Endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided transesophageal cryobiopsy: A case series with technical insights, key enablers, and review of literature.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is an established technique for lung cancer staging and the diagnosis of mediastinal diseases. Recently, the paradigm of EBUS guided mediastinal sampling with conventional cytology has shifted over to histology specimens through the use of cryobiopsy. This case series explores the novel technique, key enablers, and potential advantages of endoscopic ultrasound with bronchoscope-guided transesophageal cryobiopsy (EUS-B-TEC).

An elderly woman with acute respiratory failure and diffuse pulmonary changes.

https://bit.ly/4fcISSm.

An explorative analysis on the optimal cryo-passes and freezing time of the ultrathin cryoprobe in endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy.

EBUS-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (TBMC) has emerged as a promising biopsy tool for diagnosing hilar and mediastinal pathologies. However, several fundamental technical aspects of TBMC remain unexplored. This study aims to determine the optimal number of cryo-passes and freezing time of the ultrathin cryoprobe in EBUS-TBMC concerning specimen size and procedural diagnostic yield.

Technical tips, diagnostic yield and safety of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is commonly used to diagnose and stage lung cancer. In clinical practice, cytology specimens from EBUS-TBNA may be low in cellularity, especially with necrotic lesions. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial mediastinal cryobiopsy (EBUS-TBMC) has recently become the preferred method for obtaining histology biopsy.

The outcome of 12-week corticosteroid therapy in COVID-19-related diffuse interstitial lung abnormalities.

Introduction: The efficacy of long-course corticosteroid therapy in treating COVID-19-related diffuse interstitial lung abnormalities (DILA) needs to be better understood. We aimed to investigate the benefits of 12-week corticosteroid treatment in COVID-19-related DILA by evaluating computed tomography (CT) lung severity scores.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective, single-centre observational study included patients aged 18 years or older admitted with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia who received 12 weeks of oral prednisolone between January 2021 and December 2021.

High-dose pulse methylprednisolone vs. dexamethasone standard therapy for severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia: Efficacy assessment in a retrospective single-centre experience from Malaysia.

Introduction: The use of dexamethasone (DXM) has been associated with decreased mortality in the patients with hypoxemia during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, while the outcomes with methylprednisolone (MTP) have been mixed. This real-life study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with severe respiratory failure due to COVID-19 who were treated with high doses of MTP.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled hospitalised patients between May 2021 and August 2021, aged 18 years and above, with severe respiratory failure defined by a ratio of oxygen saturation to fraction of inspired oxygen (SF ratio) of less than 235.

Predictive risk factors for pneumothorax following fluoroscopic-guided transbronchial lung biopsy.

Introduction: Fluoroscopic-guided transbronchial lung biopsy (FG-TBLB) is routinely performed via bronchoscopy to diagnose focal peripheral lesions and diffuse lung disease. Identifying the risk factors of FG-TBLB-related pneumothorax can assist the operator in taking pre-emptive measures to prepare for this potential complication.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from 157 patients who underwent FG-TBLB, with the primary outcome being procedure-related pneumothorax.

Neural EGFL-like 1, a craniosynostosis-related osteochondrogenic molecule, strikingly associates with neurodevelopmental pathologies.

Various craniofacial syndromes cause skeletal malformations and are accompanied by neurological abnormalities at different levels, leading to tremendous biomedical, financial, social, and psychological burdens. Accumulating evidence highlights the importance of identifying and characterizing the genetic basis that synchronously modulates musculoskeletal and neurobehavioral development and function. Particularly, previous studies from different groups have suggested that neural EGFL-like-1 (Nell-1), a well-established osteochondrogenic inducer whose biopotency was initially identified in the craniofacial tissues, may also play a vital role in the central nervous system, particularly regarding neurological disorder pathologies.

Bisphosphonate conjugation enhances the bone-specificity of NELL-1-based systemic therapy for spaceflight-induced bone loss in mice.

Microgravity-induced bone loss results in a 1% bone mineral density loss monthly and can be a mission critical factor in long-duration spaceflight. Biomolecular therapies with dual osteogenic and anti-resorptive functions are promising for treating extreme osteoporosis. We previously confirmed that NELL-like molecule-1 (NELL-1) is crucial for bone density maintenance.

Sclerosing pneumocytoma originated in the middle mediastinum: a case report.

Background: Sclerosing pneumocytoma is a benign tumor that occurs mostly in the lungs and very rarely in the middle mediastinum. It may be difficult to diagnose, as its radiological features and histologic heterogeneity mimic malignancy; therefore a histopathologic examination is required to establish a definitive diagnosis.

Case Presentation: The patient was a 52-year-old woman who was found to have a tumor in the middle mediastinum on a chest CT scan and was referred to our hospital for resection.

Common driver mutations and programmed death-ligand 1 expression in advanced non-small cell lung cancer in smokers and never smokers.

Background: In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there may be a relationship between programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, driver mutations and cigarette smoking.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, the relationship between common driver mutations (EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement) and PD-L1 expression in advanced NSCLC according to the patients' smoking history was examined. Light, moderate and heavy smokers had smoked < 20, 20-39, and ≥ 40 pack-years, respectively.

A protocol for a pilot study to assess the feasibility of a randomised clinical trial of perioperative intravenous lidocaine on colorectal cancer outcome after surgery (FLICOR trial).

Background: Cancer recurrence after curative cancer surgery significantly impacts patients and healthcare services. Before surgery, a small number of clinically undetectable circulating tumour cells are often present. The surgical stress response promotes the distribution and proliferation of circulating tumour cells leading to cancer recurrence and metastasis.

Pathological complete response in an advance stage IIIB non-small cell lung cancer secondary to neoadjuvant osimertinib targeted therapy: A case report and review of literature.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is a therapeutic option for potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The role of neoadjuvant targeted therapy (NTT) remains less explored. This case highlights the use of neoadjuvant osimertinib in a case of advanced NSCLC.

Specific host metabolite and gut microbiome alterations are associated with bone loss during spaceflight.

Understanding the axis of the human microbiome and physiological homeostasis is an essential task in managing deep-space-travel-associated health risks. The NASA-led Rodent Research 5 mission enabled an ancillary investigation of the gut microbiome, varying exposure to microgravity (flight) relative to ground controls in the context of previously shown bone mineral density (BMD) loss that was observed in these flight groups. We demonstrate elevated abundance of Lactobacillus murinus and Dorea sp.

Perpendicular implantation of porcine trachea extracellular matrix for enhanced xenogeneic scaffold surface epithelialization in a canine model.

Objective: The availability of clinically applied medical materials in thoracic surgery remains insufficient, especially materials for treating tracheal defects. Herein, the potential of porcine extracellular matrix (P-ECM) as a new airway reconstruction material was explored by xenotransplanting it into a canine trachea.

Methods: P-ECM was first transplanted into the buttocks of Narc Beagle dogs ( = 3) and its overall immuno-induced effects were evaluated.

A novel injectable fibromodulin-releasing granular hydrogel for tendon healing and functional recovery.

A crucial component of the musculoskeletal system, the tendon is one of the most commonly injured tissues in the body. In severe cases, the ruptured tendon leads to permanent dysfunction. Although many efforts have been devoted to seeking a safe and efficient treatment for enhancing tendon healing, currently existing treatments have not yet achieved a major clinical improvement.

The Australian and New Zealand brain injury lifespan cohort protocol: Leveraging common data elements to characterise longitudinal outcome and recovery.

Introduction: Cognitive, behavioural, academic, mental health and social impairments are common following paediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, studies are often reliant on small samples of children drawn from narrow age bands, and employ highly variable methodologies, which make it challenging to generalise existing research findings and understand the lifetime history of TBI.

Method And Analysis: This study will synthesise common data sets from national (Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland) and international (New Zealand) collaborators, such that common data elements from multiple cohorts recruited from these four sites will be extracted and harmonised.

A randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioural therapy for managing anxiety in adolescents with acquired brain injury.

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate an adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programme for treating anxiety in adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI). Participants with ABI (12-19 years,  = 36) recruited from two sites were randomly allocated into either the intervention receiving 11 sessions of CBT ( = 19) or a wait-list control group ( = 17). The primary outcome was participants' anxiety and secondary outcomes were participants' depression, self-perception, and participation in daily activities, and parental stress, measured at (i) pre-intervention, (ii) immediately post-intervention, (iii) 2 months post-intervention and (iv) 6 months post-intervention.

Predicting vaccine hesitancy among parents towards COVID-19 vaccination for their children in Singapore.

Background: There was a considerably slower uptake among children despite the high COVID-19 vaccination uptake amongst adults and adolescents in Singapore. This was concerning as unvaccinated children are at risk of severe COVID-19 infections and a source and reservoir of infections. We sought to understand the impact of social media on parental vaccine hesitancy and to determine the risk factors associated with vaccine hesitancy.

Targeted Depletion of Hyaluronic Acid Mitigates Murine Breast Cancer Growth.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is highly elevated in breast cancers compared to normal breast tissue and is associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. HA interacts with cell-trafficking CD44 receptors to promote tumor cell migration and proliferation and regulates both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production through tumor-associated macrophages. The highly negative charge of HA enables its uptake of vast amounts of water that greatly increases the tumor interstitial fluidic pressure, which, combined with the presence of other extracellular matrix components such as collagen, results in tumor stroma with abnormal vasculature, hypoxia, and increased drug resistance.