Related Articles

Viral infection of the lung: Host response and sequelae.

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Jul 31;

Authors: Yoo JK, Kim TS, Hufford MM, Braciale TJ

Abstract
Because of its essential role in gas exchange and oxygen delivery, the lung has evolved a variety of strategies to control inflammation and maintain homeostasis. Invasion of the lung by pathogens (and in some instances exposure to certain noninfectious particulates) disrupts this equilibrium and triggers a cascade of events aimed at preventing or limiting colonization (and more importantly infection) by pathogenic microorganisms. In this review we focus on viral infection of the lung and summarize recent advances in our understanding of the triggering of innate and adaptive immune responses to viral respiratory tract infection, mechanisms of viral clearance, and the well-recognized consequences of acute viral infection complicating underlying lung diseases, such as asthma.

PMID: 23915713 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles

Anaphylaxis: Clinical patterns, mediator release, and severity.

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Jul 31;

Authors: Brown SG, Stone SF, Fatovich DM, Burrows SA, Holdgate A, Celenza A, Coulson A, Hartnett L, Nagree Y, Cotterell C, Isbister GK

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prospective human studies of anaphylaxis and its mechanisms have been limited, with few severe cases or examining only 1 or 2 mediators.
OBJECTIVES: We wanted to define the clinical patterns of anaphylaxis and relationships between mediators and severity.
METHODS: Data were collected during treatment and before discharge. Serial blood samples were taken for assays of mast cell tryptase, histamine, anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a, C5a), cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I, and platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase. Principal component analysis defined mediator patterns, and logistic regression identified risk factors and mediator patterns associated with reaction severity and delayed reactions.
RESULTS: Of 412 reactions in 402 people, 315 met the definition for anaphylaxis by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Of 97 severe reactions 45 (46%) were hypotensive, 23 (24%) were hypoxemic, and 29 (30%) were mixed. One patient died. Severe reactions were associated with older age, pre-existing lung disease, and drug causation. Delayed deteriorations treated with epinephrine occurred in 29 of 315 anaphylaxis cases (9.2%) and were more common after hypotensive reactions and with pre-existing lung disease. Twenty-two of the 29 delayed deteriorations (76%) occurred within 4 hours of initial epinephrine treatment. Of the remaining 7 cases, 2 were severe and occurred after initially severe reactions, within 10 hours. All mediators were associated with severity, and 1 group (mast cell tryptase, histamine, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor receptor I) was also associated with delayed deteriorations. Low platelet activating factor acetyl hydrolase activity was associated with severe reactions.
CONCLUSION: The results suggest that multiple inflammatory pathways drive reaction severity and support recommendations for safe observation periods after initial treatment.

PMID: 23915715 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Local and systemic neutrophilic inflammation in patients with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BMC Immunol. 2013 Aug 6;14(1):36

Authors: Vaguliene N, Zemaitis M, Lavinskiene S, Miliauskas S, Sakalauskas R

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent investigations suggest that neutrophils play an important role in the immune response to lung cancer as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the amount of neutrophils and markers of their activity in lung cancer and COPD and in coexistence of these two diseases.
METHODS: In total, 267 persons were included in the study: 139 patients with lung cancer, 55 patients with lung cancer and COPD, 40 patients with COPD, and 33 healthy subjects. Peripheral blood and BAL fluid samples were obtained for cell count analysis and determination of NE, MPO levels and ROS production. NE and MPO levels in the serum and BAL fluid were determined by ELISA. ROS production was analyzed by flow cytometer.
RESULTS: The percentage, cell count of neutrophils and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in the peripheral blood were significantly higher in lung cancer patients with or without COPD compared to COPD patients or healthy individuals (P < 0.05). The percentage and cell count of neutrophils in BAL fluid were significantly lower in patients with lung cancer with or without COPD than in patients with COPD (P < 0.05). However, BAL fluid and serum levels of both NE and MPO were significantly higher in patients with lung cancer than COPD patients or healthy individuals (P < 0.05). Neutrophils produced higher amounts of ROS in patients with lung cancer with or without COPD compared with COPD patients or healthy individuals (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study demonstrate higher degree of local and systemic neutrophilic inflammation in patients with lung cancer (with or without COPD) than in patients with COPD.

PMID: 23919722 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Role of gender in the survival of surgical patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Ann Thorac Med. 2013 Jul;8(3):142-7

Authors: Scaglia NC, Chatkin JM, Pinto JA, Tsukazan MT, Wagner MB, Saldanha AF

Abstract
PURPOSE: There are reports of greater survival rates in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients of female gender. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of gender in survival of NSCLC patients treated surgically with curative intent (stage I/II).
METHODS: In a retrospective cohort design, we screened 498 NSCLC patients submitted to thoracotomies at the hospital Sγo Lucas, in Porto Alegre, Brazil from 1990 to 2009. After exclusion of patients that did not fit to all the inclusion criteria, we analyzed survival rates of 385 subjects. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Cox regression model was used to evaluate potential confounding factors.
RESULTS: Survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 65.3% and 49.5% for women and 46.5% and 33.2% for men, respectively (P = 0.006). Considering only stage I patients, the survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 76.2% and 55.1% for women and 50.7% and 35.4% for men, respectively (P = 0.011). No significant differences in survival rates were found among stage II patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results show female gender as a possible protective factor for better survival of stage I NSCLC patients, but not among stage II patients. This study adds data to the knowledge that combined both genders survival rates for NSCLC is not an adequate prognosis.

PMID: 23922608 [PubMed]