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Background The differentiation between malignant (MPE) and tuberculous (TPE) pleural effusions should be considered in any patient with an exudative lymphocytic pleural effusion. A rapid precise diagnosis is valuable as the treatment and prognosis are totally different. The histopathological proof may shorten the time to differential diagnosis. But it may be invasive and costly. The aim of this study is to validate the clinical reliability of joined detection of cancer ratio (serum LDH to pleural ADA), cancer ratio plus (cancer ratio to percentage of pleural fluid lymphocytic count), pleural interferon gamma (pIFN-ϒ), and pleural carcinoembryonic antigen (pCEA) values to differentiate between lymphocytic pleural effusions. Results Seventy-eight patients were included with mean age ± SD 53.09 ± 9.56 years old, 49 males and 29 females, diagnosed as 47 MPE, 24 TPE, and 7 others. Cancer ratio at cutoff value of ≥ 22 and cancer ration plus at cutoff value of ≥ 41 can discriminate MPE from any other cause with sensitivity (91.5%, 93.6%), specificity (87.5%, 91.7%), and diagnostic accuracy (90.1%, 92.9%) respectively. When the levels of pCEA and pIFN-ϒ were combined with cutoff value of cancer ratio, there were powerful diagnostic differentiating results. Conclusions Cancer ratio and cancer ratio plus offered valid, efficient, non-invasive, and easy measuring diagnostic tools. On diagnostic uncertainty, the add-on of pCEA in cases of suspected MPE, and pIFN-ϒ in cases of suspected TPE has a trustable diagnostic efficacy with no need for further investigations.

Background & Aim: COVID-19 is a worldwide pandemic with high rates of morbidity and mortality, and an uncertain prognosis leading to an increased risk of infection in health providers and limited hospital care capacities. In this study, we have proposed a predictive, interpretable prognosis scoring system with the use of readily obtained clinical, radiological and laboratory characteristics to accurately predict worsening of the condition and overall survival of patients with COVID-19. Methods: This is a single-center, observational, prospective, cohort study. A total of 347 patients infected with COVID-19 presenting to the Tanta University Hospital, Egypt, were enrolled in the study, and clinical, radiological and laboratory data were analyzed. Top-ranked variables were identified and selected to be integrated into a Cox regression model, building the scoring system for accurate prediction of the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Results: The six variables that were finally selected in the scoring system were lymphopenia, serum CRP, ferritin, D-Dimer, radiological CT lung findings and associated chronic debilitating disease. The scoring system discriminated risk groups with either mild disease or severe illness characterized by respiratory distress (and also those with hypoxia and in need for oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation) or death. The area under the curve to estimate the discrimination performance of the scoring system was more than 90%. Conclusion: We proposed a simple and clinically useful predictive scoring model for COVID-19 patients. However, additional independent validation will be required before the scoring model can be used commonly.

Introduction Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is a valuable treatment for acute respiratory failure, which has many advantages and lessens the risk of tracheal intubation with its associated complications. Retained bronchial secretions are one of the most common causes of NIV failure and even can contraindicate its use. Aim The aim was to assess the therapeutic utility of fiberoptic bronchoscopy as an add-on therapy in patients with acute respiratory failure on NIV, in a trial to decrease the possibility of invasive ventilation. Patients and methods Patients with COPD were divided randomly into two groups: group I (20 patients) was subjected to NIV and medical therapy, and group II (20 patients) was subjected to NIV, medical therapy, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy for suctioning the retained secretions while on NIV. The cardiorespiratory parameters and complications were recorded during and after the procedure. Results A total of 26 (65%) male and 14 (35%) female patients were enrolled in the study, with mean age of 47.55±11.56 years (range: 27–68 years). The mean duration of bronchoscopy was 3.5–7 min (range: 5.2±1.2 min) with no major complications. The amount of the aspirated secretions was 17.55±5.96 ml (range: 9–29 ml). There was significant difference on follow-up between the two groups regarding mean pH, PaO2/FiO2, and PaCO2, with more obvious improvement in group II than group I and with better outcome. Conclusion Bronchoscopy on NIV in patients with COPD with acute respiratory failure and copious bronchial secretions can be an alternative to intubation with all its associated risks.

Introduction Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) is a technique used for immediate interpretation of transbronchial aspirates; there is debate as regards the contribution of ROSE to the diagnostic or staging process in patients with lung cancer undergoing endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). Aim of the study The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ROSE during EBUS-guided TBNA in the diagnosis of the nature of mediastinal/hilar lesions detected using thoracic computed tomography regardless of whether or not there is a known lung malignancy. Patients and methods All patients with hilar/mediastinal lymph nodes having short axis of at least 1 cmon new thoracic computed tomography scan were included. The target lymph node was examined using real-time EBUS B-mode, and then TBNA was performed by inserting a dedicated 22-G needle through the working channel of the bronchoscopy. The samples were examined using the ROSE technique and then compared with the results of the final pathologic diagnosis. Results The current study was conducted on 47 patients (29 male and 18 female) with a age (mean±SD) of 56±15.4 years. EBUS-TBNA was performed for 129 mediastinal lesions in different stations. Among them, 77 of them were diagnosed as malignant initially on performing ROSE. After final histopathological and immunological examination, 74 lesions were proved to be malignant, whereas three lesions turned out to be benign. 52 lesions were diagnosed as benign on ROSE, whereas four of them were proved to be malignant on the final diagnosis, giving ROSE a specificity of 94.12%, sensitivity of 94.87%, and diagnostic accuracy of 94.57%. Conclusion ROSE has add-on advantages to EBUS-TBNA in many aspects, increasing diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA, increasing safety, and providing sufficient samples for subsequent immunocytochemical and molecular analysis.

Background Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has become a powerful tool for the diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes (LNs). Elastography has been introduced recently to provide more accurate data about the lesions seen during EBUS. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of elastography during EBUS for the diagnosis of hilar and mediastinal LN. Patients and methods We carried out a prospective, cross-sectional study. Patients with hilar/mediastinal LN enlargement on computed tomography examination were included. Convex probe EBUS was performed using conventional B-mode and elastography with transbronchial needle aspiration from the examined LN. All data are presented as mean±SD. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was carried out to find the relative sensitivity and specificity of EBUS elastography and to compare the results with other B-mode findings such as mediastinal LNs. Results A total of 147 LNs from 56 patients were examined. Malignancy was found in 111 of them. The strain ratio was found to be more accurate when compared with other findings of B-mode when comparing malignant and benign LNs with a cut-off value of 7.5, giving a sensitivity of 95.5% and a specificity of 91.67%. About 63% of malignant LNs were diagnosed from the first pass with the help of elastography. Conclusion Elastography is a very helpful tool for diagnosing mediastinal LNs with a strain ratio above 7.5, having a strong suggestion of malignancy. Elastography can help in directing the needle during EBUS-transbronchial needle aspiration to reach the final diagnosis with the least possible number of passes and avoiding unnecessary punctures (ClinicalTrials. gov Identifier: NCT02724059).

Exposure to iron dust and welding fumes is widespread and may increase the risk of lung inflammation. The aim of this study was to identify associations between exposure to iron/welding fumes and the levels of inflammatory parameters and allergic mediators among 120 Egyptian men. Forty nonsmoking and 40 smoking Egyptian welders as well as 40 healthy volunteers who were never exposed to welding fumes and were nonsmoking were enrolled in the study. Peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) assessed at the end of the shift of work on working days revealed an impairment in lung function, with the smoking workers showing the worse results, followed by nonsmoking workers, as compared to healthy volunteers. Moreover, the results of the present study showed a significant increase in serum iron and immunoglobulin E, as well as plasma thiobarbaturic acid reactive substances, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, haptoglobin, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and interleukin-23 histamine, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme-3, and calcitonin. In addition, the results revealed significant decrease in plasma α-1-antitrypsin and serum transferrin, as well as blood activities of antioxidant enzymes: catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase (as compared with control group). However, there was a nonsignificant change in arginase and α-L-fucosidase in smoking and nonsmoking welders exposed to iron dust and welding fumes. In conclusion, occupational exposure to iron dust and welding fumes increases lung inflammation risk among Egyptian blacksmith workers, a condition that worsens with smoking.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent infection in intensive care units (ICU). It is associated with high rates of long morbidity and mortality. Management of a case of VAP is often said to add $40,000 to hospital costs USA. All these data directed our interest to study the etiology, risk factors, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of VAP in ICU of Tanta University Hospital. This study included 36 cases of VAP. Endotracheal aspirates were obtained from all cases and microbiologically analyzed. Samples were collected over 1 year. Forty-two strains were isolated from 28 cases, while eight cases showed no bacterial growth. The most frequent organism was Staphylococcus aureus (30.95%), followed by Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.43% for each), and the least common was Staphylococcus epidermidis (2.38%). Multi-drug resistance was detected in (50%) of the isolated bacteria in this study. Imipenem, amikacin, linezolid, vancomycin, and levofloxacin are recommended to be the most effective drugs in management of VAP. VAP is a serious problem in ICU carrying many risks for the patient live. Regimens of empirical treatment should take in consideration the update in the bacterial etiology and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of VAP.

Introduction: Diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar lesions represents a problematic issue for long ago, not only due to various structures that occupy this space but also difficult accessibility to such lesions. Mediastinal endosonography – guided FNA is emerged as a new minimally invasive modality for diagnosis of such lesions. Objectives: to evaluate the role of endobronchial and/ or endoesophageal -bronchoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of mediastinal and hilar diseases of unknown etiologies. Methods: This Prospective observational study was carried out at Tanta University Educational Hospital and Kobri Elkobba Military Hospitals; from December 2017 to December 2019 on thirty patients (19 males; 11 females, age range 17-82 years) presented with undiagnosed mediastinal and or hilar lesions. All patients were subjected to clinical examination, radiological assessment including Chest-X-Ray, CT Chest. Laboratory investigations: CBC, blood urea, serum creatinine and coagulation profile. Twenty-six patients were subjected only to endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) biopsies and four patients were subjected to endoscopic ultrasound using EBUS scope-guided fine- needle aspiration (EUS-B-FNA) after EBUS-TBNA, using Pentax Endobronchial ultrasound and a fine needle (22- Gauge). The procedure was done under local anesthesia and conscious sedation ROSE technique was applied for some cases. Results: Definitive diagnosis was reached in twenty-nine cases, achieving diagnostic yield (96.67%). Malignant lesions were the predominant category; twenty (66.67%), while nine (30%) were diagnosed as benign lesions and one (3.33%) case remained un diagnosed. Also, immunohistochemistry played an important role to reach definitive diagnosis in six cases without further sampling. About (12/30; 40%) of patients were passed without any complications while the others recorded controlled complications without any serious events. Conclusion: EBUS and EUS-B-FNA are minimally invasive, complementary and cost effective procedures with high diagnostic yield for mediastinal and hilar lesions. Addition of immunohistochemistry raises diagnostic value of this procedure.

Introduction Transthoracic ultrasound has become an important diagnostic tool in peripheral intrathoracic lesions. Transthoracic needle biopsy is a relatively safe and easy procedure under real-time ultrasound (US) guidance, and may provide adequate tissue sampling of lesions for cytological, histological, or microbiological analysis. Objectives The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic yield, accuracy, and complications of thoracic US-guided core-needle biopsy versus computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy in peripheral intrathoracic lesions, including pleural, peripheral pulmonary, and mediastinal lesions. Patients and methods US-guided biopsy and CT-guided biopsy were performed in Chest and Radiology Departments during the period from February 2011 to June 2014 on 100 patients (50 patients for each group) using core-biopsy needle, with needle size (16–18–20 G), needle length (20 cm), and core length (1–1.5–2 cm) according to the size and type of lesion. The histopathological examination and complications were reported. Results The diagnostic value of chest US was compared with CT; chest US had sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 89.4%, positive predictive value 73.3%, negative predictive value 97.1%, and accuracy 90% in detecting pleural lesions; 90.7, 91.4, 95.1, 84.2, and 91%, respectively, in detecting pulmonary lesions; and 72.7, 88.7, 44.4, 96.3, and 87%, respectively, in detecting mediastinal lesions compared with chest CT. After taking transthoracic biopsy, chest US-guided biopsy revealed four benign (8%), 30 malignant (60%), 10 inflammatory(20%), and six undiagnosed (12%) cases, whereas CT group revealed two (4%), 33 (66%), 10 (20%), and five (10%) cases, respectively, with a complication rate [pneumothorax: two (4%) cases for US group and three (6%) cases for CT group and pulmonary hemorrhage: two (4%) cases and three (6%) cases respectively]. Conclusion Chest US-guided biopsy is safe, reliable, and a fast procedure with lower cost and fewer complications than is CT-guided biopsy, provided that the lesions have favorable acoustic window and abut the visceral pleura.

Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the commonest breathing disorder during sleep and usually presents with sleep fragmentation, hypoxia, and excessive day sleepiness. Polysomnography (PSG) is still the device of choice for OSA diagnosis. Objective The aim was to compare the validity of limited PSG (measuring nasal flow of air, effort of respiratory muscles, heart rate, and oxygen saturation) with full PSG in diagnosis of OSA. Patients and methods Any patient who presented with snoring associated with excessive daytime sleepiness, Epworth sleep scale greater than or equal to 10, BMI greater than 30, or apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) greater than or equal to 5 events/h admitted to Chest Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University Hospitals during the period from June 2018 to April 2019 was included in the study and subjected to full and limited PSG for two consecutive nights. Limited PSG included the following channels: nasal cannula and nasal thermistor, snoring microphone, the abdominal belt, the thoracic belt, the SOMNO screen plus, and the pulse oximetry lead. Results Limited PSG was comparable to full one, with insignificant difference in measuring AHI in total, moderate, and severe OSA cases. There was a significant positive correlation between AHI measured by full and limited PSG in both moderate and severe OSA cases. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy in measurement of AHI by limited PSG were higher in severe than in moderate OSA cases, which indicates that the limited PSG is more sensitive, more specific, and more accurate in the diagnosis of severe cases than moderate ones. Conclusion Limited PSG is a reliable diagnostic device of OSA, as it has excellent agreement with AHIs determined by full PSG besides its lower cost.

Introduction Mediastinal endosonography-guided aspiration has anteceded surgical staging as the step of choice for the diagnosis of mediastinal tissue disorders. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and safety of either endobronchial ultrasound combined with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) or transesophageal bronchoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA-B/E) in evaluating and biopsying the subcarinal region (station 7). Patients and methods Seventy-seven patients with enlarged subcarinal lymph nodes ‘short axis more than or equal to 1 cm’ as a preliminary station were divided randomly into two groups: group I included patients evaluated by EBUS-TBNA and group II included patients evaluated by EUS-FNA-B/E. The specimens were examined using the Rapid On Site Evaluation technique and then confirmed by the final histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation. Results Fifty-one men and 26 women, mean±SD age (51.12±10.15 years), were divided into two groups. In group I, the mean±SD time spent during the procedure was 32.49±9.48 min, the mean±SD number of aspirations was 3.07±0.72, and the mean±SD O2 saturation was 83.59±4.34%; therefore, the mean±SD supplementary oxygen was 3.78±1.04 l/min. However, in group II, these values were 22.05±6.39 min, 2.00±0.67, 91.66±3.09%, and 1.71±1.19 l/min, respectively, with a significant difference. The sensitivity, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in diagnosing malignant lesions were 88, 67, and 90%, which were significantly less than those of EUS-FNA-B/E: 93, 86, and 95%, respectively. No severe complications were encountered with the use of both techniques. Conclusion The study recommends the usage of EUS-FNA-B/E than EBUS-TBNA in evaluating and biopsying the subcarinal region because of its better tolerability, higher diagnostic yield, and lower complication rate.

Introduction: COPD patients with advanced disease achieve minimal or no control despite proper medical therapy that necessitates more radical approach. The bullae accentuate the altered elastic properties of the emphysematous lung and contribute to the expiratory flow limitation. Objective: The aim was to evaluate the therapeutic utility and safety of transbronchial volume reduction of emphysematous bullae in COPD patients. Patients & methods: At the site of entry, the air from the bulla was aspirated slowly, and then 10 cm of autologous blood was instilled into the bulla before the needle was withdrawn. Clinical, functional & radiological assessment of bulla volume and the incidence of adverse events were evaluated. Results: 12 male patients were enrolled in this study with mean age (±SD) 47 ± 5.6 years. The procedure was well tolerated and not associated with any serious complications. Improvements (clinically, functionally and radiologically) three months after the procedure were more obvious in patients with bullous volume 515 ml. Conclusions: Intra-bullous blood instillation could be an effective and safe volume reduction technique of emphysematous bullae.