Does acute exposure to aldehydes impair pulmonary function and structure?

Mixtures of anhydrous ethyl alcohol and gasoline substituted for pure gasoline as a fuel in many Brazilian vehicles. Consequently, the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as ketones, other organic compounds, and particularly aldehydes increased in many Brazilian cities. The current study aims to investigate whether formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, or mixtures of both impair lung function, morphology, inflammatory and redox responses at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Volume-independent elastance: a useful parameter for open-lung positive end-expiratory pressure adjustment.

Background: A decremental positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) trial after full lung recruitment allows for the adjustment of the lowest PEEP that prevents end-expiratory collapse (open-lung PEEP). For a tidal volume (Vt) approaching zero, the PEEP of minimum respiratory system elastance (PEEP(minErs)) is theoretically equal to the pressure at the mathematical inflection point (MIP) of the pressure-volume curve, and seems to correspond to the open-lung PEEP in a decremental PEEP trial. Nevertheless, the PEEP(minErs) is dependent on Vt and decreases as Vt increases.