Defining "Giant" Mediastinal Tumors: Proposal of a New Clinical-Radiological Classification and Case Report.

Mediastinal tumors, regardless of their location, can grow to significant sizes, causing compression-related symptoms. The term "giant" mediastinal tumor is inconsistently defined in the literature. This study presents a new clinical-radiological classification (CRC) for mediastinal tumors and evaluates its applicability through a systematic review and a detailed case analysis of a giant thymolipoma.

Management of COVID-19 Infection Associated Lung Abscess with Secondary Pleural Empyema Using Percutaneous Intracavitary Drainage: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

: COVID-19-related pulmonary complications, such as lung abscesses and pleural empyema, are rare but serious. This study presents a case series of three patients with COVID-19-associated lung abscesses complicated by pleural empyema, managed conservatively with percutaneous intracavitary drainage (ICD) and lavage. We assess the efficacy and safety of this treatment and compare our findings with the current literature.

Are adipokines related to COVID-19 and its severity? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The relationship between several adipokines and COVID-19 severity has lately been evaluated, results being inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association between adipokines in COVID-19 and its severity.

Methods: A search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase using predefined keywords.

Indwelling pleural catheter insertion technique.

This video tutorial is a step-by-step demonstration of the indwelling pleural catheter insertion technique in a patient who was diagnosed with malignant pleural effusions due to multiple metastases. Placing an indwelling pleural catheter is a novel method to treat chronic pleural effusions, especially secondary to malignancies. This method is particularly useful in patients with a trapped lung or with reduced life expectancy in whom more-invasive procedures are contraindicated.

Percutaneous tracheostomy using the Seldinger technique.

Patients with acute respiratory failure who are anticipated to have a significant recovery and require prolonged mechanical ventilation, defined as ventilation lasting 7 days or longer, should be evaluated for the potential need for a tracheostomy. A tracheostomy reduces the necessity for sedation and aids in the process of weaning patients. The popularity of percutaneous tracheostomy techniques, which can be carried out at the patient's bedside, has increased due to their ability to save costs associated with time in the operating room.

Increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Serum Level and the Role of +936C/T Gene Polymorphism in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a debilitating disease, with rising morbidity and mortality. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a major role in angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and airway remodeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between VEGF serum levels and VEGF +936 C/T gene polymorphism (rs3025039) with COPD, for the first time in a Romanian population.

Alveolar proteinosis - an underdiagnosed condition in young people.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease characterized by an abnormal intra-alveolar accumulation of surfactant derived lipoproteinaceous compounds, leading to dyspnea and, in severe cases, to respiratory failure. The most common form of PAP is the auto-immune one. Secondary PAP has been recognized in myeloid leukemia, non-hematological neoplasms, lung infections or environmental exposure to noxious particles.

Transthoracic ultrasound: an essential diagnostic tool in a very rare case of thoracic lymphangiomatosis.

Thoracic lymphangiomatosis (proliferation of anastomosing lymphatic vessels, of different sizes, in pulmonary, pleural and mediastinal regions) is an extremely rare disorder occurring mostly in childhood. We present a diffuse pulmonary lymphangiomatosis (DPL) case in a young adult female patient in which repeated surgical biopsies were inconclusive and transthoracic ultrasound-guided (TUS) biopsy led to the diagnosis. Even histologically, DPL is very difficult to differentiate from other lymphatic diseases such as lymphangioma and lymphangiomyomatosis, requiring an experienced pathologist and proper immunohistochemistry staining.

Correlations between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, blood eosinophils and clinical characteristics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background And Aims: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the third leading cause of death worldwide, with increasing mortality and morbidity. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and blood eosinophils level (EOS) represent biomarkers of inflammation in various diseases, with current research in the field of COPD. The aim of this study was to determine correlations of NLR and EOS with certain characteristics of COPD in a group of patients without major comorbidities.

Endobronchial ultrasound - one year of experience in clinical practice.

Background And Aim: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is a recent minimally invasive, safe examination method for the mediastinum, with a good diagnostic precision. This method makes possible real time examination with transbronchial fine needle aspiration, diagnostic transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and staging of non-small pulmonary tumors, as well as diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar adenopathies of various causes.

Methods: We present the experience of the Bronchoscopy Department of the Pulmonology Clinic of Cluj-Napoca with EBUS-TBNA as a tool for the diagnosis and staging of tumors in contact with the bronchial wall and mediastinal and hilar adenopathies of unknown etiology.

The value of laboratory tests in the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Background And Aim: In the last decades, the inhabitants of the Romanian region known as Jiu Valley underwent changes in their social and economic status which determined changes in behaviour and health, which influenced their general health condition. One of the consequences was the exacerbation of tuberculosis. In order to control this situation, there was a need to increase the efficiency of diagnosis.

Morbidity by tuberculosis in the Jiu Valley: relation with diagnostic practice and the impact on therapeutic results.

Background And Aim: In the last two and a half decades the dynamics of tuberculosis has been modelled by social and economic conditions, with consequences on the life style, and effects on the onset and evolution of the disease. The Jiu Valley is an area with social problems: mining, mines closing down and ceasing activity, poverty. We looked for a relationship between changes of life style in the Jiu Valley and the dynamics of tuberculosis.

Genomic analysis of globally diverse Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains provides insights into the emergence and spread of multidrug resistance.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), caused by drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is an increasingly serious problem worldwide. Here we examined a data set of whole-genome sequences from 5,310 M. tuberculosis isolates from five continents.

Bilateral central vein occlusion in a case of diaphragmatic eventration.

Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) is a severe retinal pathology, which causes visual impairment usually after the age of 40. Mostly unilateral, less than 10% of cases are bilateral. Affected young adults (under the age of 40), usually exhibit a hidden, underlying systemic disease.