Corticosteroid Therapy Duration and Dosage According to the Timing of Treatment Initiation for Post-COVID-19 Organizing Pneumonia.

COVID-19 can lead to pulmonary complications, including organizing pneumonia. Steroids are essential in treating post-COVID-19 organizing pneumonia. However, research on the clinical benefits of initiating steroid treatment early for this condition is limited.

The clinical characteristics associated with the ratio between the main pulmonary artery and ascending aorta diameter in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: A pulmonary artery-to-aorta (PA/A) ratio of ≥1 is a reliable indicator of pulmonary hypertension and is associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and long-term mortality in patients with stable COPD. However, it is unclear whether a PA/A ratio of ≥1 is associated with mortality in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical course and mortality of patients with PA/A ratios of ≥1 who were hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD.

The role of FEV/FVC in the prediction of acute exacerbation of COPD.

Background: Whether the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV/FVC) can be used as a biomarker to predict the risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is unclear.

Methods: To investigate the predictive role of FEV/FVC for AECOPD, we analyzed data from an observational and multicenter cohort study of 2043 patients with COPD in KOREA. Exposures were post-bronchodilator FEV/FVC and/or percentage predicted FEV (FEV%pred).

One-year mortality and readmission risks following hospitalization for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on the types of acute respiratory failure: An observational study.

Few studies have examined the risk factors associated with the type of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD based on the type of ARF. The medical charts of hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of COPD between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.

Major adverse cardiovascular events and hyperuricemia during tuberculosis treatment.

Background: Hyperuricemia is common during tuberculosis (TB) treatment, especially in association with pyrazinamide (PZA). This study investigated the relationship between major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and hyperuricemia during TB treatment.

Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Serum KL-6 levels predict the occurrence and severity of treatment-related interstitial lung disease in lung cancer.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) as a potential biomarker for treatment-related ILD (TR-ILD) in lung cancer. We recruited patients with lung cancer in whom KL-6 was measured to differentiate between pneumonia and ILD (category 1), diagnose and assess the severity of suspicious ILD (category 2), or evaluate baseline levels before cancer treatment (category 3). Among 1,297 patients who underwent KL-6 testing, 422 had lung cancer, and TR-ILD was detected in 195 patients.

When is LABA/LAMA Better than LAMA in GOLD Group B or D Patients for Reducing Acute Exacerbations of COPD?

Long-acting β-agonist (LABA)/long-acting muscarinic-antagonist (LAMA) dual therapy has been found to be more effective than LAMA monotherapy in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, among patients with group B or D COPD, the characteristics of patients for whom LABA/LAMA dual therapy is superior to LAMA monotherapy in minimizing acute exacerbations remain unknown. With data from a prospective COPD cohort, subgroup analyses were conducted to determine whether LABA/LAMA dual therapy was superior to LAMA monotherapy in reducing the rate of acute exacerbations in group B and D COPD patients.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Is Associated With Decreased Exacerbation and Mortality in Patients With COPD: A Nationwide Korean Study.

Background: Poor uptake to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is still challenging around the world. There have been few nationwide studies investigating whether PR impacts patient outcomes in COPD. We investigated the change of annual PR implementation rate, medical costs, and COPD outcomes including exacerbation rates and mortality between 2015 and 2019.

Effective Timing of Introducing an Inpatient Smoking Cessation Program to Cancer Patients.

Purpose: We aimed to identify factors influencing smoking cessation success among cancer patients registered in an inpatient smoking cessation program at a single cancer center.

Materials And Methods: The electronic medical records of enrolled patients with solid cancer were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated factors associated with 6-month smoking cessation.

Differences in clinical significance of bronchodilator responses measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity.

Background: The clinical implication of bronchodilator response (BDR) is not fully understood. However, BDR is frequently present in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We identified the differences in clinical features regarding BDR.

Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with acquired hypofibrinogenemia in patients administered hemocoagulase batroxobin for hemoptysis.

Background: Hemocoagulase batroxobin is used to prevent hemostasis or bleeding in surgical and trauma patients; however, the role of batroxobin in patients with hemoptysis is not well understood. We evaluated the risk factors and prognosis of acquired hypofibrinogenemia in hemoptysis patients treated systemically with batroxobin.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of hospitalized patients who were administered batroxobin for hemoptysis.

Usefulness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-polymerase chain reaction with bronchial washing samples in predicting discontinuation of airborne infection isolation in patients hospitalized with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: In-hospital tuberculosis (TB) transmission remains a concern. Airborne infection isolation (AII) can be discontinued in hospitalized patients with suspected active pulmonary TB when the results of three consecutive sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears are negative. However, fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be performed in patients who may have difficulty in producing sputum samples.

Risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare pulmonary disease. Although most patients with PAVMs are asymptomatic, cerebral complications associated with PAVMs are often fatal. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with PAVMs.

Three cases of rigid bronchoscopic removal of carinal masses: Case report.

Tracheal tumors are rare diseases. They can cause narrowing of a central airway, a severe respiratory distress, and death. The objective of this case series is to highlight the role of rigid bronchoscopy in diagnosing and treating carina masses which are difficult to remove surgically.

Smoking cessation rates in elderly and nonelderly smokers after participating in an intensive care smoking cessation camp.

Since it is a widely known fact that smoking cessation is beneficial physically and cognitively, efforts should be made to enable smokers to quit smoking through policy. Intensive care smoking cessation camps generally show a high smoking cessation success rate, but research is needed to determine which smokers should be admitted due to costeffectiveness. Although many studies have been conducted to find factors related to smoking cessation success, there is still controversy about the will and success rate of smoking cessation of elderly smokers.

Comparison of clinical characteristics between chronic bronchitis and non-chronic bronchitis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic bronchitis (CB) is associated with poor outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics that distinguish chronic bronchitis (CB) from non-CB. In addition, the features of mild CB versus severe CB were compared and a cut-off level was defined according to CAT1 and CAT2 scores.

Life-threatening Mycobacterium intracellulare pleuritis in an immunocompetent host: Case reports.

Rationale: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-associated pleuritis is a very rare disease. Here, we describe 2 cases of life-threatening Mycobacterium intracellulare-associated pleuritis in immunocompetent hosts.

Patient Concerns: A 78-year-old man with sudden onset-onset dyspnea (case 1) and an 80-year-old man with cough, sputum and fever (case 2) presented to our emergency room.

Effects of a Mixture of Ivy Leaf Extract and on Patients with Chronic Bronchitis and Bronchiectasis.

Background: Hederacoside C from ivy leaf dry extracts (HH) and berberine from dry extracts (CR) can be combined (HHCR) as a herbal product. Previous studies have demonstrated that HHCR has antitussive and expectorant effects in animal models of respiratory disease. However, the therapeutic effects of HHCR on respiratory diseases in humans have not been well-studied.

The paradoxical response to short-acting bronchodilator administration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: There are a few studies about paradoxical bronchodilator response (BDR), which means a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) or forced vital capacity (FVC) after short-acting bronchodilator administration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the effect of paradoxical BDR on the clinical outcomes of COPD patients in South Korea.

Methods: We analyzed the KOrea COpd Subgroup Study team (KOCOSS) cohort data in South Korea between January 2012 and December 2017.

Efficacy of an inpatient smoking cessation program at a single regional cancer center: A prospective observational study.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and a risk factor for cancer, but smoking cessation is difficult even in patients who need hospitalization. This study aimed to investigate the usefulness of an inpatient smoking cessation consultation program and to analyze the clinical factors associated with abstinence. In this observational study, patients received regular counseling for 6 months, and abstinence was objectively assessed via urine and exhaled carbon monoxide testing.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia without a compromised illness.

Objective: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a fatal respiratory infection, mostly associated with immunocompromised conditions. Several reports have described PCP development in patients who were not immunocompromised, but the clinical course and prognosis of PCP are not well understood. We compared the clinical characteristics and prognoses between patients with and without immunocompromised conditions who developed PCP.

Hypersensitivity reactions to multiple anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate hypersensitivity reactions to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes of single and multiple drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs).

Results: Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with anti-TB DHRs using oral drug provocation tests.