American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Apr 2012
Role of YKL-40 in bronchial smooth muscle remodeling in asthma.
Bronchial remodeling, including increased bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) mass, contributes to bronchial obstruction in asthma. However, its mechanisms are complex and remain controversial. Recently, a role of the chitinase 3-like 1 protein (YKL-40) has been evoked in asthma. Indeed, YKL-40 concentration was increased in asthmatic serum, and correlated with asthma severity and subepithelial membrane thickness. Nevertheless, the role of YKL-40 on BSM cells remains to be investigated. ⋯ This study indicates that YKL-40 promotes BSM cell proliferation and migration through a PAR-2-dependent mechanism.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Apr 2012
Clinical TrialExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation in awake patients as bridge to lung transplantation.
The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients who are awake and spontaneously breathing may represent a novel bridging strategy toward lung transplantation (LuTx). ⋯ ECMO support in patients who are awake and nonintubated represents a promising bridging strategy, which should be further evaluated to determine its role in patients with end-stage lung disease awaiting LuTx.
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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
A phase IIa trial of the new tuberculosis vaccine, MVA85A, in HIV- and/or Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected adults.
Novel tuberculosis (TB) vaccines should be safe and effective in populations infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and/or HIV for effective TB control. ⋯ MVA85A was safe and immunogenic in persons with HIV and/or M.tb infection. These results support further evaluation of safety and efficacy of this vaccine for prevention of TB in these target populations.
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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.