Increase in Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 associated parapneumonic pleural effusion/empyema after the introduction of PCV13 in Germany

IntroductionPediatric pneumococcal pneumonia complicated by parapneumonic pleural effusion/empyema (PPE/PE) remains a major concern despite general immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs).MethodsIn a nationwide pediatric hospital surveillance study in Germany we identified 584 children <18 years of age with bacteriologically confirmed PPE/PE from October 2010 to June 2018. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified by culture and/or PCR of blood samples and/or pleural fluid and serotyped.ResultsS. pneumoniae was identified in 256 of 584 (43.8%) children by culture (n = 122) and/or PCR (n = 207). The following pneumococcal serotypes were detected in 114 children: serotype 3 (42.1%), 1 (25.4%), 7F (12.3%), 19A (7.9%), other PCV13 serotypes (4.4%) and non-PCV13 serotypes (7.9%). Between October 2010 and June 2014 serotype 1 (38.1%) and serotype 3 (25.4%) were most prevalent, whereas between July 2014 and June 2018 serotype 3 (62.7%) and non-PCV13 serotypes (15.7%) were dominant. Compared to children with other pneumococcal serotypes, children with serotype 3 associated PPE/PE were younger (median 3.2 years [IQR 2.1–4.3 years] vs. median 5.6 years [IQR 3.8–8.2 years]; p < 0.001) and more frequently admitted to intensive care (43 [89.6%] vs. 48 [73.8%]; p = 0.04). Seventy-six of 114 (66.7%) children with pneumococcal PPE/PE had been vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccines. Thirty-nine of 76 (51.3%) had received a vaccine covering the serotype detected. Thirty of these 39 breakthrough cases were age-appropriately vaccinated with PCV13 and considered vaccine failures, including 26 children with serotype 3, three children with serotype 19A and one child with serotype 1.ConclusionFollowing the introduction of PCV13 in general childhood vaccination we observed a strong emergence of serotype 3 associated PPE/PE in the German pediatric population, including a considerable number of younger children with serotype 3 vaccine breakthrough cases and failures. Future PCVs should not only cover newly emerging serotypes, but also include a more effective component against serotype 3.     

Clinicopathological Profile of Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: Single-center Real-world Experience and Review of Literature

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy of plasma cell origin. MM primarily affects bone marrow, but extramedullary sites can also be involved. Myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE) is an atypical and rare complication of MM. We aimed to systematically study the incidence and clinicopathologic profile of patients with MPE in a real-world setting.

肺癌胸膜早期种植转移:螺旋CT与手术病理对照研究

目的:评价CT诊断肺癌胸膜早期种植转移的价值,并分析漏诊原因。方法:回顾性分析43例经手术病理确诊肺癌胸膜种植转移的CT、手术病理资料,作对照研究。结果:43例中,术前CT仅诊断8例,其中Ⅲ级5例,Ⅱ级3例,诊断符合率19%(8/43),CT实际显示胸膜转移结节28例,其中Ⅰ级10例、Ⅱ级13例,Ⅲ级5例,未显示Ⅰ级15例,CT检出率为65%(28/43)。28例中,术前CT漏诊Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级各10例,漏诊率71%(20/28)。20例中,CT漏诊叶间胸膜、肺表面脏层胸膜、纵隔胸膜、肋胸膜、膈胸膜转移,漏诊率分别为0%、33%、36%、43%、80%。结论:CT能准确检出、诊断肺癌中晚期胸膜转移,但检出胸膜早期微小病灶有明显局限性,在CT诊断中,忽视对膈胸膜、肋胸膜、肺表面脏胸膜上Ⅰ、Ⅱ级较早转移灶的观察,是导致漏诊的原因之一。     

含补金片方案治疗结核性渗出性胸膜炎疗效观察

目的：探讨结核性渗出性胸膜炎的治疗方法。方法：96例初治结核性胸膜炎患者随机分为2组,对照组应用普通化疗方案2HRZE（S）/4HR;治疗组在对照组基础上,强化期加用补金片治疗。观察6个月,分析两组疗效。结果：治疗2周、4周及8周末胸水吸收总有效率治疗组为83.33%、91.67%和95.83%;对照组为64.58%、72.92%和79.17%,治疗6个月胸膜肥厚与粘连发生率治疗组为14.58%,对照组为41.67%,两组比较均有显著性差异（P〈0.05）。结论：补金片可促进胸液吸收,加快临床症状消失,防止胸膜肥厚粘连,以及防止肝损害等,值得临床推广。     

癌性胸腔积液端粒酶活性的检测

目的：探讨端粒酶活性水平检测对癌性胸腔积液的诊断价值。方法：采用Telomerase-PCR-ELISA法检测了30例癌性胸腔积液及21例良性胸腔积液的端粒酶活性水平，并与细胞学检查比较结果：癌性胸腔积液端粒酶活性阳性率76．6％，结核性胸腔积液20％（3／15），其他病因胸腔积液0％（0／6），癌性胸腔积液端粒酶活性高于细胞学检查率36．6％（P＜0．005），两者平行试验阳性率83．3％。结论：端粒酶活性的检测可能成为诊断癌性胸腔积液的重要辅助手段。     

Mortality study of asbestos cement workers

The present study describes cause-specific mortality of asbestos cement workers in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. The cohort included workers in ten factories, most of which started operating between 1955 and 1965. Asbestos, mainly chrysotile, constituted 10%–20% of the dry component of the mixture. Crocidolite range between 5% and 50% of total asbestos. Asbestos concentrations up to 44 ff/cc were reported prior to 1975, while in recent years they have usually been below 0–1 ff/cc. The cohort included 3341 workers who had at some time been employed in the ten factories under study. Their mortality experience was compared with that of the population resident in Emilia Romagna. Vital status was ascertained at 1989. Seventy-three subjects were lost to followup (2.2%). Mortality from all causes and from all types of cancer was increased in the cohort. Malignant neoplasms of the respiratory tract showed a significant increase (SMR: 134; 90% confidence interval: 101–175; 40 observed) due to lung cancer (SMR: 124; 90% confidence interval: 91–166; 33 observed) and neoplasms of the pleura, mediastinum, and other parts of the respiratory tract (SMR: 602; 90% confidence interval 237–1267; 5 observed). The discrepancy between observed and expected mortality mainly concerned subjects with at least 20 years of employment in the factories. Five more cases of histologically confirmed mesothelioma occurred after the end of follow-up.     

Localized wall thickening of the gallbladder mimicking a neoplasm

Clinical diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis is made based on diffuse hyperechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall as shown by ultrasonographic examination. We herein report three cases of chronic cholecystitis showing localized hypoechoic thickening of the gallbladder wall that mimicked gallbladder cancer by ultrasonography. Histologically, hypertrophy of the muscularis propria was a common characteristic finding in these three patients. A smooth surface of the inner hypoechoic layer of the thickened wall was considered to be a reliable finding in the differential diagnosis between this type of chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer.     

血管内皮生长因子与胸腔积液

血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）是目前已知活性最强、高度特异的血管生长因子。研究表明：VEGF可使血管通透性增加、渗出增多，在促进胸腔积液形成的过程中起重要作用。深入研究VEGF为进一步认识胸腔积液的发病机制及发展新的治疗策略提供了条件。