A Web-Based Dynamic Nomogram to Predict the Risk of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal Infection in Patients with Pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to create a dynamic web-based tool to predict the risks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. (MRS) infection in patients with pneumonia. We conducted an observational study of patients with pneumonia at Cho Ray Hospital from March 2021 to March 2023. The Bayesian model averaging method and stepwise selection were applied to identify different sets of independent predictors. The final model was internally validated using the bootstrap method. We used receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration, and decision curve analyses to assess the nomogram model's predictive performance. Based on the American Thoracic Society, British Thoracic Society recommendations, and our data, we developed a model with significant risk factors, including tracheostomies or endotracheal tubes, skin infections, pleural effusions, and pneumatoceles, and used 0.3 as the optimal cut-off point. ROC curve analysis indicated an area under the curve of 0.7 (0.63-0.77) in the dataset and 0.71 (0.64-0.78) in 1000 bootstrap samples, with sensitivities of 92.39% and 91.11%, respectively. Calibration analysis demonstrated good agreement between the observed and predicted probability curves. When the threshold is above 0.3, we recommend empiric antibiotic therapy for MRS. The web-based dynamic interface also makes our model easier to use.

The Role and Associated Factors of Liquid-Based Cytology of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid in Lung Cancer Diagnosis: A Prospective Study.

Background Liquid-based cytology (LBC) has shown advantages over conventional smears (CS), but previous applications in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid have produced inconsistent results. This study compared LBC and CS for diagnosing lung cancer using BAL fluid. Methodology A prospective study was conducted on 92 patients suspected of having lung cancer. All patients underwent bronchoscopy and had a final diagnosis confirmed by histopathology of lesions tissue through biopsy. The study aimed to assess the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the two cytological methods, in a pair-wise fashion. In addition, the study evaluated the correlation of factors, such as the volume of fluid used in LBC and bronchoscopy lesion morphology, with the sensitivity of LBC. Results The study involved 78 participants who were diagnosed with lung cancer. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of LBC were 25.7%, 100%, 100%, and 19.4%, respectively, whereas those of CS were 15.4%, 85.7%, 85.7%, and 15.4%, respectively. Although the sensitivity of LBC was higher than that of CS, the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.096, McNemar test). Furthermore, the median fluid volume performed during LBC in patients with positive results was significantly higher than in those with negative results (p=0.001, Mann-Whitney U test). Conclusions The application of LBC to BAL fluid has demonstrated similar and potentially superior diagnostic accuracy compared to CS in detecting lung cancer. It is recommended that further investigation be undertaken to examine the relationship between the volume of fluid utilized during the LBC process and its diagnostic accuracy to enhance its sensitivity.

Exhaled Nitric Oxide as a Surrogate Marker for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity Grading: An In-Hospital Population Study.

PURPOSE: Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) markers and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity and verify the changes in eNO profiles among mild, moderate, and severe OSA subgroups. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional and in-hospital population-based study. We investigated 123 OSA patients (17 mild, 23 moderate and, 83 severe OSA) in the department of respiratory diseases. Studied data included anthropometry, respiratory polygraphy, biological markers, spirometry, and multi-flow eNO measurements. Data analysis implied linear correlation, non-parametric ANOVA, and pair-wise comparison. RESULTS: No significant difference could be found among 3 OSA severity subgroups for FENO at - four sampling flow rates (50-350 mL/s). The bronchial production rate of NO (J'awNO) was proportionally increased, with median values of 11.2, 33.9, and 36.2 in mild, moderate, and severe OSA, respectively (p=0.010). The alveolar concentration of NO (CANO) changed with a non-linear pattern; it was increased in moderate (6.49) vs mild (7.79) OSA but decreased in severe OSA (5.20, p = 0.015). The only correction that could be established between OSA severity and exhaled nitric oxide markers is through J'AWNO (rho=0.25, p=0.02) and CANO (rho= 0.18, p=0.04). There was no significant correlation between FENO measured at three different flow rates and the OSA severity. We also found a weak but significant correlation between FENO 100 and averaged SpO2 (rho = 0.07, p= 0.03). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that J'AWNO, which represents eNO derived from the central airway, is proportionally increased in more severe OSA, while eNO from alveolar space, indicated by CANO, was also associated with OSA severity and relatively lower in the most severe OSA patients. In contrast, stand-alone FENO metrics did not show a clear difference among the three severity subgroups.

Central versus peripheral lesion on chest X-Ray: A case series of 31 endobronchial tuberculosis patients with negative sputum smears.

Background: Clinical characteristics of endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) patients whose sputum smears were negative have not been elucidated yet. Method: EBTB patients with negative sputum smears were documented retrospectively at the outpatient pulmonary clinic from late 2015 to early 2019. Results: We described the characteristics of 31 EBTB patients with negative sputum smears. The median age was 36 years (range 18-81 years). The male-to-female ratio is 1:1.58. The "peripheral" lesion group included 16 cases with opacity/consolidation, 2 cases with atelectasis, 1 case with cavitary lesion, and 1 case with pleural effusion. The "central" lesion group included four cases with normal chest X-ray and seven cases with only unilateral hilar enlargement. EBTB patients with "central" lesion were more common the presence of cough, the positive rate of bronchial lavage acid-fast bacilli smear, and the rate of misdiagnosis as pharyngitis, bronchitis, or asthma than that with "peripheral" lesion. Conclusions: EBTB with negative sputum smears was found in adult patients at any age and predominant in females. The diagnosis of EBTB with "central" lesion was more difficult than that with "peripheral" lesion. The location of the lesion could play a role in inducing cough among EBTB patients.

Model for predicting EGFR mutation status in lung cancer.

A predictive model using available chest CT images could better assess the presence of EGFR mutations. This model may also identify biopsy false-negative results . http://bit.ly/2MROmpe.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Associated Necrotizing Pneumonia With Adjunctive Corticosteroid Therapy.

Necrotizing pneumonia induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a rare but severe condition. It is difficult to distinguish between M. tuberculosis-associated and bacterial necrotizing pneumonia. The optimal treatment for this condition is controversial. Here, we report a case of M. tuberculosis-associated necrotizing pneumonia treated with the adjunctive corticosteroid and the antituberculosis drugs.

Hilar asymmetry in endobronchial tuberculosis patients: An often-overlooked clue.

BACKGROUND: Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is a challenging diagnosis because of its varied clinical and radiological manifestations. Hilar asymmetry on chest radiograph (CXR) may be found in patient with EBTB but is often overlooked, which may lead to delayed diagnosis. CASE REPORT: We present five cases with EBTB. Clinicians failed to identify unilateral hilar abnormalities on CXR, and these patients were treated initially for pharyngitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia with no improvement. Subsequently, they visited the pulmonary clinic and bronchoscopy revealed endobronchial lesions and microbial/histopathological evidence of tuberculous infection consistent with EBTB. Anti-tuberculosis therapy resulted in complete clinical resolution in four of the five patients; one patient had persistent bronchial stenosis. CONCLUSION: Hilar asymmetry on CXR may occur with EBTB and may suggest this diagnosis in the appropriate clinical setting. Bronchoscopy has an important role in establishing the final diagnosis.

Low-voltage electricity-induced lung injury.

We report a case of bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and haemoptysis following low-voltage electricity exposure in an agricultural worker. A 58-year-old man standing in water reached for an electric watering machine and sustained an exposure to 220 V circuit for an uncertain duration. The electricity was turned off by another worker, and the patient was asymptomatic for the next 10 h until he developed haemoptysis. A chest radiograph demonstrated bilateral infiltrates, and chest computed tomography (CT) revealed ground-glass opacities with interstitial thickening. Evaluations, including electrocardiogram, serum troponin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), coagulation studies, and echocardiogram, found no abnormality. The patient was treated for suspected electricity-induced lung injury and bleeding with tranexamic acid and for rhabdomyolysis with volume resuscitation. He recovered with complete resolution of chest radiograph abnormalities by Day 7. This is the first reported case of bilateral lung oedema and/or injury after electricity exposure without cardiac arrest.

Boerhaave's syndrome - tension hydropneumothorax and rapidly developing hydropneumothorax: two radiographic clues in one case.

Boerhaave's syndrome is a rare and severe condition with high mortality partly because of its atypical presentation resulting in delayed diagnosis and management. Diagnostic clues play an important role in the approach to this syndrome. Here, we report a 48 year-old male patient hospitalized with fever and left chest pain radiating into the interscapular area. Two chest radiographs undertaken 22 h apart showed a rapidly developing tension hydropneumothorax. The amylase level in the pleural fluid was high. The fluid in the chest tube turned bluish after the patient drank methylene blue. The diagnosis of Boerhaave's syndrome was suspected based on the aforementioned clinical clues and confirmed at the operation. The patient recovered completely with the use of antibiotics and surgical treatment. In this case, we describe key findings on chest radiographs that are useful in diagnosing Boerhaave's syndrome.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis masquerading as recurrent bacterial pneumonia.

Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) can be diagnosed in an asthmatic with suitable radiologic and immunological features. However ABPA is likely to be misdiagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. Here we report a case of ABPA masquerading as recurrent bacterial pneumonia. Treatment with high-dose inhaled corticosteroids was effective. To our best knowledge, this is the first reported case of ABPA in Vietnam.

A descriptive study of TB cases finding practices in the three largest public general hospitals in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: A project was implemented in 2010 to improve TB notification and TB screening and diagnostic routines in large general hospitals. The aims of present study was to assess baseline TB screening and diagnostic practices in the three largest general hospitals in Vietnam. OBJECTIVES: To assess baseline TB screening and diagnostic practices in the three largest general hospitals in Vietnam. METHOD: The study had three elements: 1) Focus group discussions with hospital physicians; 2) review of hospital records and structured interviews of people who had a chest X-ray on any indication; and 3) record reviews and structured interviews of people newly diagnosed with TB. RESULTS: The most commonly reported diagnostic pathway for pulmonary TB was chest X-ray followed by sputum-smear microscopy. Among 599 individuals who had a chest X-ray performed, 391 (65.1%) had recorded any abnormality, significantly higher in males (73.8%) than in females (54.7%), (p < 0.001), and the proportion was increasing with age (p <0.001). Among those with abnormal chest X-ray, 245 (69.2%) were investigated with sputum smear microscopy, and 49 (20%) were diagnosed with TB, of which 33 (13.5%) were smear-positive.Of 103 consecutive TB cases enrolled in the study, 92 (90%) had chest X-ray as the initial test. Sixty-three (61.2%) fulfilled the TB suspect criteria based on respiratory symptoms (productive cough >2 weeks). CONCLUSION: Chest X-ray is the preferred first test for TB in the largest hospitals in Vietnam. Chest X-ray is a sensitive screening tool for TB, which should be followed by a confirmatory TB test. While the majority of those with chest X-ray abnormalities are investigated with smear-microscopy, the high sputum-smear positivity ratio among them suggests that sputum-smear microscopy is done mainly for persons with quite clear TB signs or symptoms. TB screening and use of confirmatory diagnostic tests on wider indications seem warranted.