Evaluation of Electromagnetic Navigational Bronchoscopy Using Tomosynthesis-Assisted Visualization, Intraprocedural Positional Correction and Continuous Guidance for Evaluation of Peripheral Pulmonary Nodules.

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic navigational bronchoscopy (ENB) has been shown to have variable diagnostic accuracy for the assessment of peripheral pulmonary nodules. This may be because of discrepancies between the preplanned computed tomography of chest target lesion location versus actual target location (computed tomography-to-body divergence), and the lack of a continuous navigational image. The ILLUMISITE (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) is a newly developed ENB platform that utilizes tomosynthesis, an imaging technology that can visualize the target location using fluoroscopy (F-ENB). This new system also allows for intraprocedural positional correction and continuous navigation guidance during sampling to overcome these limitations and improve diagnostic yield. We report our first experience in a single center, single proceduralist using this new technology. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, single center, single operator study reviewing 72 consecutive patients (78 nodules) over a 3-month period. We investigated the overall diagnostic yield and diagnostic yield by nodule location, size, and sedation type using this new F-ENB system. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic yield was 87% and pnemothoraces occurred in 2/78 procedures. We did not find any statistically significant difference when comparing pulmonary nodule location, size or sedation method utilized ( P =0.231, 0.338, and 0.112, respectively). Sixty-nine percent of the pulmonary nodules biopsied were 2 to 3 cm in size. The average distance corrected after tomosynthesis visualization was 15.4 mm (0.4 to 29.8 mm). CONCLUSION: We report our initial experience with the ILLUMISITE system using fluoroscopic tomosynthesis-assisted visualization with continuous navigational guidance at our institution. This new technology allows the operator to correct for better target lesion alignment and real time positional correction and may improve diagnostic yields with minimal complications for evaluation of peripheral pulmonary nodules.

Assessing the vulnerability of marine life to climate change in the Pacific Islands region.

Our changing climate poses growing challenges for effective management of marine life, ocean ecosystems, and human communities. Which species are most vulnerable to climate change, and where should management focus efforts to reduce these risks? To address these questions, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Climate Science Strategy called for vulnerability assessments in each of NOAA's ocean regions. The Pacific Islands Vulnerability Assessment (PIVA) project assessed the susceptibility of 83 marine species to the impacts of climate change projected to 2055. In a standard Rapid Vulnerability Assessment framework, this project applied expert knowledge, literature review, and climate projection models to synthesize the best available science towards answering these questions. Here we: (1) provide a relative climate vulnerability ranking across species; (2) identify key attributes and factors that drive vulnerability; and (3) identify critical data gaps in understanding climate change impacts to marine life. The invertebrate group was ranked most vulnerable and pelagic and coastal groups not associated with coral reefs were ranked least vulnerable. Sea surface temperature, ocean acidification, and oxygen concentration were the main exposure drivers of vulnerability. Early Life History Survival and Settlement Requirements was the most data deficient of the sensitivity attributes considered in the assessment. The sensitivity of many coral reef fishes ranged between Low and Moderate, which is likely underestimated given that reef species depend on a biogenic habitat that is extremely threatened by climate change. The standard assessment methodology originally developed in the Northeast US, did not capture the additional complexity of the Pacific region, such as the diversity, varied horizontal and vertical distributions, extent of coral reef habitats, the degree of dependence on vulnerable habitat, and wide range of taxa, including data-poor species. Within these limitations, this project identified research needs to sustain marine life in a changing climate.

Implications of microscale lung damage for COVID-19 pulmonary ventilation dynamics: A narrative review.

The COVID-19 pandemic surges on as vast research is produced to study the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and the disease state it induces. Still, little is known about the impact of COVID-19-induced microscale damage in the lung on global lung dynamics. This review summarizes the key histological features of SARS-CoV-2 infected alveoli and links the findings to structural tissue changes and surfactant dysfunction affecting tissue mechanical behavior similar to changes seen in other lung injury. Along with typical findings of diffuse alveolar damage affecting the interstitium of the alveolar walls and blood-gas barrier in the alveolar airspace, COVID-19 can cause extensive microangiopathy in alveolar capillaries that further contribute to mechanical changes in the tissues and may differentiate it from previously studied infectious lung injury. Understanding microlevel damage impact on tissue mechanics allows for better understanding of macroscale respiratory dynamics. Knowledge gained from studies into the relationship between microscale and macroscale lung mechanics can allow for optimized treatments to improve patient outcomes in case of COVID-19 and future respiratory-spread pandemics.

Protocolized ventilator weaning verses usual care: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Protocolized ventilator weaning (PW) strategies utilizing spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) result in shorter intubation duration and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). We compared respiratory therapy (RT)-driven PW versus usual care (UC) as it pertains to physiologic respiratory parameters, intubation duration, extubation success/reintubation rates, and ICU LOS. METHODS: prospective, multicentric, randomized controlled trial was performed in closed medical and surgical ICUs with 24/7 in-house intensivist coverage at six academic medical centers in a resource-limited setting from October 18, 2007, to May 03, 2014. Extubation readiness was determined by the attending physician (UC) or the respiratory therapist (PW) using predefined criteria and SBT. Physiologic variables, serial blood gas measurements, and weaning indices were assessed including the Rapid Shallow Breathing Index (RSBI), negative inspiratory force (NIF), occlusion pressure (P0.1), and dynamic and static compliance (Cdyn and Cs). RESULTS: total of 5502 patients were randomized (PW 2787; UC 2715), of which 167 patients died without ventilator weaning (PW 90; UC 77) and 645 patients were excluded (PW 365; UC 280). Finally, a total of 4200 patients were analyzed (PW 2075; UC 2125). The PW group displayed improvements in minute ventilation (P < 0.001), Cs and Cdyn(both P < 0.05), P0.1 (P < 0.001), NIF (P < 0.001), and RSBI (P < 0.001). Early re-intubation (≤48 h) rates were lower in the PW group (16.7% vs. 24.8%; P < 0.0001), as were late re-intubation rates (5.2% vs. 25.8%; P < 0.0001). Intubation duration was longer in the PW group (P < 0.001), however, hospital LOS was shorter (P < 0.001). Mortality was unchanged (P = 0.19). CONCLUSION: PW with RT-driven extubation decisions is safe, effective, and associated with decreased re-intubation (early and late), shorter hospital stays, increased intubation duration (statistically but not clinically significant), and unchanged in-patient mortality.

A RARE CASE OF PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM, HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM, AND WERNICKE ENCEPHALOPATHY.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare case of Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) as a result of hyperemesis gravidarum due to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in pregnancy. METHODS: We present the clinical presentation, supportive laboratory values, diagnostic dilemmas, treatment, clinical outcome, and supportive literature review of a patient with WE as a result of hyperemesis gravidarum due to PHPT in pregnancy. RESULTS: A 27-year-old previously healthy G1P0 female presented with initial symptoms of right upper-quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, and paresthesias at 17.3 weeks of gestation. The patient later developed neurologic symptoms including acute encephalopathy, ataxia, and intranuclear ophthalmoplegia. The suspicion for WE was confirmed with characteristic findings on brain magnetic resonance imaging. WE was attributed to severe malnutrition from hyperemesis gravidarum and poor prenatal care. Hypercalcemia with an elevated parathyroid hormone level was identified following an unfortunate intrauterine fetal demise, raising suspicion for PHPT. PHPT was confirmed, and after undergoing successful parathyroidectomy, the patient regained normal neurologic function, with the exception of mild lower-extremity paresthesias. CONCLUSION: This case is an example where early recognition and treatment of hyperparathyroidism can be masked by severe malnutrition and present in an unusual way with neurologic symptoms of WE. Early recognition and suspicion are critical in preventing poor fetal outcomes and long-term consequences.

Pyrolytic carbon endoprosthetic replacement for osteonecrosis and femoral fracture of the hip: a pilot study.

UNLABELLED: Hemiarthroplasty in young patients has the potential for eliminating bearing wear, but has the disadvantage of cartilage wear. Low-temperature isotropic (LTI) pyrolytic carbon reportedly reduces cartilage wear in canine hemiarthroplasties. We therefore initiated a study in humans when it was released for human use. However, we observed failures in some patients. We therefore document and report the high failure rate observed in a subset of patients treated with an LTI pyrolytic carbon femoral head for osteonecrosis. We conducted a prospective pilot study of 17 patients treated with a titanium stem and an LTI pyrolytic carbon femoral head bearing surface for unipolar hemiarthroplasty for either femoral neck fracture (10 patients) or osteonecrosis (seven patients). One of 10 patients in the fracture group underwent conversion to THA as a result of arthritic progression compared with six of seven patients with osteonecrosis who underwent conversion to THA as a result of acetabular wear and severe groin pain. In this small series, patients with osteonecrosis had a higher rate of revision compared with the patients treated for femoral neck fracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Inhibition of glutamine synthetase in a549 cells during hyperoxia.

High oxygen concentrations are used in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome and hyaline membrane disease. Hyperoxia, however, can damage alveolar epithelial cells through the release of free oxygen radicals. Supplemental glutamine (Gln) has recently been shown to increase survival of A549 cells, a distal epithelial cell line, during hyperoxia (). We found that supplemental Gln (Gln+) is essential for cell growth in A549 cells. In room air, cells without supplemental Gln (Gln-) survived with BCL-2 levels similar to those of Gln+ cells, but cell growth was minimal. We also evaluated the role of glutamine synthetase (GS) in A549 cells during hyperoxia. L-methionine sulfoximine (MSO), an irreversible inhibitor of GS, was added to Gln+ and Gln- cells. In hyperoxia, Gln- cells had greater survival then Gln- cells treated with MSO. Supplemental Gln could rescue cells in hyperoxia from the effect of MSO, suggesting that GS, through the endogenous synthesis of Gln, could attenuate hyperoxic cell injury. In hyperoxia, cells treated with 10-mM concentrations of Gln had increased survival compared with cells receiving 2-mM concentrations. The higher concentration of Gln, however, did not decrease the percentage of cells undergoing necrosis.