Risk of mycobacterial infections in a cohort of silicosis patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence rates of mycobacterial infections in silicosis patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort of silicosis patients between January of 1999 and December of 2023. We compared the incidence of tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial disease (NTM) in patients with silicosis with and without ARD.

Brazilian Thoracic Association recommendations for the management of post-tuberculosis lung disease.

Historically, all efforts against tuberculosis were focused on rapid diagnosis and effective treatment to break the chain of transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, in the last few years, more and more evidence has been found on the dramatic consequences of the condition defined as post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD). Approximately one third of patients surviving pulmonary tuberculosis face considerable ongoing morbidities, including respiratory impairment, psychosocial challenges, and reduced health-related quality of life after treatment completion.

Microbiological analysis of oral biofilms in patients admitted to intensive care unit: Pilot study.

Aim: To identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in oral biofilms of intubated and non-intubated patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, with 30 biofilm sites sampled. S.

Tuberculous pleural effusion: diagnosis & management.

: Tuberculosis (TB) is the world's leading cause of death from infectious disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized 6.3 million new TB cases in 2017, 16% corresponding to extrapulmonary forms; pleural tuberculosis (PT) is the most common extrapulmonary form in adults.

Preanalytical conditions can interfere with M. tuberculosis detection by PCR in respiratory samples.

Objectives: Tuberculosis is one of the most prevalent infections in humans. Although culture is the reference for diagnosis, its sensitivity is compromised, especially in paucibacillary samples. Because polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifies mycobacterial DNA, it is more sensitive than culture for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).

A phase II study of pralatrexate with vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation for previously treated recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Background: Pralatrexate (Fotolyn(TM); Allos Therapeutics Inc.) is an antifolate dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitor. We conducted a phase II study of pralatrexate with folic acid and B12 supplementation in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell cancer (R/M HNSCC).

Efficacy of two fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for diagnosing malignant pleural effusions.

It is difficult to differentiate tumor cells in pleural fluid from reactive benign mesothelium. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can increase diagnostic accuracy. Two hundred pleural fluid samples were analyzed by using FISH probes for chromosomes 11 and 17.

Pleural tuberculosis: is radiological evidence of pulmonary-associated disease related to the exacerbation of the inflammatory response?

Objective: Pleural tuberculosis is the most frequently occurring form of extra pulmonary disease in adults. In up to 40% of cases, the lung parenchyma is concomitantly involved, which can have an epidemiological impact. This study aims to evaluate the pleural and systemic inflammatory response of patients with pleural or pleuropulmonary tuberculosis.

Differentiating between tuberculosis-related and lymphoma-related lymphocytic pleural effusions by measuring clinical and laboratory variables: is it possible?

Objective: To describe clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients with tuberculosis-related or lymphoma-related lymphocytic pleural effusions, in order to identify the variables that might contribute to differentiating between these diseases.

Methods: This was a retrospective study involving 159 adult HIV-negative patients with tuberculosis-related or lymphoma-related lymphocytic effusions (130 and 29 patients, respectively), treated between October of 2008 and March of 2010 at the Pleural Diseases Outpatient Clinic of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Clínicas Heart Institute, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Results: Mean age and the mean duration of symptoms were lower in the tuberculosis group than in the lymphoma group.

Blockage of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) reduces experimental pleurodesis.

Background And Objective: Chemical pleurodesis controls recurrent malignant pleural effusion. The mechanism that determines pleural symphysis involves the action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We assessed the influence of the anti-VEGF antibody (bevacizumab) on pleurodesis induced by talc or silver nitrate and analyzed the temporal development of pleural angiogenesis.

Pulmonary involvement in pleural tuberculosis: how often does it mean disease activity?

Objective: To evaluate in chest X-rays and high-resolution computed tomographies of patients with pleural tuberculosis, the incidence of parenchymal and mediastinal lung lesions suggestive of active disease.

Methods: Prospective study (2008-2009) evaluating the radiographic and tomographic abnormalities of 88 HIV-negative patients with pleural tuberculosis (unilateral effusion). The images were reviewed by 3 independent specialists, and the observed changes were classified according to previously established criteria: presence or absence of signs suggestive of disease activity, and nonspecific findings.

Clinical usefulness of B-type natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis of pleural effusions due to heart failure.

Background And Objective: Light's criteria are frequently used to evaluate the exudative or transudative nature of pleural effusions. However, misclassification resulting from the use of Light's criteria has been reported, especially in the setting of diuretic use in patients with heart failure (HF). The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements as a diagnostic tool for determining the cardiac aetiology of pleural effusions.

Pleural fluid: Are temperature and storage time critical preanalytical error factors in biochemical analyses?

Background: Biochemical analysis of fluid is the primary laboratory approach in pleural effusion diagnosis. Standardization of the steps between collection and laboratorial analyses are fundamental to maintain the quality of the results. We evaluated the influence of temperature and storage time on sample stability.

Predictive models for diagnosis of pleural effusions secondary to tuberculosis or cancer.

Background And Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) and cancer are two of the main causes of pleural effusions which frequently share similar clinical features and pleural fluid profiles. This study aimed to identify diagnostic models based on clinical and laboratory variables to differentiate tuberculous from malignant pleural effusions.

Methods: A retrospective study of 403 patients (200 with TB; 203 with cancer) was undertaken.

Clinical and laboratory parameters in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion secondary to tuberculosis or cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of pleural effusions secondary to tuberculosis (TB) or cancer (CA).

Methods: A total of 326 patients with pleural effusion due to TB (n=182) or CA (n=144) were studied. The following parameters were analyzed: patient gender, age and pleural effusion characteristics (size, location, macroscopic fluid aspect, protein concentration, lactate dehydrogenase (DHL) and adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) and nucleated cell counts).

[Thoracentesis and pleural biopsy].

Thoracentesis is the method of choice for obtaining samples of pleural fluid. Although it is considered a minimum invasive procedure, it is crucial to follow a standardized technique with the purpose of optimizing the chance of diagnosis and minimizing risks. The pleura biopsy may enlarge and complement the chance of diagnosis of the pleural diseases and is indicated in selected cases.

Influence of storage time and temperature on pleural fluid adenosine deaminase determination.

Objectives And Background: The determination of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in pleural fluid is important for differentiation of pleural effusions and diagnosing pleural tuberculosis. Although measurement of ADA is simple and inexpensive, controversies exist regarding potential errors caused by time elapsed between sample collection and analysis, storage temperature and the use of anticoagulants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of storage time (1, 3, 7, 10 and 28 days) and temperature (4 degrees C and -20 degrees C) on the determination of ADA in pleural fluid samples collected in EDTA and sent at ambient temperature to the laboratory for initial processing within 1 h of collection.