Distinction between mesothelioma and lung adenocarcinoma based on immunohistochemistry in a patient with asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar fluid - case report.

Asbestos is a mineral-mined form the rocks, consisting in amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos) and÷or chrysotile (white asbestos) used in many industries. Researches about the exposure to asbestos dust and asbestosis related diseases started almost a century ago. The first case report of fatal asbestosis disease was published in 1906, in England, by Dr. Hubert Montague Murray. A decade after, asbestos "curious bodies" were firstly described in the lung tissue by Cooke (1926) and McDonald (1927). Occupational exposure to asbestos is now regulated in Romania, but past exposure is still a cause of asbestosis-related diseases (ARDs), including lung cancer. A peculiar association between a lung adenocarcinoma, a previously healed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) disease, is reported in a 61-year-old nonsmoker white man, a former factory worker with 29 years of occupational exposure history to cement and asbestos fibers. The positive diagnosis of asbestos exposure was facilitated by asbestos bodies determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The main purpose of this case report is to describe the development of a right pleural effusion which was not revelatory for a mesothelioma but for an adenocarcinoma of the lung. An accurate morphologic and immunohistochemistry assessment of a pleural biopsy sample excluded mesothelioma and was crucial in the positive diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. In conclusion, unilateral paraneoplastic pleural effusion in a nonsmoker male with occupational exposure to asbestosis fibers was suggestive for adenocarcinoma related asbestosis of the lung. Lung cancer and malignant pleural exudate developed after a long latency cumulative retention time of asbestos fibers.

Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and metabolic syndrome in a patient with chronic extrinsic allergic alveolitis.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a health issue of major importance globally. Although OSAS has a prevalence of 4-10% in the general population, it is less diagnosed, with redoubtable consequences on the quality of life and the professional performance. Observational studies showed that lack of sleep is correlated with weight gain and an increased risk of obesity; this relationship was confirmed by mutually reinforcing pathophysiological mechanisms. We report a case that is relevant for the consequences of the pharmaceutical treatment which proved effective in extrinsic allergic alveolitis, but was not supported by an effective intervention on lifestyle (by proper dietary adjustment and increased physical activity) thus exacerbating the obesity, the OSAS and the metabolic syndrome. We believe that this case exemplifies the relevant pathophysiological interdependence between obesity, metabolic syndrome and OSAS.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in a Railroad Controller Worker.

Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) constitutes a healthcare issue of major importance at international level with a prevalence of 5% in the active population. Consequentially to the induced co-morbidities, the mortality reaches as high as 39% at eight years time lapse from the initial diagnostic. Seldom undiagnosed, the severity spectrum of SAS, in the absence of therapy, only continues to amplify. Here below, we are presenting the case of a 49 years old patient, railroad controller worker, non-smoker and occasionally alcohol user, who was hospitalized in our Clinic for Occupational Medicine. During last year, the patient was accusing excessive daytime somnolence, breath arrests during sleep, intense snoring, morning headaches, morning oral dryness, pin point chest pain, nocturia (4-5 nocturnal urination), concentration difficulties and an overall reduced work capacity. The presumptive diagnostic of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is being considered based on the correlation between the clinical presentation and the Epworth, Stanford and Berlin questionnaire results. The key diagnostic element was the polygraph recording over an 8 hours sleep period. Positive Diagnosis: Obstructive Sleep Apnea severe form. Management and recommendations: (1) Behavioral therapy (weight loss) and (2) CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy which was instituted immediately after the positive diagnosis was made. As a consequence, the respiratory symptoms, the frequent episodes of daytime snoozing and the concentration difficulties at work place diminished considerably.

Systemic dermatitis and obstructive respiratory syndrome following occupational sensitization to trichloroethylene.

We present a derma-respiratory syndrome in a patient occupationally exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE). At the beginning of its industrial use trichloroethylene was considered harmless. But, in time it showed a high noxious capacity. It produces an important and various pathology, which evolves as acute or chronic disease. The case we present shows that trichloroethylene can induce cutaneous pathology that excels contact dermatitis. It also proves that trichloroethylene can produce systemic effects (obstructive respiratory syndrome). The particularity of the case is based on the succession of the events, first the cutaneous and then the respiratory effects. A long period of time was necessary for the installation of the symptoms (for cutaneous and bronchial sensitization to take place). The case presented is the proof that trichloroethylene's great toxicity cannot be doubted and that the clinical forms due to sensitization to trichloroethylene can be dramatic.

Farmer's lung.

Farmer's lung is a well known occupational disease, described many years ago; the incidence in our country is still very low. That is the reason why we find interesting to make a review of the main diagnostic procedures and to present the new data in this form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Other farmers' occupational induced respiratory diseases are also presented, with their similitudes and their differences from the classical farmer's lung.