BACKGROUND Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) has been shown to play an important role in pneumocyte proliferation and lung development. We hypothesized that exogenous KGF would enhance postpneumonectomy compensatory lung growth through alveolar proliferation. METHODS AND RESULTS Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Left pneumonectomy was performed in group P, sham thoracotomy in group S, and l...

Pneumonectomy results in rapid compensatory growth of the remaining lung and also leads to increased flow and shear stress, which are known to stimulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Nitric oxide is an essential mediator of vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis, which should necessarily occur during compensatory lung growth. Thus our hypothesis is that eNOS is crit...

After pneumonectomy, the remaining lung increases in size. This process is referred to as compensatory lung growth. Various pathways likely play important roles in this growth response. The molecular mechanisms involved in compensatory lung growth, however, remain poorly understood. Hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF), also called FIZZ1 or RELM-alpha, possesses mitogenic, vasoconstrictive, ...

BACKGROUND The choice between sleeve lobectomy and pneumonectomy is controversial for patients with early-stage lung cancer and who have acceptable lung function. METHODS We performed a meta-analysis of results of sleeve lobectomy and pneumonectomy published in English from 1990 to 2003. A decision model was developed with 5-year survival, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and cost effectiv...