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.
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.
ObjectiveTo explore the superiority of pleural tenting in Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy.
MethodsWe prospectively included 200 esophagus cancer patients with Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy in our hospital between 2013 and 2015 year. The patients were allocated into two groups including a trial group and a control group with 100 patients in each group. There were 72 males and 28 females at an average age of 54.76±6.62 years in the trial group and 66 males and 34 females at an average age of 55.72±6.38 years in the control group. In the trial group pleural tenting was used to cover the anastomotic stoma and gastric tube, while in the control group pleural tenting was not used. Postoperative complications after one year, pressure on the level of the anastomotic stoma, and the grade of quality of life were compared between the two groups.
ResultNo statistically significant differences were found in preoperative epidemiological and postoperative pathological characteristics, as well as the postoperative complications and the one-year survival rate (P > 0.05). Quality of life was better in the trial group than that of the control group.
ConclusionPleural tenting is a simple, safe, and effective technique for improving quality of life of the patients.
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 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.
Objective To compare the effects of heparin versus urokinase injection intrapleurally in the management of pleural thickening and adhesion due to tuberculous exudative pleurisy. Methods Sixty patients with tuberculous pleurisy were allocated into three groups randomly. Sodium heparin ( heparin group) , urokinase ( urokinase group) , and 0. 9% saline ( control group) were intrapleurally injected respectively. The concentrations of fibrinogen and D-dimer in pleural effusion were measured before and after the injection. The duration of absorption and the total drainage volume of pleural effusion were recorded. The pleural thickness and adhesion were observed two months after the injection. Results In 72 hours after the intrapleural injection, the concentration of fibrinogen( g/L) in the pleural effusion was significantly increased in the heparin group( 1. 13 ±0. 44 vs 0. 34 ±0. 19, P lt; 0. 001) , and significantly decreased in the urokinase group( 0. 25 ±0. 16 vs 0. 38 ±0. 15, P lt; 0. 05) when compared with baseline. Concentrations of D-dimer in the pleural effusions were significantly higher than those at baseline in both the heparin group and the urokinase group( 57. 0 ±17. 6 vs 40. 0 ±15. 4, P lt; 0. 05; 74. 5 ±16. 4 vs 43. 8 ±14. 9, P lt; 0. 001) . There were no significant differences in the absorption duration of pleural effusion among the three groups( P gt;0. 05) . The total drainage volume of pleural effusion was higher in the heparin group and the urokinase group compared to the control group( P lt;0. 01) . And the total volume of pleural effusion was significantly higher in the heparin group and the urokinase group than that in the control group( 2863 mL and 2465 mL vs 1828 mL,P lt;0. 01) . Two months after the intervention, the pleura were thinner[ ( 1. 37 ±0. 82) mm and ( 1. 33 ±0. 85) mmvs ( 3. 06 ±1. 20) mm, P lt; 0. 01] and the incidence of pleural adhesion was significantly lower[ 15% and 20% vs 50% , P lt; 0. 05] in the heparin and the urokinase groups than those in the control group.Conclusion Intrapleural heparin has similar effects with urokinase for prevention pleural thickness andadhesion in tuberculous pleurisy with good availability and safety.
【Abstract】Objective To explore the differential diagnostic value of major fibrinolytic parameters in pleural fluid. Methods Tissue-type plasminogen activator( t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1( PAI-1) in pleural fluid at the first thoracentesis were measured with ELISA and D-dimer was measured with immunoturbidimetry. Results Eighty-four patients with pleural effusion were enrolled, among which 40 with malignant effusion, 33 with infectious effusion and 11 with transudative effusion. t-PA level was higher in malignant and transudative pleural fluid than that in infectious pleural fluid[ ( 52. 49 ±31. 46) ng /mL and ( 58. 12 ±23. 14) ng /mL vs ( 37. 39 ±22. 44) ng /mL, P lt; 0. 05] , but was not statistically different between malignant pleural fluid and transudative ( P gt; 0. 05) . PAI-1 level was higher in malignant and infectious pleural fluid than that in transudative [ ( 164. 86 ±150. 22) ng/mL and ( 232. 42 ±175. 77) ng/mL vs ( 46. 38 ±16. 13) ng/mL, P lt; 0. 01] , but was not statistically different between malignant and infectious pleural fluid( P gt;0. 05) . D-dimer levels in the three types of pleural fluid were significantly different, which was ( 23. 66 ±25. 18) mg/L, ( 6. 36 ±10. 87) mg/L and ( 66. 90 ±42. 17) mg/L in malignant, transudative and infectious pleural fluid, respectively. As single-item detection for malignant pleural fluid, the cutoff of t-PA was gt; 38. 7 ng/mL( area under ROC curve was 64. 0 ) , with sensitivity of 60. 0% , specificity of 63. 6%, positive predictive value of 66. 7%, negative predictive value of 56. 8% and accuracy of 61. 6% .The cutoff of D-dimer was lt; 27. 0 mg/L( area under ROC curve was 85. 5) , with sensitivity of 84. 8% ,specificity of 72. 5% , positive predictive value of 85. 3% , negative predictive value of 71. 8% and accuracy of78.1%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of combined examination( t-PA + D-dimer) were 92. 5% , 60. 6% , 74. 0% , 87. 0% , 78. 1% , respectively.Conclusions The t-PA, PAI-1 and D-dimer levels are significantly different in the three types of pleural fluid. The detection of fibrinolytic parameters in pleural fluid, especially the value of D-dimer,may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion.
Objective
To investigate the etiology of pleural effusions.
Methods
All adult patients with pleural effusions of unknown etiology admitted to this hospital between January 2011 and December 2013 were investigated. The etiological data of these patients with pleural effusion were retrospectively reviewed.
Results
During the 3-year period, 1 541 patients eventually were included in this study. The most frequent cause of pleural effusions was bacterial infection (38.7%), followed by malignancy (23.7%), congestive heart failure (13.1%), and tuberculosis (10.7%). The etiology of 120 patients (7.8%) remained uncertain.
Conclusions
The most frequent cause of pleural effusion is bacterial infection, followed by malignancy, cardiac failure, and tuberculosis. These four etiologies account for over 85 percent of all pleural effusions.
