Interactions via αβ Cell Integrin May Protect against the Progression of Airway Structural Changes in Asthma.

Increased airway wall thickness and remodeling of bronchial mucosa are characteristic of asthma and may arise from altered integrin signaling on airway cells. Here, we analyzed the expression of β-subfamily integrins on blood and airway cells (flow cytometry), inflammatory biomarkers in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage, reticular basement membrane (RBM) thickness and collagen deposits in the mucosa (histology), and airway geometry (CT-imaging) in 92 asthma patients (persistent airflow limitation subtype: = 47) and 36 controls. Persistent airflow limitation was associated with type-2 inflammation, elevated soluble α integrin chain, and changes in the bronchial wall geometry.

Direct oral anticoagulants in patients with severe inherited thrombophilia: a single-center cohort study.

We investigated the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with severe inherited thrombophilia. In this single-center cohort study, we enrolled 56 consecutive VTE patients with severe inherited thrombophilia, defined as the presence of antithrombin (n = 18), protein C (n = 12) and protein S (n = 12) deficiencies, homozygous Factor V Leiden (n = 3) and prothrombin G20210AA (n = 4) mutations, or combined defects (n = 7). During a median follow-up of 44.

Citrullinated histone H3, a marker of extracellular trap formation, is increased in blood of stable asthma patients.

Background: Emerging data indicates that extracellular traps (ETs), structures formed by various immune cell types, may contribute to the pathology of noninfectious inflammatory diseases. Histone hypercitrullination is an important step in ETs formation and citrullinated histone H3 (H3cit) is considered a novel and specific biomarker of that process. In the present study we have evaluated circulating H3cit in stable asthmatics and investigated its relationship with asthma severity, pulmonary function and selected blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) biomarkers.

The relationship of airway structural changes to blood and bronchoalveolar lavage biomarkers, and lung function abnormalities in asthma.

Background: Airway structural changes are important in asthma pathology and require further investigations.

Objective: We sought to evaluate which computed tomography (CT) indices, bronchial histological traits, or blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) biomarkers correlate best with lung function abnormalities in asthma.

Methods: In 105 white adult asthmatics (53 with a component of fixed airflow obstruction), we determined airway cross-sectional geometry of two proximal (the right upper lobe apical segmental and the left apicoposterior) and two distal (the right and the left basal posterior) bronchi, quantified the low-attenuation lung area (LAA%), and analysed clusters based on airway CT-metrics.

Direct oral anticoagulants in the treatment of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: a single institution's experience.

Aim Of The Study: Oral anticoagulants, preferentially vitamin K antagonists (VKA), are recommended for 3-12 months in patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). We present a series of patients with CVST treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC).

Materials And Methods: We prospectively recruited 36 patients with CVST (aged 40.

Unfavourably altered plasma clot properties in patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon: association with venous thromboembolism.

Associations of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) with venous thromboembolism (VTE) are unclear. We investigated the occurrence of RP together with prothrombotic state markers and fibrin clot properties in VTE patients. In this prospective cohort study we enrolled 360 patients free of known autoimmune disease.

Blocking of α1β1 and α2β1 adhesion molecules inhibits eosinophil migration through human lung microvascular endothelial cell monolayer.

Introduction: In cell trafficking to the airways in asthma, among integrins the most important are those containing α4 and β2 subunits. We have previously shown that also blocking of collagen receptors, α1β1 and α2β1 integrins, inhibits transmigration of eosinophils of asthmatic subjects through a monolayer of skin microvascular endothelial cells seeded on collagen IV coated inserts. However, it was not clear whether this observation was limited to asthma or depended on the type of microvascular cell and collagen IV used as a base.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's granulomatosis) with hard palate and bronchial perforations treated with rituximab - a case report.

We present a case of a 57-year-old woman suffering from granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), who in the seventh months of immunosuppressive treatment (cyclophosphamide) progressed with new pulmonary changes and perforations of the hard palate and bronchi. Rituximab was introduced resulting in B-cell depletion and disappearance of anti-PR3 antibody. Palatal holes have substantially diminished and all bronchial perforations disappeared, covered by fibrous tissue.

Human eosinophil transmigration.

In this chapter we describe an optimized eosinophil transmigration assay. Transmigration of purified human peripheral blood eosinophils can be studied using special insert with membrane coated with extracellular matrix components or membrane covered with cells growing as a confluent monolayer, such as vascular endothelial cells of any origin or airway epithelial cells. In our opinion, eosinophil transmigration assay performed through monolayer of human microvascular endothelial cells of lung origin is a suitable tool to estimate the full migratory potential of eosinophils in studies on the pathology of asthma or other respiratory diseases, where eosinophils play important effector functions.

Increased expression of α₂ (CD49b), α₄ (CD49d) and β₁ (CD29) integrin subunits on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in clinically stable mild-to-moderate persistent asthma.

Introduction: Adhesive molecules, particularly selectins and integrins, are critical for the inflammatory cell trafficking from blood to the lungs. Among integrins, the most important for cell infiltration are those containing α₄ and β₂ subunits.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of α₁ and α₂ integrin subunits on peripheral blood T cells in asthmatic subjects, because previously we showed evidence that α₁β₁ and α₂β₁ integrins may be found on peripheral blood eosinophils in these subjects.

The course of asthma in Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Objectives: Asthma is one of the key features of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS); however its course in the disease is unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the asthma course in CSS patients.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 22 CSS patients.