IGFBP-4: A promising biomarker for lung cancer.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4), a member of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family, transports, and regulates the activity of IGFs. The pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) has proteolytic activity towards IGFBP-4, and both proteins have been associated with a variety of cancers, including lung cancer. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the use of IGFBP-4 and PAPP-A as potential biomarkers for lung cancer.

Influence of comorbidities in long-term survival of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity around the world, with comorbidities in COPD being common and having a negative effect on survival. We investigate the effects of comorbidities on long-term survival of COPD patients.

Methods: The study included patients with COPD who were hospitalized with an exacerbation.

The utility of inflammatory markers to predict readmissions and mortality in COPD cases with or without eosinophilia.

Background: COPD exacerbations requiring hospitalization increase morbidity and mortality. Although most COPD exacerbations are neutrophilic, approximately 10%-25% of exacerbations are eosinophilic.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate mortality and outcomes of eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic COPD exacerbations and identify new biomarkers that predict survival.