Pidotimod in the treatment of patients affected by bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

A multicentre double-blind placebo-controlled study was conducted in order to assess the effects of pidotimod ((R)-3-[(S)-(5-oxo-2-pyrrolidinyl) carbonyl]-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, PGT/1A, CAS 121808-62-6), a new synthetic biological response modifier, on the clinical picture of bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Seven centres of respiratory diseases participated in the trial. A total of 137 patients, 103 males and 34 females (mean age: 65.

Chest wall involvement by lung cancer: computed tomographic detection and results of operation.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate: (1) the role of computed tomographic scanning in predicting chest wall invasion by peripheral lung cancer and (2) the results of operation according to the depth of chest wall involvement and other potential indicators of long-term survival. One hundred twelve patients with non-small cell lung cancer adjacent to the pleural surface who underwent computed tomographic scanning and subsequent thoracotomy were entered into this study. Tumor invasion was confined to the visceral pleura in 53 patients, to the parietal pleura in 18 patients, and to intercostal muscles in 25 patients; invasion extended beyond this layer in 16 patients.

[Percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of pulmonary neoplasms].

The diagnostic efficacy of percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) was assessed in 220 lung tumour patients. The results obtained prove this diagnostic technique to be extremely sensitive even though personal experience suggests that slight complications (pneumothorax, homophthoe) may occur.

[Transthoracic needle aspiration in infectious pathology].

A study was conducted on 20 patients with isolated or multiple patches of doubtful significance in the framework of neoplastic or infectious pathologies or in the presence of probably infectious diffuse or localised pulmonary infiltrations in immunodepressed patients or those in whom broad spectrum antibiotic treatment had failed. Percutaneous needle aspiration and sterile brushing was performed for the purpose of bacteriological examination in all patients. The result showed the clear superiority of needle aspiration (75% positive) over sterile brushing (25%).