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ABSTRACT: Pentraxin (PTX)3 is involved in antimicrobial defence, apoptotic cell clearance and extracellular matrix stability. As these processes are altered in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we aimed to investigate PTX3 expression in patients with this disease. PTX3 expression was quantified by immunohistochemical staining of lung tissue from never-smokers, smokers without COPD, and in patients with COPD of Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage I, II and III-IV. mRNA expression was examined in total lung tissue by quantitative RT-PCR. PTX3 concentration was measured in induced sputum and plasma by ELISA. PTX3 is mainly localised in the interstitium of the small airways and alveolar walls. There were no significant differences in pulmonary, sputum and plasma PTX3 expression between study groups. However, PTX3 expression in small airways correlated significantly with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r = 0.35, p = 0.004). In the alveolar walls, PTX3 expression correlated significantly with carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (r = 0.28, p = 0.04). In sputum, PTX3 levels were highly correlated with the number of neutrophils. Finally, systemic levels of PTX3 tended to be lower in severe COPD compared with mild COPD. In COPD, airflow limitation and reduced transfer coefficient for carbon monoxide are associated with lower pulmonary interstitial expression of PTX3.
European Respiratory Journal 09/2011; 39(4):830-8. · 5.89 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The role of gravity in the redistribution of pulmonary blood flow during one-lung ventilation (OLV) has been questioned recently. To address this controversial but clinically important issue, we used an experimental approach that allowed us to differentiate the effects of gravity from the effects of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) on arterial oxygenation during OLV in patients scheduled for thoracic surgery.
Forty patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease scheduled for right lung tumour resection were randomized to undergo dependent (left) one-lung ventilation (D-OLV; n=20) or non-dependent (right) one-lung ventilation (ND-OLV; n=20) in the supine and left lateral positions. Partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) was measured as a surrogate for ventilation/perfusion matching. Patients were studied before surgery under closed chest conditions.
When compared with bilateral lung ventilation, both D-OLV and ND-OLV caused a significant and equal decrease in PaO(2) in the supine position. However, D-OLV in the lateral position was associated with a higher PaO2 as compared with the supine position [274.2 (77.6) vs. 181.9 (68.3) mmHg, P<0.01, analysis of variance (ANOVA)]. In contrast, in patients undergoing ND-OLV, PaO2 was always lower in the lateral as compared with the supine position [105.3 (63.2) vs. 187 (63.1) mmHg, P<0.01, ANOVA].
The relative position of the ventilated vs. the non-ventilated lung markedly affects arterial oxygenation during OLV. These data suggest that gravity affects ventilation-perfusion matching independent of HPV.
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 07/2010; 54(6):744-50. · 2.19 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells with antiviral and tolerogenic capabilities. Viral infections and autoimmunity are proposed to be important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study aimed to quantify blood dendritic cell antigen 2-positive pDCs in lungs of subjects with or without COPD by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, combined with the investigation of the influence of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the function of pDCs in vitro. pDCs were mainly located in lymphoid follicles, a finding compatible with their expression of lymphoid homing chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CXCR4. pDC accumulated in the lymphoid follicles and in lung digests of patients with mild to moderate COPD, compared with smokers without airflow limitation and patients with COPD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung disease (GOLD) stage III-IV. Exposing maturing pDC of healthy subjects to CSE in vitro revealed an attenuation of the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and impaired interferon-α production. Maturing pDC from patients with COPD produced higher levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8 compared to pDC from healthy subjects. CSE significantly impairs the antiviral function of pDCs. In COPD, a GOLD stage dependent accumulation of pDC in lymphoid follicles is present, combined with an enhanced production of TNF-α and IL-8 by maturing pDCs.
European Respiratory Journal 03/2010; 36(4):781-91. · 5.89 Impact Factor
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Journal of accident & emergency medicine 10/1999; 16(5):383-4.
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ABSTRACT: Tracheobronchial injuries are rare in trauma patients, and most often occur after motor vehicle accidents. Occasionally, other mechanisms cause airway disruption. The pliability of the chest wall in children greatly adds to the differences in injuries when compared with adult trauma patients. We present the case of a six-year old girl with an isolated right-sided bronchial rupture after direct trauma to the chest.
Acta chirurgica Belgica 101(1):40-1. · 0.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We present the case of a large venous aneurysm in the upper extremity of a 71-year-old male. The patient presented with acute thrombosis of the aneurysm, which was only diagnosed at operation. Aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of this uncommon lesion are discussed.
Acta chirurgica Belgica 101(6):308-9. · 0.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Gangrenous lesions of the foot or lower leg due to severe diabetic arterial disease resulting in extensive soft tissue defects with exposed bones or tendons often result, even after successful revascularisation, in staged or primary amputation. We present our experience with 45 such patients treated with combined arterial reconstruction and free tissue transfer for limb-salvage. All presented with peripheral vascular disease of diabetic origin, and extensive gangrenous lesions that could not be treated by simple wound closure or skin-grafting without major amputation. A total of 53 arterial reconstructions and 47 free-flap transfers were performed. In the majority of patients, the distal anastomosis was on a pedal or tibial vessel. These bypass grafts or a native revascularized artery served as the inflow tract for the free flap which was anastomosed using microsurgical techniques. Venous anastomoses were preferentially performed on the deep venous system. Donor muscles were Musculus rectus abdominis (n=37), Musculus latissimus dorsi (n=5), Musculus serratus anterior (n=3), and a perforator flap (n=2) tailored to the size of the defect and covered with a split thickness graft (STG). The operation was set up as a combined procedure in 39/45 patients, two teams working simultaneously, limiting the mean operative time to 6 h. Early reinterventions had to be performed in 14 patients resulting in five flap losses of which two could be treated with a new free flap transfer and three were amputated. Three other patients died in the postoperative period, leaving us with a total of 39/45 patients leaving the hospital with a full-length limb. Independent ambulation was achieved in 32 of these 39 patients. During late follow-up (mean 26 months) eight bypasses occluded resulting in two amputations and two new vascular reconstructions. Combined survival and limb-salvage rate was 84% after 1 year, 77% after 2 years and 65% after 3 years. The advantages of this combined technique are: (1) it provides immediate soft tissue coverage limiting amputation level and healing time, resulting in early ambulation; (2) it provides extra run-off to the revascularisation, illustrated by a decrease in peripheral resistance, contributing to its patency; (3) the application of healthy, well vascularised tissue limits infection and enhances neovascularisation; (4) a full-length limb is preserved. We believe this combined approach offers a valuable alternative to primary amputation in this group of patients with extensive ischaemic defects.
Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews 16 Suppl 1:S33-6. · 3.37 Impact Factor
