Evaluation of serum and pleural levels of the tumor markers CEA, CYFRA21-1 and CA 15-3 in patients with pleural effusion.

Objective: To determine the levels of the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) in the blood and pleural fluid of patients with benign or malignant pleural effusion, evaluating the sensitivity of each marker in these fluids.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 85 patients with pleural effusion. The study of the pleural fluid observed the criteria established in the literature.

Association of polymorphisms in the first exon of mannose binding lectin gene (MBL2) in Brazilian patients with HCV infection.

In our study we investigated the role of the polymorphisms in the first exon of MBL2 gene in the susceptibility to HCV infection and disease progression in a Northeastern Brazilian population. One hundred and eleven patients seen at the Gastroenterology Service of the Oswaldo Cruz Hospital of the University of Pernambuco were included in this study. A total of 165 unexposed, uninfected individuals matched for place of origin were employed as healthy controls.

Serum prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The association between celiac disease and diabetes mellitus has been known for many decades. This combination can be observed in a large proportion of diabetic patients, who are generally asymptomatic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.