American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
-
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Nov 2012
Sputum biomarkers of inflammation and lung function decline in children with cystic fibrosis.
Progressive lung function decline is a defining feature of cystic fibrosis (CF). Because airway inflammation plays a central role in CF lung disease, inflammatory biomarkers that can be used to monitor disease activity would be valuable. ⋯ In children with CF, a single determination of sputum biomarkers, particularly neutrophil elastase, has predictive value for subsequent lung function decline, and longitudinal changes in sputum inflammatory biomarkers are related to lung function changes. Based on our results, sputum neutrophil elastase was the most informative biomarker to monitor disease activity.
-
Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Nov 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialReversal of immunoparalysis in humans in vivo: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pilot study.
Reversal of sepsis-induced immunoparalysis may reduce the incidence of secondary infections and improve outcome. Although IFN-γ and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) restore immune competence of ex vivo stimulated leukocytes of patients with sepsis, effects on immunoparalysis in vivo are not known. ⋯ IFN-γ partially reverses immunoparalysis in vivo in humans. These results suggest that IFN-γ is a promising treatment option to reverse sepsis-induced immunoparalysis.