Predicting malignant pleural effusion during diagnostic pleuroscopy with biopsy: A prospective multicentre study.

Background And Objective: Pleuroscopy with pleural biopsy has a high sensitivity for malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Because MPEs tend to recur, concurrent diagnosis and treatment of MPE during pleuroscopy is desired. However, proceeding directly to treatment at the time of pleuroscopy requires confidence in the on-site diagnosis.

Progression of the Radiologic Severity Index is associated with increased mortality and healthcare resource utilisation in acute leukaemia patients with pneumonia.

Background: Pneumonia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity, but the development of new antimicrobials is lacking. Radiological assessment of pneumonia severity may serve as an effective intermediate endpoint to reduce barriers to successful completion of antimicrobial trials. We sought to determine whether the Radiologic Severity Index (RSI) correlated with mortality and healthcare resource utilisation in patients with acute leukaemia undergoing induction chemotherapy.

Pleural Fluid Cytokine Levels at Baseline and Over Time are Associated With Time to IPC Removal: An Exploratory Study.

Background: The behavior of pleural fluid cytokine (PFCs) levels and their association with pleurodesis after indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) placement is unknown.

Objective: A prospective exploratory study was conducted to obtain preliminary data on PFC levels after IPC placement.

Methods: The PFC panel consisted of 4 cytokines [interleukin -8 (IL-8), vascular endothelial growth factor, total (but not activated) transforming growth factor betas, and basic fibroblast growth factor], measured across 5 time points (T0: insertion; T1: 24 to 48 h; T2: 72 to 96 h; T3: 1 wk; and T4: 2 wk).