Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:6.2.1.7 (BAL)
 1,977 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The movement of Co and the other components of the hard metal in the body fluids, their solubility, their links to the cells and proteins of the body, and their clearance are largely unknown. The first aim of this work is to evaluate whether Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), a new analytical technique based on the radiochemical separation of samples irradiated in a Nuclear Reactor, may be suitable for studying the movement of elements in tissues or body fluids of workers over time. We have investigated seven hard metal workers, all employed in the grinding process, with NAA studies (single study in two, follow-up in five) of 29 elements on lung tissue, BAL fluid, blood, urine, pubic hair, toenails and sperm. In three, the diagnosis of hard metal pneumoconiosis was easy; in the other four, due to evident bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy, it was difficult to distinguish between pneumoconiosis and sarcoidosis stage II, and the final diagnosis, after pulmonary biopsy, was hard metal pneumoconiosis in three, and sarcoidosis in one. In spite of high potential, NAA gives a number of unexpected results, with apparent controversies and no clear relationship in the evolution of levels of Co, W and Ta: there is no simple explanation for such apparent inconsistencies at present, so that the study of the movement of elements in body fluid sometimes appears disappointing with this technique. Other observations were noted from the data available: 1) the concentration of elements (Co, Ta, W) in lung tissue is far higher than in BAL fluid, but the factor is so variable that BAL fluid cannot be taken as representative of the concentration of elements in lung tissue. 2) High concentrations in tissues or body fluids are indicative for exposure, but not for disease. In the light of available data, there are no levels above which development of disease is inevitable. 3) When the problem is to distinguish between sarcoidosis and pneumoconiosis in exposed subjects, the concentration of elements is of no value, and the pulmonary biopsy is still necessary. However a NAA study may be helpful to confirm the presence of the offending agent, and to avoid pulmonary biopsy in cases where the occupational history is unclear.
Sarcoidosis 1992 Sep
PMID:Multi-element follow up in biological specimens of hard metal pneumoconiosis. 134 51

We evaluated the levels of bradykinin, albumin, TAME-esterase activity, histamine, PGD2 and LTC4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from asthmatics and from patients with pneumonia, sarcoidosis, fibrosis, and chronic bronchitis. Compared with the results of healthy volunteers and atopic asymptomatic asthmatics the bradykinin levels and TAME-esterase activity were significantly elevated. In all other groups, histamine was additionally elevated in asymptomatic asthmatics, whereas albumin was elevated in symptomatic asthmatics and fibrosis patients, and decreased in chronic bronchitis and pneumonia patients. Following local intrabronchial allergen challenge of mild grass pollen asthmatics out of season bradykinin levels increased significantly, correlated with albumin, histamine and TAME-esterase activity. In contrast to the increased mediator concentrations in the early phase reaction there was no change of BAL cells in asthmatics compared to baseline and healthy volunteers. The presence of bradykinin in the bronchoalveolar space of patients with active pulmonary inflammations and bradykinin generation in asthmatics as a result of intrabronchial allergen challenge provides strong evidence that kinins are involved in inflammatory disorders of the lower airways.
 ...
PMID:Bradykinin and other inflammatory mediators in BAL-fluid from patients with active pulmonary inflammation. 146 81

T lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages accumulating in the lower respiratory tract of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis are known to be activated to produce several cytokines, presumably leading to granuloma formation within the lung. I hypothesized that these cells produce colony-stimulating factors (CSF), which have been shown to affect the proliferation and function of monocyte/macrophage-lineage cells. To test this hypothesis, I tried to detect mRNA encoding CSFs in cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Macrophage-CSF mRNA was detected in all subjects examined and interleukin 3 mRNA in none. Granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) mRNA was detected in 15 of 20 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis, whereas it was detected in none of the farmer's lung disease patients and normal controls. The sarcoid patients whose BAL cells expressed GM-CSF mRNA had more active disease than those patients whose BAL cells did not, as judged from clinical and laboratory findings. These results indicate that GM-CSF produced by the inflammatory cells plays a substantial role in the formation or maintenance of the sarcoid lesion.
 ...
PMID:[Expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNA by inflammatory cells in the sarcoid lung and its clinical significance]. 151 59

Fractional analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (FABAL) fluid was performed in 6 control patients and 41 patients with various interstitial lung disease. The cell differential counts in the first 30 ml fraction of BAL (FBAL-I), which is considered to be the bronchial lavage, differed from those of the 50 ml second and third fraction (FBAL-III). Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, and sarcoidosis showed a high recovery of lymphocytes (52%); however, the former two disorders were occasionally, associated with neutrophil airway inflammation, whereas sarcoidosis was not. The percentage recovery of neutrophils in total FBAL was considerably high in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis, and relatively high in those with collagen vascular disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, and control smokers. However, these neutrophils were largely recovered from FBAL-I, suggesting the presence of airway inflammation. Thus, it is valuable to apply the FBAL method to determine the topographic distribution of inflammatory cells in the lungs. It was also found that the lymphocyte morphology in the lavage fluid was of value in establishing the diagnosis of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and it is critical whether or not mast cells and basophils are present in BALF since they indicate the pathologic state of allergy or fibrosis. Although present in various fibrotic lung diseases in a limit number, langerhans cells are a diagnostic marker for histiocytosis X.
 ...
PMID:[Airway and alveolar inflammation assessments with bronchoalveolar lavage in various interstitial lung disorders]. 163 46

A 63-year-old man with pulmonary sarcoidosis, diagnosed by mediastinal lymph node biopsy in 1977, was admitted in Feb. 1987 because of shortness of breath and cough. Chest X-ray showed bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and a tumor shadow in the right lung field. Histological examination of specimens biopsied from the right lung revealed small cell carcinoma (S.C.C.). Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed to evaluate the disease activity of sarcoidosis, and the total number of cells and T-lymphocytes; the ratio of CD4+ cells to CD8+ cells was not increased. He was treated with combination chemotherapy, however, he died of respiratory failure after 7 months. An autopsy was performed, and the lesions were examined histologically. The sarcoid lesion in a lymph node obtained at autopsy was not active, in contrast to that obtained by mediastinal lymph node biopsy. Lung cancer and sarcoidosis are both common diseases, but their coexistence in the same patient is not common, and autopsied cases are rare. In this case, an autopsy was performed, and BAL had been performed prior to his death. The relationship between the BAL findings and the histology of sarcoidosis was examined. Based on the results of autopsy and BAL, the sarcoidosis was inactive prior to death, but had been histologically active 10 years previously. Therefore, this is a very interesting case, since we can examine the relationship between the two diseases, and the progression of each disease. This case also provides an interesting example of differentiation of sarcoidosis from S.C.C. Metastatic invasion of the hilar lymph nodes without bronchial stenosis and changes secondary to stenosis may often occur in patients with small cell lung cancer. Such metastatic invasion closely resembles the bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy of sarcoidosis; therefore, in some cases, it may be extremely difficult to differentiate the two diseases.
 ...
PMID:[A case of small cell lung cancer associated with pulmonary sarcoidosis]. 166 44

The lungs have an important role in the synthesis of angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE). In BAL fluid and serum the ACE activity was determined in 18 patients with sarcoidosis (11 with high intensity and 7 with low intensity alveolitis), 14 patients with lung cancer and 16 with acute bronchitis. The activity of ACE was examined by a reagent set produced by Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica Test-Combination ACE cat. no. 789/011. The ACE activity in the high intensity alveolitis group of sarcoidosis patients was significantly increased in BAL fluid and serum in comparison to other observed patients. On the other hand, in patients with lung cancer the ACE activity was also increased in comparison to acute bronchitis and referred norms, especially in BAL fluid. This findings suggest a role of neoplastic process in ACE secretion in the airways. Very low correlation observed between ACE activity in serum and BAL fluid indicates a separate mechanism of secretion.
 ...
PMID:[Activity of angiotensin I converting enzyme in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with sarcoidosis and lung neoplasms]. 166 48

Analysis of epithelial lining fluid from the lungs of patients with sarcoidosis frequently suggests the presence of an alveolitis. Several markers of this inflammatory response were quantitated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum from 45 non-smoking patients with sarcoidosis. All markers were elevated significantly compared to those from 19 normal controls. The degree of statistical correlation among all data was assessed. Pulmonary function tests, 67Gallium lung scans, and a clinical index of disease activity also were quantitated. When patients were grouped by the number of abnormal BAL lavage and serum markers, those patients with elevated values of five or more of these markers had significantly worse clinical disease and lower carbon monoxide diffusing capacities. These results indicate that pulmonary sarcoidosis is an immunologically heterogeneous disease and that measurement of several markers of disease activity may be required to accurately estimate the activity of the lung disease.
Sarcoidosis 1991 Mar
PMID:An analysis of the inter-relationships among multiple bronchoalveolar lavage and serum determinations, physiologic tests, and clinical disease activity in patients with sarcoidosis. 166 34

Forty-eight male asbestos workers were studied with clinical interrogation and examination, chest radiograph, lung function, body box studies, blood gases at rest and after exercise, BAL and in 40 cases by CT scan. Mean age was 40:1 (+/- 5.2) and work exposure 18.1 (+/- 4.0) years. There were 52% smokers. We found rales in 93%. Lung functions and clinical picture were not related to smoking (FEV1 was lower). There was evidence of airway obstruction by FEV1/FVC% (58% as below 80%), bronchodilator improvement (18% as over 10%), Raw (45% as over 2 cm H2O/l/sec) or RV/TLC% (39.5% as above 40%). Arterial pO2 decreased (over 2 mm) on exercise in 18%. By ILO classification chest radiographs were up to 1/1 in 10 (21%) and 2/2 or above in 19 (40%). Pleural abnormalities were seen by X-ray in 20 (42%) and by CT Scan in 26 (54%). The scan was abnormal in 92%. Lung function was not related to radiographic ILO grading but was lower with abnormal CT scan. BAL revealed normal (or low) cell counts, fewer macrophages (35%) and more polymorphs (23%) and lymphocytes (29%) over values for controls reported earlier (8); only 9 (19%) showed high cell counts. Asbestos body count was high (28.4) and was unrelated to other abnormalities. In some departments asbestos (respirable) fibre load was high (mean 0.61 to 3.12: maximum 0.84 to 6.78). It is concluded that in a proportion, early asbestosis can be diagnosed by CT scanning and high asbestos body count in BAL.
Sarcoidosis 1991 Sep
PMID:Evaluating computed tomography and broncho alveolar lavage in early diagnosis of pulmonary asbestosis. 166 75

The evaluation of activation markers such as T4/T8 ratio and HLA-DR expression of lymphocytes of bronchoalveolar lavage (L-BAL) is an important clinical approach for the staging of sarcoidosis. However, it is not known to what extent this is paralleled by an exaggerated lymphocyte function. We investigated the dependence of L-BAL activation markers on the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by L-BAL and on the soluble IL-2 receptor serum level (sIL-2R) in 116 patients with sarcoidosis. In none of the combinations tested was a correlation between the two groups of parameters found; r less than 0.5, upper 90% confidence limit of r less than 0.8. Interestingly, IL-2 production is independent of HLA-DR+ T4 L-BAL, and sIL-2R production is independent of the percentage of IL-2+ L-BAL. Our data indicate that the L-BAL activation markers and the functional activity of T-cells represent independent phenomena.
 ...
PMID:Correlation of clinical and immunologic parameters of the inflammatory activity of pulmonary sarcoidosis. 174 45

Pulmonary histiocytosis X is characterized by an accumulation of CD-1-positive histiocytosis X cells in the lung, which also can be found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). However, it has recently been demonstrated that CD-1-positive cells can also be detected in BALF of patients with other interstitial lung diseases and in healthy smokers. We therefore examined the frequency of CD-1-positive cells in a pool of patients with different pulmonary disorders, according to their smoking habits and diagnoses. We have studied the bronchoalveolar lavage in patients with pulmonary histiocytosis X (n = 6), sarcoidosis (n = 88), and in 97 patients with other miscellaneous lung disorders by using the immunoperoxidase method to detect CD-1-positive cells on glass slides. All patients with histologically proven histiocytosis X displayed more than 5% CD-1-positive cells, whereas patients with other pulmonary disorders showed no more than 3.6% CD-1-positive BAL cells. The dividing line of 5% CD-1-positive cells was not influenced by patients' smoking habits. The identification of CD-1-positive cells in BALF appears to be useful in diagnosing pulmonary histiocytosis X.
 ...
PMID:Value of CD-1-positive cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for the diagnosis of pulmonary histiocytosis X. 175


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>