Chest
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Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels may be decreased by use of ACE inhibitor (ACEI) medication. In this study, we determined how often ACE levels were measured in patients receiving ACEI therapy. ⋯ Assessment of ACE activity is often measured for patients receiving ACEIs, potentially leading to low ACE concentrations and inaccurate interpretations.
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COPD is characterized by chronic airway inflammation and remodeling, with serious modifications of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an abundant ECM molecule in the lung with various biologic functions that depend on its molecular weight (MW). High-MW HA exhibits antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, whereas low-MW HA is proinflammatory. In this study, we investigated whether acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs), which affect patient quality of life and survival, are associated with altered HA turnover in BAL. ⋯ AECOPDs are associated with increased HYAL activity in BAL and subsequent degradation of HA, which may contribute to airway inflammation and subsequent lung function decline during exacerbations.
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Seven years after left hemicolectomy and radical lymph nodal dissection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (histotype, adenocarcinoma; stage, pT3N2M0; grading, G2), a slight increase in carcinoembryonic antigen levels (6.2 ng/mL; range, 0-5 ng/mL) was detected in a 79-year-old man. He was a heavy smoker with history of an interstitial fibrotic lung disease with associated areas of emphysema.
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A 68-year-old man was referred to the pulmonary clinic for evaluation of cough and a 5-cm right upper lobe mass. He was in his usual state of health until 1 year prior when he developed intermittent cough, wheezing, and sinus congestion. ⋯ He also denied any fevers, chills, or weight loss. He had received various treatments within the prior 6 months, including short courses of oral prednisone, levofloxacin, and bronchodilators, without any relief of his symptoms.