Objective To analyse the clinical and pathological characteristics of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia, and increase the comprehensive understanding of the Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia. Methods Five patients diagnosed with Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia were selected in this hospital from November 2021 to November 2022, and their clinical and pathological characteristics were analysed. Results Out of these five patients, 2 patients were male and 3 were female, with a mean age (65±9) years and length of hospital stay (11 - 13) d. The first symptom of all five patients was fever; 3 patients were complicated with hypoxemia; there were several accompanying symptoms, including chilly, shiver, fatigue, headache, cough, muscle soreness, hearing loss and so on. In the laboratory indicators, white blood cell count was not significantly abnormal, the C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were high. In the chest CT, the diseased regions were mostly located in unilateral lesions, 3 cases were on the right side; the forms included pulmonary consolidation, lung glass opacity, pleural effusion, pleural thickening, etc.; the mNGS results of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed the Chlamydia psittaci; the pathology of lung biopsy showed significant proliferation of fibers in the interstitial lung and partly fibrosis, with histiocytic reaction and minimal lymphocyte infiltration. Conclusion Clearly diagnosing patients with pneumonia which are suspected being infected Chlamydia psittaci as soon as earlier can prompt anti-infection treatment, and avoid further damage to the lung interstitium, eventually decrease the deterioration of lung function and progression to severe pneumonia.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of sTREM-1 level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) for diagnosing early lung infection of patients with post-traumatic acute respiratory distress syndrome. Methods64 patients with post-traumatic ARDS,who were admitted in ICU from emergency department or other trauma surgery department from January 2010 to December 2012,were divided into a pulmonary infection group (n=34) and a non-pulmonary infection group(n=30).30 healthy volunteers aged over 18 years were taken as healthy control group.The ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP),procalcitonin (PCT) and sTREM-1 in early pulmonary infection of patients with post-traumatic ARDS. ResultsGender and age composition showed no significant difference among the healthy control group,the pulmonary infection group,and the non-pulmonary infection group(P>0.05). Injury severity scale(ISS),APACHEⅡ and the mortality in 28 days showed significant difference between the groups of pulmonary infection and non-pulmonary infection(P<0.05).Oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2),tracheal intubation time,mechanical ventilation time and length of ICU stay also showed significant difference between the groups of pulmonary infection and non-pulmonary infection(P<0.01).Compared with the healthy control group,levels of serum CRP,PCT and sTREM-1 increased significantly in the groups of pulmonary infection and non-pulmonary infection(P<0.001).Compared with the non-pulmonary infection group,the levels of CRP,PCT and sTREM-1 in serum,and sTREM-1 in BALF increased significantly in the pulmonary infection group (P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of serum CRP was 0.67 with the sensitivity of 0.68 and the specificity of 0.70.AUC of serum PCT was 0.67 with the sensitivity of 0.70 and the specificity of 0.64.AUC of serum sTREM-1 was 0.73 with the sensitivity of 0.73 and the specificity of 0.68.AUC of sTREM-1 in BALF was 0.90 with the sensitivity of 0.90 and the specificity of 0.82. ConclusionsTREM-1 in BALF can be used as a diagnostic indicator for early pulmonary infection in patients with post-traumatic ARDS.Its sensitivity and specificity are higher than serum CRP,PCT and sTREM-1.
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 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 explore the expression of periostin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with dermatomyositis-related interstitial lung disease (DM-ILD) and rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).MethodsA total of 44 patients with DM-ILD and 28 patients with RA-ILD were underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Cells in BALF were collected and analyzed by absolute different cell counts. The level of periostin and Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results of high resolution CT of patients were scored. Thirty patients without interstitial lung disease (ILD) served as a control group.ResultsLevels of periostin and KL-6 were significantly increased in BALF of patients with DM-ILD and RA-ILD compared with control group (all P<0.05). Levels of periostin were positively correlated with lymphocyte counts and levels of KL-6 in BALF (allP<0.05). Furthermore, levels of periostin were significantly correlated with high resolution CT scores (P<0.05).ConclusionsLevels of periostin are increased in patients with DM-ILD and RA-ILD. Periostin might be served as an indicator of CTD-ILD.
ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in rats exposed to paraquat (PQ). MethodsAdult healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=8) and three experimental groups (PQ in low dosage of 15 mg/kg,medium dosage of 30 mg/kg,and high dosage of 60 mg/kg,n=24 in each group). The rats in three experimental groups were intragastrically administered with PQ,and the rats in the control group were treated with saline by gavage. Two rats in the control group and six rats in three experimental groups were sacrificed on 1st,7th,14th,and 21st day after exposure respectively. BALF was collected for measurement of interleukin-1(IL-1),IL-6,macrophage inflammatory protein-2(MIP-2),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1),and biopterin by ELISA. ResultsThe levels of cytokines in all experimental groups were higher than those in the control group at any time point. In the exposure day 1 to day 14, IL-1 and biopterin levels in BALF increased significantly with the increase in PQ dose. On 14th and 21st day,IL-6 level in BALF increased significantly with the increase in PQ dosage. The levels of IL-1,IL-6,and biopterin in the experimental groups reached the peak on 14th day. On 14th day,the MIP-2 level in BALF of high-dosage group was significantly higher than that of low-dosage and medium-dosage groups (all P<0.05). The level of MCP-1 in the low-dosage group was lower than that in the medium-dosage and high-dosage groups at any time point (P<0.05). ConclusionIL-1,IL-6,MIP-2,MCP-1,and biopterin may play important roles in the development and progression of PQ-induce lung inflammation.
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 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 changes of the B lymphocyte-derived microparticles (BLMPs) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and analyze the correlation between BLMPs changes and the stages of the disease. Methods33 COPD patients in acute exacerbation and 12 COPD patients in stable phase in Southwest Hospital,Xinqiao Hospital,and First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between March 2012 and March 2013 were enrolled in the study. 31 subjects who underwent physical examination and bronchoscopy were recruited as control. The lavage fluid specimens were collected through fiberoptic bronchoscopy,then marked with the corresponding antibodies after centrifugation. The numbers of microparticles were analyzed by flow cytometry. ResultsThe number of the BLMPs was significant different among three groups (P<0.05). Compared with the control group and the stable COPD group,the number of BLMPs in the AECOPD group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Compared with the control group,the number of the BLMPs in the stable COPD group was reduced but with no significant difference (P>0.05). The numbers of BLMPs had no correlation with the smoking history,gender,age and body surface area. ConclusionThe number of BLMPs is reduced in COPD,especially in the acute exacerbation stage,so the reductions of the BLMPs may be associated with the stages of the disease. Smoking,gender,age,body surface area have no effect on the number of BLMPs.
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.