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We present a series of three cases of survival following inhalation of nitric acid fumes, which resulted in acute respiratory distress. Inhalation of nitric acid fumes and its decomposition gases such as nitrogen dioxide results in delayed onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Intensive respiratory management, ventilatory support, and steroids can help in survival.

There are multiple causes of lung abscess, but the differential rarely includes pyelonephritis as a primary cause leading to lung abscess resulting from the development of a nephrobronchial fistula. The patient had no urinary symptoms or abdominal pain and the etiology of lung abscess was only incidentally discovered after chest CT revealed extension of pleural fluid below the diaphragm.

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Introduction: Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid, USA) is an automated real-time PCR system that simultaneously detects TB and resistance to rifampicin. The test has excellent accuracy when performed on sputum and is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the USA Federal Drug Administration. Aims: To measure the diagnostic yield of bronchoalveolar lavage gene Xpert and compare it with traditional mycobacterial cultures in smear-negative and sputum-scarce pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: A prospective observational study at a tertiary care hospital in India was conducted. A total of 200 patients who were 18 years or older under evaluation for clinico-radiological features of PTB with a history of a cough >2 weeks and a chest X-ray with pulmonary parenchymal involvement were recruited after ensuring two consecutive sputum negative smears or inability to produce adequate sputum. A volume of one ml of BAL sample was used to detect mycobacterium tuberculosis by the G4 version of Xpert ® MTB/RIF (Cepheid, USA) and by traditional mycobacterial cultures. cartridges without initial decontamination or centrifugation. Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated with 95% class intervals (CIs). McNemar's test was used for comparison of sensitivities. Result: The results showed that the AFB smear test had 76.83% (95% CI: 66.20-85.44) sensitivity, 100.0% (95% CI: 96.92-100.0) specificity with 100.% PPV and 86.13% (95%CI: 80.72-90.21) NPV compared to culture report.

We report a case of a 24-year old male presented with cough and breathlessness with diabetes mellitus and diagnosed as a case of bloom syndrome. He was a product of consanguineous marriage, having short stature, dolicocephaly, polydactyly, prominent nose with telangiectasia face. The respiratory system examination revealed bilateral coarse crepitations and wheezes and the chest X-ray revealed emphysema with right middle zone inhomogenous opacity. Also, CT thorax examination revealed bilateral cystic bronchiectasis with bronchiolitis obliterans. Bloom's syndrome was diagnosed on the basis of clinical features.

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Aims and Objectives: The study aims to compare the changes in the diaphragm in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in Indian population with the help of ultrasound-guided examination. (1) Changes in thickness of the diaphragm during respiration (to rule out diaphragm muscle atrophy). (2) The movement of the diaphragm(correlates with strength and endurance of diaphragm fibres). (3) Zone of apposition(gives mechanical advantage to diaphragm). (4) Correlation with COPD severity by global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) staging. Subjects and Methods: Forty-eight COPD patients attending OPD of DY Patil Hospital were recruited in the study and twenty age-matched controls were taken. Detailed history, pulmonary function test examination, and diaphragm study under ultrasonography was done. Results: The movement of diaphragm was reduced in mild to moderate COPD (A and B) but increased in COPD with Grade C. Movement of diaphragm was significantly more in cases with COPD Grade B (2.329 cm) and C (2.269 cm) as compared to controls (1.891 cm). Mean diaphragmatic thickness during inspiration and expiration, change in thickness, and zone of apposition were significantly higher in patients with COPD score Grade C as compared to Grade A or B. Zone of apposition was significantly decreased in Grade A (3.257 cm) and B (3.429 cm) compared to control (4.268 cm), while it was significantly increased in cases with Grade C (5.138 cm). Conclusion: The diaphragm is the main muscle of respiration, and study of diaphragm is very important in COPD. The diaphragm thickness, movement, and zone of apposition were significantly reduced in mild to moderate COPD but increased in severe COPD. This cannot be explained by physiotherapy or collagen accumulation. Hence, diaphragm muscle biopsy and electromyogram study in COPD patients will be required to get a better understanding of this muscle in COPD.