The LDA+DMFT approach merges conventional band structure theory in the local density approximation (LDA) with a state-of-the-art many-body technique, the dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT). This new computational scheme has recently become a powerful tool for ab initio investigations of real materials with strong electronic correlations. In this paper an introduction to the basic ideas and the ...

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a diagnostic procedure used for re covering cellular and non-cellular components of the epithelial lining fl uid of the alveolar and bronchial airspaces. Non-bronchoscopic BAL involves the insertion of simple catheters or balloon-type devices through an endotracheal tube, while bronchoscopic BAL involves the instillation and immediate withdrawal of pre-warmed ste...

The performance of a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) which detects Aspergillus galactomannan (GM) was evaluated in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from 19 patients who were treated for hematological malignancies and who were suspected of having invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). All patients had fever and pulmonary infiltrates on the chest roentgenogram on the...

We review the experience at our institution with galactomannan (GM) testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) among solid-organ transplant recipients. Among 81 patients for whom BAL GM testing was ordered (heart, 24; kidney, 22; liver, 19; lung, 16), there were five cases of proven or probable IPA. All five patients had BAL GM of > ...

We present a time variability analysis of broad absorption lines (BAL; spread over the velocity range 5800-29000 km/s) seen in spectrum J132216.25+052446.3 (z(em)= 2.04806) at ten different epochs spanning 19 years. The strongest component (BAL-A; 5800-9900 is made up several narrow components having separations close to C IV doublet splitting. IV, N V, and Si from BAL-A show correlated optical...

Objective: To compare the mycobacteriological yield from self-expectorated sputum (SP), gastric lavage (GL) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), in children with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Methods: Twelve children with cultureor PCR-positive pulmonary TB were retrospectively enrolled in this study. These patients had undergone SP collection, GL and/or BAL through flexible bronchoscopy. Positive ...

STUDY OBJECTIVES To examine the peripheral effects of BAL on the neutrophil counts and cytokine levels in the circulation. DESIGN AND METHODS WBC counts and plasma cytokines were measured before and 4 h after fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) without further interventions (n = 6), or combined with BAL in normal volunteer subjects (n = 6), and in patients with bacterial pneumonia (n = 4). The bron...

Bacterial colonization of the lower airways in patients with chronic bronchitis (CB) has been described mainly in patients with co-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although smoking has been identified as a risk factor for bacterial colonization it is not known whether asymptomatic smokers (AS) can be colonized. The aim of this study was to study lower airway bacterial colo...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical role of bronchoscopic and nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the diagnosis of infectious and interstitial lung disease in children. BAL was performed using three 1 mL.kg-1 aliquots of normal saline, with the flexible bronchoscope (Olympus 3.6 or 4.8 mm) wedged in a segmental or subsegmental bronchus of the lobe that showed ...