C-reactive protein and procalcitonin as predictors of survival and septic shock in ventilator-associated pneumonia.

We evaluated the performance of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) threshold values and kinetics as predictors of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) survival and septic shock development. 45 adult patients with VAP were studied. Serum CRP and PCT levels and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score were measured on days 1, 4 and 7 (D1, D4, D7) of VAP and their variations between different days (kinetics) were calculated (DeltaPCT, DeltaCRP).

Plasma leptin and insulin-like growth factor I levels during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Recent studies have provided evidence for a link between leptin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mediates the metabolic effects of growth hormone (GH). The GH axis is believed to be suppressed in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Multiple myeloma emerging after chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer.

A 67-year-old man underwent total resection of the left lung because of adenocarcinoma, with no evidence of extra-thoracic spread of the cancer. On follow-up, metastatic bone disease was documented and chemotherapy (CMT) which included cisplatin, docetaxel, vinorelbine, and topotecan was administered. Six months after completion of CMT, a rise in total serum protein was noted.

Carcinoembryonic antigen, neuron-specific enolase and cytokeratin fragment 19 (CYFRA 21-1) levels in induced sputum of lung cancer patients.

Objectives: The diagnosis of lung cancer is usually based on the histological and cytological examination of material obtained by bronchoscopy. Tumour markers in serum are of little use as a diagnostic tool for lung cancer. We hypothesized that induced sputum could be a suitable material for measuring tumour markers and, accordingly, attempted to evaluate the diagnostic value of such measurements in lung cancer.