[A case of primary effusion lymphoma effectively treated by oral corticosteroid therapy].

Primary effusion lymphoma is a rare type of lymphoma which is confined to those body cavities associated with human herpes virus 8 infection in its development. We describe a 93-year-old man with primary effusion lymphoma in the pleura, but who was negative for herpes virus 8 infection. Chest computed tomography revealed bilateral pleural effusion, but did not show any evidence of a tumor mass or lymph node enlargement.

[A case of IgG4-related disease with marked thickening of the bronchial wall].

A 52-year-old man noticed hardening and swelling of his salivary glands in the summer of 2009. We suspected Mikulicz disease and performed several work-ups. His serum IgG4 level was elevated, and a chest computed tomography scan demonstrated marked thickening of the bronchial wall.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms in Japanese patients with sarcoidosis.

Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis, mediates vascular permeability, and activates and recruits monocytes. VEGF is produced in activated alveolar macrophages, in epithelioid cells, and in multinuclear giant cells of pulmonary sarcoid granulomas. Recent reports have shown that a polymorphism at - 627 of the VEGF gene is related to VEGF protein production, and a polymorphism at + 813 is associated with VEGF plasma levels.

MCP-1 and MIP-1A gene polymorphisms in Japanese patients with sarcoidosis.

Objectives: Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha exhibit chemotactic activity toward macrophages/monocytes and induce the production of inflammatory cytokines affecting granuloma formation. Recently, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the MCP-1 distal regulatory region and a dinucleotide repeat in the MIP-1A gene promoter region were identified. We investigated the relationships between the polymorphisms and susceptibility to sarcoidosis, clinical manifestations, and BALF findings of sarcoidosis.