Tracheostomy and related host-pathogen interaction are associated with airway inflammation as characterized by tracheal aspirate analysis.

In the last years an increasing number of subjects experienced respiratory failure and underwent tracheostomy. The aim of the present study was to analyze tracheal aspirates from the inflammatory point of view. Samples were collected from 38 consecutive tracheostomized patients: 13 COPD, 6 with neurologic disorders and 19 with other different causes of respiratory failure.

Role of the chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 in human pulmonary fibrosis.

Rationale: The chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR4 have recently been described as playing a pivotal role in the mouse model of bleomycin-induced fibrosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the role of these receptors in human idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Methods: We studied 57 patients: 18 with IPF, 17 with non-IPF (nIPF), 12 with sarcoidosis, and 10 healthy control subjects.