BackgroundThe use of electronic (e)-cigarettes is increasing rapidly, but their lung health effects are not established. Clinical studies examining the potential long-term impact of e-cigarette use on lung health will take decades. To address this gap in knowledge, this study investigated the effects of exposure to aerosolised nicotine-free and nicotine-containing e-cigarette fluid on mouse lungs and normal human airway epithelial cells.MethodsMice were exposed to aerosolised phosphate-buffered saline, nicotine-free or nicotine-containing e-cigarette solution, 1-hour daily for 4 months. Normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells cultured at an air-liquid interface were exposed to e-cigarette vapours or nicotine solutions using a Vitrocell smoke exposure robot.ResultsInhalation of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes increased airway hyper-reactivity, distal airspace enlargement, mucin production, cytokine and protease expression. Exposure to nicotine-free e-cigarettes did not affect these lung parameters. NHBE cells exposed to nicotine-containing e-cigarette vapour showed impaired ciliary beat frequency, airway surface liquid volume, cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator and ATP-stimulated K+ ion conductance and decreased expression of FOXJ1 and KCNMA1. Exposure of NHBE cells to nicotine for 5 days increased interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 secretion.ConclusionsExposure to inhaled nicotine-containing e-cigarette fluids triggered effects normally associated with the development of COPD including cytokine expression, airway hyper-reactivity and lung tissue destruction. These effects were nicotine-dependent both in the mouse lung and in human airway cells, suggesting that inhaled nicotine contributes to airway and lung disease in addition to its addictive properties. Thus, these findings highlight the potential dangers of nicotine inhalation during e-cigarette use.
Circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 are associated with systemic inflammation and increased mortality in chronic kidney disease. α-klotho, a co-receptor for FGF23, is downregulated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, whether FGF23 and klotho-mediated FGFR activation delineates a pathophysiologic mechanism in COPD remains unclear. We hypothesized that FGF23 can potentiate airway inflammation via klotho independent FGFR4 activation. FGF23 and its effect were studied using plasma and transbronchial biopsies from COPD and control patients and primary human bronchial epithelial cells isolated from COPD patients as well as a murine COPD model. Plasma FGF23 levels were significantly elevated in COPD patients. Exposure of airway epithelial cells to cigarette smoke and FGF23 led to a significant increase in IL-1β release via klotho-independent FGFR4-mediated activation of phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ)/nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling. In addition, klotho knockout mice developed COPD and showed airway inflammation and elevated FGFR4 expression in their lungs, whereas overexpression of klotho led to an attenuation of airway inflammation. In conclusion, cigarette smoke induces airway inflammation by downregulation of klotho and activation of FGFR4 in the airway epithelium in COPD. Inhibition of FGF23 or FGFR4 might serve as a novel anti-inflammatory strategy in COPD.
Ischemia induced during the brief period allowed rapid mucosal repair and complete recovery of tissue barrier properties during reperfusion. Therefore, reperfusion injury was not observed for this method of ischemic damage in equine colonic mucosa.
Background: Peritoneal fluid analysis in cattle traditionally includes the classic parameters despite the fact that they have only moderate diagnostic accuracy and often fail to identify the pathogenesis or etiological factors. Therefore additional parameters recently have been established to improve diagnostic precision. In a recent study, reference ranges for several of these parameters have been proposed in dairy cows.Hypothesis/Objectives: The aim of this observational study was to assess the diagnostic value of D-Dimer and other measurements of peritoneal fluid analysis in dairy cows with peritonitis.Animals: The study included 110 Holstein-Friesian cows grouped into cows with peritonitis (n 5 47) and cows without peritonitis (n 5 63).Methods: Peritoneal fluid was obtained by abdominocentesis. Total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, fibrinogen, Llactate, D-Dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase, creatine phosphokinase, white blood cell, and red blood cell were determined in peritoneal fluid and venous blood. Serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) and ratios of peritoneal fluid-venous blood were calculated. Sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) were calculated and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis performed.Results: Peritoneal fluid D-Dimer was most accurate in diagnosing peritonitis in cows (SN and SP495.0%). Total protein concentration, LDH and LDH ratio, and SAAG had sensitivities between 49.0 and 67.1%, and specificities between 88.4 and 95.5%. A low-peritoneal fluid glucose concentration was found to be highly indicative of septic peritonitis.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Measurement of the recently introduced parameters may increase the diagnostic value of peritoneal fluid analysis and provide additional specific information. Therefore these measurements should be included in the routine procedure.
Samples of peritoneal fluid and jugular venous blood were taken simultaneously from 95 clinically healthy Holstein-Friesian cows. The concentrations of total protein, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, fibrinogen, L-lactate and D-dimer, the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase, and the white blood cell count were determined in the samples. Light's criteria, the serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) and the ratios of the concentration of each parameter in peritoneal fluid to its concentration in blood were calculated. The mean concentrations of total protein, albumin and D-dimer, the activity of LDH and the SAAG were different from the reference values for monogastric animals and human beings.
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