Colonisation with Aspergillus of an intralobar pulmonary sequestration.

Pulmonary sequestration is a term used to describe an area of embryonic lung tissue supplied by an anomalous systemic artery. Two forms are recognised-extralobar and intralobar-with different clinical presentations. A patient is reported with intralobar pulmonary sequestration in the left lung and colonisation with Aspergillus which was successfully treated by lower lobectomy.

Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma due to Phoenix canariensis pollen allergy.

We report a case of occupational bronchial asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis caused by Phoenix canariensis (PC) pollen. The canary palm is a type of palm tree, belonging to the Arecaceae family, which is widely distributed in frost-free regions as an ornamental tree. Our patient was referred because he suffered symptoms of bronchial asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and contact urticaria when pruning dried leaves from PC during the pollination months.

Anaphylaxis due to limpet ingestion.

Background: The limpet, phylum Mollusca, is one of the most frequent sea mollusks in the Canary Islands. Limpet IgE hypersensitivity reactions have been described.

Objective: To describe six patients with anaphylactic reactions due to limpet ingestion and to demonstrate by in vivo methods and by in vitro techniques specific IgE responses.

Specific skin tests in subjects with chronic bronchitis exposed to pigeons.

We have studied the diagnostic reliability of the specific skin tests done in 30 subjects who presented with chronic bronchitis (CB) as the only clinical manifestation related to exposure to pigeons and in 21 subjects with CB and known risk factors. Additionally, two control groups were included (24 asymptomatic subjects exposed and sensitized to pigeons and 10 subjects not exposed and not sensitized to pigeons). The skin prick tests with pigeon serum were negative in all the subjects tested.

Value of DNA analysis in addition to cytological testing in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.

Background: Aneuploidy appears to be a highly specific marker for cancer, and measurement of cellular DNA content by flow cytometry is rapid and reliable. This study was undertaken to determine if the addition of DNA analysis improved the sensitivity of cytological diagnosis of malignancy in pleural fluid.

Methods: Pleural effusions from 92 patients were studied by cytological examination and flow cytometry.

Shellfish hypersensitivity: clinical and immunological characteristics.

Shellfish is one of the most frequent causes of food allergy. We studied 48 patients (25 male and 23 female) with a mean age of 24.2 +/- 1.

Quantitative cultures of protected brush specimens and bronchoalveolar lavage in ventilated patients without suspected pneumonia.

Quantitative bacterial cultures of protected specimen brush (PSB) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens were used to assess the presence of distal bronchial microflora in mechanically ventilated patients who were not suspected of having pneumonia. A total of 54 specimens from 32 ICU patients were obtained. In 10 patients, only PSB specimens were recovered, whereas in 22 patients both PSB and BAL specimens were obtained.

[Asymptomatic polymyositis with pulmonary disease].

We present the case of a medium-aged patient with a alveolo-interstitial pulmonary affection after 5 months of evolution, characterized by cough and progressive dyspnea accompanied by sustained febricula, slight constitutional syndrome and dermatological and articular manifestations. It was finally concluded that the patient had a polymyositis, relating form of affection a secondary interstitial pneumopathy. The aim of this study has been to highlight a rare case of diffuse interstitial disease in the context of a polymyositis in which we obtained an excellent therapeutical response, as well as to make some considerations regarding its etiology and its clinical and pathological expression.

Nasal candidiasis in an immunocompetent patient.

We report a case of nasal candidiasis in an immunocompetent host who denied the use of topical or systemic corticosteroids. The patient was treated with itraconazole 100 mg. with resolution of the symptoms.

Surgical treatment of stage III non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma involving the chest wall.

Thirty-five patients who had undergone surgery for non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma with isolated involvement of the chest wall were reviewed. The diagnosis was preoperatively suspected in 80% of cases. En-bloc resection of the invaded chest wall was performed in 25 cases and parietal pleurectomy in ten in which the pleura was easily dissectable from the costal plane.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma and basal cell adenoma of the parotid gland: a compromised differential diagnosis].

The adenoid cystic carcinoma of the major and minor salivary glands grows slowly but spreads relentlessly into the surrounding tissues, in particular along the perineural spaces. It may appear clinically to be circumscribed, true encapsulation is lacking and the insidious invasion is demonstrated histologically. Another characteristic of the tumor is a high rate of metastases to distant organs such as lung, bobe or liver.

[Treatment of calculi not easily seen with radiology using extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Value of contrast media].

Currently, most calculi can be treated with shockwave extracorporeal lithotrity regardless their location within the urinary apparatus or their physico-chemical features. In order to optimize results only medical criteria for patient's selection should be taken into account. Certain type of calculi can obstruct adequate radioscopic viewing by not allowing correct centring for shockwave emission.

[Prevention of recurrence of superficial tumors of the bladder with intravesical epirubicin].

Twenty-six patients with surface vesical tumor receiving epirubicin are included for prophylaxis of relapse following surgical exeresis. The dosage used was 15 endovesical instillations of 50 mg in 50 cc sterile water, one instillation a week during the first month followed by once monthly to complete a year. After an average follow-up of 14 months a percentage of 19% relapses were observed with a relapse are of 1.