American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2009
Connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension in the modern treatment era.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension in association with connective tissue disease (CTD-PAH) has historically had a poor prognosis, with a 1-year survival rate among patients with systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) of 45%. However, more therapies have become available. ⋯ Survival of patients with SSc-PAH in the modern treatment era is better than in historical series. A significant proportion of patients with mild functional impairment or exercise-induced SSc-PAH have evidence of disease progression. Survival of patients with respiratory disease-associated pulmonary hypertension is inferior. SLE-PAH has a better prognosis than SSc-PAH.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2009
Claudin-1 is a metastasis suppressor and correlates with clinical outcome in lung adenocarcinoma.
Claudin (CLDN)-1, a key component of tight junction complexes, was down-regulated in human lung adenocarcinomas. ⋯ CLDN1 is a cancer invasion/metastasis suppressor. CLDN1 is also a useful prognostic predictor and potential drug treatment target for patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2009
Extracellular superoxide dismutase haplotypes are associated with acute lung injury and mortality.
Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is a potent antioxidant that plays an important role in controlling oxidant-mediated stress and inflammation. High levels of EC-SOD are found in the lung. Acute lung injury (ALI) frequently occurs in patients with infection, and levels of EC-SOD have been shown to modulate severity of lung injury in transgenic animal models of endotoxemia-induced ALI. An R213G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been shown to alter levels of EC-SOD and patient outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and ischemic heart disease. ⋯ These results indicate that a GCCT haplotype may reduce inflammation in the lung, thereby decreasing the severity of lung injury and ultimately protecting patients from mortality associated with infection-induced ALI.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2009
Comparative StudyAltered upper airway and soft tissue structures in the New Zealand Obese mouse.
The effect of obesity on upper airway soft tissue structure and size was examined in the New Zealand Obese (NZO) mouse and in a control lean mouse, the New Zealand White (NZW). ⋯ In addition to the increased volume of pharyngeal soft tissue structures, direct fat deposits within the tongue may contribute to airway compromise in obesity. Pharyngeal airway dilation during inspiration in NZO mice compared with narrowing in NZW mice suggests that airway compromise in obese mice may lead to muscle activation to defend upper airway patency during inspiration.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2009
Endothelin-1 impairs alveolar epithelial function via endothelial ETB receptor.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is increased in patients with high-altitude pulmonary edema and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and these patients have decreased alveolar fluid reabsorption (AFR). ⋯ We provide the first evidence that ET-1, via an endothelial-epithelial interaction, leads to decreased AFR by a mechanism involving activation of endothelial ETB receptors and NO generation leading to alveolar epithelial Na,K-ATPase down-regulation in a cGMP-independent manner.