Genetic susceptibility, residential radon, and lung cancer in a radon prone area.

Introduction: Radon exposure has been classified as the second cause of lung cancer, after tobacco, and the first in never smokers. GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes deletion increase the risk of lung cancer. We aim to know whether the risk of lung cancer because of residential radon is modulated by these genetic polymorphisms.

Interleukin 27 could be useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions.

Background: The diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TBPE) has some limitations. We studied the efficacy of interleukin-27 (IL-27) in the diagnosis of TBPE.

Methods: We measured IL-27, adenosine deaminase (ADA), ADA-2, interferon-gamma (IFNγ), and the ADA·IL-27 and ADA-2·IL-27 products in all the pleural effusion fluids.

Role of blind closed pleural biopsy in the managment of pleural exudates.

Introduction: The performance of blind closed pleural biopsy (BCPB) in the study of pleural exudates is controversial.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic yield of BCPB in clinical practice and its role in the study of pleural exudates.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected on all patients who underwent BCPB performed between January 1999 and December 2011.

Unexpandable lung.

Unexpandable lung is a mechanical complication by which the lung does not expand to the chest wall, impeding a normal apposition between the two pleural layers. The main mechanism involved is the restriction of the visceral pleura due to the formation of a fibrous layer along this pleural membrane. This happens because of the presence of an active pleural disease (lung entrapment), which can be resolved if proper therapeutic measures are taken, or a remote disease (trapped lung), in which an irreversible fibrous pleural layer has been formed.

Eosinophilic pleural effusion: incidence, etiology and prognostic significance.

Introduction: Eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) has been associated with less risk for malignancy with a potential causal relationship with the presence of air and/or blood in the pleural space. However, these theories have fallen by the wayside in the light of recent publications.

Objectives: To determine the incidence and etiology of EPE and to observe whether the eosinophils in the pleural liquid (PL) increase in successive thoracocenteses.

Diagnostic value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in pleural effusions of cardiac origin.

Introduction: The diagnosis of cardiogenic pleural effusion (PE) is often difficult to make. The objective of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in PE patients with heart failure, in pleural fluid (PF) and blood (B), and to compare the cholesterol in pleural fluid (CHOL PF) and in serum (CHOL S) with the Light criteria.

Patients And Methods: All the biomarkers were evaluated in 398 PF (26.