Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0032285 (pneumonia)
 54,520 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most frequently encountered bacterial pathogens in patients with chronic pulmonary infections, including cystic fibrosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis. Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT), noted frequently in patients with cystic fibrosis and diffuse panbronchiolitis, is considered to play an important role in the local immunologic defense mechanisms in the respiratory tract. To investigate the role of BALT in chronic pulmonary infections, we developed an animal model for chronic pulmonary infection and studied the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of BALT. Experimental pneumonia was produced in rats by intratracheal inoculation of P. aeruginosa enmeshed in agar beads. The histological changes corresponded to those occurring in chronic bronchiolitis. Immunohistochemically, surface immunoglobulin M-positive (sIgM+) cells and sIgA+ cells were recognized in the inflamed bronchial walls from day 4, and sIgG+ cells were recognized from day 14, W3/25+ cells exceeded OX8+ cells in number until day 14. In the BALT, there was a massive accumulation of lymphocytes in the lymphatics and high endothelial venules. The development of germinal centers was accompanied by increased numbers of sIgM+ and sIgA+ cells. W3/25+ cells exceeded OX8+ cells in number in the BALT until day 14. On the other hand, OX8+ cells were predominant in comparison with W3/25+ cells at day 21, and then both sIgM+ and sIgA+ cells and inflammatory changes in the lung decreased at day 28. These findings suggest that BALT regulates the local immune responses against chronic pulmonary infection due to P. aeruginosa.
 ...
PMID:Morphological and immunohistochemical studies of the lungs and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in a rat model of chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 200 30

The in vitro activity, pharmacokinetics, bactericidal activity, and tissue penetration of aztreonam suggest that it may play a role in therapy for serious gram-negative bacterial infections in children. Several thousand children throughout the world received aztreonam during open or comparative clinical trials for treatment of infections including pyelonephritis, bacteremia, meningitis, skeletal infection, pneumonia, and peritonitis. Cure rates have ranged from 92% to 100%, with relapses seen mainly in children with obstructive renal lesions and those with infections caused by Salmonella. A comparative trial of aztreonam for treatment of neonatal sepsis showed it to be at least as effective as amikacin for this infection. Aztreonam yielded clinical results comparable to those of conventional combined therapy for pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. Adverse effects in pediatric trials have been uncommon; fever, diarrhea, or rash occurred in less than 2% of treated children. Reversible laboratory abnormalities have occasionally been noted. On the basis of these data, aztreonam is considered an appropriate alternative agent for the treatment of serious gram-negative bacterial infections in neonates and children. Further comparative clinical trials will delineate specific indications.
 ...
PMID:Clinical experience with aztreonam for treatment of infections in children. 206 62

The vasodilator effect of acetylcholine on the pulmonary circulation was first described over 30 years ago, however, the mechanism remained unknown until Furchgott described the endothelium-dependent relaxation of certain vasodilators. It was not until 1987 that endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF) was demonstrated to dilate human pulmonary arteries in vitro. Despite this work, the physiologic role of EDRF in the pulmonary circulation is not known. It has been suggested that hypoxia-induced inhibition of EDRF action or release from pulmonary artery endothelial cells may have a role in hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) but present evidence suggests that loss of EDRF activity is not directly involved in the phenomenon of HPV. It is more likely that EDRF is released from pulmonary artery endothelial cells during hypoxia and this released EDRF then modulates HPV. If EDRF does modulate HPV in vivo then the role of EDRF in the altered HPV found in disease merits attention. It is known that in disease states such as acute lung injury and pneumonia there is loss or attenuation of HPV which inevitably leads to increased V/Q mismatch and hypoxemia. Whether this attenuation of HPV is due to release of an endogenous vasodilator such as EDRF is presently being investigated. Additionally, there is in vitro evidence that loss of EDRF activity may be important in the genesis of pulmonary hypertension such as found in severe cystic fibrosis. During the next decade the role of EDRF in the human pulmonary circulation in both health and disease will undoubtedly be elucidated.
 ...
PMID:Endothelium-derived relaxing factors and the human pulmonary circulation. 211 36

In children with asthma, routine chest X-ray typically shows bilaterally increased air volume, low diaphragms, wide diaphragmatic angles, and often a slender cardiac silhouette with a prominent pulmonic arch. Such an X-ray is not diagnostic of asthma itself, however, but rather of its complications: pneumonitis (particularly in toddlers with infectious asthma), atelectasis due to mucus obstruction, and, rarely, extra-alveolar air trapping (pneumomediastinum with or without cutaneous emphysema more often than pneumothorax). The differential diagnosis has to rule out "pseudo asthma" due to cystic fibrosis, alveolitis, achalasia, and foreign body aspiration.
 ...
PMID:[Radiologic findings and differential diagnosis of bronchial asthma in childhood]. 220 86

Respiratory distress and progressive lung destruction in cystic fibrosis can be attributed to bacterial persistence and the accumulation of viscous purulent secretions in the airways. More than 30 yr ago it was suggested that the large amounts of DNA in purulent secretions contribute to its viscosity and that bovine pancreatic DNase I could reduce the viscosity. To evaluate the potential clinical utility of recombinant human DNase I (rhDNase) in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, we have cloned, sequenced, and expressed rhDNase. Catalytic amounts of rhDNase greatly reduce the viscosity of purulent cystic fibrosis sputum, transforming it within minutes from a nonflowing viscous gel to a flowing liquid. The reduction in viscosity is associated with a decrease in size of DNA in the sputum. Inhalation of a rhDNase aerosol may be a simple direct approach that will help individuals with cystic fibrosis and other patients with pneumonia or bronchitis to clear their airways of purulent secretions.
 ...
PMID:Recombinant human DNase I reduces the viscosity of cystic fibrosis sputum. 225 Dec 63

Splenectomy for massive splenomegaly and hypersplenism carries a significant morbidity and mortality. We have used partial splenic embolization (PSE) as an effective alternative to splenectomy. Ten PSE procedures were performed on nine patients without mortality and with minimal morbidity. The age of the patients ranged from 8 months to 32 years (mean 14 years). The causes of splenomegaly and hypersplenism included cystic fibrosis with cirrhosis (2), tyrosinemia and cirrhosis (1); thalassemia (1), hemophilia with Human Immune Deficiency Virus infection (2), chronic hepatitis with portal hypertension (1), malignant histiocytosis (1), and Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (1). All procedures were performed under local anesthesia with sedation. A percutaneous femoral artery approach to the splenic artery was used to deliver Ivalon sponge particles (280-800 microns) into the spleen. Splenic infarction was assessed by postembolization angiograms. All of the patients except one demonstrated improvement of hematologic parameters. In one patient, however, cytopenia improved only after a second embolization. In the total series, there was an early mean rise of 8,600/mm3 in the leukocyte count (range 2,900-14,900) and 212,000/mm3 in the platelet count (range 30,000-718,000). Follow-up ranged from 4 months to 7 years. Improvement of the blood picture has been persistent in seven of the eight patients who showed initial improvement. Transient procedural complications included fever (5), pleural effusion (2), pneumonia (1), and splenic abscess (1). One patient had paralytic ileus lasting for 10 days and one patient developed a streptococcal peritonitis 3 weeks after embolization. No patient developed pancreatitis or vascular compromise of other abdominal viscera.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Partial splenic embolization. An effective alternative to splenectomy for hypersplenism. 226 5

Patients with asthma who have incomplete control of their symptoms or require regular systemic steroidal therapy are said to have recalcitrant asthma. A systematic approach may significantly improve quality of life. Factors that should be evaluated include living with an antigen, occupational exposure, use of beta-adrenoreceptor blockers, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, sensitivity to dietary chemicals, endocrinopathies, gastroesophageal reflux, sinusitis, bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, and noncompliance. Other diseases may mimic asthma or exacerbate nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity. These include congestive heart failure, chronic infectious bronchitis resulting from cystic fibrosis, ciliary dysfunction syndrome, and immunodeficiency syndromes, upper airway obstruction, pertussis syndrome, psychogenic coughs, bronchiolitis obliterans, chronic eosinophilic pneumonia, and vasculitides. A systematic approach to the evaluation of coexisting factors and potential exacerbating diseases is presented.
 ...
PMID:Recalcitrant asthma: an allergist's approach. 229 75

In a 2-year-old boy with untreated cystic fibrosis, an acute deterioration of his chronic respiratory insufficiency developed due to bilateral pneumonia. This condition caused acute right-sided heart failure and nontransmural myocardial infarction of the inferior wall. In concordance with this diagnosis, a marked increase of CPK-MB levels combined with transient severe ischemia on the ECG and the absence of myocardial injury at echocardiography was seen. At 3 years follow-up, he was in good clinical condition.
 ...
PMID:Nontransmural myocardial infarction as a complication of untreated cystic fibrosis. 232 73

An increase in initial chemotherapy intensity was evaluated in 29 patients with high risk metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) of the testis, defined by the presence of multiple large lung metastases, liver, bone or brain metastases, or the combination of large abdominal mass with high serum concentration of the tumour markers alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) or beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) (AFP greater than 500 ku/l or HCG greater than 1000 iu/l). Four courses of bleomycin, vincristine and cisplatin (BOP) were given at 7 day intervals, followed by three courses of etoposide, cisplatin with or without bleomycin (BEP or EP) at 21 day intervals for a total of 13 weeks of chemotherapy. Twenty-three (85%) of 27 evaluable patients have remained continuously free from disease progression at a median of 24 months (range 14-38 months) from chemotherapy and the actuarial 2 year freedom from progression rate is 86% (95% CI = 73-99%). Three patients died from non-malignant causes, two of bleomycin pneumonitis and one from complications of cystic fibrosis. Thus cause specific overall survival in the total population of treated patients is 79%. With appropriate limitation of bleomycin dosage, this approach is well tolerated and results compare favourably with less intensive induction schedules based on initial 21-28 day cycles.
 ...
PMID:Intensive induction chemotherapy for poor risk non-seminomatous germ cell tumours. 246 6

Five bacterial species considered to be potential pathogens in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, and pneumonia--Branhamella catarrhalis, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae--were evaluated for their potential to synthesise histamine in vitro. Bacterial species commonly isolated from infected sputum but generally not considered to be pathogenic--Enterobacteriacae, Neisseria pharyngis, coagulase negative staphylococci, alpha-haemolytic streptococci, and Candida albicans--were similarly studied. Of the "pathogens", the Gram negative species B catarrhalis, H parainfluenzae and Ps aeruginosa synthesised clinically important amounts of histamine; this was not the case for the Gram positive species S aureus and S pneumoniae. Of the "non-pathogenic" species, only the Enterobacteriacae, as a group, were found to synthesise clinically important amounts of histamine. These results show that some Gram negative bacteria, associated with acute exacerbations in respiratory infections, produce histamine and possibly other inflammatory mediators, which may contribute to their pathogenecity in the lower respiratory tract in vivo.
 ...
PMID:Histamine synthesis by respiratory tract micro-organisms: possible role in pathogenicity. 249 9


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