Search results for "respiratory tract"

2012

Abstract. Mineral dust is a major fraction of global atmospheric aerosol, and the oxidation of SO2 on mineral dust has implications for cloud formation, climate and the sulfur cycle. Stable sulfur isotopes can be used to understand the different oxidation processes occurring on mineral dust. This study presents measurements of the 34S/32S fractionation factor α34 for oxidation of SO2 on mineral dust surfaces and in the aqueous phase in mineral dust leachate. Sahara dust, which accounts for ~60% of global dust emissions and loading, was used for the experiments. The fractionation factor for aqueous oxidation in dust leachate is αleachate = 0.9917±0.0046, which is in agreement with previous m…

Irreversible loss of ice nucleation active sites in mineral dust particles caused by sulphuric acid condensation

2010

Abstract. During the FROST-2 (FReezing Of duST) measurement campaign conducted at the Leipzig Aerosol Cloud Interaction Simulator (LACIS), we investigated changes in the ice nucleation properties of 300 nm Arizona Test Dust mineral particles following thermochemical processing by varying amounts and combinations of exposure to sulphuric acid vapour, ammonia gas, water vapour, and heat. The processed particles' heterogeneous ice nucleation properties were determined in both the water subsaturated and supersaturated humidity regimes at −30 °C and −25 °C using Colorado State University's continuous flow diffusion chamber. The amount of sulphuric acid coating material was estimated by an aeroso…

Sleep Apnea, Sleepiness, and Driving Risk

2019

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness in about 50% of cases, and with increased risk of driving accidents. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure effectively decreases such risk, but compliance with continuous positive airway pressure treatment is often suboptimal. According to the European Union Directive on driving risk, retention of a driving license in patients with obstructive sleep apnea requires assessment of sleepiness and adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment, but there remains uncertainty on the optimal methods to assess sleepiness on a large scale.

GOLD Staging System is Appropriate to Predict Mortality in Older People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

2018

Abstract Introduction In the new GOLD classification the reduction of FEV1, expressed as percentage of predicted value (FEV1PP), is considered an important prognostic factor. However, the use of FEV1PP may introduce bias, especially if based on equations derived from populations different from the one under study. We evaluated how well the GOLD classification stratifies the mortality risk when FEV1PP is based on an equation developed in the same population that gave rise to cases, externally developed equations, or as FEV1 divided by cubed height (FEV1/Ht3). Methods We studied 882 participants aged ≥65 years. Bronchial obstruction was defined using a fixed cut-off of 0.7 for FEV1/FVC. Predi…

Elastin Cables Define the Axial Connective Tissue System in the Murine Lung

2015

The axial connective tissue system is a fiber continuum of the lung that maintains alveolar surface area during changes in lung volume. Although the molecular anatomy of the axial system remains undefined, the fiber continuum of the lung is central to contemporary models of lung micromechanics and alveolar regeneration. To provide a detailed molecular structure of the axial connective tissue system, we examined the extracellular matrix of murine lungs. The lungs were decellularized using a 24 hr detergent treatment protocol. Systematic evaluation of the decellularized lungs demonstrated no residual cellular debris; morphometry demonstrated a mean 39 ± 7% reduction in lung dimensions. Scanni…

Pro-and anti-fibrotic molecule balance in the bronchial mucosa of stable COPD patients

2015

Background: The mechanisms of inducing fibrotic events and remodeling in the airways of COPD are incompletely studied. Objectives: To investigate the expression of cytokines involved in the pro- and anti-fibrotic events in stable COPD. Methods: Expression of CTGF, TGFβ1-2-3, TGFβRI, TGFβRII, LTBP-1, TRAP-1, BAMBI, PP2Cα, Smad2-3-6-7, pSmad2, pSmad3, pro-collagen-I and collagen-I was measured in the bronchial mucosa using immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. Results: TGFβ1 was increased in the epithelium and TGFβ3 in the submucosa of healthy smokers and mild/moderate COPD compared to healthy non-smokers. In all smokers and patients with COPD TGFβ3+ cells in the submucosa correlated significantl…

Pulsed electric fields (PEF), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and combined PEF + PLE process evaluation: Effects on Spirulina microstructure, bio…

2022

This study aims at evaluating the impact of different processes-pulsed electric fields (PEF), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and a multistep process combining PEF + PLE on the yield of antioxidant compounds (protein, polyphenols, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids) from Spirulina. Firstly, the effects of PEF or PLE treatment on the extraction yield of Spirulina biomolecules were evaluated. To further increase the extraction yield, PEF + PLE was used, as an innovative extraction approach. The results showed that PEF + PLE greatly improved the extraction yield compared with the PEF or PLE treatments alone. Compared with Folch extraction (conventional control technique), PEF + …

IL-17A induces chromatin remodeling promoting IL-8 release in bronchial epithelial cells: Effect of Tiotropium

2016

Abstract Aims IL-17A plays a key role in the persistence of airway inflammation, oxidative stress, and reduction of steroid-sensitivity in COPD. We studied the effect of IL-17A on chromatin remodeling and IL-8 production. Main methods We measured the levels of IL-8 and IL-17A in induced sputum supernatants (ISS) from healthy controls (HCs), healthy smokers (HSs), and COPD patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE) was stimulated with ISS from HCs, HSs, or COPD subjects. IL-8 was evaluated in 16HBE by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), acetyl histone H3 (Ac-His H3) (k9) and inhi…

Cigarette smoke alters IL-33 expression and release in airway epithelial cells

2014

AbstractAirway epithelium is a regulator of innate immune responses to a variety of insults including cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke alters the expression and the activation of Toll Like Receptor 4 (TLR4), an innate immunity receptor. IL-33, an alarmin, increases innate immunity Th2 responses. The aims of this study were to explore whether mini-bronchoalveolar lavage (mini-BAL) or sera from smokers have altered concentrations of IL-33 and whether cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) alter both intracellular expression (mRNA and protein) and release of IL-33 in bronchial epithelial cells. The role of TLR4 in the expression of IL-33 was also explored.Mini-BALs, but not sera, from smokers show red…

Differences in the efficacy and safety among inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) combinations in the treatment of chronic…

2015

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are frequently recommended for the treatment of asthma and COPD, often in combination with long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA), depending on the severity of the disease and/or on the specific phenotype. Several ICS/LABA combinations are currently available that differ in their pharmacokinetic characteristics and dose of both components. Thus, this review assesses differences in the efficacy and the safety profiles of the ICS components in the two more frequently used ICS/LABA combinations (budesonide/formoterol and fluticasone/salmeterol) for the management of COPD. Whereas the basic mechanism of action is similar for all ICS (binding with the intracellular gluco…