Solitary pleural myeloma diagnosed by semi-rigid thoracoscopy: A case report and literature review.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by abnormal proliferation of neoplastic plasma cells. Pleural effusion as an initial presentation of this disease is rare, as is true pleural myeloma. We herein present a case of solitary pleural myelomatous lesion in a 70-year-old male patient diagnosed by pleural biopsy via semi-rigid thoracoscopy followed by histopathological examination. Furthermore, a review of the related English literature identified 22 cases of pleural myeloma, only 3 of which were diagnosed by video-assisted thoracoscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a solitary pleural myelomatous lesion diagnosed by pleural biopsy via semi-rigid thoracoscopy. Patients with MM with pleural involvement, including the present case, appear to have a short survival despite aggressive treatment. Our patient received chemotherapy with bortezomib, epiadriamycin and dexamethasone; however, he deteriorated rapidly after one cycle of chemotherapy and succumbed to the disease 8 weeks after the initial presentation. According to our experience, semi-rigid thoracoscopy is an effective and safe method for obtaining a pleural specimen for histopathological evaluation.

Eosinophilic pleural effusion due to Spirometra mansoni spargana: a case report and review of the literature.

A 36-year-old female presented with an eosinophilic pleural effusion. The eosinophilic pleural effusion was considered to have been caused by a parasitic infection. Spirometra mansoni spargana was confirmed by semi-rigid thoracoscopy. About 2 months after treatment with praziquantel for 3 days, the pleural effusion had disappeared on the chest roentgenogram.

Inhibition of lung tumor growth in nude mice by siRNACD31 targeting PECAM-1.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) provides a promising therapeutic approach in the silencing of disease-causing genes. In the present study, the use of 2'-O-methyl-modified siRNA-cluster of differentiation 31 (siRNACD31), with cationic liposome RNA interference (RNAi)-mate as a carrier, effectively silenced the platelet endothelial cell molecule 1 (PECAM-1) gene of murine hemangioendothelioma cells in vitro. In vivo, 2'-O-methyl-modified siRNACD31 carried by RNAi-mate was successfully delivered, targeting the PECAM-1 gene in the vasculature of nude mouse lung carcinoma xenografts. The growth of the lung carcinoma xenografts was inhibited by the 2'-O-methyl-modified siRNACD31 and RNAi-mate complexes, and the expression of the PECAM-1 protein was downregulated, with a simultaneous decrease in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein in the lung carcinoma xenografts. 2'-O-methyl-modified siRNACD31-RNAi-mate complexes may provide a potential therapeutic strategy in lung carcinoma treatment. The effect of PECAM-1 on VEGF expression may possibly be attributed to the function of PECAM-1 signal transduction.

Mitochondrial ROS-K+ channel signaling pathway regulated secretion of human pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

The objective was to investigate the molecular mechanism of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling regulation of pulmonary artery endothelial cell (HPAEC) secretion in the condition of oxidative stress. Acrolein (40 µM) induced HPAEC mitochondrial generation of ROS, rotenone (2 µmol/L) blocked mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, cesium chloride (CsCl, 40 mmol/L)blocked K(+)channels, and saline (0.9 g/dl) were used as control. The generations of NOS, ET-1 and VEGF were determined with ELISA in the condition of different treatment reagents namely acrolein, acrolein plus rotenone, acrolein plus CsCl and saline. In the different reagent treatment of HPAECs, acrolein increased mitochondrial ROS, membrane potential, Kv1.5 mRNA and protein expression, intracellular calcium and the generation of NOS (determining NO production), ET-1 and VEGF, and those were reduced by rotenone. CsCl decreased the increment of membrane potential, the elevation of intracellular calcium and the upregulation of NOS, E-1 and VEGF expressions, which were induced by acrolein. The present study demonstrated that mitochondrial ROS-K(+)channel regulated HPAEC secretion of NO, ET-1 and VEGF in the condition of oxidative stress. Kv1.5 channel may be an important component of ROS-K+ channel signaling pathway, and intracellular calcium contributed to mitochondrial ROS-K(+) channel signaling modulation of HPAEC secretion.