Improving Diagnostic Sensitivity of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis Using Species-Specific IgG.

Background: Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is most commonly caused by Aspergillus fumigatus (AF-CPA). Serum A. fumigatus-IgG, a pivotal investigation for diagnosing CPA, misses 10%-15% of CPA cases.

An RCT to compare high flow nasal cannula with standard nasal cannula to prevent desaturation in subjects undergoing EBUS-TBNA: HIFLO-EBUS trial.

Background And Objective: Oxygen desaturation events occur commonly during Endobronchial endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guided-transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) performed under conscious sedation. We hypothesized that high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) would be superior to conventional nasal cannula (NC) in preventing these hypoxemic episodes.

Methods: We randomized consecutive subjects ≥18 years undergoing EBUS-TBNA to receive oxygen with HFNC or NC.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Lymphocytosis and Early Glucocorticoid Response: A Prospective Study of 150 Subjects With Interstitial Lung Disease.

Background And Objective: Bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocyte percentage (BLP) is considered a prognostic marker for interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Its association with an early glucocorticoid response (EGR) has not been studied systematically. We aimed to assess the association of BLP and other factors with EGR.

Serum Mannose-Binding Lectin Levels in Asthma and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) contributes to innate immunity against Aspergillus fumigatus. We assessed the role of reduced MBL levels in asthma patients with and without allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). In this prospective cross-sectional study, we enrolled 154 adults: 48 with asthma, 27 with Aspergillus-sensitized asthma (ASA, A.

Mortality among inpatients with systemic lupus erythematosus in a tertiary care hospital.

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly during hospitalisation. Differentiating between infection and disease activity is crucial but challenging. Regional variations in infection rates and disease manifestations necessitate region-specific studies.

Cut-Offs and Diagnostic Performance of IgG Against Recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus Antigens in Differentiating ABPA From Asthma.

Background: The diagnostic cut-off values for IgG antibodies against recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus (rAsp) antigens in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) remain unclear.

Objectives: To derive and validate diagnostic cut-offs for IgG antibodies against rAsp f 1, f 2 and f 4 in ABPA and assess their diagnostic performance in distinguishing ABPA from asthma.

Methods: In this case-control study, we prospectively enrolled consecutive subjects with asthma and ABPA.

Fatal pulmonary mycoses by Emergomyces pasteurianus in a renal transplant recipient from India.

We describe a rare case of pulmonary infection by an emerging dimorphic fungus, Emergomyces pasteurianus in a 73-year-old renal transplant recipient from Northern India. The patient presented with fever and shortness of breath for ten days. The bronchoalveolar lavage revealed yeast cells and grew E.

Serum periostin and carcinoembryonic antigen for diagnosing and assessing response in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Background And Objective: Serum periostin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are markers of type 2 inflammation. However, their role in diagnosing and monitoring treatment responses in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) remains uncertain. The objective of the study was to assess the diagnostic performance of serum CEA and periostin in distinguishing ABPA from asthma.

Spontaneous Resolution in Autoimmune Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: A Case Series.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung condition characterized by the accumulation of proteinaceous material within the alveoli. The acquired form is often autoimmune, driven by autoantibodies against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Presentation of autoimmune PAP may range from incidental detection in asymptomatic patients to advanced respiratory failure.

New insights into the treatment of asthma complicated by allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Introduction: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a lung disorder that arises in individuals with asthma or cystic fibrosis due to an exaggerated immune response to . It leads to mucus plugging, recurrent exacerbations, and progressive bronchiectasis. Despite established diagnostic criteria, ABPA remains underdiagnosed, primarily due to its overlap with severe asthma and limited clinical awareness.

Diagnostic performance of an in-house real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and antigen detection from respiratory samples for the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Introduction: The currently available diagnostic tests lack sensitivity to diagnose pulmonary cryptococcosis. In the current study, we developed and standardized an in-house real-time PCR assay and evaluated the antigen detection in respiratory samples for the diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Materials And Methods: We standardized an in-house real-time PCR assay (using URA5 and STR1 primers; index test 1) and cryptococcal antigen detection (BIOSYNEX® CryptoPS, France) from the respiratory samples (index test 2).

Prevalence of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients With Mycobacterial and Non-Mycobacterial Tuberculosis Infection of the Lung: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Post-mycobacterial residual lung abnormality (PMLA) from prior tuberculous (PTLA) or non-tuberculous mycobacterial (PNTLA) lung infections predisposes to chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). However, the prevalence of CPA in patients with PMLA remains uncertain. We aimed to determine the prevalence of CPA in patients with PMLA.

Sensitivity and Specificity of Plasma and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid PCR for Diagnosing Pulmonary Mucormycosis in Subjects With Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Mucorales polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to diagnose pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) among neutropenic individuals. However, data on the utility of PCR in patients with diabetes mellitus, another major risk factor for PM, are limited.

Objective: The primary objective was to assess the diagnostic performance of a commercial real-time PCR assay (MucorGenius) in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for diagnosing PM (proven and probable cases only) in patients with suspected invasive mould disease (IMD).

Impact of Bronchiectasis Severity on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The impact of bronchiectasis severity on the outcomes of patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) remains uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate whether bronchiectasis severity is associated with an increased risk of ABPA exacerbations.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with ABPA between 2007 and 2019.

Performance of LDBio Aspergillus ICT IgM/IgG Lateral Flow Assay in Diagnosing Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Community Versus Hospital Setting.

Background: LDBio immunochromatographic lateral flow assay, a point-of care test, detects IgM/IgG antibodies against Aspergillus fumigatus (LDBio-ALFA). LDBio-ALFA has been evaluated for diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in hospital patients, though its efficacy in field settings remains unexamined.

Objective: Our primary objective was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of LDBio-ALFA in diagnosing CPA in a field and a hospital cohort.

Factors associated with interstitial lung disease and the progressive fibrosing phenotype in rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease.

Background: The risk factors for interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are inconsistent among previous studies. Furthermore, the factors associated with the emergence of the recently defined progressive fibrosing (PF) phenotype are unknown. Herein, we analyze the risk factors for ILD in RA.

Albumin orchestrates a natural host defense mechanism against mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is an emerging, life-threatening human infection caused by fungi of the order Mucorales. Metabolic disorders uniquely predispose an ever-expanding group of patients to mucormycosis via poorly understood mechanisms. Therefore, it is highly likely that uncharacterized host metabolic effectors confer protective immunity against mucormycosis.