The physiologic effects of different ventilation strategies on patients with ARDS need to be better understood.

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease with varying courses of disease progression. Environmental exposures are thought to be contributors to disease onset. Exposure to air pollutants such as fine particulate matter of 2.5 μm diameter or smaller (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have been identified as contributors to health disparities in lung diseases; little is known about these environmental exposures' associations with disease outcomes in sarcoidosis.

Accurate spirometry interpretation is critical in the diagnosis and management of COPD. With increasing efforts for a unified approach by the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI), this study evaluated the application of race-specific 2012 GLI and race-neutral 2022 GLI reference equations compared with Choi's reference equations, which are derived and widely used in South Korea, for spirometry interpretation in Northeast Asian patients with COPD.

A 70-year-old man was diagnosed with mid-thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (distance from incisors, 27-30 cm) because of progressive dysphagia and underwent thoracic laparoscopic esophagectomy at a local hospital. He was transferred from the ICU 4 days after surgery; however, a large amount of purulent fluid exuded from the neck incision after oral drinking, which was consistent with cervical anastomotic leakage. Later, the patient experienced difficulty breathing and expelling sputum; he was then transferred back to the ICU for treatment. A CT scan showed massive fluid collection in the mediastinum and left pleural cavity. Thoracentesis yielded yellowish fluid, and the patient's general condition gradually improved after placement of a closed chest drainage system. The patient's cervical anastomotic fistula persisted and did not heal, and he was subsequently transferred to our medical center with the closed chest drainage system left in place.

A 76-year-old male Vietnam veteran with a medical history of OSA on CPAP, mild COPD, Parsonage-Turner syndrome (a rare neurologic syndrome manifesting with shoulder and arm pain), hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, and prior endocarditis presented with 1 year duration progressive exertional dyspnea with minimal activity by referral from an outside pulmonologist. The patient reported possible exposure to Agent Orange during his service but was otherwise without significant occupational or environmental exposures. His exercise tolerance was well-maintained up until the last 12 months. Aside from marginal cigarette use, he denied any recreational drug use or any anorectic use. The patient provided records from a recent right heart catheterization (RHC) months earlier for review.

A 74-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and peripheral artery disease and a reported diagnosis of sarcoidosis presents for an episode of syncope and shortness of breath. She had a history of sarcoidosis diagnosed on chest radiography that showed lymphadenopathy. There were no associated symptoms, and she was not previously treated for sarcoidosis. She previously smoked and had quit smoking 9 years earlier.

Chylothorax, which accounts for 1% to 3% of pleural effusions, typically results from either surgery (traumatic) or underlying malignancy (nontraumatic). Less common causes of nontraumatic chylothorax are numerous and include congenital lymphatic abnormalities, connective tissue diseases, cirrhosis, and infection, among others.1 We describe what appears to be the first reported case of chylothorax caused by chylous ascites in Crohn disease. This case highlights the importance of using diagnostic evidence to link new symptoms to preexisting diseases whenever possible, as well as the systemic nature of Crohn disease.