Asymptomatic Unilateral Hyperlucent Lung in a Prospective Kidney Donor.

A 50 year old lady, prospective kidney donor was referred to our department for opinion in view of abnormal clinical findings during preoperative evaluation. She was asymptomatic from respiratory point of view. Her vital parameters were normal and on auscultation found to have decreased breath sounds and fine crackles throughout left hemithorax. Chest x-ray (CXR) showed left sided hyperlucency with small hilum (Figure 1). High resolution computed tomography (HRCT) showed scattered areas of bronchiectasis with associated air trapping throughout left lung with small left pulmonary artery (Figure 2). Sputum for acid fast bacilli (AFB) was negative. Spirometry showed moderate obstructive abnormality with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) - 51% predicted, forced vital capacity (FVC) - 60% and FEV1/FVC - 76% with no bronchodilator reversibility. On post bronchodilator study there was paradoxical fall in FEV1/FVC to 72% consistent with small airway disease. Arterial blood gas analysis was normal. Technetium (Tc) 99m MAA lung perfusion scan (Figure3) showed normal perfusion of right lung contributing 75.4% of relative function and left lung contributing only 24.6%. Diagnosis of Swyer-James-MacLeod syndrome (SJMS) probably due to a childhood viral infection was made. Operative complications in such cases like difficult weaning and extubation, post-operative respiratory infections, collapse and respiratory failure are likely. However, our patient had an uneventful operative and post-operative course. SJMS is characterized by unilateral hyperlucency of a part of or the entire lung which was first described in 1953 by Swyer and James and later in 1954 by Macleod.1,2 It is considered to be an acquired disease as a result of post-infectious obliterative bronchiolitis. Productive cough, shortness of breath and sometimes hemoptysis are presenting symptoms. Some patients are asymptomatic and not diagnosed until they are adults.3 Radiologically it presents as predominant unilateral hyperlucency. Hence other causes of unilateral hyperlucent lung like pneumothorax, idiopathic giant bullae, congenital lobar emphysema, pulmonary artery hypoplasia, pulmonary embolism and bronchial obstruction due to foreign body or mucus plugs should be considered. Treatment is supportive with early control of super-added infections along with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. Bronchodilators can be useful, especially if the spirometry shows obstructive abnormality.

Hydatid Cyst Presenting With Endobronchial Rupture.

Diagnosis of lung hydatidosis becomes difficult with unusual radiographic findings especially with rupture of hydatid cyst. Here we present the case of a patient who presented with hydatid cyst with endobronchial rupture. A 40-year-old woman presented with a 3-year history of cough with mucoid expectoration, breathlessness on exertion, intermittent fever and left-sided chest pain. Chest radiograph and computed tomography of chest showed a mass obstructing the left main bronchus and post-obstructive cavity formation. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed uptake [maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) 2.5 G/mL) in left lower lobe cavity. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy showed obstruction of the left main bronchus with white gelatinous material. After the bronchoscope was withdrawn, the patient expectorated large quantifies of this material. Histopathological examination of the aspirated membrane showed laminated acellular layer and focal inner germinal layer suggestive of hydatid cyst.

Unilateral superior vena cava syndrome.

An elderly man presented with clinical features of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome restricted to the right side. Detailed evaluation suggested the diagnosis of unilateral SVC syndrome due to adenocarcinoma (presumably) from lung. With this case, we discuss the clinical presentation and causes of this rare clinical entity. Also, unilateral signs of SVC syndrome warrant a thorough clinical evaluation as it can be a presenting feature of a spectrum of diseases ranging from benign to malignant etiologies.

Bilateral upper lobe lung fibrosis.

A 33-year-old man was denied work permit due to chest X- ray findings of bilateral upper lobe fibrosis, assumed to be due to tuberculosis. However, a detailed evaluation showed that the upper lobe fibrosis was due to Marfan's syndrome.

Prevalence of gastro-esophageal reflux disease in patients with difficult to control asthma and effect of proton pump inhibitor therapy on asthma symptoms, reflux symptoms, pulmonary function and requirement for asthma medications.

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that GER can trigger or exacerbate asthma is supported by several clinical trials that have shown amelioration in asthma symptoms and/or an improvement in pulmonary function after antireflux therapy. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence of GER in patients with difficult to control asthma and to determine the effect of omeprazole on asthma symptoms, reflux symptoms, pulmonary function and on the requirement of asthma medications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with difficult to control asthma were recruited into the study. All patients underwent esophageal manometry and 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring. Pulmonary function tests were done before and after treatment. The severity of asthma and reflux was assessed by a 1 week pulmonary symptom score(PSS) and reflux symptom score(RSS) respectively before and after treatment. Those who had an abnormal pH study (pH <4 in the distal esophagus for >5% of the time) underwent anti-GER treatment with lifestyle changes, and a proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole 40 mg, bid) for 3 months. Asthma medications were added or deleted based on severity of asthma. RESULTS: Out of 250 asthmatic patients screened, forty patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Twenty eight of 40 patients(70%) were diagnosed to have GERD. Of the patients 28 with GER, 8 patients(28.5%) had no reflux symptoms. On 24 hr pH metry, the percentage time pH <4.0 was 10.81 ± 4.72 and 1.11 ± 1.21; Deemester score was 37.65 ± 14.54 and 4.89 ± 6.39 (p-value is 0.0001) in GERD and non-GERD patients respectively.In GERD group, post treatment reflux symptom score(RSS) improved from 22.39 ± 14.99 to 1.04 ± 1.07, pulmonary symptom score(PSS) improved from 27.14 ± 7.49 to 13.82 ± 4.21 and night time asthma symptom score(NASS) improved from 6.71 ± 1.80 to 3.04 ± 1.23 (p-value <0.0001). After treatment, FEV1 and PEFR increased from 1.38 ± 0.57 and 4.14 ± 1.97 to 1.47 ± 0.54 and 5.56 ± 1.72, respectively (p-value 0.00114). CONCLUSIONS: PPI therapy improves nocturnal asthma symptoms, daytime asthma symptoms, pulmonary function and decreases requirement of asthma medications in these patients.

Density functional theoretical study on the preferential selectivity of macrocyclic dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 for Sr⁺² ion over Th⁺4 ion during extraction from an aqueous phase to organic phases with different dielectric constants.

The preferential selectivity of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6) for bivalent Sr(+2) ion over tetravalent Th(+4) ion was investigated using generalized gradient approximated (GGA) BP86 and the hybrid B3LYP density functional, employing split valence plus polarization (SV(P)) and triple-zeta valence plus polarization (TZVP) basis sets in conjunction with the COSMO (conductor-like screening model) solvation approach. The calculated theoretical selectivity of DCH18C6 for Sr(+2) ion over Th(+4) ion was found to be in accord with the selectivity for Sr(+2) ion over Th(+4) ion observed when performing liquid-liquid extraction experiments in different organic solvents. While 1:1(M:L) stoichiometric complexation reactions can be used to predict the preferential selectivity of Sr(2+) ion over Th(4+) ion, the results obtained are not consistent with the experimental results observed upon increasing the dielectric constant of the solvent. The calculated theoretical gas-phase data for the free energy of complexation, ∆G, fail to explain the selectivity for Sr(+2) ion over Th(+4) ion. However, when 1:2 (M:L) stoichiometric complexation reactions (reported in previous X-ray crystallography studies) are considered, correct and consistent results for the selectivity for Sr(+2) ion over a wide range of dielectric constants are predicted. The distribution constant for Sr(2+) and Th(4+) ions was found to gradually increase with increasing dielectric constant of the organic solvent, and was found to be highest in nitrobenzene. The selectivity data calculated from ∆∆G ext are in excellent agreement with the results obtained from solvent extraction experiments.

Pneumoconioses.

Occupational lung diseases are caused or made worse by exposure to harmful substances in the work-place. "Pneumoconiosis" is the term used for the diseases associated with inhalation of mineral dusts. While many of these broad-spectrum substances may be encountered in the general environment, many occur in the work-place for greater amounts as a result of industrial processes; therefore, a range of lung reactions may occur as a result of work-place exposure. Physicians in metropolitan cities are likely to encounter pneumoconiosis for two reasons: (i) patients coming to seek medical help from geographic areas where pneumoconiosis is common, and (ii) pneumoconiosis caused by unregulated small-scale industries that are housed in poorly ventilated sheds within the city. A sound knowledge about the various pneumoconioses and a high index of suspicion are necessary in order to make a diagnosis. Identifying the disease is important not only for treatment of the individual case but also to recognise and prevent similar disease in co-workers.

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema in a tyre industry worker.

We report a case of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) with severe pulmonary hypertension in a 46-year-old man, nonsmoker, tyre industry worker. CPFE is commonly reported to be associated with tobacco smoking. This case highlights the possible role of environmental dust exposure (talc) in the pathogenesis of the disease and confirms the clinical characteristics of CPFE described in previous studies.