EDITORIAL

Abstract

We start this issue with the first of a set of two ‘Year-in-Review’ papers, highlighting important findings in respiratory medicine from articles published in Respirology in 2007. The first paper by Professor Bardin and Professor Ruffin reviews the clinical science publications in Respirology in 2007. The second ‘Year-in-Review’ paper, which will appear in the next issue, will review the respiratory science publications reported in the Journal in 2007. This issue features the last review in the Presidents' Series by the immediate past-President of the American College of Chest Physicians, Professor Mark Rosen. In his review ‘Pulmonary Complications of HIV Infection’, Professor Rosen discusses the incidence of different pulmonary disorders associated with HIV infection, and their diagnosis and treatment. Professor Rosen is Chief of the Divisions of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. His research interests include pulmonary disease and critical care in patients with HIV infection, respiratory failure and medical ethics. He has published extensively on the subject of pulmonary disease in patients with HIV infection and is co-editor of the textbook ‘HIV and the Lung’. I highly recommend this paper to you as it is a comprehensive review of the topic and should be of great interest. We regret to announce the cancellation of the Presidents' Review by Dr Nan Zhong from the APSR owing to unforeseen circumstances. Our next Presidents' Series with reviews by the new Presidents of the major respiratory societies will commence in a later issue this year. Three highlights in this issue are articles studying the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in airway epithelial cells. The first of these articles ‘Involvement of the p38 MAPK pathway in IL-13-induced mucous cell metaplasia in mouse tracheal epithelial cells’ by Dr Fujisawa et al. (pp. 191–202), demonstrates that the p38 MAPK pathway is involved in IL-13-induced mucous cell metaplasia and MUC5AC mRNA regulation in mouse tracheal epithelial cells and that phosphorylation of p38 MAPK may require STAT6-dependent de novo protein synthesis induced by IL-13. The same study also shows that the ERK1/2 pathway is not directly activated by IL-13. The article ‘Analysis of gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cells upon influenza virus infection and regulation by p38 MAP kinase and JNK’ by Dr Hayashi et al. (pp. 203–214) reports on the role of p38 MAPK in gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cells following influenza virus infection. In ‘Erythromycin attenuates MUC5AC synthesis and secretion in cultured human tracheal cells infected with RV14’ (pp. 215–220), Dr Inoue et al. examine the inhibitory effect of erythromycin on RV14-induced p44/42 MAPK activation and MUC5AC protein production and hypersecretion in human tracheal cells, suggesting a link between the two. Another highlight in this issue is the article by Dr Long et al. entitled ‘Rapid non-genomic effects of glucocorticoids on oxidative stress in a guinea pig model of asthma’ (pp. 227–232). In this study, the authors identify a rapid non-genomic mechanism whereby glucocorticoids reduce oxidative stress in ‘asthmatic’ guinea pigs. These findings may contribute to future developments in the clinical treatment of asthma. The article by Dr Bu et al.‘Effects of independent lung ventilation and lateral position on cytokine markers of inflammation after unilateral lung acid injury in dogs’ (pp. 233–239) compared the effects of different mechanical ventilation settings and lateral body position on inflammatory markers in an animal model of unilateral lung acid injury. Their results suggest that the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the injured lung is attenuated by independent lung ventilation and lateral positioning. Early initiation of this type of mechanical ventilation may be of benefit in patients with severe unilateral lung injury. Finally, the Short Communication by Dr Koh et al.‘Vascular endothelial growth factor in epithelial lining fluid of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome’ (pp. 281–284) demonstrates that elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in lung epithelial lining fluid may predict a better outcome in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Professor Chong-Kin Liam from the University of Malaya, Malaysia has decided to retire early from his role as Associate Editor of Respirology. Professor Liam joined the Journal in April 2006. His contribution over the past year and a half has been greatly appreciated and we are very grateful for his assistance. Professor Liam will continue to be involved with Respirology as an Editorial Board member. I hope you enjoy this issue of Respirology.