Search

Keywords: Bronchoalveolar lavage; Capnocytophaga; Ciliocytophthoria; Fusobacterium; Gram-negative rods; Leptotrichia EN Bronchoalveolar lavage Capnocytophaga Ciliocytophthoria Fusobacterium Gram-negative rods Leptotrichia 735 736 2 05/26/20 20200601 NES 200601 A 55-year-old woman was admitted for the 9-month follow up of a bi-pulmonary transplantation for an idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis. (a) Free cilia of bronchial ciliated cells presenting as atypical thin curved Gram-negative rods; (b) non-altered bronchial ciliated cells; (c) bronchial ciliated cells without cilia; (d) Gram-negative rods. Bronchoalveolar lavage, Capnocytophaga, Ciliocytophthoria, Fusobacterium, Gram-negative rods, Leptotrichia. [Extracted from the article]

Objective To investigate whether telomerase activity could be used as a diagnostic and/or prognostic marker of bladder carcinoma, by assessing telomerase activity using semiquantitative and in situ methods, and quantifying telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA expression in a series of bladder carcinomas. Material and methods Telomerase activity was detected by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay using a telomerase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit on a series of 29 bladder carcinomas and on three normal bladder samples. hTERT mRNA levels were quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. For the in situ detection of telomerase activity, the same telomerase PCR ELISA kit was used and applied to frozen-tissue sections only for discordant cases between telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA status. Results Telomerase activity was positive in 15 of the 29 bladder carcinomas (52%) and negative for the three normal bladder samples. hTERT was detected and quantified in all tumour samples, with major differences in hTERT values. None of the three normal bladder samples had quantifiable hTERT mRNA, giving complete sensitivity and specificity for the method in diagnosing bladder carcinoma. Comparing the results of RT-PCR and TRAP assay showed a significant association between the enzyme activity and levels of hTERT mRNA expression, with only five discordant cases, most of them being TRAP-negative and hTERT-positive. Among these cases the in situ results of telomerase activity were concordant with hTERT mRNA levels by RT-PCR and not with TRAP assay results, as nuclear fluorescence of malignant epithelial cells. The semiquantitative evaluation of positive cell numbers showed a heterogeneity of telomerase activity within the tumour tissue. There was a significant correlation between RT-PCR and histopathological variables (grade and stage), and a significant correlation between... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term survival after lung transplantation (LT) is hampered by the occurrence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). CLAD may manifest as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) or restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS), and is triggered by several factors, e.g. post-transplant infections. As immunoglobulin (Ig) A is crucial to ensure mucosal immunity and limit airway microbial load, we explored whether IgA and its epithelial receptor, the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR) are impaired in BOS. Bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL, n=120) and sera (n=179) from LT recipients included in the Cohort for Lung Transplantation were collected at defined timepoints after LT, prior to the diagnosis of functional stability (BOS-free, n=30) or BOS (pre-BOS, n=30). BAL were assessed for secretory (S)-IgA. Sera were assessed for IgA, S-IgA and secretory component (SC, released by pIgR apical cleavage after transcytosis). pIgR epithelial expression was quantified in transbronchial biopsies from BOS-free (n=20), pre-BOS (n=19) and BOS LT recipients (n=12), as well as in end-stage BOS explants (n=15). BAL S-IgA was reduced in pre-BOS LT recipients (Fig. 1A, 16.1 vs 33.4 µg/ml, p<0.01). Serum IgA was reduced after LT, with no difference across the groups. In contrast, serum SC and S-IgA were increased in pre-BOS LT recipients (Fig. 1B-C, S-IgA: 40.6 vs 21.2µg/ml, p<0.05; SC: 156.0 vs 97.2ng/ml, p<0.001). pIgR bronchiolar expression was reduced in transbronchial biopsies from BOS (Fig. 1D-E, p<0.05 vs BOS-free and pre-BOS), with further decrease in end-stage BOS explants (p<0.0001 vs BOS-free and pre-BOS). BAL S-IgA and pIgR decreased levels suggest that the pIgR/IgA system is impaired in BOS. This alteration is present prior to the functional diagnosis of CLAD. Serum SC and S-IgA increased levels in pre-BOS may reflect a spill-over from bronchoalveolar fluids, witnessing an permeability of the respiratory barrier. These features could play a pathogenic role by increasing susceptibility to local infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B. Philippe, D. Grenet, P. Honderlick, E. Longchampt, B. Dupont, C. Picard, M. Stern. Severe Aspergillus endocarditis in a lung transplant recipient with a five-year survival Transpl Infect Dis 2010: 12: 273–276. All rights reserved We report the case of a patient with cystic fibrosis who underwent lung transplant and developed Aspergillus endocarditis and cutaneous relapse. Long-term survival was achieved with surgical and prolonged antifungal treatment. This case report emphasizes the recommendation of life-long antifungal treatment in transplant recipients who survive an episode of fungal endocarditis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]