The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
Purpose Τhat β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) haplotypes may play a key role in clinical response to β2-agonists and haplotype Cys-19Gly16Gln27 (CysGlyGln) is reported to be associated with desensitization of β2AR to β-agonists in lymphocytes isolated from patients with asthma and septic shock. We sought to determine whether haplotypic variation of the β2AR affects the functional outcomes of long-acting...
Purpose Plastic bronchitis is the occlusion of the major bronchial airways by a firm, gelatinous mucoid cast. It is a rare condition, which while classically described in asthma and sickle cell disease has greater mortality in patients with congenital heart disease. The management of this disease is obscure given the lack of clinical data regarding treatment therapies. Methods We describe a case...
Purpose Utilization of intensive care services by patients with malignancy has risen during the past several decades. Newer cancer therapies have improved overall survival and outcomes. Patients with respiratory failure from central airway obstruction related to tumor growth were previously viewed as inappropriate candidates for ventilator support. However, an increasing number of reports suggest...
Background The effect of cigarette smoking on the clinical manifestations and progression of sarcoidosis is not well characterized. We sought to determine the effects of smoking in sarcoidosis patients and to evaluate for gender-specific differences. Methods We examined the effects of cigarette smoking in 518 patients seen at the Sarcoidosis and Interstitial Lung Disease Center at Wayne State University...
Background According to the National Family Health Survey, asthma is one of the leading diseases in India. In order to understand the complexity of asthma, the susceptibility genes need to be targeted for their association. Glutathione S-transferases play a major role in the detoxification of metabolites of oxidative stress resulting in inflammation and asthma. In the present study, the hypothesis...
Background The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy of doublet versus single third-generation cytotoxic agent as first-line treatment for elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Several databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. The endpoints...
Background Recent studies have shown the importance of Th17 cells in the development of allergic airway diseases. We examined Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus-induced changes in peripheral blood Th17 cells to establish the importance of these cells in late-phase allergic inflammation in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic asthma (AA). Methods Eighteen patients with mild-to-moderate/severe...
Background Mannitol is a novel osmotic indirect bronchial challenge agent used to aid asthma diagnosis and management and is thought to reflect underlying inflammatory processes in asthma. Our objective was to evaluate relationships between mannitol airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and other measures of airway inflammation as well as direct-acting methacholine challenge in persistent asthmatics receiving...
Background It is well known that smoking is a major risk factor for lung disease and respiratory symptoms. We examined the association between smoking and the risk of chronic bronchitis in a large twin sample. Methods In a population-based questionnaire study of 13,649 twins, aged 50–71 years, from the Danish Twin Registry, we identified 1,146 twin pairs, discordant for a lifetime history smoking...
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung pathology is characterized by excessive neutrophilic inflammation and high tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels. A cornerstone of CF management is reduction of the inflammatory burden in the lung. We present the case of a 19-year-old CF patient who demonstrated significant clinical improvement in her lung disease associated with a reduction in sputum percent neutrophils,...
Background β2-Adrenergic receptor (β2AR), a G-protein coupled receptor, is present on the bronchial smooth muscle cells and results in bronchodilation upon activation. The genetic factors determining β2AR expression and function may not only alter the response of an individual to the therapy but also may serve as predictive markers for response to the agonists used in the therapy. The present study...
Background Sildenafil was the only phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor available for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) until the approval and availability of once-daily tadalafil. Since no direct comparative study is likely to be performed between these agents, we sought to evaluate the feasibility of transitioning stable PAH patients from sildenafil to tadalafil. Methods The primary...
Background Sarcoidosis is a disease characterized by granulomatous lesions involving multiple organ systems. The etiology of sarcoidosis remains unknown, and reliable biomarkers have not been identified. Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix molecule expressed during wound healing in various tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the role of tenascin-C in sarcoidosis. Methods Enzyme-linked...
Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive interstitial lung disease with no current effective therapies. Treatment has focused on antifibrotic agents to stop proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen deposition in the lung. We present the first clinical trial data on the use of losartan, an antifibrotic agent, to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The primary objective was to evaluate...
Background Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels have been reported to be lower in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) than in controls; however the mechanism(s) responsible and the effect on pathogenesis are unclear. The objective of these studies was to determine if the low levels of gas phase NO (gNO) could be reproduced in well-differentiated air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures of normal and CF cells...
Background Most patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are middle-aged or older, and by definition all have a chronic illness. Aging and chronic illness decrease sexual interest, sexual function, and testosterone levels. To date, researchers have not simultaneously explored prevalence, risk factors, and impact of sexual dysfunctions on quality of life and survival in men with COPD...
Background The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on insulin transport in alveolar epithelial cells. Methods We first examined the effect of CSE pretreatment on cell viability, mRNA expression, and lamellar body structures in A549 cells. Then the effect of CSE pretreatment on FITC-insulin transport was examined. Results When A549 cells were treated...
Background Lung cancer screening CT scans might provide valuable information about air trapping as an early indicator of smoking-related lung disease. We studied which of the currently suggested measures is most suitable for detecting functionally relevant air trapping on low-dose computed tomography (CT) in a population of subjects with early-stage disease. Methods This study was ethically approved...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.