American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jul 2014
STudy of Active Duty Military for Pulmonary Disease Related to Environmental Deployment Exposures (STAMPEDE).
Because of increased levels of airborne particulate matter in Southwest Asia, deployed military personnel are at risk for developing acute and chronic lung diseases. Increased respiratory symptoms are reported, but limited data exist on reported lung diseases. ⋯ Evaluation of new respiratory symptoms in military personnel after service in Southwest Asia should focus on airway hyperreactivity from exposures to higher levels of ambient particulate matter. These patients may be difficult to diagnose and require close follow-up.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jul 2014
Dysregulation of Claudin-5 in HIV-induced Interstitial Pneumonitis and Lung Vascular Injury: Protective Role of PPAR-γ
HIV-1-induced interstitial pneumonitis (IP) is a serious complication of HIV-1 infection, characterized by inflammation and cellular infiltration in lungs, often leading to respiratory failure and death. The barrier function of the pulmonary endothelium is caused in part by tight junction (TJ) proteins, such as claudin-5. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ is expressed in lung tissues and regulates inflammation. We hypothesize that HIV-1 induces vascular lung injury, and HIV-1-mediated damage of the pulmonary endothelium and IP is associated with dysregulation of PPAR-γ. ⋯ HIV-induced IP is associated with injury to the lung vascular endothelium, with decreased TJ and PPAR-γ expression, and increased pulmonary macrophage infiltration. PPAR-γ ligands abrogated these effects. Thus, regulation of PPAR-γ can be a therapeutic approach against HIV-1-induced vascular damage and IP in infected humans. Removal of Expression of Concern: Issues leading to the previous expression of concern for this article have been resolved after further revisions and editorial review. No further concerns exist.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jul 2014
Distinct Differences in Gene Expression Patterns in Pulmonary Arteries of COPD and IPF Patients with PH.
The development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased morbidity. ⋯ Despite clinical and histologic vascular remodeling in all patients with PH-COPD and PH-IPF, differential gene expression pattern was present in pulmonary artery profiles. Several genes involved in retinol metabolism and ECM receptor interaction enable discrimination of vascular remodeling in PH-IPF or PH-COPD. This suggests that pulmonary arterial remodeling in PH-COPD and PH-IPF is caused by different molecular mechanisms and may require specific therapeutic options.
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Research in pulmonary transplantation is actively evolving in quality and scope to meet the challenges of a growing population of lung allograft recipients. In 2013, research groups leveraged large publicly available datasets in addition to multicenter research networks and single-center studies to make significant contributions to our knowledge and clinical care in the areas of donor use, clinical transplant outcomes, mechanisms of rejection, infectious complications, and chronic allograft dysfunction.
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The Journal has been in the vanguard of publications of the respiratory microbiome, including a National Institutes of Health Workshop report, establishing the normal microbiome in patients with various risks, and in the correlation of microbiome changes with disease exacerbations and lung transplant. A new classification scheme for healthcare-associated pneumonia, risks for nosocomial Pseudomonas pneumonia, and associations between community-acquired pneumonia and risks or outcomes have been reported. The increasingly recognized role of viral respiratory tract infections was reflected in publications regarding incidence rates, risk factors, and associations with other respiratory diseases. ⋯ A much greater understanding of the importance of pathways that directly impact the pathogen at the site of infection and subsequent pathogen clearance has emerged. The Journal published important contributions across the spectrum of ineffective therapy (activated protein C), novel therapeutic ideas (statins and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), and solidly beneficial approaches (early protocolized care). Biomarker development is maturing to include a wide array of molecular measurements increasingly aimed at aiding improved therapy.