Metastatic lung cancer: presenting with ocular symptoms.

A 48 year-old man, without any systemic disease, was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of decreased visual acuity and pain in his left eye. The orbital magnetic resonance imaging revealed metastatic lesions and further evaluations disclosed a primary lung cancer.

Occupational asthma in the furniture industry: is it due to styrene?

Background: Styrene, a volatile monomer, has been reported as a cause of occupational asthma in a few case reports.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk for asthma in relation to exposure to styrene in a large number of workers.

Methods: A total of 47 workers with a history of exposure to styrene were included in the study.

Immunoglobulins and complement components in patients with lung cancer.

Based on data providing a correlation between immunoglobulin or complement components levels and malignancies and specific disease parameters, we examined the possible correlation between the immunoglobulins, complement component levels and the stage of disease and the survival of patients. Sera from 55 patients with lung cancer and 22 healthy donor were assayed in order to evaluate the concentration of IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, C3, C4. No considerable differences were found between the levels of immunoglobulins in patients with carcinoma of the lung versus subjects in the control group.

[Occupational asthma].

In the work places the worker may be exposed to environmental materials and substances that in some cases trigger respiratory problems. In this ambience, asthma is a common occupational problem that far exceeds other causes of occupational pulmonary disease. The epidemiology and the predisposing factors of occupational asthma, some of agents that causes occupational asthma, and the diagnosis of the disease will be reviewed in this brief discussion.

[Genetic risk factors of venous thromboembolism].

Up to date several hereditary disorders have been identified as prothrombic risk factors. The most common inherited thrombotic disorders include activated protein C resistance (factor V Leiden), prothrombin G20210A mutation, hyperhomocysteinemia, deficiencies of protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, and thrombomodulin. This article focuses on the clinical and the laboratory aspects of some of the inherited venous thrombotic disorders including the factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A mutation and protein S deficiency.