The American review of respiratory disease
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Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. · Sep 1980
Immunologic identification of elastin-derived peptides in the serums of dogs with experimental emphysema.
Pulmonary emphysema is a disease in which peptides formed by the enzymatic degradation of the amorphous component of interstitial elastin may be release from the lung. In order to provide a test that can monitor the destruction of lung elastin invivo, we developed a hemagglutination inhibiton assay that specifically and quantitatively measure elastin-derived peptides in serum. ⋯ There was a good correlation between the maximal concentration of elastin derived peptides found in the serums and the amount of elastase administered to the animal. This immunologic method may be useful in following the progression of experiment emphysema.
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Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. · Sep 1980
Interalveolar pores in mouse lung. Regional distribution and alterations with age.
Quantitative analysis of the regional distribution of interalveolar pores in the lungs of BALB/c mice 1 to 28 months of age (n = 25) was performed by scanning electron microscopy. In all the age groups examined, the subpleural and peribronchiolar alveoli had significantly more pores than the midzonal region (p < 0.01). No significant changes were noted in the number of pores per alveolus between 3 and 26 months of age in the midzonal, peribronchiolar, and subpleural alveoli. We concluded that (1) intralevolar pores are regionally distributed in the lungs of BALB/c mice by 3 months of age, and (2) the number of pores do not significantly change with increasing age during the first 26 months.
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Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. · Aug 1980
Morphologic and morphometric effects of prolonged cigarette smoking on the small airways.
We studied lungs from 25 smokers and 14 lifelong nonsmokers, all over 40 yr of age, to examine the relationship of long-term cigarette smoking to histopathologic changes in the small airways. Despite considerable overlap between the 2 groups, smokers had a significantly higher score (p < 0.01) for small airway disease. The specific morphologic features separating smokers from nonsmokers were increases in goblet cell metaplasia (p < 0.001), smooth muscle hypertrophy (p < 0.05), inflammation in the walls of bronchioles (p < 0.01), and respiratory bronchiolitis (p < 0.001). ⋯ Among smokers, the severity of small airway disease correlated with the percentage of airways that are less than 400 microns in diameter (rs = 0.63) and with the extent of centrilobular emphysema (r = 0.53). Smokers also had an increase in the proportion of bronchial gland mass (p < 0.05), but this pathologic feature was not related to the severity of either small airway disease or centrilobular emphysema. We concluded that prolonged cigarette smoking is associated with progressive pathologic changes in the small airways that may be an important cause of airflow obstruction and that may predispose to the development of centrilobular emphysema.
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Histologic findings from segmental lavage material via the fiberoptic bronchoscope were evaluated as a means of diagnosing pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Active cases of alveolar proteinosis yielded grossly opaque and/or milky effluents. The unique histologic findings in alveolar proteinosis included: (1) very few alveolar macrophages (2) large acellular eosinophilic bodies in a diffuse background of eosinophilic granules, and (3) periodic acid-Schiff staining of the proteinaceous material with a lack of significant alcian blue staining. Thus, the diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis can be made by evaluation of the clinical setting and histologic findings of the effluent material from a segmental lavage.
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Am. Rev. Respir. Dis. · May 1980
Observations on pleural fluid pressures as fluid is withdrawn during thoracentesis.
In 52 patients with pleural effusions, pleural pressures were measured initially and serially as pleural fluid was withdrawn. Pleural fluid aspiration was continued until the pleural pressure fell below -20 cmH2O, or the patient developed excessive symptoms, or no more fluid could be obtained. The initial pleural pressure ranged from +8 to -21 cmH2O. ⋯ Negative initial pleural pressures and/or rapid changes in the pressures as fluid was withdrawn were suggestive of malignancy or trapped lung. The measurement of pleural pressures in patients with pleural effusions may be useful diagnostically. More importantly, because large changes in pleural pressures are not readily detectable by the operator, pleural pressures should be monitored when large amounts (> 1,000 ml) of pleural fluid are removed to increase the safety of the procedure.