American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Mar 2018
ReviewMechanisms and Targeted Therapies for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a complex gram-negative facultative anaerobe replete with a variety of arsenals to activate, modify, and destroy host defense mechanisms. The microbe is a common cause of nosocomial infections and an antibiotic-resistant priority pathogen. In the lung, P. aeruginosa disrupts upper and lower airway homeostasis by damaging the epithelium and evading innate and adaptive immune responses. ⋯ P. aeruginosa quorum-sensing molecules regulate the release of soluble factors that enhance the spread of infection. These characteristics of P. aeruginosa differentially affect lung epithelial, innate, and adaptive immune cells involved in the production of mediators and the recruitment of additional immune cell subsets. Pathogen interactions with individual host cells and in the context of host acute lung infection are discussed to reveal pathways that may be targeted therapeutically.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Mar 2018
Features and Outcomes of Methamphetamine Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.
Although amphetamines are recognized as "likely" agents to cause drug- and toxin-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), (meth)amphetamine-associated PAH (Meth-APAH) has not been well described. ⋯ Meth-APAH is a severe and progressive form of PAH with poor outcomes. Future studies should focus on mechanisms of disease and potential therapeutic considerations.