American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyCase-control study of lung function in World Trade Center Health Registry area residents and workers.
Residents and area workers who inhaled dust and fumes from the World Trade Center disaster reported lower respiratory symptoms in two World Trade Center Health Registry surveys (2003-2004 and 2006-2007), but lung function data were lacking. ⋯ This study links persistent respiratory symptoms and oscillometric abnormalities in World Trade Center-exposed residents and area workers. Elevated R₅ and R₅₋₂₀ in cases despite normal spirometry suggested distal airway dysfunction as a mechanism for symptoms.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyPriorities for screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection in the United States.
To improve the effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) control programs in the United States by identifying cost-effective priorities for screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). ⋯ LTBI screening guidelines could make progress toward TB elimination by prioritizing screening for close contacts, those infected with HIV, and the foreign-born regardless of time living in the United States. For these groups, IGRA screening was more cost-effective than TST screening.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyUnderstanding socioeconomic and racial differences in adult lung function.
The contribution of socioeconomic factors to racial differences in the distribution of lung function is not well understood. ⋯ High school completion is associated with racially patterned improvements in the FEV₁ of adults in the general population. The application of routine exclusion criteria leads to underestimates of the role of high school completion on FEV₁.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyLy6Chi monocytes direct alternatively activated profibrotic macrophage regulation of lung fibrosis.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease. Antiinflammatory therapies, including corticosteroids, are of no benefit. The role of monocytes and macrophages is therefore controversial. ⋯ We demonstrate the importance of circulating monocytes and lung macrophages during pulmonary fibrosis, and emphasize the importance of the alternatively activated macrophage phenotype. We show that Ly6Chi monocytes facilitate the progression of pulmonary fibrosis, but are not obviously engrafted into lungs thereafter. Finally, we provide empirical data to suggest that macrophages may have a resolution-promoting role during the reversible phase of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Sep 2011
Comparative StudyRelationship between group-specific component protein and the development of asthma.
Airway inflammation and remodeling during asthma are attributed to the altered expression of biologically relevant proteins. ⋯ Gc may be involved in the development of asthma, and the neutralization of Gc protein could be a therapeutic strategy for asthma.