Polysomnographic findings in the ultra-rare McLeod syndrome: further documentation of sleep apnea as a possible feature.

Study Objectives: McLeod syndrome is a very rare multisystemic neurodegenerative disease linked to mutations in the gene. It has cardiac, neurologic, and neuromuscular manifestations and shares similarities with Huntington's disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep patterns of patients affected by McLeod syndrome.

Impact of ILD-Specific Therapies on Perioperative Course in Patients with Progressive Interstitial Lung Disease Undergoing Lung Transplantation.

Immunosuppressants and antifibrotics are currently used to treat patients with various interstitial lung diseases, which may undergo lung transplantation (LTx). The retrospective study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of therapeutic regimen on the perioperative course in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) undergoing LTx. All patients with IPF and PPF undergoing LTx between January 2014 and December 2021 were included.

Clinical Impact of Physical Activity and Cough on Disease Progression in Fibrotic Interstitial Lung Disease.

Physical activity limitations and cough are common in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), potentially leading to reduced health-related quality of life. We aimed to compare physical activity and cough between patients with subjective, progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and fibrotic non-IPF ILD. In this prospective observational study, wrist accelerometers were worn for seven consecutive days to track steps per day (SPD).

Changes in Behavior After Vaccination and Opinions Toward Mask Wearing: Thoracic Oncology Patient-Reported Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 vaccines, face masks, and social distancing are effective interventions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections. In this study, we aimed to determine lung cancer patients' attitudes toward vaccination, changes in behavior after vaccination, and willingness to continue mask wearing after the pandemic.

Methods: We sent out questionnaires to 220 thoracic oncology patients treated at our lung cancer center in May 2021.

Oxygenated Hemoglobin Predicts Outcome in Patients with Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction.

Background: Long-term outcome of lung transplantation (LTx) recipients is limited by chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). In this setting of new onset respiratory failure, the amount of oxygenated hemoglobin (OxyHem; hemoglobin (Hb) concentration × fractional oxygen saturation) may provide valuable information.

Objective: We hypothesized that OxyHem predicts survival of LTx recipients at the onset of CLAD.

Tracheal stenosis in prolonged mechanically ventilated patients: prevalence, risk factors, and bronchoscopic management.

Background: Various complications may arise from prolonged mechanical ventilation, but the risk of tracheal stenosis occurring late after translaryngeal intubation or tracheostomy is less common. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, type, risk factors, and management of tracheal stenoses in mechanically ventilated tracheotomized patients deemed ready for decannulation following prolonged weaning.

Methods: A retrospective observational study on 357 prolonged mechanically ventilated, tracheotomized patients admitted to a specialized weaning center over seven years.

Polyomavirus exerts detrimental effects on renal function in patients after lung transplantation.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation (LTX). Calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) nephrotoxicity is the leading cause of CKD. After kidney transplantation, polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) is a well-recognized problem.

Dynamics of urinary and respiratory shedding of Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA excludes urine as a relevant source of viral transmission.

Purpose: To investigate the expression of the receptor protein ACE-2 alongside the urinary tract, urinary shedding and urinary stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on tissue from urological surgery of 10 patients. Further, patients treated for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at specialized care-units of a university hospital were assessed for detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in urinary samples via PCR, disease severity (WHO score), inflammatory response of patients.

Real-life effectiveness of biological therapies on symptoms in severe asthma with comorbid CRSwNP.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different antibody therapies on nasal polyp symptoms in patients treated for severe asthma.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with severe asthma and comorbid CRSwNP who were treated with anti-IgE, anti-IL-5/R or anti-IL-4R. CRSwNP symptom burden was evaluated before and after 6 months of therapy.

Pulmonary function impairment of asymptomatic and persistently symptomatic patients 4 months after COVID-19 according to disease severity.

Objective: Evaluation of pulmonary function impairment after COVID-19 in persistently symptomatic and asymptomatic patients of all disease severities and characterisation of risk factors.

Methods: Patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent prospective follow-up with pulmonary function testing and blood gas analysis during steady-state cycle exercise 4 months after acute illness. Pulmonary function impairment (PFI) was defined as reduction below 80% predicted of DLCOcSB, TLC, FVC, or FEV1.

Letermovir in lung transplant recipients with cytomegalovirus infection: A retrospective observational study.

Letermovir is a new antiviral drug approved for the prophylaxis of CMV infection in allogeneic stem cell transplants. The aim of the study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of letermovir in difficult to treat CMV infections in lung transplant recipients. All lung transplant recipients between March 2018 and August 2020, who have been treated with letermovir for ganciclovir-resistant or refractory CMV infection were included in the study and analysed retrospectively.

Association of CMV-specific T-cell immunity and risk of CMV infection in lung transplant recipients.

Background: Protecting against CMV infection and maintaining CMV in latent state are largely provided by CMV-specific T-cells in lung transplant recipients. The aim of the study was to assess whether a specific T-cell response is associated with the risk for CMV infection in seronegative patients who are at high risk for delayed CMV infection.

Methods: All CMV-seronegative recipients (R-) from CMV-seropositive donors (D+) between January 2018 and April 2019 were included and retrospectively screened for CMV infection before and after assessment of CMV-specific cell-mediated immunity.

Variability of forced vital capacity in progressive interstitial lung disease: a prospective observational study.

Background: Fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) is often associated with poor outcomes, but has few predictors of progression. Daily home spirometry has been proposed to provide important information about the clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary disease (IPF). However, experience is limited, and home spirometry is not a routine component of patient care in ILD.

Dupilumab Improves Asthma Control and Lung Function in Patients with Insufficient Outcome During Previous Antibody Therapy.

Background: Biological treatments directed against IgE and IL-5 have largely improved outcomes for patients with severe type 2-high asthma. However, a fraction of patients with severe asthma show insufficient treatment outcome under anti-IgE and anti-IL-5/IL-5 receptor α antibodies.

Objective: To evaluate whether switching to dupilumab was of benefit in patients with insufficient outcome under previous anti-IgE or anti-IL-5/IL-5 receptor α therapy.

Longitudinal lung function measurements in single lung transplant recipients with chronic lung allograft dysfunction.

Background: Phenotyping chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) in single lung transplant (SLTX) recipients is challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of longitudinal lung function tests in SLTX recipients with CLAD.

Methods: A total of 295 SLTX recipients were analyzed and stratified according to native lung physiology.

High prevalence of falsely declaring nicotine abstinence in lung transplant candidates.

Tobacco use after lung transplantation is associated with adverse outcome. Therefore, active smoking is regarded as a contraindication for lung transplantation and should be excluded prior to placement on the waiting list. The aim of the study was to compare self-reporting with a systematic cotinine based screening approach to identify patients with active nicotine abuse.

Urinary Frequency as a Possibly Overlooked Symptom in COVID-19 Patients: Does SARS-CoV-2 Cause Viral Cystitis?

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a challenge for physicians in triaging patients in emergency rooms. We found a potentially dangerous overlap of classical urinary symptoms and the as yet not fully described symptoms of COVID-19. After a patient was primarily triaged as a urosepsis case and then subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19, we focused on an increase in urinary frequency as a symptom of COVID-19 and identified this in seven males out of 57 patients currently being treated in our COVID-19 wards.

Safety and Efficacy of Steroid Pulse Therapy for Acute Loss of FEV in Lung Transplant Recipients After Exclusion of Acute Cellular Rejection.

Background: The standard treatment of acute cellular rejection after lung transplantation (LTx) is a high-dose steroid pulse therapy. In our center, this therapy is also the standard of care for LTx recipients with acute loss of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), after excluding specific causes such as acute rejection on biopsy. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of steroid pulse therapy.

Feasibility and accuracy of SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging in end-stage lung disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with increased mortality in patients with chronic lung disease. However, non-invasive diagnostic of CAD is difficult, especially in patients with more advanced disease. Therefore, we aimed to assess the feasibility and accuracy of SPECT-myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) stress testing with regadenoson in patients with end-stage lung disease (ELD) undergoing assessment of stable CAD.

Letermovir for Difficult to Treat Cytomegalovirus Infection in Lung Transplant Recipients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. Treatment with currently available drugs poses treatment difficulties in some patients due to drug resistance or intolerability.

Methods: We report a series of 4 lung transplant recipients with CMV-infection and treatment failure upon standard care due to antiviral drug resistance and treatment-limiting side effects.

Pirfenidone exerts beneficial effects in patients with IPF undergoing single lung transplantation.

Pirfenidone demonstrated pleiotropic antiinflammatory effects in various experimental and clinical settings. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of previous treatment with pirfenidone on short-term outcomes after single lung transplantation (SLTx). Therefore, patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who were undergoing SLTx were screened retrospectively for previous use of pirfenidone and compared to respective controls.

Asthma features in severe COPD: Identifying treatable traits.

Aim: Biological therapies developed for severe asthma may have a role in COPD patients with asthma features.

Method: We carried out a prospective, consecutive, cross-sectional analysis of 80 patients with severe COPD GOLD IV/D.

Results: We studied 80 patients (48.

Outcome of lung transplantation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with previous anti-fibrotic therapy.

Background: Anti-fibrotic drugs may interfere with wound-healing after major surgery, theoretically preventing sufficient bronchial anastomosis formation after lung transplantation (LTx). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of previous treatment with pirfenidone and nintedanib on outcomes after LTx in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods: All patients with IPF undergoing LTx at the University of Munich between January 2012 and November 2016 were retrospectively screened for previous use of anti-fibrotics.