Lung nodules are a diagnostic challenge, with an estimated yearly incidence of 1.6 million in the United States. This study evaluated the accuracy of an integrated proteomic classifier in identifying benign nodules in patients with a pretest probability of cancer (pCA) ≤ 50%.

Nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism (NTPE) is a complete or partial occlusion of the pulmonary vasculature by various organic and inorganic materials. These materials include organic particulate matter (PM) such as adipocytes, tumor cells, bacteria, fungi, or gas and inorganic PM. Although NTPE due to organic PM has been extensively reported in the medical literature, there are no comprehensive reviews of inorganic material embolizing to the lungs. The purpose of this article is to examine the current literature describing NTPE resulting from inorganic PM and foreign bodies. Cases of NTPE are uncommon and often difficult to diagnose. The diagnosis is challenging due to its varied presentation, clinical features, and unusual radiologic features. In contrast to the "classic" pulmonary thromboembolism, the pathophysiologic effects of embolism by PM are not only mechanical but also a consequence of the nature of the offending material. NTPE caused by these substances can be relatively innocuous, life-threatening, or lead to chronic pulmonary disease, if left undetected. We hope that the heightened sense of awareness of this entity may allow earlier diagnosis and recognition of its complications.

Frailty is common in seniors and is characterized by diminished physiological reserves and increased vulnerability to stressors. Frailty can change the prognosis and treatment approach of several chronic diseases, including COPD. The association between frailty and COPD has never been systematically reviewed.

Despite the existing evidence-based smoking cessation interventions, chances of achieving that goal in real life are still low among patients with COPD. We sought to evaluate the clinical consequences of changes in smoking habits in a large cohort of patients with COPD.

Lung ultrasound examination is becoming an even more important part of pulmonologists' clinical routine. As indicated in the literature, the coordinates of any findings on lung parenchyma are based on surface landmarks or conventional quadrants. In our experience we have noticed that lung fissures are clearly detectable as interruptions of the pleural line, but this has never been investigated previously. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lung fissures are detectable under normal conditions in routine clinical practice.

Elevated levels of midrange proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) are associated with worse outcome in different diseases, including COPD. The association of stable-state MR-proADM with severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) requiring hospitalization, or with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with COPD, has not been studied yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of stable-state MR-proADM with severe AECOPD and CAP in patients with COPD.

Compared with pulmonary sarcoidosis, sarcoidosis without lung involvement may involve other immunopathologic mechanisms and be associated with other demographic and clinical features.

It would be valuable to have a noninvasive method of measuring impaired pulmonary gas exchange in patients with lung disease and thus reduce the need for repeated arterial punctures. This study reports the results of using a new test in a group of outpatients attending a pulmonary clinic.

The optimal initial treatment approach for pneumothorax remains controversial. This systemic review and meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of small-bore pigtail catheter (PC) drainage compared with that of large-bore chest tube (LBCT) drainage as the initial treatment approach for all subtypes of pneumothorax.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of death and hospitalization for patients with COPD. A detailed understanding of which clinical features of COPD increase risk is needed.

Expiratory flow limitation (EFL) is present when the flow cannot rise despite an increase in the expiratory driving pressure. The mechanisms of EFL are debated but are believed to be related to the collapsibility of small airways. In patients who are mechanically ventilated, EFL can exist during tidal ventilation, representing an extreme situation in which lung volume cannot decrease, regardless of the expiratory driving forces. It is a key factor for the generation of auto- or intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and requires specific management such as positioning and adjustment of external PEEP. EFL can be responsible for causing dyspnea and patient-ventilator dyssynchrony, and it is influenced by the fluid status of the patient. EFL frequently affects patients with COPD, obesity, and heart failure, as well as patients with ARDS, especially at low PEEP. EFL is, however, most often unrecognized in the clinical setting despite being associated with complications of mechanical ventilation and poor outcomes such as postoperative pulmonary complications, extubation failure, and possibly airway injury in ARDS. Therefore, prompt recognition might help the management of patients being mechanically ventilated who have EFL and could potentially influence outcome. EFL can be suspected by using different means, and this review summarizes the methods to specifically detect EFL during mechanical ventilation.

Exacerbations of COPD (ECOPD) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Continuous cyclic azithromycin (CC-A) reduces the exacerbation rate, but it is unknown whether it remains effective and safe beyond the first year.

Misdiagnosis of COPD is common. The goal of this study was to quantify the health services burden of undiagnosed and overdiagnosed COPD in a real-world, North American population.

Combined intrapleural therapy with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) has been shown to reduce the need for surgical intervention for complicated pleural effusion/empyema (CPE/empyema). For patients in whom tPA/DNase is likely to fail, however, receipt of this therapy may simply delay the inevitable. The goal of this study was to identify risk factors for failure of combined intrapleural therapy.