Surgery of aspergilloma has been renowned to be technically challenging and has a high complication rate. We have already demonstrated an improved outcome as a result of a reduction in complex cases related to history of tuberculosis. In this paper we will evaluate whether this time trend has continued during recent years. Initial presentation and postoperative outcome of 33 patients who underwent surgical treatment between 1998 and 2009 were reviewed and compared with two previous reports (group 1: 55 patients from 1974 to 1991; group 2: 12 patients from 1992 to 1997). Underlying disease was tuberculosis in 15% of patients (57% in group 1, 17% in group 2), and 12% of patients had complex aspergillomas (80% in group 1, 41% in group 2). Postoperatively, there was no mortality (5% in group 1, 0% in group 2). Morbidity decreased progressively in terms of bleeding (44% in group 1, 9% in group 2, and 6% in recently, accrued patients), of pleural space problems (47%, 18% and 12%, respectively), and of prolonged hospital stay (32%, 8% and 6%, respectively). With a decreased postoperative complications rate after resection, contemporary surgery of aspergilloma is safe and offers satisfactory early and long-term results.

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In opposition to previous reports, induction chemotherapy did not significantly jeopardize post-operative outcome following pneumonectomy in our experience.

Radical mediastinal dissection is a mandatory adjunct to resection for lung cancer with curative attempt.

Osteoporosis is a major comorbidity of cardio-respiratory diseases, but the mechanistic links between pulmonary arterial hypertension and bone remain elusive. The purpose of the stud was to evaluate serum adipokines and endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in the patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) NYHA class III-IV and to determine its associations with bone mineral density (BMD). Pulmonary and hemodynamic parameters, BMD Z-scores at the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN), serum leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and endothelin-1 (ET-1), were evaluated in 32 patients with IPAH NYHA class III-IV and 30 healthy volunteers. Leptin, adiponectin and ET-1 were higher in the patients with IPAH than in healthy subjects. Visfatin level showed a tendency to increase compared to that of healthy subjects (p = 0.076). The univariate analysis revealed a positive correlation between BMD Z-scores at both sites and 6-min walk test, and inverse relation with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP). Adiponectin and visfatin showed positive correlations with PVR (p = 0.009 and p = 0.006). Serum adiponectin, visfatin and leptin were inversely associated with Z-scores. After adjusting for BMI and FMI, such associations persisted between visfatin and adiponectin levels and Z-scores at both sites. ET-1 related to mPAP, cardiac index and PVR. Negative correlation was observed between ET-1 and FN BMD (p = 0.01). Positive correlations have revealed between ET-1 and adiponectin (p = 0.02), visfatin (p = 0.004) in IPAH patients. These results provide further evidence that adipokine and endothelial dysregulation may cause not only a decrease in BMD, but also an increase in hemodynamic disorders of IPAH.