Selexipag for patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with lung disease: A preliminary study.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-specific therapies are generally ineffective in patients with pulmonary hypertension associated with lung disease (PH-LD). The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of selexipag, titrated according to individual tolerance, in patients with PH-LD.

Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with PH-LD between October 2016 and March 2019, who received selexipag treatment, were retrospectively evaluated.

Effects of Irradiation During Computed Tomography Scanning on the Function of Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillators.

The effect of irradiation during computed tomography (CT) imaging on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) has not been fully evaluated in various settings. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the occurrence of electromagnetic interference (EMI) during CT irradiation in various clinically available ICDs with phantom experiments and to determine the potential risks related to irradiation during CT imaging. Five types of clinically available ICDs from five manufacturers were tested.

Incidence, etiology, and outcome of hospital-acquired pneumonia in patients with acute exacerbation of fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia.

Background: Acute exacerbations (AEs) of fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (fIIP) that require hospitalization occur in some patients. During hospitalization, these patients can develop hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), a common hospital-acquired infection with a high mortality rate. However, the characteristics of HAP in AE-fIIP remain unknown.

Role of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea with asthma-like symptoms.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the major co-morbidities and aggravating factors of asthma. In OSA-complicated asthma, obesity, visceral fat, and systemic inflammation are associated with its severity, but the role of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is unclear. We investigated the involvement of BHR and mediastinal fat width, as a measure of visceral fat, with OSA severity in patients with OSA and asthma-like symptoms.

Clinical implications of bronchoscopy for immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The utility of bronchoscopy for patients with suspected immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-related pneumonitis is currently debatable. The purpose of this study was to examine the findings of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with ICI-related pneumonitis, and to elucidate the clinical significance of bronchoscopy for this health condition.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive NSCLC patients treated with ICIs, diagnosed with ICI-related pneumonitis after undergoing bronchoscopy between October 2015 and March 2019 were retrospectively screened.

Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation programs including lower limb endurance training on dyspnea in stable COPD: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is recommended as an effective treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Previous meta-analyses showed that PR improves exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, they did not evaluate the effect of PR on the sensation of dyspnea.

Accuracy of objective tests for diagnosing adult asthma in symptomatic patients: A systematic literature review and hierarchical Bayesian latent-class meta-analysis.

Background: We obtain summary estimates of the accuracy of additional objective tests for the diagnosis of adult asthma using systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies.

Methods: Medline, Embase, and other relevant electronic databases were searched for papers published between January 1989 and December 2016. Studies were included if they evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of objective tests, including airway reversibility (AR), airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and fractionated exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) for the diagnosis of adult asthma in patients with symptoms suggestive of asthma.