Results: Serum levels of KL-6 in NSIP positively correlated with the total HRCT score and overall extent of interstitial disease. Serum levels of SP-D in NSIP showed a positive correlation with the area of ground-glass attenuation without traction bronchiectasis and the inflammatory CT pattern, but the

levels were inversely correlated with the area of ground-glass attenuation with traction bronchiectasis and the fibrotic CT pattern. The follow-up CT and serum marker changes after treatment showed that percent change of disease extent was reflected in both markers, especially KL-6. Further, the decreased fibrotic pattern correlated with both biomarkers. Conclusions: The results indicate that serum levels of KL-6 in NSIP reflect the overall extent of interstitial lesions, which include both inflammatory

and fibrotic lesions, while the levels of SP-D mainly reflect the extent of inflammatory lesions. Copyright Saracatinib (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with obstruction constitutes a surgical emergency. Medical therapy is palliative GNS-1480 datasheet and unlikely to result in significant or sustained physiologic improvement. Two cases demonstrate the successful use of a novel management scheme in which patients are admitted directly to the operating room for diagnosis confirmation and treatment, obviating the need for time-consuming preoperative assessment in an intensive care unit before surgery.”
“Background: Eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) is defined by an eosinophil count of >= 10% in the pleural fluid and often caused by air or blood in the pleural space. The diagnostic significance of EPEs is still a matter of debate. Objective: The objective of this study was to systematically review the medical literature to evaluate the diagnostic significance of EPEs. Methods: Electronic databases were searched from 1950 to April 2010 to perform a meta-analysis. Data were extracted using standardized forms, and pooled odds ratios

with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. A logistic regression analysis was also performed to evaluate the association between the pleural eosinophil counts and the likelihood AZD4547 datasheet of underlying causes of EPEs. Results: We identified a total of 687 cases of EPE. The most common cause of EPEs was malignancy (26%) followed by idiopathic (25%) and parapneumonic (13%) effusions. The likelihood of malignancy or tuberculosis was somehow lower in EPEs than in non-EPEs, but the differences were not statistically significant. The prevalence of malignancy was significantly lower in the group of patients that required a pathologic confirmation (21 vs. 30%; p = 0.01). The likelihood of malignancy was inversely correlated with the pleural fluid eosinophil counts. The likelihood of idiopathic effusion was significantly higher in EPEs than in non-EPEs. Conclusions: Malignancy was the most common cause of EPEs.