Raised enzyme markers of chronic inflammation in asymptomatic farmers' lung.

Vascular endothelial growth factor: an angiogenic factor reflecting airway inflammation in healthy smokers and in patients with bronchitis type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

BACKGROUND Patients with bronchitis type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have raised vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in induced sputum. This has been associated with the pathogenesis of COPD through apoptotic and oxidative stress mechanisms. Since, chronic airway inflammation is an important pathological feature of COPD mainly initiated by cigarette smoking, aim...

Acute and chronic effects of smoking on inflammation markers in exhaled breath condensate in current smokers.

BACKGROUND Long-term cigarette smoking is associated with pulmonary inflammation, but the acute effects of smoking have been less well studied. Analysis of the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) can provide noninvasive markers that might be indicative of inflammation. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to determine whether the pH , electrical conductivity and the levels of ammonium and interleu...

C-Reactive Protein Concentrations Among Crop and Dairy Farmers with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

AIM To assess the mean serum C-reactive protein concentrations among farmers and office controls, and further examined its relation to exposure duration, smoking habit, as well as presence or absence of COPD. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was performed including examined group (EG), composed of agricultural workers (87 crop - EG1 and 83 dairy farmers - EG2), and control group (CG) composed...

Genotyping of Endocervical Chlamydia trachomatis Strains and Detection of Serological Markers of Acute and Chronic Inflammation in Their Host

Modulation of lung inflammation and immune markers in asthmatic rats treated by Portulaca oleracea

Objective: Previous studies indicated anti-inflammatory effects for Portulaca oleracea in various inflammatory disorders. In this study, the effects of P. oleracea on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) levels of total protein (TP), Phospholipase A2(PLA2) and IgE in sensitized rats were examined. Materials and Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into six groups namely, control (group C), s...