Surgical versus conservative management for suppurative intramural esophageal dissection

Often presented with an insidious onset, intramural esophageal dissection (IED) is a rare disease which has been mostly treated conservatively, though the treatment for infectious cases is still controversial. Two cases are reported here as follows: one was approached surgically by thoracoscopic mediastinotomy and neck debridement and the other was treated conservatively. The latter subsequently developed septic shock and was readmitted with intensive care. Both patients eventually recovered and resumed oral intake without requiring esophagectomy. Comparing these two cases of IED, one with a mucosal perforation and the other without, surgical intervention revealed the advantages of definitive isolation of pathogen and rapid mechanical removal of pus. Surgical risks should be evaluated against the severity, such as the presence of a mucosal perforation and the risk of a protracted clinical course for IED

Morbidity, mortality, associated injuries, and management of traumatic rib fractures

Background: Thoracic trauma is responsible for approximately 25% of trauma deaths, and rib fractures are present in as many as 40–80% of patients, and intensive care and/or ventilator support are frequently required for these patients. To identify their risk factors would improve treatment strategies for these patients. Methods: Between March 2005 and December 2013, consecutive patients with blunt thoracic trauma, who were admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Tungs' Taichung Metro Harbor Hospital (Taichung, Taiwan), were reviewed in this retrospective cohort study with the approval of the Institutional Review Board. The duration of hospital stay, ventilator support, injury severity score (ISS), type of injury, associated injuries, treatments, and mortality were analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 1621 thoracic trauma patients were included in this study, with a male majority and an age range of 18–95 years (mean age, 51.2 years). Approximately 11.7% of these patients had an ISS ≥ 16 and a mortality rate of 6.9%. Among them, 78.5% had rib fractures; 31.8%, traumatic hemothorax; 15.6%, pneumothorax; 9.6%, hemopneumothorax; and 4.6%, lung contusion. The most common associated injury was extremity fracture, followed by head injury and clavicle fracture. Surgery on the extremities (20.6% of patients) and chest tube placement (22.7% of patients) were the most common treatments. The number of rib fractures was associated with prolonged hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays (≥7 days), an ISS ≥ 16, and pulmonary complications of hemothorax, pneumothorax, and hemopneumothorax, but not with mechanical ventilator use. Furthermore, old age was significantly associated with rib fractures in patients with thoracic trauma. Conclusion: The severity of traumatic rib fractures was identified in this study. Therefore, a trauma team needs better preparation to provide effective treatment strategies when encountering thoracic trauma patients, especially patients who are older and have rib fractures

Association between PM2.5 exposure and risk of Parkinson’s disease in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan: a nested case-control study

OBJECTIVES This cohort study investigated the correlation between Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk under particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) exposure. METHODS Data from the National Health Research Institutes of Taiwan were used in this study. The Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan established an air quality monitoring network for monitoring Taiwan’s general air quality. COPD was indicated by at least 3 outpatient records and 1 hospitalization for COPD. After the implementation of age, sex, and endpoint matching at a 1:4 ratio, 137 patients and 548 patients were included in the case group and control group, respectively. Based on the 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) standards, monthly air particle concentration data were classified into the following 4 groups in analyses of exposure–response relationships: normal level, and 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the WHO level ([concentration ≥2]×25 μg/m3×number of exposure months). RESULTS A multivariate logistic regression revealed that the 1.0 and 1.5 WHO level groups did not significantly differ from the normal level group, but the 2.0 WHO level did (odds ratio, 4.091; 95% confidence interval, 1.180 to 14.188; p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS Elevated PM2.5 concentrations were significantly correlated with an increased risk of PD among patients with COPD. Furthermore, exposure to high PM2.5 levels can further increase the risk of PD

Prolonged Exposure to Air Pollution Increases Periodontal Disease Risk: A Nationwide, Population-Based, Cohort Study

(1) Background: No association between air pollution and periodontitis has yet been shown. Thus, we merged two nationwide databases to evaluate the risk of periodontitis in Taiwanese residents with long-term exposure to air pollution. (2) Methods: We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the Longitudinal Generation Tracking Database and the Taiwan Air Quality-Monitoring Database. The daily average air pollutant concentrations were categorized into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). We carried out Cox proportional hazards models to compute the hazard ratios of periodontitis, with 95% confidence intervals, in Q2–Q4 of the daily average air pollutant concentrations, compared with Q1. (3) Results: the adjusted HR (95 CI%) for periodontitis in Q2–Q4 increased with increased exposure to SO2, CO, NO, NO2, NOX, PM2.5, and PM10 from 1.72 (1.70, 1.76) to 4.86 (4.78–4.94); from 1.89 (1.85–1.93) to 2.64 (2.59–2.70); from 1.04 (1.02–1.06) to 1.52 (1.49–1.55); from 1.61 (1.58–1.64) to 2.51 (2.47–2.56); from 1.48 (1.45–1.51) to 2.11 (2.07–2.15); from 2.02 (1.98–2.06) to 22.9 (22.4–23.4, and from 2.71 (2.66–2.77) to 17.2 (16.8–17.6), respectively, compared to Q1. (4) Conclusions: Residents in Taiwan with long-term exposure to higher levels of air pollutants had a greater risk of periodontitis

Simulation education utilizing phantom and angle reference guide in pulmonary nodule CT localization

Objective: The incidence of sub-centimeter pulmonary nodules has been increasing along with the use of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) as a screening tool for early lung cancer detection. In our institution, pulmonary nodule computed tomography-guided localization (PNCL) is performed preoperatively with the laser angle guided assembly (LAGA), an angle reference device. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of postgraduate education in a phantom simulation of PNCL, with or without LAGA. Setting design: This prospective study was conducted in an academic hospital in Taiwan. Seven thoracic surgery residents and three experienced senior physicians were recruited to perform PNCL using a phantom simulation, with or without LAGA, for five nodules each and complete a questionnaire. Performance data were collected. χ2 tests, Mann-Whitney U test, univariate and multivariate linear regression were used for statistical analyses. Results: The confidence level increased from median 7[range 1, 9] to 8, range [6,9] (p = 0.001) before and after the simulation education course. The scores of enhanced PNCL ability and course satisfaction were as high as 8 [5,9], and 9 [7,9]. LAGA enabled broader puncture angles (with 27.5° [0°,80°]; without 14° [0°, 80°], p = 0.003), a lower puncture frequency (with 1 [1,4]; without 2 [1,5], p < 0.001), and a smaller angle deviation (with 3°[ 0°,8°]; without 5°[ 0°,19°], p = 0.002). Pleural depth in millimeters was associated with increased puncture frequency (0.019[0,010,0.028]) and procedure time (0.071'[ 0.018,0.123']. The PNCL-experienced physicians performed the procedure in less time (−2.854'[-4.646′,1.061']. The traverse direction toward the mediastinum diminished the frequency (toward 1[ 1,3]; away 1 [1,5], p = 0.003) and time (toward 7.5'[2′,18]'; away 9'[ 3’,31'], p = 0.027). The learning curve did not improve procedure performance after ten PNCL simulation rounds. Conclusions: The phantom PNCL simulation education course increased the confidence level, enhanced residents’ skill acquisition, and promoted learning satisfaction. The angle reference device helped improve the outcomes of the puncture frequency and reduced angle deviation

Protective Effects of Kirenol against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury through the Modulation of the Proinflammatory NFκB Pathway and the AMPK2-/Nrf2-Mediated HO-1/AOE Pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute and life-threatening inflammatory disease of the lung parenchyma that is associated with high mortality worldwide. No therapeutic strategies have been developed for the mitigation of the proinflammatory response that characterizes ALI. Kirenol has anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, and immunoregulatory effects. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of kirenol against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI in mice. Kirenol reduced the LPS-induced histopathology changes involving edema and thickening of the interstitial or alveolar walls, infiltration of leukocytes, formation of hyaline membrane. Pretreatment with kirenol reduced leukocytes infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the alveolar-capillary barrier disruption and lipid peroxidation in lung tissues induced by LPS. Kirenol significantly inhibited the secretion of cytokines, IL-1β, IL6, and TNFα, into the BALF of the mice with LPS-induced ALI through NFκB activation. Moreover, kirenol attenuated the downregulation of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase that was induced by LPS. HO-1 expression and the phosphorylation of Nrf2 and AMPK2 were also induced by kirenol. The results indicate that kirenol can be developed as a treatment strategy for ALI, and its effects are induced through the inhibition of the NF-κB proinflammatory pathway and promotion of AMPK2/Nrf2-mediated HO-1 and antioxidant enzymes (AOE) activation

Protective Effects of Kirenol against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury through the Modulation of the Proinflammatory NFκB Pathway and the AMPK2-/Nrf2-Mediated HO-1/AOE Pathway

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute and life-threatening inflammatory disease of the lung parenchyma that is associated with high mortality worldwide. No therapeutic strategies have been developed for the mitigation of the proinflammatory response that characterizes ALI. Kirenol has anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, and immunoregulatory effects. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of kirenol against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI in mice. Kirenol reduced the LPS-induced histopathology changes involving edema and thickening of the interstitial or alveolar walls, infiltration of leukocytes, formation of hyaline membrane. Pretreatment with kirenol reduced leukocytes infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the alveolar-capillary barrier disruption and lipid peroxidation in lung tissues induced by LPS. Kirenol significantly inhibited the secretion of cytokines, IL-1β, IL6, and TNFα, into the BALF of the mice with LPS-induced ALI through NFκB activation. Moreover, kirenol attenuated the downregulation of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase that was induced by LPS. HO-1 expression and the phosphorylation of Nrf2 and AMPK2 were also induced by kirenol. The results indicate that kirenol can be developed as a treatment strategy for ALI, and its effects are induced through the inhibition of the NF-κB proinflammatory pathway and promotion of AMPK2/Nrf2-mediated HO-1 and antioxidant enzymes (AOE) activation

Hazard Ratio and 95% Confidence Intervals of Lung Cancer According to ICS and Pulmonary Disease Combinations in Patients with Asthma.

<p>Hazard Ratio and 95% Confidence Intervals of Lung Cancer According to ICS and Pulmonary Disease Combinations in Patients with Asthma.</p