American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyDifferentiation and immune regulation of IL-9-producing CD4+ T cells in malignant pleural effusion.
IL-9-producing CD4(+) T cells (Th9 cells) have been reported to be involved in inflammation and immune diseases. However, the involvement of Th9 cells in malignancy has not been investigated. ⋯ Our data revealed that Th9 cells were increased in MPE and that Th9 cells exerted an important immune regulation on lung cancer cells in human tumor environment.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyRhinovirus infection induces degradation of antimicrobial peptides and secondary bacterial infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are associated with virus (mostly rhinovirus) and bacterial infections, but it is not known whether rhinovirus infections precipitate secondary bacterial infections. ⋯ Rhinovirus infections are frequently followed by secondary bacterial infections in COPD and cleavage of the antimicrobial peptides SLPI and elafin by virus-induced neutrophil elastase may precipitate these secondary bacterial infections. Therapy targeting neutrophil elastase or enhancing innate immunity may be useful novel therapies for prevention of secondary bacterial infections in virus-induced COPD exacerbations.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyAssessment of pulmonary neutrophilic inflammation in emphysema by quantitative positron emission tomography.
Neutrophilic inflammation is understood to be of pathogenetic importance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and may be quantified using 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography ((18)FDG PET-CT) as a noninvasive, spatially informative biomarker. ⋯ Quantitative (18)FDG PET-CT has a potential role as an imaging biomarker in mechanistic and interventional studies in patients with usual COPD. The data support previous evidence of distinct functional characteristics of neutrophils in COPD. Clinical trial registered with https://eudract.ema.europa.eu/index.html (EudraCT 2007-004869-18).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyParent presence during invasive procedures and resuscitation: evaluating a clinical practice change.
Parent presence during invasive procedures and/or resuscitation is a relatively underdeveloped and controversial practice. Much of the concern stems from the apprehension of the medical community. ⋯ Implementation of practice guidelines and interprofessional education had a positive impact on clinicians' perceptions and practice when providing parents with options and support during their children's invasive procedures and/or resuscitation.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Dec 2012
Comparative StudyInflammatory and oxidative stress responses of healthy young adults to changes in air quality during the Beijing Olympics.
Unprecedented pollution control actions during the Beijing Olympics provided a quasi-experimental opportunity to examine biologic responses to drastic changes in air pollution levels. ⋯ These findings support the important role of oxidative stress and that of pulmonary inflammation in mediating air pollution health effects. The findings demonstrate the utility of novel and noninvasive biomarkers in the general population consisting largely of healthy individuals.