Signatures of cool gas fueling a star-forming galaxy at redshift 2.3.

Galaxies are thought to be fed by the continuous accretion of intergalactic gas, but direct observational evidence has been elusive. The accreted gas is expected to orbit about the galaxy's halo, delivering not just fuel for star formation but also angular momentum to the galaxy, leading to distinct kinematic signatures. We report observations showing these distinct signatures near a typical distant star-forming galaxy, where the gas is detected using a background quasar passing 26 kiloparsecs from the host. Our observations indicate that gas accretion plays a major role in galaxy growth because the estimated accretion rate is comparable to the star-formation rate.

One or two drains after lobectomy? A comparison of both methods in the immediate postoperative period.

BACKGROUND: The conventional method of double chest tube drainage after lobectomy is well established. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of the two-drain versus the single-drain approach after this procedure. METHODS: The data of 183 consecutive patients who underwent lobectomy between January 2000 and May 2005 were analyzed: 93 had two drains and 90 had a single, midposition drain. All patients were operated on by one surgeon with the same surgical technique. RESULTS: Patients with one drain had a shorter hospital stay (7.6 days vs. 9.0 days; P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in the amount of drainage, the necessity of redrainage or broncho-aspiration, and postoperative mortality or complications. The period in which opioids (4.8 days vs. 5.6 days; P = 0.0001) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (6.8 days vs. 7.7 days; P = 0.002) were required was shorter in patients with one drain. The fourth postoperative day was more painful for patients with a double drain. The cost savings in the one-drain group were approximately 125 Euros per patient. CONCLUSION: A single-drain method is effective, reduces hospitalization times and the cost of treatment in patients who undergo lobectomy.

Surgical treatment of lung cancer in patients under 45 years of age.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the characteristics and prognosis of radical surgical treatment in young patients under the age of 45 with lung cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the data of 85 young patients and 211 older patients who underwent anatomical lung resections in Wroclaw Thoracic Surgery Centre. RESULTS: Less lobectomies were performed (p = 0.048), the incidence of carcinoid was significantly higher (p < 0.0001), stage I of lung cancer was observed less frequently (p = 0.023), the frequency of metastasis to subcarinal lymph nodes was higher (p = 0.007), a bronchial stump was microscopically infiltrated more frequently, the complete resection was noted rarer (p = 0.016) and 3-year survival rate of squamous cell carcinoma patients was worse in younger group (p = 0.017). The statistical significance was not observed between the frequency of recurrences and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Lung cancer in younger patients seems to be more advanced at the time of surgery. It is probable that the group of younger patients with squamous cell carcinoma will require additional treatment after surgery.

Anticoagulant drugs increase natural killer cell activity in lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: In preclinical studies in animal models and in initial clinical trials, anticoagulation drugs have been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of haematogenous metastasis, and in the prolongation of survival in animal models. However, only a few studies have been performed on the direct influence of anticoagulation drugs on the immune system. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of warfarin, unfractioned heparin, low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), and acetylsalicylic acid anticoagulants on the functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cytotoxic activity in patients with early, operable stages of non-small-cell lung cancer was compared with healthy volunteers. Cytotoxic studies were also carried out in tumor-bearing animals. RESULTS: Lung-cancer patients were characterized by significantly lower NK cell cytotoxicity (7.07 +/- 3.15) than healthy donors (44.12 +/- 10.62, P < 0.001). NK cell activation was found in both in vitro experiments using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy donors and ex vivo in lung carcinoma patients after treatment with unfractionated heparin and fraxiparine. Similarly, potentiation of NK cell activity in Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice was found after therapy with unfractionated heparin. NK cell activity is lower in lung cancer patients than in normal subjects. CONCLUSIONS: NK cell activation was increased by LMWHs. Other anticoagulants augment the effector function of NK cells in cancer patients and in an animal model of lung cancer. This is a novel effect of these compounds, which were thought previously to exert their effect only via their anticoagulant properties.

[A case of massive chylothorax during the course of malignant lymphoma]. / Przypadek masywnego chlonkotoku do jam oplucnowych w przebiegu chloniaka zlosliwego.

A 65 year old man with low grade malignant B cell lymphoma developed bilateral chylothorax, which reached the volume of 52.1. Chylothorax arised most probably as a result of pleural infiltration in the course of the disease. Chemotherapy and repeated drainage of chylus was successful. The resolution of massive bilateral chylothorax in our patient shows, that conservative measures (chemotherapy and repeated pleural drainage) should be tried even in very extensive chylothorax in the course of neoplastic disease.