Chemotherapy-induced changes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid CD4 + and CD8 + cells of the opposite lung to the cancer.

Published articles support the effect of chemotherapy in the immune environment of tumors, including lung carcinomas. The role of CD4 + T-cells is crucial for expansion and accumulation of other antigen-specific immune cells, and the participation of CD8 + cells in tumor killing activity has been confirmed by many studies. However, little is known about the effect of chemotherapy on the healthy lung parenchyma from lung cancer patients, and whether there are differences between the different chemotherapy compounds used to treat this patient population.

Lung function changes after chemoradiation therapy in patients with lung cancer treated by three usual platinum combinations.

Background: Reports point out lung toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy in cancer patients. The aim of our study was to assess lung function after sequential chemoradiation therapy in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: Fifteen lung cancer patients participated the study and underwent lung function assessment before and after sequential treatment of chemotherapy with the 3 most applied platinum-based combinations: of vinorelbine (VN) 6 patients, gemcitabine (GEM) 4 patients and etoposide (EP) 5 patients and radiation therapy.

Individualized significance of the -251 A/T single nucleotide polymorphism of interleukin-8 in severe infections.

Based on the concept of the individualized nature of sepsis, we investigated the significance of the -251 A/T (rs4073) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of interleukin (IL)-8 in relation to the underlying infection. Genotyping was performed in 479 patients with severe acute pyelonephritis (UTI, n = 146), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP, n = 109), intra-abdominal infections (IAI, n = 119), and primary bacteremia (BSI, n = 105) by restriction fragment length polymorphism of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product and compared with 104 healthy volunteers. Circulating IL-8 was measured within the first 24 h of diagnosis by an immunosorbent assay.

Prognostic factors in patients presenting with pleural effusion revealing malignancy.

Background: The survival of patients with malignant pleural effusion is considered generally poor. Most of the studies reporting results of prognostic factors are retrospective, using pleural thoracentesis for diagnosis. The objectives of our study were to reveal possible prognostic factors in patients initially presenting with undiagnosed pleural effusion proven to be malignant by diagnostic thoracoscopy.

Procalcitonin and procalcitonin kinetics for diagnosis and prognosis of intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infections in selected critically ill patients: a prospective observational study.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) has emerged as a valuable marker of sepsis. The potential role of PCT in diagnosis and therapy monitoring of intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in intensive care unit (ICU) is still unclear and was evaluated.

Methods: Forty-six patients were included in the study, provided they were free of infection upon admission and presented the first episode of suspected CRBSI during their ICU stay.

Traumatic asphyxia due to blunt chest trauma: a case report and literature review.

Introduction: Crush asphyxia is different from positional asphyxia, as respiratory compromise in the latter is caused by splinting of the chest and/or diaphragm, thus preventing normal chest expansion. There are only a few cases or small case series of crush asphyxia in the literature, reporting usually poor outcomes.

Case Presentation: We present the case of a 44-year-old Caucasian man who developed traumatic asphyxia with severe thoracic injury and mild brain edema after being crushed under heavy auto vehicle mechanical parts.

Long-term respiratory follow-up of H1N1 infection.

Background: The first case of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection was documented in our Hospital on 10th August 2009.

Methods And Findings: Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) testing was used to confirm the diagnosis. All patients were treated with oseltamivir from the first day of hospitalization.

Inhaled insulin: too soon to be forgotten?

Inhalation is a potentially viable route of administration for numerous agents. In diabetes mellitus, the need for frequent injections to achieve ideal glycemic control remains a significant limitation for initiating and complying with insulin therapy in a large number of patients. To overcome this barrier, inhaled insulin was developed.

Subclavian thrombosis in a patient with advanced lung cancer: a case report.

Introduction: Lung cancer is now considered the most common cause of death among cancer patients. Although target biological regimens have emerged in recent years for non-small cell lung carcinoma, the survival and quality of life of patients with this condition still remain low. The five-year survival rate for all stages of lung cancer is 17% or less.

Acute respiratory distress due to thymoma in a patient treated with TK inhibitor: a case report and review of the current treatment options.

Thymic malignancies are rare intrathoracic tumors that may be aggressive and difficult to treat in advanced stage. Surgery is the cornerstone of the management of thymomas: it is significant for the definite histopathological diagnosis and staging, and in most cases, it constitutes the first step of the treatment strategy. For patients with primary unresectable thymomas, the multimodal treatment schedule nowadays includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy, extensive surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy, and in some cases, adjuvant chemotherapy.

Orbital metastases as the first manifestation of lung adenocarcinoma.

Reduction in visual acuity due to orbital metastasis is rarely the first sign of lung cancer and very few cases have been published in the literature. Here we report a rare case of lung adenocarcinoma with orbital metastasis as the first presenting sign. The incidence of primary tumors that metastasize to the orbit is approximately 7%.

Intrapleural r-tPA in association with low-molecular heparin may cause massive hemothorax resulting in hypovolemia.

The use of intrapleural instillation of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) in the treatment of pleural infection may increase pleural fluid drainage associated with a clinical and imaging improvement, leading to a faster resolution. The use of r-tPA is generally well tolerated. Here we report 2 cases of massive pleural hemorrhage resulting in life-threatening hypovolemia, in 2 patients treated with intrapleural r-tPA for a pleural infection, who were simultaneously receiving systemic anticoagulation (1 therapeutic, the second prophylactic) with low-molecular weight heparin.

Respiratory muscle strength and lung function in patients undergoing medical thoracoscopy.

Background: Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is a procedure considered as minimally invasive. The safety of the procedure has been questioned recently in fragile patients, but no explanation of the pathophysiologic mechanism has been given. Although MT is applied by respiratory physicians who are also dealing with patients with impairment of lung function, it is surprising that there are no data concerning lung mechanics and function in this patient population.

Plasma visfatin levels in severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Visfatin is an insulin-mimicking adipokine, which is considered a link between obesity and insulin resistance. Aim of this study was to evaluate levels of plasma visfatin in patients with severe OSAS and examine their potential correlation with sleep characteristics and several biochemical parameters.

Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in the treatment of pleural infections in adults.

Background: Intrapleural recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-TPA) has been successfully evaluated in pediatric patients with complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion (CPE) and pleural empyema (PE). Yet, there is no data concerning r-TPA in adults with CPE/PE. The aim of our study was to investigate the efficacy and complications of r-TPA in adult patients with CPE/PE.

Post-intubation pulmonary embolism and tracheal stenosis: a case report and review of the literature.

Tracheal stenosis may be attributed to several conditions including trauma, infection, tumour or congenital and collagen vascular diseases. Despite improvement in the design of tracheal tubes, however, tracheal stenosis following intubation still remains an important cause for tracheal obstruction, which may be life threatening and often misdiagnosed. On the other hand, studies have exerted the impact of mechanical ventilation as a risk factor for pulmonary embolism.

Rare cases of primary pleural Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Primary pleural lymphoma is rare. It occurs in only 7% of lymphoma cases. We report herein two cases of primary pleural Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin follicular lymphomas diagnosed by thoracoscopy under local anesthesia.

Serum biomarkers in interstitial lung diseases.

The use of biomarkers in medicine lies in their ability to detect disease and support diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. New research and novel understanding of the molecular basis of the disease reveals an abundance of exciting new biomarkers who present a promise for use in the everyday clinical practice. The past fifteen years have seen the emergence of numerous clinical applications of several new molecules as biologic markers in the research field relevant to interstitial lung diseases (translational research).