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.
Objective To investigate the feasibility of detection of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R mutations in pleural effusion fromnon-small-cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) patients by mutant enriched PCR assay. Methods The mutations of exon 19 and 21 of EGFR gene in pleural samples fromthirty NSCLC patients were analyzed using both the mutant-enriched PCR assay and the non-enriched PCR assay. Results Ten ( 33. 3% , 10/ 30) exon 19 deletions and five ( 16. 7% , 5/30) exon 21 L858R mutation were detected by the mutant-enriched PCR assay, while only 6 cases ( 20. 0% ) and 1 case ( 3. 3% ) were detected by the non-enriched PCR assay respectively. The difference of mutation detection rate of EGFR gene between the two methods was statistically significant ( P = 0. 032) . Mutations were detected in all of partial responders ( 2 /4) among the four patients who received gefitinib therapy. Conclusions Mutant-enriched PCR assay can detect EGFR exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R mutation in pleural effusion from NSCLC patients effectively, economically and accurately. It may be a valuable biomarker for gefitinib therapy in advanced NSCLC.
Objective To investigate the expression of aquaporin-1( AQP1 ) in visceral and parietal pleura in SD rats and to examine the effect of AQP1 on pleural fluid turnover. Methods Five groups( n = 24 ) of SD rats were randomly assigned to received intrapleural injection of dexamethasone,lipopolysaccharide, erythromycin, hypertonic saline and normal saline, respectively. The AQP1 protein in pleural was detected with immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of AQP1 under stimulations at different time points was measured by real time RT-PCR. Results AQP1 was immunolocalized predominantly to the microvessels and mesothelial cells of visceral and parietal pleura. The extent of AQP1expression in parietal pleura was less than that in visceral pleura[ ( 4. 14 ±1. 12) ×104 copy /μg vs ( 7. 43 ±2. 02) ×104 copy / μg, P lt;0. 05] . AQP1 expression increased at all phases in the dexamethasone group andthe hypertonic saline group, whereas decreased in the erythromycin group and the lipopolysaccharide group.Conclusion The stimulations of dexamethasone, lipopolysaccharide, erythromycin and hypertonic saline can significantly change the AQP1 expression in pleura, which indicate that AQP1 may contribute to the accumulation and clearance of pleuritic fluids.
Objective To evaluate the value of Sysmex XT-4000i hematology analyzer in its body-fluid mode in cell count and cell differential count of pleural effusion, ascites and cerebrospinal fluid samples. Methods A total of 95 pleural effusion, ascites and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from patients hospitalized between May and September 2015. The samples were tested by Sysmex XT-4000i hematology analyzer (instrument method) and modified Neubauer hemocytometer (manual method) for cell count, and the results of them were compared and analyzed. Results The instrument method and the manual method had a good consistency in nuclear cell count and erythrocyte count (kappa=0.965,P< 0.001; kappa=0.988,P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the count of mononuclear cells (P> 0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the count of multiple nuclear cells (P<0.05). Conclusions Hematology analyzer in its body-fluid mode may replace manual method in cell count of pleural effusion, ascites and cerebrospinal fluids for its high precision, high efficiency and easy operation. However, cell differential count of this method needs microscopic examination assistance.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the diagnostic value of neuron specific enolase (NSE) for malignant pleural effusion. MethodsWe comprehensively searched databases including The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2012), EMbase, MEDLINE, CBM, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP from inception to January 2012 to collect studies about the diagnostic value of NSE for malignant pleural effusion. Literature screening according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data extraction and methodological quality assessment were completed by two reviewers independently. Then Meta-DiSc software (version 1.4) was used for pooling analysis. ResultsA total of 12 studies were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the value of pooled specificity, sensitivity, positive likelihood radio, negative likelihood radio and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were 0.79 (0.76 to 0.84), 0.55 (0.51 to 0.59), 3.2 (1.94 to 5.29), 0.58 (0.45 to 0.74), 7.56 (3.74 to 15.30), respectively; and the area under SROC curve (AUC) was 0.813 1. ConclusionUsing NSE as a maker to diagnose malignant pleural effusion is of certain clinical value, which is used to differentiate benign and malignant pleural effusion.
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 systematically review the diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) for tuberculous pleural effusion. MethodsWe electronically searched CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, The Cochrane Library and EMbase from inception to April, 2013, to collect the literature about the diagnostic value of PCT for tuberculous pleural effusion compared with gold standard (positive outcomes of mycobacterium tuberculosis culture). Two reviewers screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the quality of included studies. MetaDiSc 1.4 were used to conduct the meta-analysis. ResultsEight studies were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.63 (95%CI 0.58 to 0.68) and 0.76 (95%CI 0.70 to 0.81), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio were 2.72 (95%CI 1.48 to 5.02) and 0.49 (95%CI 0.29 to 0.82), respectively. The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 5.77 (95%CI 1.89 to 17.58). And the SROC AUC was 0.79. Heterogeneity was mainly derived from the QUADAS score and Begg's test showed there was no presence of publication bias. ConclusionPCT is a potential marker in the diagnosis of benign and tuberculous pleural effusion, which can be used to determine diagnosis identification of tuberculous pleural effusion.
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.
Abstract： Objective To summarize early clinical result of total cavopulmonary connection, and analyze the risk factors contributing to prolonged postoperative recovery. Methods Between February 2009 and August 2010, 58 patients with functional univentricular complex congenital heart disease received total cavopulmonary connection in Beijing Fu Wai Hospital. All of them were diagnosed by echocardiogram and angiography including 26 patients with single ventricle, 10 patients with tricuspid atresia, 4 patients with pulmonary artery atresia, 5 patients with double outlet rightventricle, 1 patient with transposition of great arteries, and 12 patients with corrected transposition of the great arteries.Fifty seven patients underwent extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary connection, and only one patient underwent total cavopulmonary connection with an intracardiac lateral tunnel. According to their postoperative pleural drainage volume and duration, these 58 patients were divided into a large pleural drainage volume group (17 patients with 10 males and 7 females, mean age of 8.61±6.73 years）that included patients with large volume and long duration of pleural drainage, and a little pleural drainage volume group (41 patients with 15 males and 26 females, mean age of 7.21±4.24 years) . A univariable analysis was conducted to compare the risk factors that effected recovery result between the two groups. Results There was no death in hospital period. The average length of hospital stay was 12.30±9.80 d . Average drainage time (18.00±5.50 d versus 5.00±2.20 d , t= -1.967, P ＜ 0.05）, drainage volume (12.30±2.60 ml/(kg·d) versus 2.80±1.70 ml/(kg·d), t=-3.221, P ＜ 0.05), and hospital stay (20.10±7.20 d versus 7.20±1.10 d, t=-2.003, P ＜ 0.05） of the large pleural drainage volume group were significantly larger or longer than those of the little pleural drainage volume group. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative pulmonary pressure measured by catheter in the large pleural drainage volume group was significantly higher than that in the little pleural drainage volume group (17.42±5.34 mm Hg versus 13.91±5.22 mm Hg，t=-2.073，P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions The mortality and major morbidities after total cavopulmonary connection are low in the current era. Preoperative high pulmonary pressure is a risk factor for large amount of pleural drainage and prolonged recovery.
ObjectiveTo discuss the CT characteristics of pleural lung cancer, and analyze the reason for misdiagnosis. MethodsThe CT data of 8 patients with pleural lung cancer confirmed by postoperative pathology and treated in Renshou People's Hospital and Fist Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2010 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsAmong the 8 cases of pleural lung cancer, 6 occurred on the left and 2 on the right; there were 3 nodular and 5 irregular masses; 6 had uniform density and 2 had irregular focus and relatively lower density; 4 had osteolytic destruction of adjacent ribs; 6 had pleural effusion; and 5 had mediastinal lymph nodes enlargement, in which 1 had multiple lymph node metastasis of left lung hilum, left supraclavicular region and left axillary. All the 8 cases were enhanced moderately. ConclusionPleural lung cancer has certain featured manifestations on CT. Analyzing the features carefully, considering clinical symptoms, and cytological examination of hydrothorax can reduce the incidence of misdiagnosis.