Objective To investigate the expression of aquaporin-1( AQP-1) in pleural mesothelial cells ( PMCs) and the influence of glucose thereupon. Methods Rat PMCs were isolated, cultured, and divided into two groups, ie. a glucose group, cultured with glucose of different concentrations for 24 hours,and a control group, cultured in D-MEM/ F-12 medium. The 100 mmol / L glucose group was administered at the time points of 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours respectively. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of AQP-1. Results The absorbance values of AQP-1 protein expression were 54. 02 ±4. 61, 127. 84 ±9. 41, and 231. 62 ±22. 63, respectively in the PMCs treated with glucose of the concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 mmol / L, all significantly higher than those in the control group( 22. 45 ±2. 16, all P lt; 0. 01) . The absorbance values of AQP-1 protein expression were 24. 68 ±2. 56, 58. 68 ±3. 67, 89. 61 ±6. 62, and 113. 41 ±7. 65 in the PMCs treated with glucose of the concentration of 100 mmol / L after 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, all significantly higher than those in the control group ( 11. 81 ±1. 45, P lt;0. 01) .Conclusions Glucose induces the expression of AQP-1 mRNA and protein. AQP-1 participates in the pleural fluid formation.
Objective
To analyze the clinical features and survival of lung cancer with pleural effusions.
Methods
A total of 982 consecutive patients with a newly diagnosed lung cancer from January 2008 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. To analyze the clinical features and survival differences, the total patients were divided into the following two groups: with (n=204) or without (n=778) pleural effusions.
Results
Lung cancer comprised 682 (69.5%) males and 300 (30.5%) females, with an average age of 59.74 years (19–93 years). There were 487(49.6%) squamous carcinoma, 254 (25.9%) adenocarcinoma and 166 (16.9%) small cell lung cancer; 113 (11.5%) lung cancer at early stage (Ⅰ–Ⅱ), 247 (25.2%) cases at stage Ⅲ and 567 (57.7%) at stage Ⅳ. The median survival time of all patients was 12 months. Patients with pleural effusions had a worse prognosis compared to patients without (median survival time: 11 vs.12 months, P=0.003), the median survival time could be reduced by 1 month in males (P=0.004), 3 months in elder patients over 60 years (P<0.001), 4 to 8 months in carcinoma and small cell lung cancer (P≤0.001), and 2 to 3 months in advanced lung cancer (stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ) (P<0.05). Any or combined treatment of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy was associated with an improved overall survival of about 2 months (P=0.009), and targeted therapy could even improve the median survival time by 1 to 8 months (P=0.002).
Conclusions
About 20.8% of the patients developed pleural effusion at the same time during the course of lung cancer. Pleural effusion is a poor prognostic factor of lung cancer.
ObjectiveTo analyze the results and diagnostic value of postoperative chylous test of pleural effusion and to verify the clinicopathological factors affecting the results of chylous test.MethodsThe clinical data of 265 consecutive patients undergoing selective surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shangjin Nanfu Hospital between May and August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 106 males and 159 females with an average age of 53.0±12.2 years. According to the results of the chylous test on the operation day and postoperative first and second days, the patients were divided into two subgroups, including a positive group and a negative group, and the clinical data of the two groups were compared. Sensitivity and specificity of the chylous test were calculated. The influencing factors for chylous test were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe positive rate of chylous test was 91.7%, 95.8% and 87.9% on the operation day and postoperative first and second days, respectively. There was no statistical difference in age, sex, surgical type, surgical approach, surgical site, surgical time, degree of lymph node dissection, treatment of thoracic duct, 24 hours pleural fluid drainage or 24 hours protein and fat food intake between the positive group and the negative group (P>0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the chylous experiment were 100.0% and 4.0%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the surgical site (left/right chest) might be an influencing factor for the results of the chylous test (P=0.043, OR=0.458, 95%CI 0.216-0.974).ConclusionThe positive rate of chylous test of pleural effusion after thoracic surgery is very high. The chylous test produces a high misdiagnosis rate of chylothorax. The surgical site (left/right chest) may be an influencing factor for chylous test. The positive result of chylous test is not recommended as the direct diagnostic basis for postoperative chylothorax and guidance of the subsequent treatment.
Objective To formulate an evidence-based treatment plan for a patient with malignant pleural mesothelioma.Methods Based on an adequate assessment of the patient’s condition and using the principle of PICO, we searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2007), PubMed (1996 to February 2007) and EMbase (1974 to February 2007) to identify the best available clinical evidence. Results Five randomized controlled trials, 4 systematic reviews and 1 health economic evaluation were included. According to the current evidence, as well as the patient’s clinical condition and preference, 5 cycles of raltitrexed plus cisplatin were given to the patient along with thoracic drainage and other symptomatic treatment. And the follow-up after 4 months indicated that this treatment plan was appropriate for the patient. Conclusion Evidence-based approaches helped us to prepare the most appropriate chemotherapy plan for this patient and will help improve the therapeutic results for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
ObjectiveTo observe the impacts of initial therapy on clinical outcome of patients with community-acquired thoracic infection by retrospective analysis.
MethodsClinical data of acute community-acquired thoracic infection patients who met the British Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria were collected. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether adequate initial antibiotic therapy and pleural effusion drainage were performed, namely an adequate group (31 patients) and an inadequate group (17 patients). Clinical manifestations, inflammatory markers, hospital stay and hospital costs were analyzed between the two groups.
ResultsFor age, gender, infection sites, and coincident diseases, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Compared with the inadequate group, temperature of the adequate group was significantly decreased, especially on hospital day 5, 6, 7[(37.4±0.1)℃ vs. (38.3±0.2)℃, P < 0.001; (37.4±0.1)℃ vs. (37.9±0.1)℃, P < 0.05; (37.4±0.1)℃ vs. (38.1±0.2)℃, P < 0.01]. The level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in first week was also significantly reduced in the adequate group[(123.1±13.8) mg/L vs. (182.7±25.3) mg/L, P < 0.05]. However, there were no differences in white cell counts, percentage of neutrophils, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate between the two groups in six-week follow-up. The adequate group had shorter hospital stay[(25±4) days vs. (34±4) days, P < 0.05] and lower hospital costs[(28 367±3 328) yuan vs. (43 334±7 134) yuan, P < 0.05] compared with the inadequate group.
ConclusionsThe initial therapy with appropriate antibiotics and effective thoracic drainage can significantly decrease the temperature and CRP of patients with thoracic infection, as well as the cost of hospitalization and the length of stay. Our study reveals that the temperature which is lower than 37.5℃ on the 5th day of therapy and the CRP in the first follow-up week are sensitive predictors of initial treatment effect, which may be helpful to guide the following therapeutic strategies.
Objective To investigate the value of tumor type M2 pyruvate kinase ( M2-PK) in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion. Methods A total of 146 patients with pleural effusion during January 2006 to December 2008 were recruited at the department of respiratory medicine of the Shantou Affiliated Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen Medical College. Pleural effusion was malignant in 72 cases ( 52 cases with lung cancer and 20 cases with metastatic lung cancer) and benign in 74 cases ( 54 cases with infective pleural effusion and 20 with transudation effusion) . The patients were divided into a malignant pleural effusion group, an infective pleural effusion group, and a transudation group.Then the infective group was further divided into subgroups of tuberculosis pleural effusion group andparapneumonic effusion group. The concentration of tumor M2-PK in pleural fluid obtained during the first thoracocentesis was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA) . Results The concentration of tumor M2-PK was significantly higher in the malignant pleural effusion group compared with the benignpleural effusion groups ( P lt; 0. 01) . Significant differences were also found in the concentration of tumor M2-PK between malignant pleural effusion caused by lung cancer and metastatic lung cancer( P lt; 0. 05) .When the cutoff value of tumor M2-PK was set at 18. 68 U/mL, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion was 87. 6% , 86. 0% , and 87. 4%, respectively. Furthermore,the detection of tumor M2-PK in combination with CEA showed better diagnostic sensitivity( 96. 0% ) ,specificity ( 85. 0% ) , and accuracy ( 91. 1% ) . Conclusions The detection of tumor M2-PK in pleural effusion is of some clinical significance in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural effusion.The detection of tumor M2-PK in combination with CEA is a good diagnostic tool with high sensitivity andspecificity.
Abstract: Objective To summarize the method and effective result of thoracoscopic intrapleural perfusion hyperthermochemotherapy(TIPHC) for treating malignant pleural effusion caused by lung cancer. Methods Fiftyeight patients with malignant pleural effusion caused by lung cancer were randomly divided into therapeutic group(30 cases) and control group(28 cases) between February 1999 and March 2005. Pleural biopsy and TIPHC under general ansthesia with unilateral ventilation were performed in the therapeutic group, and intrapleural injection of cisplatin was administered in control group after drainage of pleural effusion. The effect on malignant pleural effusion， the change for the concentration of carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)， cytokeratin-19 fragments (CYFRA21-1)， neuronspecific enolase (NSE) and the side effect were compared before and after the treatment. Results The therapeutic group achieved total response rate of 100.0%, but only 53.6% in control group, with significant difference(χ 2=3.863, Plt;0.05). Furthermore, the concentration of CEA， CYFRA21-1， NSE in therapeutic group dramatically descended than control group(t=2.562,Plt;0.05). But there was no significant difference in side effect (Pgt;0.05). The pathological diagnosis of all the patients were determined in the therapeutic group. Conclusion TIPHC has the advantage of both diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusions. It is safe and effective, and also able to determine the diagnosis. Furthermore, it offers the superiority of small wound， best visualization and convenient pleural biopsy.
Objective To assess clinical outcomes of therapeutic video-mediastinoscopy （VMS）. Methods Clinical data of 82 patients undergoing VMS in Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University from December 2008 to October 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them，24 patients received therapeutic VMS，including 18 men and 6 women with their median age of 56 （22-81） years. Three patients underwent operation through a neck incision，4 patients through a parasternal incision，and 17 patients through a lateral intercostal incision. Five patients received local anesthesia and basal anesthesia，and all the other patients received general anesthesia through single-lumen or double-lumen endotracheal intubation. Results Twelve patients with pleural effusion underwent pleural or lung biopsy and talc pleurodesis. Pathology examination showed malignant diseases in 11 patients and tuberculous pleural effusion in 1 patient. The median operation time was 35 （30-50） minutes，and postoperative hospital stay was 3-6 days. These patients were followed up for 1 month without recurrence of pleural effusion. Ten patients with mediastinal mass received pathological diagnosis and complete mass resection with their median operation time of 55 （30-270） minutes and median hospital stay of 7 （5-40） days. Two patients with hyperhidrosis underwent bilateral intercostal VMS sympathectomy. Their operation time was 60 minutes and 50 minutes respectively，and their hospital stay was 3 days. Postoperatively their sweating symptoms obviously resolved. They were followed up for 3 months，and their hands，feet and armpit were warm and dry. There was no in-hospital death in this group. Two patients （8.3%） had postoperative complications including 1 patient with phrenic nerve injury and another patient with pneumonia. Opioid analgesic drugs were not used postoperatively in 9 patients. Conclusion Therapeutic VMS is a safe，effective，minimally invasive and cosmetic procedure，but it is not suitable for resection of a large mediastinal mass.
Objective
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of pleural infusion chemotherapy with docetaxel in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion.
Methods
Twenty-three patients with malignant tumor confirmed by biopsy or postoperative pathology, complicated with malignant pleural effusion confirmed by exfoliative cytology, were treated between March 2013 and June 2014. All the 23 patients underwent thoracic puncture and catheter drainage for the removal of contraindications for chemotherapy. Then, pleural infusion chemotherapy was performed with docetaxel (40 mg/m2), normal saline (250 mL) and dexamethasone (10 mg), 21 days as a cycle. Before pleural infusion chemotherapy with docetaxel, all the patients were given standard pretreatment with dexamethasone, cimetidine/ranitidine or promethazine. The efficacy and safety of the treatment were evaluated in each cycle.
Results
Among the 23 selected patients, 6 were evaluated as complete remission and 11 as partial remission, with an effective rate of 73.91%. All the patients had acceptable tolerance in the process of the treatment. The most common side effects were bone marrow suppression (78.26%), and nausea and vomiting (82.61%). No such complications as allergy, fluid retention, cardiac toxicity or degree-Ⅳ adverse reactions were detected.
Conclusion
Pleural infusion chemotherapy with docetaxel in the treatment of malignant pleural effusion is effective with mild adverse reactions, which is worthy to be popularized.
ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic value of internal medicine thoracoscope combined with pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF for tuberculous pleurisy.MethodsEighty patients with tuberculous pleurisy admitted to hospital with pleural effusion were treated as tuberculous pleurisy group, and 20 patients with clinical diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion were used as control group. After admission to the hospital, the pre-operative examination of internal medicine thoracoscope were analyzed. All patients were extracted pleural effusion with thoracic puncture in order to send pleural tuberculosis smear and culture. Patients who had no contraindications were arranged internal medicine thoracoscope to get pleural effusion which will be sent to GeneXpert MTB/RIF and pathological tissue biopsy.ResultsIn the tuberculous pleurisy group, nine patients were positive in pleural tuberculous smear, and the positive rate was 11.3%; 4 patients were positive in pleural tuberculous culture, and the positive rate was 5.0%; 75 patients were diagnosed with pathological biopsy, and the positive rate was 93.8%; 69 patients were positive with pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF, and the positive rate was 86.3%. The positive rate of internal medicine thoracoscopic pleural biopsy combined with pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF could reached 96.3%. The pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF lifampin resistance gene was positive in 5 patients, 4 of them were positive for tuberculosis culture, and the drug sensitivity results showed rifampicin resistance. In the control group, patients had negative result in pleural effusion tuberculosis smear, tuberculosis culture and the pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy by the combination of internal medicine thoracoscope and pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF has high specificity and sensitivity. The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy by the combination of internal medicine thoracoscope and pleural GeneXpert MTB/RIF has high specificity and sensitivity, which has the value of rapid and accurate diagnosis and early guidance of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy based on the early judgment of whether rifampin resistance exists.
