HPV in exhaled breath condensate of lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: A recent intriguing carcinogenetic hypothesis for lung cancer foresees its viral aetiology. The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the main virus actually recognised in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time to our knowledge, the presence of HPV in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of lung cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We enrolled 89 patients affected by lung cancer and 68 controls. HPV infections were investigated in their EBC, paired bronchial brushing and neoplastic lung tissue through genotyping. RESULTS: We were able to detect HPV in the EBC, bronchial brushing and neoplastic lung tissue. We described the presence of an HPV infection in 16.4% of the subjects affected by non-small cell lung cancer, but in none of the controls. HPV 16 and 31 turned out to be the most widespread genotypes. The HPV positivity in airways as well as in the smoking habit was seen to independently increase the individual's susceptibility to developing lung cancer. CONCLUSION: When summing up, we demonstrated the possibility to identify an HPV infection in the EBC of lung cancer patients; further, we supported the notion that the EBC is a suitable tool to study airway colonisation. That being said, although further studies are needed to confirm our results, we retain the study of HPV in EBC to be very interesting in terms of future programmes involving lung-cancer screening.

Use of the Parasight-F diagnostic test for imported malaria in a travel clinic.

The Parasight-F test based on the detection of a soluble antigen specific for Plasmodium falciparum is designed for the immediate diagnosis of malaria infection. We evaluated its use by clinicians during consultations. This prospective study of its diagnostic utility in febrile patients consulting a travel clinic on their return from areas endemic for malaria was conducted between May 1996 and May 1997. The Parasight-F test was performed by the clinician with confirmation by means of standard microscopic examination of venous blood. One-hundred and forty patients were enrolled. Forty-three (31%) cases of malaria were identified by microscopic examination. Thirty-eight were due to P. falciparum. The Parasight-F tests yielded 6 false-positive and 3 false-negative results compared to the microscopic findings. The specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of P. falciparum malaria were 94% and 92%. These results show that the Parasight-F test alone cannot replace microscopic diagnosis of malaria in travel clinics.

Recurrent osteochondroma.

Osteochondroma is the most common bone tumor of the foot. This should be easily recognized by foot and ankle specialists. Malignant transformation does occur, although it is quite rare, and should be a consideration when deciding on treatment. An unusual case of recurrent osteochondroma is reviewed.

Occurrence of spontaneous malignant lymphoma in the course of idiopathic myelofibrosis.

The spontaneous development of malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a patient with idiopathic myelofibrosis is described. The tumor appeared 3 years after clinical diagnosis of the latter. Implications of the association between myeloproliferative and lymphoproliferative disorders at a pathogenetic level are briefly discussed.