Inflammatory blockade prevents injury to the developing pulmonary gas exchange surface in preterm primates.

Perinatal inflammatory stress is associated with early life morbidity and lifelong consequences for pulmonary health. Chorioamnionitis, an inflammatory condition affecting the placenta and fluid surrounding the developing fetus, affects 25 to 40% of preterm births. Severe chorioamnionitis with preterm birth is associated with significantly increased risk of pulmonary disease and secondary infections in childhood, suggesting that fetal inflammation may markedly alter the development of the lung.

Standardization of methods for sampling the distal airspace in mechanically ventilated patients using heat moisture exchange filter fluid.

Noninvasive sampling of the distal airspace in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has long eluded clinical and translational researchers. We recently reported that fluid collected from heat moisture exchange (HME) filters closely mirrors fluid directly aspirated from the distal airspace. In the current study, we sought to determine fluid yield from different HME types, optimal HME circuit dwell time, and reliability of HME fluid in reflecting the distal airspace.