Delay of airway epithelial wound repair in COPD is associated with airflow obstruction severity.

Background: Airway epithelium integrity is essential to maintain its role of mechanical and functional barrier. Recurrent epithelial injuries require a complex mechanism of repair to restore its integrity. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an abnormal airway epithelial repair may participate in airway remodeling.

Endobronchial brachytherapy in combination with external beam irradiation in obstructing malignant bronchial tumors.

Endobronchial brachytherapy is commonly used in the palliative management of malignant airway obstructions. In the present study, we describe the results of brachytherapy (mean dose of 18 Gy), used in combination with external beam irradiation (mean dose of 50 Gy) in 30 patients who had primary bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung. The extent of airway obstruction was determined according to symptoms and by bronchoscopy.