Dirofilariasis presenting as pleural effusion: a rare case report with unusual manifestations and treatment modalities.

Background: We present an extremely rare manifestation of dirofilariasis in the pleural cavity. This is the first human pulmonary dirofilariasis reported in Lithuania; according to our knowledge, only two other patients were documented with this pathology in the world.

Case Presentation: A 72-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital complaining of dyspnea, left-side chest pain, and a dry cough.

Attitudes of the Lithuanian Population toward COVID-19 Vaccination and Evaluation of Its Effectiveness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study delves into the attitudes, beliefs and determinants influencing the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among the Lithuanian population. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design, a total of 3166 respondents were surveyed. The findings reveal a significant disparity in vaccination rates based on socio-demographic factors, with higher uptake observed among individuals with a university degree, urban residents and those in higher income brackets.

Characteristics of COVID-19 Disease in Renal Transplant Recipients.

Kidney transplant recipients are at risk of developing more severe forms of COVID-19 infection. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical course of COVID-19 infection among kidney transplant patients and a control group. We examined 150 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR Ct values in saliva and nasopharyngeal swab samples for disease severity prediction.

Background: Comparison of clinical value of RT-qPCR-based SARS-CoV-2 tests performed on saliva samples (SSs) and nasopharyngeal swab samples (NPSs) for prediction of the COVID-19 disease severity.

Methods: Three paired SSs and NPSs collected every 3 days from 100 hospitalised COVID-19 patients during 2020 Jul-2021 Jan were tested by RT-qPCR for the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and compared to 150 healthy controls. Cases were divided into mild+moderate (Cohort I,  = 47) and severe disease (Cohort II,  = 53) cohorts and compared.

Predictors of Noninvasive Respiratory Support Failure in COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

Respiratory assistance tactic that is best for COVID-19-associated acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) individuals has yet to be determined. Patients with AHRF may benefit from the use of a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV). The goals of this prospective observational research were to estimate predictive factors for HFNC and NIV failure in COVID-19-related AHRF subjects.

Management of obstructive sleep apnea in Europe - A 10-year follow-up.

Objective: In 2010, a questionnaire-based study on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management in Europe identified differences regarding reimbursement, sleep specialist qualification, and titration procedures. Now, 10 years later, a follow-up study was conducted as part of the ESADA (European Sleep Apnea Database) network to explore the development of OSA management over time.

Methods: The 2010 questionnaire including questions on sleep diagnostic, reimbursement, treatment, and certification was updated with questions on telemedicine and distributed to European Sleep Centers to reflect European OSA management practice.

Pulmonary Coccidioidomycosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Coccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease caused by or fungus. Humans usually get infected by inhaling spores risen from the soil. Although in 60 percent of cases symptoms are absent, remaining patients can develop various manifestations of the disease, from flu-like symptoms to severe dissemination or meningitis.

Risk factors for complicated community-acquired pneumonia course in patients treated with β-lactam monotherapy.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalisation, empirically treated with b-lactam monotherapy, with 30-day mortality and risk factors predicting its complicated course.

Material And Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Pulmonology and Allergology Department in a tertiary care university hospital. 253 consecutive patients diagnosed with CAP requiring hospitalisation were enrolled.

Systemic Inflammatory Response to Different Sclerosing Agents as a Predictor of Pleurodesis Outcome.

Background/aim: The objectives of this study were to evaluate systemic inflammation using different sclerosing agents and to estimate the prediction of systemic inflammation for the efficacy of pleurodesis.

Patients And Methods: Ninety-six patients with recurrent and symptomatic malignant pleural effusion were enrolled in this retrospective study. We used serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, serum leukocyte counts and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLRs) as parameters of systemic inflammatory reactions.

CD31, CD38, CD44, and CD103 lymphocytes in peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung biopsy tissue in sarcoid patients and controls.

Background: The mechanisms driving the transition from inflammation to fibrosis in sarcoidosis patients are poorly understood; prognostic features are lacking. Immune cell profiling may provide insights into pathogenesis and prognostic factors of the disease. This study aimed to establish associations in simultaneous of lymphocyte subset profiles in the blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung biopsy tissue in the patients with newly diagnosed sarcoidosis.

Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Phenotypes Treatment Effectiveness.

: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a heterogeneous chronic sleep associated disorder. A common apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)-focused approach to OSA severity evaluation is not sufficient enough to capture the extent of OSA related risks, it limits our understanding of disease pathogenesis and may contribute to a modest response to conventional treatment. In order to resolve the heterogeneity issue, OSA patients can be divided into more homogenous therapeutically and prognostically significant groups-phenotypes.

Assessment of Liver Stiffness Regression and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients after Treatment with Direct-Acting Antiviral Drugs.

: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection affects about 71 million people worldwide. It is one of the most common chronic liver conditions associated with an increased risk of developing liver cirrhosis and cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in liver fibrosis and the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma after direct-acting antiviral drug therapy, and to assess factors, linked with these outcomes.

Case of Severe Treatment-Resistant Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia.

Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia is a rare interstitial lung disease with different onset of symptoms, which responds rapidly to glucocorticoid treatment. We present a case of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia which manifested as a progressive 3-year dyspnea that ultimately has led to acute respiratory failure. Moreover, treatment with prednisone for this patient exhibited slow onset of the effect.

A Cohort Study of Exposure to Antihyperglycemic Therapy and Survival in Patients with Lung Cancer.

We evaluated the effect of antihyperglycemic therapy on the survival of patients with lung cancer (LC). The analysis included patients with LC and concomitant type 2 diabetes. 15,929 patients were classified into five groups: metformin users, insulin users, metformin and insulin users, sulphonylurea users and non-diabetic group.

Surveillance of adverse events in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis: first global report.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries implement pharmacovigilance and collect information on active drug safety monitoring (aDSM) and management of adverse events.The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the frequency and severity of adverse events to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs in a cohort of consecutive TB patients treated with new ( bedaquiline, delamanid) and repurposed ( clofazimine, linezolid) drugs, based on the WHO aDSM project. Adverse events were collected prospectively after attribution to a specific drug together with demographic, bacteriological, radiological and clinical information at diagnosis and during therapy.

Association between the Khorana score and pulmonary embolism risk in patients with advanced stage lung cancer.

Introduction: The Khorana score may help physicians to identify patients at high risk of Pulmonary embolism (PE) and decide who is eligible for thromboprophylaxis, however, its role in lung cancer patients remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate association between the Khorana score and risk of PE development among advanced stage lung cancer inpatients treated with chemotherapy.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective cohort study included 2008-2017 year data of 217 lung cancer inpatients with IIIB and IV clinical stages receiving chemotherapy.

Effect of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Corneal Morphological Characteristics.

Purpose: To determine central corneal thickness (CCT) and the corneal parameters in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), evaluate the relationship between the severity of OSA, minimum peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (min. SpO2), and corneal morphological characteristics.

Methods: Patients with OSA diagnosed by full-night polysomnography before treatment were included.

Prognostic Value of Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 Expression in Patients with Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Background/aim: The prognostic role of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF1) in advanced lung cancer is not clearly established. The present study aimed to evaluate the associations between clinicopathological characteristics, TTF1 expression, and overall survival (OS) of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and seventy-two patients were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Zanamivir Diminishes Lung Damage in Influenza A Virus-infected Mice by Inhibiting Nitric Oxide Production.

Background/aim: Severe pulmonary influenza A virus (IAV) infection causes lung inflammation and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), leading to overproduction of nitric oxide (NO). We studied whether zanamivir reduces pulmonary inflammation through inhibition of NO production in mice.

Materials And Methods: We treated IAV-infected mice daily with intranasal zanamivir.

Relationship between radiologic patterns, pulmonary function values and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cells in newly diagnosed sarcoidosis.

Background: The aim of the present study was to identify specious radiologic and/or physiologic prognostic marker(s), which lead to optimize of the patient follow-up frequency.

Methods: Eighty consecutive patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary sarcoidosis. Patients underwent chest radiography, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examination, pulmonary function tests (PFT), bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung biopsy, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell examination.

Fatal pulmonary complication during induction therapy in a patient with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is an inflammatory systemic disorder affecting small to medium sized vessels and likely leading to any organ dysfunction. Adequate treatment is important to avoid mortality or severe organ damage. In most cases initial treatment (induction therapy) allows to achieve remission.

A fast and fatal course of bronchiectasis: an unusual rare expression of chronic graft versus host disease. A case report.

We report a case of a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia whose treatment with bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was followed by chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) with lung involvement and bronchiectasis. This report illustrates an unusual course of a fast progression of the bronchiectasis due to BMT. A 33-year-old female was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia.