Detection of interleukin-2 is not useful for distinguishing between latent and active tuberculosis in clinical practice: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Previous reports have identified interleukin-2 (IL-2), quantified in the supernatants of QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-tube (QFT) after 72 h of incubation, as a potential biomarker for distinguishing between latent and active tuberculosis (TB). However, its validity has not been tested in an appropriate clinical cohort. METHODS: A multicentre study of 161 consecutive adult patients undergoing evaluation for active TB at eight TB Units in Spain. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-2 were assessed in the supernatant of QFT after 16-24 h and 72 h of incubation. The accuracy of IL-2 for indicating latent TB infection (LTBI) was assessed by receiving operating characteristic curves. . RESULTS: Twenty-eight participants were not infected, 43 had LTBI, 69 had TB, and 21 were not classifiable. Median (interquartile range) IL-2 concentrations after 72 h of incubation were 0.0 pg/mL (0.0-0.0) in uninfected individuals, 261.0 pg/mL (81.0-853.0) in LTBI individuals, 166.5 pg/mL (33.5-551.5) in patients with extrapulmonary TB, 95.0 pg/mL (26.0-283.0) in patients with smear-negative pulmonary TB, and 38.5 pg/mL (7.5-178.0) in patients with smear-positive pulmonary TB (p <0.0001). The area under the curve of the receiving operating characteristic curve (95% CI) of IL-2 after 72 h of incubation for the diagnosis of LTBI was 0.63 (0.53-0.74) when all TB cases were considered as a single group, ranging from 0.59 (0.47-0.71) to 0.72 (0.58-0.85) when only extrapulmonary and smear-positive pulmonary TB cases respectively were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Quantification of IL-2 in the supernatant of QFT after a prolonged incubation is not useful to distinguish between LTBI and active disease in clinical practice.

[Protocol diagnosis and empirical treatment of acute bronchitis]. / Protocolo diagnóstico y tratamiento empírico de la bronquitis aguda.

Acute bronchitis is an inflammatory disease of the highest caliber area that appears most frequently in cold months, affecting up to 5 % of the adult population. Clinically characterized by cough, may be associated with purulent sputum, and in some cases self-limiting existing bronchial hyperreactivity. Systemic antibiotics for treatment is not recommended.

Valoración del seguimiento de las guías clínicas en la exacerbación de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) en el servicio de urgencias / Assessment of adherence to practice guidelines for managing exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the emergency department

Se describe la experiencia clínica en cuanto al grado de cumplimiento de las guías clínicas en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) atendidos en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH). Se han revisado las historias de 352 pacientes atendidos por EPOC durante un periodo de 1 año. Se ha observado que la presión arterial se registró en el 92% de los casos, la frecuencia cardiaca en el 74,7%, la frecuencia respiratoria en el 71,9%, la saturación arterial de oxígeno en el 88,4%, la presencia de disnea en reposo en el 25,3% y el uso de musculatura accesoria en el13,4%. De los casos en los que pudo valorarse la antibioticoterapia, ésta se administró sin indicación en el 78,2%, y sólo 117 de los 215 pacientes con criterios de gravedad recibieron corticoides sistémicos (54%). En conclusión, se constata un cumplimiento bajo en la valoración de ítems necesarios para la aplicación de guías clínicas en la EPOC por lo que es necesario buscar herramientas para la mejora en el seguimiento de las recomendaciones de las vías clínicas. (AU)

This study aimed to describe clinical practice in terms of the degree of adherence to practice guidelines for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a hospital emergency department. We reviewed the records of 352patients with COPD treated over a period of 1 year. Blood pressure was recorded in 92% of the cases, heart rate in74.7%, respiratory frequency in 71.9%, arterial blood oxygen saturation in 88.4%, the presence of breathlessness at rest in 25.3%, and accessory muscle recruitment in 13.4%. In cases for which it was possible to assess antibiotic therapy, these drugs were administered without adherence to guideline indications in 78.2%, and only 117 of the 215 patients (54%) with serious exacerbation received systemic corticosteroids. We conclude that the records reveal low adherence to recommendations for recording the signs required to apply practice guidelines for the management of COPD. It is therefore necessary to find tools that improve adherence to the recommended clinical pathways (AU)

[The prognosis of mediastinal lymph node infiltration (N2) in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who have undergone curative treatment]. / Pronóstico de la infiltración ganglionar mediastínica (N2) en pacientes con carcinoma de pulmón de células no microcelulares (CPCNM) intervenidos con intenciones curativas.

In this prospective study of 148 surgically treated patients with non-small cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCLC) who were followed for 5 to 7 years, we analyzed the prognostic value of mediastinal lymph node invasion (N2) and survival after 5 years depending on different characteristics. Forty-two (28.4%) patients were N2. Survival in this sample was 9%. Twenty-seven T2N2 patients (among whom survival was 13%) were selected from this group and classified according to whether lymph node invasion was intranodal (survival 39%) or extracapsular (survival 5%) (p < or = 0.05). We also evaluated the prognostic value of different ganglionic areas in accordance to the maps suggested by the American Thoracic Society (ATS). There were no survivors for areas 2, 8 and 9, and no patient with invasion of more than two areas lived more than 18 months. Significant differences in survival were found among patients with invasion of areas 10 and 11. We conclude a) that global analysis of N2 is of such little value in predicting survival that surgery is not justified unless screening criteria are applied; b) that extracapsular invasion rules out surgical treatment; c) that the prognostic value of ganglionic areas is not entirely clear, although the prognosis seems to be poorer for invasion of areas 2, 8 and 9 or invasion of more than 2 areas, and d) that invasion of area 10 would appear to be better classified as N2 than as N1.

[A multivariate prospective study of prognostic factors in non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC): the results at 5 years]. / Estudio prospectivo multivariante sobre factores pronósticos en el carcinoma de pulmón no microcelular (CPNM): resultados a 5 años.

We present the results of a 5-year prospective study of 153 patients with a diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma (BC) who underwent curative surgery. Clinical and anatomical variables were analyzed by multiple regression analysis for prediction of death. Among the anatomical variables, the most significant were the following: stages of anatomical spread (p < or = 0.00000), ganglionic state (p < or = 0.00000), type for surgery (curative or non-curative) (p < or = 0.00000) and state of tumor (p = 0.00012). Significant clinical variables were clinical stage by Feinstein's classification (p = 0.00037), functional capacity (ECOG scale) (p = 0.01196) and tumor size measured conventionally (p = 0.01196). These variables were entered into a multivariate model for prognostic prediction in order to determine the patient's relative risk over time. The best combination of anatomical variables was obtained by associating the stages of spread and ganglionic state (chi 2 = 34.24; p = < 0.00000); the best combination of clinical variables was clinical stage and tumor size (chi 2 = 17.37; p = 0.00023). Thus, although the anatomical variables are more important than clinical ones, the latter have independent prognostic value, are easy to obtain and are available before surgery. They therefore represent an alternative to prognosis based on anatomical spread.

[The role of computed tomography (CT) of the thorax in defining the anatomical extent in bronchogenic carcinoma (BC)]. / Papel de la tomografía computarizada (TC) de tórax en la definición de la extensión anatómica en el carcinoma broncogénico (CB).

A series of 129 carriers of non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma (BC), in whom computed tomography (CT) of the thorax was performed as part of the preoperative study, are presented. The results of CT were compared with those of thoracotomy in terms of sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Thoracic wall (prevalence 0.18): SEN, SP, PPV and NPV were 0.65, 0.92, 0.63 and 0.92, respectively. In peripheral tumors these values were 0.85, 0.90, 0.69 and 0.96, respectively. CT demonstrating invasion of the thoracic wall thus requires confirmation for the purpose of surgical staging. If CT reveals an intact wall, however, surgery may take place immediately. Malignant mediastinal lymph nodes: (prevalence 0.36): SEN, SP, PPV, and NPV were 0.70, 0.89, 0.78 and 0.84, respectively. For peripheral tumors these values were 0.78, 0.93, 0.82 and 0.91, respectively. CT demonstrating malignant mediastinal lymph nodes should be confirmed by mediastinoscopy. If mediastinal malignancy is not observed by CT, thoracotomy may be performed in peripherally located tumors; in centrally located tumors, however, the absence of adenopathy should be confirmed by mediastinoscopy.

[Measurement of pulmonary function in laryngectomized patients]. / Medición de la función pulmonar en pacientes laringectomizados.

Comparative study upon clinic, radiological and spirometric parameters in 30 laryngectomees, which were spirometric tested by means of a device either simple, cheap, speed and efficient, designed by the AA. These are the conclusions drown out: 1st. There is a poor correlation clinic-functional in patients with obstructive pathology (which command, in the AA's opinion an exploration of the respiratory function in all laryngectomees). 2nd. On the contrary, there are a good radiological and functional correlation in patients suffering for restrictive disease (here the assessment functional means the quantification of the restrictive process). And 3rd. The laryngectomees show a higher functional affectation and can be expected if related to the age and sex. The explanation is to be found in the intercurrent diseases and also in the infections following the larynx removal.