Pneumocystis jirovecii colonization is associated with enhanced Th1 inflammatory gene expression in lungs of humans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex disease, the pathogenesis of which remains incompletely understood. Colonization with Pneumocystis jirovecii may play a role in COPD pathogenesis; however, the mechanisms by which such colonization contributes to COPD are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine lung gene expression profiles associated with Pneumocystis colonization in patients with COPD to identify potential key pathways involved in disease pathogenesis.

Asthma diagnosis and airway bronchodilator response in HIV-infected patients.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of respiratory symptoms and obstructive lung disease in HIV-infected subjects, the prevalence of bronchodilator reversibility (BDR) and asthma has not been systematically studied during the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Objective: We sought to determine the prevalence of asthma diagnosis and related pulmonary function abnormalities in an HIV-infected cohort and to identify potential mechanisms.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 223 HIV-infected subjects with data on respiratory symptoms and diagnoses, pulmonary function, sputum cell counts, and asthma-related cytokines and chemokines in serum/sputum.

Validation of PCR for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from corneal samples.

Aim: To determine a species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), a secondary DNA target for PA that may provide a universal target for other bacterial pathogens, and validate both assays for diagnostic testing.

Methods: PCR detection was established against the ecfX PA gene and the 16S rRNA gene using known PA keratitis isolates. The outcome parameters for both assays were "limit of detection" (LOD), amplification efficiency (AE), and PAGE amplified product analysis.