0000000000376887
AUTHOR
Paolo Ruggeri
<p>Bacterial load and inflammatory response in sputum of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency patients with COPD</p>
Background Airway inflammation may drive the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD), but the relationship between airway microbiota and inflammation has not been investigated. Methods We studied 21 non-treated AATD (AATD-noT) patients, 20 AATD-COPD patients under augmentation therapy (AATD-AT), 20 cigarette smoke-associated COPD patients, 20 control healthy smokers (CS) and 21 non-smokers (CON) with normal lung function. We quantified sputum inflammatory cells and inflammatory markers (IL-27, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL8, LTB4, MPO) by ELISA, total bacterial load (16S) and pathogenic bacteria by qRT-PCR. Results AATD-AT patient…
TGF-β Signaling Pathways in Different Compartments of the Lower Airways of Patients With Stable COPD
Background: The expression and localization of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway proteins in different compartments of the lower airways of patients with stable COPD is unclear. We aimed to determine TGF-β pathway protein expression in patients with stable COPD. Methods: The expression and localization of TGF-β pathway components was measured in the bronchial mucosa and peripheral lungs of patients with stable COPD (n = 44), control smokers with normal lung function (n = 24), and control nonsmoking subjects (n = 11) using immunohistochemical analysis. Results: TGF-β1, TGF-β3, and connective tissue growth factor expression were significantly decreased in the bronchiolar epithelium…
Cytomegalovirus pneumonia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review
Summary Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at increased risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, and although CMV pneumonia may be a fatal disease in IBD patients, little information is available on this issue. The objectives of this study were to identify risk factors for the development of CMV pneumonia in IBD patients and to find useful information to better manage this potentially fatal complication. Methods A computerized search without language restrictions was conducted using PubMed and SCOPUS. An article was considered eligible for inclusion in the systematic review if it reported detailed data on patients with IBD presenting with pneumonia due to CMV. Resul…