Efficacy of bronchial thermoplasty in patients with severe asthma and frequent severe exacerbations: A randomized controlled study.

Background: Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic procedure for patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, but randomized controlled studies of its efficacy in severe asthma with frequent exacerbations are lacking. The current aim was to assess BT efficacy in this patient population.

Methods: Thirty patients with asthma (GINA 5) who had experienced at least four severe exacerbations in the preceding year were randomized to BT (n = 15) or control groups (n = 15).

Should we screen patients for carotid artery disease before lung cancer resection?

Background: Postoperative stroke is a rare complication after lung cancer surgery but has a high mortality rate. No strategy has been recommended to detect carotid artery disease preoperatively in lung cancer patients. The main objective of this study was to evaluate whether a routine carotid duplex ultrasound (DUS) altered the preoperative management of these patients.

Airway stent current practices evaluation: Survey among French bronchoscopy practitioners.

Background: Airway stenting (AS) is performed for the treatment of benign or malignant central airway stenosis. In France, more than 30 centers practice AS. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the current practice around airway stenting among French bronchoscopy practitioners.

Cystic Lung Lesions Mimicking Hydatidosis: Hamartoma or Benign Metastazing Leiomyoma?

We report an unusual case of a 53-year-old woman who presented with multiple lung cystic lesions presumed to be related to pulmonary hydatidosis, treated and followed for 3 years before surgical removal was decided. Unexpectedly, pathologic findings showed benign spindle cell proliferation. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed the smooth-muscle nature of the spindle cells, which were also positive for hormonal receptors and corresponded to multiple cystic pulmonary hamartomas.

Transfer of peanut allergy following lung transplantation: a case report.

This case study describes a patient who developed peanut allergy following lung transplantation. A 54-year-old woman underwent bilateral lung transplantation on June 2009 owing to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She had no history of food allergy before transplantation.