[Pleural fluid interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) measurement as a diagnostic tool in tuberculous pleurisy]. / Przydatnosc oznaczania interferonu gamma (IFN-gamma) w plynie z oplucnej w diagnostyce gruzliczego wysiekowego zapalenia oplucnej.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is one of the most common causes of pleural effusion (PE). However, the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy still remains difficult. Since M. tuberculosis isolation rates in tuberculous effusions are relatively low the histological and microbiological studies of pleural biopsy samples are usually required to confirm the diagnosis. Several biological markers have been proposed to enhance the effectiveness of diagnosing patients with tuberculous pleurisy. The study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pleural fluid IFN-gamma concentration in differentiation between tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) and non-tuberculous pleural effusion (nTPE). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 94 patients (50 M and 44 F, mean age 59 +/- 18, range 18-95 years) with PE were studied. All subjects underwent diagnostic thoracentesis and extensive laboratory pleural fluid evaluation. Tuberculous pleural effusion was diagnosed in: 1) patients with positive pleural fluid or pleural biopsy culture and 2) patients with granulomas in the pleural biopsy specimen, after exclusion of other granulomatous diseases. IFN-gamma level in pleural fluid was measured with commercially available immunoenzymatic assay (Quantikine Human IFN-gamma Immunoassay, R&D Systems, USA). RESULTS: Tuberculous pleural effusion was diagnosed in 28 pts. The non-tuberculous pleural effusion group consisted of 66 pts, including 35 with malignant PE, 20 with parapneumonic effusion or pleural empyema, 5 with pleural transudates due to heart failure, and 6 with miscellaneous causes of PE. The mean concentration of IFN-g was significantly higher in TPE than in nTPE (614.1 +/- 324.5 vs. 15.1 +/- 36.0 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). At the cut-off value of 100 pg/ml the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 100% and 98,5% respectively. CONCLUSION: The pleural fluid concentration of IFN-gamma was found to be highly sensitive and specific marker of tuberculous pleurisy.

[Adenosine deaminase activity in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions]. / Aktywnosc deaminazy adenozyny w gruzliczym i nowotworowym wysieku w oplucnej.

Measurement of pleural adenosine deaminase activity (ADA) is a useful diagnostic tool for tuberculous pleurisy, but false-positive findings from non-tuberculous effusions have been reported. In order to improve diagnostic value of ADA it is recommended to estimate activity of both ADA1 and ADA2 izoenzymes or 2'-deoxyadenosine/adenosine activity ratio. In order to evaluate ADA as a diagnostic parameter total ADA, with adenosine as a substrate, and 2'-deoxyadenosine/adenosine activity ratio were measured in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions. Altogether, 26 pleural exudates (11 tuberculous and 15 malignant) were selected. ADA either with adenosine or 2'-deoxyadenosine was determined by colorimetric method of Giusti. Each pleural fluid sample was diluted prior to the assay (1:8) to avoid enzyme inhibition which was observed in nondiluted pleural effusions. The ADA level reached the diagnostic cut-off set for tuberculous effusions (40 U/L) in every 11 tuberculous exudates with the mean value of 85,3+/-47,1 U/L; in 9 of these the 2'-deoxyadenosine/adenosine ratio was less than 0,45. In the malignant group of patients, no one ADA level exceed 40 U/L, being estimated at 10,6+/-7,7 U/L (p<0,001). In 10 of these 15 exudates the 2'-deoxyadenosine/adenosine ratio was undetectable, in four it was less than 0,45 and only in one it was over 0,45. We concluded that ADA measured by the Giusti method proceeded by the dilution 1:8 of the pleural effusion samples very good differentiates tuberculous from malignant pleurisy, without the necessity to determine the 2'-deoxyadenosine/adenosine ratio. The investigation needs to be continued on the more numerous groups of patients.

[Breast carcinoma and anaplastic gastric carcinoma with pleural metastases in patient after mastectomy 30 years ago]. / Przypadek wspólistnienia raka sutka z rakiem anaplastycznym zoladka z przerzutami do oplucnej u chorej po mastektomii przed 30 laty.

We describe a case of two simultaneous malignancies--anaplastic gastric carcinoma with pleural metastases and left breast carcinoma. These malignancies were recognized in 78-year old woman after right mastectomy performed 30 years ago. Additionaly, during diagnostic procedures rectal polypus found during colonoscopy occurred to be adenoma tubulovillosum. Her parents died from malignancies--mother from gastric cancer and father from pulmonary carcinoma. One should remember that there is always possibility of simultaneous development of more than one primary malignancies in one patient and neoplastic disease is an important cancer risk factor. This observation confirms the important role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of malignant diseases.

Persisted/recurrent hyperparathyroidism associated with development of multi-drug resistance phenotype and proliferation of parathyroid transplants.

The surgical treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTH) requires sub-total excision of parathyroid glands or total excision with their autotransplantation. Although this approach has been considered as a safe method of treatment, in this report we describe persisted/recurrent HPTH after parathyroid transplantation. Due to parathormone (PTH) hypersecretion and uncontrolled proliferation, the parathyroid grafts were removed and used for generation of cell cultures, which further have been subjected to in vitro studies. As a control we used parathyroid tissue, obtained during multiorgan harvesting. We found increased proliferation and up-regulated PTH production by the graft-derived, but not control in vitro cultured cells. Moreover, due to decrease of in vivo radiotracer uptake by parathyroid grafts, the expression of multi-drug resistance-involved factors, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp/mdr1), multi-drug resistance-associated protein (mrp) and bcl-2 have been investigated using RT-PCR. The analysis revealed increased expression of both, mdr1 and mrp in graft-derived cells, in contrast to control cells, which did not express P-gp/mdr1 or mrp. However, we did not observe any difference in expression of bcl-2 between analyzed cells. The up-regulated expression of P-gp/mdr1 on graft-derived cells was further confirmed by immunofluorescence studies. The described case indicates potential risk associated with transplantation of parathyroid tissue. Our results confirm a role of MDR phenomenon in occurrence of false negative results in parathyroid tissue scintigraphy studies. Moreover, they indicate that standard histological examination of transplanted material could not be sensitive enough to exclude any potential danger of abnormal graft progression. Thus, they could support the concept to use encapsulated parathyroid transplants.