Chest
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Comparative Study
Gender differences in perceptions of urge to cough and dyspnea induced by citric acid in healthy never smokers.
The mechanism of the gender difference in cough reflex threshold has not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, we evaluated gender differences in the cough reflex threshold along with the perceptions of respiratory sensations, urge to cough, and dyspnea. ⋯ The gender difference in cough reflex threshold accompanied the gender difference in amplification rate of respiratory sensations in the same direction. The higher central gain for common pathways for respiratory sensations may play a role in lower cough reflex threshold in women. Further studies are needed to elucidate this issue.
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Comparative Study
Survival in sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: the importance of hemodynamic evaluation.
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been associated with increased mortality in patients with advanced pulmonary sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis-associated PH may be the result of left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) or isolated pulmonary vasculature abnormality. Our objective was to determine if the cause of PH affects survival in patients with sarcoidosis with persistent dyspnea. ⋯ PH without LVD was associated with increased mortality. Proper characterization of patients required hemodynamic evaluation, as 29% of sarcoidosis-associated PH was due to LVD.
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Comparative Study
Tobacco smoke: a risk factor for pulmonary arterial hypertension? A case-control study.
Smoking is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular, lung, and many other diseases. Smoking can induce pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in animal models; PAH is common in smokers with COPD and thereby not correlated with the degree of airway obstruction. The impact of tobacco smoke exposure on the development of PAH in humans is not known. ⋯ Our data indicate that tobacco smoke exposure may be a risk factor for men with PAH. Considering smoking as a risk factor for PAH will have implications in counseling patients and especially their hitherto unaffected relatives. Further research on the pathogenetic role of smoking in PAH is warranted.
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Comparative Study
Expression of the T helper 17-associated cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F in asthma and COPD.
Asthma and COPD are characterized by airway dysfunction and inflammation. Neutrophilic airway inflammation is a common feature of COPD and is recognized in asthma, particularly in severe disease. The T helper (Th) 17 cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F have been implicated in the development of neutrophilic airway inflammation, but their expression in asthma and COPD is uncertain. ⋯ Our findings support a potential role for the Th17 cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F in asthma and COPD, but do not demonstrate a relationship with neutrophilic inflammation.
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Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, known more commonly as Castleman disease, is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder. Castleman disease has two distinct clinical manifestations described as unicentric and multicentric disease. These presentations have distinct treatment algorithms and portend very different prognoses. ⋯ Postoperative surgical pathology confirmed the diagnosis of Castleman disease, hyaline vascular type, with negative margins. Notably, the lymph node tissue in the rituximab-treated specimen demonstrated reduced mantle zone thickness, decreased size of follicles, and increased hyalinization of vessels. Rituximab shows promise in neoadjuvant treatment of unresectable or partially resectable unicentric Castleman disease.