Association between α-antitrypsin and bronchiectasis in patients with humoral immunodeficiency receiving gammaglobulin infusions.

Background: In patients with humoral immunodeficiency, the progression of bronchiectasis has been known to occur despite adequate gammaglobulin therapy and in the absence of recurrent infections. This observation suggests that factors other than gammaglobulin replacement might play a part in the prevention of lung damage in this population. α-Antitrypsin deficiency can be associated with bronchiectasis, a chronic inflammatory lung disease.

Versatile inlet system for on-line compound-specific deltaD and delta13C gas chromatography-oxidation/reduction-isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis of gaseous mixtures.

Compound-specific deltaD and delta13C analyses of gas mixtures are useful indicators of geochemical and environmental factors. However, the relative concentrations of individual components in gas mixtures (e.g.