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We present a case of primary malignant lymphoma arising from the posterior mediastinum. A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for further examination of her chest radiographic findings. She was asymptomatic. Chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a posterior mediastinal mass in the right thoracic paravertebral region. A percutaneous needle biopsy was performed under CT. The histological findings with immunochemical staining revealed a B cell type of diffuse malignant lymphoma. 67Ga scintigraphy revealed accumulation in this area, suggesting the posterior mediastinum as the origin of the disease. Reports of primary malignant lymphoma in the posterior mediastinum are extremely rare. The radiographic characteristics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methotrexate-induced pneumonitis has been reported as an infrequent but potentially serious complication of therapy in a variety of malignant and benign conditions. Because inflammatory cell infiltration is concerned with the development of methotrexate-induced pneumoinitis, and because airway epithelial cells participate in the orchestration of lung inflammation, the authors determined whether methotrexate might stimulate airway epithelial cells (A549 cells) to release neutrophil, monocyte, and eosinophil chemotactic activities (NCA, MCA, and ECA). A549 cells released NCA, MCA, and ECA in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to methotrexate. Partial characterization revealed the heterogeneity of NCA, MCA, and ECA. The release of chemo-tactic activity was blocked by lipoxygenase inhibitors and cycloheximide. NCA was inhibited by leukotriene (LT) B[SUB4] receptor antagonist, and anti-interleukin (IL)-8 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) antibodies. MCA was attenuated by LTB[SUB4] receptor antagonist, and anti-monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) (antibodies. ECA was attenuated by LTB[SUB4] receptor antagonist, and anti-IL-8 and GM-CSF antibodies. The release of IL-8, G-CSF, MCP-1, GM-CSF, and LTB[SUB4] from A549 cells significantly increased in response to methotrexate. The mRNA expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 was augmented by methotrexate stimulation. These data suggest that type II epithelial cells may modulate inflammatory cell recruitment into the lung by releasing NCA, MCA, and ECA in response to methotrexate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Lyophyllum aggregatum (LA) is called Shimeji in Japanese and is eaten commonly as a mushroom. Shimeji mushrooms are cultivated in an indoor environment all year round. This study aimed to clarify the clinical features of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) induced by LA. Patients and setting: Ten patients showed mild respiratory symptoms including dry cough, sputum, and low-grade fever. We tried to characterize the clinical features and the findings using chest high-resolution CT (HRCT), pulmonary, function tests (PFTs), and BAL fluid (BALF) tests in patients with HP induced by LA. HP was diagnosed from clinical features, HRCT findings, BALF findings, lung histology, and lymphocyte stimulation tests (LSTs) for LA. Results: Laboratory findings showed mean (± SD) elevated levels of C-reactive protein (0.78 ± 1.3 mg/dL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (48 ± 23 mm/h), and γ-globulin (26.9 ± 7.6%). PFTs revealed a slight decrease in the percentage diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, possibly due to the presence of epithelial granulomas in the alveoli. Although 4 of 10 patients showed normal findings on the chest radiograph (CXR), chest HRCT findings of all patients showed centrilobular small nodules and diffuse ground-glass opacities. The BALF testing revealed an increase in total cell counts, showing predominantly activated T lymphocytes. The CD4/CD8 cell ratio was significantly decreased (0.5 ± 0.3). The results of the LSTs were positive in seven of seven cases. Conclusions: Since patients with HP induced by LA typically have mild respiratory symptoms and sometimes normal CXR findings, their conditions might remain undiagnosed. However, the chest HRCT images showed the typical subacute phase of HP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which determined that human lung fibroblasts (HLF) release activity for neutrophils and monocytes in response to cyclophosphamide in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Materials and methods; Results and discussion.

Examines whether human lung fibroblasts (HLF) may release mediators that are responsible for monocyte chemokinetic activity (MCA). Review of literature; Methodology of the study; Results.