A novel droplet digital polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP)-a clinical performance study and survey of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim resistant mutations.

Objectives To determine the performance of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assays in diagnosing Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), and to survey the sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) resistant mutations in our PCP cohort. Methods A prospective study was conducted from January 2017 to June 2018. Adult immunocompromised subjects with pneumonia were enrolled.

Treating pulmonary embolism in Pacific Asia with direct oral anticoagulants.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the principal preventable cause of in-hospital deaths. Prevalence of PE in Asians is uncertain but undoubtedly underestimated. Asians and Caucasians have similar non-genetic risk factors for PE, and there is mounting evidence that PE affects Asians much more commonly than previously supposed; incidence, especially among high-risk patients, may approach that in Caucasians.

Hemodynamic effect of iloprost inhalation and oral sildenafil during acute vasoreactivity test in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: The vasoreactivity test is usually performed to identify pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients who may benefit from long-term calcium channel blocker (CCB). The first and most commonly used agent is intravenous epoprostenol. A few other agents such as intravenous adenosine and inhaled nitric oxide are also used.

Clinical features and management of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in Thai.

Background: The incidence and clinical features of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in Thailand are unknown. This may be due to the difficulties in diagnosis, poor disease recognition and non-specific presenting symptoms and signs. With the new revolution of diagnostic tools and advanced knowledge about this condition, CTEPH is now discovered much more often.

Diagnostic yield of fluoroscopy-guided transbronchial lung biopsy in non-endobronchial lung lesion.

Background: Parenchymatous lung lesions often present as peripheral non-endobronchial lesions, which are not visible through conventional flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Tissue diagnosis from these lesions is usually obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). The lesion location is estimated by chest radiograph (CXR) or computerized tomography (CT) of the chest.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of thai patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: The incidence and clinical features of acute pulmonary embolism (APE) in Thailand are unknown. There was an unsubstantiated belief that APE in Thailand did not occur as frequently as reported in European countries. With new diagnostic tools and current advanced knowledge, APE was discovered to be much more frequent in Thailand than earlier believed.

Difference in the yields of bronchial washing cytology before and after forceps biopsy for lung cancer diagnosis.

Objectives: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has been one of the essential procedures used in the diagnosis of lung cancer Diagnostic yields of FOB related procedures such as bronchial washing (BW), bronchial brushing (BB), bronchial biopsy (BBx), and transbronchial biopsy (TBBx) depend on the location and extent of the tumors. The yields of BW vary among different studies (39-79%). Some reported that the yield might increase in post-bronchoscopic sputum.

Prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma in the adult population in Thailand.

Objectives: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey of respiratory health in adults aged 20 to 44 years during 2001 to 2002 to determine the prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and asthma in the adult Thai population.

Design: Subjects were selected by a multistage stratified random sampling. The stratification was done on geographic area, age group, and sex.