Inferior vena caval filters: key considerations.

Surgical interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVC) as a means to prevent pulmonary embolism and its consequences has been entertained since the end of the 19th century. Initial methods were crude, however, but their deficiencies led to the development of newer techniques. Despite increasing indications and use of permanent IVC filters there remains controversy regarding their efficacy and complications.

The granulopoietic cytokine response and enhancement of granulopoiesis in mice during endotoxemia.

In response to bacterial infection, the production of neutrophils by the bone marrow is accelerated. This study investigated the granulopoietic cytokine response and granulopoiesis during endotoxemia. Male Balb/c mice were intravenously challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 20 microg in 100 microL of saline per mouse).

Interferon-gamma enhances the pulmonary CXC chemokine response to intratracheal lipopolysaccharide challenge.

CXC chemokines are major chemoattractants for pulmonary polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) recruitment. To study the effects of interferon (IFN)-gamma on the pulmonary chemokine response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, rats were treated with intratracheal IFN-gamma (1x10(5) U/rat) 24 h before an intratracheal LPS (100 microg/rat) challenge. Intratracheal LPS caused significant increases in both cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and pulmonary PMNL recruitment.

Neutrophil modulation of the pulmonary chemokine response to lipopolysaccharide.

When cells within the intrapulmonary compartment are exposed to pathogens or their products such as lipopolysaccharide, they produce CXC chemokines in order to attract circulating neutrophils into the lower respiratory tract. Previous studies have shown that as neutrophils (PMNs) enter the lung, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) chemokine levels are decreased. In this study, we determined the intrapulmonary and systemic responses to two important rat chemokines, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), to intratracheal (i.

Pulmonary host defenses and alcohol.

Alcohol abuse is a major risk factor for the development of many infectious diseases, particularly pulmonary infections. Bacterial pneumonia and other lung infections in alcohol-abusing patients are usually severe and associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Normal host defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract consist of both innate and acquired immunity which operate effectively in preventing the invasion of infectious pathogens.

Echocardiographic predictors of adverse outcomes in primary pulmonary hypertension.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between echocardiographic findings and clinical outcomes in patients with severe primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).

Background: Primary pulmonary hypertension is associated with abnormalities of right heart structure and function that contribute to the poor prognosis of the disease. Echocardiographic abnormalities associated with PPH have been described, but the prognostic significance of these findings remains poorly characterized.

Compartmentalization of macrophage inflammatory protein-2, but not cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant, in rats challenged with intratracheal endotoxin.

An important feature of the pulmonary inflammatory response is that the production of certain cytokines and chemokines is largely confined to the lung. This study investigated the local and systemic responses of macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) in rats administered with either intratracheal or intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Intratracheal LPS induced a significant increase in MIP-2 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid with no detectable MIP-2 in the plasma.

Acute alcohol intoxication suppresses the CXC chemokine response during endotoxemia.

Background: CXC chemokines play an important role in host defense against infections. Alcohol is a frequently abused drug that inhibits numerous immune functions of the host. This study investigated the effects of alcohol on CXC chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) responses in rats challenged with intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS).