Purpose: Malignant mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor and is often diagnosed too late for a curative treatment.We compared diagnostic and prognostic values of mesothelin and osteopontin in172 patients suspected of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and in a control group of 112 asymptomatic asbestos-exposed subjects. Experimental Design: Osteopontin and mesothelin were assayed with commercial ELISA kits in a series of 43 patients with pleural metastases of various carcinomas, 33 patients with benign pleural lesions associated with asbestos exposure, 96 patients with MPMs, and 112 asbestosexposed healthy subjects. Results were correlated with patient's diagnosis and survival. Results: Serum osteopontin level was higher in MPM patients compared with healthy asbestosexposed subjects and had a good capability to distinguish between these two populations. However, osteopontin was unable to distinguish between MPM and pleural metastatic carcinoma or benign pleural lesions associated with asbestos exposure. Neither plasma nor pleural fluid osteopontin were more powerful in this respect. Serum mesothelin had a good ability for diagnosing MPM but was unable to identify patients with nonepithelioid mesothelioma subtypes. Survival analysis identified tumor histologic subtype along with serum osteopontin and serum mesothelin as independent prognostic factors in mesothelioma patients. Conclusions: Osteopontin has a lower diagnostic accuracy than mesothelin in patients suspected of MPM. Insufficient specificity limits osteopontin utility as diagnostic marker. Both molecules have a potential value as prognostic markers.

Background: Endocan was originally described as a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan found freely circulating in the blood. Endocan expression confers tumorigenic properties to epithelial cell lines or accelerate the growth of already tumorigenic cells. This molecule is the product of a single gene composed of 3 exons. Previous data showed that endocan mRNA is subject to alternative splicing with possible generation of two protein products. In the present study we identified, and functionally characterized, the alternative spliced product of the endocan gene: the exon 2-deleted endocan, called endocanΔ2.

Introduction In 2002, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign defi ned a strategy that aimed to reduce the high mortality due to sepsis. One point of this strategy was a recommendation to recognize that sepsis is a frequent cause of death and high economic costs in the pediatric intensive care unit. Knowledge of the disease is the fi rst step to impact it. There are few studies on pediatric sepsis epidemiology in the world and none in Colombia. Hypothesis The epidemiological features of Colombian children are diff erent from other countries. Methods We constructed a website where 14 intensive care units across the country reported in a prospective way the epidemiological features of children with sepsis using an electronic process [1]. We asked for sociodemographics, microbiological data, sepsis classifi cation, complications, and outcome. Results We collected 253 patients from March to May 2009. Fifty-fi ve percent of the cases were male and 45% were female; 53% were less than 1 year old. A total of 67.2% came from urban areas and 33% came from rural villages. Eighty-fi ve percent were very poor (score 1 and 2 over 6 used in Colombia as socioeconomic classifi cation). Forty-fi ve percent have governmentsupported insurance. In total, 23.72% of the population presented with sepsis; 30.04% with severe sepsis; and 46.5% with septic shock. The infection origin was respiratory in 54.55%, followed by abdominal in 17.39%. In 50.2% no cause was identifi ed. A total of 75.1% required mechanical ventilation. The mortality rate was 20.4%. Conclusions Sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock is a common diagnosis in Colombian intensive care units. The majority of pediatric patients are 2 years or younger and from the poorest communities. It aff ected males more. In the majority, the process starts in the respiratory system. We had diffi culty identifying the cause. The disease causes high mortality and cost for a developing society. We need a complete survey to fi nd a correct approach to the problem. Reference 1. Sepsis en Columbia [www.sepsisencolombia.com] P2 Randomized controlled trials are not designed to prove the safety of third-generation hydroxyethyl starch for resuscitation: results from a systematic review

Mycobacteria culture remains the cornerstone of tuberculosis diagnosis. Naturally contaminated samples need pre-inoculation processing but some economically challenged medical facilities may benefit from a simpler and cheaper sputum decontamination procedure. The aim of this study was to test a simple decontamination method lacking a centrifugation step to be used in conjunction with the culture on Löwenstein-Jensen medium. A total of 7446 sputum samples collected from 3229 patients were microscopically examined and then cultured on Löwestein-Jensen medium using a simplified Petroff method. All positive cultures were confirmed by direct microscopic examination and biochemical identification. Culture and microscopic status and time to positivity were recorded. Mean and median times to culture and contamination rate were similar as compared to classical Löwenstein-Jensen culture method. Overall results suggest that the described modified of Petroff method may be used with adequate results in resource poor settings as the method does not require an aerosol safe centrifuge and relies on cheap, stable and readily available reagents.

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