Malignant Lung Diseases Research Articles

Retracted] Quantitative Parameters of Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound Combined with Lung Biopsy Were Used to Evaluate the Benign and Malignant Lesions around the Lungs

In recent years, due to the influence of living habits and smoking, the number of lung cancer patients worldwide has increased year by year, and it has gradually developed into one of the common diseases endangering human life. CEUS can observe the lesion and realize the rapid identification of the location of the active area of the lesion. CEUS is the abbreviation of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound technology. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound technology is to inject ultrasound contrast agent through a peripheral vein to perform ultrasound exploration to observe the enhancement of the internal nodules. Compared with color ultrasound, it can diagnose more accurately and improve the inspection effect. At present, this technology is used for the diagnosis of many types of space‐occupying lesions, but it is rarely used for the diagnosis of lung lesions. The purpose of this study is to explore the role of CEUS quantitative parameters combined with lung biopsy in the assessment of benign and malignant peripheral lung diseases. Based on the relevant theoretical basis of CEUS and lung biopsy, 158 patients with peripheral lung disease were selected as experimental subjects, and they were divided into experimental group and control group for comparative experiments. Experiments proved the effectiveness of CEUS quantitative parameters combined with lung biopsy methods. The experimental results showed that, compared with the benign group, the time‐intensity curve, the rise time, and the peak time of the malignant lesions were significantly prolonged. In addition, CEUS combined with the quantitative parameters of lung biopsy can effectively distinguish the activity of lung lesions and the site of necrosis and promote the effective increase of the positive rate of lung biopsy.

PECULIARITIES OF CORONARY REVASCULARIZATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH DIAGNOSED LUNG CANCER AND CONCOMITANT ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE

The object of the study: coronary revascularization in patients with malignant lung diseases and concomitant ischemic heart disease. The problem to be solved: selection of the optimal tactics for coronary bypass grafting simultaneously with lung resections. Main scientific results: an individual approach to the choice of tactics for carrying out simultaneous operations in patients with malignant lung diseases and concomitant ischemic heart disease is proposed. It has been shown that performing coronary artery bypass grafting simultaneously with lung resections, according to the proposed methods, allows minimizing surgical trauma and eliminating the influence of additional risk factors associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The area of practical use of research results: surgical hospitals. An innovative technological product: methods for performing simultaneous coronary (artery) bypass grafting in patients with malignant lung diseases, based on the use of sternotomy, thoracotomy and mini-thoracotomy approaches. The area of application of an innovative technological product: clinical practice of performing simultaneous operations for combined pathology of the heart and lungs in medical institutions of a general surgical profile.

LncRNA SOX2-OT regulates AKT/ERK and SOX2/GLI-1 expression, hinders therapy, and worsens clinical prognosis in malignant lung diseases.

The involvement of LncRNA SOX2-overlapping transcript (SOX2-OT), SOX2, and GLI-1 transcription factors in cancer has been well documented. Nonetheless, it is still unknown whether co-expressed SOX2-OT/SOX2 or SOX2-OT/SOX2/GLI-1 axes are epigenetically/transcriptionally involved in terms of resistance to oncology therapy and in poorer clinical outcomes for patients with lung cancer. We evaluated the role of SOX2-OT/SOX2 and SOX2-OT/SOX2/GLI-1 axes using RT-qPCR, western blot, immunofluorescence analyses, gene silencing, cellular cytotoxic, and ChIP-qPCR assays on human cell lines, solid lung malignant tumors, and normal lung tissue. We detected that the SOX2-OT/SOX2/GLI-1 axis promotes resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-erlotinib and cisplatin-based therapy. Evidence from this study show that SOX2-OT modulates the expression/activation of EGFR-pathway members AKT/ERK. Further, both SOX2-OT and GLI-1 genes are epigenetically regulated at their promoter sequences, in an LncRNA SOX2-OT-dependent manner, mainly through modifying the enrichment of the activation histone mark H3K4me3/H3K27Ac, versus the repressive histone mark H3K9me3/H3K27me3. In addition, we identified that inhibition of SOX2-OT and reduced expression of SOX2/GLI-1 sensitizes lung cancer cells to EGFR/TKI-erlotinib or cisplatin-based treatment. Finally, we show that high co-expression of SOX2-OT/SOX2 transcripts and SOX2/GLI-1 proteins appears to correlate with a poor clinical prognosis and lung malignant phenotype. Collectively, these results present evidence that LncRNA SOX2-OT modulates an orchestrated resistance mechanism, promoting poor prognosis and human lung malignancy through genetic, epigenetic, and post-translational mechanisms.

A CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL STUDY ON CYTOLOGICAL SCREENING OF BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE AND SUBSEQUENT CORRELATION WITH ADENOSINE DEAMINASE, GENEXPERT MTB IN SUSPECTED SPUTUM NEGATIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

BACKGROUND: Sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis is a world-wide burden on health budget. Clinico- radiologically suspected sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis needs to be diagnosed using cytopathology along with ADA levels and GeneXpert MTB tests of BAL fluid obtained through bronchoscopy. AIM: To interpret the cytological screening of bronchoalveolar lavage and subsequent correlation with adenosine deaminase, genexpert mtb in suspected sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: Patients visiting Pulmonary Medicine outdoor of R.GKAR Medical College Hospital, who are clinico radiologically being suspected as pulmonary tuberculosis but are sputum smear AFB negative on two consecutive samples. The study group includes these patients who are willing to undergo bronchoscopy, in whom there are neither any medical contraindications nor other miscellaneous restraints i.e. the study group contains cases of pulmonary TB as well as other infectious malignant non-infectious lung diseases. RESULT: Of the 61 patients, 41(67.2%) patients were male and 20(32.8%) patients were female. The average age of male patients was 51.71years and the average age of female patients was 39.35years.The mean ADA level of BAL fluid in patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis was 22.54 U/L (Normal level – less than 30 U/L) and mean ADA level of BAL fluid in patients without Pulmonary Tuberculosis was 4.76 U/L (Normal level – less than 30 U/L). CONCLUSION: Cytology of bronchoalveolar lavage along with adenosine deaminase and GeneXpert MTB are important diagnostic and screening tools in suspected sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis. As it can detect different kinds of inflammatory and other types of cells, it can also help in choosing the appropriate therapeutic procedure / modality for a disease.

Occupational medical pneumology - what's new?

In case of obstructive, interstitial and malignant respiratory and lung diseases, occupational causes must always be searched for. The sensitivity and specificity of specific IgE determinations in the diagnosis of occupational asthma are only slightly above 70 %, even for high-molecular allergens. If the patient's medical history is positive, further diagnostics must be carried out, if necessary up to specific exposure testing in specialised institutions. New data show that the serial FeNO determination after working days compared to days off contains additional information that can lead to a positive diagnostic classification. In case of interstitial lung diseases, (avoidable) occupational triggers must be searched for - a new questionnaire provides practical assistance. Patients with lung carcinoma should also be investigated for occupational causes. Here too, questionnaires and tables are available in simple language. In future lung cancer caused by long-term exposure to passive smoke will be considered an occupational disease.

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 methylation status in the circulating DNA from blood of patients with malignant and chronic inflammatory lung diseases.

Along with other malignant diseases, lung cancer arises from the precancerous lung tissue state. Aberrant DNA methylation (hypermethylation of certain genes and hypomethylation of retrotransposons) is known as one of the driving forces of malignant cell transformation. Epigenetic changes were shown to be detectable in DNA, circulating in the blood (cirDNA) of cancer patients, indicating the possibility to use them as cancer markers. The current study is the first to compare the Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) methylation level in the blood from lung cancer patients before treatment versus different control groups as healthy subjects, patients with bronchitis and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The concentration of LINE-1 methylated fragments, region 1 (LINE-1 methylated, LINE-1-met) was estimated by quantitative methyl-specific PCR. The total concentration of the circulating LINE-1 copies was measured by qPCR specific for LINE-1 region 2, which was selected due to its CpG methylation-independent sequence (LINE-1-Ind). Both LINE-1 methylation level and LINE-1 methylation index (LINE-1-met/LINE-1-Ind ratio) was decreased in lung cancer patients compared with the joint control group (healthy subjects + patients with bronchitis + COPD patients) (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.016). We also found that the tendency of LINE-1 methylation index decreases in the cirDNA from lung cancer patients versus COPD patients (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.07). Our data indicate that the quantitative analysis of the LINE-1 methylation level in the cirDNA is valuable for discrimination of lung cancer patients from patients with chronic inflammatory lung diseases.

Modeling of the Desialylated Human Serum N-glycome for Molecular Diagnostic Applications in Inflammatory and Malignant Lung Diseases

Immunoglobulin G and A, transferrin, haptoglobin and alpha-1- antitrypsin represent approximately 85% of the human serum glycoproteome and their N-glycosylation analysis may lead to the discovery of important molecular disease markers. However, due to the labile nature of the sialic acid residues, the desialylated subset of the serum N-glycoproteome has been traditionally utilized for diagnostic applications. Creating a five-protein model to deconstruct the overall N-glycosylation fingerprints in inflammatory and malignant lung diseases. The N-glycan pool of human serum and the five high abundant serum glycoproteins were analyzed. Simultaneous endoglycosidase/sialidase digestion was followed by fluorophore labeling and separation by CE-LIF to establish the model. Pooled serum samples from patients with COPD, lung cancer (LC) and their comorbidity were all analyzed. Nine significant (>1%) asialo-N-glycan structures were identified both in human serum and the standard protein mixture. The core-fucosylated-agalacto-biantennary glycan differentiated COPD and LC and both from the control and the comorbidity groups. Decrease in the core-fucosylated-agalacto-biantennary-bisecting, monogalacto and bigalacto structures differentiated all disease groups from the control. The significant increase of the fucosylated-galactosylated-triantennary structure was highly specific for LC, to a medium extent for COPD and a lesser extent for comorbidity. Also, some increase in the afucosylated-galactosylated-biantennary structure in all three disease types and afucosylated-galactosylated-triantennary structures in COPD and LC were observed in comparison to the control group. Our results suggested that changes in the desialylated human serum Nglycome hold glycoprotein specific molecular diagnostic potential for malignant and inflammatory lung diseases, which can be modeled with the five-protein mixture.

The Scope of Clinical Thoracic Surgery Practice in Nigeria: 13-Year Single Center Review

Background: Thoracic surgery as one of the oldest surgical specialties to have branched off from general surgeryhas a relatively wide scope, covering the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases affecting the various regions ofthechest. The practice of this specialty and challenges affecting it in Nigeria is hereby reviewed. Aims/Objective: To review the scope of clinical thoracic surgery practice in Nigeria including its challenges and compare same with international standard. Methods: For a period of 13 years (2007-2019), the practice of clinical thoracic surgery in Nigeria was reviewed with data from the National Cardiothoracic Center of Excellence (NCTCE). The social-demography profile of the involved patients, the congenital and acquired pathologies of the various anatomic regions of the chest, diagnosis and treatmentmethodologies including outcomes and challenges were extracted from the database, reviewed and analyzed. Results: A total of 1883 general thoracic pathologies in 1200 patients were managed. Of this number, pleural pathology accounted for the highest number (n=687, 35.6%). 657 males and 543 females were involved with aM: F ratio of 1:0.8. Of 1883 cases, 1283 (68.1%) had some form of surgical interventions. Within this group, chest tube drainage± pleural biopsy/pleurodesiswasthehighest (n=611, 47.6%). Late presentations of malignant lung diseases, lack of expertise and equipment for minimal access techniques were some of the challenges. Conclusion: General thoracic surgery as a mono-specialty should be embraced, encouraged and upgraded by the training institutions in our sub-region since the workload for experts in the specialty is enormous.

Disseminated lung disease in elderly patient with multimorbidity and HIV infection (clinical case)

Disseminated lung diseases have similar non-specific manifestations in various etiologies, pathogenesis, and morphology. Pulmonary dissemination is the concept of X-ray, there are no pathognomonic symptoms on a radiograph that are inherent in a particular disease with pulmonary dissemination, therefore, in real clinical practice, differential diagnosis in pulmonary dissemination is the prerogative of the physician. Diseases that are manifested by pulmonary dissemination can be classified by dissemination of infectious causes (tuberculosis, HIV-associated dissemination, fungal lesions), malignant pulmonary lesions (carcinomatosis, cancer lymphangitis), cardiogenic dissemination and interstitial lung diseases. In recent years, the incidence of allergic interstitial lung diseases has increased. Infectious lesions of the lungs in patients with HIV infection and reduced immune status in many cases also have a disseminated form and cause difficulties in the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis. The article presents a clinical case of pneumocystis pneumonia in an HIV-infected patient with pulmonary dissemination syndrome on X-ray. The difficulties of the diagnostic search with low compliance of the patient and the physician are shown (a patient registered with HIV for 10 years hid this fact of his history from the attending physician and gave a written refusal to get tested for HIV fibrobronchoscopy). The possibility of introducing compulsory HIV screening for all patients admitted to the hospital with disseminated processes in the lungs has been considered.

Advances in Optical Coherence Tomography and Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy in Pulmonary Diseases

Diagnosing and monitoring pulmonary diseases is highly dependent on imaging, physiological function tests and tissue sampling. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) are novel imaging techniques with near-microscopic resolution that can be easily and safely combined with conventional bronchoscopy. Disease-related pulmonary anatomical compartments can be visualized, real time, using these techniques. In obstructive lung diseases, airway wall layers and related structural remodelling can be identified and quantified. In malignant lung disease, normal and malignant areas of the central airways, lung parenchyma, lymph nodes and pleura can be discriminated. A growing number of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have been visualized using OCT or CLE. Several ILD-associated structural changes can be imaged: fibrosis, cellular infiltration, bronchi(ol)ectasis, cysts and microscopic honeycombing. Although not yet implemented in clinical practice, OCT and CLE have the potential to improve detection and monitoring pulmonary diseases and can contribute in unravelling the pathophysiology of disease and mechanism of action of novel treatments. Indeed, assessment of the airway wall layers with OCT might be helpful when evaluating treatments targeting airway remodelling. By visualizing individual malignant cells, CLE has the potential as a real-time lung cancer detection tool. In the future, both techniques could be combined with laser-enhanced fluorescent-labelled tracer detection. This review discusses the value of OCT and CLE in pulmonary medicine by summarizing the current evidence and elaborating on future perspectives.

Pulmonary Artery Resection During Lung Resection for Malignancy

Complete resection of central tumors invading the main pulmonary artery (PA) requires arterial reconstruction to avoid pneumonectomy. Oncologic equivalence with pneumonectomy has been suggested. We review clinical selection and outcome for these uncommon procedures in the context of candidacy for pneumonectomy. From 2000 to 2018, 9 different surgeons performed 34 pulmonary arterial resections for primary or metastatic pulmonary malignancy, with independent determination of pneumonectomy candidacy and arterioplasty technique. Patients undergoing limited lateral stapled PA resection (n= 3) or resection for metastasis (n= 3) were excluded from survival analysis. The PA was resected as a sleeve with primary anastomosis (14.7%) or noncircumferentially with primary (61.8%), stapled (8.8%), or patch (14.7%) closure. Arterial resections represented between 2.5% and 43% of each surgeon's pneumonectomy volume. Sixteen (47%) patients were candidates for pneumonectomy. There was no operative mortality and 1 death at 47 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 21 (61.8%) patients. No patient required completion pneumonectomy. Overall 5-year survival was 33% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12-53). Compared with pulmonary arterioplasty alone, patients undergoing bronchial sleeve resection and pulmonary arterioplasty had better disease-free 5-year survival (50% [95% CI, 18-82] vs 19% [95% CI, 5-43]; P= .04), higher complete resection rate (100% [95% CI, 83-100] vs 80% [95% CI, 56-94]; P= .23) and lower disease recurrence (8% [n= 1 of 13] vs 47% [n= 7 of 15]; P= .04); 80% of disease recurrence was distant. Resection and reconstruction of the PA for malignant lung disease may be safely performed. In candidates for pneumonectomy, arterial resection offers low operative risk. Long-term survival is impaired by distant, not local, recurrence emphasizing the importance of systemic therapy.

Updated mortality analysis of the Mallinckrodt uranium processing workers, 1942–2012

Purpose Mallinckrodt Chemical Works (MCW) was the earliest uranium processing facility in the United States, and in 1942 produced the uranium oxide used for the first sustained and controlled nuclear fission chain-reaction at the University of Chicago. A second follow-up through 2012 was conducted of 2514 White male workers employed 1942–1966 at the MCW for dose-response analyses for selected causes of death. Materials and methods Organ/tissue-specific dose reconstruction included both external (12,686 MCW film badge records, 210 other facility film badge records, and 31,297 occupational chest x-rays) and internal sources of uranium and radium (39,451 urine bioassays, 2341 breath radon measurements, and 6846 ambient radon measurements). Dust measurements from pitchblende facilitated quantitative risk estimates for non-radiogenic effects on the lung and kidney. Vital status was determined from multiple sources including the National Death Index and the Social Security Administration. Cox regression models were used for dose response analyses. Results Vital status was determined for 99% of the workers, of whom 75% had died. The mean lung dose from all sources of external and internal radiation combined was 69.9 mGy (maximum 885 mGy; percent workers >100 mGy, 10%) and there was no evidence for a dose response for lung cancer (Hazard Ratio (HR) of 0.95 (95% CI = 0.81–1.12) at 100 mGy). A significant association with radiation was found for kidney cancer (HR of 1.73 (95% CI = 1.04–2.79) at 100 mGy) and suggested for nonmalignant kidney diseases (HR of 1.30 (95% CI = 0.96–1.76) at 100 mGy). A non-radiation etiology could not be discounted, however, because of the possible renal toxicities of uranium, a heavy metal, and silica, a component of pitchblende dust. Non-significant HRs at 100 mGy for other sites of a priori interest were 0.36 (0.06–2.03) for leukemia other than CLL, 0.68 (0.17–2.77) for liver cancer, and 1.23 (0.79–1.90) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The HR at 100 mGy was 1.09 (0.99–1.20) for ischemic heart disease. An association was seen between dust and combined malignant and non-malignant lung disease, HR at 10 mgm−3year−1 of 1.01 (1.00–1.02). Conclusions A positive radiation dose response was observed for malignant and non-malignant kidney disease, and a negative dose response for malignant and non-malignant lung disease. Cumulative measures of dust were significantly associated with malignant and non-malignant lung disease and suggested for malignant and non-malignant kidney disease. Small numbers preclude definitive interpretations which will await the combination with similar studies of early uranium processing workers.

Quantitative measurement of air leak in patients with chest drains.

This study aims to evaluate a new method that detects peak air leak speed and peak air leak flow, investigate the correlation between the amount of air leak and development of prolonged air leak, and identify patients who are at risk of developing prolonged air leak after lung resection. In this prospective trial, the amount of air leak was measured with the assistance of an anemometer connected to the top of a standard underwater drainage system, and a mobile phone with android operating system. Patients who underwent tube thoracostomy for spontaneous pneumothorax were assigned to group 1 (18 males, 1 female; mean age 31.6±10.9 years; range, 18 to 70 years), whereas patients who underwent lung resection for benign or malignant lung diseases were assigned to group 2 (37 males; 16 females; mean age 56.9±15.6 years; range, 18 to 80 years). The receiver operating characteristics analysis was performed for the statistical analysis of the data. Prolonged air leak was observed in five patients (26.3%) in group 1 and in six patients (11.3%) in group 2. In group 1, first measurement on postoperative day zero could detect prolonged air leak development with 100% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity. Similarly, in group 2, measurements on day zero could detect prolonged air leak development with 100% sensitivity and 87.2% specificity. Compared to similar products, this newly developed measuring device may be widely used in clinics with its low cost and ease of use. Measured peak air leak flow values can predict patients who may develop prolonged air leak. Patent work for the device is ongoing.

Factors of formation and diagnostic problems of malignant lung diseases

In the paper there is presented a review of foreign and literature data, documented in electronic search system PubMed regarding epidemiology, early and prenosological diagnosis, carcinogenic factors for development of malignant respiratory neoplasms, lung cancer.

Prevalence of venous thromboembolism after lung surgery in China: a single-centre, prospective cohort study involving patients undergoing lung resections without perioperative venous thromboembolism prophylaxis†.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common postoperative complication. Previous studies have shown that the incidence of VTE after major thoracic surgery ranges from 2.3% to 15%. However, there have been no such data from China so far. To evaluate the incidence of postoperative VTE, we conducted a single-centre, prospective cohort study. Patients who underwent lung resections between July 2016 and March 2017 were enrolled in this study. None of the patients received any prophylaxis perioperatively. All patients were screened for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) using non-invasive duplex lower-extremity ultrasonography 30 days before surgery and within 30 days after surgery and before discharge. Chest tomography, pulmonary embolism protocol was carried out if patients had one of the following conditions: (i) typical symptoms of pulmonary embolism, (ii) high Caprini score (≥9 points) and (iii) newly diagnosed postoperative DVT. Two hundred and sixty-two patients undergoing lung surgery were enrolled, including 115 benign and 147 malignant disease cases. The procedures included 84 sublobar lung resections, 161 lobectomies, 5 pneumonectomies and 12 mixed procedures. The overall postoperative incidence of VTE was 11.5% (30 of 262). Twenty-four patients were diagnosed with DVT (80.0%) and 6 with DVT + pulmonary embolism (20.0%). None of the patients diagnosed with VTE had obvious symptoms of VTE. The median time for VTE detection was 5 days postoperatively. The incidence of VTE was 7.0% in patients with benign lung diseases and 15.0% in those with malignant lung diseases (P < 0.05). Using the Caprini risk assessment model, 63 cases were scored as low risk, 179 as moderate risk and 20 as high risk, and each group had an incidence of postoperative VTE of 0%, 12.3% (22 of 179) and 40.0% (8 of 20), respectively (P < 0.05). In patients with lung cancer, 98% were moderate or high risk, and only 3 patients were scored in the low risk category. The incidence of VTE in patients at moderate risk and high risk was 12.0% and 36.8%, respectively, while it was 0 in low-risk patients. The following conclusions were drawn: (i) the overall incidence of postoperative VTE after lung surgery without VTE prophylaxis is substantial; (ii) lower-extremity ultrasonography was helpful in detecting asymptomatic DVT in symptomatic or high-risk patients; and (iii) VTE prophylaxis should be considered as a mandatory part of perioperative care. ChiCTR-EOC-17010577.

Pulmonary manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus: pleural involvement, acute pneumonitis, chronic interstitial lung disease and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is the diffuse autoimmune connective tissue disease that most frequently involves pulmonary involvement, affecting 20% of 90% of the patients. The percentage varies depending on the defining criteria (symptoms, pulmonary tests or histopathological studies). At least once during the disease course, 50% of those affected have pleural and/or pulmonary manifestations, which are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary involvement has no correlation with lupus activity biomarkers, and it is necessary to rule out infectious processes in the initial approach. Bacterial infection is most frequently the cause of lung involvement in lupus and is one of the most important causes of death. Pulmonary involvement is considered to be primary when it is associated with disease activity, and secondary when other causes participate. Drugs have been reported to be associated with pulmonary damage, including interstitial disease. The incidence of malignant lung diseases is increased in systemic lupus erythematosus. Treatment depends on the type and severity of pulmonary involvement.

Serum microRNAs improving the diagnostic accuracy in lung cancer presenting with pulmonary nodules.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is an approach for early diagnosing of cancer. We validated a panel of miRNAs (hsa-miR-199a-3p, hsa-miR-148a-3p, hsa-miR-210-3p, hsa-miR-378d and hsa-miR-138-5p) to aid early diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma by blood test in lung cancer presenting with pulmonary nodules. A total of 369 individuals who were detected pulmonary nodules by computed tomography (CT) scan were enrolled into this study. These patients included 274 pulmonary malignant or borderline lung diseases and 122 lung benign pulmonary nodules. When the lung nodules were detected by combining with CT scan, we got patient blood samples in 2 days. Patients' serum was collected within 2 days prior to miRNAs analyses. We performed miRNAs panel by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The sensitivity of miRNAs panel was 34.0% and the specificity of miRNAs panel was 90.2%. In invasive adenocarcinoma, the sensitivity of miRNAs panel was 44.7%. The overall false positive rate of CT imaging for nodules and glass ground nodules (GGNs) was 33.1%. When miRNAs panel test positive patients combined with the nodule size, the false positive rate was decreased to 3.2%. The greatest impact of using the miRNAs panel CT scan was decreasing the false positive. miRNAs panel can improve the diagnosis of lung cancer presenting with nodules combined with CT.

Pulmonary Manifestations in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Pleural Involvement, Acute Pneumonitis, Chronic Interstitial Lung Disease and Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage

Systemic lupus erythematosus is the diffuse autoimmune connective tissue disease that most frequently involves pulmonary involvement, affecting 20% of 90% of the patients. The percentage varies depending on the defining criteria (symptoms, pulmonary tests or histopathological studies). At least once during the disease course, 50% of those affected have pleural and/or pulmonary manifestations, which are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Pulmonary involvement has no correlation with lupus activity biomarkers, and it is necessary to rule out infectious processes in the initial approach. Bacterial infection is most frequently the cause of lung involvement in lupus and is one of the most important causes of death. Pulmonary involvement is considered to be primary when it is associated with disease activity, and secondary when other causes participate. Drugs have been reported to be associated with pulmonary damage, including interstitial disease. The incidence of malignant lung diseases is increased in systemic lupus erythematosus. Treatment depends on the type and severity of pulmonary involvement.

Uniportal versus multiport video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for anatomical lung resections: a glance at a dilemma.

IntroductionAs the number of operations performed by videothoracoscopy is increasing, there is also a tendency to decrease the number of port incisions. Apart from the reduced number of surgical incisions, there are a few reports and systematic reviews that demonstrate some potential advantages of the uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, but the impact of the reduced incisions in the clinical setting still remains uncertain.AimTo compare uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to multiport video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for anatomical lung resections in patients with malignant and benign lung diseases.Material and methodsFrom August 2010 to April 2016, a total of 102 patients with malignant and benign lung diseases underwent videothoracoscopic lobar and sublobar lung resections in our department. Comorbidities, tumor stage, tumor localization, mortality, operative time, pain visual analogue scale, length of hospital stay, perioperative blood loss, duration and amount of postoperative drainage and air leak, number of harvested lymph nodes and complication rates were analyzed.ResultsNo significant difference was found in the duration of chest tube drainage, pain visual analogue scale score, length of hospital stay, perioperative blood loss, amount of postoperative drainage, number of harvested lymph nodes or complication rate. There was no surgical mortality in either of the two groups. However, operative time was shorter (189 min vs. 256 min, p < 0.005) in the multiport group than in the uniportal group.ConclusionsCompared with the uniportal approach, the multiport approach is associated with a significantly shorter operative time in our study.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided transesophageal thoracentesis for minimal pleural effusion.

Pleural effusion is a common finding both in patients with benign and malignant diseases of pleura and lung with diagnostic thoracentesis establishing the diagnosis in the majority of cases. The diagnostic thoracentesis can be done either blindly or under the guidance of ultrasound or computed tomography. However, minimal pleural effusion is difficult to sample even under image guidance. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is known to detect smaller volume of pleural effusion and, thus, can help in guiding thoracentesis. To analyze the safety and efficacy of EUS-guided diagnostic thoracentesis in patients with undiagnosed minimal pleural effusion retrospectively. Retrospective analysis of the data of patients with minimal pleural effusion, who underwent EUS-guided transesophageal diagnostic thoracentesis over last 2years, was performed. Thirteen patients (11 male; mean age 46.7 ± 16.2years) with undiagnosed minimal pleural effusion underwent successful EUS-guided transesophageal diagnostic thoracentesis using a 22-G needle. Seven (53%) patients had fever on presentation whereas two presented with cough and loss of appetite. Eight to 54mL fluid was aspirated with an attempt to completely empty the pleural cavity. There were no complications of the procedure. EUS-guided diagnostic thoracentesis is a safe and effective alternative for evaluating patients with minimal pleural effusion.