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Query: UMLS:C0032285 (pneumonia)
 54,520 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Electron microscopy of "normal" lung tissue from four heavy cigarette smokers showed acicular crystal clefts thought to represent cholesterol in the cytoplasm of virtually every type II pneumocyte. Similar but less pronounced changes were found in two cases of obstructive pneumonia distal to bronchial tumours, a condition characterised by excess cholesterol. Cholesterol pneumonitis is particularly prevalent in smokers, and the changes in our smokers' lungs possible represent an early stage in a process that if progressive would lead to this disease. The cholesterol may represent a degenerative change in type II pneumocytes or a byproduct of increased surfactant synthesis stimulated by cigarette smoke.
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PMID:Cholesterol in the lungs of heavy cigarette smokers. 72 24

Obstructive pneumonitis frequently occurs distal to hilar bronchogenic carcinomas or in lung adjacent to peripheral tumors. The article evaluates the role of MRI in the differentiation of tumor from pneumonitis. Twelve patients underwent MRI of the thorax before surgery. T1-weighted (SE 310/20) and T2-weighted (SE 2000/60-120) images were obtained through the tumor and presumed areas of pneumonitis. Five histologic types of pneumonitis were identified on pathologic examination of the 12 specimens. Cholesterol pneumonitis, found in 7 patients, was the most common type. Organizing pneumonitis, bronchiectasis with mucus plugs, atelectasis, and abscess were found in 3, 4, 2, and 1 patients, respectively. MRI was able to differentiate tumor from pneumonitis in 5 of 6 patients with a hilar mass and in 5 of 6 patients with a peripheral tumor. This was achieved by a visual difference in signal intensity on heavily T2-weighted (SE 2000/120) images. Cholesterol pneumonitis and bronchiectasis with mucus plugs were always hyperintense relative to tumor, and organizing pneumonitis and atelectasis were isointense and indistinguishable from tumor. MRI can differentiate tumor from pneumonitis provided that pneumonitis is of the cholesterol type or if there are mucus plugs in the collapsed lung.
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PMID:Differentiation of bronchogenic carcinoma from postobstructive pneumonitis by magnetic resonance imaging: histopathologic correlation. 185 98

Lipid analyses were carried out on the lungs of female B6C3F1 mice treated with methylnaphthalene. Cholesteryl ester, which could not be detected in lungs of control animals, was present in lungs of treated animals. Cholesterol and dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine (DPPC) content was increased about five times in lungs of treated mice compared with control mice, and the content of a minor phospholipid was increased six times. The latter phospholipid was purified by high performance liquid chromatography and identified as phosphatidylglycerol by thin layer chromatography and by fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry. Both DPPC and phosphatidylglycerol are known to be pneumonal surfactants produced from type II pneumocytes. Therefore, the accumulation of these lipids in lung tissue was assumed to be caused by the proliferation of type II cells induced by the administration of methylnaphthalene. The results provide important information concerning the underlying mechanism of endogenous lipid pneumonia in mice.
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PMID:Accumulation of surfactant phospholipids in lipid pneumonia induced with methylnaphthalene. 376 27

The effects of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) were studied in normal dogs and dogs given otherwise sublethal total-body irradiation (TBI) without marrow transplantation. Ten normal dogs were given rhIL-11 subcutaneously, twice daily for 14 days at varying doses, two dogs at 30 micrograms/kg/day, four dogs at 60 micrograms/kg/day, two dogs at 120 micrograms/kg/day, and two dogs at 240 micrograms/kg/day. Peripheral blood platelet counts increased in all dogs. The increase in platelet counts ranged from 1.4 to 3.1 times the pre-treatment level. The greater increases of platelets were associated with higher doses (p = 0.01). No change in platelet size was evident except at the dose of 240 micrograms/kg/day. There were no changes in the total white blood cell (WBC) count or differential. A higher proportion of megakaryocytes with a DNA content of 32N/64N was observed in dogs treated with rhIL-11 at day 7 (n = 6) than for control dogs that did not receive rhIL-11 (n = 7; p = 0.01). In both peripheral blood and marrow, significantly increased hematopoietic progenitors (i.e, colony-forming unit granulocyte/macrophage [CFU-GM]) were present 7 and 14 days after the start of treatment. Concentrations of serum fibrinogen increased by a median of 155 mg/dL at day 7 of rhIL-11 (p < 0.01). Cholesterol also increased by a median of 52 mg/dL at day 14 (p < 0.01). There was a single death of a non-irradiated dog from pneumonitis on day 15 after the start of rhIL-11 administration at a dose of 120 micrograms/kg/day. All other non-irradiated dogs tolerated rhIL-11 without any significant adverse effects. Five dogs were given 200 cGy TBI without marrow grafting, followed by 240 micrograms/kg/day rhIL-11 subcutaneously in two divided doses for 28 days starting within 2 hours of TBI. The results in this group were compared with 10 dogs that had previously or concurrently been given 200 cGy without marrow grafting or hematopoietic growth factors. Two of the five treatment dogs died of pneumonitis on day 13 compared to one death among 10 control dogs on day 24. Among dogs that survived to hematologic recovery, the rhIL-11 dogs had decreased platelet counts (< 150,000) for a median of 24 days (range = 24 to 41) compared to a median of 28 days (range = 21-40) for the control group. Treatment with rhIL-11 increased platelet counts, platelet size, ploidy number of megakaryocytes, and marrow and peripheral blood CFU-GM in normal dogs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Effects of rhIL-11 on normal dogs and after sublethal radiation. 772 Aug 11

Pneumocystis carinii is the paradigm of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised mammals. Prior to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic and the use of immunosuppressive therapy in organ transplant and cancer patients, P. carinii was regarded as a curiosity, rarely observed clinically. Interest in this organism exploded when it was identified as the agent of P. carinii pneumonia (PcP), the direct cause of death among many AIDS patients. Aggressive prophylaxis has decreased the number of acute PcP cases, but it remains among the most prevalent opportunistic infections found within this patient population. The taxonomic assignment of P. carinii has long been argued; molecular genetics data now demonstrate that it is a fungus. Several antimycotic drugs are targeted against ergosterol or its biosynthesis, but these are not as effective against PcP as they are against other fungal infections. This can now be explained in part by the identification of the sterols of P. carinii. The organism lacks ergosterol but contains distinct C28 and C29 delta7 24-alkylsterols. Also, 24-methylenelanost-8-en-3beta-ol (C31) and pneumocysterol, (24Z)-ethylidenelanost-8-en-3beta-ol (C32) were recently identified in organisms infecting humans. Together, the delta7 24-alkylsterols and pneumocysterol are regarded as signature lipids of the pathogen that can be useful for the diagnosis of PcP, since no other lung pathogen is known to contain them. Cholesterol (C27), the dominant sterol component in P. carinii, is probably totally scavenged from the host. De novo synthesis of sterols has been demonstrated by the presence of lovastatin-sensitive 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity, the incorporation of radiolabeled mevalonate and squalene into P. carinii sterols, and the reduction in cellular ATP in cells treated with inhibitors of enzymes in sterol biosynthesis.
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PMID:C27 to C32 sterols found in Pneumocystis, an opportunistic pathogen of immunocompromised mammals. 1078 9

Cholesterol granulomas unrelated to endogenous lipoid pneumonia, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, or cholesterol pneumonia are a rare finding during pneumectomy or autopsy. They have been occasionally reported in association with pulmonary hypertension. We report a case where these lesions were associated with long-standing pulmonary hypertension and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Plexiform lesions were present in the pulmonary vasculature secondary to pulmonary hypertension, causing hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. We suggest that destruction of red blood cells and platelets could provide membrane lipids that are taken up by phagocytic cells, which promotes the formation of these cholesterol deposits.
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PMID:Cholesterol granulomas of the lungs associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia in pulmonary hypertension. 1110 63

Legionella pneumophila, an intracellular pathogen causing a severe pneumonia, possesses distinct lipolytic activities which have not been completely assigned to specific enzymes so far. We cloned and characterized a gene, plaC, encoding a protein with high homology to PlaA, the major secreted lysophospholipase A of L. pneumophila and to other hydrolytic enzymes belonging to the GDSL family. Here we show that L. pneumophila plaC mutants possessed reduced phospholipase A and lysophospholipase A activities and lacked glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferase activity in their culture supernatants. The mutants' reduced phospholipase A and acyltransferase activities were complemented by reintroduction of an intact copy of plaC. Additionally, plaC conferred increased lysophospholipase A and glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acytransferase activities to recombinant Escherichia coli. Furthermore, PlaC was shown to be another candidate exported by the L. pneumophila type II secretion system and was activated by a factor present in the bacterial culture supernatant dependent on the zinc metalloprotease. Finally, the role of plaC in intracellular infection of Acanthamoeba castellanii and U937 macrophages with L. pneumophila was assessed, and plaC was found to be dispensable. Thus, L. pneumophila possesses another secreted lipolytic enzyme, a protein with acyltransferase, phospholipase A, and lysophospholipase A activities. This enzyme is distinguished from the previously characterized phospholipases A and lysophospholipases A by its capacity not only to cleave fatty acids from lipids but to transfer them to cholesterol. Cholesterol is an important compound of eukaryotic membranes, and an acyltransferase might be a tool for host cell modification to fit the needs of the bacterium.
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PMID:Characterization of the major secreted zinc metalloprotease- dependent glycerophospholipid:cholesterol acyltransferase, PlaC, of Legionella pneumophila. 1584 96

We report our experience with sirolimus in children during the first 6 months after renal transplantation. From July 2000 to January 2004, 66 children received 33 deceased donor and 33 living donor transplants. Maintenance immunosuppression included sirolimus 3 mg/m(2) in addition to prednisone and tacrolimus or cyclosporine. Patient survival was 100% and graft survival was 65 of 66. Seven children experienced acute rejection episodes. All were reversible with increased doses of corticosteroid. One case of graft failure was caused by ischemic renal injury. Adverse events included Epstein-Barr viremia (8 patients) with three cases of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), cytomegalovirus viremia (4 patients), poor wound healing (4 patients), pneumonitis (3 patients), nephrotic syndrome (3 patients), perinephric abscess (1 patient) and insulin-dependant diabetes (2 patients). Sirolimus was discontinued in 13 children for adverse events predominantly for wound dehiscence and pneumonitis. Cholesterol levels >200 mg/dL were observed in 33 children. Thrombocytopenia (platelet count <140 000) was not observed. We concluded that early outcomes with sirolimus were acceptable with 98% graft survival and 11% incidence of acute rejection. Medication was discontinued in 20% for adverse events which included poor wound healing and non-infectious pneumonitis. Infections with cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus, and PTLD were also significant early complications. Therefore, a sirolimus-based regimen that is combined with both an interleukin-2 receptor antibody and a calcineurin inhibitor may be excessive immunosuppression for pediatric renal transplant recipients.
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PMID:Sirolimus in pediatric patients: results in the first 6 months post-renal transplant. 1604 6

Cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) is a multivisceral disease caused by occlusion of small arteries with cholesterol crystal emboli deriving from eroded atherosclerotic plaques of the aorta and/or large feeder arteries. The factors precipitating CCE are manipulation of the aorta or other large arteries during arteriography or surgery, and anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy. CCE has been reported to be a life threatening condition involving multiple vital organ dysfunction, including renal failure, cardiac failure, skin ischemic lesions such as livedo reticularis, patchy skin necrosis, and purple toes, gastrointestinal ischemia, and/or visual disturbance. We report a 63-year-old male patient of CCE after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, who contracted severe pneumonia of Pneumocystis carinii and Cytomegalo virus during steroid therapy (prednisolone 20 mg for 3 months). He was treated successfully with mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis, and appropriate antibiotic therapy. Although corticosteroid therapy has been reported to be effective in some CCE patients, the indications of steroid therapy, dosage of corticosteroids, duration of the treatment, or efficacy of prophylactic administration of antibiotics are not yet established. Further interventional studies are required in order to evaluate the benefit of corticosteroid therapy for CCE.
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PMID:[Pulmonary infection of Pneumocystis carinii and Cytomegalo virus in the treatment of cholesterol crystal embolism]. 1691 63

Low level of blood cholesterol is often found in patients with diseases which pathogenesis is mainly associated with inflamation. To detect blood cholesterol spectre, 383 patients with acute and chronic infections have been observed, level of blood cholesterol of 1259 patients with different pathology was retrospectively analyzed. It was found that an increase in frequency of low cholesterol and decrease in frequency of high cholesterol in patients with diseases not associated with infections do not depend on the age of patients. Extremely low level of cholesterol (Cholesterol < or = 100 mg/dl) is found in 12,8% of patients with inflamation of infectious origion, oftener in patients with community-acquired pneumonia and chronic virus hepatitis. Patients with intestinal infections have extremely low level of cholesterol; two-fold oftener than healthy persons have.
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PMID:[Blood cholesterol spectre in patients with acute and chronic inflammation of infectious origin]. 1742 30


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