Respiratory disease is the major cause of mortality and morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF). Life expectancy of people with CF has increased dramatically in the last 40 years. One of the major reasons for this increase is the mounting use of antibiotics to treat chest exacerbations caused by bacterial infections.
The optimal duration of intravenous antibiotic therapy is not clearly defined. Individuals usually receive intravenous antibiotics for 14 days, but treatment may range from 10 to 21 days. A shorter duration of antibiotic treatment risks inadequate clearance of infection which could lead to further lung damage. Prolonged courses of intravenous antibiotics are expensive and inconvenient and the incidence of allergic reactions to antibiotics also incre...
Lung tissue remodeling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves diverse processes characterized by epithelial disruption, smooth muscle hypertrophy/hyperplasia, airway wall fibrosis, and alveolar destruction. According to the accepted current theory of COPD pathogenesis, tissue remodeling in COPD is predominantly a consequence of an imbalance between proteolytic and antiproteolytic activities. However, most of the studies carried out during the last few years have focused on mechanisms related to degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) structural proteins, neglecting those involved in ECM protein deposition.
This review revisits some of the latest findings related to fibrotic changes that occur in the airway wall of COPD patients, as well as the ...