Synergistic effect of phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor and serum on migration of endotoxin-stimulated macrophages.

Macrophage migration is an essential step in host defense against infection and wound healing. Elevation of cAMP by inhibiting phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), enzymes that specifically degrade cAMP, is known to suppress various inflammatory responses in activated macrophages, but the role of PDE4 in macrophage migration is poorly understood. Here we show that the migration of Raw 264.

Engineering Nanostructural Routes for Enhancing Thermoelectric Performance: Bulk to Nanoscale.

Thermoelectricity is a very important phenomenon, especially its significance in heat-electricity conversion. If thermoelectric devices can be effectively applied to the recovery of the renewable energies, such as waste heat and solar energy, the energy shortage, and global warming issues may be greatly relieved. This review focusses recent developments on the thermoelectric performance of a low-dimensional material, bulk nanostructured materials, conventional bulk materials etc.

Surface-dominated transport and enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit in topological insulator Bi(1.5)Sb(0.5)Te(1.7)Se(1.3).

We report the observation of an order of magnitude enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT = 0.36) in topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.

PPARγ ligand ciglitazone inhibits TNFα-induced ICAM-1 in human airway smooth muscle cells.

Background: Modification of human airway smooth muscle (ASM) function by proinflammatory cytokines has been regarded as a potential mechanism underlying bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthma. Human ASM cells express intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in response to cytokines. Synthetic ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ reportedly possess anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in stage I non-small cell lung cancer that underwent anatomic resection: the role of a recurrence promoter.

Background: Despite the use of anatomic resection, the post-surgical recurrence rate remains high in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Chronic inflammation plays a role in the mechanism that promotes tumor initiation. This study aimed to investigate the association between recurrence outcome and chronic inflammation-related co-morbidities in early-stage resected NSCLC.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial biopsy and brushing: a comparative evaluation for the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Objectives: The diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) often involves endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided transbronchial biopsy (TBB), washing and brushing. Certain echoic features of PPL have been associated with biopsy yield. This study compared yields of TBB and bronchial washing (TBBW) with those of TBBW plus bronchial brushing and analysed the associations between clinical and echoic features and yield.

Algorithmic approach by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for isolated intrathoracic lymphadenopathy: a study in a tuberculosis-endemic country.

Background/purpose: Isolated intrathoracic lymphadenopathy (IT-LAP) is clinically challenging because of the difficult anatomic location and wide range of associated diseases, including tuberculosis (TB). Although sampling via endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for histopathology is a major development, there is still room for improvement. This study aimed to investigate an algorithmic approach driven by EBUS-TBNA and conventional bronchoscopy to streamline the management of IT-LAP.

Incidence and outcome of healthcare-associated Acinetobacter baumannii in chronically ventilated patients in a tertiary care hospital in Taiwan.

Introduction: Most studies related to healthcare-associated infection with Acinetobacter baumannii (HAIA) are on acutely ventilated patients. Little is known regarding the incidence and outcomes of HAIA in chronically ventilated patients.

Methods: A retrospective study of chronically ventilated patients covering the period May 2002 to May 2008 was conducted to determine the incidence of patients with HAIA.

Cross-talk between bradykinin and epidermal growth factor in regulating IL-6 production in human airway smooth muscle cells.

Background: Bradykinin (BK), a G-protein-coupled-receptor (GPCR) agonist via the B2 receptor induces interleukin (IL)-6 expression in airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells by involving the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway. In some cell species, GPCR agonists have been shown to activate the ERK 1/2 pathway via transactivation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR). In this study, we tested whether there is cross-talk between BK and EGF in the regulation of IL-6 gene expression in ASM cells.

Delayed suspicion, treatment and isolation of tuberculosis patients in pulmonology/infectious diseases and non-pulmonology/infectious diseases wards.

Background/purpose: Delayed diagnosis and isolation increases the risk of nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis (TB). To assess the risk of delayed management of TB, we analyzed the risk factors of prolonged delay in isolation of smear-positive TB patients in pulmonology/infectious diseases and other wards in a tertiary teaching hospital.

Methods: We enrolled smear-positive TB patients aged > 16 years with delayed respiratory isolation following hospitalization.