Secretion of a chemotactic factor for neutrophils and eosinophils by alveolar macrophages from asthmatic patients

The studies presented in this article demonstrate the release of an IgE-dependent chemotactic factor for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and eosinophils by alveolar macrophages (AMs) from normal subjects (n = 15) and allergic asthmatic patients (n = 15). A 60-minute incubation of normal AMs previously sensitized by 20% nonheated allergic sera with anti-human IgE antibody or the related allergen induced the release of a chemotactic activity (CA) for PMN and eosinophils in culture supernatants. When AMs were obtained from asthmatic patients, direct incubation with anti-IgE or the related allergen induced the same CA, whereas incubation with an unrelated allergen failed to produce CA (neutrophil CA after addition of anti-IgE, 22.5 +/- 3.5 cells per high power field; with related allergen, 15.8 +/- 3.6; with unrelated allergen, 0.7 +/- 1.8; p less than 0.0001). A partial characterization of the neutrophil chemotactic factor was carried out. Enzymatic treatment by trypsin or carboxypeptidase or by heating (56 degrees C for 3 hr) failed to abolish the neutrophil CA. After gel filtration the greater part of the neutrophil CA (80%) was recovered among low-molecular-weight components (300 to 1300 daltons). A preliminary deactivation of PMN by leukotriene B4 suppressed the CA of AM supernatants. These results indicate that IgE-dependent stimulation of AMs produces a neutrophil and eosinophil CA, present in a low-molecular-weight fraction possibly related to leukotrienes, and emphasizes the role of AMs in inflammatory lung processes during allergic asthma.     

阿拓莫兰治疗特发性肺纤维化5例临床分析

目的:探讨阿拓莫兰治疗特发性肺纤维化5例的临床疗效。方法:选择5例病人,经临床特征、肺CT、肺功能检查明确诊断为特发性肺纤维化,经过临床抗炎、止喘、化痰、激素以及加用阿拓莫兰辅助治疗。结果:5例病人临床症状明显好转,呼吸困难缓解,肺CT影像明显吸收,肺功能示通气及换气功能明显改善,提高了病人的生活质量,延长了病人的生命。结论:阿拓莫兰作为抗氧化剂,具有抗纤维化的辅助性治疗作用,在治疗特发性肺间质纤维化上又提供了一条新的治疗途径。     

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: an Australian perspective

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive interstitial lung disease of unknown aetiology with a dismal median survival of 3 years. Patients typically develop progressive dyspnoea and increasing exercise limitation. With a rising incidence and prevalence, an unpredictable disease course and limited treatment options, it is rapidly becoming an important public health concern. To date, lung transplantation has been the sole viable hope for treatment for those who qualify. However, the landscape of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis management is changing, with the recent emergence of novel pharmacotherapy shown to have a favourable influence on the natural history of this disease.     

Clinical significance of changes in Torque teno virus DNA titer after chemotherapy in patients with primary lung cancer

Background

Several studies have reported that viral infections are related to lung cancer. We previously reported the involvement of Torque teno virus (TTV) in patients with lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the role of TTV in lung cancer growth, and its influence on changes in TTV DNA titers due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in lung cancer patients are poorly understood.

临床药师参与1例特发性肺纤维化治疗的药学实践

目的：评价药师参与特发性肺纤维化治疗的药学实践及对治疗效果的改善情况。方法：药师与医师密切配合,参考《热病》和相关文献及指南,根据患者病情变化和治疗效果及时调整药物治疗方案,密切观察疗效。结果：患者病情较前好转。结论：临床药师参与药物治疗全过程,将药学理论与临床实践有机结合,减少不良反应,促进合理用药。     

“胃不和”与特发性肺纤维化的相关性

“胃不和”与特发性肺纤维化(IPF)的发病有密切相关性,肺胃二脏生理功能方面表现为经络相通,五行相生,气机相合;肺以宣肃为顺,胃以通降为和,此乃肺胃相和之理.胃之气机不和,胃气失于通降或胃之气 阴不足,均可病及于肺,胃不和而致胃之气阴耗伤,胃津不能上输养肺,土不生金,可致肺燥津枯,肺失濡养,肺燥阴竭,日见枯萎.“胃不和”是IPF发病原因的重要部分.阴虚者宜补胃津以润燥,使胃津能上输以养肺;气虚者宜补脾胃之气以温养肺体,使精气上承;胃气上逆者,治宜理气和胃降逆.胃气和顺,则气血充足,肺得濡养.和胃之法有利于改善IPF患者症状,促进患者恢复.从胃论治特发性肺纤维化是对其多脏腑辨证论治的有效补充,为临床诊疗提供理论基础.     

特发性肺纤维化患者支气管肺泡灌洗液中白细胞介素13的水平及意义

目的　探讨特发性肺纤维化 (IPF)患者支气管肺泡灌洗液 (BALF)和外周血中白细胞介素 13 (IL 13 )水平的变化及其意义。方法　选择 17例IPF患者 (IPF组 )和 8名无器质性肺疾病者 (对照组 )。采用IL 13特异的酶联免疫吸附法测定 (ELISA)法检测 2组BALF和外周血中IL 13的水平 ,分析患者IL 13水平与其肺功能、血气之间的关系。结果　IPF组BALF和外周血中IL 13水平分别为(3 0 1± 86)ng/L、(178± 3 6)ng/L ;对照组分别为 (10 3± 2 4)ng/L、(55± 15)ng/L ,两者比较差异均有显著性 (P <0 0 1)。IPF组BALF中IL 13水平与BALF中性粒细胞数呈正相关 (r =0 786,P <0 0 1) ,与用力肺活量、一秒钟用力呼气容积、肺一氧化碳弥散量及动脉血氧分压均呈一定的等级负相关 (r分别为 -0 898、-0 878、-0 874、-0 890 ,P均 <0 0 1)。结论　IL 13可能在IPF的发病过程中起一定作用 ,并有可能作为判断病变进展情况的一项指标     

Diagnosis and prognostic value of restrictive ventilatory disorders in the elderly: a systematic review of the literature

Although less extensively studied compared to pulmonary obstructive diseases, restrictive lung disease (RLD) is highly prevalent and frequently disabling in the adult and, more, the elderly population. The underlying conditions may be either primarily pulmonary diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or non respiratory conditions secondarily affecting the lung, e. g. congestive heart failure, or else conditions affecting the lung expansion, e. g. obesity or rib cage deformity. The diagnosis is frequently based on the measurement of surrogate indexes such as the forced vital capacity (FVC) used as a proxy for total lung capacity (TLC). As a consequence, diagnosis of RLD is often characterized by poor specificity. In the elderly, worsening in the quality of life and poor prognosis are variably, but significantly, associated to RLD, being the underlying condition an important source of variability. Several causes of RLD are preventable and treatable conditions. A prompt identification of these conditions may allow to slow the decline of respiratory reserve and, thus, to preserve both personal independence and resistance to acute respiratory infections. This review gives an update on the latest evidence available on the prevalence and the prognosis of RLD in the elderly. Studies were identified through systematic searches of the electronic database MEDLINE. Reference list of eligible papers were also manually searched.