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BackgroundThe aim of this study was to analyze the influence of active and passive smoking on cardiorespiratory responses in asymptomatic adults during a sub-maximal-exertion incremental test.MethodsThe participants (n = 43) were divided into three different groups: active smokers (n = 14; aged 36.5 ± 8 years), passive smokers (n = 14; aged 34.6 ± 11.9 years) and non-smokers (n = 15; aged 30 ± 8.1 years). They all answered the Test for Nicotine Dependence and underwent anthropometric evaluation, spirometry and ergospirometry according to the Bruce Treadmill Protocol.ResultsVO2max differed statistically between active and non-smokers groups (p < 0.001) and between non-smokers and passive group (p=0.022). However, there was no difference between the passive and active smokers groups (p=0.053). Negative and significant correlations occurred between VO2max and age (r = - 0.401, p = 0.044), percentage of body fat (r = - 0.429, p = 0.011), and waist circumference (WC) (r = - 0.382, p = 0.025).ConclusionVO2max was significantly higher in non-smokers compared to active smokers and passive smokers. However, the VO2max of passive smokers did not differ from active smokers.

IL-18 is an important predictor of mortality in humans with both severe sepsis and septic shock, independent of IL-1β.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a specific form of interstitial pneumonia. In addition to the idiopathic cause, it may be caused by drugs such as bleomycin (BLM)-used in the treatment of tumors. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) is a high-energy endogenous glycolytic compound that has antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of FBP on both BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and in a human embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC-5) culture system. C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: control, FBP, BLM, and BLM plus FBP. A single dose of bleomycin (7.5 U/kg) was administered intratracheally, and survival, body weight, Ashcroft score, and histological analysis were evaluated. Pulmonary function and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were also evaluated after a single dose of bleomycin (1.2 U/kg-intratracheally). Treatment with FBP (500 mg/kg) was given on day 0 intraperitoneally. Fibroblasts (MRC-5 cells) were used to access the effect of FBP in vitro. In vivo, FBP increased the survival rate and reduced body weight loss (BLM vs. BLM plus FBP-p < 0.05). FBP also prevented BLM-induced loss of pulmonary function and decreased BALF inflammatory cells, level of fibrosis, and superficial collagen density (p < 0.05). In vitro, FBP (0.62 and 1.25 mM) had inhibitory activity on MRC-5 cells and was able to induce senescence in fibroblasts. These results showed that FBP has the potential of reducing the toxic effects of BLM and may provide supportive therapy for conventional methods used for the treatment of cancer.

ObjectiveTo investigate the acute effects of EPAP on the activity of sternocleidomastoid (SCM), parasternal muscles and ventilatory parameters in COPD patients. MethodTwenty-four patients with COPD were studied using surface electromyography (sEMG) and a ventilometer. Patients were randomly assigned to EPAP 10 cmH2O-EPAP10 or 15 cmH2O-EPAP15 for 20 minutes. ResultsThe parasternal muscle sEMG activity increased during EPAP10 and EPAP15; however, a greater and significant increase was observed with EPAP10 (mean between-group difference: 12.5% RMS, 95% CI: 9.5 to 15.4, p<0.001). In relation to the baseline, at 10 and 20 minutes and upon recovery, respectively parasternal activity increased by 23.9%, 28.9% and 19.1% during EPAP10 and by 10.7% at 10 and 20 minutes and upon recovery, respectively, 11.4% and 6.9% during EPAP15 at 10 and 20 minutes and upon recovery, respectively. The sEMG activity of SCM muscle showed an opposite pattern, increasing with EPAP15 and decreasing with EPAP10 (mean between-group difference: 15.5% RMS, 95% CI: 12.6 to 18.4, p<0.001). SCM muscle activity during EPAP15, increased by 4.8% and 6.1% at 10 and 20 minutes and decreased by -4.0% upon recovery compared to decreases of –5.6%, –20.6% and –21.3% during EPAP10 at 10, 20 minutes, and recovery. Ventilation at both EPAP intensities promoted significant reductions in respiratory rate (RR) and dyspnea, more pronounced in EPAP15: RR (mean between-group difference: –3,8bpm, 95%CI: –7,5 to –0,2, p=0,015) and dyspnea (mean between-group difference: –1.01, 95%CI: –1.4 to –0.53, p=0.028) . ConclusionIn COPD patients, the use of EPAP10 was more effective in reducing accessory inspiratory activity and increasing parasternal activity, which was accompanied by an improvement in ventilation and a reduction in dyspnea.