Outcome differences between recanalized malignant central airway obstruction from endoluminal disease versus extrinsic compression.

We compared the outcome of Nd:YAG laser therapy with stent placement for malignant central airway obstruction (CAO) at our center over a 10-year period. This is a retrospective review of patients undergoing Nd:YAG laser therapy or self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement for malignant CAO between November 2007 and October 2017. Seventy-two patients were recanalized for malignant CAO.

Using whole genome amplification (WGA) of low-volume biopsies to assess the prognostic role of EGFR, KRAS, p53, and CMET mutations in advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: Progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from early- to late-stage may signify the accumulation of gene mutations. An advanced-stage tumor's mutation profile may also have prognostic value, guiding treatment decisions. Mutation detection of multiple genes is limited by the low amount of deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from low-volume diagnostic lung biopsies.

Detection and comparison of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in cells and fluid of malignant pleural effusion in non-small cell lung cancer.

Cells or cell-free fluid of malignant pleural effusion could be important clinical specimen for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation screening in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, their usefulness in mutation detection has not been well compared. In this study we recruited 26 East Asian NSCLC patients with malignant pleural effusion, determined the mutation status of EGFR in both cells and matched cell-free fluid with the use of sequencing and mutant-enriched PCR.

An alternative approach to determining therapeutic choices in advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC): maximizing the diagnostic procedure and the use of low-volume lung biopsies.

Background: Accurate mutational analysis, especially epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, of diagnostic biopsies from all Asian NSCLC patients is crucial to their clinical management, but faces problems. Here, we explore, within usual hospital constraints, the practicalities of incorporating mutational analysis in every newly diagnosed case of NSCLC, namely, maximizing tissue acquisition during the diagnostic procedure and determining the maximum quantity and quality of DNA sequence data available from these biopsies.

Methods: Sixty-eight Chinese patients were enrolled.

An Audit of medical thoracoscopy and talc poudrage for pneumothorax prevention in advanced COPD.

Objectives: To prospectively study all patients with COPD and spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) who underwent thoracoscopic talc poudrage (TP) under local anesthesia to determine its efficacy and safety in recurrence prevention.

Methods: Data on clinical measurements, complications, duration of chest tube drainage, length of hospital stay, and outcome were collected.

Results: Forty-one patients (38 men and 3 women) with a mean (+/- SD) age of 70.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in critically ill patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Context: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infectious disease with a 25% incidence of progression to acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and mortality exceeding 10%.

Objective: To describe the clinical spectrum and outcomes of ALI/ARDS in patients with SARS-related critical illness.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Retrospective case series of adult patients with probable SARS admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Singapore between March 6 and June 6, 2003.