American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Apr 2012
Interstitial lung abnormalities and reduced exercise capacity.
The relationship between interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and exercise capacity has not been comprehensively evaluated. ⋯ Our study demonstrates that ILA is associated with measurable decrements in the 6MWD of people who smoke. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00608764).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Apr 2012
Risk of tuberculosis in pregnancy: a national, primary care-based cohort and self-controlled case series study.
Tuberculosis (TB) disease adversely affects mother and child, and strategies to control TB in this group are important. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiology of TB in pregnancy, and to establish whether pregnancy is an independent risk factor for TB. ⋯ The incidence of TB diagnosis is significantly increased postpartum. Although we did not find an increase during pregnancy, the postpartum incidence may reflect an increase during pregnancy given diagnostic, immunological and administrative delays. Clinicians' awareness should be improved and the effectiveness of public health policy measures such as targeted screening of pregnant and postpartum women in high-risk groups should be evaluated.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Apr 2012
Calpastatin controls polymicrobial sepsis by limiting procoagulant microparticle release.
Sepsis, a leading cause of death worldwide, involves widespread activation of inflammation, massive activation of coagulation, and lymphocyte apoptosis. Calpains, calcium-activated cysteine proteases, have been shown to increase inflammatory reactions and lymphocyte apoptosis. Moreover, calpain plays an essential role in microparticle release. ⋯ These results demonstrate an important role of the calpain/calpastatin system in coagulation/inflammation pathways during sepsis, because calpain inhibition is associated with less severe disseminated intravascular coagulation and better overall outcomes in sepsis.