Another Piece in the Fibrotic Puzzle: TSLP as a Novel Ligand for Fibrocyte Activation.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has emerged as an important cytokine in the pathogenesis of nonallergic diseases, especially in diseases that include fibrosis. It has been shown to be upregulated in both cutaneous and lung fibrotic conditions. Shin et al.

Macrophage Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis: Do We Need More Evidence?

The pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis is still unknown, although immune cells, mainly macrophages/monocytes, may have an important role in initiating and/or perpetuating the disease. Macrophages and monocytes are often classified as pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype or classic activation and pro-fibrotic/anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype or alternative activation. In this review, we highlighted the most relevant research regarding the involvement of macrophages/monocytes in the pathogenesis of this complex disease.

A long-term prospective randomized controlled study of non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) treatment in scleroderma.

Unlabelled: The association of cyclophosphamide (CYC) and prednisone (PRED) for the treatment of lung fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) was only evaluated in uncontrolled studies, although in idiopathic interstitial lung disease (ILD) this association seems to be beneficial in patients with non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP).

Objectives: To treat SSc-ILD in a prospective open-label controlled study based on lung pattern during 12 months of treatment.

Methods: A 3-year analysis was also performed.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of pulmonary rheumatoid nodule: case report and review of the major cytologic features.

Patients with rheumatoid disease may develop extra-articular lesions, affecting viscera and soft tissues. Pulmonary rheumatoid nodules show morphologic features reminiscent of a necrotizing inflammation of rheumatoid synovitis and differ from subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules only by their location, extension, and size. Although cytologic studies on pleural effusions in rheumatoid disease have long been performed, there are no more than three reports concerning the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis of pulmonary rheumatoid nodules.