Inflammatory markers and circulating extracellular matrix proteins in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Background: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is a frequent condition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Tenascin-C (Tn-C) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are extracellular matrix proteins associated with myocardial fibrosis and wall remodeling because of inflammation.

Objective: To determine whether the circulating levels of inflammatory markers, Tn-C and MMP-9 are associated with LVDD in COPD patients.

High Prevalence of Left Ventricle Diastolic Dysfunction in Severe COPD Associated with A Low Exercise Capacity: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: A subclinical left ventricle diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) has been described in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of LVDD in stable severe COPD patients, to analyze its relationship with exercise capacity and to look for its possible causes (lung hyperinflation, ventricular interdependence or inflammatory mechanisms).

Methods: We evaluated 106 consecutive outpatients with severe COPD (FEV1 between 30-50%).

Dasatinib as salvage therapy for steroid refractory and imatinib resistant or intolerant sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease (scGVHD) is a severe form of this disease that resembles systemic sclerosis and has limited and disappointing treatment options. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting up-regulated profibrotic pathways, such as imatinib mesylate, have been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach for patients with scGVHD. Dasatinib, a second-generation TKI with a well-established safety and efficacy profile in chronic myeloid leukemia patients, who are refractory or intolerant to imatinib, has also shown potent antifibrotic effects.

Volumetric capnography and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease staging.

Spirometry is difficult for some COPD patient to perform. Volumetric capnography could be a second choice test to evaluate the severity of functional disturbances. The aim of this work is to test this hypothesis.

Genetic characterization of fluoroquinolone-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated during ciprofloxacin therapy from a patient with bronchiectasis.

Five Spain(9V-3) Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were isolated from a patient with bronchiectasis who had received long-term ciprofloxacin therapy. One ciprofloxacin-susceptible strain was isolated before treatment, and four ciprofloxacin-resistant strains were isolated during treatment. The resistant strains were derived from the susceptible strain either by a parC mutation (low-level resistance) or by parC and gyrA mutations (high-level resistance).