Diagnostic value of tumour markers in pleural effusions

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a form of ultrasound that utilizes low-intensity pulsed waves. Its effect on bones that heal by intramembranous ossification has not been sufficiently investigated. In this study, we examined LIPUS and the autologous bone, to determine their effect on the healing of the critical-size bone defect (CSBD) of the rat calvaria. The bone samples underwent histological, histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Both LIPUS and autologous bone promoted osteogenesis, leading to almost complete closure of the bone defect. On day 30, the bone volume was the highest in the autologous bone group (20.35%), followed by the LIPUS group (19.12%), and the lowest value was in the control group (5.11%). The autologous bone group exhibited the highest intensities of COX-2 (167.7 ± 1.1) and Osx (177.1 ± 0.9) expression on day 30. In the LIPUS group, the highest intensity of COX-2 expression was found on day 7 (169.7 ±1.6) and day 15 (92.7 ± 2.2), while the highest Osx expression was on day 7 (131.9 ± 0.9). In conclusion, this study suggests that LIPUS could represent a viable alternative to autologous bone grafts in repairing bone defects that are ossified by intramembranous ossification.

The biologically active peptide angiotensin II is cleaved from angiotensinogen by the renin and the angiotensin‑converting enzyme (ACE), an enzymatic cascade known as the renin‑angiotensin system (RAS). RAS may be important in the etiology of nicotine dependence by influencing dopaminergic signaling. In the present study, the association between an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of ACE and nicotine dependence amongst patients with lung cancer was assessed. To date, several studies have shown the relevance of this polymorphic variant in both nicotine dependence and lung cancer. However, the present study is the first to address the potential role of the ACE‑I/D polymorphism in nicotine dependence among patients with lung cancer. Genotyping was performed in 305 patients with lung cancer (males/females, 214/91). Significantly more male smokers had the ACE‑I allele compared with male non‑smokers (44.9 vs. 20.0%; P<0.05). The risk of smoking was ~5‑fold higher for males with the ACE‑I allele (ACE‑II homozygous and ACE‑ID heterozygous) vs. ACE‑DD homozygous (odds ratio, 5.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.4‑21.9; P=0.016). The pack‑year smoking history in a subgroup of females with squamous cell carcinoma carrying the ACE‑I allele was significantly lower compared with ACE‑DD (37.1±14.1 vs. 57.0±29.1; F=4.5; P=0.046). The ACE‑I/D polymorphism accounted for 17.6% of the smoking severity in this patient group (β, ‑0.42; multiple R² change, 0.176; P=0.046). These results suggest that the ACE‑I/D polymorphism contributes to the risk of nicotine dependence and smoking severity in lung cancer patients in a sex‑specific manner.

Pulmonary histiocytic sarcoma is a rare, but highly malignant disease. Its low incidence imposes significant difficulties on physicians confronted with affected patients. The reported patient is a 24-year old male with histiocytic sarcoma of the lung. Left lower lobectomy was performed. Histologically, tumor cells had no features of carcinoma. Several entities were raised as differentials: large B or T cell lymphomas, metastatic melanoma, sarcoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, NK cell lymphoma. Immunohistochemically, melanoma, carcinoma, undifferentiated epithelioid sarcoma and also different types of lymphoma were excluded. Therefore, tumors of the histiocytic and dendritic cell lineage had to be considered. Tumors of the dendritic cell lineage were also immunohistochemically excluded, leaving histiocytic sarcoma by exclusion. The patient was followed for six years and six months, with no signs of recurrence of the tumor. Histiocytic sarcomas are tumors of uncertain behavior, with some progressing quickly, and others having a much slower course. As these tumors are rare, there is not much information, although a low number of mitosis might point to a less aggressive course. In the present patient with an unifocal disease, surgical excision was sufficient, without adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy.