American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2014
Multicenter StudyTraffic Related Air Pollution and the Right Ventricle: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
Right heart failure is a cause of morbidity and mortality in common and rare heart and lung diseases. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution is linked to left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and death. Relationships between traffic-related air pollution and right ventricular (RV) structure and function have not been studied. ⋯ Higher levels of NO2 exposure were associated with greater RV mass and larger RV end-diastolic volume.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2014
Lack of neutrophil elastase reduces inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and emphysema, but not mucus obstruction, in mice with CF-like lung disease.
Recent evidence from clinical studies suggests that neutrophil elastase (NE) released in neutrophilic airway inflammation is a key risk factor for the onset and progression of lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the role of NE in the complex in vivo pathogenesis of CF lung disease remains poorly understood. ⋯ Our results suggest that NE plays an important role in the in vivo pathogenesis and may serve as a therapeutic target for inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, and structural lung damage and indicate that additional rehydration strategies may be required for effective treatment of airway mucus obstruction in CF.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2014
ReviewAn official american thoracic society/european respiratory society statement: update on limb muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Limb muscle dysfunction is prevalent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and it has important clinical implications, such as reduced exercise tolerance, quality of life, and even survival. Since the previous American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) statement on limb muscle dysfunction, important progress has been made on the characterization of this problem and on our understanding of its pathophysiology and clinical implications. ⋯ Limb muscle dysfunction is a key systemic consequence of COPD. However, there are still important gaps in our knowledge about the mechanisms of development of this problem. Strategies for early detection and specific treatments for this condition are also needed.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · May 2014
Clinical TrialSmall Acute Increases in Serum Creatinine are Associated with Decreased Long Term Survival in the Critically Ill.
Long-term outcomes after acute kidney injury (AKI) are poorly described. ⋯ Patients with one episode of mild AKI have significantly lower long-term survival rates than critically ill patients with no AKI. Close medical follow-up of these patients may be warranted and mechanistic research is required to understand how AKI influences long-term events.