• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.264-268
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• 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease that threatens the life and health of people globally. Here, we performed a metabolomic analysis of serum samples from patients with intractable TB to identify biomarkers that might shorten the TB treatment period. Serum samples collected at the commencement of patients' treatment and healthy controls were analyzed using the capillary electrophoresis and time-of-flight mass spectrometry metabolome analysis method. The analysis identified the metabolites cystine, kynurenine, glyceric acid, and cystathionine, which might be useful markers for monitoring the TB treatment course. Furthermore, our research may provide experimental data to develop potential biomarkers in the TB treatment course.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.417-420
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• 2007

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease with an of unknown etiology, involving bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, pulmonary, skin and eye lesions. However, involvement of the endocrine system in sarcoidosis is quite rare, and the coexistence of both diseases is extremely unusual. We describe a 60-year-old woman presenting with sarcoidosis and Graves' disease. She was admitted for evaluation of dry cough, dyspnea, palpitation and general weakness. Both thyroid glands were enlarged diffusely. The thyroid function tests showed suppressed serum thyrotropin and an increased thyroid hormone level. The levels of the TSH receptor antibody, anti-thyroglobulin antibody and anti-microsomal antibody were higher than normal. The radionuclide scan($^{131}I$) showed increased iodine uptake. The chest X-ray revealed pulmonary hilar enlargement and high resolution CT showed both hilar lymph nodes enlargement and tiny parenchymal nodules. The transbronchial lung biopsy showed a noncaseating granuloma without necrosis. We report this case of pulmonary sarcoidosis plus Graves' disease with a review of the relevant literatures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.436-439
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• 2015

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which originated from neuroendocrine tissue, can develop into paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes, such as Cushing syndrome, because of an inappropriate secretion of ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This paraneoplastic syndrome is known to be a poor prognostic factor in SCLC. The reason for poor survival may be because of a higher risk of infection associated with hypercortisolemia. Therefore, early detection and appropriate treatment for this syndrome is necessary. But the diagnosis is challenging and the source of ACTH production can be difficult to identify. We report a 69-year-old male patient who had severe hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hypertension as manifestations of an ACTH-secreting small cell carcinoma of the lung. He was treated with ketoconazole and spironolactone to control the ACTH dependent Cushing syndrome. He survived for 15 months after chemotherapy, which is unusual considering the poor outcome of the ectopic ATH syndrome associated with SCLC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1005-1011
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• 1991

Eighty-four patients with pulmonary metastases from gestational choriocarcinoma were treated at the Catholic Medical Center between August, 1985 and August, 1991. Among these 13 patients underwent thoracotomy with resection of pulmonary lesions and the results obtained were follows. 1] The ages of the patients ranged from 26 to 47 years, with a mean age of 31 years. 2] The frequency of chemotherapy before operation ranged from zero to 46, with a mean frequency of 13.6. 3] Four patients were operated upon for a solitary metastasis of the lung; 6 patients, for unilateral multiple metastases and 3 patients, for bilateral pulmonary metastases. 4] Eight patients underwent wedge resection; 1 patient, segmentectomy; 2 patients, lobectomy; 3 patients, open lung biopsy. The lung lesions of eleven patients showed hemorrhagic necrosis[among these, 2 patients combined with pulmonary tuberculosis]; one was non-necrotic choriocarcinoma; another one was metastatic lung carcinoma from endocrine cancer of unknown origin. 5] Among twelve patients who had managed with chemotherapy before thoracotomy three patients were in remission; among 13 patients who had undergone thoracotomy 6 patients were in remission. 6] The median survival time of these patients was 25.8 months with 3 postoperative deaths. Subsequently, in the patients with pulmonary metastases from choriocarcinoma, if the primary tumor is under control, there are no other metastases, and the patients should be able to tolerate the planned operation, it is necessary to undergo aggressive thoracotomy for diagnostic purposes; for therapeutic purposes only when the pulmonary lesion is the only remaining source of increased hCG excretion; for reduction of tumor volume to shorten hospitalization or to reduce the quantity of drugs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.324-328
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• 2009

The syndrome of inappropriate secretion of the antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is a well recognized paraneoplastic phenomenon related to impaired water excretion, and can result in dilutional hyponatremia as well as central nervous system symptoms. It is characterized by a decrease in plasma osmolarity with inappropriately concentrated urine. The causes of SIADH are associated with pulmonary and endocrine disorders, central nervous system diseases, and malignancies, including lung cancer. The other causes of SIADH include some drugs, particularly chemotherapy agents. Anticancer drugs, such as cisplatin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide are well known causes of SIADH but the mechanisms are unclear. Recently, we encountered a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who suffered from general weakness and altered mentality after an intravenous carboplatin and gemcitabine combination.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.463-468
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• 2015

Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis is an uncommon diffuse cystic lung disease in adults. In rare cases, it can involve extrapulmonary organs and lead to endocrine abnormalities such as central diabetes insipidus. A 42-year-old man presented with polyphagia and polydipsia, as well as a dry cough and dyspnea on exertion. Magnetic resonance imaging of the hypothalamic-pituitary system failed to show the posterior pituitary, which is a typical finding in patients with central diabetes insipidus. This condition was confirmed by a water deprivation test, and the patient was also found to have type 2 diabetes mellitus. Computed tomographic scanning of the lungs revealed multiple, irregularly shaped cystic lesions and small nodules bilaterally, with sparing of the costophrenic angles. Lung biopsy through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery revealed pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis. On a follow-up visit, only 1 year after the patient had quit smoking, clinical and radiological improvement was significant. Here, we report an uncommon case of pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis that simultaneously presented with diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.502-510
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• 1992

Background: Neuron specific enolase (NSE) is a neuronal form of the glycolytic enzyme enolase which was first found in extracts of brain tissue, and later in a variety of APUD cells and neurons of the diffuse endocrine system. SCLC shares many APUD properties with normal neuroendocrine cells. NSE immunostaining and serum NSE measurement may be a useful marker of neuroendocrine differentiation in lung tumors and diagnosis of small cell carcinoma. Methods: NSE immunohistochemical staining was done and at the same time serum NSE levels were measured in 22 small cell lung cancer and 21 non small cell lung cancer which were confirmed histologically. Results: 1) NSE immunoreactivity was detected in 9 of the 18 (50%) small cell lung cancer, in 5 of the 16 non small cell lung cancer. 2) Whereas the mean value in non-small cell lung cancer group was $11.79{\pm}4.47\;ng/ml$, the mean level of serum NSE in small cell lung cancer increased up to $59.3{\pm}77.8\;ng/ml$. In small cell lung cancer patients, mean value of limited disease group was $20.19{\pm}12.91\;ng/ml$, while mean value of extended disease group was $91.9{\pm}94.2\;ng/ml$ showing statistically significant difference. If serum levels above 20 ng/ml were tentatively defined as positive, 16 of 22 (73%) patients with SCLC had positive serum NSE level, but only one patient with NSCLC did. There was no correlation between serum NSE level and immunoreactivity of NSE. Conclusion: These studies indicate that serum NSE measurement may be a useful marker for the diagnosis and disease extent and NSE immunostaining can be used to demonstrate the neuroendocrine components of lung tumor.