American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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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).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2014
ReviewCaring for Critically Ill Patients with Ebola Virus Disease: Perspectives from West Africa.
The largest ever Ebola virus disease outbreak is ravaging West Africa. The constellation of little public health infrastructure, low levels of health literacy, limited acute care and infection prevention and control resources, densely populated areas, and a highly transmissible and lethal viral infection have led to thousands of confirmed, probable, or suspected cases thus far. ⋯ With more personnel, basic monitoring, and supportive treatment, many of the sickest patients with Ebola virus disease do not need to die. Ebola virus disease represents an illness ready for a paradigm shift in care delivery and outcomes, and the profession of critical care medicine can and should be instrumental in helping this happen.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2014
Matrix Metalloproteinase-19 Promotes Metastatic Behavior In Vitro and is Associated with Increased Mortality in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States and worldwide. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the development and progression of lung cancer, but their role in the molecular pathogenesis of lung cancer remains unclear. We have found that MMP19, a relatively novel member of the MMP family, is overexpressed in lung tumors when compared with control subjects. ⋯ Taken together, these findings suggest that MMP19 is associated with the development and progression of NSCLC and may be a potential biomarker of disease severity and outcome.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Oct 2014
Epidemiological Survey of Japanese Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Investigation of Ethnic Differences.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has an unknown etiology and poor prognosis. Several large-scale epidemiologic studies have been conducted predominantly in Western countries. There are few studies reported from Asian countries. It remains unclear whether ethnic difference exists in IPF. It is important to determine the current IPF status in Asian populations and compare it with that of Western populations. ⋯ The status of IPF in the Japanese population was clarified for the first time through our study. Our results showed that in men, the incidence of death caused by acute exacerbation was higher and that caused by cardiovascular disease was lower in Japan than in Western countries. These results may suggest ethnic differences in IPF.