BACKGROUND The management of incidental pulmonary nodules is guided by recommendations set forth by the Fleischner Society. While most pulmonary nodules are benign, timely and evidence-based follow-up can reduce morbidity and mortality. There are known socioeconomic disparities for engagement with recommended cancer screenings, however it is unclear whether disparities exist for follow-up of incidentally

Coccidioidomycosis (CM), caused by the dimorphic fungi Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis) and C. posadasii, is recognized as an increasing threat both nationally and worldwide. This is in large part secondary to the expanding range of Coccidioides spp. and increased international travel to endemic regions. The majority of individuals exposed to airborne Coccidioides organisms do not need medical attention

BACKGROUND The screening strategy for interstitial lung disease (ILD) in rheumatoid arthritis patients is currently debated. While high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the gold standard for diagnosing ILD, its systematic use as a screening tool is not yet recommended. The role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in assessing ILD has been previously explored. RESEARCH QUESTION What is the performance

BACKGROUND Low-dose morphine may be prescribed to reduce chronic breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Recent subjective findings suggest morphine may influence breathlessness through sleep-related mechanisms. However, concerns exist regarding opioid safety in COPD. The effects of morphine during sleep in COPD have not been objectively investigated. This study aimed to objectively

Annual lung cancer screening using low dose computed tomography (LDCT) effectively reduces mortality from lung cancer and is recommended for persons who are at high risk of developing the disease. The utilization of the lung cancer screening, however, has remained low. Due to significantly higher cigarette smoking rates, patients with behavioral health disorders (those living with mental illness and/or

TOPIC IMPORTANCE Asthma is a common multifaceted respiratory disease with a major impact on quality of life. Despite increased insights into mechanisms underlying various asthma phenotypes/endotypes and the availability of targeted biologic treatment options, a substantial proportion of patients remains uncontrolled with risk of exacerbations, requiring systemic corticosteroids, and progressive disease

BACKGROUND Traditional approaches for learning anatomy for curvilinear endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) require learners to mentally visualize structures relative to the position of the bronchoscope. Virtual reality (VR) can demonstrate anatomy from the perspective of bronchoscopic tools. RESEARCH QUESTION Does the use of a VR anatomy trainer for teaching EBUS-associated anatomy improve procedural performance

Lung cancer is the second most common and the deadliest cancer for men and women in the U.S. Historical and current-day injustices, implicit and explicit bias, stigma, social determinants, and disparities contribute to inequitable lung cancer-related health outcomes for Black and African Americans comparatively. Despite being a preventive health recommendation for over a decade, the percentage of eligible

TOPIC IMPORTANCE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex, heterogeneous lung disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation secondary to airways and parenchymal abnormalities, and respiratory symptoms, including dyspnoea, fatigue, chronic cough, and sputum production. Cigarette smoke exposure is a major contributor to COPD although inhalation of toxic particles and other environmental

BACKGROUND The prevalence of non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria pulmonary disease (NTM-pd) is rising globally. Previously, we described a high prevalence of M. simiae isolation in Israel. RESEARCH QUESTIONS What is the prevalence of NTM-pd and M. simiae-pd in Northern Israel? Which factors are associated with mortality among people with NTM? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We retrospectively recorded all samples

An 80-year-old man with no history of substance addiction presented with complaints of cough and breathlessness for 4 months. His cough was nonproductive, waxing and waning in nature with high symptom load during daytime, but not associated with chest pain or wheezing. He gives no history of nasal or sinus symptoms, aspiration, or reflux symptoms. Breathlessness was nonparoxysmal, independent of cough

A 68-year-old woman presented with worsening dyspnea. She had presented to her local community hospital 10 days earlier with similar symptoms. She was diagnosed with a right-sided pleural effusion, which was attributed to pneumonia and treated with antibiotics. She underwent two thoracenteses within a week, with relief of dyspnea after each procedure. Two days after hospital discharge, she developed

Zanubrutinib is an orally administered second-generation covalent inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic leukemia. It has been associated with significant major and minor bleeding events, including intracranial and GI hemorrhage and hematuria, with or without concurrent

A 36-year-old man with severe Crohn disease complicated by urethral strictures and enterocutaneous and enterovesicular fistulas presented for several weeks of poor appetite, weight loss, failure to thrive, and newly worsening altered mentation. Further history revealed he chronically did not urinate through his urethra, but rather "leaked" through multiple enterocutaneous fistulas in his abdomen and

BACKGROUND In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and as part of the statewide healthcare coalition response the Minnesota Critical Care Working Group (CCWG), composed of Interprofessional leaders from the state's nine largest health systems was established and entrusted to plan and coordinate critical care support for Minnesota from March 2020 through July1, 2021. RESEARCH QUESTION Can a statewide Critical

BACKGROUND An increasing number of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have cardiovascular comorbidities. However, the effects of comorbidities on responses to PAH treatment are not well understood. RESEARCH QUESTION Do cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with PAH influence the efficacy and tolerability of inhaled or oral treprostinil? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS All patients from

Rapid assessment and treatment (RAT) calls, facilitated by Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), have become vital to the care of hospitalized patients deteriorating outside of the intensive care unit in many institutions worldwide. A significant body of data has recognized the efficacy of rapid response systems (RRSs) in improving patient care; however, there is no standardized protocol that all RRSs practice

BACKGROUND Acute circulatory failure is critical in ICU patients. CO2-O2-derived indices including the central venous-to-arterial CO2 difference (P(v-a)CO2 gap) and the P(v-a)CO2 gap/Ca-vO2 ratio are markers for global metabolic demand and tissue hypoxia. RESEARCH QUESTION Does a resuscitation strategy using CO2-O2-derived indices improve tissular hypoperfusion compared to standard care? STUDY DESIGN

The integration of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is becoming increasingly vital due to the rising number of critically ill patients and the shortage of board-certified intensivists. Successful recruitment and utilization of NPs and PAs into the MICU setting require a unique understanding of potential variations of the scope of practice

BACKGROUND Increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has adverse effects in cardiovascular diseases, independent of body mass index (BMI). Estrogen levels may impact EAT accumulation. Little is known about the predictors and potential impact of EAT in PAH. RESEARCH QUESTION Is EAT associated with estrogen levels, disease severity, and mortality in PAH? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective

BACKGROUND At the request of the Statewide Healthcare Coordination Center, the Minnesota Critical Care Working Group (CCWG) and ethics subgroup (EWG), composed of interprofessional leaders from Minnesota's nine largest health systems were asked to plan and coordinate critical care operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the 2021 Fall surge. RESEARCH QUESTION Can a statewide Working Group

Impaired pulmonary function carries significant risks for lung, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders.

TOPIC IMPORTANCE Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-associated expiratory central airway collapse (ECAC) is a frequently overlooked benign airway obstructive disease, with complex causes and unclear pathological and physiological mechanisms. Although interventions such as noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, airway stenting, and tracheobronchoplasty have shown definite efficacy in the

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cystic lung disease affecting women and is characterized by the proliferation of abnormal smooth muscle-like cells within the lungs, kidneys, and lymphatic system. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) are two commonly used markers for evaluating the status of LAM, although the disease may

The advances in minimally invasive lung cancer diagnostics of the last decade have transformed patient care but have also raised important concerns about the regulatory processes used to approve new devices and the best way to generate data to support their use. Disruptive technologies, such as robotic bronchoscopy, have been widely adopted by interventional pulmonologists in the absence of robust

Trastuzumab emtansine has been recently suspected to be associated with the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

TOPIC IMPORTANCE The incidence of pulmonary nodules and masses in non-HIV immunocompromised patients has significantly increased due to advancements in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), solid organ transplantation (SOT), and the widespread use of chemotherapy and immunosuppressive therapies. Differentiating between infectious and non-infectious causes is critical for appropriate diagnosis

BACKGROUND We previously identified a panel of sputum DNA methylation that predicts lung ageing and risk for lung cancer. RESEARCH QUESTION Can the sputum methylation panel be used as a readout to derive a dietary pattern beneficial for lung health? Is this dietary pattern associated with various subjective and objective lung health phenotypes? Does this relationship vary among people who currently

BACKGROUND The independent, mediation, interaction, and joint effects of socioeconomic status (SES) and phenotypic frailty on the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION Do SES and frailty increase the risk of COPD independently or jointly ? Is there an interaction between the two factors in incident COPD? Does frailty play a mediating role between SES

Quantitative CT imaging may be a useful predictor of outcome in rheumatoid arthritis-related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).

OSA causes episodes of fragmented sleep and intermittent hypoxia and leads to excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Deficits in cognitive function are a troublesome symptom in patients with OSA and EDS.

Current guidelines do not recommend β-blockers in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) unless indicated by comorbidities. However, the evidence regarding the role of β-blockers in PAH is contradictory.

Response to pulmonary rehabilitation is not equal for all participants and may vary across health outcomes for any one individual. Alternative methods of pulmonary rehabilitation delivery, for example, telerehabilitation, may improve program access, but also could affect response to rehabilitation.

There are limited US Federal Drug Administration-approved medications and real-world data on sarcoidosis treatment in the United States. Concordance of practice patterns with guideline recommendations have not been well characterized.

Pneumothorax is a major complication after endoscopic lung volume reduction with valves, with a prevalence of up to 34%. Although some patients benefit from valve implantation despite pneumothorax, others are significantly impaired after lung collapse.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) represent a broad group of heterogeneous parenchymal lung diseases. Some ILDs progress, causing architectural distortion and pulmonary fibrosis, and thus are called fibrotic ILDs. Recent studies have shown a beneficial effect of antifibrotic therapy in fibrotic ILDs other than idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that manifest progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). However