The Case of the Jaundiced Woman

Until now we have been “grasping at straws” in our efforts to develop therapeutic approaches to autoimmune diseases. Such efforts, it is suggested, have been hampered by the assumption that these diseases are sequelae of immunologic hyperactivity. The fifth article of the immunology series presents evidence that autoimmunity in fact results from either selective or generalized immunologic deficiency.     

Sensory neuropeptides induce histamine release from bronchoalveolar lavage cells in both nonasthmatic coughers and cough variant asthmatics

BACKGROUND: Sensory neuropeptides have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of a number of respiratory diseases including asthma and chronic non-productive cough. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the action of sensory neuropeptides on airway mast cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). METHODS: BAL was performed on 23 nonasthmatic patients with cough (NAC), 11 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA) and 10 nonatopic controls. Washed lavage cells were stimulated (20 min, 37 degrees C) with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin A (NKA) and substance P (25 and 50 micromol/L). RESULTS: The neuropeptides tested induced histamine release in all groups studied. Only CGRP (50 micromol/L) induced significantly more histamine release from both NAC and CVA patients compared with control subjects (P = 0.038 and 0.045, respectively). CONCLUSION: Regardless of aetiology, mast cells from patients with chronic cough appear to have an increased responsiveness to CGRP compared with controls. The results of the present study suggest that the role of CGRP in chronic cough should be further investigated.     

支气管灌洗液肿瘤标志物联合检测对肺癌诊断价值探讨

目的　探讨支气管灌洗液 (BLF)中癌胚抗原 (CEA)、恶性肿瘤生长因子 (TSGF)及细胞角蛋白 19片段(CYFRA2 1 1)联合检测对肺癌的诊断价值。方法　标本取自 5 1例肺癌患者和 30例非肺癌患者的支气管灌洗液 ,CEA和CYFRA2 1 1测定采用放射免疫法 ,TSGF采用分光光度比色法检测。结果　肺癌组上述 3项指标均高于非肺癌组 (P <0 .0 0 1) ;肺癌组BLF中CEA、CYFRA2 1 1及TSGF的阳性率分别为 37.2 %、78.4 %及 88.2 % ,特异性分别为 83.3%、76 .4 %及 76 .4 % ,3项指标联合检测则特异性达 96 .7%。结论　BLF中CEA、CYFRA2 1 1及TSGF检测对肺癌的诊断有一定价值 ,3者联合检测有明显的互补性 ,可提高肺癌诊断的特异性及准确性     

特发性肺纤维化患者支气管肺泡灌洗液中细胞因子研究

目的研究支气管肺泡灌洗液(bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,BALF)中转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)、血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF)含量变化及细胞改变,探讨其临床应用价值.方法用ELISA方法检测BALF中TGF-β1,PDGF含量.结果特发性肺纤维化(IPF)患者支气管肺泡灌洗液中TGF-β1,PDGF含量与对照组比较明显升高(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).结论TGF-β1,PDGF参与IPF的形成,检测BALF中TGF-β1,PDGF含量可作为IPF的辅助诊断指标及判断疾病活动的标志,对TGF-β1,PDGF的生物活性进行阻断,将是治疗IPF一条有前途的方法.     

Platelet-activating factor in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome

1. To clarify the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the development of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), we performed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in 19 patients with ARDS and examined cell populations, albumin concentrations and PAF levels. PAF levels were measured by a newly developed radioimmunoassay. 2. In the BAL fluid of ARDS patients, neutrophil percentages and albumin concentrations markedly increased compared with control subjects. 3. PAF was detected in 14 of 19 patients with ARDS, whereas it did not exist in the control subjects. 4. Furthermore, we investigated the priming effect of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha), which is known to be one of the most important mediators in the development of ARDS, on PAF production induced by the calcium ionophore in neutrophils. 5. Pre-incubation with TNF alpha dose-dependently increased both extracellular and intracellular PAF production in neutrophils. 6. These results suggest that PAF might play an important role in the development of ARDS.     

Bronchoscopic performance of bronchoalveolar lavage in germany – a call for standardization

Background:Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a widely used clinical tool in diagnosing interstitial lung diseases. Although there are recommendations and guidelines, the procedure is not completely standardized. Varying approaches likely influence the conclusiveness of BAL data and may be one reason for the divergent judgement of their value between different centers.Objectives:To evaluate how BAL is performed in Germany using an electronically based survey.Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among all members of the German Respiratory Society.Results:608 members responded to the survey and of these 500 perform lavages. Most bronchoscopists (344/500) do not use a tube and have no anesthesiologist present during the procedure (405/500). Propofol is used by 76.8% and midazolam by 67.9% (n = 405), often in combination. A major difference was noted regarding the total volume of instillation. Many respondents use a predefined fixed amount of instilled volume (202/500), whereas an almost equal number use variable volumes based on the recovery (196/500). The minimum recovery volume predefined by 217/499 ranged from 3-150 ml (median 30 ml; mean 42.2 ± 55.1 ml). Most respondents did not transport their samples in special medium (61.5%) or on ice (72.8%). The average time between recovery and arrival at the lab was 115.6±267.0 min (n = 323).Conclusion:This study shows the broad spectrum of variations in the performance of BAL in Germany, which could have a negative effect on the method’s clinical value. There is a need for training and standardization of BAL performance.     

支气管肺泡灌洗液的Xpert MTB/RIF检测对肺结核的诊断价值分析

目的探讨Xpert MTB/RIF检测法在支气管肺泡灌洗液结核分枝杆菌检测中的应用价值。方法选取2018年5月~2019年5月山东省枣庄市肿瘤医院收治的150例疑似肺结核患者为研究对象,以支气管肺泡灌洗液作为病原学检测标本,分别以病原学诊断活动性结核病和临床诊断活动性结核病为金标准,以Xpert MTB/RIF为待测标准,分析Xpert MTB/RIF对病原学和临床诊断结核的诊断价值。结果在150例灌洗液标本中确诊肺结核130例,离心涂片抗酸染色法抗酸杆菌阳性45例,阳性率为34.62%;Xpert MTB/RIF检测法抗酸杆菌阳性57例,阳性率为43.85%;Xpert MTB/RIF检测法抗酸杆菌阳性率明显高于离心涂片抗酸染色法,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。130例肺结核患者中,病原学诊断结核57例(43.95%),临床诊断结核67例(51.54%);肺结核合并支气管结核102例(78.46%),单纯肺结核107例(82.31%)。Xpert MTB/RIF在病原学诊断和临床诊断结核的敏感度分别为77%(95%CI:63%~88%)和52%(95%CI:41%~63%)(P<0.05);肺结核合并支气管结核的敏感度为81%(95%CI:67%~89%),单纯肺结核的敏感度46%(95%CI:35%~59%);病原学诊断和临床诊断结核、合并支气管结核和单纯肺结核特异度均为100%(95%CI:98%~100%)。Xpert MTB/RIF检测病原学诊断结核敏感度高于临床诊断结核,肺结核合并支气管结核敏感度高于单纯肺结核(P<0.05);支气管肺泡灌洗液的MTB核酸检出载量病原学诊断结核高于临床诊断结核(P<0.05)。结论支气管肺泡灌洗液Xpert MTB/RIF检测在肺结核诊断中具有较高的价值和敏感性,有助于提高肺结核病因的检出率。     

支气管肺泡灌洗液中肿瘤相关物质群对肺部孤立结节鉴别诊断的意义

目的探讨血清和支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中肿瘤相关物质群(TSGF)对周围型肺部孤立结节(SPN)良恶性鉴别诊断的价值。方法对40例周围型SPN患者行血清和健患双侧支气管肺泡灌洗液TSGF、CEA检测并与40例良性病变进行对照。结果恶性SPN患者血清和健患双侧支气管肺泡灌洗液TSGF、CEA均高于良性患者及对照组，恶性SPN组患侧支气管肺泡灌洗液TSGF、CEA检测值亦高于健侧，患侧BALF中TSGF测定对恶性SPN诊断的特异性达100％，亦高于CEA的73.3％及血清TSGF的86．7％。结论支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清TSGF测定对周围型SPN的良恶性鉴别诊断有一定的价值，尤其健患双侧BALF中TSGF检测对肿瘤有一定的定位诊断作用。