Diagnostic Accuracy with Total Adenosine Deaminase as a Biomarker for Discriminating Pleural Transudates and Exudates in a Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: An initial step in the evaluation of patients with pleural effusion syndrome (PES) is to determine whether the pleural fluid is a transudate or an exudate.

Objectives: To investigate total adenosine deaminase (ADA) as a biomarker to classify pleural transudates and exudates.

Methods: An assay of total ADA in pleural fluids (P-ADA) was observed using a commercial kit in a population-based cohort study.

Increased Cytokeratin 19 Fragment Levels Are Positively Correlated with Adenosine Deaminase Activity in Malignant Pleural Effusions from Adenocarcinomas.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19) are known pleural biomarkers. Although ADA in humans functions mainly in the immune system, it also appears to be associated with the differentiation of epithelial cells. Keratin filaments are important structural stabilizers of epithelial cells and potent biomarkers in epithelial differentiation.

Combined evaluation of adenosine deaminase level and histopathological findings from pleural biopsy with Cope's needle for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

Introduction: Closed needle pleural biopsy (CNPB) has historically been the gold standard procedure for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an efficient biomarker for tuberculosis that is measurable in pleural fluids.

Objective: We compared the diagnostic accuracy of the pleural ADA (P-ADA) level and histopathological findings of CNPB specimens in patients with pleural tuberculosis.

Computed tomography findings in patients with tracheal paracoccidioidomycosis.

Objective: To evaluate the high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) findings of patients with tracheal paracoccidioidomycosis.

Methods: The high-resolution CT scans of 178 patients with pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis were reviewed, and 4 cases of proven tracheal involvement were studied. There were 3 male and 1 female patients, with ages ranging from 44 to 62 years (average, 49.

[Diffuse abnormalities of the trachea: computed tomography findings].

The aim of this pictorial essay was to present the main computed tomography findings seen in diffuse diseases of the trachea. The diseases studied included amyloidosis, tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica, tracheobronchomegaly, laryngotracheobronchial papillomatosis, lymphoma, neurofibromatosis, relapsing polychondritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, tuberculosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, and tracheobronchomalacia. The most common computed tomography finding was thickening of the walls of the trachea, with or without nodules, parietal calcifications, or involvement of the posterior wall.