Background The types of cells most significantly linked to individual subtypes of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs) remain unclear. Few studies have examined CD163+ macrophages in IIPs. Objective We retrospectively aimed to immunohistochemically characterize the CD163+ macrophages in IIPs. Methods Paraffin-embedded lung tissue samples were obtained from 47 patients with IIPs, includ...

The exact role of FasL, and particularly its soluble and membrane-bound forms, in the development of chronic ILDs and lung fibrosis has not been extensively explored. We aimed at analyzing membrane-bound FasL expression on alveolar macrophages (AM) and lymphocytes (AL) as well as soluble FasL (sFasL) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from ILDs patients, incl. pulmonary sarcoidosis (PS), hy...

BACKGROUND Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) involves conditions characterized by both having symptoms of connective tissue disease (CTD) and autoantibodies but not fulfilling the criteria of a specific CTD. The frequency or prognosis of the usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern in UCTD is unknown, which may be confused with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This study a...

OBJECTIVE To study the expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in the remodeled lung in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, correlating that expression with patient survival. METHODS We examined open lung biopsy specimens from 24 SSc patients and 30 IPF patients, using normal lung tissue as a control. The histological patterns included fibrotic nonspecific interst...

The development of pulmonary fibrosis is the end point of a wide range of respiratory diseases including organic and inorganic dust exposure, pulmonary infection, acute lung injury, radiation, the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIP), and connective tissue diseases. The most common fibrotic lung disorder is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), an IIP with the histological appearance of usua...

was significantly less inHAPE-p than in HAPE-r (1% v 9%, odds ratio 0.10 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.82), p = 0.01). Our findings support the hypothesis that ACE and ET-1 polymorphisms have a role in the susceptibility to HAPE. The findings of the present study and earlier reports on adaptation to high altitude 3 together indicate that ACE and ET-1 genes are significant in high altitude physiology. In co...

BACKGROUND In severe, progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD), specific diagnosis is often difficult, and treatment therefore empirical. An effective, rapidly acting, well-tolerated therapy is desirable. This study reviews the tolerability and efficacy of i.v. cyclophosphamide in known or suspected non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) following the introduction of an i.v. cyclophospha...

Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) are diffuse fibrosing lung diseases that sometimes difficult to differentiate by only visual evaluation of CT images. We aimed find if vessel volume (PVV), a new quantitative measure, can help these at the time diagnosis. Methods: retrospectively measured P...

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of a 4-year history of persistent dry cough and progressive dyspnea on exertion. Chest computed tomography images revealed diffuse reticular opacities and traction bronchiectasis in the bilateral lower lobes and emphysema predominantly in the upper lobes. He was treated with inhaled N-acetylcystein therapy, oral corticosteroids, and pir...