Atopic, obese asthmatics exhibit airway obstruction with variable degrees of eosinophilic airway inflammation. We previously reported that mice obese as a result of a genetic deficiency in either leptin (ob/ob mice) or the long isoform of the leptin receptor (db/db mice) exhibit enhanced airway obstruction in the presence of decreased numbers of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils compared with lean, wild-type mice following antigen (ovalbumin; OVA) sensitization and challenge. To determine whether the genetic modality of obesity induction influences the development of OVA-induced airway obstruction and OVA-induced pulmonary inflammation, we examined indices of these sequelae in mice obese as a result of a genetic deficiency in carboxypeptidase E, an enzyme that processes prohormones and proneuropeptides involved in satiety and energy expenditure (Cpe(fat) mice). Accordingly, Cpe(fat) and lean, wild-type (C57BL/6) mice were sensitized to OVA and then challenged with either aerosolized PBS or OVA. Compared with genotype-matched, OVA-sensitized and PBS-challenged mice, OVA sensitization and challenge elicited airway obstruction and increased BALF eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils, IL-4, IL-13, IL-18, and chemerin. However, OVA challenge enhanced airway obstruction and pulmonary inflammation in Cpe(fat) compared with wild-type mice. These results demonstrate that OVA sensitization and challenge enhance airway obstruction in obese mice regardless of the genetic basis of obesity, whereas the degree of OVA-induced pulmonary inflammation is dependent on the genetic modality of obesity induction. These results have important implications for animal models of asthma, as modeling the pulmonary phenotypes for subpopulations of atopic, obese asthmatics critically depends on selecting the appropriate mouse model.
There is limited guidance on the use of helicopter medical personnel to facilitate care of critically ill COVID‐19 patients. This manuscript describes the emergence of this novel virus, its mode of transmission, and the potential impacts on patient care in the unique environment of rotor wing aircraft. It details the development of clinical and operational guidelines for flight crew members. This allows other out‐of‐hospital clinicians to utilize our framework to augment or supplement their own for the current response effort to COVID‐19. It further serves as a road map for future response to the care of high consequence infectious disease patients.
Despite marked improvements in the survival of extremely low birth weight preterm infants, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a prevalent morbidity. BPD has evolved pathologically and epidemiologically but the definition has failed to keep up. The majority of the definitions of BPD still use the respiratory support provided to the infants at a single timepoint. The lack of a uniform definition of BPD presently reflects the changing BPD pathogenesis and phenotype and limits defining the epidemiology. To address the epidemiology of BPD, the definition should be clarified; even the newer definitions have not been validated entirely. The definition needs to be meaningful clinically and be predictive of long‐term respiratory outcomes. We believe the definition should have a composite assessment like a score (quantitative measurement) and include the different phenotypes (qualitative measurements) so that optimally they can be applied to the different phases of BPD and at different timepoints. Furthermore, the definitions need to be easy to measure and assess so that generalizability is enhanced.
In this article, we present the case of a 6-year-old female presented to the emergency department with progressive ascending motor weakness leading to cardiac arrest. The recent medical history included neck trauma 1 month prior to admission, 2 weeks of subjective fevers, and 1 day of urinary incontinence. After stabilization, and a review of the recent signs and symptoms, a magnetic resonance imaging of the neck revealed a posterior neck mass from C2 to T2. Neurosurgical removal of the mass was consistent with Ewing's sarcoma. Neck pain is a common presentation in the pediatric population, with the most common cause being traumatic. When coupled with neurological deficits, further studies are warranted to evaluate for organic causes.
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.