Objective To enhance the understanding of nonfibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (nfHP) by summarizing the clinical characteristics of 32 cases of nfHP. Methods The data of 32 cases with nfHP was collected and analyzed. They were diagnosed in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from Jan 1st, 2017 to Oct 31, 2021. Results The median age of the nfHP patients was 54 years, among whom 75.0% were females. The cases developed in a majority of avian exposure (22 cases, 68.8%). The main symptoms were dyspnea/shortness of breath (28 cases, 87.5%), cough (25 cases, 78.1%）and sputum production (21 cases, 65.6%). High-resolution CT (HRCT) showed diffuse ground glass opacification (25 cases, 78.1%), centrilobular ground glass nodules (20 cases, 62.5%) and air trapping (9 cases, 28.1%). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) featured an increase of proportion of lymphocytes (>20%, 90.6% and >40%, 50%), and a decrease of CD4+/CD8+ T cell ratio (<1.2, 65.6% and <0.8, 40.6%). Most of the cases had reduced diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (16 cases out of 26 cases, 61.5%) and decreased total lung capacity (13 cases out of 26 cases, 50%). Few cases showed obstructive ventilatory function (6 cases out of 26 cases, 23.1%). Most cases (22 cases, 68.8%) of nfHP showed an excellent survival with short-term corticosteroid treatment. Few cases (5 cases, 15.6%) experienced spontaneous remission after antigen avoidance. Conclusions The diagnosis of nfHP includes identifying antigenic exposures, featured chest HRCT and lymocytosis in BALF. nfHP patients showed an excellent survival with short-term corticosteroid treatment as well as antigen avoidance.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features of patients who went through Nocardia co-infection with Aspergillus in lung.MethodsClinical data of 3 pulmonary nocardiosis patients complicated with aspergillosis from China-Japan Hospital during June 2015 and May 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Nine related literatures found at PubMed were reviewed and they all were case report. No Chinese literature was found at Wanfang data and Chinese Journal Fulltext Database.ResultsAll of the 3 patients were diagnosed as pulmonary nocardiosis by etiological detection, at the same time meeting the diagnostic criteria of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Two cases were infected with Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus was not detected in the third case, but the galactomannan of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid significantly increased.ConclusionPulmonary nocardiosis complicated with aspergillosis trends to occur in immunocompromised patients, and pathogen detection is important for diagnosis.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of cryptococcal antigen lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (CrAg-LFA) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) among pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) patients.MethodsPatients from the Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, and Quanzhou First Hospital of Fujian Medical University were enrolled prospectively from March 2015 to October 2018. They were confirmed without human immunodeficiency virus infection and were divided into non-PC group (236 cases) and PC group (72 cases). The PC was definitely diagnosed by histopathological evidence from lung biopsy. The CrAg-LFA and culture were performed in both the serum and BALF among the enrolled patients.ResultsAmong 72 PC patients, 54 had a positive serum CrAg-LFA, 1 had positive serum culture; 67 patients had a positive BALF CrAg-LFA, 9 had positive BALF culture. Among the non-PC group, only 1 patient had a weak positive serum CrAg-LFA, none had positive serum culture of PC; 236 cases non-PC patients underwent BALF CrAg-LFA detection, none had a positive BALF CrAg-LFA; none of the 121 cases who had BALF culture yielded a positive result in PC. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value, and negative predicted value in serum were 75.0%, 99.6%, 98.2%, and 92.9%, respectively. Those above mentioned values in the BALF yielded 93.6%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 97.9%, respectively. Among the PC group, the sensitivity was higher in BALF than that in serum (χ2=8.745, P<0.05).ConclusionsThe CrAg-LFA is a simple and rapid diagnostic method for PC. The diagnostic value of CrAg-LFA in the BALF is superior to that in serum and fungal culture among the PC patients. The positive BALF CrAg-LFA result is consistent with mycological positive results.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES), and improve the early diagnosis and treatment of such diseases.MethodsThe clinical diagnosis and treatment data were retrospectively analyzed from the patients with confirmed IHES hospitalized in China-Japan Friendship Hospital between September 2010 to May 2018.ResultsFifteen patients were included. There were 3 women and 12 men in the study, with an average age of 53.7±21.3 years. Eleven patients had respiratory problems, with an average course of 7 months. Most lesions occurred in both lungs. Patchy distribution, ground glass opacity, pleural effusion and mediastinal lymph node enlargement were common in the chest computed tomography. Serum total IgE was significantly increased. Four patients had other systems involved rather than respiratory system. One of them had digestive problems and another 3 had skin diseases. There was a significant increase in eosinophils in peripheral blood, bone marrow and histopathology, the same as eosinophils in sputum, pleural effusion, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Hypoxemia was common in patients with respiratory problems. The blood eosinophil and total IgE were reduced after glucocorticoid treatment, and the hypoxemia was significantly improved.ConclusionsThe clinical symptoms, signs and image of chest computed tomography are not specific in IHES, so the rate of misdiagnosis and wrong diagnosis is high. This disease involves many organs or systems, so the pathological examination should be completed as soon as possible to make a clear diagnosis to prevent further damage. Glucocorticoid treatment is effective in this disease.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for discrimination of Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) colonization from infection.MethodsSixty patients with tracheal intubation or tracheotomy who were admitted in intensive care unit from July 2016 to July 2018, were divided into an infection group (n=20), a colonization group (n=20) and a control group (n=20). The serum and BALF samples were collected from the patients on the day when lower respiratory tract sample culture was positive so as to detect sTREM-1, serum procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The value of serum PCT, IL-6, sTREM-1 and BALF sTREM-1 in differentiation of infection or colonization for A. baumannii was analyzed by mean of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.ResultsThere were no significant differences in gender composition, age or Glasgow coma score among the three groups (P>0.05). The clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) of the infection group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, while the sTREM-1 concentration of BALF with A. baumannii colonization increased significantly but levels of PCT, IL-6 and sTREM-1 remained unchanged in serum. The levels of PCT, IL-6 and sTREM-1 in serum, and sTREM-1 in BALF increased significantly in the infection group (P<0.001). Compared with the colonization group, the levels of PCT, IL-6 and sTREM-1 in serum, and sTREM-1 in BALF increased significantly in the infection group (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of serum PCT was 0.67 with the sensitivity of 0.55 and the specificity of 0.90 (95%CI 0.52 - 0.82). AUC of serum IL-6 was 0.72 with the sensitivity of 0.60 and the specificity of 0.95 (95%CI 0.58 - 0.85). AUC of serum sTREM-1 was 0.72 with the sensitivity of 0.75 and the specificity of 0.60 (95%CI 0.55 - 0.85). AUC of sTREM-1 in BALF was 0.92 with the sensitivity of 0.95 and the specificity of 0.70 (95%CI 0.79 - 0.98). The diagnostic accuracy of sTREM-1 in BALF was higher than that of PCT, IL-6 and sTREM-1 in serum (P<0.05).ConclusionssTREM-1 in BALF has good diagnostic performance in differentiating patients with infection of colonization for A. baumannii. Its sensitivity and specificity are higher than serum PCT, IL-6 and sTREM-1.
ObjectiveTo study the application of non-real-time ultrasound bronchoscopy combined with Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) for diagnosis in focal pulmonary infectious diseases. MethodsProspective inclusion of patients with focal pulmonary infection were randomly divided into two groups, the experimental group used non-real-time ultrasound bronchoscopy positioning to collect bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF), while the control group used chest CT position. BALF was subjected to mNGS and traditional microbial detection including traditional culture, the fungal GM test and Xpert (MTB/RIF). ResultThe positive rate of traditional culture (39.58% vs. 16.67%, P=0.013) and mNGS (89.58% vs. 72.92%, P=0.036) in experimental group was higher. The positive rate of Xpert MTB/RIF (4.17% vs. 2.08%, P=1) and fungal GM test (6.25% vs. 4.17%, P=0.765) was similar. The positive rate of bacteria and fungi detected by mNGS was higher than traditional culture (61.46% vs. 28.13%, P<0.001). Mycobacterium tuberculosis was similar to Xpert MTB/RIF (8.33% vs. 3.13%, P=0.21). Aspergillus was similar to GM test (7.29% vs. 5.21%, P=0.77). The total positive rate of traditional microbial methods was 36.46%, but 81.25% in mNGS (P<0.001). mNGS showed that 35 cases were positive and 13 kinds of pathogens were detected in control group, but 43 patients and 17 kinds of pathogens were detected in experimental group. The average hospitalization time [(12.92±3.54) days vs. (16.35±7.49) days] and the cost [CNY (12209.17±3956.17) vs. CNY (19044.10±17350.85)] of experimental group was less (P<0.001). ConclusionsNon-real-time ultrasound bronchoscopy combined with mNGS can improve the diagnostic rate of focal pulmonary infectious diseases which is worthy of popularization and application in clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo improve the understanding of psittacosis, the clinical data of 8 cases are reviewed. The application of pathogen metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of nocardiosis is also investigated.MethodsThe clinical data of eight patients with psittacosis diagnosed by mNGS in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2018 to May 2020 were reviewed. The clinical characteristics, laboratory examination characteristics and imaging changes were analyzed, and the treatment outcome was followed-up.ResultsAmong the eight cases, there were six males and two females, aged 43～83 years old, with an average age of 64±12 years old. Six of them had a clear history of poultry exposure. The major clinical manifestations were fever, cough, dyspnea, etc. Chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) may have solid shadow, ground glass like shadow. Chlamydia psittaci was detected by mNGS in eight patients’ bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Minocycline or moxifloxacin were administrated, six patients were discharged after their condition improved, and two patients died.ConclusionsThe incidence of psittacosis is low, and its clinical manifestations lack specificity. In the course of the disease, there may be different degrees of fever, cough, sputum, dyspnea and other symptoms. The lungs can be heard with wet rales, chest HRCT can be seen ground glass shadow, consolidation shadow, accompanied by air bronchogram. Chlamydia psittaci can be detected in alveolar lavage fluid by mNGS. The patients need to be treated for a long time, lasting at least 10 to 14 days. Tetracycline drugs should be the first choice, and can be combined with other antibiotics with activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in critical patients.
ObjectiveTo detect the levels of Krebs von den lungen 6 (KL-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF),and explore its clinical significance. MethodsThirty-four patients with IPF and 10 patients with sarcoidosis in Ⅰ period were recruited in the study. ELISA was used to detect the level of KL-6 in BALF and serum. ResultsIn the IPF group,the forced vital capacity as percentage of predicted value (FVC% pred) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide as percentage of predicted value (DLCO %pred) were both significantly lower than those of the sarcoidosis group[(69.51±13.65)% vs. (82.06±5.84)%,(48.58±12.73)% vs. (81.47±6.39)%,P<0.01]. In the BALF of IPF group,the percentage of neutrophils was higher[(8.91±6.79)% vs. (5.50±3.60)%,P<0.05],and the percentages of lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio were lower than those of the sarcoidosis group[(11.71±6.64)% vs. (23.30±12.68)%,(1.46±0.83) vs. (4.01±5.10),P<0.05]. In the IPF group,the level of KL-6 in the BALF and serum was higher than that of the arcoidosis group[(437.43±251.70) U/mL vs. (221.59±127.41) U/mL,(857.81±515.53) U/mL vs. (338.67±168.13) U/mL,P<0.001]. There was obvious correlation between the level of serum KL-6 with FVC%pred and DLCO%pred in the IPF group (r=-0.46,r=-0.58,P<0.05). ConclusionsThe level of KL-6 in BALF and serum is elevated in patients with IPF. There is obvious correlation between the level of serum KL-6 with FVC%pred and DLCO%pred in IPF patients. KL-6 may be an indicator of IPF in clinical diagnose.
ObjectiveTo analyze the microbiological characteristics of airway bacteria in adult patients with bronchiectasis and to analyze their correlation with the clinical features. MethodsPatients diagnosed with bronchiectasis in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2017 to April 2018 were classified into the bronchiectasis group, while the control group was those who were found to have pulmonary nodules (diameter less than 10 mm) requiring bronchoscopy by physical examination. All subjects in both groups had not used antibiotics or hormones within 4 weeks and had no other respiratory diseases. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the lesion site of the branchial expansion group was collected, and BALF from the basal segment of the contralateral inferior bronchial lobe of the pulmonary nodule was collected in the control group. Bacterial culture and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed in both groups. ResultsSeventeen cases and six controls were enrolled in this study and the BALF specimens were collected. Eight cases were in stable period and nine cases were in acute period. The case group was divided into the bacteria-positive group and negative group based on bacterial culture of BALF. Shannon index in the bacteria-positive group was significantly lower than the bacteria-negative group and the control group. And Shannon index showed a negative correlation with positive bacterial culture in BALF. When Shannon index ≤4.5 was used to predict positive bacterial culture, the sensitivity and specificity were 83.3% and 90.9% respectively. The average relative abundance of bacteria was higher and the average sample distribution uniformity was lower in patients with acute period, compared with those in patients with stable period. Shannon index was negatively correlated with the acute exacerbation in patients. When Shannon index <5.0 was used to predict acute exacerbation, the sensitivity and specificity were 77.8% and 100.0%, respectively. ConclusionsShannon index in 16S rRNA gene sequencing results has certain predictive value for acute exacerbation stage. 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with bacterial culture results can help guide clinicians to provide more precise treatment plans.