The efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in monitoring disease progression in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

OBJECTIVE: In the event of suspicion of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) progression, imaging plays an important role. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 18F-FDG PET/CT in monitoring disease progression by comparing it with CT, and estimate median overall survival (OS) according to progression status with CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective, single-institution study with MPM patients who had both 18F-FDG PET/CT and CT for monitoring disease progression from March 2009 to February 2020. Clinical features, radiological findings, and progression status according to CT [radiologic progression negative (RPN), radiologic progression positive (RPP)] and 18F-FDG PET/CT [metabolic progression negative (MPN), metabolic progression positive (MPP)] were recorded. The discrepancies and concordance between two methods were evaluated. The OS was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were included. There were thirty-one (55.3%) RPN and 25 (44.7%) RPP, while there were 26 (46.5%) MPN and 30 (53.5%) MPP. All RPP patients were also found to be MPP, however, among RPN, 5 patients (8.9% of all patients) were evaluated as MPP. The concordance between two methods in monitoring disease progression was very good (K = 0.423; p < 0.01). The OS was 26 ±â€¯2.6 months in all patients. Kaplan-Meier curves between RPN and RPP, and between MPN and MPP did not show statistically significant differences (p = 0.56 and p = 0.25, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both methods are equally acceptable in monitoring disease progression in MPM, even though 18F-FDG PET/CT detected more progression than CT did.

Comparing effectiveness of intelligent volume-assured pressure support (iVAPS) vs bi-level positive airway pressure spontaneous/timed (BPAP S/T) for hypercapnic respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Intelligent volume-assured pressure support (iVAPS) is a relatively new hybrid mode of non-invasive ventilation (NIV). There is still limited evidence for iVAPS. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of iVAPS to that of bi-level positive airway pressure spontaneous/timed (BPAP S/T) in patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure or acute-on-chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure caused by acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in the emergency department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective study. Eighty-two patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure caused by AECOPD, who were admitted to our emergency department, were analysed. Arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters, length of hospital stay and rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission were compared between iVAPS and BPAP S/T. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients (26 females, 56 males, mean age 68.26 ± 11.63 years) who were treated with iVAPS (N = 26) or BPAP S/T (N = 56) were enrolled. There were no significant differences between two modes with respect to demographics such as age, gender, presence of comorbidity, usage of long-term oxygen therapy or NIV, and the baseline ABG parameters. The presence of pneumonia was significantly higher in BPAP S/T (P = .01). The rate of ICU admission was 26.9% in iVAPS vs 25% in BPAP S/T. The mean length of hospital stay was 11.5 ± 12.3 days in iVAPS and 9.7 ± 7.4 days in BPAP S/T (P = .53). The mean values of ABG parameters at the 1st and 24th hours of NIV therapy did not differ in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both modes were similarly effective in the management of appropriately selected patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure caused by AECOPD. Hence, we underline that NIV mode selection in the emergency department should be performed in line with experiences of clinicians/institutions and accessibility of ventilator devices/modes.

[A community acquired pneumonia case caused by Ralstonia pickettii]. / Ralstonia pickettii'nin neden oldugu toplumdan kazanilmis pnömoni olgusu.

Ralstonia pickettii, formerly known as Burkholderia pickettii, is a non-fermentative gram-negative bacillus. It is emerging as an opportunistic pathogen both in the hospital setting and in the environment, leading to outbreaks especially in the intensive care units. The available literature revealed two case reports of pneumonia associated with R. pickettii in adults. In this report, a case of pneumoniae due to R. pickettii, in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was presented. Fifty-six years old male patient was admitted to the hospital with complaints of shortness of breath, cough, purulent sputum, weakness, fatigue and green colorred diarrhea lacking blood. Lung auscultation revealed decreased respiratory sounds in the right lower lobe. Laboratory findings yielded decreased arterial pH and paO2 and increased pCO2 values, while hemoglobin, hematocrite, blood urea and creatinine levels were increased. Chest X-ray showed an infiltration on right lower zone. The patient was intubated and imipenem 1 x 500 mg/day and netilmicin 1 x 80 mg/day were initiated. Deep tracheal aspirate specimen revealed gram-negative rods and leukocytes, and cultures yielded growth of non-fermentative gram-negative bacilli on blood agar and EMB agar. These bacilli were identified as R. pickettii by using VITEK 2 system (bi-oMerieux Inc, Mercy L'etoil, France). Antibiotic sensitivity test performed by VITEK 2 GP system (bioMerieux Inc, Mercy L'etoil, France) revealed sensitivity to ceftriaxone, imipenem/cilastatin, piperacillin/tazobactam, amikacin, gentamicin, cefoperazone-sulbactam and ciprofloxacin. Treatment with imipenem/cilastatin was continued for 14 days and the patient was completely recovered. This case was presented in order to call attention to R. pickettii as a pathogen that may cause community-acquired lower respiratory tract infection.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha in comparison to adenosine deaminase in tuberculous pleuritis.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is already used for the differential diagnosis of tuberculosis pleurisy. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is another marker which has been investigated for this purpose. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the diagnostic value of pleural fluid and serum TNF concentrations in tuberculous pleuritis and compared them to ADA. METHODS: Sixty-two patients (24 tuberculous pleuritis, 38 non-tuberculous pleuritis) with exudative pleurisy were included. Serum and pleural fluid TNF concentrations were determined in all patients and ADA activity in 54 patients. Pleural fluid TNF concentrations and pleural fluid/serum TNF were compared to pleural fluid ADA activity and pleural fluid/serum ADA. RESULTS: When the tuberculous and non-tuberculous groups were compared, pleural fluid TNF concentrations (65.4 +/- 136.9 pg/ml vs. 54.5 +/- 144.2 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.001), pleural fluid ADA activity (74.2 +/- 33.3 U/l vs. 23 +/- 16.3 U/l; p < 0.0001), pleural fluid/serum TNF (2.55 +/- 5.23 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.2; p < 0.001) and pleural fluid/serum ADA (4.58 +/- 8.14 vs. 1.15 +/- 0.7; p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in the tuberculous group. When cut-off points were assessed, 8 pg/ml and 40 U/l were found for pleural fluid TNF concentrations and pleural fluid ADA activity, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve were 87.5%, 76.3%, 0.772 for pleural fluid TNF concentrations and 90.9%, 89.5%, 0.952 for pleural fluid ADA activity, respectively; the difference between these areas under the curves was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pleural fluid TNF levels and pleural fluid/serum TNF were higher in tuberculous effusions than in other exudates, but their diagnostic value appears to be poorer than that of ADA.