Biomass smoke COPD has less tomographic abnormalities but worse hypoxemia compared with tobacco COPD

Special attention has emerged towards biomass smoke-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), providing new knowledge for prevention and therapeutic approach of non-smoker COPD patients. However, the understanding of biomass smoke COPD is still limited and somewhat controversial. The aim of the present study was to compare COPD exclusively caused by tobacco smoking with COPD exclusively caused by environmental or occupational exposures. For this cross-sectional study, COPD patients were recruited from outpatient clinics and formed two groups: non-smoker COPD group (n=16) with exposure to biomass smoke who did not smoke cigarette and tobacco smoker COPD group (n=15) with people who did not report biomass smoke exposure. Subjects underwent pulmonary function tests, thoracic high-resolution computed tomography, 6-min walk test, and sputum induction. The non-smoker COPD group had biomass smoke exposure of 133.3±86 hour-years. The tobacco COPD group smoked 48.5±27.4 pack-years. Women were 62.5 and 66.7%, respectively, of non-smokers and smokers. The non-smoker COPD group showed higher prevalence of dyspnea, lower arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), and lower arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2%) with similar spirometry results, lung volumes, and diffusion capacity. Regarding inflammatory biomarkers, differences were detected in sputum number of lymphomononuclear cells and in sputum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 with higher values in the smoker group. Emphysema was more prevalent in the tobacco smoker group, which also showed higher relative bronchial wall thickness and lower lung density by quantitative analysis. Biomass smoke induced more hypoxemia compared to tobacco in COPD patients with similar severity.

Detection of sputum cofilin-1 as indicator of malignancy

Cofilin-1 (CFL1), a small protein of 18 kDa, has been studied as a biomarker due to its involvement in tumor cell migration and invasion. Our aim was to evaluate CFL1 as an indicator of malignancy and aggressiveness in sputum samples. CFL1 was analyzed by ELISA immunoassay in the sputum of 73 lung cancer patients, 13 cancer-free patients, and 6 healthy volunteers. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, ROC curves, Spearman correlation, and logistic regression. Sputum CFL1 levels were increased in cancer patients compared to cancer-free patients and volunteers (P<0.05). High expression of sputum CFL1 was correlated to T4 stage (P=0.01) and N stage (P=0.03), tobacco history (P=0.01), and squamous cell carcinoma histologic type (P=0.04). The accuracy of sputum CFL1 in discriminating cancer patients from cancer-free patients and healthy volunteers were 0.78 and 0.69, respectively. CFL1 at a cut-off value of 415.25 pg/mL showed sensitivity/specificity of 0.80/0.70 in differentiating between healthy volunteers and cancer patients. Sputum CFL1 was also able to identify cancer-free patients from patients with lung cancer. The AUC was 0.70 and, at a cut-off point ≥662.63 pg/mL, we obtained 60% sensitivity and 54% specificity. Logistic regression analysis controlled for tobacco history, histologic types, and N stage showed that cancer cell-associated CFL1 was an independent predictor of death. Smoker patients with squamous cell carcinoma, lymph node metastasis and sputum CFL1>1.475 pg/mL showed augmented chance of death, suggesting lung cancer aggressiveness. CFL1 presented diagnostic value in detecting lung cancer and was associated to tumor aggressiveness.

Tissue hyaluronan expression, as reflected in the sputum of lung cancer patients, is an indicator of malignancy

Hyaluronan (HA) shows promise for detecting cancerous change in pleural effusion and urine. However, there is uncertainty about the localization of HA in tumor tissue and its relationship with different histological types and other components of the extracellular matrix, such as angiogenesis. We evaluated the association between HA and degree of malignancy through expression in lung tumor tissue and sputum. Tumoral tissue had significantly increased HA compared to normal tissue. Strong HA staining intensity associated with cancer cells was significant in squamous cell carcinoma compared to adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. A significant direct association was found between tumors with a high percentage of HA and MVD (microvessel density) in tumoral stroma. Similarly significant was the direct association between N1 tumors and high levels of HA in cancer cells. Cox multivariate analysis showed significant association between better survival and low HA. HA increased in sputum from lung cancer patients compared to cancer-free and healthy volunteers and a significant correlation was found between HA in sputum and HA in cancer tissue. Localization of HA in tumor tissue was related to malignancy and reflected in sputum, making this an emerging factor for an important diagnostic procedure in patients suspected to have lung cancer. Further study in additional patients in a randomized prospective trial is required to finalize these results and to validate our quantitative assessment of HA, as well as to couple it to gold standard sputum cytology.

Comparison of pre- and post-levothyroxine high-sensitivity c-reactive protein and fetuin-a levels in subclinical hypothyroidism

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this trial was to determine the levels of inflammatory markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A pre- and post-levothyroxine treatment in cases of subclinical hypothyroidism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 32 patients with a diagnosis of subclinical hypothyroidism and a control group of 30 healthy individuals were tested for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A, followed by the administration of 50 µg of levothyroxine in the patient group for 3 months. During the post-treatment stage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A levels in the patient group were re-assessed and compared with pre-treatment values. RESULTS: Pre-treatment levels of both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and fetuin-A were observed to be higher in the patient group than in the control group. The decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels during the post-treatment stage was not statistically significant. However, the decrease observed in post-treatment fetuin-A levels was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The decrease in fetuin-A levels in subclinical hypothyroidism cases indicates that levothyroxine treatment exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Although the decrease in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels was statistically non-significant, it is predicted to reach significance with sustained treatment. .

Effects of prednisone on eosinophilic bronchitis in asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis, / Efeitos da prednisona na bronquite eosinofílica na asma: revisão sistemática e meta-análise

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect size of oral corticosteroid treatment on eosinophilic bronchitis in asthma, through systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: We systematically reviewed articles in the Medline, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, EMBASE, and LILACS databases. We selected studies meeting the following criteria: comparing at least two groups or time points (prednisone vs. control, prednisone vs. another drug, or pre- vs. post-treatment with prednisone); and evaluating parameters before and after prednisone use, including values for sputum eosinophils, sputum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and sputum IL-5-with or without values for post-bronchodilator FEV1-with corresponding 95% CIs or with sufficient data for calculation. The independent variables were the use, dose, and duration of prednisone treatment. The outcomes evaluated were sputum eosinophils, IL-5, and ECP, as well as post-bronchodilator FEV1. RESULTS: The pooled analysis of the pre- vs. post-treatment data revealed a significant mean reduction in sputum eosinophils (↓8.18%; 95% CI: 7.69-8.67; p < 0.001), sputum IL-5 (↓83.64 pg/mL; 95% CI: 52.45-114.83; p < 0.001), and sputum ECP (↓267.60 µg/L; 95% CI: 244.57-290.63; p < 0.0001), as well as a significant mean increase in post-bronchodilator FEV1 (↑8.09%; 95% CI: 5.35-10.83; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with moderate-to-severe eosinophilic bronchitis, treatment with prednisone caused a significant reduction in sputum eosinophil counts, as well as in the sputum levels of IL-5 and ECP. This reduction in the inflammatory response was accompanied by a significant increase in post-bronchodilator FEV1. .

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o tamanho do efeito do tratamento com prednisona oral na bronquite eosinofílica na asma por meio de revisão sistemática e meta-análise. MÉTODOS: Revisão sistemática de artigos nas bases de dados do Medline, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, EMBASE e LILACS. Foram selecionados estudos que preencheram os seguintes critérios: comparar ao menos dois grupos ou dois momentos (prednisona vs. controle, prednisona vs. outra droga ou pré vs. pós-tratamento com prednisona) e avaliar parâmetros antes e depois do uso de prednisona, incluindo eosinófilos, proteína catiônica eosinofílica (PCE) e IL-5 no escarro - com ou sem valores de VEF1 pós-broncodilatador - com os IC95% correspondentes ou com dados suficientes para calculá-los. As variáveis independentes foram uso e dose de prednisona e duração do tratamento. Os desfechos avaliados foram eosinófilos, IL-5 e PCE no escarro, bem como VEF1 pós-broncodilatador. RESULTADOS: A análise conjunta dos dados de pré e pós-tratamento revelou uma redução significativa nas médias de eosinófilos no escarro (↓8,18%; IC95%: 7,69-8,67; p < 0,001), IL-5 no escarro (↓83,64 pg/mL; IC95%: 52,45-114,83; p < 0,001), PCE no escarro (↓267,60 μg/L; IC95%: 244,57-290,93; p < 0,001), assim como um aumento significativo na média de VEF1 pós-broncodilatador (↑8,09%; IC95%: 5,35-10,83; p < 0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Em pacientes com bronquite eosinofílica de moderada a grave, o tratamento com prednisona determinou uma redução significativa nos níveis de eosinófilos no escarro, assim como nos níveis de IL-5 e PCE no escarro. Essa redução na resposta inflamatória foi acompanhada de um aumento significativo do VEF1 pós-broncodilatador. .

Pepsin and bile acid concentrations in sputum of mustard gas exposed patients

Gastro-esophageal reflux has been suggested to be associated with several pulmonary complications such as asthma, and post-transplant bronchiolitis obliterans [BO]. Pepsin or bile salts in the sputum is shown to be an optimal molecular marker of gastric contents macro/micro aspiration. In this study, we investigated sputum pepsin as a marker of micro-aspiration in sulfur mustard [SM] exposed cases compared to healthy controls. In a case controlled study, 26 cases with BO and 12 matched healthy controls were recruited and all cases were symptomatic and their exposure to SM was previously documented during Iran-Iraq conflict. Pepsin levels in sputum and total bile acids were measured using enzymatic assay. The severity of respiratory disorder was categorized based upon the spirometric values. The average concentration of pepsin in sputum was higher in the case group [0.29 +/- 0.23] compared with healthy subjects [0.13 +/- 0.07; P +/- 0.003]. Moreover, the average concentration of bile acids in the sputum cases was not significantly different in comparison to the controls [P = 0.5]. Higher pepsin concentrations in sputum of SM exposed patients compared with healthy control subjects indicate the occurrence of significantly more gastric micro-aspiration in SM exposed patients

Influência da técnica de pressão expiratória positiva oscilante utilizando pressões expiratórias pré-determinadas na viscosidade e na transportabilidade do escarro em pacientes com bronquiectasia / Influence that oscillating positive expiratory pressure using predetermined expiratory pressures has on the viscosity and transportability of sputum in patients with bronchiectasis

OBJETIVO: Verificar a efetividade da técnica de pressão expiratória positiva oscilante (PEPO) utilizando pressões expiratórias pré-determinadas sobre a viscosidade e a transportabilidade do escarro em pacientes com bronquiectasia. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 15 pacientes estáveis com bronquiectasia (7 homens; média de idade = 53 ± 16 anos), submetidos a duas intervenções PEPO consecutivas, com 24 h de intervalo entre si, utilizando pressões expiratórias de 15 cmH2O (P15) e 25 cmH2O (P25). O protocolo consistiu de tosse voluntária; nova expectoração voluntária após 20 min, denominado tempo zero (T0); repouso de 10 min; e utilização da técnica em duas séries de 10 min (S1 e S2) de PEPO em P15 e P25, com intervalo de 10 min entre si. A viscosidade e transportabilidade do escarro foram avaliadas pela viscosimetria, velocidade relativa de transporte no palato de rã, deslocamento em máquina simuladora de tosse e ângulo de adesão. As amostras de escarro foram coletadas em T0, após S1 e após S2. Testes estatísticos específicos foram aplicados de acordo com a distribuição dos dados. RESULTADOS: Houve diminuição significante da viscosidade do escarro após S1 em P15 e após S2 em P25. Não houve diferenças significantes entre todas as amostras para a transportabilidade. CONCLUSÕES: Houve diminuição da viscosidade do escarro quando a PEPO foi realizada em P15 e P25, o que sugere que não seja necessário gerar alta pressão expiratória para obter o resultado desejado.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of oscillating positive expiratory pressure (OPEP) using predetermined expiratory pressures on the viscosity and transportability of sputum in patients with bronchiectasis. METHODS: The study involved 15 stable patients with bronchiectasis (7 males; mean age = 53 ± 16 years), submitted to two consecutive OPEP interventions, with a 24-h interval between the two, using positive expiratory pressures set at 15 cmH2O (P15) and 25 cmH2O (P25). The protocol consisted of a voluntary cough; another voluntary cough 20 min later, designated time zero (T0); a 10-min rest period; and two 10-min series (S1 and S2, using OPEP at P15 and P25 in both), with a 10-min interval between the two. The viscosity and transportability of sputum were evaluated by viscometry, relative transport velocity on frog palate, transport in a simulated cough machine and contact angle. Sputum samples were collected at T0, after S1 and after S2. Specific statistical tests were performed depending on the type of data distribution. RESULTS: In comparison with the values obtained at T0, sputum viscosity decreased significantly after S1 at P15 and after S2 at P25. There were no significant differences among all of the samples in terms of transportability. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that sputum viscosity decreased whether OPEP was performed at P15 or at P25 suggests that there is no need to generate high expiratory pressure to achieve the desired result.

Comportamiento de indicadores de calidad del cultivo en los laboratorios de diagnóstico de tuberculosis en la provincia de Las Tunas, Cuba / Behavior of quality indicators of cultures in the tuberculosis laboratories diagnosis in Las Tunas province, Cuba

El cultivo bacteriológico, es la prueba de oro para el diagnóstico definitivo de la tuberculosis (TB). La finalidad del control de calidad es mejorar continuamente la eficiencia y el uso del cultivo como una alternativa de diagnóstico y monitoreo, asegurando que la información generada por el laboratorio sea confiable y exacta. Método: Se calcularon los indicadores de calidad (IC) a 5799 cultivos de las muestras de esputo de pacientes con TB pulmonar confirmada bacteriológicamente, recibidas en los laboratorios de diagnóstico de TB de la provincia Las Tunas, 4721 del laboratorio del Centro Provincial de Higiene y Epidemiología (CPHE) y 1078 del laboratorio del Centro Municipal de Higiene y Epidemiología (CMHE) de Puerto Padre, en el período de octubre del 2003 a septiembre del 2005. Resultados: En el CPHE la tasa de contaminación (TC), el aporte del cultivo al diagnóstico (ACD) y el % baciloscopía positiva con cultivo negativo fue de 4.3%, 34.8% y 6.3% respectivamente. En el laboratorio del CMHE la TC presentó un valor de 7.6% y el resto de los indicadores fue de 0%. Conclusiones y recomendaciones: Los indicadores de calidad del cultivo en el laboratorio del CPHE de Las Tunas, exceptuando el % BK (+) CU (-), presentaron valores aceptables para un buen desempeño del laboratorio; en el laboratorio del CMHE de Puerto Padre los valores de los IC, a excepción del % BK (+) CU (-), fueron superiores establecidos por las normas internacionales. Recomendamos incorporar el cálculo de los IC a la red nacional de laboratorios que realizan cultivo, para conocer y evaluar los resultados del trabajo e incorporar la evaluación de la sensibilidad del medio de cultivo para mejorar el rendimiento y la calidad del diagnóstico de la TB

The bacteriological culture, it is the golden test for the definitive diagnosis of the tuberculosis (TB). The purpose of the quality control is improve the efficiency and use of culture like an alternative of diagnosis and monitoring, and assuring that the information generated by the laboratory are reliable and exact. Method: The quality indicators (QI) were calculated in 5799 sputum samples, from patients with pulmonary TB confirmed by bacteriological culture, received in the TB diagnosis laboratories from Las Tunas province, 4721 from TB Laboratory of the Hygiene and Epidemiology Provincial Center (HEPC) and 1078 from TB Laboratory of the Hygiene and Epidemiology Municipal Center (HEMC) of the Puerto Padre municipality, from October 2003 to September 2005. Results: In the HEPC the contamination rate (CR), the culture contribution to the diagnosis (CCD) and the percent of positive baciloscopy with negative culture (% BK+ CU -) was 4.3%, 34.8% and 6.3% respectively. In the laboratory of the HEMC the CR was 7.6% and the rest of the indicators were 0%. Conclusions and recommendations: The QI of culture in the HEPC laboratory from Las Tunas municipality, excepting the % BK (+) CU (-) presented acceptable values for a good performance, in the HEMC laboratory from Puerto Padre municipality, the IC values, to exception of the % BK (+) CU (-), were superiors to the established for the international norms. We recommended incorporate the calculation of QI in the national network of laboratories culture, in order to improve the yield and quality of TB diagnosis

Non-asthmatic patients show increased exhaled nitric oxide concentrations

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate whether exhaled nitric oxide may serve as a marker of intraoperative bronchospasm. INTRODUCTION: Intraoperative bronchospasm remains a challenging event during anesthesia. Previous studies in asthmatic patients suggest that exhaled nitric oxide may represent a noninvasive measure of airway inflammation. METHODS: A total of 146,358 anesthesia information forms, which were received during the period from 1999 to 2004, were reviewed. Bronchospasm was registered on 863 forms. From those, three groups were identified: 9 non-asthmatic patients (Bronchospasm group), 12 asthmatics (Asthma group) and 10 subjects with no previous airway disease or symptoms (Control group). All subjects were submitted to exhaled nitric oxide measurements (parts/billion), spirometry and the induced sputum test. The data was compared by ANOVA followed by the Tukey test and Kruskal-Wallis followed by Dunn's test. RESULTS: The normal lung function test results for the Bronchospasm group were different from those of the asthma group (p <0.05). The median percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum was higher for the Asthma [2.46 (0.45-6.83)] compared with either the Bronchospasm [0.55 (0-1.26)] or the Control group [0.0 (0)] (p <0.05); exhaled nitric oxide followed a similar pattern for the Asthma [81.55 (57.6-86.85)], Bronchospasm [46.2 (42.0 -62.6] and Control group [18.7 (16.0-24.7)] (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Non-asthmatic patients with intraoperative bronchospasm detected during anesthesia and endotracheal intubation showed increased expired nitric oxide.

Comparison of sputum induction with broncho-alveolar lavage in the diagnosis of smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis.

Sputum microscopy and AFB-culture being gold standard and a fundamental tool for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) has got its limitation of low sensitivity. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has been widely recommended as the diagnostic procedure of choice in smear negative patients. But bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure, costly, not readily available in our country and needs expertise. Several studies abroad have directly compared the yield of sputum induction (SI) with 3% saline (NaCl solution) with Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) through FOB in smear-negative suspected PTB patients and showed that SI was a low cost, safe and well tolerated procedure with equal efficacy to BAL through FOB for the diagnosis of PTB in such patients. For the first time a prospective comparison was conducted in Bangladesh to see the yield of sputum induction (SI) and BAL in 52 selected smear- negative patients of suspected PTB. Each of the samples of induced sputum and BAL fluid were examined for AFB by Ziehl-Neelsen's method. Samples of both SI and BAL from 20 patients were cultured for AFB in Lowenstein-Jensen medium for 6 weeks irrespective of their induced sputum smear being positive or negative for AFB. Data were managed and analyzed using computer program SPSS version 10.0. Agreement of SI and BAL was tested using Pearson Chi-square and Kappa test. The results showed that the yield of SI were significantly more than that of BAL (p<0.05).The AFB smear results from specimens obtained by SI and BAL were in agreement in 75% cases (p=0.02).Statistical analysis of the yield of culture results from SI and BAL group with Fishers Exact test showed they were in agreement in 90% cases (p=0.0001) and was measured by Kappa test as significant (p=0.0004). The sensitivity of AFB-smears in samples from SI and BAL were 74% and 58% respectively. The specificity of smear positivity and of culture was assumed to be 100%. SI is a safe procedure with considerable diagnostic yield and a high agreement with the results of BAL through FOB for the diagnosis of PTB. SI offers an alternative or additional approach to the diagnosis of smear-negative suspected PTB patients and would enhance sensitivity for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Interrelationship between serum and sputum inflammatory mediators in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Little is known about airway inflammatory markers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of the present study was to identify and try to correlate pulmonary and peripheral blood inflammatory markers in COPD. In a cross-sectional study on patients with stable COPD, induced sputum and blood samples were collected for the determination of C-reactive protein, eosinophilic cationic protein, serum amyloid A protein, a-1 antitrypsin (a-1AT), and neutrophil elastase. Twenty-two patients were divided into two groups according to post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second ( percentFEV1): group 1 (N = 12, FEV1 <40 percent) and group 2 (N = 10, FEV1 ³40 percent). An increase in serum elastase, eosinophilic cationic protein and a-1AT was observed in serum markers in both groups. Cytology revealed the same total number of cells in groups 1 and 2. There was a significantly higher number of neutrophils in group 1 compared to group 2 (P < 0.05). No difference in eosinophils or macrophages was observed between groups. Serum elastase was positively correlated with serum a-1AT (group 1, r = 0.81, P < 0.002 and group 2, r = 0.83, P < 0.17) and negatively correlated with FEV1 (r = -0.85, P < 0.03 and -0.14, P < 0.85, respectively). The results indicate the presence of chronic and persistent pulmonary inflammation in stable patients with COPD. Induced sputum permitted the demonstration of the existence of a subpopulation of cells in which neutrophils predominated. The serum concentration of all inflammatory markers did not correlate with the pulmonary functional impairment.

O muco traqueobrônquico humano mantido em temperatura ambiente e suas propriedades físico-químicas / Physicochemical properties of human tracheobronchial sputum maintained at room temperature

OBJETIVO: Verificar a influência da permanência em temperatura ambiente na análise da transportabilidade por ação ciliar e por tosse e do ângulo de contato do muco traqueobrônquico. MÉTODOS: Foi coletado muco hialino de 30 indivíduos sem doença pulmonar, e purulento de vinte pacientes com bronquiectasia. As amostras foram analisadas logo após a coleta e novamente após 24 h. RESULTADOS: Para o muco purulento, após 24 h em temperatura ambiente, houve aumento no deslocamento por tosse (96 ± 50 vs. 118 ± 61 mm) e diminuição do ângulo de contato (32 ± 6 vs. 27 ± 6 graus) (p < 0,05). Para o muco hialino não houve alterações nas medidas analisadas. CONCLUSÃO: O muco traqueobrônquico hialino pode ser armazenado em temperatura ambiente por 24 h sem que haja alterações em sua transportabilidade por ação ciliar ou em seu ângulo de contato. Por outro lado, o muco purulento não deve permanecer em temperatura ambiente por muitas h para que não se altere seu ângulo de contato e sua transportabilidade por tosse.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect that maintaining tracheobronchial sputum at room temperature has on the analysis of ciliary transport and cough, as well as on the contact angle. METHODS: Hyaline sputum was collected from 30 individuals without pulmonary diseases, and purulent sputum was collected from patients with bronchiectasis. The samples were analyzed immediately after collection and again after 24 h. RESULTS: After 24 h at room temperature, the purulent sputum presented an increase in cough-induced dislodgment (96 ± 50 vs. 118 ± 61 mm) and a decrease in the contact angle (32 ± 6 vs. 27 ± 6 degrees) (p < 0.05). For the hyaline sputum, there were no alterations in the parameters analyzed. CONCLUSION: Hyaline tracheobronchial sputum can be stored in room temperature for 24 h without presenting alterations in ciliary transport or contact angle. However, purulent sputum should not be stored at room temperature for many hours, since ciliary transport and contact angle might be altered as a result.

Concentration of CCL11, CXCL8 and TNF-alpha in sputum and plasma of patients undergoing asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common respiratory illnesses characterized by chronic inflammation of the airways. The characterization of induced or spontaneously produced sputum is a useful technique to assess airway inflammation. In the present study, we compared the concentrations of CCL2, CCL11, CXCL8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in plasma and induced sputum of patients with severe asthma or COPD and correlated the levels of these mediators with inflammatory cells in sputum. Asthmatic patients had elevated levels of eosinophils (40.1 ± 6.24 percent) in sputum whereas neutrophils (63.3 ± 4.66 percent) predominated in COPD patients. The levels of the chemokine CCL11 were markedly increased in sputum (708.7 ± 330.7 pg/ml) and plasma (716.6 ± 162.2 pg/ml) of asthmatic patients and correlated with the percentage of eosinophils in induced sputum. The concentrations of CXCL8 (817.0 ± 105.2 pg/ml) and TNF-alpha (308.8 ± 96.1 pg/ml) were higher in sputum of COPD patients and correlated with the percentage of neutrophils in induced sputum. There was also an increase in the concentrations of CXCL8 (43.2 ± 6.8 pg/ml) in sputum of asthmatic patients. These results validate that sputum is a suitable method to assess chemokines and cytokines associated with asthma and COPD. Moreover, the mechanisms involved in the synthesis of CCL11 and CXCL8/TNF-alpha would be helpful to better understand the inflammatory profile associated with asthma and COPD, respectively.

A Case of Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma with Persistent Mild Fever

Carcinosarcoma is defined as a malignant tumor with an admixture of carcinoma and sarcoma. Pulmonary carcinosarcoma accounts for about 0.27 percent of all lung neoplasms. It occurs frequently in males, particularly in smokers between 50 and 80 years of age. Preoperative diagnostic tests, such as sputum cytology, percutaneous fine needle biopsy and bronchoscopy, have a low yield in detection of pulmonary carcinosarcoma. The diagnosis is verified by postoperative pathologic findings and by immunohistochemical investigations in many cases. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice. As the metastasis to regional lymph nodes and distant organ is common at diagnosed time, the prognosis is quite poor. We report a case of pulmonary carcinosarcoma presented with persistent mild fever and blood-tinged sputum in a 66-year-old male.

Clinical Features of Eosinophilic Bronchitis

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic inflammation of the airway is usually associated with airway hyper-responsiveness in bronchial asthma. However, there is a small group of patients which has the eosinophilic inflammation in the bronchial tree with normal spirometry and no evidence of airway hyper-responsiveness, which was named eosinophilic bronchitis. The objectives of this study are 1) to investigate the incidence of eosinophilic bronchitis in the chronic cough syndrome and 2) to evaluate the clinical features and course of eosinophilic bronchitis. METHODS: We evaluated 92 patients who had persistent cough for 3 weeks or longer. In addition to routine diagnostic protocol, we performed differential cell count of sputum. Eosinophilic bronchitis was diagnosed when the patient had normal spirometric values, normal peak expiratory flow variability, no airway hyper-responsiveness and sputum eosinophilia (>3%). RESULTS: The causes of chronic cough were post-nasal drip in 33%, cough variant asthma in 16%, chronic bronchitis in 15% and eosinophilic bronchitis in 12% of the study subjects. Initial eosinophil percentage in the sputum of patients with eosinophilic bronchitis was 26.8+/-6.1% (3.8-63.7%). Treatment with inhaled steroid is related with a subjective improvement of cough severity and a significant decrease of sputum eosinophil percentage (from 29.1+/-8.3% to 7.4+/-3.3%). During the follow-up period, increase in sputum eosinophil percentage with aggravation of symptoms were found. CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic bronchitis is one of the important cause of chronics cough. Assessment of airway inflammation by sputum examination is important in investigating the cause of chronic cough. Cough in eosinophilic bronchitis is effectively controlled by inhaled corticosteroid, but may follow a chronic course.

Assessment of nitric oxide in induced sputum of asthmatic patients and its prognostic significance in monitoring allergic inflammation

Nitric oxide [NO] plays an important role as an inflammatory mediator in the airways. However, because direct measurement of endogenous NO has been difficult in vivo, the exact pathologic role of NO in bronchial asthma has remained unclear. To study the levels of nitric oxide derivatives in induced sputum of asthmatic patients in order to assess their clinical utility as non-invasive prognostic indicator for monitoring the degree of airway inflammation in asthmatics. We examined the concentration of stable end products of NO, namely nitrite and nitrate in hypertonic saline-induced sputum in 25 patients with different grades of bronchial asthma among whom 12 patients were examined before and after anti-asthmatic medications including steroid preparations. Ten normal age and sex-matched subjects were included as controls. Patients were 14 males and 11 females aged 36.6 +/- 8.7 years. They included 11 patients with severe asthma, 7 with moderate asthma and 7 with mild asthma. Fresh expectorated sputum was treated with equal volume of dithiothreitol 0.1%, cytospinned for cell count, and the supernatant was collected for biochemical assay. Measurement of NO derivatives in induced sputum was carried out colorimetrically by using modified Griess reaction. We evaluated the relationship between levels of NO derivatives and percentages of eosinophils, epithelial shedding in induced sputum and the degree of airway obstruction measured by pulmonary functions [forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1]/forced vital capacity [FVC]] in asthmatic patients. The concentration of NO derivatives in induced sputum was significantly higher in patients with asthma than in normal control subjects [1126 +/- 134.3 micro mol/L versus 567 +/- 98.4 micro mol/L; P <0.01]. According to asthma severity, severe and moderate asthmatic patients had higher levels of NO derivatives [1261 +/- 193.2 and 1037 +/- 156.3micro mol/L, respectively] in induced sputum as compared to mild asthmatic patients [786 +/- 89.5 micro mol/L] [P < 0.01]. Percentages of eosinophils in induced sputum were also significantly higher in asthmatic patients than controls [35.6 +/- 4.7% vs 1.3 +/- 0.2%, P<0.01]. There were significant positive correlations between NO derivatives levels and percentages of each of eosinophils and shedding epithelial cells in induced sputum in asthmatic patients [r[S]=0.58, P <0.01; r[S]=0.62, P<0.01, respectively]. A significant negative correlation was found between NO derivatives levels and the ratio of FEV1/FVC [r[S]= -0.63, P<0.01], that's to say NO derivatives levels correlated positively with the degree of airway obstruction in asthmatic patients. The levels of NO derivatives and percentages of eosinophils in induced sputum were reduced significantly in asthmatic patients following treatment with corticosteroids [P<0.05]. These findings confirmed that the level of NO derivatives was increased in the tracheobronchial secretion of asthmatic patients and was parallel with the severity of asthma. Hence, measurement of NO derivatives in induced sputum could be used as a non-invasive prognostic biochemical marker for assessing the degree of airway inflammation and monitoring the anti-inflammatory treatment response in asthmatic patients

Relationship Between Sputum Inflammatory Markers and Osmotic Airway Hyperresponsiveness During Induction of Sputum in Asthmatic Patients

Hypertonic saline aerosols are being used increasingly for bronchial provocation testing and induction of sputum. The aims of this study were to assess the response to challenge with 3% hypertonic saline administered via a ultrasonic nebulizer in patients with asthma, and to evaluate relationship between % fall of FEV1 during induction of sputum (osmotic airway hyperresponsiveness; osmotic AHR) and biochemical markers of induced sputum. We investigated changes in FEV1 in response to inhaling ultrasonically nebulized 3% saline in 25 patients with asthma and 10 control subjects. FEV1 was measured before, during, and after induction of sputum. We used fluoroimmunoassay to detect eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), immunohistochemical staining to detect EG2+ (secretory form of ECP) eosinophils, and a sandwich ELISA to detect interleukin (IL)-5. Protein concentration was determined by using bicinchoninic acid protein assay reagent. Asthmatics, compared with controls, had significantly higher osmotic AHR. Moderate to severe asthmatics had significantly higher osmotic AHR compared to mild asthmatics. Osmotic AHR was significantly correlated with the proportion of eosinophils, the levels of ECP, EG2+ eosinophils, IL-5, and proteins. These data suggest that osmotic AHR is closely related to the clinical status and biochemical markers of sputum supernatant in asthmatic patients.

Aspiración pulmonar en niños: cuantificación de macrófagos alveolar cargados de lípidos / Pulmonary aspiration in children: quantification of lipid laden alveolar macrophages

The search for lipid laden macrophages in sputum could be a simple diagnosis method for pulmonary aspiration. To assess the usefulness of sputum lipid laden macrophages in the diagnosis of pulmonary aspiration, 16 children aged 0 to 4 years old, admitted with aspiration pneumonia were studied. The diagnosis was based on clinical grounds (vomiting or radiologically diagnosed swallowing abnormalities plus persistent pulmonary condensations) or radionucleide milk scanning. As controls, 6 children of 1 to 5 years old, admitted for elective tonsillectomy, were studied. Sputum was stained with Sudan III-Hematoxylin, 100 macrophages were read and each cell received a score from 0 to 4 according to the degree of ataining. Lipid laden macrophages of children with aspiration pneumonia had a mean score of 150ñ107 (8-323) compared with those of controls that had a score of 1.3ñ1.5 (0-4). The study of sputum lipid laden macrophages may be a useful diagnostic method for aspiration pneumonia

Moraxela, subespecie branhamella catarrhalis: primera cepa aislada en un sintomatico respiratorio como causa etiologica, en la ciudad de La Paz-Bolivia / Moraxela, subspecies branhamella catarralis: first isolated chains in the sintomatic respiratory as isolated chains etiology, in the La Paz city-Bolivia

Paciente adulto de sexo masculino atendido en el hospital "San gabriel" que ingresa con signo-sintomatologia de sindrome de condensacion pulmonar y al que en fecha 30-05-1994 se le practico examen bacteriologico de esputo (muestra No 131/94) para determinar el agente etiologico. El estudio reaslizado demuestra a moraxella, subespecie branhamella catarrhalis como el agente causal, y en la prueba para deteccion de beta-lactamasa resulto ser positiva. Es necesario reconocer en los procedimientos bacteriologicos de rutina la psibilidad de diagnosticar a este microorganismo, observando con especial cuidado la resistencia a las penicilinas.