Rationale: Airway remodelling is clinically defined as persistent airflow obstruction despite aggressive antiinflammatory therapies. Assessment of airway remodelling by analysis of serum markers has been developed as minimally invasive procedures. Aim of the work: Evaluate the usefulness of estimation of serum MMP-9, TIMP-1 and their ratio, as non-invasive markers of airway remodelling in asthmatics. Patients and methods: The study included 68 asthmatics and 20 controls. Patients were classified according to levels of asthma control, severity and disease duration. Serum samples were taken to estimate levels of MMP-9, TIMP-1 and their ratio. Results: Serum MMP-9, TIMP-1, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 were significantly higher in asthmatics than controls, in uncontrolled vs. controlled asthma (P<0.001). Also they were significantly higher in severe and moderate asthma than in mild asthma (P<0.000), and in patients with disease duration >5 years vs. <5 years (P˂0.001). There was significant positive correlation between studied parameters (p<0.000) and significant negative correlation between the biomarkers and FEV 1 (p<0.001). Conclusion: Serum MMP-9, TIMP-1, and MMP-9/TIMP-1 could be considered as non-invasive markers of airway remodelling that can bypass biopsy sampling. Serum sample is easily handled and not subjected to technical error as sputum or BAL fluid.
Ascotricha chartarum is a rare human pathogen. We describe the isolation and characterization of A. chartarum from bronchoalveolar lavage samples of two patients with underlying pulmonary infections. The identity of both isolates was established by typical phenotypic characteristics and by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region and D1/D2 domains of recombinant DNA and β-tubulin gene fragment. The demonstration of branched, septate hyphae in direct microscopic examination of both the specimens and isolation of the fungus in pure cultures suggest its aetiologic role in the disease process. Because of phenotypic similarities of A. chartarum with Chaetomium spp. and other Chaetomium-like fungi, the application of molecular methods is needed for its accurate identification. Although in the absence of histopathologic evidence the aetiologic role of A. chartarum could not be established unequivocally, nonetheless, in view of the rarity of its isolation from clinical specimens and demonstration of hyphal elements in bronchoalveolar lavage sample, this report assumes considerable significance. It serves to create awareness about environmental fungi that previously have missed attention but may play a role in respiratory infections.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.