Weaning Failure in Critically Ill Patients Is Related to the Persistence of Sepsis Inflammation.

Introduction: Septic patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) often experience difficulty in weaning. Th aim of this study was to determine whether inflammatory biomarkers of sepsis could be indicative of the failure or success of spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) in these patients.

Methods: Sixty-five patients on MV (42 septic and 23 intubated for other reasons) fulfilling the criteria for SBT were included in the study.

Study of inflammatory biomarkers in COPD and asthma exacerbations.

Introduction: Exacerbations are critical events in the course of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These events are potentially life-threatening, and the studies have shown that they have tremendous implications on long-term disease control and the overall prognosis of the patients. The aim of this study was to examine adipokines, cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) as potential biomarkers in asthma and COPD.

Acute effects of smoke exposure on airway and systemic inflammation in forest firefighters.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess respiratory health and airway and systemic inflammation in professional forest firefighters post firefighting.

Methods: A total of 60 firefighters who participated in forest firefighting operations in Greece during 2008 were included in the study. A questionnaire consisting of symptoms and exposure, pulmonary function, atopy, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and markers of inflammation in induced sputum, serum, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was assessed.

Differential Expression of Aquaporins in Experimental Models of Acute Lung Injury.

Aim: The mammalian lung expresses at least three aquaporin (AQP) water channels whose precise role in lung injury or inflammation is still controversial.

Materials And Methods: Three murine models of lung inflammation and corresponding controls were used to evaluate the expression of Aqp1, Aqp4, Aqp5 and Aqp9: lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury; HCl-induced lung injury; and ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI).

Results: All models yielded increased lung vascular permeability, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid; VILI additionally produced altered lung mechanics.

Prolonged occupational exposure leads to allergic airway sensitization and chronic airway and systemic inflammation in professional firefighters.

Background And Objectives: Little data exist on short- and long-term effects of occupational exposure on airway and systemic inflammation in professional firefighters. We aimed to characterize airway and systemic inflammation in training firefighters with a maximum occupational exposure of 1 year compared to the long-term exposure of professional firefighters.

Methods: A questionnaire for symptoms and exposure, pulmonary function, atopy, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and markers of inflammation in induced sputum, serum, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and bronchial biopsies were assessed in a total of 92 firefighters (63 full-time professionals and 29 trainees).