SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load and Cytokine Dynamics Profile as Early Signatures of Long COVID Condition in Hospitalized Individuals.

Background: The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in millions of people experiencing long COVID condition, a range of persistent symptoms following the acute phase, with an estimated prevalence of 27%-64%.

Materials And Methods: To understand its pathophysiology, we conducted a longitudinal study on viral load and cytokine dynamics in individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We used reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR to quantify viral RNA from nasopharyngeal swabs and employed multiplex technology to measure plasma cytokine levels in a cohort of people with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Clinical and Molecular Features of Malignant Pleural Effusion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) of a Caucasian Population.

The diversity of patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) due to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as the variability in mutations makes it essential to improve molecular characterization. Describe clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics MPE in a Caucasian population. Retrospective study of patients with NSCLC diagnosis who had undergone a molecular study from 1 January 2018-31 December 2022.

High Levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and MIP-1α One Month after the Onset of the Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection, Predictors of Post COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients.

The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection has left behind a new symptomatology called post COVID-19, or "long COVID". The pathophysiological mechanisms still remain controversial; however, a link between persistent inflammation and these sequelae has been suggested. Herein, we longitudinally assessed up- and downstream molecules of the NLRP3 inflammasome's pathway in three study groups: healthy donors (HC, n = 14) and donors with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who had been hospitalized, the latter divided into post COVID-19 (PC, n = 27) and non-post COVID-19 patients (nPC, n = 27) based on the presence or absence of symptomatology at month 6, respectively.

Is the diagnostic yield of mediastinal lymph node cryobiopsy (cryoEBUS) better for diagnosing mediastinal node involvement compared to endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)? A systematic review.

Introduction: New tools such as cryobiopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes (cryoEBUS) have been described to improve the diagnostic usefulness of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The literature suggests that this novel procedure could be associated with greater diagnostic usefulness than conventional EBUS-TBNA.

Methods: To develop a systematic analysis and meta-analysis on the diagnostic diagnostic yield and safety of cryobiopsy of hilar and mediastinal adenopathies compared to EBUS-TBNA.

Biological Biomarkers in Respiratory Diseases.

In recent years, personalized or precision medicine has made effective inroads into the management of diseases, including respiratory diseases. The route to implementing this approach must invariably start with the identification and validation of biological biomarkers that are closely related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of respiratory patients. In this respect, biological biomarkers of greater or lesser reliability have been identified for most respiratory diseases and disease classes, and a large number of studies are being conducted in the search for new indicators.

Different Faces of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis With Preserved Forced Vital Capacity.

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is progressive and irreversible. Some discrepancies about IPF staging exists, especially in mild phases. Forced vital capacity (FVC) higher than 80% has been considered early or mild IPF even for the design of clinical trials.

Mediastinal staging for non-small cell lung cancer.

The staging of mediastinal lymph nodes for lung cancer is crucial for planning treatments or reinterventions. In potentially curable patients the aim of mediastinal staging is to exclude the presence of malignancy in mediastinal lymph nodes with a high level of accuracy while also considering clinical factors and the balance of the benefits and risks of tissue sampling techniques. Mediastinal staging is based on computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) and can be sufficient when no mediastinal abnormalities are present and the probability of unforeseen N2 disease is low.

Cost Effectiveness of Malignant Pleural Effusion with Indwelling Catheter: Systematic Review.

The current cost of treatment of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is unclear. We propose a review of the scientific evidence on the cost and effectiveness of this therapeutic option. Systematic review of the literature on the cost and effectiveness of the treatment of MPE by IPC, according to the PRISMA methodology and quality according to the scientific guidelines.

Comparison of Bisulfite Pyrosequencing and Methylation-Specific qPCR for Methylation Assessment.

Different methodological approaches are available to assess DNA methylation biomarkers. In this study, we evaluated two sodium bisulfite conversion-dependent methods, namely pyrosequencing and methylation-specific qPCR (MS-qPCR), with the aim of measuring the closeness of agreement of methylation values between these two methods and its effect when setting a cut-off. Methylation of tumor suppressor gene was evaluated in 80 lung cancer patients from which cytological lymph node samples were obtained.

Diagnostic Yield and Safety of Pleural Cryobiopsy during Medical Thoracoscopy to Diagnose Pleural Effusion. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Current evidence on the diagnostic yield and safety of pleural cryobiopsy (CB) is based on a series of heterogeneous studies with limited cohorts. A pooled analysis of these studies could improve the evidence and contribute to a better understanding of this new technique.

Methodology: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies that included data on the yield and diagnostic safety of pleural CB compared with procedures performed using conventional flexible forceps.

Lung cancer risk and do-it-yourself activities. A neglected risk factor for lung cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between do-it-yourself activities entailing the exposure to carcinogenic substances and the risk of lung cancer.

Methods: We pooled individual data from different case-control studies conducted in Northwestern Spain which investigated residential radon and lung cancer. Cases had an anatomopathologically confirmed primary lung cancer and controls were selected at the pre-surgery unit with uncomplicated surgeries.

Predictive value of a series of inflammatory markers in COPD for lung cancer diagnosis: a case-control study.

Background: There is a relationship between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the development of lung cancer (LC). The aim of this study is to analyse several blood markers and compare their concentrations in patients with only COPD and LC + COPD.

Methods: Case-control study with cases presenting combined LC and COPD and two control groups (patients presenting only COPD and patients presenting only LC).

Residential radon, genetic polymorphisms in DNA damage and repair-related.

Objectives: To analyze the relationship of GSTT1, GSTM1, XRCC1 (rs25487), ERCC1 (rs11615, rs3212986), ERCC2 (rs13181), XRCC3 (rs861539), OGG1 (rs1052133), and Alpha-1-Antitrypsin mutations (AAT) with the risk of lung cancer in never-smokers, and ascertain if there is an effect modification between these polymorphisms and residential radon exposure.

Material And Methods: We designed a multicenter hospital-based case-control study in a radon-prone area. 322 cases and 338 controls, all never-smokers, were included.

Lung cancer and residential radon in never-smokers: A pooling study in the Northwest of Spain.

Background: Using a pooled case-control study design, including only never-smokers, we have assessed the association of residential radon exposure with the subsequent occurrence of lung cancer. We also investigated whether residential radon poses a different risk specifically for adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We pooled individual data from different case-control studies conducted in recent years in Northwestern Spain which investigated residential radon and lung cancer.

Predicting delays in lung cancer diagnosis and staging.

Background: Despite growing interest in increasing the efficiency and speed of the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of lung cancer (LC), the interval from signs and symptoms to diagnosis and treatment remains longer than recommended. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that cause delays in the LC diagnosis/staging process and, consequently, delays in making therapeutic decisions.

Methods: We analyzed audit data from a prospective dataset of 1330 patients assessed at The Lung Cancer Rapid Diagnostic Unit from 26 June 2013 to 26 March 2016.

Influence of the type of emphysema in the relationship between COPD and lung cancer.

Introduction: There are no studies analyzing the relationship between emphysema and lung cancer (LC). With this aim and in order to make some comparisons between different clinical variables, we carried out the present study.

Methods: This is a case-control study, patients with COPD and LC being the cases and subjects with stable COPD being the controls.

Predictive factors and prognostic effect of telomere shortening in pulmonary fibrosis.

Background And Objective: The abnormal shortening of telomeres is a mechanism linking ageing to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that could be useful in the clinical setting. The objective of this study was to identify the IPF patients with higher risk for telomere shortening and to investigate the outcome implications.

Methods: Consecutive Spanish patients were included at diagnosis and followed up for 3 years.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Lung Cancer Patients: Prevalence, Underdiagnosis, and Clinical Characterization.

Background: Lung cancer (LC) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The differential clinical and functional features among LC patients with or without COPD have not been defined.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence and underdiagnosis rate of COPD in LC patients and to compare the clinical and functional features of LC patients with and without COPD.

Alcohol consumption and lung cancer risk in never smokers: a pooled analysis of case-control studies.

Background: Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in developed countries but the etiology of lung cancer risk in never smokers (LCRINS) is largely unknown. We aim to assess the effects of alcohol consumption, in its different forms, on LCRINS.

Methods: We pooled six multi-center case-control studies developed in the northwest of Spain.

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and EGFR and ALK alterations in never smokers' lung cancer. Results from the LCRINS study.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is a main risk factor of lung cancer in never smokers. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutations and ALK translocations are more frequent in never smokers' lung cancer than in ever-smokers. We performed a multicenter case-control study to assess if ETS exposure is associated with the presence of EGFR mutations and its types and if ALK translocations were related with ETS exposure.

Small Cell Lung Cancer. Methodology and Preliminary Results of the SMALL CELL Study.

Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive histologic type of lung cancer, and accounts for approximately 10%-15% of all cases. Few studies have analyzed the effect of residential radon. Our aim is to determine the risk factors of SCLC.

Safety and efficacy of the C-Tb skin test to diagnose Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, compared with an interferon γ release assay and the tuberculin skin test: a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Targeted screening and treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection substantially reduces the risk of developing active tuberculosis. C-Tb (Statens Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark) is a novel specific skin test based on ESAT-6 and CFP10 antigens. We investigated the safety and diagnostic potential of C-Tb compared with established tests in the contact-tracing setting.