Prospective Optimization of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration Lymph Node Assessment for Lung Cancer: Three Needle Agitations Are Noninferior to 10 Agitations for Adequate Tumor Cell and DNA Yield.

Introduction: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS TBNA) is an important means of obtaining a tissue for advanced lung cancer. Optimizing the EBUS TBNA needling technique is important to maintain procedural simplicity and maximize sample quality for emerging molecular diagnostics.

Methods: We prospectively explored three versus 10 agitations of the needle in sequential passes into the lymph node using separate needles.

Oil red O stain of alveolar macrophages is an effective screening test for gastroesophageal reflux disease in lung transplant recipients.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and microaspiration may be associated with acute graft dysfunction and development of obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) after lung transplantation. The "gold standard" for diagnosis of GORD is the 24-hour esophageal pH-monitoring study, although no simple, non-invasive screening test is routinely employed. Oil red O staining of alveolar macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid identifies exogenous lipid and may be a surrogate marker for microaspiration.