Non-infectious pulmonary complications after haematopoietic progenitor transplantation: a diagnostic approach.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is an established treatment for a wide variety of haematological diseases, both malignant and non-malignant. Infectious and non-infectious post-HCT pulmonary complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with non-infectious complications becoming more prominent in recent decades as prophylaxis has led to a decrease in infectious complications. Globally, these complications can be divided into three phases (neutropenic, early and late phase) depending on their time of onset in relation to the graft.

Pleural effusion in acute pulmonary embolism: characteristics and relevance.

Introduction: The characteristics and clinical relevance of pleural effusion (PLEF) in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) are not fully understood.

Methods: A single-centre, retrospective study was performed of patients admitted with APE classified according to the subsequent development or not of PLEF. A model was built to predict PLEF and its impact on 30-day all-cause mortality was investigated.

Smoking-related interstitial lung disease: A narrative review.

Although smoking-related interstitial lung diseases (SR-ILD) are a relatively rare group of entities, they are a relevant public health problem of growing importance, both because they affect young adults and because of their increasing prevalence in recent years due to increased tobacco consumption. In patients who smoke and have non-specific respiratory symptoms, SR-ILD should be ruled out, a term that encompasses a group of different entities in which the basis for diagnosis is the smoking history together with compatible respiratory functional findings, radiology and/or histology. An association has been established between tobacco smoke and a group of diseases that include respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (2%-3% of all ILD), desquamative interstitial pneumonia (<1%), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (3%-5%) and acute eosinophilic pneumonia.

Clinical overview of the physiology and pathophysiology of pleural fluid movement: a narrative review.

In physiological conditions, the pleural space couples the lung with the chest wall and contains a small amount of fluid in continuous turnover. The volume of pleural fluid is the result from the balance between the entry of fluid through the pleural capillaries and drainage by the lymphatics in the most dependent areas of the parietal pleura. Fluid filtration is governed by Starling forces, determined by the hydrostatic and oncotic pressures of the capillaries and the pleural space.

Use of mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Introduction: The optimal treatment of fibrosing hypersensitivity pneumonitis (fHP) is not well understood. The aim of the study was to obtain information about the usefulness of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in its treatment.

Material And Methods: Quasi-experimental analysis of patients diagnosed with fHP and treated with MMF for one year, in a single centre.

Non-specific pleuritis: long-term follow-up outcomes.

Background: The definitive etiology of nonspecific pleuritis (NSP), the influence of the type of pleural biopsy on clinical results and the minimum duration of follow-up is controversial.

Research Design And Methods: A retrospective, observational study of patients ≥ 18 years with NSP confirmed by closed pleural biopsy (CPB), local anesthesia pleuroscopy (LAP), or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS).

Results: A total of 167 patients were included (mean follow-up, 14.

Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and glucose metabolism remains controversial. This study investigates the relationship between OSA and incident type 2 diabetes (DM) and prediabetes (preDM), as well as the effect of long-term CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment.

Methods: Follow-up study in a retrospective clinical cohort of patients with OSA and randomly selected controls.

Analysis of the quality of e-Consultations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: The quality of e-Consultations in the COPD is unknown. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the quality of referrals; (ii) to define the characteristics of patients referred from Primary Care (PC) to the Unit of Pulmonology; and (iii) to describe differences between accepted and rejected patients.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study of e-Consultations requested by PC for suspected COPD throughout 2022.

Usefulness of a predictive model to hospitalize patients with low-risk community-acquired pneumonia.

Introduction: A high proportion of patients with low-risk community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (classes I-III of the Pneumonia Severity Index) are hospitalized. The purpose of this study was to determine whether validated severity scales are used in clinical practice to make admission decisions, identify the variables that influence this decision, and evaluate the potential predictive value of these variables.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, observational study of patients ≥ 18 years of age with a diagnosis of low-risk CAP hospitalized or referred from the Emergency Department to outpatient consultations.

Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea: A case-control study.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are very prevalent diseases frequently associated. Their coexistence is independently associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities. As this association is underdiagnosed, it is necessary to optimise clinical suspicion by studying independent predictors of DM or prediabetes (preDM) in patients with OSA.

Characteristics of pleural effusion due to amyloidosis.

The characteristics of patients with pleural amyloidosis (PA) are poorly known. A systematic review was performed of studies reporting clinical findings, pleural fluid (PF) characteristics, and the most effective treatment of PA. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included.

Pleural effusion due to nonmalignant gastrointestinal disease.

Although pleural effusion is a frequent finding in clinical practice, determining its aetiology may be challenging, and up to 20% of cases remain undiagnosed. Pleural effusion may occur secondary to a nonmalignant gastrointestinal disease. A gastrointestinal origin is confirmed based on a review of the medical history of the patient, thorough physical examination and abdominal ultrasonography.

Cost-Effectiveness of a New Outpatient Pulmonology Care Model Based on Physician-to-Physician Electronic Consultation.

Introduction: This study assesses the impact of an electronic physician-to-physician consultation program on the waiting list and the costs of a Pulmonology Unit.

Materials And Methods: A prepost intervention study was conducted after a new ambulatory pulmonary care protocol was implemented and the capacity of the unit was adopted. In the new model, physicians at all levels of healthcare send electronic consultations to specialists.

Response to inhaled ceftazidime in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and chronic bronchial infection unrelated to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Introduction: Inhaled antibiotics reduce the frequency of exacerbations. The objective was to assess the efficacy of inhaled ceftazidime in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) and concomitant chronic bronchial infection (CBI) caused by potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPM) other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA).

Material And Method: Quasi-experimental study in 21 patients with exacerbations who developed CBI by a PPM other than PA.

Sarcoidosis. Disease progression based on radiological and functional course: Predictive factors.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan granulomatous disease with a variable course.

Oobjectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the patients that are more likely to experience disease progression.

Methods: A retrospective study in patients ≥18 years.

Health outcomes: Towards the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments.

National health systems must ensure compliance with conditions such as equity, efficiency, quality, and transparency. Since it is the right of society to know the health outcomes of its healthcare system, our aim was to develop a proposal for the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments in terms of care, teaching, and research, measuring health outcomes using quality of care indicators. The management tools proposed in this article should be implemented to improve outcomes and help us achieve our objectives.

Pulmonary Manifestations of Primary Humoral Deficiencies.

Primary immunodeficiencies are a group of conditions characterized by developmental or functional alterations in the immune system caused by hereditary genetic defects. Primary immunodeficiencies may affect either the innate or the adaptive (humoral and cellular) immune system. Pulmonary complications in primary humoral deficiencies are frequent and varied and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.

Evaluation of the impact of an integrated care pathway for pulmonary embolism: a quasi-experimental pre-post study.

Background: An integrated care pathway (ICP) is intended to improve the management of prevalent resource-consuming, life-threatening diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quality of patient care improved with the establishment of a dedicated unit for pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study (pre: years 2010-2013; post: 2015-2020; year 2014, "washing" period) of PE patients ≥18 years (January 2010-June 2020).

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis: Clinical, radiological and histopathological features.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare, generally idiopathic form of interstitial pneumonia with unique clinical, radiological and histopathological features. It is named after the presence of upper lobe pleural and subjacent parenchymal fibrosis, with accompanying elastic fibers. Although it is usually an idiopathic disease, it has been linked to other co-existent diseases.

Health Outcomes: Towards the Accreditation of Respiratory Medicine Departments.

National health systems must ensure compliance with conditions such as equity, efficiency, quality, and transparency. Since it is the right of society to know the health outcomes of its healthcare system, our aim was to develop a proposal for the accreditation of respiratory medicine departments in terms of care, teaching, and research, measuring health outcomes using quality of care indicators. The management tools proposed in this article should be implemented to improve outcomes and help us achieve our objectives.

Malignant Pleural Effusion: Diagnosis and Management.

Symptomatic malignant pleural effusion is a common clinical problem. This condition is associated with very high mortality, with life expectancy ranging from 3 to 12 months. Studies are contributing evidence on an increasing number of therapeutic options (therapeutic thoracentesis, thoracoscopic pleurodesis or thoracic drainage, indwelling pleural catheter, surgery, or a combination of these therapies).

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors on the clinical presentation and survival of pulmonary embolism without identifiable risk factor.

Background: The nature of pulmonary embolism (PE) without identifiable risk factor (IRF) remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and PE without IRF (unprovoked) and assess their role as markers of disease severity and prognosis.

Methods: A case-control study was performed of patients with PE admitted to our hospital [2010-2019].