A Disintegrin and A Metalloproteinase-9 (ADAM9): A Novel Proteinase Culprit with Multifarious Contributions to COPD.

Introduction: Proteinases with a disintegrin and a metalloproteinase domain (ADAMs) have not been well studied in COPD. We investigated whether ADAM9 is linked to COPD in humans and mice.

Methods: ADAM9 blood and lung levels were measured in COPD patients versus controls, and air- versus cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed wild-type (WT) mice.

Cascading effects of thermally-induced anemone bleaching on associated anemonefish hormonal stress response and reproduction.

Organisms can behaviorally, physiologically, and morphologically adjust to environmental variation via integrative hormonal mechanisms, ultimately allowing animals to cope with environmental change. The stress response to environmental and social changes commonly promotes survival at the expense of reproduction. However, despite climate change impacts on population declines and diversity loss, few studies have attributed hormonal stress responses, or their regulatory effects, to climate change in the wild.

Effect of Baseline Anxiety and Depression Symptoms on Selected Outcomes Following Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Purpose: Anxiety and depression are prevalent comorbidities in people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). This study sought to quantify the influence of varying degrees of anxiety and depression on functional performance and disease impact in a population with CRDs following pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) intervention.

Methods: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT) were assessed pre- and post-PR.

Squamous Metaplasia Is Increased in the Bronchial Epithelium of Smokers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Aims: To quantify the extent of squamous metaplasia in bronchial biopsies and relate it to the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a smoking-related pathology.

Methods: Bronchial biopsies (n = 15 in each group) from smokers with COPD GOLD stage1 and GOLD stage2, smokers without COPD and healthy non-smokers were stained immunohistochemically with a panel of antibodies that facilitated the identification of pseudostratified epithelium and distinction of squamous metaplasia and squamous epithelium from tangentially cut epithelium. The percentage length of each of these epithelial phenotypes was measured as a percent of total epithelial length using computerised image analysis.

Early discharge care with ongoing follow-up support may reduce hospital readmissions in COPD.

Background: Early discharge care and self-management education, although effective in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), do not typically reduce hospital re-admission rates for exacerbations of the disease. We hypothesized that a respiratory outreach programme that comprises early discharge care followed by continued rapid-access out-patient support would reduce the need for hospital readmission in these patients.

Methods: Two hundred and forty-six patients, acutely admitted with exacerbations of COPD, were recruited to the respiratory outreach programme that included early discharge care, follow-up education, telephone support and rapid future access to respiratory out-patient clinics.

A pulmonary mass with invasion into the heart.

We describe the case of a 58 year old woman who presented with bronchial atypical carcinoid found at surgery to invade the left atrium along the pulmonary veins. A right pneumonectomy and removal of a portion of the left atrium was performed. The patient made an excellent post operative recovery.

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) - a potential threat in Ireland.

We describe a case of a 25 year old female from Lithuania who presented with a productive cough. Chest radiograph demonstrated an infiltrate in the left upper lobe and a cavitating lesion in the right middle lobe. Sensitivity testing of her sputum led to a diagnosis of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB).

Expression of genes involved in oxidative stress responses in airway epithelial cells of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: The molecular mechanisms involved in airway oxidative stress responses reported in healthy smokers and in those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are poorly understood.

Objectives: To assess the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress responses in the bronchial epithelium of smokers with or without COPD and in relation to disease severity.

Methods: Global gene expression was assessed in bronchial brushings in 38 subjects with COPD, 14 healthy nonsmokers, and 18 healthy smokers.

Remission of transfusion-dependent myelodysplastic syndrome in association with respiratory tract infection.

We describe a case of blood transfusion-dependent myelodysplastic syndrome (refractory anaemia), associated with macrocytosis and elevated percentage of hypochromic cells. Following an acute hospital admission with a respiratory tract infection, the patient entered a complete and sustained remission.

Autocrine ligands for the epidermal growth factor receptor mediate interleukin-8 release from bronchial epithelial cells in response to cigarette smoke.

Airway neutrophilia is a prominent feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As cigarette smoke (CS) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) both cause release of interleukin-8 (IL-8) from epithelial cells in vitro, we investigated whether autocrine ligands for the EGF receptor (EGFR) are involved in this proinflammatory response to CS. NCI-H292 or primary bronchial epithelial cells were cultured with or without cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or EGF for 6-48 h.