Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-derived (MALT) lymphoma, a low grade B-cell extranodal lymphoma, is the most frequent subset of primary pulmonary lymphoma. Our objective was to evaluate the initial extent of disease and to analyse the characteristics and long-term outcome of these patients.All chest and pathological departments of teaching hospitals in Paris were contacted in order to identify patients with a histological diagnosis of primary pulmonary lymphoma of the MALT subtype.63 cases were identified. The median age was 60 yrs. 36% of cases had no symptoms at diagnosis. 46% of patients had at least one extrapulmonary location of lymphoma. The estimated 5-and 10-yr overall survival rates were 90% and 72%, respectively. Only two of the nine observed deaths were related to lymphoma. Age and performance status were the only two adverse prognostic factors for survival. Extrapulmonary location of lymphoma was not a prognostic factor for overall survival or for progression-free survival. Treatment with cyclophosphamide or anthracyclin was associated with shorter progression-free survival, when compared with chlorambucil.The survival data confirm the indolent nature of pulmonary MALT lymphoma. Better progression-free survival was observed with chlorambucil when compared with cyclophosphamide or anthracyclin.

Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA‐G) expression is thought to be associated with a tolerance state following solid organ transplantation. In a lung transplant (LTx) recipient cohort, we assessed (1) the role of HLA‐G expression as a predictor of graft acceptance, and (2) the relationship between (i) graft and peripheral HLA‐G expression, (ii) HLA‐G expression and humoral immunity and (iii) HLA‐G expression and lung microenvironment. We prospectively enrolled 63 LTx recipients (median follow‐up 3.26 years [min: 0.44–max: 5.03]). At 3 and 12 months post‐LTx, we analyzed graft HLA‐G expression by immunohistochemistry, plasma soluble HLA‐G (sHLA‐G) level by enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of cytokines involved in chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) and anti‐HLA antibodies (Abs) in serum. In a time‐dependent Cox model, lung HLA‐G expression had a protective effect on CLAD occurrence (hazard ratio: 0.13 [0.03–0.58]; p = 0.008). The same results were found when computing 3‐month and 1‐year conditional freedom from CLAD (p = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively [log‐rank test]). Presence of anti‐HLA Abs was inversely associated with graft HLA‐G expression (p = 0.02). Increased BALF level of transforming growth factor‐β was associated with high plasma sHLA‐G level (p = 0.02). In conclusion, early graft HLA‐G expression in LTx recipients with a stable condition was associated with graft acceptance in the long term.

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Experimental data suggest that theophylline (T) enhances diaphragmatic contractility by increasing the influx of calcium at the cell membrane level through an inhibition of adenosine receptors (Aubier et al., J. Appl. Physiol. 54: 460-4, 1983). Enprofylline (E) is a xanthine drug that has poor ability to antagonize physiological actions of adenosine. The aim of this study was to compare the effects on diaphragmatic contractility of T and E in order to determine whether antagonism of adenosine receptors was the underlying mechanism of the inotropic effect of T on diaphragmatic contractility. Ten normal subjects were studied in the sitting position. The contractile properties of the diaphragm were assessed by measuring the transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) generated at functional residual capacity during bilateral electrical stimulation of the phrenic nerves. The subjects were randomized, and after control measurements were performed, they received T or E. This was a double-blind crossover study, the measurements being repeated with the second drug after one week. Both drugs were administered intravenously with a loading dose of 6 and 2 mg/kg administered in 30 min for T and E and a maintenance dose of 0.9 and 0.075 mg.kg-1 X h-1 for T and E, respectively. Measurements were performed before and 60 min after T or E administration. Plasmatic levels of both drugs were also analyzed. In all the subjects, therapeutic levels of T or E were reached (14.8 +/- 0.6 and 3.9 +/- 0.42 mg/l for T and E, respectively, at 30 min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)