Lung
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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a respiratory complication characterized by abnormal alveolar development in premature infants. Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) can induce heat shock protein (HSP) 70, which has cytoprotective effects against various stressors. Here, we investigated whether GGA protected neonatal lungs from hyperoxic stress in a murine BPD model, and measured the serum HSP70 levels in preterm humans treated with oxygen. ⋯ GGA may attenuate hyperoxic injury in neonatal lungs and thereby may prevent the development of BPD.
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Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal lung disease of unknown origin whose incidence has been increasing over the latest decade partly as a consequence of population ageing. New anti-fibrotic therapy including pirfenidone and nintedanib have now proven efficacy in slowing down the disease. Nevertheless, diagnosis and follow-up of IPF remain challenging. ⋯ Large scale multicentric studies are eagerly needed to confirm the utility of these biomarkers.
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A restful sleep is essential for regenerative processes and remains crucial for patients recovering from stressful periods in the intensive care unit. The current study aimed to assess sleep quality in critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation within a specialized weaning unit in hospital. ⋯ Subjects who were undergoing prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation and admitted to a specialized weaning unit, showed reduced sleep quality with preservation of high amounts of slow-wave sleep.
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The impact of mechanical forces on pathogenesis of airway remodeling and the functional consequences in asthma remains to be fully established. In the present study, we investigated the effect of repeated bronchoconstriction induced by methacholine (MCh) on airway remodeling and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in rats with or without sensitization to an external allergen. ⋯ This finding provides a new animal model for the development of airway remodeling and AHR in mammals and can be used for studying the complex reciprocal relationship between bronchoconstriction and airway inflammation. Further studies on presented animal models are required to clarify the exact mechanisms underlying airway remodeling due to bronchoconstriction and the functional consequences.
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The underlying biological mechanisms of the frequent exacerbator phenotype of COPD remain unclear. We compared systemic neutrophil function in COPD patients with or without frequent exacerbations. ⋯ This study is the first to report aberrant receptor-mediated blood neutrophil function in the frequent exacerbator of COPD.