Hyaluronic acid in the pleural fluid of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Background: We retrospectively analyzed hyaluronic acid (HA) concentrations in pleural fluid and evaluated its utility for the differential diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

Methods: Pleural fluid HA concentrations were measured in 334 patients, including 50, 48, 85, 18, 86, 6, and 41 patients with MPM, benign asbestos pleurisy (BAP), lung cancer (LC), other malignant conditions (OMCs), infectious pleuritis (IP), collagen disease (CD), and other conditions, respectively.

Results: The median (range) HA concentrations in pleural fluid were 78,700 (7920-2,630,000)ng/ml in the MPM group, 35,950 (900-152,000)ng/ml in the BAP group, 19,500 (2270-120,000)ng/ml in the LC group, 14,200 (900-101,000)ng/ml in the OMC group, 23,000 (900-230,000)ng/ml in the IP group, 24,600 (9550-80,800)ng/ml in the CD group, and 8140 (900-67,800)ng/ml in the other diseases group.

Inhibition of neutrophil elastase attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a mouse model of secondary allergen challenge: neutrophil elastase inhibition attenuates allergic airway responses.

Background: Chronic asthma is often associated with neutrophilic infiltration in the airways. Neutrophils contain elastase, a potent secretagogue in the airways, nonetheless the role for neutrophil elastase as well as neutrophilic inflammation in allergen-induced airway responses is not well defined. In this study, we have investigated the impact of neutrophil elastase inhibition on the development of allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in previously sensitized and challenged mice.

Brain abscess mimicking lung cancer metastases; a case report.

A 76-year-old woman came to us because of staggering, fever, dysarthria, and appetite loss. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed multiple masses with surrounding edema. Chest X-ray and computed tomography demonstrated a mass-like lesion in the left lung and left pleural effusion.

Bilateral Pleural Effusions as an Initial Presentation in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by sicca symptoms. Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and tracheobronchial sicca are the most common symptoms of pulmonary involvement in primary SjS, and they are rarely accompanied by serositis such as pleuritis or pericarditis. We report a case of SS presenting initially with bilateral pleural effusions.

Successful treatment with pemetrexed, Carboplatin, and bevacizumab for platinum-resistant adenocarcinoma of the lung.

WE PRESENT TWO CASES OF RELAPSED ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE LUNG: a 50-year-old male and a 67-year-old male. Both patients had previously been treated with platinum-containing systemic chemotherapy. In both cases, significant clinical efficacy was demonstrated with combination chemotherapy consisting of pemetrexed, carboplatin, and bevacizumab as salvage treatment.

Acute onset of brain atrophy and dementia in a patient with small cell lung cancer: a case report.

A 59-year-old man who was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), achieved a complete response to the induction chemoradiotherapy and received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) (25 Gy at 250 cGy per fraction) in October 2008. Three months later, he complained of anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, and short-term memory loss and developed dementia and systemic muscle weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging in April and July 2009 revealed the progression of the diffuse brain atrophy without evidence of the metastasis of SCLC.

Soluble mesothelin-related protein in pleural effusion from patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly aggressive neoplasm primarily arising from surface serosal cells of the pleura and is strongly associated with asbestos exposure. Patients with MPM often develop pleural fluid as initial presentation. However, cytological diagnosis using pleural fluid is usually difficult and has limited utility.

Tuberculosis diagnosed by PCR analysis of synovial fluid.

Tuberculosis is a leading cause of mortality due to an infectious agent worldwide. It often affects multiple organs by hematogenous spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but knee-joint involvement is extremely rare, comprising approximately 0.1% of all forms of tuberculosis.

[A case of miliary tuberculosis presenting with acute resiratory distress syndrome].

An 87-year-old woman was admitted because of high fever, progressive dyspnea and abnormal shadows on chest roentgenogram. Laboratory investigation on admission demonstrated a normal white cell count with neutrophilia (4000/microl, 90.5% neutrophils), an erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 10 mm/h and C-reactive protein value of 9.

Growth factors temporally associate with airway responsiveness and inflammation in allergen-exposed mice.

Background: To clarify whether growth factors play critical roles in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation in the early stages of asthma, the relationship between growth factors and AHR and airway inflammation were analyzed in a mouse model of asthma.

Methods: Following ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge, airway function, inflammation, cytokine and growth factor levels were monitored.

Results: AHR to inhaled methacholine increased at 6 h, peaked at 48 h, and remained elevated for 14 days.

Pirfenidone modulates airway responsiveness, inflammation, and remodeling after repeated challenge.

We investigated the therapeutic potential of a newly developed antifibrotic agent, pirfenidone, to regulate airway remodeling and the development of allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness after chronic allergen challenge. Administration of pirfenidone after sensitization but during the period of ovalbumin challenge significantly prevented the development of airway hyperresponsiveness and prevented eosinophil and lymphocyte accumulation in the airways. IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and ovalbumin-specific serum IgE antibody levels were also significantly reduced.

Hepatocyte growth factor attenuates airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, and remodeling.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is known to influence a number of cell types and their production of regulatory cytokines. We investigated the potential of recombinant HGF to regulate not only the development of allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), but also airway remodeling in a murine model. Administration of exogenous HGF after sensitization but during ovalbumin challenge significantly prevented AHR, as well as eosinophil and lymphocyte accumulation in the airways; interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were also significantly reduced.