American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
Relative Respiratory Syncytial Virus Cytopathogenesis in Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Epithelium.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major pathogen that primarily infects airway epithelium. Most infants suffer mild upper respiratory tract (URT) symptoms, whereas approximately one-third progress to lower respiratory tract (LRT) involvement. Despite the ubiquity of URT infection, little is known about the relative cytopathogenesis of RSV infection in infant URT and LRT. ⋯ RSV induced remarkably similar, albeit quantitatively lower, cytopathogenesis and proinflammatory responses in WD-PNECs compared with WD-PBECs that reproduce many hallmarks of RSV pathogenesis in infants. WD-PNECs may provide an authentic surrogate model with which to study RSV cytopathogenesis in infant airway epithelium.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
Role of Lung Pericytes and Resident Fibroblasts in the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Fibrosis.
The origin of cells that make pathologic fibrillar collagen matrix in lung disease has been controversial. Recent studies suggest mesenchymal cells may contribute directly to fibrosis. ⋯ We conclude that the lung contains an extensive population of Foxd1 progenitor-derived pericytes that are an important lung myofibroblast precursor population.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
Epidemiology of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections and Associated Chronic Macrolide Use among Persons with Cystic Fibrosis.
Persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at high risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection, with treatment requiring prolonged multidrug regimens that include macrolides. Although macrolides, specifically azithromycin, are used in the management of patients with CF with chronic Pseudomonas, macrolide-resistant NTM infections are of growing concern. ⋯ Patients with incident NTM infections from either MAC or M. abscessus were less likely to have had chronic azithromycin treatment in the past year. However, because macrolide monotherapy may lead to macrolide resistance, routine screening for NTM should be considered for persons with CF.