Characterisation of severe obliterative bronchiolitis in rheumatoid arthritis.

The characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who develop obliterative bronchiolitis characterised by severe airflow obstruction have been hitherto poorly investigated. A retrospective study of 25 patients with RA and functional evidence of obliterative bronchiolitis (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1))/forced vital capacity (FVC) <50% and/or residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC) >140% predicted) was conducted. Patients (mean+/-SD age 64+/-11 yrs) included 17 never-smokers and eight ex-smokers (10.

Expression of class III beta tubulin in non-small cell lung cancer is correlated with resistance to taxane chemotherapy.

This study determined the prevalence and the prognostic value of the expression of microtubule components in tumors of 19 patients with non small cell lung cancer receiving taxane-based regimens. Patient samples were stained with antibodies directed against total beta tubulin, classes I, II and III beta tubulin isotypes, delta2 alpha tubulin, tau protein, and the P-gp protein involved in the classical multidrug resistance phenotype. All tumors were stained with pan-beta tubulin antibody and class I tubulin isotype.

["Spontaneous" resolution of two severe methotrexate-induced pneumonias].

The beneficial role of corticosteroid therapy for the treatment of methotrexate-induced pneumonia remains controversial. We report two cases of acute severe interstitial pneumonia induced by methotrexate in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma given a polychemotherapy protocol (M'BACOD). The first signs appeared on the eleventh day of the first cycle in patient one and on the tenth day of the third cycle in patient two.

[Rare etiology of multiple pulmonary lacunae].

Sarcoma of the common pulmonary artery are rare malignant tumors which can mimic pulmonary embolism. In the case presented here, the inaugural signs were particularly misleading: multiple pulmonary lacunae on computed tomography. The unusual aspect and asymmetric localizations at pulmonary angiography then suggested the doubtful nature of the embolism etiology.

Migratory organizing pneumonitis "primed" by radiation therapy.

We report on two women presenting with cough and fever, 4 and 7 months, respectively, after starting breast radiation therapy following surgery for breast carcinoma. Chest roentgenogram and computed tomographic (CT) scan demonstrated alveolar opacities, initially limited to the pulmonary area next to the irradiated breast, but later migrating within both lungs. Intra-alveolar granulation tissue was found in transbronchial lung biopsies.