Chest
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and usually fatal disease, based on a multifaceted and incompletely understood pathogenesis. Some of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of vascular remodeling have been experimentally explored, and it is obvious that alterations of microvessels are involved in IPF. These can, among others, lead to the development of pulmonary hypertension. ⋯ A delicate balance of angiogenic and angiostatic factors regulates vessel homeostasis in normal physiologic conditions in the lungs. Although earlier studies have proposed that IPF is associated with an increase of angiogenesis, there is some more recent evidence that angiogenesis in fibrotic lungs may actually be decreased, causing some controversy in the literature in this area. This review, therefore, discusses the concept of angiogenesis in pulmonary fibrosis and speculates on how the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of IPF might explain the controversial findings about vessel density in fibrotic lungs.
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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the leading indications for lung transplantation. The incidence and pre-lung transplant risk factors for posttransplant renal dysfunction in the CF population remain undefined. ⋯ Renal dysfunction is common following lung transplant in the adult CF population. Increased age, female sex, CF-related diabetes requiring insulin, and pretransplant renal impairment are significant risk factors.
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Comparative Study
The effect of end-of-life discussions on perceived quality of care and health status among patients with COPD.
Despite strong preferences for discussions about end-of-life care, patients with COPD do not often have these discussions with their providers. Our objective was to determine whether patients who reported having end-of-life discussions also reported higher perceived markers of quality of care and health status. ⋯ Patients who reported having end-of-life care discussions with their physicians had higher perceived quality of care and satisfaction with their physicians. Discussing end-of-life care with patients who have COPD may improve their perceived overall quality of and satisfaction with care.
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The tumor microenvironment, of which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major cellular components, plays an important role in tumor progression. This study evaluated the significance of podoplanin-positive CAFs and CD204-positive TAMs, which may reflect tumor-promoting CAFs and TAMs, as risk factors for recurrence in patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma. ⋯ Podoplanin-positive CAFs were the most powerful independent risk factor for recurrence in patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma. Podoplanin-positive CAFs may be useful for identifying patients with a high risk of recurrence who might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Comparative Study
Prognostic significance of the extent of visceral pleural invasion in completely resected node-negative non-small cell lung cancer.
Visceral pleural invasion (VPI) has been defined as invasion of the tumor beyond the elastic layer (PL1), including invasion to the visceral pleural surface (PL2). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and patterns of recurrence in resected node-negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with VPI. ⋯ PL2 was a significant prognostic factor for recurrence and worse overall survival in node-negative NSCLC with VPI. This information is important for further design of clinical trials for aggressive adjuvant therapy.