Necrotizing osteomyelitis in a man with disseminated Mycobacterium chelonae infection

Cases of disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection are difficult to treat. We encountered an elderly man with disseminated Mycobacterium chelonae infection. The clinical evaluation and treatment of patients with this type of systemic infection pose unique challenges. Disseminated NTM infection with bone involvement often requires surgical intervention in addition to antimicrobial therapy. Keywords: Skin nodules, Necrotizing osteomyelitis, Nontuberculous mycobacteria, Mycobacterium chelonae, Disseminated infectio

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor expression in lung cancer

Context.—Gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) activate mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway primarily through epidermal growth factor receptor activation and are under investigation as a molecular target because they are overexpressed in several solid tumors. Objective.—To determine GRPR expression in both non–small cell lung carcinoma and small cell lung carcinoma, comparing results with clinical stages and demographic data. Design.—We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of GRPR in 200 non–small cell lung carcinoma and 38 small cell lung carcinoma archival cases from 2004 to 2008. Results.—Non–small cell lung carcinoma cases tended to be higher GRPR expressers at a rate of 62.5% (weak, moderate, and strong expression in 41.5%, 13.5%, and 7.5%, respectively), compared with 52.62% in small cell lung carcinoma cases (weak, moderate, and strong expression in 34.21%, 15.78%, and 2.63%, respectively; P = .30). In non–small cell lung carcinoma there was a trend for higher percentages of strong expression in adenocarcinoma cases (10%; P = .67), and in patients with advanced stages (III and IV; 9.43% and 6.9%; P = .01). Conclusions.—To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate GRPR tissue expression in a large population of patients with lung cancer. Although GRPR expression was similar in small cell and non–small cell carcinoma, the expression was more pronounced in an advanced-stage lung cancer, particularly in adenocarcinoma cases, and may represent a potential target for the development of new treatment approaches in this population