Management of recurrent malignant pleural effusions with a tunneled indwelling pleural catheter

In this review, we report on the use of indwelling pleural catheters in the treatment of malignant pleural effusions. We describe the most commonly used catheter. Also, treatment with indwelling pleuralcatheters as compared to talc pleurodesis is reviewed. A comparison of efficacy, costs, effects on quality of life, and complications is made. Only one randomized controlled trial comparing the two is available up to date, but several are underway. We conclude that treatment for malignant pleural effusions with indwelling pleural catheters is a save, cost-effective, and patientfriendly method, with low complication rates.

Pleural effusion,ascites,colon ulcers and hematochezia:What we can learn from the diagnostic process of a patient with plasma cell myeloma:A case report

BACKGROUND Plasma cell myeloma(PCM)is characterized by hypercalcemia,renal impairment,anemia,and bone destruction.While pleural effusion,ascites,abdominal pain,and bloody stool are common manifestations of lung disease or gastrointestinal disorders,they are rarely observed in patients with PCM.CASE SUMMARY A 66-year-old woman presented with complaints of recurrent chest tightness,wheezing,and abdominal bloating accompanied by bloody stools.Computed tomography revealed pleural effusion and ascites.Pleural effusion tests showed inflammation,but the T-cell spot test and carcinoembryonic antigen were negative.Endoscopy showed colonic mucosal edema with ulcer formation and local intestinal lumen stenosis.Echocardiography revealed enlarged atria and reduced left ventricular systolic function.The diagnosis remained unclear.Further testing revealed elevated blood light chain lambda and urine immunoglobulin levels.Blood immunofixation electrophoresis was positive for immunoglobulin G lambda type.Smear cytology of the bone marrow showed a high proportion of plasma cells,accounting for about 4.5%.Histopathological examination of the bone marrow suggested PCM.Flow cytometry showed abnormal plasma cells with strong expression of CD38,CD138,cLambda,CD28,CD200,and CD117.Fluorescence in situ hybridization gene testing of the bone marrow suggested 1q21 gene amplification,but cytogenetic testing showed no clonal abnormalities.Colonic mucosa and bone marrow biopsy tissues were negative for Highman Congo red staining.The patient was finally diagnosed with PCM.CONCLUSION A diagnosis of PCM should be considered in older patients with pleural effusion,ascites,and multi-organ injury.

Comparison of efficacy of lung ultrasound and chest X-ray in diagnosing pulmonary edema and pleural effusion in ICU patients: A single centre, prospective, observational study

Background and Aims While chest X-ray (CXR) has been a conventional tool in intensive care units (ICUs) to identify lung pathologies, computed tomography (CT) scan remains the gold standard. Use of lung ultrasound (LUS) in resource-rich ICUs is still under investigation. The present study compares the utility of LUS to that of CXR in identifying pulmonary edema and pleural effusion in ICU patients. In addition, consolidation and pneumothorax were analyzed as secondary outcome measures. Material and Methods This is a prospective, single centric, observational study. Patients admitted in ICU were examined for lung pathologies, using LUS by a trained intensivist;and CXR done within 4 hours of each other. The final diagnosis was ascertained by an independent senior radiologist, based on the complete medical chart including clinical findings and the results of thoracic CT, if available. The results were compared and analyzed. Results Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of LUS was 95%, 94.4%, 94.67% for pleural effusion;and 98.33%, 97.78%, 98.00% for pulmonary edema respectively. Corresponding values with CXR were 48.33%, 76.67%, 65.33% for pleural effusion;and 36.67%, 82.22% and 64.00% for pulmonary edema respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of LUS was 91.30%, 96.85%, 96.00% for consolidation;and 100.00%, 79.02%, 80.00% for pneumothorax respectively. Corresponding values with CXR were 60.87%, 81.10%, 78.00% for consolidation;and 71.3%, 97.20%, 96.00% for pneumothorax respectively. Conclusion LUS has better diagnostic accuracy in diagnosis of pleural effusion and pulmonary edema when compared with CXR and is thus recommended as an effective alternative for diagnosis of these conditions in acute care settings. Our study recommends that a thoracic CT scan can be avoided in most of such cases.

Bacteriological Profile of Effusion Fluids Infections at Charles De Gaulle University Pediatric Hospital from 2017 to 2020

Introduction: Microbiology of effusion fluids in children in Burkina Faso is characterized by the scarcity of data. This work aimed to study the bacteriological and antibiotics susceptibility profile of bacteria involved in effusion fluid infections in paediatrics in order to improve the choice of probabilistic antibiotics therapy. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was used in children aged 0 to 15 years from 2017 to 2020 at the Charles De Gaulle Pediatric University Hospital Center (CHUP-CDG) in Ouagadougou. Classical bacteriology methods such as macroscopy, Gram staining, identification galleries and antibiotics susceptibility testing were used. Results: Of 231 samples, 64 bacteria were isolated. The most common bacterial strains of pleural fluid were Staphylococcus aureus (25%) and 40% for Enterobacteriaceae. Of the peritoneal fluid, 77% were Enterobacteriaceae with 57% Escherichia coli;and from joint fluid, 33% were S. aureus and 22% for P. aeruginosa. The overall susceptibility profile showed 29% extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL), 10% methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and 8% carbapenemases. Conclusion: Bacteriological profile is characterized by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MRSA. The most active antibiotics were macrolides, aminoglycosides, and cefoxitin (methicillin) for Gram-positive cocci, carbapenems, and aminoglycosides for Gram-negative bacilli. Then, the monitoring of antibiotics resistance must be permanent.

Thermomechanical Characterization of Laterite Matrix Reinforced with Typha Material for Thermal Insulation in Building

Every person, in every country and on every continent, will be affected in one way or another by climate change. A climate cataclysm is looming on the horizon due to greenhouse gas emissions. This explains a strong demand for air conditioning in the years to come, hence the need for good thermal insulation at a lower cost. However, a policy of prevention, adaptation, and resilience is necessary for the protection of the environment in the future. This work aims to respond to the United Nations SDGs 7, 11 and 13. This paper presents the results of thermomechanical characterizations of the Typha additive (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) in laterite matrices. First, we carried out a thermal characterization using the asymmetric hot plane method, which led to thermal conductivity and effusivity in different proportions. Next, mechanical tests were carried out to determine the traction and compression of each material with a matest press. Those which made it possible to obtain results according to the percentage for the thermal tests: a conductivity varying between 0.7178 W/m·K to 0.0597 W/m·K and an effusivity varying between 942.5392 J/m2·K·s1/2 at 287.0855 J/m2·K·s1/2 and for mechanical tests: traction varying between 0.035 MPa to 0.034 MPa and compression varying between 0.1115 MPa to 0.0805 MPa for the different samples. The exploitation of the results allowed us to study the conductivity, effusivity, traction, and compression as a function of their densities.

Evaluation of serum and pleural levels of endostatin and vascular epithelial growth factor in lung cancer patients with pleural effusion

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of endostatin(ES),vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and careinoembryonie antigen(CEA) in both serum and pleural effusion of lung cancer patients.Methods:Levels of ES,VEGF and CEA in 52 malignant pleural effusion due to lung cancer and 50 patients with non-malignant disease were measured by using sandwich enzymelinked immunosorbent assay and microparticle enzyme immunoassay.Results:The ES.VEGF and CEA levels in pleural effusion and serum,and their ratio(F/S) were higher in lung cancer group than that in benign group,and the differences were statistically significant(P【0.05).The diagnostic efficiency of ES+VEGF for lung cancer was superior to either single detection.The diagnostic efficiency of ES+VEGK+CEA was superior to either ES+VEGF or ES+CEA.Conclusions: The results suggest that ES,VEGF and CEA might be useful in the differentiation between benign and malignant pleural effusion due to lung cancer.In comparison with either single determination of concentration in serum or pleural fluid,the couiljined detection of two or three markers is of important clinical significance in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Clinical Value of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Combined with Interferon-γ in Diagnosing Malignant Pleural Effusion and Tuberculous Pleural Effusion

In order to investigate the clinical value of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） combined with interferon-γ （IFN-γ） in diagnosing malignant pleural effusion and tuberculous pleural effusion, 42 cases of malignant pleural effusion and 45 cases of tuberculous pleural effusion in Tongji Hospital, from March 2004 to May 2005, were included, The carcinoembryonic antigen （CEA）, VEGF and IFN-γ levels of pleural effusion were detected by using ELISA, and adenosine deaminase （ADA） activity was determined by using enzyme kinetic analytical method. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and area under the curve （AUCR^ROC） of CEA and VEGF, VEGF/IFN-γ ratio, ADA and IFN-γ were measured by receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC）, The results showed that CEA, VEGF levels and VEGF/IFN-γ ratio were significantly higher and the ADA and IFN-γ levels were significantly lower in malignant group than those in tuberculous group （P〈0,01）, The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and AUCR^ROC of VEGF/IFN-γ ratio （88,7%, 99,8%, 94,4%, 0.96 respectively） were higher than those of CEA （67.8%, 96.1%, 82,4%, 0.78 respectively） and VEGF （81,5%, 84,3%, 82.9%, 0.79 respectively）. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and AUCR^ROC of IFN-γ （85.7%, 96,4%, 90.9%, 0.94 respectively） were higher than those of ADA （80,2%, 87,6%, 83.8%, 0,81 respectively）. It was concluded that VEGF/IFN-γ ratio and IFN-γ could be used as valuable parameters for the differential diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion and tuberculous pleural effusion.

Clinical observation on pericardial effusion in patients with lung cancer treated by intrapericardial catheterization and infusion of highly agglutinative staphylococcin and cisplatin

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of injecting highly agglutinative staphylococcin (HASL) and cisplatin into pericardial cavity of lung cancer patients with pericardial effusion. Methods: 81 patients were randomized into two groups: 45 in the experimental group (HASL and Cisplatin) and 36 in the control group (Cisplatin). At first pericardial effusion was drained out from a intrapericardial catheter and then different drugs were infused, respectively. 24 h after perfusion the draining continued again until drainage quantity was less than 30 mL every day. The draining lasted 10–15 days. Results: The response rate was 91.1% for the experimental group and 80.6% for the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The complete remission was 77.8% for the experimental group and 52.8% for the control group, which was statistically significant difference (P<0.05). The adverse effects were myelosuppression and nausea and vomiting, which were 35.6% and 40.0% in the experimental group and 72.2% and 66.7% in the control group, respectively (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion: Inject- ing HASL and cisplatin into pericardial cavity may be a better way to control pericardial effusion of lung cancer.

The diagnostic significance and the assessment of the value of vascular endothelial growth factor as a marker for success of chemical pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion

Differential diagnosis of pleural effusion is an important issue, since the treatment modalities and prognosis strictly depend on early and correct diagnosis of the underlying etiology. We assessed the efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the differential diagnosis of patients with malignant and non-malignant pleural diseases. And also is assessed of the VEGF as a marker for success of chemical pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusion. Pleural effusions of 40 patients with a mean age of 55 (range, 26 to 78 years) were examined. A total of 20 patients had malignant pleural effusion;malignant mesothelioma (n=7), lung cancer (n=5) and metastatic malignancies (n=8). Twenty patients had benign pleural effusion;fibrinous pleuritis (n=6), tuberculosis (n=3) empyema (n=5), congestive heart failure (n=3), and acute pancreatitis (n=3). Definitive diagnosis was obtained in all cases with blind or open pleural biopsy, and cytological examination. VEGF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The VEGF level of pleural effusion was comparably higher in the malignant group. The mean level of VEGF in patients with malignant pleural effusions (21.7 ± 1.8 ng/ml) was significantly (P <0.001) higher than that of (13.2 ± 1.5 ng/ml) non-malignant effusions. No significant difference was found regarding the VEGF levels and histological types in malignant pleural effusions. Negative correlation was observed between success rate of pleurodesis and VEGF level of pleural effusion (p= 0.015). The measurement of VEGF levels in pleural effusion may be useful to differentiate malignant from nonmalignant pleural effusions. VEGF level may also be an important prognostic marker for effective treatment of the patients who had malignant pleural effusions with pleurodesis. It is important issue in here whether VEGF could be useful in prognostication of outcome of chemical pleurodesis or not.

Study progression of recombinant human endostatin (Endostar) for the treatment of malignant serous effusion

Since recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin;Endostar) has been listed 5 years,clinicians have combined it with chemotherapy for the treatment of lung cancers and other malignant tumors,and proved its effect and safety.A number of scholars have explored the application of Endostar alone or in combination with chemotherapy for treatment of malignant serous effusion,finding its high efficiency and low toxicity;and that hydrops controlling is stronger,and that it can significantly improve patients' quality of life.It is worthy of conducting prospective,randomized and multi-center clinical studies and basic researches to clarify the mechanism.

Comparison of intra-pleural injection efficacy between Endostar and Bevacizumab combined with pemetrexed/cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-/anaplastic lymphoma kinase-lung adenocarci

Objective To compare intra-pleural injection efficacy and safety between Endostar and bevacizumab combined with pemetrexed/cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural effusion in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-/anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)-lung adenocarcinoma. Methods Sixty-four pCVatients with EGFR-/ALK-lung adenocarcinoma with malignant pleural effusion(MPE) were admitted to the authors' hospital between January 2016 and June 2017. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Endostar combined with pemetrexed/cisplatin(Endostar group); and bevacizumab plus pemetrexed/cisplatin(Bevacizumab group). They underwent thoracic puncture and catheterization, and MPE was drained as much as possible. Both groups were treated with pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2, intravenous drip(d1), cisplatin 37.5 mg/m^2 per time, intra-pleural injection(d1, d3). Patients in the Endostar group were treated with Endostar 30 mg per time, intra-pleural injection(d1, 3), and patients in the Bevacizumab group were treated with bevacizumab 5 mg/kg per time, intra-pleural injection(d1). Only one cycle of treatment was applied. MPE was extracted before treatment and on day 7 after treatment. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) were determined using ELISA. Efficacy and side effects were evaluated according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(RECIST) version 1.1, and National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events(CTCAE) version 3.0 criteria. Results The objective response rates in the Endostar and Bevacizumab groups were 50.0% and 56.3%, respectively; there was no statistical difference between the groups(P > 0.05). After one cycle of treatment, the mean VEGF levels in MPE in both groups decreased significantly, and there was no significant difference in the degree of decline between the two groups(P > 0.05). In both groups, pre-treatment VEGF levels for patients achieving complete response were significantly higher than those for patients achieving stable disease + progressive disease(P < 0.05). No specific side effects were recorded. Conclusion Endostar and Bevacizumab demonstrated similar efficacy in controlling MPE in patients with EGFR-/ALK-lung adenocarcinoma through an anti-angiogenesis pathway, with tolerable side effects. The levels of VEGF in MPE could predict the efficacy of intra-pleural injection of anti-angiogenesis drugs.

Application of malignant pleural effusion cell blocks in the diagnosis and personalized treatment of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of immunocytochemistry and related gene detection using cell block for the diagnosis and individualized treatment of advanced lung cancer.Methods Sixty-five malignant pleural effusion specimens were collected to make cell blocks, which were used for hematoxylin and eosin(H&E) staining, immunocytochemical studies, and gene sequencing of the tumors to guide the individualized diagnoses and treatment of the given tumors. Results The tumor cells in the cell block sections were abundant in number with high quality cellular structures, and the histological morphological characteristics were partially maintained. Immunocytochemical staining was helpful in identifying the cell origin and tumor classification, and amplification refractory mutation system(ARMS) was used to determine the mutation status of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR). Of the 65 samples, 50 had a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, 7 were pulmonary squamous cells, 6 were small cell carcinoma of the lung, and 2 were mesothelioma. The morphological features of the tumors were as follows: acinar formation, papillary and single cells for adenocarcinoma;intercellular bridges for squamous cell carcinoma;and morphology of the small cells is similar to that of the smear. Correlating with the results of immunocytochemical staining and clinical data analysis, 40 cases were confirmed as pulmonary adenocarcinoma, with an additional 4 cases of breast cancer, 3 cases of ovarian adenocarcinoma, and 3 cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Of the 47 non-small cell lung carcinoma(NSCLC) patients, EGFR mutations were detected in 26 cases(55.3%) by ARMS, with four mutation types: exon 19 deletion(13 cases, 50.0%), exon 2l point mutations L858R(11 cases, 42.3%) and L861Q(1 case, 3.8%), and exon 18 point mutation G719X(1 case, 3.8%). Conclusion Malignant pleural effusion cell blocks combined with immunocytochemical markers and molecular pathology are helpful for the diagnosis of advanced tumors, the identification of tumor properties and histological tumor origin, and the selection of individualized treatment for advanced lung cancer.

The diagnostic significance of the detection of cytokeratin 19 mRNA by quantitative RT-PCR in benign and malignant pleural effusions

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of detecting cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in benign and malignant pleural effusions. Methods: CK19 mRNA was examined by quantitative RT-PCR and CK19 was detected by Enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) in 32 patients with malignant pleural effusions and 35 patients with benign pleural effusions. Results: On the threshold of 200 copies/μl, the positive rate of CK19 mRNA in patients with malignant pleural effusions was 62.5%. The positive rates of CK19 mRNA and CK19 in the malignant pleural effusions were significantly higher than those in the benign group (P<0.01). Furthermore, the positive rate of CK19 mRNA was higher than that of CK19 in the malignant group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Detection of CK19 mRNA can be a promising diagnostic marker in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pleural effusions.

Pericardial effusion with tamponade – an uncommon presentation leading to the diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis polyangiitis: A case report

BACKGROUND Eosinophilic granulomatosis polyangiitis(EGPA)is a small vessel necrotizing vasculitis that commonly presents as peripheral eosinophilia and asthma;however,it can rarely manifest with cardiac involvement such as pericarditis and cardiac tamponade.Isolated pericardial tamponade presenting as the initial symptom of EGPA is exceedingly rare.Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to prevent life-threatening outcomes.CASE SUMMARY 52-year-old woman with no past medical history presented with progressive dyspnea and dry cough.On physical exam she had a pericardial friction rub and bilateral rales.Vital signs were notable for tachycardia at 119 beats per minute and hypoxia with 89%oxygen saturation.On laboratory exam,she had 45%peripheral eosinophilia,troponin elevation of 1.1 ng/mL and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide of 2101 pg/mL.TTE confirmed a large pericardial effusion and tamponade physiology.She underwent urgent pericardial window procedure.Pericardial and lung biopsy demonstrated eosinophilic infiltration.Based on the American College of Radiology guidelines,the patient was diagnosed with EGPA which manifested in its rare form of cardiac tamponade.She was treated with steroid taper and mepolizumab.CONCLUSION This case highlights that when isolated pericardial involvement occurs in EGPA,diagnosis is recognized by performing pericardial biopsy demonstrating histopathologic evidence of eosinophilic infiltration.

Diagnostic Utility of Sago-Like Nodules on Gross Thoracoscopic Appearance in Tuberculous Pleural Effusion and Their Correlation with Final Histo-Microbiologic Findings

Background: Distinguishing tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) from other causes of exudative effusion is often challenging. Delay in treatment initiation can occur while awaiting histo-microbiologic confirmation owing to the paucibacillary nature of the disease. Sago-like nodules are the most common visual finding on gross thoracoscopic appearance. The primary objective was to determine the diagnostic utility of the presence of sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance in TPE to help justify early initiation of tuberculosis (TB) treatment based on their finding while awaiting final histo-microbiologic confirmation. Secondary objective was to study the correlation between the presence of sago-like nodules and the final histo-microbiologic findings in pleural biopsy specimens. Methods: This was a retrospective-descriptive study of all patients with exudative pleural effusion who underwent diagnostic medical thoracoscopy (MT) at Hamad General Hospital during an eight-year period (from January, 2008 to December, 2015). Results: The presence of sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance of the pleural surface had a sensitivity of 58%, a specificity of 89% and a positive predictive value of 97% for TPE with a diagnostic accuracy of 62%. There is significant association between the presence of sago-like nodules and demonstration of granulomatous inflammation in pleural biopsy specimens (P = 0.000). There is no association between sago-like nodules and positive TB smear and culture in biopsy specimens. Conclusion: The presence of sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance has a high specificity and positive predictive value for TPE and significantly correlates with the presence of granulomatous inflammation. Patients from TB prevalent areas with exudative pleural effusion and sago-like nodules on gross thoracoscopic appearance may be commenced on TB chemotherapy while awaiting final histologic confirmation.

Resolution of pleural effusion in a IgD multiple myeloma after chemotherapy based on liposomal doxorubicin

IgD myelomas account for only 2% of all myelomas. This kind of hematological malignancy is severe and carries a bleak prognosis. Pleural effusion is very rare in multiple myeloma. We reported a case in which pleural effusion appeared at the end of the illness of IgD myeloma and treated with liposomal doxorubicin.

Safety and Therapeutic Efficacy of the Lewis Y Carbohydrate Specific Humanized Antibody MB311 in Patients with Malignant Effusion

Purpose: Investigation of safety and tolerability as well as therapeutic efficacy of the LeY specific humanized mAb MB311 in cancer pts with malignant effusions in a Phase II clinical trial. Experimental Design: An openlabel, single treatment arm, uncontrolled study with MB311 (100 mg per dose, intravenous infusion on day 1 and 7) in pts with malignant effusion (ascites or pleural effusion) was conducted with the primary objective to examine safety and tolerability as well as pharmacokinetics. Secondary objectives were assessment of pharmacodynamics, volumetric measurement of the malignant effusion and obtaining data for several immunological parameters. Results: Five pts (2 pts with gastric cancer and malignant ascites, 3 pts with breast cancer and malignant pleural effusion/ascites) have completed the study. MB311 was well tolerated with only two pts showing the easily manageable side effects nausea, vomiting (up to grade 2) and one episode of skin rash (grade 2) after the first application. Data of 4 pts were available for evaluating immunologic results and efficacy. In all pts significant levels of MB311 could be detected in the systemic blood circulation and the effusion leading to increased infiltration of CD45 positive immune cells (4/5 pts) and resulting in a reduction of tumor cell counts as detected by immunocytochemistry of effusion samples in 3/5 pts). Most interestingly, the pt with the highest LeY positive tumor showed a significant reduction of effusion volume after treatment—this decrease was also evident for Her2/neu positive tumor cells which were dramatically reduced after MB311 treatment in this breast cancer pt. Conclusion: MB311 was well tolerated in patients with malignant effusions, permeated into malignant effusion and attracted immune cells leading to decreased tumor cell counts in the effusion. In the case of strong LeY expression of malignant cells in the effusion a pronounced decrease in LeY, EpCAM and Her2/neu positive tumor cells and a significant reduction of the effusion volume could be demonstrated.

Massive Pericardial Effusion as the First Manifestation of Hypothyroidism in a Male Patient

This article intends to report a rare case of massive pericardial effusion as the first manifestation of hypothyroidism. A 45-year-old male patient, accompanied by a cardiology department, suddenly started to present signs of dyspnea and tiredness. He was submitted to an echocardiogram and diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy associated with a moderate pericardial effusion and low ejection of fraction. The laboratory tests showed elevated TSH levels （13.20 mIU/L）, what leads to the hypothyroidism diagnose and enable to start the treatment with levothyroxine. The patient has not followed correctly the treatment, reason why he has not showed any improves. He was admitted in the hospital to cardiology monitoring and the chest radiography confirmed an intense pericardial effusion. Then, the patient was submitted to the pericardiocentesis procedure, which was capable of remove the pericardial fluid for laboratory analysis and fragment of the pericardial sac for neoplastic cell research. After the hospital discharge, he was maintained in outpatient follow-up, when showed an important improvement in the clinical state.

Ultrasound Value in the Management of Parapneumonic Pleural Effusions in a Limited-Resource Setting: A Case Report

Pleural effusion is a common complication of acute lung infection, with rising morbidity and mortality. If poorly treated, parapneumonic effusion evolves to the fibrino-purulent stage wherein antibiotic therapy alone becomes inadequate. Chest CT is the gold standard diagnostic imaging tool, however, in a resource-limited context, it may not be performed. Chest ultrasound can therefore be an alternative for drainage and intermittent follow-up of complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions. We report the case of a 4-year-old child who presented with cough, breathing difficulties and fever for over two weeks and in whom an initial chest X-ray revealed a left hemithorax white-out with an air-fluid level. Chest ultrasound revealed a left pleuropulmonary massive fluid collection with an encysted empyema. It also allowed ultrasound-guided pleural effusion drainage of a fibrino-purulent liquid which tested positive for Kocuria kristinae, a bacterium sensitive to gentamycin, vancomycin, norfloxacin and clindamycin. The next follow-up ultrasound checks showed improvement and the control chest X-ray performed one month later demonstrated pulmonary functional recovery. This case highlights the importance of ultrasound in the management and follow-up of this chest pathology in resource-limited settings.

Clinical study on bevacizumab combined with carboplatin therapy for malignant pleural effusion of non-small cell lung cancer

Objective:To investigate the effect of bevacizumab combined with carboplatin therapy for malignant pleural effusion of non-small cell lung cancer on tumor markers, angiogenesis molecules and invasive growth molecules.Methods:A total of 68 patients who were diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer complicated by pleural effusion in the Affiliated T.C.M Hospital of Southwest Medical University between June 2013 and August 2016 were selected and randomly divided into two groups, the combined group received bevacizumab combined with carboplatin chemotherapy, and the carboplatin group received carboplatin chemotherapy. Before treatment as well as 3 cycles and 6 cycles after treatment, the contents of tumor markers, angiogenesis molecules and invasive growth molecules in pleural effusion were examined.Results:3 cycles and 6 cycles after treatment, CEA, SCCAg, CYFRA21-1, sHLA-G, VEGF, VEGFR, PTN, MMP7 and MMP10 contents in pleural effusion of both groups of patients were significantly lower than those before treatment while TIMP1 and TIMP2 contents were significantly higher than those before treatment, and CEA, SCCAg, CYFRA21-1, sHLA-G, VEGF, VEGFR, PTN, MMP7 and MMP10 contents in pleural effusion of combined group were significantly lower than those of carboplatin group while TIMP1 and TIMP2 contents were significantly higher than those of carboplatin group.Conclusion:Bevacizumab combined with carboplatin therapy for malignant pleural effusion of non-small cell lung cancer can effectively kill cancer cells, and inhibit angiogenesis and cell invasion.