American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jul 2015
The Relationship of Mucus Concentration (Hydration) to Mucus Osmotic Pressure and Transport in Chronic Bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis (CB) is characterized by persistent cough and sputum production. Studies were performed to test whether mucus hyperconcentration and increased partial osmotic pressure, in part caused by abnormal purine nucleotide regulation of ion transport, contribute to the pathogenesis of CB. ⋯ Abnormal regulation of airway surface hydration may slow MCC in CB and contribute to disease pathogenesis.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jul 2015
ReviewUnderstanding the Short and Long-term Respiratory Outcomes of Prematurity and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic respiratory disease associated with premature birth that primarily affects infants born at less than 28 weeks' gestational age. BPD is the most common serious complication experienced by premature infants, with more than 8,000 newly diagnosed infants annually in the United States alone. ⋯ We undertook a comprehensive review of the published literature to analyze and consolidate current knowledge of the effects of BPD that are recognized at specific stages of life, including infancy, childhood, and adulthood. In this review, we discuss both the short-term and long-term respiratory outcomes of individuals diagnosed as infants with the disease and highlight the gaps in knowledge needed to improve early and lifelong management of these patients.