Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and diagnostic methods of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis. Methods The medical records of adult HIV-negative patients diagnosed with primary pulmonary cryptococcosis between 2006 and March 2011 were reviewed retrospectively. Results 90 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean( ±SD) age was ( 46. 3 ±12. 42) years( range 19 to 71 years) . The clinical manifestations of pulmonary cryptococcosis were mild without obvious physical signs. The imaging features can be classified into 3 types. Nodule or mass type was common. The right lung and lower lobe were most commonly involved. There was no significant difference of the lesion type between the groups with or without underlying diseases ( P gt;0. 05) . Sputum or BALF culture for Cryptococcus neoformans yield no positive result. The main diagnostic methods were video-assisted thoracic surgery( VATS, 42 cases) , transbronchial lung biopsy( TBLB, 28 cases) and transthoracic needle aspiration biopsy( TNAB, 14 cases) . The latex agglutination( LA) test yield positive results in 31 patients out of 48 patients( 64. 58% ) . The LA test positive group often used TBLB as diagnostic method( 64. 52% ) .Meanwhile the LA test negative group and the group without LA test often used thoracoscope as diagnostic method( 47. 06% and 76. 19% ) . There was significant difference in diagnostic method between the three groups( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions It is not impossible to acquire pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients. The clinical manifestations and imaging features of pulmonary cryptococcosis were lack of characteristics. The diagnosis level can be improved by invasive examination such as TBLB and TNAB. The LA test for Cryptococcus neoformans can be used as an early noninvasive diagnostic method.
The body of patient undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation after cardiac arrest experiences a process of ischemia, hypoxia, and reperfusion injury. This state of intense stress response is accompanied with hemodynamic instability, systemic hypoperfusion, and subsequent multiple organ dysfunction, and is life-threatening. Pulmonary vascular endothelial injury after cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a pathological manifestation of lung injury in multiple organ injury. Possible mechanisms include inflammatory response, neutrophil infiltration, microcirculatory disorder, tissue oxygen uptake and utilization disorder, etc. Neutrophils can directly damage or indirectly damage lung vascular endothelial cells through activation and migration activities. They also activate the body to produce large amounts of oxygen free radicals and release a series of damaging cytokines that further impaire the lung tissue.
Abstract: Esophageal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumours in China, surgery is one of the traditional therapy with a high complications rate. Among them, the anastomotic fistula was significant. At present, with the development of surgical technique, the incidence of anastomotic fistula become lower day by day, postoperative pulmonary complications of esophageal carcinoma has taken place of anastomotic fistula and become the main complications. The causes of pulmonary complication including pulmonary embolism, infection and acute lung injury have been revealed by recent researches. This article reviews the pathogenesis， prophylaxis and therapeutics of postoperative pulmonary complications of esophageal carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo know about equipment of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in community health service centers and the knowledge of pulmonary function in general physicians.MethodsThis questionnaire survey was carried out sponsored by Shanghai Basic Alliance for Respiratory Diseases Prevention and Treatment from June to December in 2016. Most community health service centers in 16 districts of Shanghai participated the survey. The questionnaire included education background, professional qualification, PFTs equipment, and knowledge about PFTs.ResultsThere were 963 general physicians in 131 community health service centers completed the questionnaire. There were 27 (20.6%) community health service centers equipped with simplified pulmonary function test device and 910 (94.5%) physicians knowing PFTs. Out of these 910 physicians, 458 physicians (50.3%) gave the correct answer on question about the items of PFTs. The accuracy of question about the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was 24.0% (218/910).ConclusionsThe rate of community health service centers with equipment on PFTs is low and the knowledge on pulmonary function in general physicians is insufficentt in Shanghai. Training on pulmonary function is essential to adapt the stratified treatment of COPD.
ObjectiveTo observe the relationship of serum tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) associated pulmonary hypertension (OSAHS-PH). MethodsFrom September 2013 to October 2014, 38 OSAHS patients, 32 OSAHS-PH patients and 35 healthy subjects were enrolled from the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. OSAHS was diagnosed by polysomnography. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was measured by echocardiograph, and the diagnose criteria for pulmonary hypertension was PASP≥40 mm Hg. Serum TNF-α, IL-6, CRP and endothelin 1 (ET-1) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, ET-1 and PASP was analyzed. ResultsThe serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CRP and ET-1 were remarkably different among three groups (F=55.34, 25.05, 23.85, 34.06 respectively; all P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CRP and ET-1 in the OSAHS group were higher than those in the healthy group, and lower than those in the OSAHS-PH group (all P < 0.05). The PASP was positively correlated with the levels of the four factors (r=0.755, 0.762, 0.747, 0.759 respectively; all P < 0.01). ConclusionThe levels of serum TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP are correlated with pulmonary hypertension and they may be involved in the process of OSAHS-PH.
Pulmonary endometriosis (PEM) is a rare disease with diverse clinical manifestations, most commonly presenting as hemoptysis, while patients presenting solely with pulmonary nodules are less common. Here, we report three female patients (aged 32, 19, and 46 years, respectively). One patient sought medical attention due to hemoptysis during menstruation, while the other two had no obvious symptoms and were found to have pulmonary nodules during routine physical examinations. Two patients had a history of cesarean section, and one had a history of miscarriage. Pathologically, one patient of PEM showed extensive hemorrhage in the alveolar spaces, with fragmented endometrial glandular epithelium observed within the hemorrhagic foci. The other two patients exhibited proliferative endometrial glands and stroma, surrounded by old hemorrhage. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the endometrial glands and stroma in all three patients were positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and vimentin, with CD10 positivity in the endometrial stroma. All three patients were definitively diagnosed as PEM by pathology and underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection. Follow-up periods were 18, 31, and 49 months, respectively, with no recurrence observed in any of the patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in the treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). MethodsThe clinical data of 496 patients with DVT who were treated in our hospital from January 2010 to October 2014 were analyzed retrospectively, to compare the time of venous pressure decreased to normal (T1) and time of circumference difference decreased to normal (T2) in patients received pure therapy (control group) and pure therapy combined with IPC (combination group), according to different types of patients in acute, sub-acute, and chronic phase. In addition, comparison of the remission rate of pulmonary embolism (PE), incidence of PE, and recurrence of DVT was performed between the control group and combination group too. Results① For DVT patients in acute stage, the time of T1 and T2 of patients in central type, peripheral type, and mixed type who received anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis/catheter thrombolysis+IPC, were significantly shorter than those patients who received only anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis/catheter thrombolysis (P<0.05). For DVT patients in sub-acute stage, the time of T1 and T2 of patients in central type and mixed type who received anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis+IPC, were significantly shorter than those of patients who received only anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis (P<0.05), the time of T1 of patients in peripheral type who received anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis+IPC, were significantly shorter than those of patients who received only anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis (P<0.01), but the time of T2 of patients in peripheral type didn't differed between patients who received only anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis and anticoagulant therapy/systemic thrombolysis +IPC (P>0.05). For DVT patients in chronic stage, the time of T1 and T2 of patients in central type and mixed type didn't differed between patients who received only anticoagulant therapy and anticoagulant therapy +IPC (P>0.05); the time of T1 of patients in peripheral type who received anticoagulant therapy+IPC, were significantly shorter than those of patients who received only anticoagulant therapy (P<0.05), but the time of T2 didn't differed with each other (P>0.05). ② There were 63 patients in control group and 47 patients in combination group had PE before treatment. After the treatment, the PE symptom of control group relieved in 56 patients (88.89%, 56/63) and maintained in 7 patients (11.11%, 7/63), the symptom of combination group relieved in 44 patients (93.62%, 44/47) and maintained in 3 patients (6.38%, 3/47), so the remission rate of PE symptom in combination group was higher (P<0.05). There were 6 patients suffered from new PE in control group[4.26% (6/141)] and 0 in combination group[0 (0/245)] after treatment in patients who hadn't PE before treatment, and the incidence of PE was lower in combination group (P<0.05). ③ There were 325 patients were followed up for 3-36 months with the median time of 27 months, including 157 patents in control group and 168 patients in combination group. During the follow-up period, 74 patients recurred[47.13% (74/157)] in control group and 46 patients recurred[27.38% (46/168)] in combination group, and the recurrence rate was lower in combination group (P<0.05). In addition, 41 patients suffered from post-thrombotic syndrome[26.11% (41/157)] in control group and 27 patients[16.07% (27/168)] in combination group, and the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome was lower in combination group (P<0.05). ConclusionsIPC can significantly shorten the time of venous pressure and the circumference difference decreased to normal for DVT patients in acute stage and majority DVT patients in sub-acute stage, and it can relieve the clinical symptoms of PE, reduce the incidence rate of PE and recurrence rate of DVT. Therefore, IPC is a safe, reliable, and effective treatment for DVT patients in acute stage and majority DVT patients in sub-acute stage.
ObjectiveTo summarize the experience and lessons of right ventricular decompression in children with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) and to reflect on the strategies of right ventricular decompression.MethodsThe clinical data of 12 children with PA/IVS who underwent right ventricular decompression in our hospital from March 2015 to December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 10 males and 2 females with a median age at the time of surgery was 5 d (range, 1-627 d). Correlation analysis between the pulmonary valve transvalvular pressure gradient and changes in Z score of tricuspid valves after decompression was performed.ResultsOne patient died of refractory hypoxemia due to circulatory shunt postoperatively and family members gave up treatment. There were 2 (16.67%) patients received postoperative intervention. The pulmonary transvalvular gradient after decompression was 31.95±21.75 mm Hg. Mild pulmonary regurgitation was found in 7 patients, moderate in 2 patients, and massive in 1 patient. The median time of mechanical ventilation was 30.50 h (range, 6.00-270.50 h), and the average duration of ICU stay was 164.06±87.74 h. The average postoperative follow-up time was 354.82±331.37 d. At the last follow-up, the average Z score of tricuspid valves was 1.32±0.71, the median pressure gradient between right ventricle and main pulmonary artery was 41.75 mm Hg (range, 21-146 mm Hg) and the average percutaneous oxygen saturation was 92.78%±3.73%. Two children underwent percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvoplasty at 6 and 10 months after surgery, respectively, with the rate of reintervention-free of 81.8%. There was no significant correlation between pulmonary transvalvular gradients after decompression and changes in Z score of tricuspid valves (r=–0.506, P=0.201).ConclusionFor children with PA/IVS, the simple pursuit of adequate decompression during right ventricular decompression may lead to severe pulmonary dysfunction, increase the risk of ineffective circular shunt, and induce refractory hypoxemia. The staged decompression can ensure the safety and effectiveness for initial surgery and reduce the risk of postoperative death.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary disease and pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as the bacterial distribution of NTM pulmonary disease. Methods The bacterial distribution and clinical characteristics of 104 patients with NTM lung disease hospitalized in Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital from May 2017 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, as well as the clinicplal characteristics of 155 patients with tuberculosis hospitalized during the same period. Results The age of NTM lung disease group [(60±15) years] was higher than that of tuberculosis group [(55±19) years]. There were statistically significant differences in basic diseases (such as malignant tumor, type 2 diabetes, old tuberculosis, bronchiectasis), laboratory examination (such as blood routine examination, albumin) and chest imaging characteristics between the two groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in clinical symptoms (such as cough, sputum or fever) (P>0.05). The common underlying diseases of NTM lung disease were malignant tumor (29%), bronchiectasis (21%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%), etc. The common clinical symptoms of NTM lung disease included cough, sputum, fever, hemoptysis, chest tightness and shortness of breath, and other non-specific respiratory symptoms. The common manifestations of NTM lung disease on chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) included patchy images (82%), mediastinal lymph node enalargement (35%), pleural thickening (31%), pleural effusion (26%) and other signs. The isolates of NTM included Mycobacterium avium (50%), Mycobacterium intracellulare (21%), Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus (14%), Mycobacterium fortuitum (5%), Mycobacterium gordonae (4%), Mycobacterium gilvum (3%), and Mycobacterium smegmatis (3%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (OR=1.027) was a risk factor for NTM lung disease. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of NTM lung disease and tuberculosis are similar and difficult to distinguish. For male patients over 60 years old with malignant tumor, old tuberculosis, bronchiectasis and other basic diseases, and the chest HRCT findings are mainly bronchiectasis, NTM lung disease should be actively excluded. There is little difference in clinical manifestations between different strains of NTM lung disease, and the treatment cycle of NTM lung disease is long and easy to be interrupted, requiring enhanced follow-up.
Objective To investigate the relationship of pulmonary surfactant protein D( SP-D) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) by measuring SP-D level in serum and lung tissue of rats with COPD.Methods The rat COPD model was established by passive smoking as well as intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) . Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a LPS group, and a COPD group( n =10 in each group) . The pathologic changes of lung tissue and airway were observed under light microscope by HE staining. Emphysema changes were evaluated by mean linear intercept ( MLI) of lung and mean alveolar number ( MAN) . The level of SP-D in serum was measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . The expression of SP-D in lung tissue was detected by Western-blot and immunohistochemistry.Results The MLI obviously increased, and MAN obviously decreased in the COPD group compared with the control group ( Plt;0.05) . There was no significant difference in the MLI and MAN between the LPS group and the control group ( Pgt;0.05) . The serum SP-D level was ( 49.59 ±2.81) ng/mL and ( 53.21±4.17) ng/mL in the LPS group and the COPD group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group [ ( 42.14±2.52) ng/mL] ( Plt;0.05) . The expression of SP-D in lung tissue was 0.56±0.01 and 0.63±0.01 in the LPS group and the COPD group, which was also obviously ber than that in the control group ( 0.39 ±0.01) ( Plt;0.05) .Meanwhile the SP-D levels in serumand lung tissue were higher in the COPD group than those in the LPS group ( Plt;0.05) . The levels of SP-D between serum and lung tissue were positively correlated in all three groups ( r=0.93, 0.94 and 0.93, respectively, Plt;0.01) .Conclusion Both the SP-D level in serum and in lung tissue increase significantly in COPD rats and correlate well each other, which suggests that SP-D may serve as a biomarker of COPD.