Since the late 1990s, a surge in interest in the analysis of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) resulted in the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) organising a Task Force in 2001 to develop guidelines on EBC collection and measurement of biomarkers. This Task Force published their guidelines in 2005 based on literature and expert opinions at that time, and multiple shortcomings and knowledge deficits were also identified. The clinical application of EBC collection and its biomarkers are currently still limited by several of these knowledge gaps, hence further guidelines for standardisation are required to ensure external validity. Using related articles produced since the publication of the ATS/ERS Task Force report, this paper attempts to provide a comprehensive update to the original guideline and review the methodological shortcomings identified. This review can hopefully serve as a yardstick for future studies involving this emerging clinical tool.

Despite currently available treatments, the prognoses of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) remain poor. Platelet-derived growth factor and its receptor (PDGFR) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension in PAH and PCH. Imatinib, a PDGFR antagonist, may be beneficial in the treatment of both conditions because of its potent antiproliferative effect. We report two cases that demonstrate the potential for safe and efficacious use of imatinib in PAH and PCH. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by a marked and sustained elevation in pulmonary artery pressure, which leads to progressive increases in pulmonary vascular resistance, right-sided heart failure, and death. 1 Current therapeutic approaches mainly provide symptomatic benefit but do not substantially reduce mortality rates. 2 Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare cause of pulmonary hypertension characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of pulmonary capillaries infiltrating vascular, bronchial, and interstitial pulmonary structures. 3 Pharmacological treatment of PCH has had very limited success, and the prognosis remains poor. 4 Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptor (PDGFR) have been implicated in the abnormal proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells in the development of pulmonary hypertension in PAH and PCH. 5 Imatinib is a PDGFR antagonist and may be efficacious in the treatment of PAH and PCH because of its potent antiproliferative effect. 5 We review the effect of imatinib in 2 patients, one with PCH (case 1) and the other with PAH (case 2), and we discuss the potential role of imatinib in the treatment of these conditions. CASE DESCRIPTION Case 1A previously active 63-year-old woman presented with a 2-week history of progressive dyspnea with no associated symptoms. Her background medical history included the limited cutaneous form of systemic sclerosis (i.e., CREST syndrome) diagnosed 9 years earlier. She had no cardiovascular or respiratory medical history and was a nonsmoker. Her family history was not significant. Her cardiorespiratory examination findings were entirely unremarkable.Full blood count, blood chemistry, arterial blood gases, and electrocardiogram findings were normal. Chest radiographs showed cardiomegaly and diffuse interstitial lung markings. Pulmonary function testing revealed low diffusion capacity, carbon monoxide (DLCO), corrected for alveolar volume (52% of the predicted value) and normal FEV 1 /FVC (78%). Ventilation perfusion scan indicated low probability of pulmonary embolism. High-resolution computed tomography showed bilateral pleural effusions, ground glass shadows, and interstitial lung markings with a mosaic pattern. Transthoracic echocardiogram indicated pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery systolic pressure, 59 mmHg) and severe right ventricular dilatation

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Background: H. pylori infection causes gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and is a risk factor for developing gastric malignancies and affects 30% of adult Australians. Successful eradication of H. pylori infection is hindered by drug resistance. Rates of drugresistant H. pylori is increasing in Australia and guidelines recommend eradication regimens to be informed by local resistance rates.