Ipsilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema after drainage of a spontaneous pneumothorax: a case report.

We report a case of ipsilateral reexpansion pulmonary edema occurring after the insertion of a chest tube in a patient with spontaneous pneumothorax. The patient received supplemental oxygen via a non-rebreather face mask to compensate for hypoxemia. 24 hours after the acute event, the patient recovered completely without residual hypoxemia.

Pulmonary infections diagnosed by BAL: a 12-year experience in 1066 immunocompromised patients.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a useful tool in the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in immunocompromised patients. We aimed to compare the spectrum of infectious pulmonary complications diagnosed using BAL in a large consecutive cohort of immunocompromised patients. The diagnostic yield of 1066 BAL specimens was analyzed in 4 different groups of immunocompromised patients (HIV; solid organ transplants; high-dose chemotherapy and/or stem cell transplants; other immunosuppressive therapy) suffering from fever, respiratory symptoms and/or infiltrates on chest X-ray.

Diagnostic yield of flexible bronchoscopy in current clinical practice.

Background: Flexible bronchoscopy is a procedure commonly performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield and the safety of routine bronchoscopy techniques including transbronchial needle aspiration and transbronchial biopsy at a university hospital in Switzerland.

Methods: 616 consecutive bronchoscopies performed at the Pulmonary Medicine Department (University Hospital Basel) over a period of 6 months were analysed retrospectively using bronchoscopy reports and hospital charts.

Breakdown of pulmonary host defense in the immunocompromised host: cancer chemotherapy.

The number of immunocompromised patients is steadily increasing due to HIV infection, solid organ and stem cell transplantation, intensified chemotherapy, immunosuppression for autoimmune diseases, and a marked increase in the use of monoclonal antibodies. Prevention strategies for pulmonary infections and diagnostic methods have evolved and patient outcome has improved. However, therapies affecting the immune system are also given to older patients and patients with comorbidities.

Multitarget FISH analysis in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

The aim of the present study was to explore the diagnostic usefulness of the multitarget fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test, LAVysion (Vysis, Downers Grove, IL), for the detection of lung cancer cells in cytologic specimens. Specimens from bronchial washings, bronchial brushings, and transbronchial fine-needle aspirates (TBNAs) from 100 patients with suspected lung cancer and from a control group of 71 patients with nonneoplastic lung disorders were analyzed. FISH positivity was defined as more than 5 cells with gains of at least 2 chromosomes or gene loci.

Functional genomics and prognosis in sarcoidosis--the critical role of antigen presentation.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic disorder of unknown cause, highly variable phenotype and unpredictable outcome. Antigen processing, inflammatory response and immunomodulation appear critical to development and prognosis of the disease.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive genomic analysis, applying high-density human GeneChip probe arrays (HUG95A, Affymetrix Inc.

Systemic Th1- and Th2-gene signals in atopy and asthma.

Background: Atopic disorders have been associated with a Th-2 cytokine predominance. This study investigated Th1- and Th2-related gene expression in asthmatics, atopics and healthy individuals.

Methods: We compared Th1- and Th2-related in vivo-signals using gene expression arrays in 18 atopic asthmatics, 8 atopic non-asthmatic and 14 healthy control subjects.

Functional genomics and gene microarrays--the use in research and clinical medicine.

In the year 2000, the Human Genome Project Consortium presented the first complete draft of the human genome together with Celera Genetics. Since then, the so-called "post-genome era" has started. Microarrays are capable of profiling gene expression patterns of tens of thousands of genes in a single experiment and thus allow a systematic analysis of DNA and RNA variation.

Genetic risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, only a minority of cigarette smokers develop symptomatic disease. Family and twin studies suggest that genetic factors also contribute to the development of COPD.

The role of matrix metalloproteinase polymorphisms in the rate of decline in lung function.

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) comprise a family of at least 20 proteolytic enzymes that play an essential role in tissue remodeling. MMP1 (interstitial collagenase), MMP9 (gelatinase B) and MMP12 (macrophage elastase) are thought to be important in the development of emphysema. A number of naturally occurring polymorphisms of human MMP gene promoters have been identified and found to alter transcriptional activity.

Genetic risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Cigarette smoking is clearly the major risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, only a minority of cigarette smokers develops chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, indicating that other factors are involved. Family and twin studies suggest that at least some of those factors are genetic.

Array-based diagnostic gene-expression score for atopy and asthma.

Whether gene expression is useful in discriminating different atopic phenotypes is unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate a gene-expression score for the diagnosis of atopy and asthma and to assess disease activity as a guide for therapeutic decisions. Purified mRNA from PBMCs of 18 atopic asthmatic subjects, 8 atopic nonasthmatic subjects, and 14 healthy control subjects was hybridized to cDNA membranes.

Genotype predictors of response to asthma medications.

The search for the genetic basis of asthma and other allergic diseases has identified many candidate genes. Some of these genes have been investigated to determine whether they influence a person's response to asthma medication. Several studies have shown that polymorphisms in the beta 2 -adrenergic receptor gene influence responsiveness to beta-agonists.