Depression in pulmonary arterial hypertension: An undertreated comorbidity.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a debilitating condition leading to progressive decline in functional capacity. As a result, PAH can lead to psychological impairment that can impact the overall disease status. The medical community has developed several screening questionnaires in order to assess depression in their patients allowing physicians to be at the forefront of recognizing clinical depression.

Enhancing indoor air quality -The air filter advantage.

Air pollution has become the world's single biggest environmental health risk, linked to around 7 million deaths in 2012 according to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report. The new data further reveals a stronger link between, indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure and cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes and ischemic heart disease, as well as between air pollution and cancer. The role of air pollution in the development of respiratory diseases, including acute respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, is well known.

Identification of Aspergillus (A. flavus and A. niger) Allergens and Heterogeneity of Allergic Patients' IgE Response.

Aspergillus species (A. flavus and A. niger) are important sources of inhalant allergens.

Morbidities associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-induced biological changes include intermittent hypoxia, intermittent hypercapnia, intrathoracic pressure changes, sympathetic activation and sleep fragmentation. OSA can cause metabolic dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and hypercoagulation, and neurohumoral changes. There is evidence suggesting that OSA is independently associated with metabolic syndrome.

Lipids of erythrocyte membranes of COPD patients: a quantitative and qualitative study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by inflammation of lung parenchyma and pulmonary hypoxemia with a proven systemic component. Tobacco smoke is the most important risk factor and plasma membrane plays a major role in the disease pathology and progression. The properties of biological membranes are a function of their lipid composition.

Changes in protein profile of erythrocyte membrane in bronchial asthma.

Objectives: Erythrocyte membrane proteins reflect the prototype of multifunctional proteins of various erythroid and non-erythroid cells, which demonstrate various cellular functions. The protein profile of cells changes in various diseases. Therefore, the objective of this study was to understand the changes in protein profile of erythrocyte membranes in bronchial asthma.

Normalization of deranged signal transduction in lymphocytes of COPD patients by the novel calcium channel blocker H-DHPM.

Investigations on the role of intracellular Ca(2+) ion concentration in the mechanism of development of COPD in smokers and non-smokers were carried out. The intracellular Ca(2+) levels were found to be increased in human lymphocytes in patients with COPD as compared to non-smokers and smokers without COPD. The investigations reveal an association in altered intracellular Ca(2+) regulation in lymphocytes and severity of COPD, by means of significant activation of Protein kinase C and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS).

Sphingomyelin metabolism in erythrocyte membrane in asthma.

Background: Sphingomyelin (SM), a major lipid constituent of outer leaflet of plasma membranes, with cholesterol, constitutes microdomains, which are termed as lipid rafts. These rafts provide support to proteins, receptors, enzymes, and so on and organize and orient them to conduct cellular functions including transmembrane signaling to substances in external milieu. The SM contents are regulated by its metabolism, changes in which may affect the composition of lipid rafts and cell response to the triggers of asthma which may lead to the pathophysiology.

Quantification of airborne Aspergillus allergens: redefining the approach.

Background: Airborne Aspergillus species are significant environmental components involved in the pathogenesis and persistence of allergic respiratory diseases. The detection and quantification of airborne allergens is important to elucidate the clinical implications of environmental exposure of patients suffering with allergic asthma and/or allergic rhinitis.

Objective: The authors report a simple volumetric approach to measure atmospheric concentration of four common airborne species of Aspergillus-A.

Emerging and established parasitic lung infestations.

Many lung infestations from established and newly emerging parasites have been reported as a result of the emergence of HIV/AIDS, the increasing use of immunosuppressive drugs, increasing organ transplantations, the increase in global travel, and climate change. A renewed interest in parasitic lung infections has been observed recently because many protozoal and helminthic parasites cause clinically significant lung diseases. The diseases caused by these parasites may mimic common and complicated lung diseases ranging from asymptomatic disease to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring critical care management.

Physico-chemical and clinico-immunologic studies on the allergenic significance of Aspergillus tamarii, a common airborne fungus.

Aspergillus-derived inhalant allergens play an important role in the etiology of allergic respiratory diseases. In the present study, we investigated the allergenic potential of Aspergillus tamarii, quantified its airborne content, identified its major/minor allergens, evaluated heterogeneity of patients' IgE response to its allergens and cross-reactivity of its allergens with other Aspergillus allergens. Skin prick tests with A tamarii extract were performed on 300 patients of bronchial asthma/allergic rhinitis and 20 healthy volunteers.

Critical care aspects of malaria.

Malaria remains a major health problem in much of Asia and Africa. A steady number of cases of imported malaria are also seen in many countries of the developed world. Plasmodium falciparum malaria and to some extent malaria caused by other species of Plasmodium can lead to many complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cerebral malaria, acute renal failure, severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, and bleeding complications.

Parasitic lung infections.

Purpose Of Review: Global climate change and population explosion leading to changes in natural ecosystem and travel across the continents have resulted in an increase in the transmission of parasites to human beings. This review focuses on recent advancements in parasitic lung infections.

Recent Findings: Invasive parasitic diseases including lung infections are increasingly being reported in patients with immunodeficiency syndromes.

Serum interleukin-1beta as a marker for differentiation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are diseases of airway inflammation with clinical and physiological similarities, making their differentiation difficult. Airway inflammatory changes are associated with systemic changes. However, no serum marker is known for their differentiation.

Effect of azelastine nasal spray on histamine-and allergen-induced skin wheal response in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Effect of azelastine nasal spray on histamine-and allergen-induced skin test response in patients suffering with allergic rhinitis was evaluated. Baseline cutaneous response to histamine and 18 common allergen extracts were recorded by skin prick tests on 10 patients. The patients were then advised to take azelastine nasal spray (1 spray per nostril, twice daily; 0.

Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia: pathogenesis, diagnosis and management.

Purpose Of Review: Tropical pulmonary eosinophilia is predominantly seen in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is being increasingly reported from other parts of world, however, due to increases in global travel and migration. This review focuses attention on recent developments.

How to diagnose and manage common parasitic pneumonias.

Purpose Of Review: Parasitic pneumonia is being increasingly reported from many parts of the world due to globalization and travel across the continents. This review outlines the recent developments in the diagnosis and management of parasitic pneumonias.

Recent Findings: A polymerase chain reaction that can differentiate pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica from nonpathogenic species has been reported.