Evaluation of pleural fluid cytology for the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Cytological examination of pleural fluid has good specificity, but imperfect sensitivity for the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Published estimates of sensitivity vary and predictors of false negative cytology are not well established.

Aims: To estimate pleural fluid cytology sensitivity and identify risk factors for false negative cytology.

Professional killer cell deficiencies and decreased survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background And Objective: Increasing evidence implicates lymphocytes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) pathogenesis. Rats deficient in T-lymphocytes show increased propensity to develop PAH but when injected with endothelial progenitor cells are protected from PAH (a mechanism dependent on natural killer (NK) cells). A decreased quantity of circulating cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes and NK cells are now reported in PAH patients; however, the effect of lymphocyte depletion on disease outcome is unknown.

ECG score predicts those with the greatest percentage of perfusion defects due to acute pulmonary thromboembolic disease.

Background: More aggressive management may be warranted for patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and the greatest pulmonary vascular obstruction. We hypothesized that a scoring system based on the ECG might identify such patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients investigated for PE at Christchurch Hospital between 1997 and 2002 with high-probability ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) scan findings were studied.