Endobronchial ultrasound guided tranbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a new technology developed in the past 10 years. In the USA, EBUS-TBNA has been recommended as an important means for preoperative lymph node staging of lung cancer, and becomes a new standard for mediastinal staging of lung cancer. A large number of clinical data shows that EBUS-TBNA is a novel approach which owes the advantages of accuracy in diagnosis and safety in operating. What's more, its value in the diagnosis of some disease in chest has been widely recognized. The aim of this article is to review the current application of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of early lung cancer, diagnosis and tumor staging of advanced lung cancer, the relationship between EBUS-TBNA and traditional inspection including CT, positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET) and mediastinoscopy, and the application value of EBUS-TBNA for superior vena cava syndrome and some non-neoplastic diseases.
ObjectiveTo evaluates the values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in the treatment of chronic cough prospectively.MethodsSubjects with chronic cough were recruited from the outpatient clinic of China-Japan Friendship Hospital. All the patients accepted FENO tests, sputum cell counts, pulmonary function tests, bronchial provocation tests, serum IgE, cough symptom scores and Leicester Cough Questionnaire before and after treatment of 4 weeks.ResultsThere were 29 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA), 19 patients with eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) and 39 patients with other causes. The baseline FENO level of the subjects whose coughs were relieved after inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy of 4 weeks was (63±42) ppb, significantly higher than those with bad-response [(28±13) ppb, P<0.01]. The proportion of FENO decrease after ICS therapy was not only significantly related to the proportion of eosinophilic decrease (r=0.54, P<0.01), but also significantly related to the proportion of decrease of cough symptom scores (r=0.48, P<0.01). To distinguish the good responders from bad responders, the optimal baseline FENO cutoff value was 36 ppb, with sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 93%, positive predictive value of 94%, negative predictive value of 87%, accuracy of 83%.ConclusionsThere is a good relationship between the FENO decreasing levels after ICS therapy and the reliefs of cough symptoms in the CVA and EB patients. Chronic cough patients with FENO value more than 36 ppb are indicated to respond to ICS therapy.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of bronchoscope in the treatment of transbronchial broncholiths.MethodsThe clinical data, treatment methods, clinical efficacy and complications of 18 patients who were diagnosed with transbronchial broncholiths were etrospectively reviewed in the Respiratory Department of the Second Hospital of Lanzhou University during January 2010 to December 2017.ResultsEighteen patients were diagnosed by bronchoscopy with a total of 22 pieces of stone for transbronchial broncholiths. An elective surgical procedure was performed in 2 cases. Six cases were treated with removing broncholiths once by foreign body forceps under bronchoscope. Repeated treatments were performed in 10 patients. Two cases underwent massive hemorrhage in the process of one-time broncholiths removal by foreign body forceps under bronchoscope, and one case suffered from bronchial fistula after the broncholiths removal, all of the above 3 patients underwent surgical treatment. All patients were followed up for 5 months without any long-term complications.ConclusionsRemoval of broncholithiasis by bronchoscopic forceps can effectively treat transbronchial broncholiths with low complication and high safety. If the broncholiths cause severe distal lung tissue injury, massive hemoptysis, bronchial fistula, or the diagnosis is unclear, surgical treatment is required. When the transbronchial broncholith is difficult to remove completely at once, batch could be chosen. First, to remove one portion which causes the obstruction of airway; and then, to remove the left part of the transbronchial broncholith by stages.
Objective To compare the value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide ( FENO) measurement and leukotriene D4 bronchial provocation test ( LTD4-BPT) in diagnosis and evaluation of asthma. Methods 20 uncontrolled,22 partially controlled, 20 controlled asthmatics, and 21 normal subjects were enrolled in the study. Measurement of FENO was performed followed by LTD4-BPT. The distribution characteristics and relationship of both results were analyzed, and the diagnostic value was compared using receiver operation characteristic ( ROC) curve.Results FENO was above 25. 0ppb in 80. 7% of the asthmatics. The proportion of asthmatics with FENO between 26.0ppb and 49.0ppb was larger in the uncontrolled and partially controlled subjects than that in the controlled subjects. Both the median and interquartile range of cumulative dosage ( PD20FEV1-LTD4) were much higher in the controlled asthmatics as compared with the uncontrolled and partially controlled asthmatics. The area under the ROC curve ( AUC) for PD20FEV1-LTD4 [ AUC: 0.914, 95% CI: ( 0.855, 0.974) ] was larger than that of FENO [ AUC: 0.820, 95% CI: ( 0.718, 0.921) ] . Higher sensitivity ( 0.8570 vs. 0.8065) and specificity ( 0.9048 vs. 0.7619) were in favor of PD20 FEV1 -LTD4 ≤ 4.800 nmol as compared with FENO ≥ 26.0ppb being the positive threshold. Conclusion Compared with FENO measurement, LTD4-BPT has higher sensitivity and specificity and is of higher diagnostic value for asthma.
ObjectiveTracheobronchial foreign bodies (TFBs) aspiration is rare in adults,although it can occur at any age. This study aimed to report our experience in airway foreign body removal by flexible bronchoscopy in adult patients of central south China. MethodsA total of 244 patients with TFBs over the age of 14 years were reviewed retrospectively from January 1997 to February 2012. The incidence,risk factors,clinical manifestations,radiological findings,types and locations of TFBs were analyzed. ResultsAmong the 27719 patients,TFBs were found only in 0.88%(244) cases. The prevalence of TFB aspiration increased steadily with age beginning in the fifth decade. The incidence of TFBs was 0.62% among people aged 70 to 80 years. Risk factors such as cerebrovascular diseases and neural degenerative disease were found among 32 (6.6%) patients. Among 153 patients with clear history of foreign body aspiration,135 patients (88.2%) were addicted to the hot pepper. Paroxysmal cough (81.1%) was the most common clinical manifestations of TFBs. Only 12 cases (4.9%) were found with non-opaque foreign bodies by chest X-ray but 106 cases (43.4%) were found with opaque foreign bodies by chest CT. The most common indirect chest imaging findings were recurrent infections and consolidation of the same area.Bone fragments of animals was the most common type in foreign bodies (47.2%). The most common position of foreign bodies was the right bronchial (65.6%). Total foreign bodies of 234 patients (95.9%) had been successfully removed by flexible bronchoscopy. ConclusionAlthough TFBs is rare in adults in south China,but yield by flexible bronchoscopy (0.88%) is much higher than that is reported in western countries (0.32%-0.33%). Addiction to the hot pepper and speaking loudly when having dinner may be the major risk factor for high incidence in central south China.
Objective To explore the relationship between nasopharyngeal microecology and diseases in children with bronchial asthma. Methods A total of 41 children with asthma who were treated in Hainan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between November 2020 and March 2023 were retrospectively included in the study, and 26 healthy children undergoing adenoid examination in the same period were selected as the control group. Samples of nasal mucosa were collected from the anterior and medial side of inferior turbinate, and the expression of DEFB2, IL17A, TSLP, IL13, IL5 and T1R3 genes was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Nasal swabs were collected from the children, and the bacterial composition was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Results Compared with the control group, the rate of atopy cases in the asthma group increased significantly (53.7% vs. 19.2%, P<0.05). At the phylum level, compared with the control group, the phylum Chloroflexi, the phylum Patescibacteria, the phylum Tenericutes and the phylum Nitrospirae in the asthma group increased significantly (P<0.05), and the phylum Elusimicrobia decreased significantly (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared with the control group, the members of Bacillus (Fimnicutes), Ruminococcus (Fimnicutes), Rhodococcus (Actinobacteria), Acinetobacter (Proteobacteria), Moraxella (Proteobacteria) and Asaia (Proteobacteria) in the asthma group increased significantly (P<0.05), and the members of Enterococcus (Fimnicutes), Alkanindiges (Proteobacteria), Rickettsia (Proteobacteria), and Rhizobium (Proteobacteria) in the asthma group decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the Shannon index of the asthma group decreased significantly (2.63±1.45 vs. 3.90±1.44; t=2.708, P=0.010). According to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off point of Shannon index was 3.10. In all study populations, compared with children whose Shannon index was higher than the cut-off point, children whose Shannon index was lower than the cut-off point were characterized by increased expression of IL17A and T1R3 (P<0.05) and decreased expression of TSLP (P<0.05). Conclusion The composition and abundance of nasopharyngeal microbiota are significantly different between children with asthma and healthy control children.
Objective To study the surgical treatment of tracheal and main bronchial tumors. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 30 patients with tracheal and main bronchial tumors treated in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2000 to December 2015. There were 12 males and 18 females with the age ranging from 22 to 80 years. Results Ten patients were treated with enucleation, 12 patients tracheal tumor resection and end-to-end anastomosis, 1 patient window resection, 1 patient wedge resection, 5 patients tumor resection and tracheal reconstruction by using pulmonary tissue flap with alloy stent and 1 patient left pneumonectomy. One patient died of sudden massive hemoptysis 26 d after operation. Intraoperative complications were found in 2 patients. Others had a good recovery after operation. Patients were followed up for 11 months to 14 years. Eight patients were followed up less than 5 years postoperatively, one patient died of sudden massive hemoptysis 14 months after operation, while others survived; 21 patients were followed up more than 5 years and 5 patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusion Surgical resection is recommended for tracheal and main bronchial tumors. Patients with small benign tumor may choose local tracheal resection; tracheal segmental resection and end-to-end anastomosis is the most common surgical treatment. Patients with more than half of the whole length of tracheal defects or in the risk of anastomotic ischemic necrosis may be suggested to receive tracheal reconstruction.
Objective To improve the precision of subsegmentectomy, through analyzing the proportion and classification of the intrasegmental and intersegmental trans-subsegmental artery (TSA) in the right upper lobe. Methods The imaging data of the patients who underwent pulmonary angiography in the right upper lobe from January 2021 to June 2022 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. The anatomy of subsegmental bronchi and arteries in the right upper lung was studied by comparing 3D CT bronchography and angiography and thin-section CT (lung window). The types of tans-subsegmental artery were further refined. Results Finally 111 patients were collected, including 36 males and 75 females with an average age of 61.83±8.91 years. There were 29 types of TSA in the right upper pulmonary artery, and 45% (13/29) of the types occurred only once. In the S1, S2, and S3 segments, the proportion of TSA was 52% (58/111), 41% (45/111), and 32% (36/111), respectively. Among them, the type with the highest proportion was A1b+A1at in S1, originating from the upper trunk artery, accounting for 67% (39/58). There were 24% (27/111), 5% (5/111), and 8% (9/111) TSA between S1 and S2, S2 and S3, and S1 and S3, respectively. There were four types of bronchi in the right upper lobe. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of the intrasegmental and intersegmental TSA (P>0.05). Conclusion The TSA in the right upper lobe is common and has various types. Segmentectomy or subsegmentectomy is a highly personalized surgical procedure.
ObjectiveTo investigate whether liquid-based cytology (LBC) can improve diagnostic value of cytological assessment of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). MethodsA cohort of 600 cases who underwent EBUS-TBNA from June 2012 to September 2013 was enrolled in this prospective study in West China Hospital. EBUS-TBNA was carried out under local anesthesia and moderate sedation. The procedure was performed with echobronchoscopes. Histological tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for further study. Additional immunohistological analysis was performed for establishing a reliable diagnosis as necessary. Aspirates were smeared on glass slides and separate aspirates were processed by the monolayer SurePath method. ResultsIn total, 480 cases of malignant tumors and 120 cases of benign lesions were confirmed by histological examination. The sensitivity of SurePath liquid-based preparations and conventional smears was 82.1% and 56.0%, and the specificity was 87.5% and 82.5%, respectively. The combined specificity was 100.0%. The positive predictive value of two methods combined was 96.3% and 92.8%, whereas the negative predictive value was 54.9% and 31.9%, respectively. The difference between the two methods was significant (P < 0.05). ConclusionsLBC preparation can improve cytological assessment of EBUS-TBNA. Histological study is necessary when the cytological diagnosis is obscure.
Objective To determine the airway wall thickness at the segmental and subsegmental levels in patients with bronchial asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis ( EB) by high resolution CT scanning,and evaluate its relationship with airway hyperresponsiveness. Methods High resolution CT scanning was performed in 14 subjects with asthma,15 subjects with EB, 15 subjects with cough variant asthma ( CVA) ,and 14 healthy volunteers. Total airway and lumen diameter, total airway cross sectional area and lumen area which corrected by body surface area ( BSA) were measured. The percentage of airway wall area to total airway cross sectional area ( WA% ) and wall thickness to airway diameter ratio ( T/D) were calculated for the right upper lobe apical segmental bronchus ( RB1) and all airways clearly visualized with a transverse diameter of 1-6 mm. Results T/D/BSA and WA% in the asthma patients were all significantly higher than those in the subjects with EB, CVA and healthy volunteers. T/D/BSA and WA% in the EB patients were significantly higher than the healthy volunteers, and similar with the CVA patients. Al /BSA in the patientswith asthma and CVA was less than the subjects with EB and the healthy volunteers. However, Al /BSA in the EB patients was similar with the healthy volunteers. Conclusions The airway wall thickness and remodeling can be measured and assessed by high resolution CT. Airway wall thickness and remodeling inEB patients are milder than asthma patients, which may be associated with airway hyperresponsiveness that presents in asthma but not in EB.