American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2014
Vascular Receptor Autoantibodies in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Systemic Sclerosis.
Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) portends worse outcome than other forms of PAH. Vasoconstrictive and vascular remodeling actions of endothelin (ET) 1 and angiotensin (Ang) II via endothelin receptor type A (ETAR) and Ang receptor type-1 (AT1R) activation are implicated in PAH pathogenesis. ⋯ Anti-AT1R and -ETAR Abs are more frequent in SSc-PAH/connective tissue disease-PAH compared with other forms of pulmonary hypertension, and serve as predictive and prognostic biomarkers in SSc-PAH. Both antibodies may contribute to SSc-PAH via increased vascular endothelial reactivity and induction of pulmonary vasculopathy.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2014
Multicenter StudyAssociation Between Occupational Exposure and Lung Function, Respiratory Symptoms and High Resolution CT Imaging in COPDGene.
Although occupational exposure to dust and fumes is considered a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, this determination has been limited by reliance on spirometry alone to assess disease severity in predominantly male populations. ⋯ Occupational exposure to dust and fumes in men and women is similarly associated with airflow obstruction, respiratory symptoms, more emphysema, and gas trapping in men and women.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2014
Randomized Controlled TrialAutologous Transfusion of Stored Red Blood Cells Increases Pulmonary Artery Pressure.
Transfusion of erythrocytes stored for prolonged periods is associated with increased mortality. Erythrocytes undergo hemolysis during storage and after transfusion. Plasma hemoglobin scavenges endogenous nitric oxide leading to systemic and pulmonary vasoconstriction. ⋯ Transfusion of autologous leukoreduced blood stored for 40 days was associated with increased plasma hemoglobin levels and increased pulmonary artery pressure. Breathing nitric oxide prevents the increase of pulmonary artery pressure produced by transfusing stored blood. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01529502).