Monitoring with serum SP-A, SP-D, and KL-6 in a patient with interstitial pneumonia complicated with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis.

A 69-year-old woman was admitted to hospital, complaining of fatigue and dry cough. Her renal function deteriorated rapidly, and the laboratory findings showed elevated myeloperoxidase-specific anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). Renal biopsy examination revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis (pauci-immune type), and linear opacities and a honeycomb appearance in both lower lobes was evident on the chest computed tomography scan. The patient was diagnosed as having ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis complicated with mild interstitial pneumonia (IP). Treatment with methylprednisolone pulse therapy improved both her renal function and IP, but her lung lesions worsened during the course of tapering the prednisolone doses. After careful observation, her IP improved gradually without specific treatment. Worsening or improvement of her lung lesions was accompanied by changes in the serological markers of IP, namely, surfactant protein-A, surfactant protein-D, and KL-6. We found that monitoring these markers was helpful in diagnosing and managing IP in our patient with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

High incidence of chromosomal abnormalities at 1p36 and 9p21 in early-stage central type squamous cell carcinoma and squamous dysplasia of bronchus detected by autofluorescence bronchoscopy.

Heavy smokers with central type squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) frequently have multiple cancerous lesions in the bronchus. Autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) is useful in the detection of early bronchogenic cancer and dysplastic lesions. We investigated the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) and expression of four proteins in 13 early stage SCC (early SCC) and 9 squamous dysplasia detected by AFB and 19 cases of surgically resected invasive SCC (invasive SCC). In early SCC and squamous dysplasia, LOH/MSI of chromosome 1p36 was found in 62 and 33%, respectively, and of 9p21 in 54 and 63%, respectively. TAp73 expression of early SCC and squamous dysplasia was lower than that of normal bronchial epithelium, and p16 expression was not detectable in these lesions. These results suggested that the genetic abnormalities had already developed in the early stage of carcinogenesis of SCC, including squamous dysplasia. The AFB system was able to reveal abnormal autofluorescence in these precancerous lesions, including squamous dysplasia.

Administration of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor increases VEGF production causing angiogenesis in human small-cell lung cancer xenografts.

Angiogenesis is mediated mainly by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and VEGF causes rapid growth in cancers, including human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The anti-angiogenic strategy of treating cancer using VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibition is currently of great interest. We tested the effects of the VEGFR2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) vandetanib on the proliferation of two kinds of SCLC cell lines: SBC-1 cells, with detectable VEGFR2 expression and MS-1-L cells, without detectable VEGFR2 expression. To evaluate the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic effects of vandetanib in vivo, we grafted SBC-1 and MS-1-L cells into mice. After a 3-week treatment, we measured the tumor size and histologically evaluated necrosis and apoptosis using H&E and TUNEL staining, respectively. The microvessels in the xenografts were also quantified by immunostaining of CD31. Vandetanib did not affect the proliferation of SBC-1 cells, but stimulated the growth of MS-1-L cells. In the SCLC xenograft model, vandetanib inhibited growth and tumor angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner in SBC-1 xenografts. Vandetanib inhibited the growth of MS-1-L xenografts at a low dose (<12.5 mg/kg/day), but it did not affect tumor size or change microvessel counts at a higher dose. Interestingly, secretion of VEGF increased significantly in the MS-1-L cell line in the presence of a high dose of vandetanib in vitro. The effects of vandetanib on tumor angiogenesis were different in SBC-1 and MS-1-L cell lines. Production of angiogenic factors such as VEGF by the tumor potentially stimulates tumor angiogenesis and results in the acquisition of resistance to VEGFR TKI.

Radiological findings of alveolar hydatid disease of the lung caused by Echinococcus multilocularis.

Alveolar hydatid disease is a highly malignant form of echinococcosis caused by the larvae of the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis. Alveolar hydatid disease always affects the liver and can metastasise to the lungs and brain. The case reports describe the radiological features of alveolar hydatid disease of the lung caused by E. multilocularis. Multiple nodules which varied in size and shape were seen on CXR, CT showed most nodules to be lobulated, well circumscribed and of varying shape. Multiple lobulated lesions located between two segments of the lung and of varying shape appear to be characteristic of pulmonary alveolar hydatid disease caused by E. multilocularis.

Undetected Bacillus pseudo-outbreak after renovation work in a teaching hospital.

A 602-bed capacity hospital underwent complete renovation from 1999 to 2004. In April 2005, the Infection Control Team was informed of the occurrence of three consecutive cases of Bacillus cereus bacteremia in a ward for patients with hematologic malignancies. A retrospective analysis of patients with Bacillus isolates was initiated. We found more Bacillus cereus isolates from blood samples in 2004 compare to the preceding years. Swab samples were collected in the particular ward from the surface of a working desk, filter unit of the air-conditioners, entrance of air inlet ducts, exit of the air outlet ducts and three-way valves of the particular ward under the consideration of iatrogenic contamination. Towels and gowns used in the ward were examined. Dens dust was noted in the filter of the air-conditioner and inlets/outlets of the air-ventilation system of the ward. Bacillus cereus was isolated from the dust, and from cleaned towels and gowns. PFGE fingerprinting differed among four patients' sample. We considered the present case as an undetected Bacillus cereus pseudo-outbreak that lasted for about one year after the renovation work of the hospital. We also considered that filters of the HVAC-system and towels and gowns were probable sources of the outbreak.