Pleural Pressure Differences Before Removal Are Greater in Patients Who Develop Residual Pneumothorax Post Chest Drain Removal.

We aimed to investigate whether the difference in pleural pressures (Δ) is wider among patients who develop a residual pneumothorax after chest tube removal following lung resection surgery. Ninety-eight patients who underwent lung resection were included in the study over a period of 12 months. The Δ prior to chest tube removal in patients who developed a residual pneumothorax after chest tube removal was compared with that of patients who did not develop this complication.

CXCL13 production in B cells via Toll-like receptor/lymphotoxin receptor signaling is involved in lymphoid neogenesis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Little is known about what drives the appearance of lymphoid follicles (LFs), which may function as lymphoid organs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In animal infection models, pulmonary LF formation requires expression of homeostatic chemokines by stromal cells and dendritic cells, partly via lymphotoxin.

Objectives: To study the role of homeostatic chemokines in LF formation in COPD and to identify mechanism(s) responsible for their production.

Variation of the postoperative fluid drainage according to the type of lobectomy.

Objectives: The pleural membrane of the lower pleural cavity has a greater ability to recycle fluid than the pleural membrane of the upper pleural cavity. During lobectomy, the visceral pleura is removed with the lobe, whereas the parietal pleura is traumatized during manipulation. This study investigates variations of the drainage according to the type of lobectomy and its relation to effusion-related complications.

Isolated sternal fractures treated on an outpatient basis.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the need for admission of patients with isolated sternal fracture (ISF) by prospectively and randomly discharging or admitting them.

Methods: Patients with ISF after the completion of investigations were randomly discharged or admitted. Investigations performed included lateral chest x-ray; chest computed tomography; electrocardiogram; cardiac ultrasound; definition of C-reactive protein; and cardiac enzymes, such as creatine phosphokinase, myocardial branch of creatine phosphokinase, and troponin I (cardiac specific).

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alter the human mesothelial pleural permeability via ion cellular transportation by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used in clinical practice as analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs. Studies have implicated them in participating in permeability throughout various tissues such as the kidneys and lungs.

Objective: The effect of NSAIDs on the pleural permeability and the underlying mechanisms whereby this effect is mediated were investigated.

Thymoma and myasthenia gravis: clinical aspects and prognosis.

Myasthenia gravis is present in a significant proportion of patients with thymoma. We investigated particular features of the clinical behavior of thymoma and its relationship to myasthenia in a retrospective study of 79 patients who underwent thymectomy for thymoma during the last 20 years. The presence of myasthenia gravis, Masaoka stage, World Health Organization histotype, myasthenia response, and survival were analyzed.

Staphylococcal isolated anterosuperior mediastinal abscess of unknown origin.

Mediastinal abscess is a rare presentation of infections involving the mediastinum. In rare cases, the origin of the infection cannot be identified. We report a case of a 32-year old male who was presented with a mediastinal abscess with an otherwise clear history.

Extrathoracic chronic heamatoma presenting as a chest wall tumor 2 years after a blunt thoracic injury.

Chronic expanding heamatomas may present as masses mimicking chest wall tumors. We report the case of a patient who was presented with a giant posterior extrathoracic chest wall tumor. The mass was proven to be a chronic heamatoma possibly developed after a blunt thoracic injury which took place 2 years before presentation and was growing thereafter.

Mechanical ventilation-induced diaphragm disuse in humans triggers autophagy.

Rationale: Controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) results in atrophy of the human diaphragm. The autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) contributes to skeletal muscle proteolysis, but its contribution to diaphragmatic protein degradation in mechanically ventilated patients is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the autophagy pathway responses to CMV in the diaphragm and limb muscles of humans and to identify the roles of FOXO transcription factors in these responses.

Numerical abnormalities of chromosome 9 and p16CDKN2A gene deletion detected by FISH in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide and its pathogenesis is closely associated with various environmental exposures and gene alterations. The identification of genetic changes is a useful strategy toward understanding tumourigenesis and specific genetic associations. Since the tumor suppressor gene p16 located at 9p21 chromosomal region might have an important role in lung carcinogenesis, the aim of the present study was to investigate p16 gene alterations and numerical aberrations of chromosome 9 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Low incidence of bronchopleural fistula after pneumonectomy for lung cancer.

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) after pneumonectomy for NSCLC remains a highly morbid complication. We examined possible factors including the surgical techniques associated with BPF development. From 221 pneumonectomies for NSCLC, bronchial stump closure was mechanically performed in 192 patients and manually in the remaining 29.

Postlaparoscopic iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the arteries of the peritoneal and retroperitoneal space: case report and review of the literature.

Background And Aims: Laparoscopic surgery procedures are associated with a low percentage of cases of iatrogenic traumatic laceration of the arteries of the peritoneal and retroperitoneal space. These lesions rarely lead to pseudoaneurysm formation. In 1 case, we performed a meta-analytic review of the literature on postlaparoscopic iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms focusing on specific parameters: (1) artery involved, (2) type of laparoscopic operation, (3) time interval between the laparoscopic operation and the final diagnosis of the pseudoaneurysm, (4) clinical presentation, (5) diagnostic tools used, (6) mode of treatment applied, and (7) clinical outcome.

Abdominal compartment syndrome post-late Bochdalek hernia repair: A case report.

The aim of this case report is to discuss the rare postoperative complication of abdominal compartment syndrome in a 19-year-old Caucasian Greek male that was electively operated on for a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. The hernia was completely asymptomatic and was found in chest radiography for employment reasons. Abdominal compartment syndrome is related in most reports with trauma and abdominal operations.

Simultaneous bilateral carotid endarterectomy under local anesthesia.

A 75-year-old man with bilateral carotid stenosis and severe coronary artery disease underwent successful simultaneous bilateral carotid endarterectomy under local anesthesia. A few days later, coronary artery bypass grafting was performed with no complications.

Surgical treatment of coronary subclavian steal syndrome.

The internal mammary artery is the conduit of choice for cardiac revascularization. Atherosclerotic disease of the coronary arteries may simultaneously involve the subclavian artery. Proximal stenosis in the left subclavian artery may result in recurrent myocardial ischemia in patients with a patent left internal mammary artery (LIMA), due to coronary steal syndrome through the LIMA.

Expression of cyclins D1, D3 and p27 in thymic epithelial tumors.

In this study, the expression of cyclins D1 and D3, as well as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 in thymic epithelial tumors (thymomas) is examined. Histological specimens from 24 patients (11 males and 13 females) were submitted to classification according to WHO criteria. Staining for cyclins D1, D3 and p27 was applied and evaluation was performed for expression of D1, D3 and p27.

The effectiveness of an extracellular low-potassium solution in 24-hour lung graft preservation.

Background: The transplanted lung suffers ischemia-reperfusion injury and many efforts have been made to improve preservation. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of intracellular high-potassium Belzer solution versus extracellular Celsior in 24-hour lung preservation.

Material/methods: Sixteen pigs weighing 25.

In situ cooling in a lung hilar clamping model of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Experimental models for studying transplantation have up to now been unable to isolate reperfusion injury with minimal surgical manipulation and without the interference of graft rejection. Six pigs were subjected to left hilum preparation only (control group), and eight pigs were subjected to left hilum preparation plus in situ cooling ischemia and reperfusion of the lung (experimental group). The hilum was dissected free from other tissues in both groups.

Right diaphragm rupture with extended traumatic dissection of the descending aorta.

A 45-year-old man, with severe thoracic injury from a motor accident, is reported with traumatic aortic dissection type B and projection of the liver into the thoracic cavity due to a large rupture of the right hemidiaphragm. The patient was successfully managed with endoluminal stent placement in the descending thoracic aorta, and right thoracotomy for the repair of the diaphragmatic hernia. His postoperative course was uneventful.