The Role of Transbronchial Cryobiopsy in the Detection of Pulmonary Graft-versus-Host Disease.

Introduction: We investigated the incidence of chronic pulmonary complications in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients and analyzed the role of transbronchial cryobiopsy (cryoTBB) as a tool to determine the nature of pulmonary changes and to guide clinical decisions.

Methods: Patients who survived at least 6 months post HCT were included in the study. Pulmonary functional tests (PFTs) were performed in all patients as a screening tool.

Anti-HLA Immunization in Patients After Lung Transplantation: A Comparative Study Before and During the Pandemic.

Anti-human leukocyte antigen (anti-HLA) sensitization in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) can significantly impact graft survival and patient outcomes. The global pandemic, induced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, brought about numerous challenges in the medical sphere, including potential alterations in HLA immunization patterns among LTRs. A retrospective analysis of LTRs group transplanted from July 2018 to 1 March 2020 (pre-pandemic) was compared with patients transplanted from 1 March 2020 to December 2022 (during the pandemic).

Treatment of Patients After Lung Transplantation With Covid Infection During Long-Term Follow-Up.

Background: Patients undergoing lung transplantation are routinely managed with lifelong immunosuppression, which is associated with a heightened risk for infections. This study delves into the therapeutic challenges and strategies for managing lung transplant recipients (LTRs) infected with COVID-19 during long-term follow-up.

Methods: The was a case series analysis, among which nonstandard therapies consisting of targeted antibody treatment, antiviral drugs, or anti-interleukin-6 drugs were applied in patients after lung transplantation.

Antibody-mediated rejection with detection of de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen Class II antibodies after lung transplantation: Problems in diagnosis, treatment and monitoring on a case report basis.

Lung transplantation, like other transplants, carries a risk of graft rejection due to genetic differences between the donor and the recipient. In this paper, we focus on antibody-mediated rejection, which can cause acute and more importantly chronic graft dysfunction and subsequently shortened allograft survival. We present the case of a 46-year-old patient who, two months after lung transplantation (LTx), developed AMR manifested by the deterioration of graft function and de novo production of donor-specific antibodies (DSA): DQ3 (DQ7, DQ8, DQ9).

Demographic and Psychosocial Characteristics of Lung Transplant Candidates: Single-Center Analysis.

Background: Lung transplantation has changed the course of treatment of lung diseases for the better; however, there are various factors that should be considered to increase the probability of a better outcome. Factors such as the patient's background, level of education, and income could affect their perception and eventually the results of the procedure.

Methods: The present study involved patients who underwent the qualification process for lung transplant along with psychological and sociologic assessment at the Lung Transplant Unit in the Department of Cardiac Surgery and Vascular Surgery, Medical University of Gdansk.

Early and Midterm Results of Orthotopic Heart Transplantation in Poland (2015-2019).

Orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) has become one of the most expensive and resource-consuming treatment options for patients with end-stage heart failure. It is therefore useful to review clinical data, such as treatment duration after surgery and midterm follow-up in this group of patients. Contemporary epidemiologic data on early and midterm OHT follow-ups including patient demographics, hospitalization rates and related post-OHT morbidity, and mortality are scarce in Poland.

Routine Coronary Angiography is Still the Key Test for Patients Eligible for Lung Transplantation Also for Those With No Symptoms and With High Risk of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) has a considerable morbidity and mortality effect on the outcomes of a lung transplant. Currently, coronary angiography is performed as part of the pretransplant evaluation process. Unfortunately, there are no clear guidelines about performing cardiac angiography in lung transplant candidates.

Body Composition Before and After Heart or Lung Transplantation: Preliminary Results.

Little is known about the importance of changes in body composition of patients before and after heart or lung transplantation. Reduced muscle mass may be a poor prognostic factor for death and morbidity in patients after orthotopic heart transplantation. Only a few studies have shown data on changes in the amount of adipose tissue and muscle tissue and their impact on patient prognosis.

Lung Transplant in a Patient With Multifocal Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis After Chemotherapy With Cladribine: A Case Report.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare inflammatory disorder of myeloid dendritic cells with mutations involving KRAS, BRAF and/or NRAS, and MAP2K1 genes. We describe the case of a 58-year-old female previous smoker with multifocal LCH involving the lungs, pituitary gland and mandibular bone. Initial treatment with 6 cycles of cladribine showed improvement in her extrapulmonary lesions, however, her lung disease progressed and after qualification and assessment tests she underwent uncomplicated double lung transplant surgery and was discharged home.

Anti-HLA immunization of patients qualified for lung transplantation - Single center study.

For lung transplantation, the presence of donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSA) is an important factor of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in its hyperacute, acute or chronic form during long-term follow up. The aim of the study was to assess the allosensitization of Polish patients qualified for a lung transplantation in our center. A retrospective study of 161 potential lung allograft recipients, also of 31 patients transplanted in the University Hospital of Gdansk, between June 2018 and December 2020 were performed.

Cryobiopsy as a New Tool for Complications Diagnosis During Follow-up After Lung Transplantation: Single Institution Case Series.

Background: The first description of performing a new diagnostic procedure, cryobiopsy, in lung transplant recipients in Poland.

Methods: Three cases of patients after lung transplantation were analyzed in context of the procedure of cryobiopsy, which was performed in a hybrid room with a bronchoscopic video track and C-arm radiograph. Patients were subjected to complete anesthesia and intubated.

A Single-Center Experience with Lung Transplants During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND This single-center study analyzed distinctions between lung transplants performed in the Department of Cardiac and Vascular surgery of the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk, Poland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 189 patients who underwent the qualification procedure to lung transplantation in the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery of the University Clinical Center in Gdańsk, Poland in the years 2019 and 2020. The control group consisted of 12 patients transplanted in 2019, and the study group consisted of 16 patients transplanted in 2020.

Novel coronavirus-like particles targeting cells lining the respiratory tract.

Virus like particles (VLPs) produced by the expression of viral structural proteins can serve as versatile nanovectors or potential vaccine candidates. In this study we describe for the first time the generation of HCoV-NL63 VLPs using baculovirus system. Major structural proteins of HCoV-NL63 have been expressed in tagged or native form, and their assembly to form VLPs was evaluated.

Early Sirolimus-Based Immunosuppression is Safe for Lung Transplantation Patients: Retrospective, Single Arm, Exploratory Study.

BACKGROUND Sirolimus, a mechanistic target of sirolimus inhibitor, is an immunosuppression medication for patients undergoing heart and abdominal transplantation. Sirolimus-based immunosuppression administered de novo post-lung transplantation is associated with bronchial anastomosis healing-related complications. We hypothesized that sirolimus administration within the first postoperative month in selected lung transplant recipients is safe and may be associated with favorable short-term and long-term outcomes due to its anti-proliferative properties and minimal adverse side effects.

APOBEC3-mediated restriction of RNA virus replication.

APOBEC3 family members are cytidine deaminases with roles in intrinsic responses to infection by retroviruses and retrotransposons, and in the control of other DNA viruses, such as herpesviruses, parvoviruses and hepatitis B virus. Although effects of APOBEC3 members on viral DNA have been demonstrated, it is not known whether they edit RNA genomes through cytidine deamination. Here, we investigated APOBEC3-mediated restriction of Coronaviridae.

Serum Levels of Visfatin, Omentin and Irisin in Patients with End-Stage Lung Disease Before and After Lung Transplantation.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate serum concentrations of visfatin, irisin, and omentin in patients with end-stage lung diseases (ESLD) before and after lung transplantation (LTx) and to find relationship between adipokines levels and clinical outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fourteen consecutive lung transplant recipients (six males and seven females; age 32.0±14.

Entry of Human Coronavirus NL63 into the Cell.

The first steps of human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) infection were previously described. The virus binds to target cells by use of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and interacts with the ACE2 protein. Subsequent events, including virus internalization and trafficking, remain to be elucidated.

Superficial herpes simplex virus wound infection following lung transplantation.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are infections of tissues, organs, or spaces exposed by surgeons during performance of an invasive procedure. SSIs are classified into superficial, which are limited to skin and subcutaneous tissues, and deep. The incidence of deep SSIs in lung transplant (LTx) patients is estimated at 5%.

Pulmonary hypertension in advanced lung diseases: Echocardiography as an important part of patient evaluation for lung transplantation.

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common complication in advanced lung disease. Echocardiography provides additional information and may be useful to assess PH probability.

Objectives: The usefulness of combination of well-known echocardiographic parameters in detecting PH in patients with advanced lung disease referred for lung transplantation was evaluated.

HTCC: Broad Range Inhibitor of Coronavirus Entry.

To date, six human coronaviruses have been known, all of which are associated with respiratory infections in humans. With the exception of the highly pathogenic SARS and MERS coronaviruses, human coronaviruses (HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-HKU1) circulate worldwide and typically cause the common cold. In most cases, infection with these viruses does not lead to severe disease, although acute infections in infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients may progress to severe disease requiring hospitalization.

Aspirin 'resistance': impact on no-reflow, platelet and inflammatory biomarkers in diabetics after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: The no-reflow (NR) phenomenon exists despite percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and is especially prevalent in diabetics. The causes(s) of NR are not fully elucidated, but may be associated with impaired residual platelet and inflammatory reactivity during dual-antiplatelet therapy.

Objective: To assess the relationship between dual-antiplatelet therapy, NR and conventional biomarkers suggestive of platelet and inflammatory response in diabetics following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with PCI.

The nucleocapsid protein of human coronavirus NL63.

Human coronavirus (HCoV) NL63 was first described in 2004 and is associated with respiratory tract disease of varying severity. At the genetic and structural level, HCoV-NL63 is similar to other members of the Coronavirinae subfamily, especially human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E). Detailed analysis, however, reveals several unique features of the pathogen.

Urinary iodine as an iodine deficiency test in lung transplant recipients in order to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.

Background: In Poland, lung transplantation (LTx) as a routine method began in 2004, and since then, the Silesian Center for Heart Disease in Zabrze 85 LTx has performed (54 single-lung transplantations, 30 double-lung transplantations, and 1 heart-lung) transplantation. The recommendation to take vitamin supplements (without specific indication of the iodine content) does not apply to another iodine prophylaxis in patients after lung transplantation, excluding patients with known thyroid disease. The aim of this study was to assess thyroid gland function based on hormones and urinary iodine (UI) concentration in patients after LTx.

A functional assessment of patients two years after lung transplantation in Poland.

The Aim Of The Study: The aim of the study was to assess the long-term results of lung transplantation (LT) in Poland two years after the procedure.

Material And Methods: The study included patients who underwent LT between December 2004 and December 2009 in the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases in Zabrze. Various lung functions (forced vital capacity - FVC; forced expiratory volume in 1 second - FEV1), the quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire), the level of perceived dyspnea (Medical Research Council - MRC; basic dyspnea index - BDI), and the patient's mobility (the 6-minute walking test - 6MWT) were assessed before and approximately 24 months after LT.

Staphylococcus aureus proteases degrade lung surfactant protein A potentially impairing innate immunity of the lung.

The pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of lipids and proteins that is important for respiratory lung functions, which also provides the first line of innate immune defense. Pulmonary surfactant protein-A (SP-A) is a major surfactant component with immune functions with importance during Staphylococcus aureus infections that has been demonstrated in numerous studies. The current study showed that S.