Lung function and plasma levels of thromboxane B2, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha and beta-thromboglobulin in antigen-induced asthma before and after indomethacin pretreatment.

Abstract Background/Aims Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) confers significant benefit in range of connective tissue diseases (CTD) including inflammatory myopathy (IM) of which interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a major complication. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of IVIg on pulmonary involvement in refractory active CTD including systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods All patients with CTD-ILD confirmed on HRCT either with IM or SSc overlap myositis who did not achieve satisfactory clinical response to standard immunosuppressive agents and subsequently received regular IVIg infusions for IM were retrospectively identified. Serial lung function tests and immunosuppressive treatment regimen 9-12 months prior and 9-12 months after repeat courses of IVIg were recorded. Progressive ILD was considered when, despite immunosuppressive treatment, a relative FVC decline≥10% and/or relative DLco decline ≥15% were identified during the 9-12 months preceding IVIg treatment. The significance of median DLco and FVC percentage relative change to IVIg treatment was assessed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results 22 patients (mean age 50.5±13.1 years old) with IM-ILD treated with IVIg were identified. ILD occurred in association with IM in 10 patients, overlap SSc myositis in another 11 patients, while one had mixed connective tissue disease with myositis. Lung function results were available for 19/22 (86%). Eight patients (42.1%) were found to have progressive ILD(four with IM and four with overlap SSc-myositis). The median change in FVC% predicted and DLco% predicted in the 9-12 months before and after IVIg treatment is presented in Table 1. There was a significant difference in the DLco% predicted rate of relative change before and after IVIg treatment (p = 0.035) for the overall cohort. However, no differences in lung function were observed in the rate of relative change between patients with IM and patients with SSc myositis overlap. Significant improvement in DLco% predicted values was identified in the subgroup analysis of patients with progressive ILD(p = 0.012). P157 Table 1:The median change in FVC and DLco% predicted values prior and after the IVIg treatmentPatients with myositis related ILD9-12 months before IVIg treatment (relative change)9-12 months after IVIg treatment (relative change)p-valueAll (n = 19)FVC % predicted-3.8 (-54.4 - 14.6)2.1 (-33 - 33.7)0.145DLco % predicted-9.2 (-60.7 - 9.2)-2.3 (-26 - 41.9)0.035PM/DM (n = 10)FVC % predicted-1.8 (-20.2 - 14.6)0.8 (-33 - 30.9)0.401DLco % predicted-9.6 (-60.7 - 9.2)-2.4 (-26 - 41.9)0.093SSc-PM/DM overlap (n = 11)FVC % predicted-6 (-54.4 - 10.6)3.4 (-19.9 - 33.7)0.139DLco % predicted-10.8 (-47.1 - 2.5)4.2 (-22.7 - 16.8)0.173Progressive ILD (n = 8)FVC % predicted-14.5 (-54.4 - 14.6)5.7 (-11.9 - 33.7)0.123DLco % predicted-25.3 (-60.6 - -14.1)12 (-2.3 - 41.9)0.012 Conclusion IVIg may be an effective rescue therapy in the prevention of further lung function decline in refractory myositis and SSc overlap in particular in subgroups with progressive ILD. Future studies to determine its role in CTD-ILD are warranted. Disclosure V. Kouranos: None. L.V. Host: None. C. Campochiaro: None. A. Wells: None. C.P. Denton: None. V.H. Ong: None. E. Renzoni: None.

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Omalizumab reduces bronchial mucosal IgE and improves lung function in non-atopic asthma

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.01501-2015 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 48 (6) ◽

pp. 1593-1601 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Prathap Pillai ◽

Yih-Chih Chan ◽

Shih-Ying Wu ◽

Line Ohm-Laursen ◽

Clare Thomas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mast Cells ◽

Lung Function ◽

Plasma Cells ◽

Placebo Treatment ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Atopic Asthma ◽

Before And After ◽

Bronchial Biopsies ◽

Withdrawal Of Therapy ◽

Therapy Reduction

Omalizumab therapy of non-atopic asthmatics reduces bronchial mucosal IgE and inflammation and preserves/improves lung function when disease is destabilised by staged withdrawal of therapy.18 symptomatic, non-atopic asthmatics were randomised (1:1) to receive omalizumab or identical placebo treatment in addition to existing therapy for 20 weeks. Bronchial biopsies were collected before and after 12–14 weeks of treatment, then the patients destabilised by substantial, supervised reduction of their regular therapy. Primary outcome measures were changes in bronchial mucosal IgE+ cells at 12–14 weeks, prior to regular therapy reduction, and changes in lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s) after destabilisation at 20 weeks. Quality of life was also monitored.Omalizumab but not placebo therapy significantly reduced median total bronchial mucosal IgE+ cells (p<0.01) but did not significantly alter median total mast cells, plasma cells, B lymphocytes, eosinophils and plasmablasts, although the latter were difficult to enumerate, being distributed as disperse clusters. By 20 weeks, lung function declined in the placebo-treated patients but improved in the omalizumab treated patients, with significant differences in absolute (p=0.04) and % predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p=0.015).Omalizumab therapy of non-atopic asthmatics reduces bronchial mucosal IgE+ mast cells and improves lung function despite withdrawal of conventional therapy.

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SECRETION OF DIHYDROTESTOSTERONE BY HUMAN PROSTATE IN BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERTROPHY

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0770401 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 401-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

J. A. Mahoudeau ◽

A. Delassalle ◽

H. Bricaire

Keyword(s):

Plasma Levels ◽

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy ◽

Prostatic Hypertrophy ◽

Human Prostate ◽

Control Subjects ◽

Peripheral Plasma ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

The Mean ◽

And Control

ABSTRACT Plasma levels of testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) were determined by radioimmunoassay in 29 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and in 56 control men of various ages. No significant difference was found in T, DHT nor DHT/T ratio between BPH and control subjects of similar age. Plasma DHT was higher in the prostatic than in the peripheral veins in 8/9 patients with BPH during laparotomy, indicating a prostatic secretion of DHT. No difference in the mean T nor the mean DHT was found in peripheral plasma before and after adenomectomy.

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Acute cold stress in rheumatoid arthritis inadequately activates stress responses and induces an increase of interleukin 6

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/ard.2008.089458 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 68 (4) ◽

pp. 572-578 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

R H Straub ◽

G Pongratz ◽

H Hirvonen ◽

T Pohjolainen ◽

M Mikkelsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Stress Response ◽

Cold Stress ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Plasma Levels ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Whole Body ◽

Cold Therapy ◽

Before And After ◽

Sympathetic Stress

Objective:Acute stress in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) should stimulate a strong stress response. After cryotherapy, we expected to observe an increase of hormones of the adrenal gland and the sympathetic nervous system.Methods:A total of 55 patients with RA were recruited for whole-body cryotherapy at −110°C and −60°C, and local cold therapy between −20°C and −30°C for 7 days. We measured plasma levels of steroid hormones, neuropeptide Y (sympathetic marker), and interleukin (IL)6 daily before and after cryotherapy.Results:In both therapy groups with/without glucocorticoids (GC), hormone and IL6 levels at baseline and 5 h after cold stress did not change over 7 days of cryotherapy. In patients without GC, plasma levels of cortisol and androstenedione were highest after −110°C cold stress followed by −60°C or local cold stress. The opposite was found in patients under GC therapy, in whom, unexpectedly, −110°C cold stress elicited the smallest responses. In patients without GC, adrenal cortisol production increased relative to other adrenal steroids, and again the opposite was seen under GC therapy with a loss of cortisol and an increase of dehydroepiandrosterone. Importantly, there was no sympathetic stress response in both groups. Patients without GC and −110°C cold stress demonstrated higher plasma IL6 compared to the other treatment groups (not observed under GC), but they showed the best clinical response.Conclusions:We detected an inadequate stress response in patients with GC. It is further shown that the sympathetic stress response was inadequate in patients with/without GC. Paradoxically, plasma levels of IL6 increased under strong cold stress in patients without GC. These findings confirm dysfunctional stress axes in RA.

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Chronic physical stress differences between genders in a military training on the Amazon jungle

Comparative Exercise Physiology ◽

10.3920/cep140019 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 17-21

Author(s):

Y.R. de Souza ◽

F.B. Feitosa

Keyword(s):

Plasma Levels ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

Military Training ◽

Female Gender ◽

Physical Stress ◽

Male Gender ◽

Normal Range ◽

Male And Female ◽

Normal Limits ◽

Before And After

This study aimed to investigate the gender difference in the manifestation of physical stress in a strenuous military training on Amazon jungle, using alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) markers, measured before and after an adaptation to jungle training. The sample consisted of 49 military volunteers, 35 male and 14 female, recently moved to the Amazon region. All plasma levels rose after the training. Serum ALT (male and female) and AST (male and female), although borderline, remained within normal limits. Already plasma levels of CK (both male and female) and LDH (male and female) largely exceeded the normal range. The average of all markers listed in female gender remained below the levels of the male gender. However, significant differences in biomarkers ALT, AST and CK between genders were found. The study points out that, in a jungle environment, biometric markers ALT, AST, CK and LDH are efficient for monitoring chronic physical stress in both genders, when used in combination. The influence of the weather on the occurrence of physical stress in unacclimated people of both genders, and the lower responses in the levels of ALT, AST, LDH and CK in females were discussed basing on the scientific literature.

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Impact of Lung Biopsy on Lung Function in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Respiration ◽

10.1159/000509557 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Pierre-Henri Aussedat ◽

Nader Chebib ◽

Kais Ahmad ◽

Jean-Charles Glerant ◽

Gabrielle Drevet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽

Forced Vital Capacity ◽

Lung Biopsy ◽

Vital Capacity ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Surgical Lung Biopsy ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Background: Video-assisted surgical lung biopsy (SLB) is performed in 10–30% of cases to establish the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of SLB on lung function in patients eventually diagnosed with IPF. Methods: This is an observational, retrospective, monocentric study of all consecutive patients eventually diagnosed with IPF in multidisciplinary discussion who underwent SLB over 10 years in a specialized center. The primary end point was the variation in forced vital capacity (FVC) before and after the SLB. The secondary end points were the variations in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), total lung capacity (TLC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO), and morbidity and mortality associated with the SLB. Results: In 118 patients who underwent SLB and were diagnosed with IPF, a relative decrease in FVC of 4.8% (p < 0.001) was found between measurements performed before and after the procedure. The mean FVC decrease was 156 ± 386 mL in an average period of 185 days, representing an annualized decline of 363 ± 764 mL/year. A significant decrease was also observed after SLB in FEV1, TLC, and DLCO. Complications within 30 days of SLB occurred in 14.4% of patients. Two patients (1.7%) died within 30 days, where one of them had poor lung function. Survival at 1 year was significantly poorer in patients with FVC <50% at baseline. Conclusion: In this uncontrolled study in patients ultimately diagnosed with IPF, SLB was followed by a significant decline in FVC, which appears to be numerically greater than the average decline in the absence of treatment in the literature. Summary at a Glance: This study evaluated the change in lung function in 118 consecutive patients diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by surgical lung biopsy. Forced vital capacity decreased by 156 ± 386 mL in a mean of 185 days between the last measurement before and first measurement after biopsy, representing an annualized decline of 363 ± 764 mL/year.

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Mechanical effects of obesity on airway responsiveness in otherwise healthy humans

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00083.2009 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 107 (2) ◽

pp. 408-416 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Roberto Torchio ◽

Alessandro Gobbi ◽

Carlo Gulotta ◽

Raffaele Dellacà ◽

Marco Tinivella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Lung Function ◽

Body Mass ◽

Airway Hyperresponsiveness ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Rest Period ◽

Healthy Humans ◽

Before And After ◽

Maximum Expiratory Flow ◽

Residual Capacity

We investigated whether obesity is associated with airway hyperresponsiveness in otherwise healthy humans and, if so, whether this correlates with a restrictive lung function pattern or a decreased number of sighs at rest and/or during walking. Lung function was studied before and after inhaling methacholine (MCh) in 41 healthy subjects with body mass index ranging from 20 to 56. Breathing pattern was assessed during a 60-min rest period and a 30-min walk. The dose of MCh that produced a 50% decrease in the maximum expiratory flow measured in a body plethysmograph (PD50MCh) was inversely correlated with body mass index ( r2 = 0.32, P < 0.001) and waist circumference ( r2 = 0.25, P < 0.001). Significant correlations with body mass index were also found with the maximum changes in respiratory resistance ( r2 = 0.19, P < 0.001) and reactance ( r2 = 0.40, P < 0.001) measured at 5 Hz. PD50MCh was also positively correlated with functional residual capacity ( r2 = 0.56, P < 0.001) and total lung capacity ( r2 = 0.59, P < 0.001) in men, but not in women. Neither PD50MCh nor body mass index correlated with number of sighs, average tidal volume, ventilation, or breathing frequency. In this study, airway hyperresponsiveness was significantly associated with obesity in otherwise healthy subjects. In obese men, but not in women, airway hyperresponsiveness was associated with the decreases in lung volumes.

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