Resistin is elevated in cystic fibrosis sputum and correlates negatively with lung function

Background

Resistin is an immunometabolic mediator that is elevated in several inflammatory disorders. A ligand for Toll-like receptor 4, resistin modulates the recruitment and activation of myeloid cells, notably neutrophils. Neutrophils are major drivers of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, in part due to the release of human neutrophil elastase- and myeloperoxidase-rich primary granules, leading to tissue damage. Here we assessed the relationship of resistin to CF lung disease.

Prevalence of Candida tropicalis in clinical specimens from patients with variable clinical syndromes over a 5-year period

Summary. In this study, we have examined our records for the isolation of Candida tropicalis from clinical specimens of patients with heterogeneous clinical presentations during the past 5 years. We have found that this species ranks third among all yeasts in frequency of isolation from clinical specimens and that the trend of recovery from the specimens is rising over the years. The isolation rate of C. tropicalis was highest from urine specimens (36%) followed by respiratory specimens (22%). The frequency of isolation of C. tropicalis from vaginal specimens was relatively high (14%), however the trend was declining over the years. In general, the high recovery of Candida tropicalis from clinical specimens of patients with variable disease supports the views of this organism being a major pathogen.
Zusammenfassung. Die Studie basiert auf einer Durchsicht der Patientenarchive der letzten fünf Jahre auf die Isolationshäufigkeit von Candida tropicalis aus klinischen Untersuchungsmaterialien von Patienten mit unterschiedlichen klinischen Krankheitsbildern. Diese Hefeart war die dritthäufigste mit steigender Tendenz über die Jahre. Die Isolierungsrate von C. tropicalis war am höchsten aus Urin (36%), gefolgt von Respirationstrakt-Materialien (22%). Die Isolationshäufigkeit aus dem hinteren Scheidengewölbe war relativ hoch (14%), nahm jedoch mit den jahren ab. Allgemein unterstreicht die hohe Isolationsrate von C. tropicalis aus klinischen Untersuchungsmaterialien die ätiologische Bedeutung dieses Erregers.     

Biological markers as indicators of exposure and pneumoconiotic risk: Prospective study

This research is designed to evaluate a number of biological markers to estimate harmful exposure on coal miners from different mining regions in France and to relate the outcome to differences in prevalence of coal worker pneumoconiosis (CWP) between these regions. Eight epidemiological groups of active and ex-miners (smokers and non-smokers) have been selected in the French collieries (North, Lorraine and Provence) according to their occupational and pneumoconiotic status. The following biomarkers have been evaluated: cellularity of sputum, elementary analysis of particles in TEM/EDAX, plasma neutral metalloendo peptidase elastase type (NMEP), leucocyte elastase (HLE), fibronectin (FN) and elastin peptides. Pulmonary alveolitis, expressed by sputum cellularity, is different between active workers groups but not related to the general background of pneumoconiosis prevalence in the French collieries. In the plasma parameters, fibronectin, HLE and NMEP significantly increased in all groups of coal mine workers as compared to the control group, except for fibronectin parameter in Lorraine collierie. The degree of increase of these parameters allow us to discriminate the different groups and suggest that plasma FN, HLE and NMEP may be considered as biological markers of chronic inhalation of coal mine dust particles. The decrease of elastin peptides level in the Lorraine group alone suggests a specific alteration of elastin metabolism. These parameters were not related to the development of pneumoconiosis and its degree of severity.     

内镜标本端粒酶定量检测对良恶性梗阻性黄疸的诊断价值

目的　为探讨胆胰系统恶性肿瘤组织与端粒酶表达的关系 ,并在术前找出一种简便、安全、快速的早期诊断及鉴别良、恶性梗阻性黄疸的方法。方法　对梗阻性黄疸病例于术前行内镜逆行胰胆管造影 (ERCP)检查 ,于造影前抽取胆汁或胰液、部分病例取活检组织 ,并于开腹手术当中再次切取癌组织标本 ,所有标本进行端粒酶活性的定量检测 ,所得数据进行统计学处理。结果　 (1)恶性梗阻性黄疸组织标本中端粒酶表达阳性率为 87 5 0 % (2 8/ 32 ) ,良性梗阻性黄疸组织标本中端粒酶表达阳性率为 3 33% (1/ 30 ) ;(2 )恶性梗阻性黄疸体液标本中端粒酶表达阳性率为 71 88% (2 3/ 32 ) ,良性梗阻性黄疸体液标本中端粒酶表达阳性率为 3 33% (1/ 30 ) ,恶性梗阻性黄疸内镜下钳取的活检组织 ,其端粒酶阳性率为 83 33% (10 / 12 )。结论　在术前通过十二指肠镜采集患者的胆汁和胰液 ,并钳取活检组织 ,分别进行端粒酶活性的定量检测 ,这是一种简便、安全、快速的早期诊断及鉴别良、恶性梗阻性黄疸的方法。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病的肺生物学标记物研究进展

与慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）有关的很多炎症细胞、介质,正逐渐为人们所熟知。本文讨论支气管活组织切片、痰液、支气管肺泡灌洗液、呼出气凝物等方面的有关生物标记在COPD研究中的进展。     

Sputum induction as a research tool for the study of human respiratory mucus

The study objectives were to compare in vitro transportability and physical properties of respiratory mucus, obtained invasively by direct collection (DC) right after endotracheal intubation and non-invasively by sputum induction with 3% hypertonic saline solution inhalation (SI) 24 h before the anesthesia. Twenty-two patients with no pulmonary disease scheduled for elective abdominal surgical procedures were studied. The parameters analyzed and the main results are as follows. (1) Transportability by cilia (MCT), SI was higher than DC (0.94+/-0.25 and 0.62+/-0.25; P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the two methods and DC could be estimated by: DC=0.21+(0.44 SI) (r=0.44; P<0.001). (2) Transportability by cough (CC), SI was higher than DC (68.23+/-32.1 and 33.58+/-19.04 mm; P=0.002). (3) Contact angle (CA), SI was lower than DC (10+/-3 degrees and 22+/-14 degrees ; P=0.025). (4) Rheological properties (no significant difference obtained between SI and DC). These results indicated that SI changes mucus physical properties and transportability in non-expectorators.     

Sputum microbiome profiles identify severe asthma phenotypes of relative stability at 12 to 18 months

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Diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung by sputum cytology: with special reference to correlation of diagnostic accuracy with size and proximal extent of resected tumor

Sputum cytology was performed in 179 cases of squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung; 134 cases were diagnosed as positive. There were no significant differences in diagnostic accuracy of sputum cytology between tumors sizes. In cases with tumors extending proximally into the main, lobar, or segmental bronchi, the diagnostic accuracy of sputum cytology was significantly higher than in cases where the proximal invasion of tumor was limited to the peripheral bronchi. In cases with tumors 3 cm or less in diameter, when tumors extended proximally into main, lobar, or segmental bronchi, the diagnostic accuracy of sputum cytology was significantly higher than in cases with tumors extending proximally into subsegmental or subsubsegmental bronchi. In peripherally located squamous-cell carcinoma, in cases in which the tumor arose in subsegmental or subsubsegmental bronchi, carcinoma could be detected by sputum cytology even when it was roentgenographically occult.     

Comparative evaluation of two commercial assays for direct detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory specimens

Two commercial systems for the amplification and detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosis directly from respiratory samples were compared. The Roche Cobas Amplicor MTB Test and the Roche manual Amplicor MTB Test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, USA) were applied to 755 decontaminated respiratory specimens collected from 470 patients. Results were compared with those of acid-fast staining and culture. A total of 251 specimens were collected from 156 patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, including 28 specimens corresponding to 13 patients that were receiving antituberculous treatment. Given the overall positivity rate of 33.2% (251/755), the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 92.4, 100, 100, and 96.5%, respectively, for the Cobas Amplicor MTB Test and 90.8, 100, 100, and 95.8%, respectively, for the Amplicor MTB Test. For 204 (81.3%) smear positive specimens and 47 (19.7%) smear negative specimens, the sensitivity values were 100 and 59.6%, respectively, for the Cobas Amplicor MTB Test and 100 and 51%, respectively, for the Amplicor MTB Test. There were no statistically significant differences in sensitivity or specificity between the two assays and culture (p>0.05). The overall results of both assays were concordant for 99.5% of the samples. It is concluded that although both nucleic acid amplification methods are rapid and specific for the detection ofMycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens, the Cobas Amplicor MTB Test appears to be slightly more sensitive than the Amplicor MTB Test when smear negative specimens are investigated.     

PCR快速检测幽门螺杆菌

应用ＰＣＲ扩增１５个幽门螺杆菌分离株的ＤＮＡ，扩增产物经琼脂糖凝胶电泳均显示一条２９８ｂｐ的区带，而１２株与幽门螺杆菌相关的肠道杆菌都不能扩增出该片段。ＰＣＲ可检出少至１００个幽门螺杆菌细胞，并能检出胃粘膜活检标本中的此菌，全部实验可在５小时内完成。