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American Journal of Industrial Medicine Published Online: 13 Aug 2008
In recent decades, the use of artificial nails including methacrylates (MAs) has increased. This study presents the first two clinical cases of occupational asthma (OA) caused by sculptured nails containing MAs.
Treatment options for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have considerably improved in the past few years. Endothelin (ET)-receptor antagonism has been established as a first-line option for the majority of PAH patients
Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging, Volume 28, Number 5, September 2008 , pp. 332-336(5)
In capnovolumetry, the expiratory CO2 concentration of exhaled air is plotted against the volume and thereby allows to determine functional dead space volumes.
We report a case of a 44-year old female who presented to her physician complaining of mild dyspnea. A follow-up chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan revealed a giant bilateral intrathoracic mass, filling the right thoracic cavity and extending across the anterior mediastinum into the left chest cavity.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1110-1123(14)
The epithelial layer occupies a strategic important location between an organisms' interior and exterior environment. Although as such it forms a physical barrier between both environments, it became clear that the role of the epithelium extends far beyond this rather passive role.
Testicular involvement by sarcoidosis is a rare condition. A 23-year-old Japanese man had asymptomatic bilateral testicular lesions, which were detected by gallium scintigram, together with lesions located bilaterally in the uvea, lungs and hilar, and mediastinal lymph nodes and unilateral supraclavicular lymph nodes.
Gastroesophageal reflux (GOR) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), possibly due to pulmonary aspiration of refluxed acid. Risk of aspiration of gastric contents is increased during sleep due to decreased oesophageal clearance mechanisms and may be further increased by the presence of OSA.
Obesity is an important factor in the development of asthma. Aspirin hypersensitivity affects 5-10% of asthmatics. The association between obesity and aspirin hypersensitivity in asthma is unclear. This study evaluated the association of BMI and asthma in patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) and aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA).
Several sets of guidelines have advocated initial antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia due to Gram-negative bacilli in patients with specific risk factors. However, evidence to support this recommendation is scarce.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200711-1617OC
Most deaths in the intensive care involve withholding or withdrawing multiple life-sustaining therapies, but little is known about how to proceed practically and how it affects family satisfaction.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200803-386OC
The etiology and pathogenesis of angiogenesis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is poorly understood. Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (IaI) is a serum protein that can bind to hyaluronan and may contribute to the angiogenic response to tissue injury.
Despite the introduction of new drugs that have changed the course of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), some patients are still refractory to treatment and deteriorate rapidly.
Journal of Prosthodontics, Volume 17, Number 6, August 2008 , pp. 462-467(6)
The aim of this study was to determine the mineral status of mandibles, femurs, and spines in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients under long-term inhaled corticosteroid therapy.
American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, Volume 8, Number 4, 2008 , pp. 213-217(5)
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severely disabling disorder characterized by sustained elevations of pulmonary vascular resistance, ultimately leading to right-heart failure and death. Intravenous epoprostenol has been widely used in patients with PAH, leading to long-term clinical benefits and improved survival.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1202-1210(9)
Asthma exacerbations represent the main source of costs and morbidity in asthma care, and drugs specifically designed to prevent exacerbations are needed. A prerequisite is to dispose of a precise knowledge of inflammatory events leading to exacerbations.
Diseases of the Esophagus Published Online: 2 May 2008
Lung and esophageal dysfunction are common in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD). Recent reports have suggested a link between pathologic gastroesophageal reflux and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after lung transplant.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:703-706 (2008)
At least two populations of epithelial stem/progenitor cells give rise to the lung anlage, comprising the laryngo-tracheal complex versus the distal lung below the first bronchial bifurcation. Amplification of the distal population requires FGF9-FGF10-FGFR2b-Sprouty signaling. Residual pools of adult stem cells are hypothesized to be the source of lung regeneration and repair.
Journal of General Internal Medicine 0884-8734 (Print) 10.1007/s11606-008-0749-z
Although depression is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in chronic illness, little is known about the prevalence or risk factors for depressive symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Pediatric Dermatology, Volume 25, Number 4, July/August 2008 , pp. 484-486(3)
An 8-year-old boy, treated with a short course of steroids for asthma, developed a fever with abdominal pain and a generalized vesicular rash after contact with varicella-infected classmates.
American Journal of Clinical Oncology. 31(4):340-344, August 2008
Although preexisting pulmonary fibrosis (PF) on chest radiograph is known to be a risk factor of gefitinib-related interstitial lung disease (ILD), the significance of PF detected by chest computed tomography (CT) on the development of gefitinib-related ILD has not been investigated sufficiently.
American Journal of Clinical Oncology. 31(4):384-389, August 2008
The aim of pleurodesis in malignant pleural effusions is to prevent reaccumulation of the fluid, symptoms, and avoid the need for repeated hospitalization for thoracentesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of erythromycin as a pleural sclerosing agent.
American Journal of Transplantation Volume 8 Issue 9, Pages 1921 - 1930
Pathologic obliterative bronchiolitis (OB)/Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (pathologic OB/BOS) is the major obstacle to long-term survival post-lung transplantation (LT). Our group has demonstrated that pulmonary hypertension (PH) complicates the course of chronic inflammatory lung diseases that have similarities to pathologic OB/BOS and that vascular remodeling of the bronchial circulation occurs during BOS. Consequently, we hypothesized that PH is associated with pathologic OB/BOS and may result from a vasculopathy of the allograft pulmonary circulation.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 289-295, 2008
Hyaluronan (HA) is present at the apical surface of airway epithelium as a high-molecular-weight polymer. Since HA depolymerization initiates a cascade of events that results in kinin generation and growth factor processing, in the present work we used primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells grown at the air-liquid interface (ALI) to assess hyaluronidase (Hyal) activity by HA zymography, gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, and localization by confocal microscopy.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 296-304, 2008
The GABAB receptor is a dimer composed of R1 and R2 components and classically couples to the heterotrimeric Gi protein. In addition to their location on neurons, GABA and functional GABAB receptors have been detected in peripheral tissue such as airway smooth muscle.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 4 Aug 2008
The large dead space associated with face masks might impede the accuracy and feasibility of multiple-breath washout (MBW) measurements in small infants. We asked if a low dead space nasal mask would provide measurements of resting lung volume and ventilation inhomogeneity comparable to those obtained with a face mask, when using the MBW technique. Unsedated preterm infants breathing without mechanical assistance and weighing between 1.50 and 2.49 kg were studied.
European Radiology 0938-7994 (Print) 10.1007/s00330-008-1134-3
The usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (DWI) for differentiating central lung cancer from postobstructive lobar collapse (POC) was investigated.
European Radiology 0938-7994 (Print) 10.1007/s00330-008-1131-6
We assessed with computed tomography (CT) densitometry the prevalence of emphysema in 266 smokers and former smokers enrolled in the ITALUNG trial of lung cancer screening with low-dose thin-slice CT.
To estimate the incidence rates for asthma, rhinitis and eczema symptoms and to investigate the importance of different influential factors for the incidence of these symptoms.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1235-1238(4)
Asthma is a complex genetic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation in the airways. Identification of genetic risk factors for asthma has been complicated due to genetic heterogeneity and influence from environmental risk factors.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Published Online: 12 Aug 2008
Management of pediatric patients with malignant and hematological diseases is frequently associated with pulmonary complications. We assessed pulmonary function at diagnosis and during a 5-year follow-up to identify risk factors associated with pulmonary deterioration.
International Journal of Clinical Practice Published Online: 8 Mar 2006
Sarcoidosis is a chronic disease with an unknown aetiology. Our aim was to evaluate the pattern of seasonality of stage 1 sarcoidosis subjects who had symptoms by all cases, by age and by both genders. In this study, we used Roger's test for cyclic variation to prove that this seasonal variation was more than chance.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 30 Jul 2008
It has been suggested that infants dynamically regulate their tidal flow and end-expiratory volume level. The interaction between muscle activity, flow and lung volume in spontaneously sleeping neonates is poorly studied, since it requires the assessment of transcutaneous electromyography of respiratory muscles (rEMG) in matched comparison to lung function measurements.
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(8):699-703, August 2008
In children, pleural empyema is a recognized complication of severe pneumonia and is characterized by loculated effusions with fibrin septations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-[alpha] (TNF-[alpha]), interleukin-1[beta] (IL-1[beta]), and IL-6], intrapleural fibrinolytic system enzymes [tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1)], and common biochemical indices during pleural infection.
The effect of sleep apnea on mortality and cardiovascular morbidity is mainly unknown. We aimed to study whether sleep apnea is related to stroke, death, or myocardial infarction in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1244-1247(4)
Neurogenic inflammation may participate in the development and progression of bronchial asthma. The molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenic inflammation are orchestrated by a large number of neuropeptides including tachykinins such as neurokinin A (NKA) and substance P. Tachykinins are secreted from sensory airway nerves and inflammatory cells after allergens exposure.
Respiratory diseases represent a significant burden in primary care. Determining the temporal variation of the overall burden of respiratory diseases on the health care system and their potential causes are keys to understanding disease dynamics in populations and can contribute to the rational management of health care resources.
The association between bronchial obstruction severity and mortality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is well established, but it is unknown whether disease-specific health status measures and multidimensional assessment (MDA) have comparable prognostic value.
Neutrophil products like matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), involved in bacterial defence mechanisms, possibly induce lung damage and are elevated locally during hospital- acquired pneumonia (HAP).
The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 12, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1092-1098(7)
Approximately half of the world's population, and up to 90% of households in rural areas of developing countries, depend on biomass for cooking and heating.
Accidental chlorine (Cl2) gas inhalation is a common cause of acute airway injury. However, little is known about the kinetics of airway injury and repair after Cl2 exposure.
Sleepiness at the wheel is a major risk factor for traffic accidents. Because of the potential medical and legal implications, in this study, we evaluated the correlation between subjective and objective measures of sleepiness and driving performances in patients suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 29, Number 4, 7/8 2008 , pp. 376-379(4)
Occupational asthma (OA) accounts for 5-10% of all asthma in adults. Although OA secondary to enzymes has been reported, it is rare in the context of food preparation.
To identify variables contributing to interfacility differences in mortality among residents of long-term care facilities who have lower respiratory tract infection.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 29, Number 4, 7/8 2008 , pp. 365-370(6)
Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a novel experimental procedure involving the application of controlled heat from a radiofrequency source to the airway wall as a means to reduce airway smooth muscle in the airway wall.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 4 Aug 2008
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience repeated infectious respiratory exacerbations leading to a continuous decline in lung function. The exacerbations are treated in hospital or at home.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200712-1890OC
Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of chronic hypoxic lung diseases and is associated with increased morbidity and reduced survival. The pulmonary vascular changes in response to hypoxia, both structural and functional, are unique to this circulation.
Lung fibrosis, reduced lung compliance and severe hypoxemia found in patients with acute lung injury often result in the need for the support of mechanical ventilation.
Proteomics is increasingly leading to biomarker discovery in human disease. Epithelial lining fluid (ELF), until now only recovered indirectly, diluted in BAL fluid, is an attractive sample for lung disease proteomics.
The occurrence of pleural effusion after ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation has been described; however, little has been elucidated about the nature, prevalence, or characteristics of the effusions. Our study details the prevalence of pleural effusion and pleural fluid characteristics in VAD patients at our institution.
Leptin is a protein hormone produced by adipose tissue. Leptin has proinflammatory properties and is usually elevated in patients with chronic heart failure. We assessed if serum leptin relates to the loss in lung function in noncachectic patients with chronic heart failure.
Sleep bruxism (SB) is a stereotyped movement disorder that is characterized by rhythmic masticatory muscle activity (RMMA) and tooth grinding. Evidence has suggested that SB is associated with sleep arousals and that most RMMA episodes are preceded by physiologic changes occurring in sequence, namely, a rise in autonomic sympathetic-cardiac activity followed by a rise in the frequency of EEG and suprahyoid muscle activity.
Allergy and Asthma Proceedings, Volume 29, Number 4, 7/8 2008 , pp. 371-375(5)
Chronic airway inflammation in children with asthma might be present even in the absence of pathological lung function tests and is known to increase the risk of permanent pulmonary damage.
Yellow nail syndrome (YNS) is a rare condition defined by the presence of yellow nails associated with lymphedema and/or chronic respiratory manifestations. Several aspects of this disorder remain poorly defined.
The present study examines the anti-inflammatory effects of the LTRA pranlukast in addition to ICS and LABA, among asthmatic patients with normal pulmonary function and unremarkable clinical symptoms.
Lung disease has become the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in scleroderma (SSc) patients. The frequency, nature, and progression of interstitial lung disease seen on high-resolution CT (HRCT) scans in patients with diffuse SSc (dcSSc) compared with those with limited SSc (lcSSc) has not been well characterized.
Lung transplantation involves vagal nerve interruption resulting in sensory airway denervation and impairment of the cough reflex. Following lung transplantation, it is unclear whether functional recovery of the cough reflex occurs over time. Our objective was to evaluate the afferent limb of the cough reflex in lung transplant recipients.
Obesity is associated with an increased prevalence of asthma, especially in women, and appears to be more severe in the obese. This study aimed to determine if obese subjects have a specific asthma phenotype.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1239-1243(5)
The Th2 cytokine interleukin-13 (IL-13) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We sought to examine IL-13 expression in COPD subjects in induced sputum and bronchus specimens. We hypothesized that inflammatory cells expressing IL-13 localize to the airway smooth muscle bundle and bronchial glands.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1211-1217(7)
Filaggrin (FLG) null mutations are important genetic predisposing factors for atopic asthma and have recently been shown to influence controller and reliever medication needs in asthmatic children. Our objective was to study the role of FLG null alleles in asthma exacerbations.
Allergy, Volume 63, Number 9, September 2008 , pp. 1186-1194(9)
Adenosine is a signalling nucleoside that has been proposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma. Adenosine is produced in inflammatory environments and acts via adenosine receptors (A1R, A2AR, A2BR, and A3R) expressed by a wide variety of cells, resulting in pro- and anti-inflammatory effects.
International Journal of Clinical Practice Published Online: 14 Apr 2008
A wide range of lasers have been used in the larynx. Diode laser is a portable and relatively inexpensive laser which is delivered via a glass fibre hand-held probe. The objective of this study was to report our experience with the use of diode laser in a variety of paediatric airway pathologies.
Horseshoe lung is a rare pulmonary anomaly characterized by fusion of the posterobasal portions of the right and left lung behind the heart anterior to the aorta and the spinal column.
American Journal of Transplantation Published Online: 28 Jul 2008
Lymphangiomatosis is a rare disease of lymphatic proliferation for which no adequate treatment is known. We report the first successful case of bilateral lung transplantation for the treatment of end-stage pulmonary lymphangiomatosis.
American Journal of Transplantation Published Online: 28 Jul 2008
We have analyzed the evolution of renal status beyond the perioperative period in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) undergoing lung transplantation and presented histological analysis of 15 patients biopsied for an episode of accelerated renal function loss (RFL).
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(8):753-755, August 2008
A prospective, school-based study included daily monitoring for incidence of symptomatic streptococcal-associated pharyngitis and monthly determinations of group A streptococcal prevalence.
Academic Emergency Medicine Published Online: 11 Jul 2008
The objectives were to determine patient and treatment-response factors associated with relapse after emergency department (ED) treatment for acute asthma.
Sleep disturbances may be associated with impaired glucose metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate sleep duration and quality in relation to glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 356-363, 2008
Migration of fibroblasts plays an essential role in tissue repair after injury. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a multifunctional mediator released by many cells that can be released in inflammation and after injury.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 373-379, 2008
{beta}2-adrenergic receptors are expressed on different cell types in the lung, including respiratory epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 39, pp. 312-323, 2008
Oxidative stress as a result of cigarette smoking is an important etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic steroid-insensitive inflammatory disease of the airways.
The burden of children's chronic cough to parents is largely unknown. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to determine the burden of chronic cough using a purposely designed questionnaire, and (2) to evaluate psychological
(child's anxiety and parental emotional distress) and other influences on the reported burden of cough.
Increased expression of cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-1 [LT1-R]; cysteinyl leukotriene receptor-2 [LT2-R]) has been detected in adenotonsillar tissue from children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) compared to control subjects.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 4 Aug 2008
This is an extended open study of oral prophylactic treatment with egg yolk antibodies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Anti-Pseudomonas IgY, of 17 Swedish patients with cystic fibrosis.
Despite a variety of benefits brought by pulmonary rehabilitation to patients with COPD, it is unclear whether these patients are more active during daily life after the program.
To identify predictors of 30-day mortality and hospital costs in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) attributed to potentially antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (PARGNB) [Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter species, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia].
Tiotropium plus formoterol was superior in lung function over the day compared to salmeterol plus fluticasone in patients with moderate COPD. Long-term studies in patients with severe COPD are warranted to assess the relative efficacy of different treatment combinations.
Tracheostomy tube malposition is a barrier to weaning from mechanical ventilation. We determined the incidence of tracheostomy tube malposition, identified the associated risk factors, and examined the effect of malposition on clinical outcomes.
Plasma endothelin and adrenomedullin are increased in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, hypoxia, and pulmonary infections, conditions that predict survival in patients with COPD.
Secretory leukoproteinase inhibitor (SLPI) is an important inhibitor of neutrophil elastase (NE), a proteinase implicated in the pathogenesis of lung diseases such as COPD.
Liver International, Volume 28, Number 8, September 2008 , pp. 1080-1086(7)
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and obstructive sleep apnoea are associated with metabolic syndrome and atherosclerotic heart disease. This study evaluates the potential association between the NAFLD subtypes and a number of polysomnographical (PSG) parameters.
To test several patient-oriented asthma outcome measures and the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measure of appropriate medication for persistent asthma to determine the most useful quality indicator of asthma care.
We present the MR imaging findings in an atypical pulmonary hamartoma in a 12-year-old boy. CT showed no evidence of fat or calcifications in the tumour.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295: H569-H577, 2008
There is increasing evidence that TGF-{beta} family member cytokine bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4 plays different pathophysiological roles in the pulmonary and systemic circulation.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer Published Online: 22 Jul 2008
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial pediatric solid cancer. Lung metastasis is rarely detected in children with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma. We aimed to describe the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients with lung metastasis at initial diagnosis using a large international database.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:731-735 (2008)
Proof-of-concept (PoC) trials are an important component of the new therapeutic development paradigm, contributing to the goal of accelerated progression from bench to bedside.
Scavenger receptors are important components of the innate immune system in the lung, allowing alveolar macrophages to bind and phagocytose numerous unopsonized targets.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0209-3
A non-obese patient who was admitted initially with hypoglycemia had multiple episodes of cardiopulmonary arrests requiring resuscitations and a short period of mechanical ventilation.
Smoke from biomass combustion has been identified as a major environmental risk factor associated with adverse health effects globally. Deposition of the smoke particles in the lungs is a crucial factor for toxicological effects, but has not previously been studied experimentally.
The Restoring Health Program, a multi-disciplinary model of care for patients with chronic lung diseases, heart failure, and diabetes, was established to improve the quality of life and function for patients with these target chronic diseases, while reducing their disproportionately high demand on acute health care services.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 4 Aug 2008
Traditionally, adenotonsillectomy (AT) has long been the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children. AT is usually considered a safe procedure, which cures 80% of children with SDB. Accumulated data have however challenged this overly simplistic view.
Intensive Care Medicine 0342-4642 (Print) 10.1007/s00134-008-1220-7
To compare the pattern of lung uptake of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in patients with lung contusion that developed or did not progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 30 Jul 2008
Corticosteroid therapy is not routinely recommended in true bronchiolitis. However, since bronchiolitis and the first asthma attack are impossible to distinguish, some infants with the first wheezing episode receive corticosteroids. Optimal duration of corticosteroid therapy in this scenario is unknown. This study compared efficacy of multiple administrations and a single dose of dexamethasone in bronchiolitis
Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 27(8):677-680, August 2008
Human bocavirus (HBoV) can be found in a substantial proportion of children with respiratory tract diseases. The relative importance of HBoV in viral respiratory tract illnesses is not yet well known.
Interstitial lung disease, which is common in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), can progress to severe pulmonary fibrosis. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate has recently been shown to prevent experimental pulmonary, dermal, and renal fibrosis.
Presently used markers of infection in bronchiectasis are inadequate to judge stability or make decisions about antibiotic treatment during bacterial exacerbations. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a new marker that has been used in community-acquired pneumonia and promises to allow much more specific and sensitive monitoring of patients with bacterial infections.
Sleep and Breathing 1520-9512 (Print) 10.1007/s11325-008-0208-4
Animal models have shown a quantal slowing of respiratory pattern when exposed to opioid agonist, in a pattern similar to that observed in central sleep apnea.
The standard medical management for patients in extremis from massive pulmonary embolism (PE) is systemic thrombolysis, but the utility of this treatment relative to catheter-directed intervention (CDI) is unknown. We evaluated the effectiveness of CDI as part of a treatment algorithm for life-threatening PE.
The benefits of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well recognized and consequently its use is widespread
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(8):858-864, August 2008
Introduction: We investigated the value of lung perfusion imaging in predicting the risk of developing pulmonary complications after chemoradiation (CRT) or radiation therapy (RT) for lung cancer.
Patients with bronchiectasis often have impaired quality of life (QoL), which deteriorates with exacerbations. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in QoL and how these were influenced by changes in airway physiology and inflammation in patients with bronchiectasis before and after resolution of an exacerbation.
Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly develop weight loss, muscle wasting, and consequently poor survival. Nutritional supplementation and anabolic steroids increase lean body mass, improve muscle strength, and survival in patients enrolled in comprehensive rehabilitation programs.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 295: H778-H785, 2008
Recurrent and intermittent nocturnal hypoxia is characteristic of several diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, obesity-hypoventilation syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea.
PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 2 August 2008, pp. 273-278
This study aimed to examine whether pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus were appropriately diagnosed in the community and to determine subsequent rates of unwarranted use of antibiotic treatment for tics and obsessive-compulsive symptoms without the identification of an infection.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 6, Pages 684-688 (August 2008)
The autosomal recessive disorder PARK6 manifests as early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD) with a particularly mild progression. PARK6 is of particular scientific interest, since it is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the mitochondrial protein kinase PINK1 and may thus serve as a model for oxidative damage in PD and in other basal ganglia disorders.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 6, Pages 675-683 (August 2008)
In order to test the hypothesis that upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) is merely an extension of the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea (OSA/H) to less severe pharyngeal collapse during sleep, we compared the severity of hypersomnolence and the prevalence of insomnia in UARS patients to the patterns observed for OSA/H patients.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 6, Pages 660-666 (August 2008)
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective treatment for sleep apnea (SA), although the evidence for improving chronic heart failure (CHF) is inconclusive. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of CPAP treatment on the left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) among other cardiological variables in a randomized, multicenter, placebo (sham-CPAP)-controlled study.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 6, Pages 652-659 (August 2008)
Nocturnal positive pressure ventilation (PPV) has been shown to be effective in patients with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR). We investigated the effect of a bi-level PPV and adaptive servo ventilation on LVEF, CSR, and quantitative sleep quality.
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 6, Pages 646-651 (August 2008)
To assess the impact of Cheyne-Stoke respiration-central sleep apnea (CSR-CSA) on quality of life (QOL) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). QOL was established using the MLHFQ (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire), and the FOSQ (Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire).
Sleep Medicine Volume 9, Issue 6, Pages 637-645 (August 2008)
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the association between mild reductions in renal function and SDB is uncertain.
Scavenger receptors are important components of the innate immune system in the lung, allowing alveolar macrophages to bind and phagocytose numerous unopsonized targets.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a human pathogen that is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. It harbours a large number of lipoprotein genes, most of which are of unknown function.
Streptococcus pyogenes of the M1 serotype can cause streptococcal toxic shock syndrome commonly associated with acute lung injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of neutrophils and their secretion products in M1 protein-induced lung damage.
It was previously reported that the gain-of-function -28 guanine allele of the promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; cytosine to guanine substitution of nucleotide -28 (-28C>G)) in the CC chemokine ligand 5 gene (CCL5) was associated with susceptibility to late-onset asthma in patients who developed asthma at age >40 yrs.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 174-186(13)
Pulmonary neuroendocrine cell (PNEC) system consists of solitary cells and innervated clusters, neuroepithelial bodies (NEB), widely distributed throughout the airway mucosa of mammalian lungs.
Airway mesenchymal cells, such as myofibroblasts and airway smooth muscle cells, contribute to inflammation, airway remodelling and hyperresponsiveness in asthma by excessive proliferation and inflammatory mediator production.
Although eosinophils produce cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) in large quantities, information on the relationship between CysLTs and eosinophilic pneumonia (EP) is lacking. Inflammatory mediator concentrations in urine were quantified to clarify the relationship between CysLT concentrations and EP severity.
Future Virology, Volume 3, Number 4, July 2008 , pp. 363-371(9)
Until relatively recently there had been episodes when children had been admitted into hospitals with symptoms that were similar to those expected for human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), but the available diagnostic procedures failed to detect the presence of HRSV, and the causative disease agent remained unidentified.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 31 Jul 2008
In 2003, the American Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation published revised, evidence-based guidelines for infection control. We sought to assess potential barriers to adherence to these guidelines experienced by health care professionals (HCPs) caring for CF patients.
Improvement in exercise capacity may not be associated with significant changes in resting pulmonary haemodynamics. The present prospective study documented the relationships between improvement in 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and changes in resting and exercise pulmonary haemodynamics after treatment in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).
The upper airway of obstructive sleep apnoea patients is subjected to recurrent negative pressure swings promoting its collapse and reopening. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether this mechanical stress induces upper airway inflammation in a rat model.
There are limited series concerning Dieulafoy disease of the bronchus. We describe the clinical presentation of a series of 7 patients diagnosed with Dieulafoy disease of the bronchus and provide information about the pathological diagnosis approach.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 217-225(9)
Virtually all patients with a newly discovered pleural effusion should undergo thoracentesis to aid in diagnosis and management. Pleural fluid (PF) samples should be collected into heparinized tubes to prevent clot formation.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 208-216(9)
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the respiratory system characterised by recurrent "reversible" obstruction of the airwflow in the airway. Various agents have been used in the treatment of asthma out of which inhaled beta-2 agonists have been mainstay of bronchodilator therapy of asthma for more than 40 years.
Nosocomial infections are problematic in the ICU because of their frequency, morbidity, and mortality. The most common ICU infections are pneumonia, bloodstream infection, and urinary tract infection, most of which are device related.
To measure particulate matter (PM) exposure of people involved in domestic work (i.e. housework by a resident, not paid work) in urban and rural Nepal, with exposure to biomass smoke in the rural areas, and to examine the performance of photometric devices in collecting these data.
A 16 m3 whole-body exposure chamber for human exposure to aerosols is described. Several modifications of the aerosol generation and distribution system were needed to ensure a stable aerosol concentration in the chamber, especially when a cyclone pre-classifier was used.
Respiratory disease in childhood was associated with an elevated risk of receiving treatment for anxiety disorders but not mood disorders. Specifically, higher respiratory rate at age 4 months was associated with significantly increased odds of receiving treatment for anxiety by age 34 years (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.4; P < .05).
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:689-694 (2008)
In healthy subjects, the respiratory epithelium forms a continuous lining to the airways and to the environment, and plays a unique role as a barrier against external deleterious agents to protect the airways from the insults.
Genetic association studies have related the tumour necrosis factor-{alpha} gene (TNFA) guanine to adenine substitution of nucleotide -308 (-308G>A) polymorphism to increased risk of asthma, but results are inconsistent.
American Journal of Rhinology, Volume 22, Number 4, 7/8 2008 , pp. 361-364(4)
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between rhinitis, exposure to workplace air contaminants, and occupational characteristics in greenhouse flower and ornamental plant (OP) growers.
American Journal of Rhinology, Volume 22, Number 4, 7/8 2008 , pp. 410-415(6)
Elevated nasal resistance and obesity predispose to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Weight loss has been shown to result in an alleviation of OSA, but its effect on nasal airflow has not been studied.
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with Th2 and Th1 differentiated T cells. The cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) promotes differentiation of Th2 T cells and secretion of chemokines which preferentially attract them.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2008 33(8):821-832
To study the impact of parents' and best friends' smoking, nicotine dependence, and craving on smoking-specific cognitions, and readiness to quit in adolescents with and without asthma.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2008 33(8):809-818
To examine the relationship between a cumulative risk model and caregiver quality of life (QOL) in pediatric asthma and determine whether caregiver QOL is predicted by a linear or quadratic model of cumulative risk.
The Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 5:682-688 (2008)
Airway submucosal glands (SMGs) are major secretory structures that lie beneath the epithelium of the cartilaginous airway. These glands are believed to play important roles in normal lung function and airway innate immunity by secreting antibacterial factors, mucus, and fluid into the airway lumen.
Small-scale clinical trials show that treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, improves the symptoms of CF and slows down the decline of lung function.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important complication of neurosurgery. Current guidelines recommend pharmacologic prophylaxis in this setting with either unfractionated heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH).
A series of new current procedural terminology codes have been created that allow health-care providers to code and bill for pediatric home apnea monitoring in the United States. Apnea monitors have been used at home on pediatric patients at risk for sudden death for > 30 years without the benefit of evidence-based efficacy studies.
High-altitude illnesses have profound consequences on the health of many unsuspecting and otherwise healthy individuals who sojourn to high altitude for recreation and work. The clinical manifestations of high-altitude illnesses are secondary to the extravasation of fluid from the intravascular to extravascular space, especially in the brain and lungs.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 4 Aug 2008
Plethysmographic measurement is the most reliable method for evaluating lung volumes in children. Current published normative data are based on studies in primarily Caucasian children.
Although videothoracoscopic (VTS) resection of thymoma has been reported to be a less invasive technique than open sternotomy, the usefulness of this method in the treatment of encapsulated thymic carcinoma has not yet been evaluated.
The effect of pre- and post-natal smoke exposure on exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO) in infants was evaluated and the association between respiratory symptoms and FeNO in the first 2 months of life was investigated. The Generation R study is a population-based, prenatally recruited birth cohort.
Most patients with asthma are successfully treated with conventional therapy. Nevertheless, there is a small proportion of asthmatic patients, including present cigarette smokers and former cigarette smokers, who fail to respond well to therapy with high-dose glucocorticoids (GCs) or with supplementary therapy.
Most studies evaluating bronchodilation in flow-volume spirometry have been conducted in patients with obstructive airways diseases, but less is known about bronchodilation responses in the general population or in healthy subjects.
The cystic fibrosis (CF) lung environment is poorly defined, but data suggest that bacteria may encounter reduced oxygen tensions and possibly an anaerobic environment.
To better understand the viral aetiology of recurrent and prolonged illnesses, nasal secretions were prospectively collected from 285 infants at increased risk of developing asthma.
Improved survival following extreme preterm birth complicated by bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is resulting in an increasing number of affected infants surviving to adulthood.
A subset of patients with asthma is known to have progressive loss of lung function despite treatment with corticosteroids. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors of decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma.
Reducing exposure to environmental agents indoors shown to increase asthma symptoms or lead to asthma exacerbations is an important component of a strategy to manage asthma for individuals.
A 2-year-old boy with cyanosis was found to have normal situs and looping with anomalous drainage of a right-sided superior vena cava to the left atrium, and intact interatrial septum in association with anomalous drainage of the left pulmonary veins to the right superior vena cava.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 4 August 2008 , pages 257 - 264
Epidemiological and family studies provide evidence for genetic factors contributing to chronic obstructive airways disease (COPD) susceptibility. Studies to date have focused on candidate genes implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.
Post-infectious cough is a common diagnosis in people with chronic cough. However, the specific infectious aetiology and cough mechanisms are seldom identified.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unique among leading causes of death in western society. Prevalence, associated morbidity and attributable mortality continue to rise.
Value in Health, Volume 11, Number 4, July/August 2008 , pp. 628-636(9)
To estimate the costs of undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by describing inpatient, outpatient, and pharmacy utilization in the years before and after the diagnosis.
Patients with end-stage lung disease very frequently die while awaiting lung transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with mortality in patients referred for lung transplant assessment.
The aim of this study is to review the immediate and long-term results of video-imaged thoracoscopic Heller's myotomy (THM). Methods: All patients undergoing THM by a single surgeon at one institution were analysed.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an immunologically mediated lung disease due to the repetitive inhalation of antigens. Most new cases arise from residential exposures, notably to birds, and are thus more difficult to recognise.
The Maugeri Respiratory Failure (MRF-28) and Severe Respiratory Insufficiency (SRI) questionnaires were recently developed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic respiratory failure, although not exclusively in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.
Biomarkers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be useful in aiding diagnosis, defining specific phenotypes of disease, monitoring exacerbations and evaluating the effects of drugs. Exhaled breath condensate is a noninvasive means of sampling the airways, allowing biomarkers of airway inflammation and oxidative stress to be measured.
Blunt trauma to the thoracic aorta is life-threatening, with instant fatality in at least 75% of victims. If left untreated, nearly half of those who survive the initial injury will die within the first 24 hours.
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 30 Jul 2008
Antibiotic inhalation has become widely accepted as a standard treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) airway infection. We assessed the prevalence and context of inhaled antibiotic use in the North American CF population.
The mortality rate in severe community- or hospital-acquired pneumonia is very high, ranging 20-50%. Despite advances in antimicrobial therapy and supportive measures, this rate has not changed in recent years, suggesting that other factors are also responsible for the poor outcome.
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 3, August 2008 , pp. 187-207(21)
Sleep apnea syndrome is a disease of high prevalence and high morbidity, for which surgery used to be the only possible therapeutic approach. Uvulo-palatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) was the technique used until the nineteen eighties. However, surgery has largely been abandoned since the introduction of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which has become the main treatment option today.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 4 August 2008 , pages 207 - 220
Palliative care services for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been limited in most health care schemes despite the significant impact its symptoms can have on quality of life (QOL).
Journal of Thoracic Oncology. 3(8):929-930, August 2008
Lymphomatous involvement of the airway causing stridor is a rare but frightening presentation of an eminently treatable condition. We describe a 24-year-old woman with tracheal non-Hodgkin lymphoma who was initially diagnosed with asthma, but subsequently presented with near-fatal acute upper airway obstruction because of a tracheal Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)+ anaplastic T-cell lymphoma.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2008, 3:17
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contained in tobacco smoke and a variety of environmental and occupational dusts is a toxic agent causing lung inflammation characterized by migration of neutrophils and monocytes into alveoli.
Primary liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae is an infection that is emerging worldwide and that is associated with severe morbidity and considerable mortality.
Prolonged cough in children refers to a persistent cough lasting for more than three to four weeks that is not associated with a known underlying respiratory disease, such as cystic fibrosis or asthma.
The penicillin-resistant Spain9V-3 clone of Streptococcus pneumoniae is widespread and presents different serotype variants originating from recombination of the capsular genes.
European Radiology 0938-7994 (Print) 10.1007/s00330-008-1115-6
The osteoblastic response (OR) phenomenon as a healing reaction during effective chemotherapy-defined by the appearance of new osteoblastic bone lesions while disease response in other tumor sites was well documented-has previously been described for breast and prostate cancer.
The majority of Polish smokers declare their will to quit smoking and many of them attempt to quit. Although morbidity and mortality from tobacco-related diseases are among the highest in the world, there is a lack of comprehensive cessation support for smokers.
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 4 August 2008 , pages 221 - 227
Short-acting beta agonists (SABA) have been the recommended rescue medication; however, previous studies have shown that combination short-acting Albuterol (alb) /Ipratropium bromide (IB) has superior bronchodilator properties to albuterol alone in patients with COPD.
The aim of the current study was to describe the incidence of respiratory symptoms and allergic sensitisation and the sequence of events leading to respiratory symptoms among Danish baker apprentices (BA).
Pediatric Pulmonology Published Online: 30 Jul 2008
Asthma is a leading chronic childhood illness in the US. To gain further insight into the pathophysiology of childhood asthma, we studied markers of airway inflammation and possible triggers such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in 18 children with chronic asthma and persistent wheezing who underwent clinically indicated bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).
COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Volume 5, Issue 4 August 2008 , pages 229 - 234
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth-leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in North America and its burden continues to increase. Tiotropium has been shown to reduce exacerbations, hospitalizations, symptoms, and improve health-related quality of life in patients with COPD.
Fluid-containing emphysematous bullae are an under-reported complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The roles of bronchoscopy in the work-up and of antibiotics in the treatment are undefined.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) adversely affects outcome in sarcoidosis and is an important predictor of mortality in these patients. Early and accurate diagnosis of this complication may improve outcome.
There are limited series concerning Dieulafoy disease of the bronchus. We describe the clinical presentation of a series of 7 patients diagnosed with Dieulafoy disease of the bronchus and provide information about the pathological diagnosis approach.
We report a case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a 44-year old Caucasian woman complicated with pneumonia and severe respiratory failure requiring ICU treatment and mechanical ventilation. Symptoms developed in a generally well controlled SLE course after sudden stop in immunosupresant therapy (methotrexate, cyclosporin and methylprednisolone).
Once the diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension is established, wheezing and chronic cough are rarely described during the course of the disease.
Intracardiac cystic lesions are rare. Hydatid disease, blood cysts and bronchogenic cysts in various chambers of the heart have been reported. Right atrial thrombus presenting as a cystic lesion on echocardiogram has not been reported. We describe a patient with mitral regurgitation in atrial fibrillation with a right atrial cyst, which was found to be a cavitating thrombus.
A paravertebral catheter was placed in a 34-year-old man to provide analgesia after a right upper lobectomy. On removal, the catheter broke within the chest wall. Although bedside exploration and computed tomography scanning failed to locate it, the 13-cm long retained fragment was easily retrieved by video-assisted thoracic surgery, using a single-port technique.
A case of anomalous left coronary artery originating from the non-facing pulmonary sinus, located at the most distal position from the aorta, is described. An intrapulmonary tunnel was created without causing undue stenosis or kinking.
The mRNA expression of ten housekeeping genes (ACTB, ARF1, CANX, G6PD, GAPDH, GPS1, GNB2L1, PSMB2, PSMD2, RPL32) was investigated by qRT-PCR in BAL cells from 71 subjects across a spectrum of lung diseases.
The Journal of Dermatology Volume 35 Issue 7, Pages 468 - 470
A 41-year-old Japanese male had aggressive digital papillary adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastases. He had an asymptomatic, solitary, dome-shaped, skin-colored firm nodule on his left palm for half year.
Exogenous surfactant is critical in the treatment of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome. Lucinactant (Surfaxin; Discovery Laboratories, Inc.) is a surfactant replacement therapy containing sinulpeptide, which may reduce lung inflammation.
Atopic preschool children are more likely to develop persistent wheezing, which could be a consequence of early airway remodeling. Protease-antiprotease balance between MMP-9 and its cognate inhibitor TIMP-1 may be involved in this process.
Transforming growth factor (TGF)-{beta} signalling plays important roles in regulating lung development. However, the specific regulatory functions of TGF-{beta} signalling in developing lung epithelial versus mesenchymal cells are still unknown.
Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and membrane current were investigated in single cells by confocal fluorimetry and patch-clamp electrophysiology, respectively, whereas mechanical activity was monitored in intact strips with force transducers.
A 62-year-old female presented with a 1-month history of irritating cough and increasing dyspnea. A chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis had been diagnosed 5 years ago.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008., doi:10.1164/rccm.200805-670OC
Human rhinovirus infections cause colds and trigger exacerbations of lower airway diseases. Objectives: To define changes in gene expression profiles during in vivo rhinovirus infections.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200709-1446OC
An efficacious medical therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains elusive. Purpose: To explore the efficacy and safety of etanercept in the treatment of IPF.
Pediatric Surgery International 0179-0358 (Print) 10.1007/s00383-008-2201-1
Congenital lung lesions are diagnosed antenatally in the majority of cases. Postnatal management includes chest radiography and CT-scanning, followed by either surgical resection or CT surveillance. Pre-operatively, lesions are often "labelled" as CCAM (and the Stocker classification incorrectly applied), sequestration, or lobar emphysema, and their frequent "hybrid" nature sometimes missed.
This study used computed tomography (CT) to identify anatomic features of the awake upper respiratory tract (URT) that correlate with severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200712-1832OC
By creating artificial communications through bronchial walls into the parenchyma of explanted lungs (airway bypass), we expect to decrease the amount of gas trapped and to increase the rate and volume of air expelled during forced expirations.
Asthma is characterised by airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and airway remodelling. Airway smooth muscle cells are known to be the main effector cells of airway narrowing.
There have been significant recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension, and a growing number of therapeutic agents have become available to the treating physician.
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 2008, doi:10.1164/rccm.200802-327OC
The prevalence in cystic fibrosis (CF) of respiratory cultures with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has dramatically increased over the last ten years, but the effect of MRSA on FEV1 decline in CF is unknown.
Neutrophils have been shown to play a role in host defence against highly virulent and mouse-adapted strains of influenza virus, however it is not clear if an effective neutrophil response is an important factor moderating disease severity during infection with other virus strains.
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