Familial hypersensitivity pneumonitis triggered by Cladosporium herbarum exposure during carpooling

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a respiratory disease caused by an inappropriate immune response to environmental antigens affecting the small airways and lung parenchyma. With an incidence of 0.3–1.94 cases per 100 000 per year [1, 2], HP is the third cause of interstitial lung disease (ILD) [3]. Seven to 17% of patients with HP report a positive family history for ILD [4, 5], suggesting predisposing genetic factors.

This series reports cases of Cladosporium herbarum-related HP due to an uncommon exposure source, illustrating the genetic background underlying HP, and highlighting the role of environmental home inquiry and serum precipitins in diagnosis and follow-uphttps://bit.ly/3hzvE4w

Respiratory consequences of obesity--an overview

At the beginning of the 21st century obesity has become the leading chronic disease in the world. It is a major cause of morbidity mainly in the metabolic and cardiovascular areas. Moreover, it has progressively emerged as an important risk factor for respiratory diseases, a field that is often neglected. In this article, we reviewed the current understanding of the influence of obesity in adulthood on respiratory function, obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome and asthma.

[Hemoptysis in a young man]

INTRODUCTION

We describe the development of severe and recurrent alveolar hemorrhage in a 30 year old man. The patient had presented with frank hemoptysis, that recurred after an interval of 4 weeks, associated with dyspnea and severe anemia requiring transfusion. The chest x-ray and CT scan showed bilateral diffuse ground glass shadows. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy confirmed bilateral diffuse bleeding. Investigations for the common causes of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (immunological, infective) proved to be negative on two occasions. Toxicological examination of the urine during the relapse revealed a significant level of cannabis and a trace of cocaine. The patient repeatedly denied the use of illicit drugs.

CASE REPORT

Because of the general condition of this young patient a lung biopsy was performed by video-thoracoscopy. This showed evidence of diffuse alveolar damage compatible with inhalation of cocaine. Faced with these results the patient admitted that he regularly smoked "improved joints".

CONCLUSION

This clinical observation emphasises that the inhalation of cocaine is a cause of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage particularly in young adults.

Elimination of polarized light scattered by surface roughness or bulk heterogeneity

An interferential technique is described to eliminate polarized scattering from optical substrates and coatings. Conditions of annulment are respectively given for surface roughness and for bulk heterogeneity, at each direction of space. At low-level scattering, the method offers a complete discrimination of surface and bulk effects, whatever the micro-structural parameters. Arbitrary scattering levels can be treated in a similar way, but require the knowledge of microstructure.

Angle-resolved ellipsometry of scattering patterns from arbitrary surfaces and bulks

Accurate angular phase data are extracted from angle-resolved scattering measurements made with polarized light using a technique developed in the laboratory. This Ellipsometry of Angle-Resolved Scattering (E.A.R.S.) technique makes it possible to distinguish surface scattering from bulk scattering independent of the scattering levels for different types of samples. Phase data are also investigated in the speckle pattern.

[Our experience in endourology]

Exposition of the experience accrued over 8 years in endo-urological procedures performed to 303 patients divided in 2 groups: Lithiasic (Group I) and Non-lithiasic (Group II) patients. Ninety-two (92) percutaneous nephrostomies in 69 patients and 235 ureteroscopies in 234 patients were accomplished, removing 324 calculi and resolving other obstructive conditions. The rate of success was 85% and 98% for the percutaneous nephrostomies and ureteroscopies, respectively. Complications were reported in 7 patients after percutaneous nephrostomy and in 14 patients during ureteroscopy. Most of these complications resolved with the use of endoscopic techniques except in two patients who required open surgery. There were no deaths in the present series. The advantages of applying this technique over the conventional one are discussed.