The role of apoptosis defects in malignant mesothelioma pathogenesis with an impact on prognosis and treatment.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive tumor that is strongly related to asbestos fiber exposure. The tumorigenesis procedure in MM is complex, and many pathogenetic mechanisms including chronic inflammation, deregulation of cell death, and the genomic copy-number losses and gains may contribute to carcinogenesis. MM cells are resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis due to defects in extrinsic apoptotic pathway.

Evidence Suggesting the End of Universal Domestic Asbestos Exposure in Metsovo, NW Greece.

Background: Inhabitants of Metsovo, NW Greece, had been domestically exposed to asbestos from a gradually abandoned whitewash ("luto") that resulted in a declining epidemic of malignant mesothelioma.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether other sources of asbestos exposure exist following "luto" abandonment.

Methods: Chest computed tomography (CT) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were used to evaluate residual asbestos exposure in younger Metsovites through the identification of pleural calcifications and asbestos bodies, respectively.

Soluble adhesion molecules E-cadherin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin as lung cancer biomarkers.

Background: Altered levels of circulating adhesion molecules found in several carcinomas, including lung cancer, reflect local loss of diffusion barriers and tumor volume and can be potentially used as biomarkers. In the present study, we investigated the role of soluble E-cadherin (sE-cad), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble E-selectin (sE-sel) as biomarkers in lung cancer.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with recently diagnosed lung cancer, 42 with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and 20 with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as 29 healthy volunteers were enrolled.

Proteome analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage in individuals from Metsovo, nonoccupationally exposed to asbestos.

Inhabitants of Metsovo, NW Greece, have been exposed to an asbestos whitewash, resulting in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and pleural calcifications (PCs). Interestingly, those with PCs (PC(+)) are less prone to MPM. They also have lymphocytic alveolitis, and differences in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) proteins, compared with those without pleural calcifications (PC(-)).

Prognostic impact of lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic invasion (CD105 expression) in small cell lung carcinoma.

Background: Lymphangiogenesis, an essential process in the metastasis of malignant tumors, has not been thoroughly studied. The possibility of using it to define subsets of patients with different prognosis in cancer could be of vital clinical importance.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients (5 women, 45 men; mean age, 64.

Immunohistochemical expression patterns of neural and neuroendocrine markers, the neural growth factor receptors and the beta-tubulin II and IV isotypes in human thymus.

Increasing evidence suggests that neuroimmune networks play key roles in the thymic histophysiology and pathology. Prompted by this, we analyzed by immunohistochemistry the distribution of human thymic cells expressing major neural and neuroendocrine markers and neural growth factor (NGF) receptors in combination with the expression patterns of various cytokeratins. Additionally, since some beta-tubulin isotypes are preferentially expressed in neuronal cells, the immunotopographical distribution of thymic cells expressing beta-tubulin II, III and IV was analyzed.

Decreased expression of haem oxygenase-1 by alveolar macrophages in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Haem oxygenase (HO)-1 is an oxidative stress responsive protein that may be involved in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease. HO-1 expression in alveolar macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage was investigated in 24 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 16 with sarcoidosis, 14 with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) and 13 controls. Using immunocytochemistry, HO-1 expression in macrophages was scored semiquantitatively from 0-3 according to increasing intensity.

Lymphocytic alveolitis: A surprising index of poor prognosis in patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome.

Twelve years ago we reported that lymphocytic alveolitis [or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocytosis] correlates with clinical pulmonary involvement in primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). Our thesis was based on subtle clinical and functional evidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in pSS patients with "high lymphocytic alveolitis" (>15% lymphocytes in BAL). This report is a follow-up study of these patients.

Decreasing prevalence of pleural calcifications among Metsovites with nonoccupational asbestos exposure.

Study Objectives: Twenty years ago, we reported on a very high prevalence of pleural calcifications (PCs) and malignant mesothelioma among inhabitants of Metsovo, in northwestern Greece. It was shown that both abnormalities were related to asbestos exposure from a whitewash containing tremolite. The fading use of this material has resulted in a decreased incidence of mesothelioma (one third of the original incidence).

Gastrointestinal hormones and short-term nutritional schedules in critically ill patients.

Background/aims: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the gastrointestinal hormone response in critically ill patients under different nutritional schedule (enteral vs. total parenteral) of short duration.

Methodology: Twenty-one sedated and mechanically ventilated patients were nourished with continuous nasogastric schedule (Group A, 11 patients), or with total parenteral nutrition (Group B, 10 patients).

Volume and flow dependence of respiratory mechanics in mechanically ventilated COPD patients.

Volume and flow dependencies of respiratory mechanics are examined in 10 COPD patients under mechanical ventilation (MV) at 3 levels of externally applied PEEP (PEEPe). Airways pressure (Paw), flow (V') and volume (V) data are analyzed according to (1) the linear and (2) a non-linear model, accounting for volume dependence of elastance and for flow and volume dependence of resistance. The models' fitness to data is assessed by the regression errors.

Evaluation of the end-expiratory pressure by multiple linear regression and Fourier analysis in humans.

This study was designed to compare the end-expiratory pressure (EEP) during mechanical ventilation (MV) measured dynamically (EEPdyn), by multiple linear regression (MLR) of the airway pressure (Pao) vs volume (V) and flow (V') and after Fourier analysis (FA) of the Pao and V'. Pao and V' were recorded from 32 ICU patients (II without respiratory disease, 10 COPD, II ARDS) under MV, at three levels of PEEPe (0, 5 and 10 hPa). Volume was calculated by numerical integration of V'.

Additional proteins in BAL fluid of Metsovites environmentally exposed to asbestos: more evidence of "protection" against neoplasia?

Introduction: Inhabitants of Metsovo in northwest Greece have been exposed to asbestos from use of a tremolite-containing whitewash ("luto" soil). As a result, they have increased incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma and pleural calcifications (PCs). However, subjects with calcifications have a much lower incidence of mesothelioma than those without.

Lymphocytic alveolitis and pleural calcifications in nonoccupational asbestos exposure. Protection against neoplasia?

Inhabitants of the Metsovo area in Northwest Greece (population, 4,000) have been exposed to asbestos through the use of whitewash containing tremolite. This has resulted in endemic pleural calcifications (PCs) and increased incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In order to evaluate the lung response to the fiber, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 25 Metsovites; 14 with PCs, three with PCs and neoplasia, five without PCs, and three without PCs but with established neoplasia.

Liquid phase characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

We have previously reported that alveolitis correlates with clinical, roentgenologic, and functional parameters of pulmonary involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (1SS). In the present study, we analyzed the liquid phase characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the same 19 patients with 1SS. Our results show that patients with "high alveolitis" (group A, BAL lymphocytes > 15.

Alveolitis correlates with clinical pulmonary involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 23 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (1Ss) and ten healthy controls to evaluate alveolitis and correlate it with pulmonary and systemic manifestations. Patients with 1Ss had higher BAL total cell count (9.2 +/- 6.

Effect of cyclosporin A (CyA) on the immunopathological lesion of the labial minor salivary glands from patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Labial minor salivary gland biopsy specimens from 14 patients with Sjögren's syndrome treated either with cyclosporin A (CyA) or placebo (5 mg/kg body weight day for six months) were studied to determine T lymphocyte subsets and HLA-DR antigen expression using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. In all CyA treated patients we observed a decrease in the number of T lymphocytes and in the number of T helper cells, while the percentage of T suppressor cells and B cells was the same in both treated and untreated groups. It was also shown that the HLA-DR antigen expression on the epithelial cells was eliminated in the CyA treated patients.

HLA-DR expression by labial minor salivary gland tissues in Sjögren's syndrome.

Minor salivary gland biopsy specimens from patients with Sjögren's syndrome (primary and secondary) and from normal controls were examined with the four step biotin-avidin-immunoperoxidase assay. The composition of the infiltrating cells was similar in patients with both primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome, consisting primarily of T lymphocytes with predominance of T helper/inducer cells. B lymphocytes (Leu-14) were approximately 20-35% of the infiltrating lymphocytes, while only a few OKM1 (monocytes/macrophages) cells and Leu-7+ (natural killer; NK) cells were observed.

Labial salivary gland immunopathology in Sjögren's syndrome.

The cellular composition of the salivary gland infiltrates in primary Sjögren's syndrome and the presence of lymphokines were evaluated using the Avidin-Biotin-Peroxidase technique in 10 biopsies from patients with Sjögren's syndrome. The 10 specimens were stained with monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against T-lymphocytes (Leu-4), Monocytes/Macrophages (M phi) (Leu-M3 and OKM1), Natural Killer cells (NK) (Leu-11 and Leu-7), class II MHC antigens (anti HLA-DR and OKIa1, anti Leu-10), Interleukin-2 (anti IL-2), IL-2 Receptor (anti IL-2 receptor) and Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) (supernatant fluid from hybridoma cell line producing MoAb to IFN-gamma). The predominant cell was the T-helper/inducer lymphocyte.

Subclinical manifestations of autoimmune rheumatic diseases in primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Twenty-nine patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon underwent functional (pulmonary functional studies and oesophageal manometry), histologic (minor salivary gland biopsy) and serologic (autoantibodies) evaluation for subclinical manifestations of autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD). Seven (24%) has strong evidence and eight (27%) possible evidence of ARD. All patients with strong evidence of ARD had Raynaud's phenomenon with a duration of less than five years.

Respiratory involvement in autoimmune rheumatic diseases is frequent and easy to detect.

90 patients with various autoimmune rheumatic diseases were evaluated for respiratory system involvement with simple clinical, roentgenological and functional methods. Seventy-three % had at least one indication of respiratory system involvement. The most common clinical findings were history of pleurisy, dyspnea and dry cough.