SH2 Domain-Containing Phosphatase-SHP2 Attenuates Fibrotic Responses through Negative Regulation of Mitochondrial Metabolism in Lung Fibroblasts.

Background: We have previously shown that SHP2 downregulation may predispose fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts and proposed a role for SHP2 downregulation in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Recent data have shown that SHP2 localizes to the mitochondrial intercristae, and its overexpression enhances mitochondrial metabolism leading to oxidative stress and senescence.

Objective: To determine the effect of SHP2 on fibrotic responses.

Reduction in Hospitalizations for Respiratory Diseases during the First COVID-19 Wave in Greece.

Introduction: During the first COVID-19 wave, a considerable decline in hospital admissions was observed worldwide.

Aim: This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess if there were any changes in the number of patients hospitalized for respiratory diseases in Greece during the first CO-VID-19 wave.

Methods: In the present study, we evaluated respiratory disease hospitalization rates across 9 tertiary hospitals in Greece during the study period (March-April 2020) and the corresponding period of the 2 previous years (2018-2019) that served as the control periods.

Computed tomography cephalometric and upper airway measurements in patients with OSA and erectile dysfunction.

Purpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study used computed tomography (CT) to identify cephalometric and upper airway anatomic features in patients with OSA that correlate with the presence of ED.

Methods: In this prospective study, 20 CT cephalometric and upper airway measurements, most commonly associated with OSA, were analyzed in 53 age- and BMI-matched consecutive eligible subjects.

Molecular testing and personalized treatment of lung cancer.

Lung malignancy is a leading cause of cancer related morbidity and mortality worldwide. The majority (85%) of cases are histologically proven non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). More than 55% of lung carcinomas harbor at least one genetic alteration, most of them being histologic subtype specific.

Experience and limited lighting may affect sleepiness of tunnel workers.

Background: Working on shifts, especially on a night shift, influences the endogenous sleep regulation system leading to diminished sleep time and increased somnolence. We attempted to evaluate the impact of shifts on sleepiness and correlate the sleepiness score to the experience in a shift schedule.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study consists of 42 male and 2 female workers involved in a tunnel construction.

Risk factors for early mortality in haematological malignancy patients with pulmonary mucormycosis.

Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is a life-threatening opportunistic mycosis with a variable clinical evolution and few prognostic markers for outcome assessment. Several clinical risk factors for poor outcome present at the diagnosis of PM were analyzed in 75 consecutive hematology patients from 2000-2012. Significant variables (P < 0.

Performance of a standardized bronchoalveolar lavage protocol in a comprehensive cancer center: a prospective 2-year study.

Background: Flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is performed widely for the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in patients with cancer, but there is no consensus regarding the technical parameters of the lavage procedure in this setting.

Methods: The authors evaluated the mechanics (instilled and recovered volumes), diagnostic yield, and safety of a standardized BAL protocol in 284 patients with cancer who underwent bronchoscopy for the evaluation of new radiologic infiltrates.

Results: Physician adherence to the BAL protocol was > 90%.

Targeting leukotrienes for the treatment of COPD?

New drugs and new approaches of the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are needed. Despite recent advances in medical therapeutics, treatment of patients with COPD remains largely symptomatic. Although inhaled corticosteroids are currently the drug of choice for anti-inflammatory therapy, the inflammatory process in COPD is essentially steroid resistant.

Positive association between two polymorphic sites (+134 insA/delA and G198T) of the endothelin-1 gene and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A case-control study.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for establishing an inflammatory loop in the respiratory mucosa that could become independent from the initial irritant factor. Common causes of COPD exacerbations are associated with elevated ET-1 sputum concentrations. Genetic variants of the ET-1 gene, that lead to elevated ET-1 peptide levels, have not been investigated in COPD.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension: need to treat.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is defined by a persistent elevation in pulmonary artery pressure with normal left-sided pressures. It is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance due to increased vascular tone and structural remodeling of pulmonary vessels. PAH is a quite rare condition, thus considering the rarity, subtle presentation, and diagnostic dilemma commonly posed by this disease, underdiagnosis and underreporting are probably widespread.

The alcoholic lung disease: historical background and clinical features.

The purpose of this review article is to prove the damage that alcohol causes to the respiratory system. We will make a brief review of alcohols history in the course of the centuries till nowadays. The problem of addiction to alcohol (alcoholism) will be examined for several countries.

Role and pharmacogenomics of TNF-alpha in asthma.

Asthma is a chronic heterogeneous inflammatory disease of the respiratory system in which numerous cytokines play a significant role. Among them TNF-alpha (tumour necrosis factor alpha), a proinflammatory cytokine, has a predominant role in orchestrating airway inflammation and affecting treatment outcome. In this review we attempt to summarize the involvement of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of asthma, illustrate variations of TNF-alpha gene that potentially influence asthma phenotype and highlight promising therapies by blocking the production of TNF-alpha or inhibiting its action.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in a patient with rheumatic valvular heart disease.

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis is a rare disease characterized by widespread intra-alveolar calcification of both lungs that is asymptomatic in the early stages. The disease typically follows a protracted course, and death can occur in 5 to 41 years after the initial diagnosis. Rheumatic fever is a multisystemic inflammatory disease that afflicts the child and juvenile population, and it is still very common in developing countries.

Genetic alterations of glutathione S-transferases in asthma: do they modulate lung growth and response to environmental stimuli?

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) constitute a super family of dimeric phase II metabolic enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of reduced glutathione with various electrophilic compounds and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Failure to detoxify ROS, as a sequel of altered GST genotype is able to aggravate the inflammatory cascade, promote bronchoconstrictor mechanisms, activate asthma-like symptomatology, and hamper lung development. Intriguingly, the same GST genotype can aggravate or improve physiological traits and maturation of respiratory system, from gestation to late adulthood.

Aseptic femoral head necrosis in a patient receiving long term courses of inhaled and intranasal corticosteroids.

Aseptic (avascular) necrosis of the femoral head in adults has been associated with a variety of disease entities. It is also recognized as a potential complication of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Inhaled corticosteroids are the first line anti-inflammatory agents for the long term treatment of asthma.

DNA sequence variations of metalloproteinases: their role in asthma and COPD.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are complex genetic diseases that cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Genetic variability interacting with environmental and ethnic factors is presumed to cause tobacco smoke susceptibility and to influence asthma severity. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 (ADAM33) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) appear to have important roles in asthma and COPD pathogenesis.

Genetics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, beyond a1-antitrypsin deficiency.

It is known that only 10-20% of smokers develop COPD, implying that apart from environmental features, additional factors such as genetic variability contribute to smoke susceptibility. This proposal is in compatibility with the "Dutch Hypothesis", formulated in the early 60's. Alpha-1-antitrypsin gene was implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD, especially the homozygous state of z allele.