The hydrophobicity of gram-negative bacteria isolated from patients with inflammatory and suppurative-destructive lung diseases]

Hydrophobic properties of 11 enterobacterial strains and 12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patient with inflammatory and purulent destructive diseases of the lungs were studied. The hydrophobic properties of the isolated bacteria were determined by the method of salting out with ammonium sulfate. A high correlation (r = 0.56) between the above-mentioned properties of gram-negative bacteria and their isolation rate from patients with destructive diseases was established. The hydrophobic properties of bacteria were supposed to be of importance in the process of the colonization of pulmonary tissues with bacterial flora.     

The hemagglutinating properties of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients with nonspecific lung diseases]

To detect d-mannose-sensitive (MS) pili in 31 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from the respiratory tract of patients with inflammatory and purulent destructive pulmonary diseases, the hemagglutination (HA) test was used. The isolated Pseudomonas under study differed in the degree of manifestation of their MS adhesins. Among them microorganisms with pronounced HA activity (high HA titer) occurred, as well as those whose HA activity was less pronounced (low HA titer). P. aeruginosa strains with pronounced HA activity were more frequently isolated from patients with purulent destructive processes in the lungs. A correlation between the state of the patient at the moment of bacteriological examination and the degree of manifestation of MS pili in the P. aeruginosa strain isolated from this patients was established. The value of HA titer in the presence of d-mannose is indicative of the presence of MS adhesins in a P. aeruginosa strain.     

Radioautographic study of DNA synthesis in bronchoalveolar lavage macrophages during chronic inflammatory processes in the lungs

The cells obtained by broncho-alveolar lavage from patients with chronic pulmonary inflammations were investigated using light and electron microscopy and radioautography. Proliferative activity of lavage alveolar macrophages was studied by 3H-thymidine in vitro incorporation. The labelling index of alveolar macrophages was up to 0.2% in chronic bronchitis and 1.25-3.33% in chronic destructive inflammation. The enhancement of human alveolar macrophage proliferation in chronic pulmonary destructive inflammation is of great importance for the maintenance of the number of mononuclear phagocytes responsible for cellular protection of respiratory lung structures.     

Human bronchoalveolar lavage: biofluid analysis with special emphasis on sample preparation

Respiratory diseases are an important health problem throughout the world. Whether caused by industrial pollutants, infections, smoking, cancer or metabolic diseases, damage to the lungs and airways often lead to morbidity or death. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) obtained by fiber-optic bronchoscopy is a biofluid mirroring the expression of normally secreted pulmonary proteins and the products of activated cells and destructive processes. The characterization of the proteome within this compartment provides an opportunity to establish temporal and prognostic indicators of airway disease. The objective of this study was to develop methods of analysis of BAL samples, which achieved the highest level of annotation of the expression map of this proteome. We have optimized the process of sample preparation after investigating a variety of techniques including dialysis, ultramembrane filtration, precipitation and gel filtration. We have further studied methods to remove albumin from BAL in order to unmask proteins hidden on two-dimensional gels. In a pilot application of the method, BAL protein profiles obtained from healthy nonsmokers and smokers at risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed distinct differences.     

Antielastin autoimmunity in tobacco smoking-induced emphysema

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema are common destructive inflammatory diseases that are leading causes of death worldwide. Here we show that emphysema is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of antielastin antibody and T-helper type 1 (T(H)1) responses, which correlate with emphysema severity. These findings link emphysema to adaptive immunity against a specific lung antigen and suggest the potential for autoimmune pathology of other elastin-rich tissues such as the arteries and skin of smokers.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并糖尿病患者肺部真菌感染病原学及易感因素分析

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)合并糖尿病患者肺部真菌感染的病原学及易感因素。方法对58例COPD合并糖尿病肺部真菌感染患者进行病原学及预后分析,并与无糖尿病的COPD真菌感染患者76例进行比较。结果 2组患者病原菌均以白色念珠菌占首位,研究组真菌发病率高于对照组,预后较对照组更差。抗生素、年龄、糖皮质激素和营养状态等因素对2组患者真菌感染的影响差异无统计学意义。结论白色念珠菌仍是COPD患者肺部真菌感染的主要致病菌。糖尿病增加COPD患者感染真菌的风险,并且加重病情,影响预后。     

Functional activity of phagocyte blood cells in pulmonary tuberculosis

The characteristics of the functional activity of phagocyte blood cells in patients with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis caused by medicinal sensitive and medicinal resistant infective agents were studied. In the process of pulmonary tuberculosis, irrespective of the medicinal sensitivity of infective agents before and during treatment, a decrease in the phagocytic activity of neutrophil granulocytes and the level of the expression of Fcgamma- and C3b-receptors on monocytes with a simultaneous increase in the spontaneous production of oxygen metabolites in neutophils and a rise in the adsorptive capacity of monocytic cells were observed.     

The antihypoxant and antioxidant effects of medicinal plants as the basis for their use in destructive diseases of the brain

The antihypoxant and antioxidant features were found to be widely present in 20–63 and 75%, respectively, of galenic forms of medicinal plants. Since these features are markedly expressed and combined, phytopreparations may be recommended for the treatment of destructive diseases of the brain. The antioxidant effect was found in cases of successful phytotherapy of patients with discirculatory encephalopathy.     

Mesenchymal stem cells protect cigarette smoke‐damaged lung and pulmonary function partly via VEGF–VEGF receptors

Progressive pulmonary inflammation and emphysema have been implicated in the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while current pharmacological treatments are not effective. Transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been identified as one such possible strategy for treatment of lung diseases including acute lung injury (ALI) and pulmonary fibrosis. However, their role in COPD still requires further investigation. The aim of this study is to test the effect of administration of rat MSCs (rMSCs) on emphysema and pulmonary function. To accomplish this study, the rats were exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) for 11 weeks, followed by administration of rMSCs into the lungs. Here we show that rMSCs infusion mediates a down‐regulation of pro‐inflammatory mediators (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, MCP‐1, and IL‐6) and proteases (MMP9 and MMP12) in lung, an up‐regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2, and transforming growth factor (TGFβ‐1), while reducing pulmonary cell apoptosis. More importantly, rMSCs administration improves emphysema and destructive pulmonary function induced by CS exposure. In vitro co‐culture system study of human umbilical endothelial vein cells (EA.hy926) and human MSCs (hMSCs) provides the evidence that hMSCs mediates an anti‐apoptosis effect, which partly depends on an up‐regulation of VEGF. These findings suggest that MSCs have a therapeutic potential in emphysematous rats by suppressing the inflammatory response, excessive protease expression, and cell apoptosis, as well as up‐regulating VEGF, VEGF receptor 2, and TGFβ‐1. J. Cell. Biochem. 114: 323–335, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Pathology of the human pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis

Lungs of twelve patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis (Pb) were studied in an attempt to understand the pathogenesis of the pulmonary disease. Ribbons of the lung parenchyma including the hilar region and directed towards apical, basal and lateral regions were subdivided into sections from the hilar, intermediate and peripheral segments. The following histopathological reactions directly or indirectly related to P. brasiliensis were described and analysed in relation to the number of slides studied and the pulmonary region involved: (1) pneumonic reaction; (2) early granulomatous formation; (3) mature and healed granulomata; (4) mixed pattern (early and mature granuloma in the same pulmonary area visualized in the slide); (5) pulmonary fibrosis.It was concluded that chronic pulmonary Pb is a recurrent disease affecting equally both lungs. Fibrosis was connected mainly with the progressive evolution of the granulomata towards cicatrization and to a lesser degree probably to a direct induction by the fungi. Based chiefly on the tendency of the fibrosis to run around bronchi and to make up septa interconnecting bronchi and vessels it was hipothesized that these findings were the result of a previous chronic specific lymphangitis by the fungi. Hilar fibrosis would be the result of this lymphangitis and/or of the progression of the specific granulomatous reaction seen in the hilar lymph nodes.Non specific forms of arteritis and areas of destructive emphysema related to granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis were described. Three cases developed pulmonary hypertension.     

Etiology of acute suppurative destructive pneumonias in children]

Clinical, immunological and bacteriological studies were carried out in 63 children with the so-called staphylococcus destruction of the lungs. It was shown that in some of the cases destructive process in the lungs, along with the pathogenic staphylococcus, could be caused by the Gram negative bacteria (Proteus, Bac. pyocyaneus, etc.). It was found that in children of different age groups the titre of antistaphylococcus antibodies up to 0.5 AU/ml was normal and pointed to the absence of any inflammatory disease of staphylococcus etiology; a titre of 2 AU/ml - and overcould be considered as diagnostic. In connection with bacterial poly-etiology of acute destruction of the lungs in children it is suggested that it should be designated as "acute purulent destructive pneumonia". The importance of immuno-bacteriological studies in children with diseases with the mentioned pathology is emphasized; these examinations permit to choose proper complex therapy.     

Comprehensive radionuclide lung imaging in preventive mass screening of industrial workers]

The results of a combined roentgenoradionuclide investigation of the lungs were studied in 45 persons at risk of developing chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases, diagnosed in a mass screening of 3000 workers at an industrial enterprise. The results of fluorographic, roentgenoscopic and roentgenographic investigations of the lungs, roentgenopneumopolygraphy and radionuclide investigation of lung perfusion (pulmoscintigraphy with 99mTc-labeled albumin macroaggregates) were compared. During this combined investigation the signs of nonspecific pulmonary diseases were diagnosed in 40% of the patients, changes of the pulmonary blood flow--in 71%, changes of ventilation--in all the examinees. A conclusion was made of the necessity of additional combined investigation of patients belonging to risk groups, identified during mass screenings.     

Diabetic pulmonary microangiopathy - fact or fiction?

Elevated levels of serum glucose have deleterious effects on the walls of blood vessels, leading to microangiopathy. Such a destructive process involves also pulmonary circulation, where it is referred to as diabetic pulmonary microangiopathy. This hypothesis has been confirmed in histopathologic examinations of pulmonary parenchyma, as well as in pulmonary function tests. However, so far there have been no clinical implications of these findings. Another phenomenon requiring further discussion involves diabetics with clinically silent respiratory dysfunction. That may result from significant vascular and ventilation reserves that compensate for partial loss of pulmonary parenchyma in the course of diabetes. In this review, we present an overview of the available publications on pulmonary microangiopathy and its influence on the functioning of the respiratory system.     

Comparative analysis of CEA and SCC serum markers with IAP in human lung cancer

Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) were measured in 37 patients with lung cancers, in 24 with non-cancer pulmonary diseases and in 24 normal controls We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of these three markers alone and combined. The highest specificity was observed for SCC (83.3%) and the highest sensitivity for IAP (94.6%). The best accuracy was obtained with the combined determination of CEA and SCC. In cancer and non-cancer pulmonary diseases the best correlation was observed between CEA and SCC (r = 0.30 in cancer and r = 0.45 in non-cancer pulmonary diseases). Although the IAP test is not specific in the detection of lung cancer, its use may be helpful in monitoring the acute phase reactions that occur very frequently in this malignancy.     

非粒细胞减少患者肺曲霉病22例回顾性分析

目的提高对非粒细胞减少患者肺曲霉病的认识及诊疗水平。方法回顾性分析22例非粒细胞减少患者肺曲霉病的临床、影像学及实验室资料,随诊其转归。结果22例肺曲霉病（PA）患者,男性12例,女性10例,平均年龄（56．3±21．4）岁。确诊、临床诊断各8例,拟诊6例。侵袭性肺曲霉病（IPA）11例,单纯性曲霉球6例,慢性坏死性肺曲霉病（CNPA）5例。常见基础疾病为继发型肺结核（8／22）、糖尿病或类固醇性糖尿病（6／22）、高血压病（5／22）、慢性阻塞性肺疾病（5／22）,4例系原发社区感染。常见临床症状咳嗽咳痰（18／22）、咯血（11／22）、气促（7／22）。影像学表现为肺部渗出或实变病灶9例、空洞改变及典型曲霉球12例,结节或肿块1例。首选药物治疗依次为伏立康唑（10／22）、卡泊芬净（4／22）、伊曲康唑（3／22）。结论非粒细胞减少伴IPA好发于糖尿病、慢性阻塞性肺疾病,亦可发生在免疫功能正常患者。单纯曲霉球多继发或并发于肺结核。应注意鉴别CNPA与单纯曲霉球。IPA临床表现缺乏特征性。影像改变未见典型晕征及空气半月征,肺外播散少见,药物治疗首选伏立康唑。     

黄瓜霜霉病抗性相关基因的AFLP标记

运用AFLP技术,采用集群分析法研究与黄瓜霜霉病抗性基因相关的分子标记.结果表明,在F2群体中E25M63-103标记与霜霉病病情指数的相关系数(0.337)和回归分析的F值(20.98)都达到了极显著水平.用E25M63-103标记对国内外的其它27份黄瓜材料进行检测,该标记与霜霉病病情指数的相关系数为0.555,也达到极显著相关水平,进一步证明该标记与控制黄瓜霜霉病感病的相关基因是连锁的.E25M63-103片段长度为103 bp,通过BLAST查询,该片段的同源性较小,表明E25M63-103标记可能是黄瓜基因组特有的一段DNA序列.     

Requirement of IL-17 receptor signaling in radiation-resistant cells in the joint for full progression of destructive synovitis

IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine suspected to be involved in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, we report that IL-17R signaling is required in radiation-resistant cells in the joint for full progression of chronic synovitis and bone erosion. Repeated injections of Gram-positive bacterial cell wall fragments (streptococcal cell wall) directly into the knee joint of naive IL-17R-deficient (IL-17R-/-) mice had no effect on the acute phase of arthritis but prevented progression to chronic destructive synovitis as was noted in wild-type (wt) mice. Microarray analysis revealed significant down-regulation of leukocyte-specific chemokines, selectins, cytokines, and collagenase-3 in the synovium of IL-17R-/- mice. Bone marrow (BM) chimeric mice revealed the need for IL-17R expression on radiation-resistant joint cells for destructive inflammation. Chimeric mice of host wt and donor IL-17R-/- BM cells developed destructive synovitis in this chronic reactivated streptococcal cell wall arthritis model similar to wt-->wt chimeras. In contrast, chimeric mice of host IL-17R-/- and donor wt BM cells were protected from chronic destructive arthritis similar as IL-17R-/- -->IL-17R-/- chimeras. These data strongly indicate that IL-17R signaling in radiation-resistant cells in the joint is required for turning an acute macrophage-mediated inflammation into a chronic destructive synovitis.     

Increased levels of free circulating DNA in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is difficult to diagnose because of numerous interstitial lung diseases with similar symptoms. As serum DNA has proven useful for early lung cancer detection, we aimed to define the relevance of this marker in discriminating IPF from other fibrotic and nonfibrotic/nonmalignant lung diseases. DNA was quantified in 191 subjects: 64 healthy individuals, 58 patients with IPF, 17 patients with nonspecific pulmonary fibrosis (13 idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, 4 chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis), and 52 patients with other diffuse/nonmalignant lung diseases. The median value of free DNA in IPF patients was 61.1 ng/mL (range 7.1-405), which was significantly higher than that of healthy donors (median 6.8, range 2.2-184) (p<0.001) and that of patients with other diffuse/nonmalignant lung diseases (median 28.0, range 4.2-281) (p=0.004). The area under the ROC curve was 0.926 (95% CI 0.879-0.973) when IPF patients were compared with healthy donors, and 0.702 (95% CI 0.609-0.796) when a comparison was made with non-IPF pulmonary diseases. In conclusion, we observed significantly higher levels of free circulating DNA in patients with IPF than in those with other fibrotic or diffuse/nonmalignant lung diseases.     

106例肺部真菌感染的临床分析

目的研究肺部真菌感染的易患因素、临床特征、治疗结果和预后。方法应用回顾性的调查方法对106例肺部真菌感染患者进行分析。结果92.5%(98/106)的病例患有慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)、系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)、白血病和慢性肾病等基础疾病,原发性肺部真菌感染少见。肺部真菌感染的临床表现无明显特异性,早期诊断仍比较困难,X线表现以支气管肺炎多见(占59.4%)。病原菌主要以酵母菌属为主(79.2%)。肺部真菌感染的预后较差,病死率较高,基础病为慢性肾病、COPD和血液系统疾病者死亡风险较大。结论肺部真菌感染是多种疾病继发感染的重要原因,其临床表现特异性少,病死率高,发病呈上升趋势,应引起临床高度重视。