American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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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.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
Syndecan-2 Exerts Antifibrotic Effects by Promoting Caveolin-1-mediated Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor I Internalization and Inhibiting Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Signaling.
Alveolar transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signaling and expression of TGF-β1 target genes are increased in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and in animal models of pulmonary fibrosis. Internalization and degradation of TGF-β receptor TβRI inhibits TGF-β signaling and could attenuate development of experimental lung fibrosis. ⋯ Alveolar macrophage syndecan-2 exerts antifibrotic effects by promoting caveolin-1-dependent TGF-β1 and TβRI internalization and inhibiting TGF-β1 signaling in alveolar epithelial cells. Hence, molecules that facilitate TβRI degradation via endocytosis represent potential therapies for pulmonary fibrosis.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2013
The Role of Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), a cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate-generating enzyme, regulates smooth muscle tone and exerts antiinflammatory effects in animal models of asthma and acute lung injury. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), primarily caused by cigarette smoke (CS), lung inflammation persists and smooth muscle tone remains elevated, despite ample amounts of nitric oxide that could activate sGC. ⋯ Down-regulation of sGC because of CS exposure might contribute to airflow limitation in COPD.