Erlotinib as single agent first line treatment in locally advanced or metastatic activating EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma (CEETAC): an open-label, non-randomized, multicenter, phase IV clinical trial.

Background: Erlotinib is approved for the first line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Since the number of prospective studies in Caucasian patients treated in routine clinical setting is limited we conducted a multicenter, phase IV clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of erlotinib and to demonstrate the feasibility of the validated standardized companion diagnostic method of EGFR mutation detection.

Methods: 651 chemonaive, cytologically or histologically verified advanced stage lung adenocarcinoma patients from Hungary, Turkey and Latvia were screened for exon19 microdeletions and exon21 L858R EGFR mutations using the companion diagnostic EGFR test.

Vascular events in lung cancer.

Background And Aims: In lung cancer, many factors have prognostic significance, including thrombocytosis, which is frequently observed. Associations between vascular events, which are the outcomes of paraneoplastic symptoms, and mortality and morbidity has been evaluated in many studies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between thrombocytosis and vascular events.

Comprehensive out-patient pulmonary rehabilitation: Treatment outcomes in early and late stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The aim was to evaluate the outcomes of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to establish whether in early disease stage PR is as effective as in late stages of disease.

Methods: A total of 55 stable COPD patients, 28 with early and 27 with late disease stages, were assessed. Patients underwent a comprehensive out-patient PR program for 8 weeks.

Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis.

Twenty seven years old woman was admitted to our hospital with dyspnea, severe hemoptysis and iron deficiency anemia. The chest X-ray showed bilateral interstitial markings with homogenous infiltration at right costodiafragmatic sinus. The patient was investigated for all alveolar hemorrhagic syndromes.

A case of Maffucci 's syndrome with pleural effusion: ten-year follow-up.

Introduction: Maffucci 's syndrome (MS) is a congenital non-hereditary mesodermal dysplasia characterised by numerous mesenchymal neoplasias in the form of enchondromas with secondary bone deformities and multiple soft tissue haemangiomas that may have phlebolitis.

Clinical Picture: A 23-year-old male patient presented with non-productive cough, dyspnoea, chest pain and back pain. Chest X-ray showed unilateral pleural effusion and multiple enchondromas of the ribs.

Nutritional status of COPD patients with acute exacerbation.

The prevalence and features of nutritional status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been studied extensively in stable conditions, but are poorly defined in the presence of an acute exacerbation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the nutritional status of COPD patients with acute exacerbation and possible relationship between nutritional parameters and pulmonary functions. The study group consisted of 53 COPD patients acutely admitted to the hospital for standardized medical treatment.

Short-term effect of nasal intermittent positive-pressure ventilation in patients with restrictive thoracic disease.

Background: The use of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) would be expected to ameliorate dyspnea, ventilatory capacity and exercise tolerance durability in individuals with hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to restrictive thoracic disease.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term effect of NIPPV on respiratory muscle endurance, exercise capacity and respiratory functions in patients with chronic respiratory failure due to restrictive thoracic disease.

Methods: Twelve patients with chronic ventilatory failure due to restrictive thoracic disease underwent nasal bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilation for 2 h a day during 15 consecutive days.