Extracorporeal photopheresis in a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis.

Extracorporeal photopheresis has anti-inflammatory properties. The development of pulmonary fibrosis includes inflammatory episodes. This study evaluates effects of extracorporeal photopheresis in experimental pulmonary fibrosis.

A review of the lung transplantation programme in Ireland 2005-2007.

Objective: Lung transplantation is a recognised surgical option for patients with end stage respiratory disease. We present data relating to the initiation of the Irish lung transplant programme in 2005.

Methods: Seventeen patients: 7 male and 10 female have undergone lung transplantation.

Infections relevant to lung transplantation.

Allograft infection after lung transplantation has a significant impact on the outcome and can be a diagnostic challenge. The increased susceptibility of the pulmonary allograft to infection is due to its direct contact with environmental microbes by inhalation, concurrent immunosuppression, and the impaired clearance mechanisms after denervation of the transplanted lung. The possible spectrum of microorganisms infecting the allograft after lung transplantation is broad, but commonly includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cytomegalovirus, community-acquired respiratory viruses, and Aspergillus species.

Attenuation of airway obliteration by ciprofloxacin in experimental posttransplant bronchiolitis obliterans.

Background: Ciprofloxacin is widely used to treat respiratory tract infections. Like other fluoroquinolones, ciprofloxacin has immunomodulatory effects; however, it is unknown whether these effects are beneficial in the setting of lung transplantation. We investigated potential immunomodulatory effects of ciprofloxacin in a model of posttransplant bronchiolitis obliterans.