Pneumomediastinum after transbronchial lung biopsy.

Pneumomediastinum is a rare complication of a transbronchial lung biopsy. Common symptoms are chest pain, dyspnea, dysphagia, and specific electrocardiographic changes. We report a case of pneumomediastinum after a transbronchial lung biopsy.

Immunocompromised patients with HBsAg a determinant mutants: comparison of HBsAg diagnostic assays.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is considered the best marker for the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Mutations of the s gene involving amino acid substitutions within the a determinant could affect the sensitivity of diagnostic tests. In the present study, HBsAg mutants were detected in 3 immunocompromised patients, previously found to be HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive.

Long-term outcome of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus co-infection and single HBV infection acquired in youth.

Co-infection with HBV and HCV seems to be associated with more severe liver disease in retrospective and cross-sectional studies in adults, but no data are available when co-infection is acquired in youth. The long-term outcome of infection acquired in youth was assessed in patients co-infected with HBV and HCV and in patients with HBV infection only. Twenty-seven patients with HBV and HCV co-infection and 27 patients infected with HBV only were enrolled.