[Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia - a rare case of lymphoproliferative disorder of the lungs]. / Guzkowy rozrost limfoidalny ­ rzadki przypadek chorobylimfoproliferacyjnej w plucach

Nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (NLH) belongs to a very rare, mild, lymphoproliferative disease of unestablished aetiology historically included in the group of pseudolymphomas. Its existence was controversial for many years, until modern techniques of pathomorphological diagnosis approved it as a separate entity of lung disease. It manifests in the form of well limited nodules localized in the lungs, which are mostly identified accidentally. Clinical symptoms are rare and nonspecific; the disease usually occupies only one lung. Pathomorphological diagnosis requires immunohistochemical designation of expressions of numerous antigens in order to exclude malignant lymphoma of the lungs. Surgical resection is used in cases of larger nodules; the smaller ones require periodic observation, and the prognosis is good. The authors describe the case of 65-year-old woman with pulmonary nodules which were detected accidentally in the right lung. The patient was qualified for right-sided videothoracoscopy and removal of the lung nodule. In classic HE staining of the histological material, the presence of lymphoid infiltration of the lungs was revealed, which formed lymph follicles with reactive germinal centres. In order to differentiate from the malignant lymphatic expansion, immunohistochemical designations were made, which showed positive expression of CD20 antigen in the B cell zone, positive expression of the CD3 antigen in the T cells zone, positive expression of CD23 antigen in the lymph follicles, negative expression of bcl-2 in the lymph follicles, and positive expression of MIB-1 in the germinal centres of lymph follicles. Such a histopathological and immunohistochemical picture provided the basis for diagnosis of nodular lymphoid hyperplasia of the lung.

[Is the vascular-endothelial growth factor responsible for the malignancy of lung cancer?]. / Czy naczyniowo-sródblonkowy czynnik wzrostu to winowajca zlosliwosci raka pluca?

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy in the world. Its large ability to regional extension of the tumor and formation of local and distant metastases causes that the number of deaths and cases of disease are almost identical. The reason of this ability lies in the creation process of blood vessels that is angiogenesis, which main stimulus is the vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is synthesized by cancer cells in response to ischemia and a key transcription factor regulating the synthesis of VEGF in hypoxic cell is HIF-1 (hypoxia inducible factor-1). By connecting to its receptors on endothelial cells, the vascular-endothelial growth factor causes an increase in vascular permeability and leakage of plasma protein outside the blood vessel. Forming extracellular matrix becomes the target of migrating and proliferating endothelial cells which finally build a blood vessel. The research confirms that the existence of vasculature in the tumor is a necessary condition to the creation of metastases. The study also revealed that increased levels of VEGF in the plasma of patients with lung cancer correlates with disease progression, in this case the existence of distant metastases. In this work, the authors present the role of vascular-endothelial growth factor in the process of angiogenesis and the biology of the lung cancer and antiangiogenic therapy directions.

Comparative study of selected blood biochemical components in milk or milk-replacer fed calves during the second week of life.

The experiment was carried out on 13 male Polish Black and White dairy calves of 75% share of the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed during the second week of life. The animals were divided into two groups. One group (n=7) was fed mother's milk and the second (n=6) milk replacer. The dynamics of changes in concentration of selected blood biochemical components connected with nitrogen metabolism (plasma total protein, albumin, urea, endogenous creatinine) and with mineral metabolism (sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and plasma osmotic pressure) were analyzed in both groups. The results show that the type of ingested food influences the concentration of indicators reflecting nitrogen metabolism. Changes of these parameters in calves fed milk replacer are possibly connected with advantageous catabolic changes. Stable concentrations of main extracellular fluid electrolytes and blood plasma osmotic pressure were found in both groups of calves. Constant blood plasma calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper concentrations observed during this study might also indicate the relative maturity of mechanisms maintaining water and electrolyte balance. Nevertheless, it seemsjustifiable to monitor the copper concentrations in plasma of young calves.

Prognosis and survival after radical resection of primary adenosquamous lung carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: In order to evaluate the follow-up study of surgical treatment for primary adenosquamous lung carcinoma (ASC) we specified prognostic criteria, also in comparison with primary adenocarcinoma (AC). METHODS: The study group consisted of 96 patients discharged between 1990 and 1999 after radical surgical treatment for ASC-80 (83%) men and 16 (17%) women aged 34-73, mean 56 years. Consequently, we evaluated 252 patients operated during the same time period for primary AC. RESULTS: Apart from grading, we did not find any significant differences between both ASC and AC groups of patients. Among the 96 patients operated radically for ASC median overall survival (OS) was 20 months. The cumulative postoperative survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 25.4 and 19.2%, respectively. By comparison, median OS for 252 patients with AC, discharged after surgical treatment in the same period, was 28.5 months and the cumulative postoperative survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 42.5 and 39.1%, respectively (P=0.006). At pathologic stages IA, the cumulative survival rate at 5 years was 63.3% for patients with ASC as compared with 72.1% for patients with AC (P=0.330). However, out of IB stage patients treated surgically for ASC 31.8% survived 5 years in comparison with 56.3% operated for AC (P=0.017). Study of survival rates did not differ significantly between ASC and AC patients at stage IIA (P=0.824) and stage IIB (P=0.217), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that six factors of tumor size, T status, N status, as well visceral pleura involvement, tumor localization (central vs. peripheral) and tumor structure were significantly associated with the survival rate according to these variables. Multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model indicated that T factor, nodal involvement and one of the tumor components predominating were significant factors associated with the postoperative survival of patients with ASC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that in patients after radical operation for ASC, predominance for one of the histopathological components (adenous or squamous) within primary tumor is attended by worst prognosis. Our study confirmed also that the prognosis of ASC of the lung was poorer than that of primary AC. Lack of generally accepted diagnostic criteria and unclear prognosis, even in the pathologic stage I suggest that there is a need for prospective studies in this respect.

Alveolar adenoma of the lung--a report of two cases.

The authors present two cases of an extremely rare alveolar adenoma of the lung in a 64-year old female and a 45-year old male surgical patients. The report is the first description of such a tumor in the Polish literature.

Primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma with Epstein-Barr and cytomegaly virus infections. A case report and differential diagnosis.

We report a rare case of primary pulmonary Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegaly virus (CMV) infections as demonstrated by in situ hybridisation method. Reed-Sternberg cells were CD30 positive. Numerous CD15+ cells were noticed, some of them with concomitant CMV infection.

Benign clear-cell "sugar" tumor of the lung--a case report.

The authors present a rare case of a surgically treated so-called "sugar" tumor of the lung in a 68-year old male patient.

Silicoproteinosis of the lung in a 49-year-old man.

We report a rare case of silicosis, histologically corresponding to silicoproteinosis and tuberculosis, in a man working consecutively as a miner, blacksmith and founder. A microscopic study revealed deposits in alveoli, in which immunohistochemistry did not reveal surfactant (SP-A), that was present in the alveolar fluid in alveolar lipoproteinosis.

Pulmonary langerhans cell granulomatosis. A study of 11 cases.

This report based on 11 cases of pulmonary Langerhans cell granulomatosis describes the histological features of this condition and presents results of discourse about its character.