[Effectiveness of erlotinib in Critical Care Unit in patients with non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation]

INTRODUCTION

The search for mutations epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has changed the therapeutic approach and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) has been demonstrated orally in patients with EGFR mutation. We report the case of a patient for whom treatment with TKI was started effectively in a Critical Care Unit.

OBSERVATION

A patient of 59 years is followed for a stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with metastases in liver, brain, adrenal, lung and pleura. After a first course of chemotherapy (cisplatin-gemcitabine), the patient presents a multi-factorial acute respiratory distress. Due to an EGFR mutation, transfer to intensive care is decided then orotracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation. It is decided to initiate treatment with erlotinib via nasogastric tube. The evolution will be marked by a tumor response leading to a favorable issue.

CONCLUSIONS

This case shows the value of initiate TKI despite hospitalization in Intensive Care Unit and highlights the question of the transfer in ICU patients with EGFR mutation.

Expression of Mx protein in tissues of Atlantic salmon post-smolts--an immunohistochemical study

A rabbit antiserum was produced from a 12-amino acid long peptide common to the 3 known isoforms of Atlantic salmon Mx proteins. The antibody stained ASK-1 cells 48h after stimulation with poly I:C. In Western blots of these cells, the antibody stained a doublet with MW about 75kDa and another band at about 65kDa, typical of the MW of Atlantic salmon Mx. Western blots of kidney from IPNV-injected salmon showed a similar staining pattern. In immunohistochemistry, the antibody stained the gill, kidney and liver tissue of a fish infected with IPNV by cohabitation. These tissues also expressed high levels of interferon (IFN) and Mx transcripts as determined by real-time qRT-PCR. Normal healthy salmon post-smolts sampled at 4-8 weeks after transfer to sea water had very low-level expression of IFN and Mx transcripts. However, at 4 and 5 weeks after sea water transfer the gill, kidney and liver of these fish stained strongly for Mx protein. Thereafter, immunostaining of Mx markedly diminished in all tissues, persisting weakly in the gill. It has been reported that Atlantic salmon smolts constitutively express IFN and Mx transcripts around the time of smolting. Presumably the Mx protein detected in the tissues for about 6 weeks after transfer to sea water resulted from such a transcriptional event. As Mx is known to provide protection against IPNV infections it is tempting to associate the duration of persistence of Mx protein with the outbreaks of IPN-related mortalities in post-smolts, 6-8 weeks after transfer to sea water.

Far-infrared laser lines in vinyl fluoride optically pumped by a CO(2) laser near 10 microm

Sixty-two new emission lines in the far infrared have been observed in vinyl fluoride optically pumped in a metallicwaveguide resonator by a CO(2) laser. The emission spectrum for this molecule now covers the 2.52-mm-142-microm wavelength range.

Continuous-wave Stark far-infrared lasing lines in (15)NH(3) optically pumped by a CO(2) or N(2)O laser

We report preliminary results of a systematic research of far-infrared (FIR) emissions in (15)NH(3) by Stark-tuning the infrared-pumped transitions to the CO(2) or N(2)O laser lines; 28 new FIR lasing lines have been detected for static-electric fields up to 62 kV/cm.

20-40-GHz broadband frequency doubler with gallium aresenide varactor

A crossed waveguide type varactor frequency doubler is described here which gives a conversion efficiency of 39% and a 4-GHz bandwith (-1 dB) around 40 GHz for 100-mW input power. Gallium arsenide varactor diodes in commerical packages are used, permitting great flexibility, in particular in molecular spectroscopy experiments.