed simultaneously both before and after treatment.

Comparative analysis of whole-blood interferon-γ and flow cytometry assays for detecting post-treatment immune responses in patients with active tuberculosis.

Background: Intracellular cytokine flow cytometry (ICCFC) has been explored to detect tuberculosis (TB) infections; however, there are little data regarding its use to examine the dynamic responses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific T-cells after anti-tuberculous therapy. The aim of the present study was to analyze both dynamic changes in functional MTB antigen-specific T-cell subsets and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels using ICCFC and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) test, respectively, following anti-tuberculous treatment in patients with active TB. Methods: Twenty-six patients with active TB were enrolled in the study, and QFT-IT and ICCFC were performed simultaneously both before and after treatment.

Prevalence and predictors of pulmonary embolism in Korean patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Data concerning the rate of pulmonary embolism (PE) in Asian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation are sparse, and no study has shown predictors of PE in these patients.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and predictors of PE in Korean patients with COPD exacerbation.

Methods: Hospitalized patients with COPD exacerbations were prospectively enrolled into this study and underwent computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography and indirect CT venography.