OM-85 and Respiratory Symptoms in Korean COPD: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: Although OM-85 may lessen respiratory symptoms and reduce acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), its overall effectiveness remains incompletely proven.

Methods: This prospective, observational, single-arm study was conducted at four university hospitals in South Korea from June 2022 to December 2023. Adults with spirometry-confirmed COPD who were prescribed OM-85 were enrolled and followed for six months (3-months treatment, 3-months observation).

The influence of pneumococcal positivity on clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Bacterial co-infection has been associated with adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia and may contribute to poor clinical outcomes when co-detected in COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of pneumococcal positivity in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Determinants of Limiting Life-Sustaining Treatment in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Multicenter Study in Korean Intensive Care Units.

Background: Understanding of the life-sustaining treatment (LST) decisions in critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients remains limited. This study aimed to identify factors influencing LST decisions, and compare clinical outcomes between patients with, and without, LST.

Methods: This multicenter, retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 1,081 COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) across Korea from January 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021.

Better Chemotherapeutic Response of Small Cell Lung Cancer in Never Smokers than in Smokers.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is called 'smoker's disease' because it is strongly associated with smoking and most cases occur in smokers. However, it can also occur in never smokers. We investigated the clinical features of never smokers with SCLC and compared their treatment outcomes with those of smokers with SCLC.

Corticosteroid Therapy Duration and Dosage According to the Timing of Treatment Initiation for Post-COVID-19 Organizing Pneumonia.

COVID-19 can lead to pulmonary complications, including organizing pneumonia. Steroids are essential in treating post-COVID-19 organizing pneumonia. However, research on the clinical benefits of initiating steroid treatment early for this condition is limited.

Impact of pyrazinamide usage on serious adverse events in elderly tuberculosis patients: A multicenter cohort study.

Background: Pyrazinamide (PZA) usage has been associated with adverse drug reactions, prompting its avoidance in treating elderly tuberculosis (TB) patients. This study aims to examine whether the administration of PZA is associated with poor outcomes during TB treatment among elderly individuals.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken on data collected from a prospective cohort conducted between July 2019 and June 2023, which involved tuberculosis patients from 18 institutions across the Republic of Korea.

Deficiency and dysfunctional roles of natural killer T cells in patients with ARDS.

Objective: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) presents a global health challenge, characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. However, the role of natural killer T (NKT) cells in human ARDS remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study explored the numerical and functional status of NKT cells in patients with ARDS, examining their clinical relevance and interactions with macrophages and fibroblasts during various stages of the syndrome.

The clinical characteristics associated with the ratio between the main pulmonary artery and ascending aorta diameter in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: A pulmonary artery-to-aorta (PA/A) ratio of ≥1 is a reliable indicator of pulmonary hypertension and is associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and long-term mortality in patients with stable COPD. However, it is unclear whether a PA/A ratio of ≥1 is associated with mortality in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical course and mortality of patients with PA/A ratios of ≥1 who were hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD.

Lower respiratory tract microbiota in patients with clinically suspected nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease according to the presence of gastroesophageal reflux.

Although gastroesophageal reflux has been recognized as one of the risk factors of nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD) progression, the effect of reflux on the lower respiratory tract microbiota has not been studied in detail. We investigated the composition of the lower respiratory tract microbiota in patients with clinically suspected NTM-PD, comparing them based on the presence of reflux. Forty-seven patients suspected of having NTM-PD were enrolled and assigned according to presence of reflux (n = 22) and non- reflux (n = 25).

One-year mortality and readmission risks following hospitalization for acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease based on the types of acute respiratory failure: An observational study.

Few studies have examined the risk factors associated with the type of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study evaluated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD based on the type of ARF. The medical charts of hospitalized patients with acute exacerbation of COPD between 2016 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.

Risk Factors for the Mortality of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Non-Centralized Setting: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Limited data are available on the mortality rates of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to analyze the relationship between COVID-19 and clinical outcomes for patients receiving ECMO.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring ECMO in 19 hospitals across Korea from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.

Major adverse cardiovascular events and hyperuricemia during tuberculosis treatment.

Background: Hyperuricemia is common during tuberculosis (TB) treatment, especially in association with pyrazinamide (PZA). This study investigated the relationship between major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and hyperuricemia during TB treatment.

Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study.

Serum KL-6 levels predict the occurrence and severity of treatment-related interstitial lung disease in lung cancer.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) as a potential biomarker for treatment-related ILD (TR-ILD) in lung cancer. We recruited patients with lung cancer in whom KL-6 was measured to differentiate between pneumonia and ILD (category 1), diagnose and assess the severity of suspicious ILD (category 2), or evaluate baseline levels before cancer treatment (category 3). Among 1,297 patients who underwent KL-6 testing, 422 had lung cancer, and TR-ILD was detected in 195 patients.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease in a patient with unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis: Case report.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous organisms, but can cause a chronic pulmonary infection in some patients. Therefore, there could be host factors susceptible to this disease. A structural lung disease including damages of lungs caused by previous respiratory infection has been suggested as a host factor.

Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with acquired hypofibrinogenemia in patients administered hemocoagulase batroxobin for hemoptysis.

Background: Hemocoagulase batroxobin is used to prevent hemostasis or bleeding in surgical and trauma patients; however, the role of batroxobin in patients with hemoptysis is not well understood. We evaluated the risk factors and prognosis of acquired hypofibrinogenemia in hemoptysis patients treated systemically with batroxobin.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of hospitalized patients who were administered batroxobin for hemoptysis.

Usefulness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-polymerase chain reaction with bronchial washing samples in predicting discontinuation of airborne infection isolation in patients hospitalized with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: In-hospital tuberculosis (TB) transmission remains a concern. Airborne infection isolation (AII) can be discontinued in hospitalized patients with suspected active pulmonary TB when the results of three consecutive sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears are negative. However, fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be performed in patients who may have difficulty in producing sputum samples.

Risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare pulmonary disease. Although most patients with PAVMs are asymptomatic, cerebral complications associated with PAVMs are often fatal. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors for cerebral complications in patients with PAVMs.

Three cases of rigid bronchoscopic removal of carinal masses: Case report.

Tracheal tumors are rare diseases. They can cause narrowing of a central airway, a severe respiratory distress, and death. The objective of this case series is to highlight the role of rigid bronchoscopy in diagnosing and treating carina masses which are difficult to remove surgically.

Altered distribution, activation and increased IL-17 production of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Objective: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of innate-like T cells that are engaged in a number of diseases, but their roles in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are not fully examined yet. This study aimed to examine levels and functions of MAIT cells in patients with ARDS.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples from patients with ARDS (n=50) and healthy controls (HCs, n=50) were collected.

Life-threatening Mycobacterium intracellulare pleuritis in an immunocompetent host: Case reports.

Rationale: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-associated pleuritis is a very rare disease. Here, we describe 2 cases of life-threatening Mycobacterium intracellulare-associated pleuritis in immunocompetent hosts.

Patient Concerns: A 78-year-old man with sudden onset-onset dyspnea (case 1) and an 80-year-old man with cough, sputum and fever (case 2) presented to our emergency room.

Circulating Plasmacytoid and Conventional Dendritic Cells Are Numerically and Functionally Deficient in Patients With Scrub Typhus.

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells known to bridge innate and adaptive immune reactions. However, the relationship between circulating DCs and infection is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the level and function of plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) and conventional DCs (cDCs), two subsets of circulating DCs, in scrub typhus patients.

The paradoxical response to short-acting bronchodilator administration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: There are a few studies about paradoxical bronchodilator response (BDR), which means a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) or forced vital capacity (FVC) after short-acting bronchodilator administration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the effect of paradoxical BDR on the clinical outcomes of COPD patients in South Korea.

Methods: We analyzed the KOrea COpd Subgroup Study team (KOCOSS) cohort data in South Korea between January 2012 and December 2017.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia without a compromised illness.

Objective: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a fatal respiratory infection, mostly associated with immunocompromised conditions. Several reports have described PCP development in patients who were not immunocompromised, but the clinical course and prognosis of PCP are not well understood. We compared the clinical characteristics and prognoses between patients with and without immunocompromised conditions who developed PCP.

Hypersensitivity reactions to multiple anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate hypersensitivity reactions to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes of single and multiple drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs).

Results: Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with anti-TB DHRs using oral drug provocation tests.

Paradoxical pulmonary hemorrhage associated with hemocoagulase batroxobin in a patient with hemoptysis: A CARE-compliant case report.

Rational: Hemocoagulase, a hemostatic, is used in patients with trauma, gastrointestinal bleeding, or pulmonary hemorrhage or those undergoing surgery. However, paradoxical bleeding after hemocoagulase administration is not considered a clinically significant adverse effect. Here, we report a case of paradoxical pulmonary hemorrhage associated with hypofibrinogenemia after administration of the hemocoagulase batroxobin in a patient with hemoptysis.