Subject(s)
Respiratory Insufficiency/diagnosis , Respiratory Insufficiency/etiology , Aged , Esophageal Perforation/complications , Esophageal Perforation/diagnosis , Esophageal Perforation/therapy , Humans , Male , Mediastinal Diseases/complications , Mediastinal Diseases/diagnosis , Mediastinal Diseases/therapy , Respiratory Insufficiency/therapyABSTRACT
Hemophilia B is an inherited, X chromosome-linked disease. It is usually diagnosed in childhood, sometimes in adolescence. The commonest symptoms include spontaneous or post-traumatic bleeding into the joints and/or muscles, as well as mucosal bleeding. Respiratory symptoms are rarely reported. We present the case of a 64 year-old man in whom bloody parapneumonic effusion (hemothorax) was the first symptom of hemophilia B. The reason for prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) found on admission has not been elucidated. Since antibiotic therapy and pleural tube thoracostomy with intrapleural streptokinase were found to be ineffective, video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed with the right lung decortication. Post-operative treatment was complicated by massive pleural bleeding requiring two subsequent thoracotomies. Additional blood tests revealed factor IX deficiency and resulted in hemophilia B being diagnosed. The presented case proves that hereditary bleeding disorders may be diagnosed even in late adulthood. Intrapleural bleeding related to pneumonia and pleural inflammation might be the first presenting symptom. Hemophilia should be considered as a potential cause of APTT prolongation, even in an elderly patient with atypical presentation. Explaining the reason for APTT prolongation before the surgical procedure could have allowed to avoid severe bleeding in the described patient.
Subject(s)
Hemophilia B/diagnosis , Hemophilia B/surgery , Hemothorax/diagnosis , Hemothorax/surgery , Pleural Effusion/diagnosis , Pleural Effusion/surgery , Age of Onset , Hemophilia B/complications , Hemophilia B/diagnostic imaging , Hemothorax/diagnostic imaging , Hemothorax/etiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pleural Effusion/diagnostic imaging , Pleural Effusion/etiology , Radiography , Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted/methods , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Exhaled nitric oxide has been extensively investigated as a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation. Some authors have suggested that morning FE(NO) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients is elevated due to inflammation of upper airways, while others have not found any differences between patients and healthy subjects. The purpose of this study was to analyze concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) in OSAS patients. METHODS: 119 (99 M, 20 F) consecutive patients of sleep laboratory participated in this study. Standard overnight sleep studies with polysomnography or portable screening device were carried out in the whole group: OSAS was diagnosed in 66 patients and 53 no-OSAS served as controls. FE(NO) was measured on-line with a flow rate kept at 0.045 - 0.055 l/s, according to the recommendations of ATS using a chemiluminescence analyzer twice: before the sleep study (8-10 p.m.) and after termination of data collection (6 - 8 a.m.). There were no differences in age between patients and controls. Respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was 40.3+/-24.9 in patients and 3.7+/-2.8 in controls (p<0.001). In OSAS patients both evening and morning FE(NO) was significantly higher compared to controls (23.1+/-14.8 ppb vs. 16.8+/-9.8 ppb and 22.4+/-13.2 ppb vs. 15.3+/-8.1 ppb respectively, p<0.05). Weak but statistically significant correlations for the whole group between morning FE(NO) and mean and minimum arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) during sleep and number of study minutes with SaO2<90% were observed. Lower evening FE(NO) in OSAS patients with coexisting arterial hypertension when compared to normotensive OSAS patients was also noticed (19.1+/-10.8 ppb vs. 27.1+/-19.1 ppb; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in FE(NO) in OSAS patents may be caused by repetitive apneas and hypoxemia during sleep.
Subject(s)
Breath Tests , Nitric Oxide/analysis , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers/analysis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Poland/epidemiology , Polysomnography , Pulmonary Gas Exchange/physiology , Reference Values , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/metabolism , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Nitric oxide has been extensively studied as a noninvasive marker of airway inflammation, especially in asthma. Assuming, bronchoscopy can produced not only systemic but also local inflammatory response we hypothesized that bronchofiberoscopy can be responsible for an increase in nitric oxide synthesis with resulting increase in fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)). Seventeen subjects (10 M, 7 F), at mean age of 53.8+/-14.1 yrs undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy participated in the study. The indications for bronchoscopy were as follows: lung cancer (n=5; 29%), interstitial lung diseases (n=3; 18%), slowly resolving pneumonia (n=3; 18%), hemoptysis (n=3; 18%), differential diagnosis of asthma/ dyspnea (n=3; 18%). During bronchoscopy bronchial washing (n=7) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) (n=10) has been performed. FE(NO) has been analyzed on-line with chemiluminescence analyzer (NIOX, Aerocrine, Sweden) according to American Thoracic Society guidelines, before and at 1, 2, 3 and 24 hours after bronchoscopy. Mean FE(NO) before bronchoscopy was 19.7+/-4.5 ppb (mean +/- SEM), post - bronchoscopy a decrease with a nadir at second hour (12.1+/-1.5 ppb, p<0.05) was observed, FE(NO) 24 hours after bronchoscopy was not different than baseline (18.4+/-2.5 ppb). There were no differences in the FE(NO) profile in BAL patients when compared to those in whom only the bronchial washing has been performed. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchoscopy leads to a significant decrease in exhaled nitric oxide. The underlying mechanisms are unclear. Future studies including analysis of other inflammatory markers are needed to explain these changes.
Subject(s)
Breath Tests , Bronchitis/etiology , Bronchoscopy/adverse effects , Lung Diseases/diagnosis , Nitric Oxide/analysis , Asthma/complications , Asthma/diagnosis , Biomarkers/analysis , Bronchitis/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Down-Regulation , Dyspnea/diagnosis , Dyspnea/etiology , Female , Humans , Lung Diseases/complications , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Breathing , Pulmonary Gas Exchange , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
The polymorphism of the short fragment of the heat shock protein 65 encoding gene was evaluated by the PCR - RFLP technique described by Telenti and further developed by Devallois for identification of mycobacterial species in routine laboratory work. We analysed 58 strains representing 25 different mycobacterial species (24 reference strains and 34 clinical isolates). The results obtained by PCR-RFLP and HPLC identification techniques were highly concordant The results were compatible for 87,5% (21 / 24) reference strains and for 97,1% (33/34) clinical isolates. The PCR - RFLP method allowed for accurate identification mycobacterial species, especially pathogenic strains. Restriction patterns obtained for 25 species of Mycobacteriaceae genus could help in constructing the data base and algorithms used in routine laboratory practice.
Subject(s)
Genes, Bacterial/genetics , HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/genetics , Mycobacteriaceae/genetics , Mycobacteriaceae/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length , Algorithms , Bacterial Typing Techniques/methods , Mycobacteriaceae/classificationABSTRACT
Tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the most common extrapulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis. The most common lymph nodes involved are in the cervical region. Lymphadenitis due to M. tuberculosis generally presents with enlarging neck lymph nodes over weeks or months associated with fever, weight loss and fatigue. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of affected lymph nodes has been shown to yield a high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Specimens should be examined cytologically, as well as by AFB smear and cultures. The time between the onset of symptoms, clinical presentation and final diagnosis is often too long. We present a case of 60 years old man with tuberculous lymphadenitis, initially suspected of lymphoproliferative disease.
Subject(s)
Lymph Nodes/microbiology , Lymph Nodes/pathology , Tuberculosis, Lymph Node/pathology , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Biopsy, Fine-Needle , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Lymph Nodes/surgery , Lymphoproliferative Disorders/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Sensitivity and Specificity , Tuberculosis, Lymph Node/drug therapyABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Exhaled nitric oxide is a marker of airway inflammation and it is significantly decreased by glucocorticosteroid therapy, especially in patients with asthma. AIM OF THE STUDY: Evaluation of changes in FE(NO) in asthma and COPD exacerbation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 17 patients with acute asthma and 19 patients with an exacerbation of COPD were enrolled to the study. FE(NO) (chemiluminescence, on-line, restricted breath technique measurement in accordance with the ATS recommendations) was performed for five consecutive days following admission to hospital. Results of the following additional blood investigations: peripheral white blood cell count, ESR, C-reactive protein level, arterial blood gases, spirometry or peak expiratory flow were also analyzed. RESULTS: The average value of FE(NO) on admission was 41.5+/-10.7 ppb (95% CI: 18.8-64.2 ppb) asthma patients and 28.6+/-5.4 ppb (95% CI: 17.4-40.0 ppb) in COPD patients. In asthma patients a significant decrease of FE(NO) on the third day of therapy was observed (41.5 vs 26.1 ppb, p < 0.05). We found a positive correlation between FE(NO) on admission and the peripheral blood eosinophil count. In COPD patients a significant decrease of FE(NO) on the 4th day was noted (28.6 vs 17.5 ppb, p < 0.05). FE(NO) in both groups was higher than that of 19 healthy volunteers previously studied in our laboratory (14.1+/-4.7 ppb; 95% CI: 11.8+/-16.4 ppb). CONCLUSIONS: Exacerbations of asthma and COPD are associated with an increased FE(NO). FE(NO) measurement is a useful tool in the assessment of treatment efficacy. Exhaled nitric oxide may indicate the intensity of allergic inflammation in patients with asthma.
Subject(s)
Asthma/physiopathology , Exhalation , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathology , Acute Disease , Adult , Aged , Asthma/metabolism , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/metabolism , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the short-term variability of FENO in healthy subjects. METHODS: 33 healthy volunteers (26 F, 7 M) aged 32.6 +/- 9.5 yrs with body mass index (BMI) of 23.3 +/- 3 kg/m2 participated in the study. Exhaled nitric oxide was analyzed on 5 consecutive days with a chemiluminescence analyzer (NIOX, Aerocrine, Sweden) according to the ATS recommendations. The exhalation flow was between 0.045 and 0.055 l/s. The measurements were performed at the same time of the day and the subjects were asked to refrain from eating and drinking for at least one hour before the analysis. RESULTS: The mean value of FENO for the whole group was 13.9 +/- 5.4 ppb, there were no correlations between FENO and age, BMI, sex or the concentration of ambient nitric oxide. Day-to-day coefficient of variation was 13.3 +/- 5.3% (range 4.6 - 23.9%), the value of pooled SD - 2.1 ppb and ICC (intraclass correlation coefficient) was 0.84. No relationship was observed between variability of FENO and intervals between measurement of exhaled nitric oxide and intake of food or beverages. CONCLUSION: Chemiluminescence analysis of FENO with NIOX is a highly reproducible method, however one has to take into account the possibility of about 13% variability of FENO within 5 days.
