where G is a finite group. If we want to understand the differential geometry behind the DW-model we have to give up the finiteness of G of course. If G is a Lie group, we can ask ourselves what geometric objects correspond to smooth homomorphisms from π1(M) to G (we will not explain here what we mean by smoothness exactly). The answer is well known: principal Gbundles with flat connections. We...

Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is decreased in both usual interstitial pneumonia-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (UIP-IPF) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), but is moderately related to computed tomography (CT)-determined fibrotic changes. This may be due to the relative insensitivity of DLCO to changes in alveolar membrane diffusive conductance (DMCO). The purpos...

RATIONALE Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is characterized by extracellular matrix deposition and the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Fibroblastic foci found in the lung are believed to represent an early stage in the evolution of this disease. OBJECTIVES To compare gene expression profiles in different components of lung tissue (fibroblastic foci, adjacent epithelium, and areas of type...

The outcome and cause of death of each lung disease directly associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA-LD) have been poorly investigated. A retrospective study was conducted of 144 patients with RA-LD, in whom the median follow-up period after the initial visit for a respiratory examination was 4.5 yrs. A total of 57 patients were identified with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), 31 with bronc...

Early fibrotic lesions are thought to be one of the initial findings of lung fibrogenesis in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, but little is known about their properties. Canstatin is an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor derived from the C-terminal globular non-collagenous domain of the α2 chain of type IV collagen, and type IV collagen is deposited in early fibrotic lesions without neovascul...

BACKGROUND Fibroblast foci (FF) are considered a relevant morphologic marker of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis/usual interstitial pneumonia (IPF/UIP), and are recognised as sites where fibrotic responses are initiated and/or perpetuated in this severe disease. Despite their relevance, the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for the formation of FF and their role in tissue remodelling a...

Ruminal protein degradation of alfalfa (2.62% N, 49.6% NDF, and in vivo undegradable intake protein [UIP] = 16.4% of CP) and prairie hay (.88% N, 69.4% NDF, and in vivo UIP = 44.5% of CP) was estimated using the Streptomyces griseus protease (SGP) in vitro method with or without pretreatment with two carbohydrases: cellulase from Penicillium funiculosum or driselase from Basidiomycetes. Drisela...

Survival is linked to the histopathologic distinction between usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), the most commonly encountered fibrotic idiopathic interstitial pneumonia. We retrospectively compared the prognostic significance of histopathologic diagnoses, baseline pulmonary function indices, and serial trends in pulmonary function indices (diffusi...

Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is the most common idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) and is associated with a poor prognosis and poor responsiveness to immunosuppressive therapy. We present a case of a woman with steroid-responsive biopsy-proven UIP with significant and sustained improvement in pulmonary function. A female in her 40s presented following a one-year history of progressiv...

The essential histology of PPFE is subpleural fibroelastosis in the upper lobes, which is different from that of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). However, PPFE might share a pathologic process leading to end-stage fibrosis with UIP: it might have an antecedent inflammatory or acute lung injury process prior to the development of the thick subleural bands of fibroelastosis, possibly correspon...