Concurrent hypoglossal and phrenic nerve stimulation in patients with obstructive and treatment emergent central sleep apnea.

Background: Patients with obstructive or central sleep apnea are primarily treated with positive airway pressure treatment. There are novel implantable options targeting either obstructive sleep apnea using hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) or central sleep apnea using phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS).

Methods: Patients with sleep apnea were implanted with both HNS and PNS devices, and their response to each therapy was monitored using home sleep tests as well as Epworth Sleepiness scale (ESS).

Lung cancer invading the superior vena cava - surgical treatment. A short and up-to-date review.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of lung cancer, occurring in approximately 5-10% of cases. There are difficulties in the process of surgical treatment of SVC infiltrated by lung tumors but the contribution of technological evolution and innovation is promising.

Patient-reported experience with hypoglossal nerve stimulation in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Breathing-synchronized hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is routinely used as an alternative treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Significant and clinically relevant improvements in disease severity and OSA symptoms such as daytime sleepiness as well as overall quality of life have been reported in randomized-controlled trials and large real-world cohort studies. However, so far, few data exist on patient-reported experience with the treatment.

Ga-SSO-120 PET for Initial Staging of Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

PET imaging using the somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) antagonist satoreotide trizoxetan (SSO-120, previously OPS-202) could offer accurate tumor detection and screening for SSTR2-antagonist radionuclide therapy in patients with SSTR2-expressing small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The aim of this single-center study was to investigate tumor uptake and detection rates of Ga-SSO-120 in comparison to F-FDG PET in the initial staging of SCLC patients. Patients with newly diagnosed SCLC who underwent additional whole-body Ga-SSO-120 PET/CT during the initial diagnostic workup were retrospectively included.

Do skip-N2 metastases significantly impact overall survival and disease-free interval in N2 non-small-cell lung cancer patients? A multicentre analysis.

Objectives: Skip-N2 metastasis (N0N2), thus N2 metastasis in the absence of N1 metastasis, occurs in ∼20-30% of non-small-cell lung cancer patients. N0N2 patients have a better prognosis than continuous-N2 metastasis (N1N2) patients following surgery. However, this effect remains controversial.

Are Extensive Open Lung Resections for Elderly Patients with Lung Cancer Justified?

Background: Older patients with malignancies are more comorbid than younger ones and are usually undertreated only because of their age. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety of open anatomical lung resections for lung cancer in elderly patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent lung resection for lung cancer in our institution and categorized them into two groups: the elderly group (≥70 years old) and the control (<70).

Patient-reported outcomes with hypoglossal nerve stimulation for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) has recently been introduced as an alternative treatment for patients with OSA. A large number of studies have demonstrated substantial changes in OSA with this therapy by reducing respiratory events and improving symptoms such as daytime sleepiness and quality of life. The objective of this review was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate patient-reported outcomes and experience with HNS therapy.

Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis reveals differences in chemotherapeutic drug distribution in surgically resected pleural mesothelioma.

Aims: Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a highly aggressive thoracic tumour with poor prognosis. Although reduced tissue drug accumulation is one of the key features of platinum (Pt) resistance, little is known about Pt distribution in human PM.

Methods: We assessed Pt levels of blood samples and surgically resected specimens from 25 PM patients who had received neoadjuvant Pt-based chemotherapy (CHT).

Thoracic pain in patients with chronic interstitial lung disease-an underestimated symptom.

Introduction: Prevalence and predisposing factors for the development of thoracic pain (TP) in patients with chronic interstitial lung disease (cILD) are largely unknown. Underestimation and insufficient therapy of pain can lead to worsened ventilatory function. Quantitative sensory testing is an established tool for characterization of chronic pain and its neuropathic components.

Favorable survival outcomes in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer sequentially treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and osimertinib in a real-world setting.

Purpose: EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy in EGFR-mutated lung cancer is limited by acquired resistance. In half of the patients treated with first/second-generation (1st/2nd gen) TKI, resistance is associated with EGFR p.T790M mutation.

Surgical Repair of Spontaneous Lung Herniation Induced by Vigorous Coughing: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Lung herniation is a rare clinical entity defined by extrathoracic protrusion of the lung or lung tissue due to a weakness in the thoracic wall. We present here a case of a 72-year-old male who presented with a spontaneous lung herniation, which occurred as a result of a ventral luxation of the third rib from the sternocostal joint due to vigorous coughing. The defect was repaired through anterolateral thoracotomy, reposition of the lung and approximating the ribs using heavy sutures.

TROP2 expression and SN38 antitumor activity in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells provide a rationale for antibody-drug conjugate therapy.

Objectives: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer which at large is not amenable to curative surgery. Despite the recent approval of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, the response rates and survival following systemic therapy is still limited. Sacituzumab govitecan is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting the topoisomerase I inhibitor SN38 to trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP-2)-positive cells.

A comparative study of four thoracic mortality scores.

Background: The percentage of patients in resectable stages at initial diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) raises due to better screening programs. Therefore, risk prediction models are becoming more critical. Here, we validated and compared four established scoring models, the Thoracoscore, Epithor, Eurloung 2, and the simplified Eurolung 2 (2b), in their ability to predict 30-day mortality.

Use of drug-induced sleep endoscopy in Germany-an analysis based on claims data.

Background: Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) has recently gained relevance as a diagnostic tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, it is unclear to what extent and in which patient cohorts DISE is used in Germany. With introduction of specific coding for this method in 2021 ( OPS code), usage can now be analyzed based on diagnosis-related groups (DRG) claims data.

Personalized Treatment for Patients With Lung Cancer.

Background: Lung cancer is the most common cause of death among all types of cancer in Germany, with an annual death rate of 45 000 patients. Over the past 15 years, innovations in diagnosis and treatment have prolonged the survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer in all tumor stages.

Methods: This review of the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer is based on current national and international guidelines, and on prospective trials with the highest possible level of evidence that were retrieved by a selective search of the literature.

Short-Term Outcomes and Risk Factors of In-Hospital Mortality in Patients Suffering Acute Mesenteric Ischemia after Cardiac Surgery: Role of Opioids and Lactic Acid.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is associated with poor clinical results after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of AMI on short-term outcomes and all relevant risk factors of in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the role of opioids and lactic acid in the detection and prevention of AMI.

Early Treatment with Monoclonal Antibodies or Convalescent Plasma Reduces Mortality in Non-Vaccinated COVID-19 High-Risk Patients.

Vulnerable patients such as immunosuppressed or elderly patients are at high risk for a severe course of COVID-19 upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Immunotherapy with SARS-CoV-2 specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) or convalescent plasma represents a considerable treatment option to protect these patients from a severe or lethal course of infection. However, monoclonal antibodies are not always available or less effective against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Preoperative PET-SUVmax and volume based PET parameters of the primary tumor fail to predict nodal upstaging in early-stage lung cancer.

Objectives: Accurate nodal staging is of utmost importance in patients with lung cancer. FDG-PET/CT imaging is now part of the routine staging. Despite thorough preoperative staging nodal upstaging still occurs in early-stage lung cancer.

Upregulation of miRNA-200c during Disease Progression in COVID-19 Patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 6 million deaths worldwide since its first outbreak in December 2019 and continues to be a major health problem. Several studies have established that the infection by SARS-CoV-2 can be categorized in a viremic, acute and recovery or severe phase. Hyperinflammation during the acute pneumonia phase is a major cause of severe disease progression and death.

Bronchial artery diameter in massive hemoptysis in cystic fibrosis.

Background: Massive hemoptysis is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and advanced pulmonary disease. Hypertrophied bronchial arteries are understood to cause massive hemoptysis when rupturing. Risk factors to predict massive hemoptysis are scarce and bronchial artery diameters are not part of any scoring system in follow-up of patients with CF.

Sleeve lobectomy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: a report from the European Society of Thoracic Surgery database 2021.

Objectives: For centrally located lung tumours, sleeve lobectomy is preferred over pneumectomy. We report on the surgical practices and perioperative outcomes of sleeve resections based on data from the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons database.

Methods: We retrieved data of patients undergoing sleeve lobectomy or bilobectomy from 2007 to 2021.

Long-term cellular immune response in immunocompromised unvaccinated COVID-19 patients undergoing monoclonal antibody treatment.

Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for a severe course of COVID-19. Treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has become widely accepted. However, the effects of mAb treatment on the long-term primary cellular response to SARS-CoV-2 are unknown.

Prediction of malignant lymph nodes in NSCLC by machine-learning classifiers using EBUS-TBNA and PET/CT.

Accurate determination of lymph-node (LN) metastases is a prerequisite for high precision radiotherapy. The primary aim is to characterise the performance of PET/CT-based machine-learning classifiers to predict LN-involvement by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in stage-III NSCLC. Prediction models for LN-positivity based on [F]FDG-PET/CT features were built using logistic regression and machine-learning models random forest (RF) and multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP) for stage-III NSCLC before radiochemotherapy.