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Introduction: Treatment of difficult asthma with oral corticosteroids (OCS) may suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis. Aim: In this study we have checked if the substitution of OCS with very high doses of ciclesonide may restore the adrenal function without losing the control of the disease. Material and methods: In 5 patients with difficult, uncontrolled asthma despite treatment with OCS, inhaled and systemic glucocorticosteroids were replaced with very high doses of ciclesonide (1600-2400 µg/day). The symptoms of asthma and the lung function were assessed at baseline and on the 28th, 56th and 70th day of treatment, whereas the levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the morning were measured at baseline and on the 28th and the 56th day of treatment. Results: In all patients, the control of asthma symptoms, measured with Asthma Control Test questionnaire, improved from the mean score of 9.4 to 19.8 in 70 days. In 4 subjects force expiratory volume in 1 s improved gradually through the entire study reaching a mean improvement of 585 ml in 70 days. The ACTH levels were normalized in 3 patients after 28 days of observation and in all patients after 56 days. The cortisol level was normalized in 4 patients after 28 days and in another subject after 56 days of treatment with ciclesonide. Conclusions: Switching from prednisone to very high doses of ciclesonide normalized the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis function and also improved the disease control and the lung function in these 5 patients with difficult asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "In Memory of Dr. Izabela Kuprys-Lipinska: A Pioneering Clinician, Scientist, and Beloved Friend" pays tribute to the late Dr. Izabela Kuprys-Lipinska, a renowned clinician and scientist in the fields of severe asthma, urticaria, and allergen immunotherapy. Dr. Kuprys-Lipinska's work in managing complex cases and introducing innovative therapies left a lasting impact on the medical community in Poland and beyond. Her dedication to her patients, colleagues, and research, as well as her commitment to advocacy and mentorship, are remembered with deep respect and admiration. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction. Model of primary bronchial epithelial cells culture has been used to study the innate response to viral infections in patients with bronchial asthma. Aim. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bronchial epithelial cell culture and the influence of parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV- 3) on cell morphology. Materials and methods. Human Bronchial Epithelial cells (HBECs) were obtained during bronchoscopy from 31 subjects: 12 healthy subjects and 19 patients with bronchial asthma. The cells were grown in BEGM culture medium (Bronchial Epithelial Cell Growth Medium) and were infected with PIV-3 0.1 MOI. Results. Successful cultures were obtained for 61.3% of HBECs. Fungal infection was the main reason for the failure to grow HBECs. No cytopathic effect of PIV3 on epithelial cells was observed for up to 48 hours after infection. Conclusions. The described methodology enables successful culture of primary bronchial epithelial cells and their infection with PIV3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been increasingly used as a new and non-invasive method to study airway inflammation. In this study we have compared the concentrations of lipid mediators in EBC with concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). We included 37 patients undergoing bronchoscopy (12 sarcoidosis, 12 COPD, 6 lung cancer, 5 chronic cough, 1 Wegener's granulomatosis, 1 sclerodermia). Patients were not allowed to have exacerbation or any change in concomitant medication for at least 4 weeks prior to the study. In all patients, EBC was collected immediately prior to the bronchoscopy. The levels of cys-LTs, LTB_{4}, 8-isoprostane were significantly higher in BALF compared to EBC (p < 0.0001, p< 0.001, p< 0.0001 for cys-LTs, LTB4, 8-isoprostane respectively). Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation between both leukotriene B_{4} and 8-isoprostane in BALF and EBC (r=0.53 and r=0.79, p< 0.01, respectively) in patients with sarcoidosis and COPD but there was no correlation between eicosanoids BALF and EBC in patients with chronic cough and lung cancer. This is the first study to compare EBC and BALF in different lung diseases which demonstrated significant correlations between the levels of eicosanoids in BALF and EBC in patients with COPD and sarcoidosis. EBC may be useful in measuring inflammation in several inflammatory lung diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study which investigates the association between exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and BAL fluid (BALF) eicosanoids. The study involved 28 sarcoidosis patients and 17 healthy subjects. It used enzyme immunoassay to measure cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in EBC.

Objective: This study was designed to examine the mutual relationship between 8-isoprostane in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and superoxide anion generation by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells in patients with sarcoidosis. Design: About 29 patients with sarcoidosis, 34 healthy never smokers (control group for EBC) and 15 healthy never smokers (control group for BAL) were examined. EBC was collected directly before bronchoscopy. 8-Isoprostane was measured by ELISA, and superoxide anion by colorimetry. Results: Exhaled breath condensate 8-isoprostane is increased in sarcoidosis (median, 25-75 percentile): 2.50; 2.50-3.90 versus 6.20; 2.50-16.95 pg/ml, p ≤ 0.05). Spontaneous superoxide anion release from BALF cells was significantly elevated only in patients with a high percentage of lymphocytes in BALF (6.42 ± 1.24 vs. 23.52 ± 4.30 nmol/10 cells, p ≤ 0.01). There were no correlations between 8-isoprostane and spontaneous or stimulated superoxide anion release. Conclusions: We confirmed higher concentrations of EBC 8-isoprostane in sarcoidosis and higher spontaneous release of superoxide anion from BALF cells in patients with sarcoidosis. The increase of EBC 8-isoprostane is not directly related to superoxide anion released from BALF cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a case of pulmonary toxicity (PT) secondary to everolimus in a kidney transplant recipient. A 59-year-old female with end-stage renal disease was given a kidney transplant following chronic peritoneal dialysis therapy for 31 months. Steroids, mycophenolate mofetil and cyclosporine are included in her immunosuppression regimen. Particular focus is given to laboratory findings and lipid profile. Histological diagnosis was obtained through transbronchial peripheral lung biopsy.

The article presents a case study of a 59-year-old female with end-stage renal disease due to chronic glomerulonephritis. She was pronounced with drug-associated interstitial pneumonitis after physical examination of microscopic lesions and clinical manifestation. The article explains that the pulmonary side effects related to immunosuppressive therapy are infrequent complication in solid organ transplant patients despite the common event of infection.