American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2014
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialDiagnostic Accuracy of Intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis Detection for Tuberculous Meningitis.
Early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculous meningitis saves lives, but current laboratory diagnostic tests lack sensitivity. ⋯ Enhanced bacterial detection by simple modification of the Ziehl-Neelsen stain and an ESAT-6 intracellular stain improve the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2014
Clarification of the Risk of COPD in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency PiMZ Heterozygotes.
Severe α1-antitrypsin deficiency (typically PiZZ homozygosity) is associated with a significantly increased risk of airflow obstruction and emphysema but the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in PiMZ heterozygotes remains uncertain. ⋯ These results indicate that PiMZ heterozygotes have significantly more airflow obstruction and COPD than PiMM individuals and cigarette smoke exposure exerts a significant modifier effect.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2014
Persistent Effects of Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy on Lung Function and Asthma in Adolescents.
The extent to which maternal smoking in pregnancy (MSP) has persisting effects on respiratory health remains uncertain and the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Alterations in immune function have been proposed as a mechanism contributing to respiratory disease. ⋯ MSP increases risk of asthma and wheezing in adolescence; mechanisms go beyond reducing lung function and exclude altering immune function or enhancing atopy.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Feb 2014
Deficiency of MDA5 Results in Exacerbated Chronic Post-Viral Lung Inflammation.
Respiratory viral infections can result in the establishment of chronic lung diseases. Understanding the early innate immune mechanisms that participate in the development of chronic postviral lung disease may reveal new targets for therapeutic intervention. The intracellular viral sensor protein melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) sustains the acute immune response to Sendai virus, a mouse pathogen that causes chronic lung inflammation, but its role in the development of postviral chronic lung disease is unknown. ⋯ MDA5 modulates the development of chronic lung inflammation by regulating the early inflammatory response in the lung.