American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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The pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases is often complex and characterized by multiple cellular events, including inflammation, cell death, and cell proliferation. The mechanisms by which these events are regulated in pulmonary diseases remain poorly understood. Autophagy is an essential process for cellular homeostasis and stress adaptation in eukaryotic cells. ⋯ Emerging studies have identified that autophagy plays important roles in the pathogenesis of various lung diseases. In addition, autophagy has been shown to selectively degrade subcellular targets, including proteins, organelles, and pathogens. Here, we highlight the recent advances in the molecular regulation and function of autophagy in lung diseases.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Nov 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyContinuous Positive Airway Pressure Improves Quality of Life in Women with OSA. A Randomized-controlled Trial.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the treatment of choice in patients with symptomatic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). CPAP treatment improves quality of life (QoL) in men with OSA, but its role in women has not yet been assessed. ⋯ In women with moderate or severe OSA, 3 months of CPAP therapy improved QoL, mood state, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and daytime sleepiness compared with conservative treatment. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02047071).
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Nov 2016
Multicenter StudyUltrafine and Fine Particles and Hospital Admissions in Central Europe, Results from the UFIREG Study.
Evidence of short-term effects of ultrafine particles (UFP) on health is still inconsistent and few multicenter studies have been conducted so far especially in Europe. ⋯ Our findings indicated delayed and prolonged effects of UFP exposure on respiratory hospital admissions in Central and Eastern Europe. Cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions increased in association with an increase in PM2.5. Further multicenter studies are needed using harmonized UFP measurements to draw definite conclusions on health effects of UFP.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Nov 2016
Plasma Surfactant Protein-D, Matrix Metalloproteinase-7, and Osteopontin Index Distinguishes Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis From Other Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. We hypothesized that ECM remodeling might result in a plasma profile of proteins specific for IPF that could distinguish patients with IPF from other idiopathic ILDs. ⋯ A biomarker index of SP-D, MMP-7, and osteopontin enhanced diagnostic accuracy in patients with IPF compared with those with non-IPF ILD. Our data suggest that this biomarker index may improve diagnostic confidence in IPF.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Nov 2016
Role for RUNX2 in Proliferative and Calcified Vascular Lesions in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). This is sustained in time by the down-regulation of microRNA (miR)-204. In systemic vascular diseases, reduced miR-204 expression promotes vascular biomineralization by augmenting the expression of the transcription factor Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). Implication of RUNX2 in PAH-related vascular remodeling and presence of calcified lesions in PAH remain unexplored. ⋯ RUNX2 plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PAH, contributing to the development of proliferative and calcified PA lesions. Inhibition of RUNX2 may therefore represent an attractive therapeutic strategy for PAH.