American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Mar 2016
Lung Pathology in U.S. Coal Workers with Rapidly Progressive Pneumoconiosis Implicates Silica and Silicates.
Recent reports of progressive massive fibrosis and rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis in U.S. coal miners have raised concerns about excessive exposures to coal mine dust, despite reports of declining dust levels. ⋯ Our findings suggest that rapidly progressive pneumoconiosis in these miners was associated with exposure to coal mine dust containing high concentrations of respirable silica and silicates.
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Increased bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) mass is a key feature of airway remodeling that classically distinguishes severe from nonsevere asthma. Proliferation of BSM cells involves a specific mitochondria-dependent pathway in individuals with severe asthma. However, BSM remodeling and mitochondrial biogenesis have not been examined in nonsevere asthma. ⋯ This study reveals that BSM remodeling and mitochondrial biogenesis may play a critical role in the natural history of nonsevere asthma (Mitasthme study). Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00808730).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Mar 2016
The Presence of Chronic Mucus Hypersecretion Across Adult Life in Relation to COPD Development.
Chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) is common among smokers and is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease development and progression. ⋯ CMH among middle-aged smokers represents an early developmental phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Smoking-related CMH usually resolves following smoking cessation but the longer its duration the greater the FEV1 lost, suggesting the course of CMH across adult life may reflect the underlying course of airway disease activity.