An Overview of Tracheal Stenosis Research Trends and Hot Topics.

Background: Tracheal stenosis remains a challenge in the thoracic surgery field. Recognizing the hot topics and major concepts in this area would help the health policy makers to determine their own priorities and design the effective research plans. The present study analyzed and mapped the topics and trends of tracheal stenosis studies over time as well as authors' and countries' contributions.

Item Selection and Content Validity of the Risk Factors of Post-Intubation Tracheal Stenosis Observation Questionnaire for ICU-Admitted Patients.

Background: Laryngotracheal stenosis as a late complication of prolonged endotracheal intubation is a life-threatening event. In order to determine the related risk factors for this complication, which may vary among different countries, designing a valid questionnaire is necessary. The aim of this study was to select the items and evaluate the face and content validities of a questionnaire developed for assessment of risk factors of post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) in patients admitted in the intensive care unit.

Bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection induces exosomal miRNA release by human macrophages.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern and its diagnosis is challenging due to the limitations in the specificity and sensitivity of the current diagnostic tests. Exosomes are bioactive 30-100 nm vesicles produced by most cell types and are found in almost all human body fluids. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) can transfer biological information between cells and tissues and may act as potential biomarkers in many diseases.

Diagnostic Value and Effective Factors on Transbronchial Lung Biopsy Using Cup and Alligator Forceps.

Background: Lung biopsy through the airways by using a flexible bronchoscope (transbronchial lung biopsy: TBLB) is a suitable method for obtaining tissue specimens. This study aimed at evaluating the factors influencing TBLB results in order to increase the diagnostic power of this method.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective double blind observational study.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine complications in Iranian children at a University Hospital.

Background: Although the BCG vaccine remains the only available vaccine, a number of complications from local to systemic adverse reactions can occur.

Objective: The aim of the study was to review the clinical features and treatment of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) complications in children.

Methods: Children with clinical and laboratory findings compatible with a diagnosis of local complication and disseminated disease at Masih Daneshvari Medical Center were enrolled from March 2013 to September 2015.

Computed Tomography Findings of Pulmonary Infection.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary infections can be quite similar to tuberculosis, both clinically and radiologically. However, the treatment protocol is not similar. is a rare cause of NTM pulmonary infection.

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.

Comparison of single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNP] at TNF-α promoter region with TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) in susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis; using PCR-RFLP technique.

Since apoptosis and survival of the immune cells are crucially important in prevention or predisposition of individual from/to infections, especially in intracellular ones, the current study was performed to assess the correlation of host genetic polymorphisms with susceptibility to TB. For this reason, we investigated the difference of the single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] in tumor necrosis factors [TNF-α] genes at (-238, -308, -857 and -863 position) and tumor necrosis factors receptors two [TNFR2] at (T 587 G position) between patients [n=151] and control [n=83]. The genotyping was studied by using PCR-RFLP which had high sensitivity in detecting compared with other techniques.

Deletion of region of difference 181 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing strains.

Objectives/background: The region of differences (RDs) polymorphisms is a potential molecular epidemiology method to distinguish origins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. To date, 68 RDs have been identified in M. tuberculosis.

Using competing risks model and competing events in outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

Introduction: Although tuberculosis (TB) is curable, the rate of failure and mortality is high in comparison to other infectious diseases worldwide. It has been shown that majority of TB patients leave treatment before completing the therapeutic regimen. The aftermath of incomplete regimens might result in drug resistant-TB bacilli (DR-TB), relapses, and death.

Identification of different subtypes of rapid growing Atypical Mycobacterium from water and soil sources: Using PCR-RFLP using hsp65 and rRNA 16s-23s genes.

Objective/background: Nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) are a diverse group of microorganisms that cause a variety of diseases in humans including skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal tract infection. Generally, NTM are classified into two categories: rapid (<7days) and slow growing (>7days). In this study, we aimed to investigate NTM frequency and prevalence in environmental samples.

The importance of single nucleotide polymorphisms in interferon gamma receptor-1 gene in pulmonary patients infected with rapid grower mycobacterium.

Objective/background: Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) plays a key role in protective immune response against Mycobacterial infection. IFN-γ excretes its antimycobacterial effectors mechanisms by activation of macrophages and dendritic cells via interaction with its receptor complex, that is, a ligand-binding subunit [IFN-γ receptor (IFNGR)1] and an accessory subunit (IFNGR2) on the cell surface. It has been shown that individuals with complete or partial IFNGR1 receptor deficiency are highly susceptible to infection by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and some Salmonella species.

Susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis: host genetic deficiency in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2).

Objective/background: The susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) depends upon different factors, and the risk of developing diseases after infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis ranges from 5% to 10%. This suggests that besides the mycobacterial itself, the host genetic factors may determine the differences in host susceptibility to TB. Among the important risk factors, cytokines and especially tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) genes, are thought to be responsible for regulating the protective immune responses.

Molecular detection of fluoroquinolone resistance-associated gyrA mutations in ofloxacin-resistant clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from Iran and Belarus.

Objective/background: Detection of mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of the gyrA gene could determine resistance to fluoroquinolone antituberculosis drugs. The aim of this study was to detect mutations in QRDRs.

Methods: From 184 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, ofloxacin resistance was proven in 42 isolates using the proportion method.

Epidemiology of multidrug-resistant, extensively drug resistant, and totally drug resistant tuberculosis in Middle East countries.

The 2015 represent the deadline for the global tuberculosis (TB) targets set through the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). From 2016 and onward, new goals were set to end the global TB epidemic via implementing new campaign entitled "the End TB Strategy". The major hurdle to end TB epidemic in several parts of the world is the emergence and spread of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) strains.

Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion: Establishment and Operationalization in Iran.

Objectives: Although the number of lung transplants is limited because of general shortage of organ donors, ex vivo lung perfusion is a novel method with 2 main benefits, including better evaluation of lung potential and recovery of injured lungs. The main aim of this study was to establish and operationalize ex vivo lung perfusion as the first experience in Iran.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective operational research study on 5 cases, including 1 pig from Vienna Medical University and 4 patients from Masih Daneshvari Hospital.

Radiologic manifestations of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients of intensive care units.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a serpent disease with various pulmonary manifestations, and timely diagnosis of the disease is paramount, since delayed treatment is associated with severe morbidity, particularly in intensive care units (ICU). Therefore, it is imperative that intensivists understand the typical distribution, patterns, and imaging manifestations of TB.

Aim: To describe different manifestations of pulmonary TB in patients in the ICU.

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction 33 Days after Lung Transplant in a Patient with Non-Significant CAD before Transplantation: A Case Report.

Acute myocardial infarction after lung transplantation is not well illustrated in the literature. We present a patient with documented non significant Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in coronary angiography before lung transplant who was referred to our hospital with acute Myocardial Infarction (MI) 33 days following lung transplantation.

Association of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio and Pulmonary Hypertension in Sarcoidosis Patients.

Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has emerged as a new marker of inflammation associated with the severity of several respiratory and cardiac diseases.

Materials And Methods: We investigated whether the degree of systemic inflammation in sarcoidosis patients as measured by the NLR is associated with pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Results: A NLR > 3.

Estimation of Ten-Year Survival of Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Based on the Competing Risks Model in Iran.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic bacterial disease, which despite the presence of effective drug strategies, still remains a serious health problem worldwide. Estimation of survival rate is an appropriate indicator for prognosis in patients with pulmonary TB. Therefore, this research was designed with the aim of accurate estimation of the survival of patients by taking both the death event and relapse into consideration.

Populations of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis lack a cell wall: Isolation, visualization, and whole-genome characterization.

Objective/background: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) causes active tuberculosis (TB) in only a small percentage of infected people. In most cases, the infection is clinically latent, where bacilli can persist in human hosts for years without causing disease. Surprisingly, the biology of such persister cells is largely unknown.

Different and Unpredictable Clinical Outcome of Ruptured Pulmonary Hydatid Cysts.

Most authors believe that the best treatment for pulmonary hydatid disease is surgical evacuation. Although albendazole has been used prophylactically before surgery, there are many reports about increased incidence of the rupture of cyst after albendazole therapy, which can cause some complications. In this case report we present a patient with bilateral pulmonary hydatid cyst that was ruptured after using albendazole and different strategies were used for management of each cyst.

Experimental replacement of esophagus with a short segment of trachea.

Background: Segmental resection of esophagus with primary anastomosis is prohibited because of the risk of dehiscence. We previously have shown that replacement of a segment of cervical esophagus with a tracheal segment of the same length could successfully be performed in a canine model. In this study, we sought to assess the feasibility of replacement of the esophageal defect with a shorter segment of trachea.

Breathlessness from the Perspective of the Persian Medicine.

Dyspnea is one of the most complaints in the pulmonary diseases. Shortness of breath as a subjective symptom can decrease the quality of life of patients. Although symptomatic treatment of the patients with chemical drugs is efficient in sign reduction, drugs side effect and allowing the disease to become chronic are risky for patients.

Role of Innate Lymphoid Cells in Lung Disease.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are identified as novel population of hematopoietic cells which protect the body by coordinating the innate immune response against a wide range of threats including infections, tissue damages and homeostatic disturbances. ILCs, particularly ILC2 cells, are found throughout the body including the brain. ILCs are morphologically similar to lymphocytes, express and release high levels of T-helper (Th)1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines but do not express classical cell-surface markers that are associated with other immune cell lineages.