Defect in recruiting effector memory CD8+ T-cells in malignant pleural effusions compared to normal pleural fluid.

Background: Malignant pleural effusions (MPE) are a common and fatal complication in cancers including lung or breast cancers, or malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). MPE animal models and immunotherapy trials in MPM patients previously suggested defects of the cellular immunity in MPE. However only few observational studies of the immune response were done in MPM patients, using questionable control groups (transudate…).

Outpatient management of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: a prospective study.

We prospectively assessed the safety and cost saving of a small-bore drain based procedure for outpatient management of first episodes of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Patients were managed by observation alone or insertion of an 8.5-F "pig-tail" drain connected to a one-way valve, according to size and clinical tolerance of the pneumothorax.

[Antiangiogenic agents: current limits in thoracic oncology].

Antiangiogenic agents appear as major therapeutic options in renal, colorectal and breast cancer. Their part in thoracic oncology is still limited today except for bevacizumab. We review the current limits of antiangiogenic agents in terms of efficacy, activity, tolerance and therapeutic strategies.

Serum mesothelin has a higher diagnostic utility than hyaluronic acid in malignant mesothelioma.

Unlabelled: We assessed comparatively the diagnostic value of two potential malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) markers: hyaluronic acid (HA) and soluble mesothelin.

Materials And Method: We measured serum and pleural fluid values of mesothelin and hyaluronic acid in 76 patients with MPM, 33 patients with pleural metastases of carcinomas (Mets group) and 27 patients with benign pleural effusion related to asbestos exposure (BPLAE).

Results: Using a serum HA cut-off of 100 microg/L, 8 patients/33 (24.

Kinetics of soluble mesothelin in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma during treatment.

Rationale: Previous data suggested that serum levels of soluble mesothelin (SM) are related to tumor size and may have prognostic significance in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that this marker could also be useful for monitoring response to treatment.

Methods: Serial measurements of SM were determined in 40 patients diagnosed with MPM and subjected to gene-transfer therapy using intrapleural infusion of an adenoviral vector expressing human IFN-beta or conventional treatment (mainly chemotherapy).

[New diagnostic markers for malignant pleural mesothelioma].

The increasing number of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a serious public health problem. The prognosis of this tumor is poor and most of the patients are diagnosed late in the disease's course when curative treatment is no more an option. It is therefore necessary to diagnose earlier MPM in these patients in order to obtain a potential significant improvement in survival.

Pulmonary manifestations of Pyoderma gangrenosum.

Introduction: Pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon ulcerative cutaneous disorder. Extracutaneous localizations are rare. Respiratory system involvement has been described in a few cases, but the pulmonary features reported were highly variable.

Utility of osteopontin and serum mesothelin in malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosis and prognosis assessment.

Purpose: Malignant mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor and is often diagnosed too late for a curative treatment. We compared diagnostic and prognostic values of mesothelin and osteopontin in 172 patients suspected of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and in a control group of 112 asymptomatic asbestos-exposed subjects.

Experimental Design: Osteopontin and mesothelin were assayed with commercial ELISA kits in a series of 43 patients with pleural metastases of various carcinomas, 33 patients with benign pleural lesions associated with asbestos exposure, 96 patients with MPMs, and 112 asbestos-exposed healthy subjects.

Soluble mesothelin-related peptides in the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma is a challenging issue. Potential markers in mesothelioma diagnosis include soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRPs) and osteopontin, but no subsequent validation has been published yet.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated SMRPs in serum and pleural effusion from patients with mesothelioma (n = 74), pleural metastasis of carcinomas (n = 35), or benign pleural lesions associated with asbestos exposure (n = 28), recruited when first suspected for mesothelioma.

[Value of hyperferritinemia and glycosylated ferritin in the diagnosis of adult-onset Still's disease. 3 case reports].

Introduction: The diagnosis of adult-onset Still's disease currently requires application of Yamaguchi's criteria and then exclusion of infectious, hematologic, autoimmune and neoplastic disorders. A recent article suggests that very high levels of serum ferritin together with an unusually low percentage of glycosylated ferritin may serve as diagnostic criteria or even as markers of disease progression. This new score has greater specificity than the other scores, including that of Yamaguchi.