The American journal of the medical sciences
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Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a leading cause of mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in those with the usual interstitial pneumonia subtype (RA-UIP). Serum antibodies to peptidylarginine deiminase type 4 (anti-PAD4), particularly a subset that cross-react with PAD3 (PAD3/4XR), have been associated with imaging evidence of ILD. We aimed to determine the specificity of anti-PAD4 antibodies in RA-ILD and to examine associations with markers of ILD severity. ⋯ We demonstrate the presence of serum anti-PAD4 antibodies in a subset of patients with RA-UIP that were notably associated with better lung function, less fibrosis and decreased mortality.
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Data regarding the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and bronchiectasis (BE) are rare. This study aims to elucidate the clinical relevance of BE in patients with CAP. ⋯ Significant BE occurred in approximately 5% of patients with CAP and was more likely to be associated with sputum, dyspnea, complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema, and isolation of P. aeruginosa. Significant BE was an independent predictor of LOS in patients with CAP.
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Field studies have reported conflicting results regarding changes in biomarkers at high altitude. This study measured temporal changes in biomarkers and compared the differences between individuals with and without acute mountain sickness (AMS). ⋯ After acute ascent, individuals with and without AMS exhibited different trends in biomarkers associated with endothelial cell activation and natriuretic peptides.