infections in copd

Type III interferons (IFNs), also termed lambda IFNs (IFNλs) or interleukins-28/29, constitute a new addition to the IFN family. They are induced upon infection and are particularly abundant at barrier surfaces, such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Although they signal through a unique heterodimeric receptor complex comprising IFNLR1 and IL10RB, they activate a downstream signaling pathway remarkably similar to that of type I IFNs and share many functions with them. Yet, they also have important differences which are only now starting to unfold...

BACKGROUND: The bronchial mucosa is protected by a specialized immune system focused on the prevention of colonization and infection by potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs). Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is the principal antibody involved in this mechanism. A defective immune barrier may facilitate the recurrent presence of PPMs in COPD. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine IgA-mediated bronchial specific immune responses against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in stable patients with severe disease...

Double-stranded RNA derived from viruses induces host immune responses. PD-L1, also known as B7-H1, is an immune-checkpoint molecule associated with the escape of viruses from host immune systems, which plays a role in the persistence of viral infection, resulting in exacerbations of underlying diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Interleukin (IL)-22 is produced from various immune cells and has protective properties on mucosal tissue. The binding of IL-22 to IL-22 receptor induces STAT3 activation...

Eosinophilic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) predicts response to treatment, especially corticosteroids. We studied the nature of eosinophilic inflammation in COPD prospectively to examine the stability of this phenotype and its dynamics across exacerbations, and its associations with clinical phenotype, exacerbations and infection.127 patients aged 40-85 years with moderate to very severe COPD underwent repeated blood and sputum sampling at stable visits and within 72 h of exacerbation for 1 year...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways caused mainly by cigarette smoke exposure. COPD progression is marked by exacerbations of the disease, often associated with infections. Recent data show the involvement in COPD pathophysiology of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-22, two cytokines that are important in the control of lung inflammation and infection. During the initiation and progression of the disease, increased IL-17 secretion causes neutrophil recruitment, leading to chronic inflammation, airways obstruction and emphysema...

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this pharmacist-led study was to utilize 2 validated instruments, Beers and Screening Tool of Older Persons' Potentially inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP), to assess potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in older patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and evaluate pharmacist interventions. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, interventional trial. SETTING: Large urban clinic providing interdisciplinary primary and HIV care for approximately 2700 HIV-positive, publically insured patients...

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays an important role in resistance to Aspergillus infections. Previous studies have suggested that PTX3 polymorphisms influence the risk of invasive aspergillosis among transplantation recipients. This study was to investigate the association between PTX3 gene polymorphisms and pulmonary aspergillosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) population. Methods: We included 173 consecutive inpatients with COPD. 36 cases were finally diagnosed with pulmonary aspergillosis...

Background: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) causes pneumonia with a relatively high case fatality rate in humans. Smokers and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have been reported to be more susceptible to MERS-CoV infection. Here, we determined the expression of MERS-CoV receptor, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4), in lung tissues of smokers without airflow limitation and COPD patients in comparison to non-smoking individuals (never-smokers). Methods: DPP4 expression was measured in lung tissue of lung resection specimens of never-smokers, smokers without airflow limitation, COPD GOLD stage II patients and in lung explants of end-stage COPD patients...

BACKGROUND: Cell and animal models show a key role for Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-2 (TREM-2) in chronic airway disease after viral infection but comparable evidence in humans still needs to be established. METHODS: Lung tissue samples were obtained from lung transplant recipients with GOLD Stage 4 COPD (n=16), non-transplantable donor lung tissues (n=10), and resected lung tissues from at-risk or GOLD Stage 1-4 patients (n=72) and were assessed for TREM-2 and TREM-1 mRNA, protein expression, and other markers of a type 2 immune response...

Cladophialophora bantiana brain abscesses are rare, but are frequently and quickly lethal in transplanted patients. We report the case of a 63-year-old man who had undergone lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and presented with headaches and a neurological deficit. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple brain abscesses. C. bantiana was identified by DNA sequencing performed directly on cerebral tissue obtained by surgical biopsy. After 6 months of antifungal treatment, the brain abscesses were replaced by ischemic sequelae...

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization in the airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is probably associated with increased mortality and morbidity and a faster progress of COPD, although this has not been conclusively proven by studies. Studies demonstrating an improvement in prognosis in COPD patients by early eradication of Pseudomonas or at least a reduction of the bacterial burden by either inhaled or oral antibiotic maintenance therapy, are missing. An impact on the exacerbation rate has only been shown for macrolide maintenance treatment; however, this effect could be explained by the inclusion of patients with bronchiectasis in the studies...

Inhaled corticosteroid-containing medications reduce the frequency of COPD exacerbations (mainly infectious in origin) while paradoxically increasing the risk of other respiratory infections. The aim was to determine the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on airway microbial load in COPD patients and evaluate the influence of the underlying inflammatory profile on airway colonisation and microbiome.This is a proof-of-concept prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint study. Sixty patients with stable moderate COPD were randomised to receive one inhalation twice daily of either a combination of salmeterol 50 μg plus fluticasone propionate 500 μg or salmeterol 50 μg for 12 months...

Lower respiratory tract infections represent one of the main causes of mortality in the world. They essentially consist of bronchitis, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary diseases (COPD) and acute pneumonia. If acute bronchitis is mainly of viral origin, acute exacerbations of COPD and pneumonia are mainly due to a trio of bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis). Other pathogens as many viruses and atypical bacteria such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella, some Enterobacteriaceae and very rarely Pseudomonas aeruginosa are also implicated...

BACKGROUND: The direct costs associated with menopausal and postmenopausal symptoms (hereafter "menopausal symptoms") may include the costs of physician and emergency department visits, medications, laboratory testing, and the management of side effects. However, much remains unknown about the costs related to menopausal symptoms, including how they compare with the costs of other diseases that are common among menopausal women. OBJECTIVE: To compare the economic burden of menopausal symptoms with other select prevalent chronic conditions among a nationally representative sample of US menopausal women aged 45 to 65 years...

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to identify and characterize the species resistance of different pathogens between community acquired and hospital acquired infections pointing at patients' related independent co-morbidities and socio-demographic factors. METHODS: It was a retrospective cohort, multicenter study from five private hospitals located in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. Two hundred fifty-eight adult patients were included. RESULTS: 110 Gram negative pathogens and 26 Gram positive pathogens were implicated in hospital acquired infections...

Background: Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) persists in the airways in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). NTHi expresses four IgA protease variants (A1, A2, B1, B2) with distinct cleavage specificities for human IgA1. Little is known about the different roles of IgA protease variants in NTHi infection. Methods: Twenty-six NTHi isolates from a 20-year longitudinal study of COPD were analyzed for IgA protease expression, survival in human respiratory epithelial cells and cleavage of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1)...

The number of patients with pulmonary disease caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is increasing globally. Poor resistance against infections, for example, due to pre-existing lung diseases, immune deficiency and immune-modulating treatment, predisposes the population to developing pulmonary NTM disease. The incidence of pre-existing lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis has also increased. NTM disease diagnosis is often delayed due to non-specific symptoms. The therapeutic arsenal is limited and adherence to treatment guidelines is often low since the treatment regimens are complex, lengthy and side effects are common...

BACKGROUND: Sphingobacterium spiritivorum is a glucose non-fermenting Gram-negative rod, formerly classified as one of the Flavobacterium species. It is characterized by a large number of cellular membrane sphingophospholipids. Sphingobacterium species are ubiquitous and isolated from natural environments, such as soil and water. However, they rarely cause infections in humans. Only a limited number of cases have been reported in elderly and immunocompromised patients with underlying diseases and predisposing factors...

Besides liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with many extrahepatic manifestations (EHMs). HCV exhibits lymphotropism that is responsible for various EHM. An important characteristic of HCV is escape from the immune system, which enables it to produce chronic infections and autoimmune disorders along with accumulation of circulating immune complexes. These EHMs have large spectrum, because they affect many organs such as heart, lungs, kidney, brain, thyroid, and skin...

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors is a key point for preventive strategies to reduce the incidence of COPD. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the most important risk factors for COPD among adults in Chinese Mainland, so as to provide some precautions and interventions on this disease and preventing further recurrences. METHODS: A comprehensive literature review relating to risk factors for COPD through PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database and VIP database was conducted before March 31, 2017...