Pulmonary medicine and palliative care.

Gynaecological malignancies affect the respiratory system both directly and indirectly. Malignant pleural effusion is a poor prognostic factor: management options include repeated thoracentesis, chemical pleurodesis, symptomatic relief of dyspnoea with oxygen and morphine, and external drainage. Parenchymal metastases are typically multifocal and respond to chemotherapy, with a limited role for pulmonary metastatectomy.

Trichomonas in pleural effusion.

Numerous living trichomonads were seen in a parapneumonic pleural effusion, in a patient who was at risk of aspiration pneumonia because of acute alcoholism. Of all the drugs administered, metronidazole had the most favourable therapeutic effect. However, decortication was necessary for the successful outcome.

[Pulmonary manifestations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)].

The lungs are the principal target organ in the infectious complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and this predisposition to infections is not the regional manifestation of systemic immunologic deficiency induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) only, because HIV also affects lung's own complex system of local defense mechanisms. It was demonstrated that pulmonary host defenses were compromised by.direct infection of alveolar macrophages with HIV and decreased production of solubile factors by lymphocytes derived from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was shown.

[Treatment and prophylaxis of opportunistic infections in individuals infected with HIV].

The primary causes of morbidity and mortality in persons infected with the human immunodoficiency virus are oportunistic infections. Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) induces progressive quantitative and qualitative defects in CD4 (T helper) lymphocytes. Macrophage and monocyte function may also be impaired as a result of HIV infection.