Role of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum interleukin-27 in the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis

Background:To evaluate the value of interleukin (IL)-27 measured in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).Methods:This was a prospective study of patients planned to undergo bronchoscopy at Wuxi No.5 People''s Hospital between January 2017 and September 2018. The patients were grouped as the TB and control groups. BALF and serum IL-27 were measured by ELISA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic value and calculate the optimal cutoff values.Results:There were 40 patients in the control group and 87 in the TB group. In the TB group, 20 had positive sputum smear results and 67 were negative. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of BALF IL-27 for pulmonary TB was 0.897 (95% CI: 0.830–0.944) (P < .001). The AUC of serum IL-27 for pulmonary TB was 0.703 (95% CI: 0.616–0.781) (P < .001). In patients with negative sputum smear results, the AUCs of BALF IL-27 and serum IL-27 for pulmonary TB was 0.882 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.805–0.936) (P < .001) and 0.679 (95% CI: 0.601–0.782) (P < .001), respectively.Conclusions:BALF IL-27 can be used for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB, particularly in those with a negative sputum smear result. Serum IL-27 could be an auxiliary method for TB screening.     

Where is Chlamydophila pneumoniae pneumonia?

BackgroundMolecular diagnostic methods have recently gained widespread use, and consequently, the importance of viral pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has undergone re-evaluation. Under these circumstances, the role of Chlamydophila pneumoniae as a pathogen that causes CAP also needs to be reviewed.MethodsWe reviewed articles that contained data on the frequency of identification of C. pneumoniae pneumonia as a causative pathogen for CAP. The articles were identified by performing a search in PubMed with the keywords “community-acquired pneumonia” and “pathogen”.ResultsSixty-three articles were identified. The reviewed articles demonstrated that the rates of identification of C. pneumoniae as the causative pathogen for CAP were significantly lower in assessments based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods than in those based on serological methods. In some studies, it was possible to compare both serological and PCR methods directly using the same set of samples.ConclusionsThe use of PCR methods, including multiplex PCR assays, has revealed that C. pneumoniae may play a limited role as a pathogen for CAP.     

纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗治疗对急诊重症肺炎合并呼吸衰竭患者血清学指标的影响

目的:研究纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗治疗对急诊重症肺炎合并呼吸衰竭患者血清学指标的影响.方法:将2012年9月～2014年8月期间我院收治的重症肺炎合并呼吸衰竭患者40例纳入研究,随机分为两组,观察组患者接受纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗联合常规治疗,对照组患者接受常规治疗,比较两组患者的呼吸功能指标、血清炎症指标以及外周血信号通路.结果:(1)呼吸功能:观察组患者的氧合指数(PaO2/FiO2)、动态顺应性(Cdyn)水平高于对照组,呼吸做功(WOB)水平低于对照组(P＜0.05);(2)炎症指标:观察组患者的CD11b+中性粒细胞比例、可溶性髓系细胞触发受体-1(sTREM-1)、高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB 1)含量低于对照组(P＜0.05);(3)信号通路:观察组患者外周血中JAK、PI3K、ERK、JNK、p38、BMK1的mRNA含量低于对照组(P＜0.05).结论:纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗治疗有助于改善呼吸功能,缓解炎症反应,抑制炎症相关信号通路的激活.     

Diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage in febrile patients with hematologic malignancies and pulmonary infiltrates

Infectious complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Febrile patients with hematologic malignancies and pulmonary infiltrates have high mortality rates, especially if mechanical ventilation is required. The diagnostic value of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in these patients is controversial. We retrospectively analyzed the microbiological results of BAL samples obtained during 249 FOB examinations from 199 febrile patients with hematologic malignancies and pulmonary infiltrates (underlying diseases: acute leukemia 103 patients, lymphoma 84 patients, other malignancies 12 patients). Two hundred forty-six examinations could be evaluated. Seventy-three out of 246 BAL samples were sterile; 55 samples showed microbiological findings classified as contamination or colonization. One hundred eighteen samples showed positive microbiological results of bacteria and/or fungi classified as causative pathogens. Thereof, in 70 samples, only bacterial pathogens were detectable (Gram-positive, 35; Gram-negative, 30; mixed Gram-positive and Gram-negative, 5). Thirteen samples showed both fungi and bacterial pathogens. In 33 samples, only fungi were detectable, thereof, in 15 samples Aspergillus species, in 16 samples Candida species, and in 2 both. In two samples, a viral pathogen could be detected. Three nonlethal complications (bleeding, arrhythmia) occurred that required early termination of FOB. In 94 (38.2%) patient episodes, antibiotic treatment was modified as a result of microbiological findings in BAL samples. Our results show that FOB with BAL is a valuable diagnostic tool with low complication rates in high-risk febrile patients with hematologic malignancies and pulmonary infiltrates, contributing crucial results for the individual case, and also improving epidemiologic knowledge.     

New procedure of bronchoalveolar lavage using a balloon catheter in diffuse lung diseases

BackgroundVarious procedures for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) have been developed. BAL needs a wedge between the bronchoscope and the inner surface of the bronchus. The feasibility of performing BAL at the targeted position cannot be determined until immediately before the procedure. We examined BAL performed using a balloon catheter to evaluate the stability of the procedure itself and quality of the specimen obtained.MethodsThe main inclusion criteria were diffuse lung disease with a shadow in the B⁵a area. The tip of a disposable balloon catheter was passed through the orifice of the B⁵a bronchus, and the balloon was expanded at the B⁵a bronchus. A 50-mL syringe containing saline was instilled, and gentle hand suction was performed. This procedure was repeated two more times (total: 150 mL).ResultsIn all the 13 patients, the balloon of the catheter was inflated at the B⁵a bronchus. The median recovery rate was 34.92% ± 13.22%. These values were comparable to previously obtained BAL data (control group, N = 56) from our facility. The BAL fluid findings and final diagnosis, with the exception of one undiagnosed case, were consistent. Overall, four patients suffered an adverse event during BAL (hypoxemia). All cases were managed by increasing the oxygen flow rate, and the adverse event did not affect the subsequent examinations.ConclusionsUsing a balloon catheter enabled us to perform BAL at the intended bronchus. The quality of the obtained specimen was also acceptable.     

Acute lung injury due to parvovirus pneumonia

Wardeh A, Marik P, (Department of Critical Care, St. Vincent Hospital, Massachusetts, USA and the University of Massachusetts and Medical Intensive Care Unit St. Vincent Hospital, Massachusetts, USA). Acute lung injury due to parvovirus pneumonia (Case Report). J Intern Med 1998; 244 : 257–60.  

Objective

Human parvovirus B19 is responsible for the common childhood exanthematous illness, erythema infectiosum. Adults infected with B19 have been reported to develop a febrile illness associated with arthritis. Life threatening parvovirus infections in non-immunocompromised adults have not been reported to date. We report a previously healthy middle aged female who developed severe parvovirus pneumonia. The patient recovered with supportive care provided in the ICU. Parvovirus may represent an under diagnosed cause of community acquired pneumonia.     

Dermatopolymyositis and pulmonary fibrosis associated with Gougerot-Sjogren syndrome. Study of 3 cases

3 new cases of dermatomyositis associated with diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and, more exceptionally, with Sj?gren's syndrome are reported. The pulmonary fibrosis observed in patients with dermatomyositis differs from that found in other connective tissue diseases in that it follows a more acute course and may respond to corticosteroids. Thus, in 2 of these patients treated with corticosteroids (combined in 1 case with cyclophosphamide) the high percentage of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclears in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, which reflects alveolitis activity, was reduced and the pulmonary fibrosis was cured in one patient and stabilized in the other.     

急性肺损伤大鼠肺纤维增生早期检测

目的探讨油酸（OA）所致大鼠急性肺损伤（ALI）早期肺纤维组织增生情况及其可能的纤维化机制。方法应用尾静脉注射OA复制大鼠ALI模型。48只健康SD大鼠（体质量0．29～0．31kg，雌雄不拘）随机分为4组：生理盐水对照组（NS组，n=12），OA致伤1d组（OA1组，n=12），OA致伤3d组（OA2组，n=12），OA致伤7d组（0A3组，n=12）。OA致伤组以0．12ml／kg的OA尾静脉注射，NS组注射同等量的生理盐水。观察肺部病理变化，检测肺湿／干重比（W／D值），测定动脉血氧分压（PaO2）、动脉血二氧化碳分压（PaCO2）、pH值及血浆Ⅲ型前胶原肽N末端（PⅢNP）浓度，测支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中总蛋白（TP）、总磷脂（TPL）、磷脂酰胆碱（PC）和PⅢNP浓度。结果①与NS组比较，OA组肺组织可见明显充血、水肿、出血等ALI表现，各时间点BALF中TPL、PC／TPL明显减少（P〈0．01），而TP、W／D值、PⅢNP及血浆PⅢNP显著升高（P〈0．01），动脉血PaO2、PaCO2、pH值也有明显变化（P〈0．01）。②OA组各时间点血浆与BALF中PmNP浓度呈正相关（rOA1=0．864，P〈0．01；rOA2=0．829，P〈0．01；rOA3=0．874，P〈0．01）。结论AU早期肺就发生纤维组织增生；ALI时PⅢNP浓度显著升高，通过检测BALF和血浆中的PⅢNP浓度可能有助于早期诊治ALI.     

特发性肺纤维化患者支气管肺泡灌洗液中白细胞介素13的水平及意义

目的　探讨特发性肺纤维化 (IPF)患者支气管肺泡灌洗液 (BALF)和外周血中白细胞介素 13 (IL 13 )水平的变化及其意义。方法　选择 17例IPF患者 (IPF组 )和 8名无器质性肺疾病者 (对照组 )。采用IL 13特异的酶联免疫吸附法测定 (ELISA)法检测 2组BALF和外周血中IL 13的水平 ,分析患者IL 13水平与其肺功能、血气之间的关系。结果　IPF组BALF和外周血中IL 13水平分别为(3 0 1± 86)ng/L、(178± 3 6)ng/L ;对照组分别为 (10 3± 2 4)ng/L、(55± 15)ng/L ,两者比较差异均有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。IPF组BALF中IL 13水平与BALF中性粒细胞数呈正相关 (r =0 786,P <0 0 1) ,与用力肺活量、一秒钟用力呼气容积、肺一氧化碳弥散量及动脉血氧分压均呈一定的等级负相关 (r分别为 -0 898、-0 878、-0 874、-0 890 ,P均 <0 0 1)。结论　IL 13可能在IPF的发病过程中起一定作用 ,并有可能作为判断病变进展情况的一项指标