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Pathology of Sarcoidosis.

Pathology of Sarcoidosis.

Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2015 Mar 12;

Authors: Rossi G, Cavazza A, Colby TV

Abstract
Pathologists are frequently involved in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis on conventional biopsies or examining bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and assisting bronchoscopists when performing bronchial or transbronchial biopsies or transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA)/endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided biopsies of enlarged lymph nodes. Histology generally does not pose difficult tasks in the correct clinical and imaging scenario, but atypical forms of sarcoidosis exist, and in these cases, the diagnosis may become difficult. When faced with granulomas in the lung, the evaluation of their qualitative features, anatomic distribution, and accompanying findings usually allows the pathologist to narrow considerably the differential diagnosis. The final diagnosis always requires the careful integration of the histology with the clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings. How robust is the histologic component of the diagnosis varies from case to case, and the pathologist should always clearly discuss this point with the clinician; in general, the weaker the histology is, the stronger should be the clinical-radiologic findings, and vice versa. The differential diagnosis of sarcoidosis includes granulomatous infections, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pneumoconiosis, autoimmune diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, several collagen vascular diseases (particularly Sjögren), drug reactions, chronic aspiration, and even diffuse fibrosing diseases. In this review, conventional and unusual histologic findings of pulmonary sarcoidosis are presented, highlighting the role of the pathologist and discussing the main differential diagnoses.

PMID: 25762348 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

The lung mycobiome: an emerging field of the human respiratory microbiome.

The lung mycobiome: an emerging field of the human respiratory microbiome.

Front Microbiol. 2015;6:89

Authors: Nguyen LD, Viscogliosi E, Delhaes L

Abstract
The lung microbiome, which is believed to be stable or at least transient in healthy people, is now considered as a poly-microorganism component contributing to disease pathogenesis. Most research studies on the respiratory microbiome have focused on bacteria and their impact on lung health, but there is evidence that other non-bacterial organisms, comprising the viruses (virome) and fungi (mycobiome), are also likely to play an important role in healthy people as well as in patients. In the last few years, the lung mycobiome (previously named the fungal microbiota or microbiome) has drawn closer attention. There is growing evidence that the lung mycobiome has a significant impact on clinical outcome of chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis. Thanks to advances in culture independent methods, especially next generation sequencing, a number of fungi not detected by culture methods have been molecularly identified in human lungs. It has been shown that the structure and diversity of the lung mycobiome vary in different populations (healthy and different diseased individuals) which could play a role in CRD. Moreover, the link between lung mycobiome and different biomes of other body sites, especially the gut, has also been unraveled. By interacting with the bacteriome and/or virome, the respiratory mycobiome appears to be a cofactor in inflammation and in the host immune response, and therefore may contribute to the decline of the lung function and the disease progression. In this review, we report the recent limited explorations of the human respiratory mycobiome, and discuss the mycobiome's connections with other local microbial communities, as well as the relationships with the different biomes of other body sites. These studies suggest several outlooks for this understudied emerging field, which will certainly call for a renewal of our understanding of pulmonary diseases.

PMID: 25762987 [PubMed]

Afrezza: An inhaled approach to insulin delivery.

Afrezza: An inhaled approach to insulin delivery.

J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2015 Mar 12;

Authors: Fleming LW, Fleming JW, Davis CS

Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to educate nurse practitioners about Afrezza.
DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE for clinical trial data. Information from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, clinical guidelines, Food and Drug Administration labeling, briefings, and press releases was also utilized.
CONCLUSIONS: Afrezza represents a promising noninjectable insulin delivery option for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to clinical trial evidence, it appears to be efficacious and comparable to currently available prandial insulin options, and based on current data, it appears to be a safe alternative to injectable insulin with high treatment satisfaction.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Afrezza may offer an alternative for insulin naïve patients who are hesitant about initiating traditional insulin. It may cause less weight gain when compared to subcutaneous mealtime insulin with a more rapid absorption and elimination profile, but more long-term studies are needed. Afrezza is limited in type 1 diabetes to use in combination with basal insulin. It is not recommended in the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis or for patients who smoke. It is contraindicated during hypoglycemic episodes, in chronic lung diseases, or in those with hypersensitivity to regular human insulin or any of the excipients in Afrezza.

PMID: 25764151 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Overview of proteomics studies in obstructive sleep apnea.

Overview of proteomics studies in obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Med. 2015 Feb 14;

Authors: Feliciano A, Torres VM, Vaz F, Carvalho AS, Matthiesen R, Pinto P, Malhotra A, Bárbara C, Penque D

Abstract
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an underdiagnosed common public health concern causing deleterious effects on metabolic and cardiovascular health. Although much has been learned regarding the pathophysiology and consequences of OSA in the past decades, the molecular mechanisms associated with such processes remain poorly defined. The advanced high-throughput proteomics-based technologies have become a fundamental approach for identifying novel disease mediators as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for many diseases, including OSA. Here, we briefly review OSA pathophysiology and the technological advances in proteomics and the first results of its application to address critical issues in the OSA field.

PMID: 25770042 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Methotrexate use and risk of lung disease in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease: systematic literature review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative risk of pulmonary disease among patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease treated with methotrexate.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, and Embase to 9 January 2014.

STUDY SELECTION: Double blind randomised controlled trials of methotrexate versus placebo or active comparator agents in adults with psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, or inflammatory bowel disease. Studies with fewer than 50 participants or of less than 12 weeks' duration were excluded.
DATA SYNTHESIS: Two investigators independently searched both databases. All authors reviewed selected studies. We compared relative risk differences using the Mantel-Haenszel random effects method to assess total respiratory adverse events, infectious respiratory adverse events, non-infectious respiratory adverse events, interstitial lung disease, and death.

RESULTS: Seven studies met our inclusion criteria, six with placebo as the comparator. Heterogeneity across the studies was not significant (I(2)=0%), allowing combination of trial results. 504 respiratory adverse events were documented in 1630 participants. Methotrexate was not associated with an increased risk of adverse respiratory events (relative risk 1.03, 95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.17), respiratory infections (1.02, 0.88 to 1.19), or non-infectious respiratory events (1.07, 0.58 to 1.96). No pulmonary deaths occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggested that there was no increased risk of lung disease in methotrexate treated patients with non-malignant inflammatory diseases. Given the limitations of the study, however, we cannot exclude a small but clinically important risk.

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