Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction for Emphysema: physiological and radiological correlations

Introduction: Patient selection in lung volume reduction (LVR) plays a pivotal role in achieving meaningful clinical outcomes. Currently, LVR patients are selected based on three established criteria: heterogeneity index, percentage of low attenuation area (%LAA), and fissure integrity score. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) has been developed to quantify lung physiological indices at the lobar level and could potentially revolutionise patient selection in LVR procedures. We developed an in-house QCT software, LungSeg, and used its radiological indices for the purposes of this thesis. The aim of this thesis is to discover potential physiological and radiological indices that could serve as predictors for superior LVR outcomes for better patient selection. Methods: This thesis took two studies and analysed them using LungSeg. The first study was the long-term coil study, a randomised controlled study that had the control group crossing over to the treatment arm at 12 months. At 12 months post-procedure the baseline measurements were assessed against the 12-months post-procedural measurements. The second study was the short-term valve study which was another randomised controlled study that compared the primary and secondary endpoints between the control and the valve-treated group at three months post-procedure. Results: In the long-term coil study, we found that the best statistically significant combination of predictors for change in target lobar volume at inspiration was found to be the combination of baseline target LV at inspiration, -950HU EI at inspiration, and TLCabs with a model adjusted R2 of 0.407 (p = 0.0001). In a subsequent multivariate analysis using ≥45% LAA on the -950HU at Inspiration, the R2 of the same prediction model did improve to 0.493 (P-value = 0.002). Meanwhile, the best statistically significant combination of predictors for change in target lobar volume at inspiration following valve treatment was found to be the combination of baseline target LV at inspiration, target lobar fissure integrity and baseline FEV1abs with a model adjusted R2 of 0.193 (p = 0.105). Conclusion: Using QCT, we have improved the proposed patient selection algorithm for LVR procedures based on the best QCT and lung function predictors.Open Acces

Diagnosing COVID-19: “Did We Miss Anything?”

In late 2019, a mass of patients showing symptoms of a pneumonia-like disease of unknown origin emerged in Wuhan, China. Little did the world know it was the prelude of what would be a devastating pandemic. Samples were collected from these patients and the use of unbiased sequencing, and subsequent isolation of the pathogen using human airway epithelial cells led to the discovery of a novel coronavirus, named 2019-nCoV by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The disease caused by this virus is officially called the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The Effect of Branched Chain Amino Acids and L-Ornithine L-Aspartate Combination as The Late Evening Snacks on Nutritional Status and Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy in Liver Cirrhosis

ABSTRACTBackground:Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in liver cirrhotic patients is critical manifestation of low grade hepatic encephalopaty (HE), is caused quality of life decrease and risk of deteriorating into distinct HE. The study was conducted to asses the effect of combination of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and L-ornithine L-aspartate (LOLA), which was given late evening, on nutritional status and degree of HE.Method: This single-blind randomized study was conducted on liver cirrhotic outpatients in hepatology clinic of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital period June 2011-June 2012. The study subjects were divided into two groups, group of late evening snack (LS) and day snack (DS). Each group was supplemented with combination of milk of BCAAs and LOLA (3.7 g/serving). Evaluation based on history, physical examination, laboratory tests and critical flicker frequency (CFF) was performed one month after the intervention. Data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 15.Results: Thirty-two patients whose the inclusion criteria were divided into 16 subjects for each group, LS and DS. After one month of the intervention, the average level of prealbumin for DS group was increased statistically significant (p < 0.001), but not significant for LS group (p = 0.259). The increase of average body weight,mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) and CFF test result in both groups. There was no improvement on subject global assessment (SGA) score after one month intervention in both groups.Conclusion: This study proved that giving combination of BCAAs and LOLA may improve the condition of MHE, however for nutritional status can not be assessed. Keywords: minimal hepatic encephalopathy, BCAAs, LOLA, prealbumin, SGA score, nutritional statu

Papilla Vaterƒs Tumor in Elderly: an Interdisciplinary Issue

Tumors of the papilla Vater are very rare. Papilla Vater’s tumors are benign or malignant tumors in the ampulla of Vater and periampullary region. Blockage of ampulla leads to the development of obstructive jaundice; intermittent cholangitis, epigastric discomfort and weight loss. Treatment possibilities include endoscopic ampulectomy, surgical transduodenal excision of tumors of the ampulla and pancreatoduodenectomy (PDE). Prognosis depends on histological typing of the tumor and their clinical stage. We report a case of papilla Vater’s tumor in elderly with comorbidities based on literature review. A 68-year-old female patient was referred for evaluation of intra and extra hepatic bile duct dilatation noted on abdominal ultrasonography. She complained of intermittent epigastric and right upper abdominal pain, with yellowish skin for two months. The laboratory findings showed leukocytosis, hyperbilirubinemia, abnormal liver function test, and high Ca 19-9. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) revealed a distal obstruction caused by papilla Vater’s tumor. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) with contrast, revealed a dilated common bile duct and pancreatic duct. The histologic evaluation was highly suggestive for dysplasia. She is now on a schedule for a Whipple procedure. To make a true diagnosis and optimal treatment of papilla Vater’s tumor is multimodal. By doing a comprehensive geriatric assessment, with a careful modality selection, a Whipple procedure can be performed in elderly (65 years) safely. The post operative morbidity and mortality depends on their multi morbidity. Surgical, endoscopic, or radiologic biliary decompression; relief of gastric outlet obstruction; and adequate pain control may improve the quality of life but do not affect overall survival rate. By building a great interdisciplinary teamwork, the quality of life increased as follows.Keywords: papilla Vater tumor, elderly, Whipple procedur

COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis: A Case Series

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a worldwide pandemic with several problems, one of which is the lack of definitive treatment. COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), the presence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in COVID-19 patients, is one of the concerning secondary infections associated with higher mortality and worse clinical outcomes. Diagnosing CAPA may be challenging due to the possible absence of classic host factors and clinical symptoms or obscured radiological findings. We described two CAPA cases, which were suspected due to persistent respiratory failure despite standard treatment of COVID-19 with additional therapies and antimicrobial agents for secondary infections, eventually diagnosed with serum galactomannan testing. Clinical conditions of both patients improved significantly after the administration of voriconazole. This case series emphasizes the importance of being aware of clinical suspicions indicating CAPA followed by galactomannan testing as a relatively fast, noninvasive test for its diagnosis, which leads to appropriate antifungal treatment

The Importance of the Timing of Tocilizumab Administration in Moderate to Severely Ill COVID-19: Single Centered Experience Case series

One of the main causes of death in COVID-19 is the dysregulation of the host’s immune system which leads to cytokine storm, a potentially fatal systemic inflammatory syndrome. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is produced in response to infections and tissue injuries and is believed to play a pivotal role in the event of a cytokine storm, as signified by its increase in the process. Considering the role of IL-6 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine in the process of cytokine storm in COVID-19, perceiving IL-6 as a therapeutic target could prove to be promising. Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that competitively inhibits the binding of IL-6 to its receptor (IL-6R). The use of IL-6R blocker is recommended for severe COVID-19 patients in the latest therapeutic guideline published by the World Health Organization (WHO), but the timing of the administration has not been specified. While previous studies about the use of tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients have shown various results, these studies do not emphasize on plasma IL-6 levels when deciding the time of tocilizumab administration. In this case series, we present three patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infections that receive tocilizumab as an adjunct to the standard of care therapy. This case series introduces the novel idea that the timely use of tocilizumab as signified by plasma IL-6 levels in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients could potentially improve overall clinical condition and increase survival rate