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Standard laser-based fire detection systems are often based on measuring the variation of optical signal amplitude. However, mechanical noise interference and loss from dust and steam can obscure the detection signal, resulting in faulty results or the inability to detect a potential fire. The presented fire detection technology will allow the detection of fire in harsh and dusty areas, which are prone to fires, where current systems show limited performance or are unable to operate. It is not the amount of light or its wavelength that is used for detecting fire, but how the refractive index randomly fluctuates due to heat convection from the fire. In practical terms, this means that light obstruction from ambient dust particles will not be a problem as long as a small fraction of the light is detected and that fires without visible flames can still be detected. The standalone laser system consists of a Linux-based Red Pitaya system, a cheap 650 nm laser diode, and a positive-intrinsic-negative photo-detector. Laser light propagates through the monitored area and reflects off a retroreflector generating a speckle pattern. Every 3 s, time traces and frequency noise spectra are measured, and eight descriptors are deduced to identify a potential fire. Both laboratory and factory acceptance tests have been performed with success.

Virtual bronchoscopy (VB) is a non-invasive exploration tool for intervention planning and navigation of possible pulmonary lesions (PLs). A VB software involves the location of a PL and the calculation of a route, starting from the trachea, to reach it. The selection of a VB software might be a complex process, and there is no consensus in the community of medical software developers in which is the best-suited system to use or framework to choose. The authors present Bronchoscopy Exploration (BronchoX), a VB software to plan biopsy interventions that generate physician-readable instructions to reach the PLs. The authors' solution is open source, multiplatform, and extensible for future functionalities, designed by their multidisciplinary research and development group. BronchoX is a compound of different algorithms for segmentation, visualisation, and navigation of the respiratory tract. Performed results are a focus on the test the effectiveness of their proposal as an exploration software, also to measure its accuracy as a guiding system to reach PLs. Then, 40 different virtual planning paths were created to guide physicians until distal bronchioles. These results provide a functional software for BronchoX and demonstrate how following simple instructions is possible to reach distal lesions from the trachea.

This study focuses on the characterization of photocatalytic TiO 2 coatings using Kelvin probe force microscopy. While most photocatalytic experiments are carried out at a macroscopic scale, Kelvin probe force microscopy is a microscopic technique that is surface sensitive. In order to link microscale results to macroscopic experiments, a simple method to establish the relation between Kelvin probe force microscopy and electrochemical measurements is presented by the calibration of a reference sample consisting of epitaxial deposited Cu-Ni-Au that is used as a transfer standard. The photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 at macro- and microscopic scales are investigated by comparing photocatalytic degradation of acetone and electrochemical experiments to Kelvin probe force microscopy. The good agreement between the macro- and microscopic experiments suggests that Kelvin probe force microscopy can be a valuable tool towards the understanding, standardization and design of TiO 2 -based solutions in photocatalytic applications.

Purpose: Lung cancer remains as the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, mainly due to late diagnosis. Cytology is the gold-standard method for lung cancer diagnosis in minimally invasive respiratory samples, despite its low sensitivity. We aimed to identify epigenetic biomarkers with clinical utility for cancer diagnosis in minimally/noninvasive specimens to improve accuracy of current technologies., Experimental Design: The identification of novel epigenetic biomarkers in stage I lung tumors was accomplished using an integrative genome-wide restrictive analysis of two different large public databases. DNA methylation levels for the selected biomarkers were validated by pyrosequencing in paraffin-embedded tissues and minimally invasive and noninvasive respiratory samples in independent cohorts., Results: We identified nine cancer-specific hypermethylated genes in early-stage lung primary tumors. Four of these genes presented consistent CpG island hypermethylation compared with nonmalignant lung and were associated with transcriptional silencing. A diagnostic signature was built using multivariate logistic regression model based on the combination of four genes: BCAT1, CDO1, TRIM58, and ZNF177 Clinical diagnostic value was also validated in multiple independent cohorts and yielded a remarkable diagnostic accuracy in all cohorts tested. Calibrated and cross-validated epigenetic model predicts with high accuracy the probability to detect cancer in minimally and noninvasive samples. We demonstrated that this epigenetic signature achieved higher diagnostic efficacy in bronchial fluids as compared with conventional cytology for lung cancer diagnosis., Conclusions: Minimally invasive epigenetic biomarkers have emerged as promising tools for cancer diagnosis. The herein obtained epigenetic model in combination with current diagnostic protocols may improve early diagnosis and outcome of lung cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res; 22(13); 3361-71. ©2016 AACR., (©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Background: Routine microbiological surveillance of flexible bronchoscopes is recommended in different guidelines. The study aims to assess whether bronchoscopes reprocessing methods achieved an appropriate decontamination level and whether manual flushing of 70% ethyl alcohol at the end of the cycle reduces the risk of microbiological contamination., Methods: 18 different bronchoscopes were cultured on a monthly basis during a four-year period to examine growing of bacteria, fungi and mycobacteria. 9 equipment were usually disinfected using automatic reprocessors, and the other 9 equipments were manually disinfected. Additional manual flushing of bronchoscope's channels with 70% ethyl alcohol at the end of each disinfection cycle, was implemented for automatically reprocessed equipments for a two-year period., Results: A total of 620 samples were obtained. 564 samples (91.0%) tested negative and 56 samples (9%) tested positive for at least one specimen, of whom 3% were pathogenic or potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Only one positive sample was detected among the 167 alcohol treated bronchoscopes (0.6%), whereas before the introduction of this technique the percentage of contamination with risk pathogens was 4.1% (p = 0.04). The mean annual cost of the surveillance program was estimated at 23,035 euros, and the mean cost for bronchoscope was 111.5 euros., Conclusions: The results of our study support to improve the final reprocessing of bronchoscope channels by means of additional manual flushing with 70% ethyl alcohol after each disinfection cycle. Routine microbiologic monitoring of endoscopes is both time-consuming and expensive but could be saved by implementing a highly efficient decontaminating procedure., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pericardial recesses are formed at sites of reflection of the visceral to parietal pericardium around the great vessels of the mediastinum. Identification at endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) of a "high-riding" superior pericardial recess, masquerading as a lower paratracheal lymph node, has previously been reported. Although the potential for the posterior pericardial recess to be seen in the subcarinal region on computed tomography has been described in the radiology literature, its identification with EBUS has not. We report a case where the posterior pericardial recess was seen with EBUS in the lower subcarinal region adjacent to the bronchus intermedius. It can be clearly differentiated from a lymph node or vascular structure due to its hypoechoic appearance and lack of a color Doppler signal. Bronchoscopists should be aware of the potential to image the posterior pericardial recess with EBUS in the subcarinal region, to avoid confusion at the time of endoscopy.

Purpose: Lack of objective measurement of tracheal obstruction degree has a negative impact on the chosen treatment prone to lead to unnecessary repeated explorations and other scanners. Accurate computation of tracheal stenosis in videobronchoscopy would constitute a breakthrough for this noninvasive technique and a reduction in operation cost for the public health service., Methods: Stenosis calculation is based on the comparison of the region delimited by the lumen in an obstructed frame and the region delimited by the first visible ring in a healthy frame. We propose a parametric strategy for the extraction of lumen and tracheal ring regions based on models of their geometry and appearance that guide a deformable model. To ensure a systematic applicability, we present a statistical framework to choose optimal parametric values and a strategy to choose the frames that minimize the impact of scope optical distortion., Results: Our method has been tested in 40 cases covering different stenosed tracheas. Experiments report a non- clinically relevant [Formula: see text] of discrepancy in the calculated stenotic area and a computational time allowing online implementation in the operating room., Conclusions: Our methodology allows reliable measurements of airway narrowing in the operating room. To fully assess its clinical impact, a prospective clinical trial should be done.

Assessment of the methylation status of genes related to the development of lung cancer (LC) in bronchial secretions has been proposed as a biomarker for early detection. Several techniques are available to detect gene methylation, and the method chosen may have an effect on the results. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which the methylation status of DAPK, CDKN2A (p16) and RASSF1A genes in sputum and bronchial washing (BW) from subjects at risk for LC was analyzed. The methylation results of both samples were compared, considering BW as the reference. Results obtained by methylation-sensitive PCR (MSP) were validated by methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM). The methylation results obtained in sputum and BW samples did not show statistically significant differences for any of the three genes analyzed in 65 subjects (McNemar test>0.05). Concordant results between sputum and BW were found in 40 patients for DAPK (61%), in 52 patients for p16 (80%) and in 63 patients for RASSF1 (97%). More methylated samples were found in BW, however, and sputum sensitivities and specificities for the identification of methylation status were 44 and 72% for DAPK gene, 21 and 94% for p16 and 100 and 98% for RASSF1A, respectively. When MSP results were validated by MS-HRM, DAPK and p16 gene samples methylated by MSP appeared to be unmethylated by MS-HRM. One sample showing methylation of RASSF1A gene also showed methylation when tested following MS-HRM procedure. Sputum and BW samples may be considered equally valid for the identification of methylated genes in bronchial secretions. The low sensitivity of sputum for the assessment of the methylation status of DAPK and p16 genes, however, suggests that the analysis of two or more sputum samples, or of a BW obtained semi-invasively, would be needed to attain higher reliability, together with the use of confirmatory techniques for positive results.

The persistent air leaks due to alveolopleural fistula are not an uncommon complication of pneumothorax, particularly secondary ones. Unidirectional flow endobronchial valves designed for lung volume reduction are the latest incorporation to the therapeutic armamentarium. We present the case of a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with persistent pneumothorax in spite of treatment with three pleurodesis which was able to be resolved with the placement of two IBV™ valves., (2010 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to perform a descriptive analysis of the state of public pneumology in Catalonia (Spain) in 2003 and to compare the results with data from 1993. A questionnaire was sent to all hospitals of the public hospitals network in Catalonia requesting information on the number of pulmonologists. To determine the number of pulmonologists working in primary care, we also contacted all the primary care services (PCS) in Catalonia. All the hospitals and PCS contacted responded. Eighty-three percent of the public network hospitals had a pneumology service. From 1993-2003, the proportion of hospitals with this specialty increased. The rate of pulmonologists per 100,000 persons for the whole of Catalonia was 3.15. The degree of implantation of pneumology in the public hospitals network of Catalonia significantly improved in the decade between 1993 and 2003.

Background and Objective: To determine the usefulness of endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS) with real-time needle aspiration (NA) for lung cancer staging., Patients and Method: All patients examined with EBUS and real-time NA to measure and sample mediastinal and lobar nodes for lung cancer staging during one year were included, independently of the size of the mediastinal nodes at computed tomography (CT)., Results: Eighty two nodes > 5 mm were sampled using EBUS-NA (16.0 [7.2] mm; 23 cases

Background: The culture of bronchial secretions from the lower airway has been reported to be positive for potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the determinants and effects of this bacterial load in the airway are not established., Methods: To determine the bronchial microbial pattern in COPD and its relationship with exacerbation, we pooled analysis of crude data from studies that used protected specimen brush sampling, with age, sex, smoking, lung function, and microbiologic features of the lower airway as independent variables and exacerbation as the outcome, using logistic regression modeling., Results: Of 337 study participants, 70 were healthy, 181 had stable COPD, and 86 had exacerbated COPD. Differences in the microbial characteristics in the participating laboratories were not statistically significant. A cutoff point of 10(2) colony-forming units (CFU) per milliliter or greater for the identification of abnormal positive culture results for PPMs was defined using the 95th percentile in the pooled analysis of healthy individuals. Bronchial colonization of 10(2) CFU/mL or greater by PPMs was found in 53 patients with stable COPD (29%) and in 46 patients with exacerbated COPD (54%) (P<.001, chi(2) test), with a predominance of Haemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Higher microbial loads were associated with exacerbation and showed a statistically significant dose-response relationship after adjustment for covariates (odds ratio, 3.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.47-8.90), but P aeruginosa persisted as a statistically significant risk factor after adjustment for microbial load (odds ratio, 11.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-105.82)., Conclusions: One quarter of the patients with COPD are colonized by PPMs during their stable periods. Exacerbation is associated with the overgrowth of PPMs and with the appearance of P aeruginosa in the lower airway, which is associated with exacerbation symptoms independent of load.