Resp Res
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and irreversible disease characterized by excessive fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation with limited therapeutic options. Curdione, a sesquiterpene compound extracted from the essential oil of Curcuma aromatica Salisb, has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. However, the role of curdione in IPF is still unclear. ⋯ Overall, curdione exerted therapeutic effects against pulmonary fibrosis via attenuating fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation. As curdione had been shown to be safe and well-tolerated in BLM-induced mouse model, curdione might be useful for developing novel therapeutics for IPF.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and ultimately fatal disease characterized by a progressive decline in lung function. Fibrotic diseases, such as IPF, are characterized by uncontrolled activation of fibroblasts. Since the microenvironment is known to affect cell behavior, activated fibroblasts can in turn activate healthy neighboring cells. Thus, we investigated IPF paracrine signaling in human lung fibroblasts (HLFs) derived from patients with IPF. ⋯ IPF-HLF paracrine signaling leads to IL-6R overexpression, which in turn, affects N-HLF survival. The IL-6/STAT3/Smad3 axis facilitates cellular responses that could potentially promote fibrotic disease. This interplay was successfully blocked by TCZ.
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Observational Study
Resistance of the respiratory system measured with forced oscillation technique (FOT) correlates with bronchial thermoplasty response.
Bronchial Thermoplasty (BT) is an endoscopic treatment for severe asthma using radiofrequency energy to target airway remodeling including smooth muscle. The correlation of pulmonary function tests and BT response are largely unknown. Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) is an effort-independent technique to assess respiratory resistance (Rrs) by using pressure oscillations including small airways. ⋯ Pulmonary function remained stable after BT. Improvement in FEV1 correlated with asthma questionnaires improvement including AQLQ. Lower FOT-measured respiratory resistance at baseline was associated with favorable BT response, which might reflect targeting of larger airways with BT.
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant cause of mortality in the intensive care unit. Early diagnosis of VAP is important to provide appropriate treatment and reduce mortality. Developing a noninvasive and highly accurate diagnostic method is important. The invention of electronic sensors has been applied to analyze the volatile organic compounds in breath to detect VAP using a machine learning technique. However, the process of building an algorithm is usually unclear and prevents physicians from applying the artificial intelligence technique in clinical practice. Clear processes of model building and assessing accuracy are warranted. The objective of this study was to develop a breath test for VAP with a standardized protocol for a machine learning technique. ⋯ There was good accuracy in detecting VAP by sensor array and machine learning techniques. Artificial intelligence has the potential to assist the physician in making a clinical diagnosis. Clear protocols for data processing and the modeling procedure needed to increase generalizability.
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Clinical Trial
Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations of the lung: an epithelial transcriptomic approach.
The pathophysiology of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAM) of the lung remains poorly understood. ⋯ This compartmentalised transcriptomic analysis of the epithelium of macrocystic lung malformations identified a dysregulation of TGFB signalling at the mRNA and protein levels, suggesting a possible role of this pathway in CCAM pathogenesis.