Mechanistic profiling of oxidative stress, cytokine responses, and NF-κB/TLR4 signaling induced by biomass-derived particulate organic extracts in a human lung epithelial-macrophage co-culture model.

Raman analysis of black carbon using artificial neural networks for emission source classification.

Drug prescription networks (DPNs) model the temporal dynamics of medication co-prescription within a population. Understanding these networks can provide insights into polypharmacy and prescribing behaviors. This study assesses the structural characteristics of temporal DPNs derived from daily co-prescriptions of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other therapeutic drug classes. By analyzing these networks using eigenvector centrality, we identify influential medications and prescribing patterns. We utilized the IADB.nl database, including prescriptions from 128 Dutch pharmacies (2018-2022). A cohort of patients prescribed antidepressants/anxiolytics was extracted. Medications were classified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) system into 24 therapeutic classes. Time-varying DPNs were constructed as undirected graphs using symmetric daily dose-adjusted co-prescriptions. Eigenvector centrality ( ) quantified relative nodal importance. Weekly-aggregated data included number of dispensing ( ) and eigenvector centrality, which were decomposed using a singular-spectrum approach. Antidepressants ( : 0.09, : 28,993) and anxiolytics ( : 0.05, : 14,061) had high eigenvector centrality, demonstrating frequent co-prescription. Other ATC groups with high centrality included those for the alimentary tract and metabolism (A01-A16), blood and blood-forming organs (B01-B06), cardiovascular system (C01-C10), respiratory system (R01-R07), and analgesics (N02). DPNs revealed key co-prescription patterns. High-centrality medications highlight potential targets for drug monitoring, such as identifying co-prescription trends that may warrant evaluation for safety, appropriateness, or policy oversight. This approach aids in identifying influential medications and refining prescribing oversight.

Inflammatory effects of commercial and natural mosquito repellents on respiratory system in male and female mice.

Severe obesity is associated with impaired respiratory and lung mechanics, including increased airway resistance. This study aimed to evaluate changes in respiratory system impedance and airway mechanics after bariatric surgery in adults with severe obesity. Adults with severe obesity (n = 12) were evaluated before and after bariatric surgery using impulse oscillometry. Anthropometric measures and respiratory system impedance parameters, including airway resistance (R5 and R20), reactance (X5), and resonant frequency (Fres), were assessed and compared between time points. Weight loss after bariatric surgery was associated with significant reductions in airway resistance (R5 and R20) and Fres, indicating improvements in respiratory system mechanics. Bariatric surgery improved respiratory system impedance and airway mechanics in adults with severe obesity. Impulse oscillometry detected respiratory mechanical improvements after weight loss and may represent a sensitive tool for evaluating changes in lung mechanics in this population.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airway obstruction, progressive airflow limitation, and increased oxidative stress. Conventional pharmaceutical therapies provide insufficient symptom alleviation and are associated with systemic adverse effects, neglecting the fundamental oxidative damage integral to COPD pathophysiology. Recent advancements in nanoparticles (NPs)-based drug delivery systems offer a promising alternative, integrating enhanced biocompatibility and bioavailability with extended drug release and reduced side effects. This review explored the potential of diverse NPs-based drug delivery, including poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) NPs, chitosan NPs, cyclodextrins (CDs) NPs, albumin NPs, dendrimers, exosomes, liposomes, and solid lipid NPs (SLNs), in enhancing and enabling targeted pulmonary drug delivery. We also assessed various respiratory drug delivery systems, including nebulizers, pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs), soft mist inhalers (SMIs), and digital inhalers (DIs). Additionally, we examined recent advances in nanomedicine for COPD, highlighting the intrinsic limitations of NPs use and considering prospects for improved clinical application. This study comprehensively analyzes the progress in NPs-based drug delivery for COPD, facilitating future therapeutic innovations. The graphical abstract illustrates the impact of smoking and pollution on structural and functional lung impairment, leading to COPD. It tackles the systemic adverse effects of contemporary medications, their inadequate influence on disease progression, and their high prices. NPs-based drug delivery systems circumvent the mucus barrier, enhance pulmonary deposition, restrict systemic distribution, improve efficacy, and minimize adverse effects. This approach emphasizes targeted therapy as an effective enhancement for COPD treatment. • Current COPD treatments have systemic side effects and fail to prevent disease development, underscoring the need for more effective therapies. • Nanotechnology offers improved selectivity, biocompatibility, and bioavailability, as well as extended drug release and reduced dosing frequency for drugs in COPD therapy. • Recent advancements in NPs-based carriers for pulmonary administration could improve pharmacokinetics, thus resulting in more efficacious treatment for COPD. • The integration of nanotechnology into COPD therapy may offer potential advantages. Nonetheless, additional study is required to ascertain safety, efficacy, and patient compliance.

Fetal exposure to bisphenols and phthalates and risk of respiratory conditions in infancy. The Generation R Next Study.

Adding pembrolizumab to standard neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is not associated with increased postoperative complications after esophagectomy in ESCC: a retrospective analysis from a prospective database.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the characteristics of porcine viral diseases, development, and immune repertoires: Current status and challenges.

Toxicity and biosafety optimizing in perovskite nanomaterials

The pulmonary renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a key regulator of endothelial function, inflammation, and tissue remodeling. Emerging evidence indicates that both hypertension and biological sex shape lung RAS signaling by shifting the balance between the ACE/Ang II/AT1R and ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/Mas pathways. This imbalance promotes oxidative stress, inflammatory activation, and fibrotic remodeling, increasing susceptibility to lung injury. Experimental and clinical data show that hypertension is associated with reduced pulmonary ACE2 activity and enhanced pro-inflammatory signaling, while sex-dependent differences further modulate lung RAS composition and disease vulnerability. These mechanisms may predispose the lungs to exaggerated responses to secondary insults, including acute lung injury, respiratory distress syndromes, and viral infections such as COVID-19. This mini-review summarizes current evidence linking hypertension- and sex-dependent lung RAS dysregulation to pulmonary injury and highlights therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring local RAS balance.

Pulmonary lymphatics play multiple essential roles in lung homeostasis through interstitial fluid removal, traffic of immune cells, and antigen presentation. This highly branching vascular bed comprises initial capillaries, pre-collecting vessels, and collecting lymphatics, and it is lined by characteristic lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). These cells are distinct from blood endothelial cells in their structure, molecular markers (e.g., PROX1, LYVE-1, VEGFR-3), and responsiveness to inflammatory and mechanical stimuli. In health, LECs preserve barrier integrity, promote immune surveillance, and support unidirectional lymph flow. However, during pulmonary inflammation or injury, LECs may undergo phenotypic changes that impair function and promote local coagulation. This review consolidates current knowledge on pulmonary lymphatic vessel structure and function and LEC biology, with a focus on their involvement in inflammation and coagulation pathways. We examine how cigarette smoke disrupts LEC homeostasis, leading to endothelial injury, procoagulant factor upregulation [e.g., tissue factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)], and fibrin-rich thrombosis in lung lymphatics. Although vaping induces oxidative stress and vascular inflammation, its effects on the pulmonary lymphatic system have not been clearly explained. Based on pathological features shared with smoking, we propose potential mechanisms by which e-cigarette aerosols may contribute to lymphatic endothelial dysfunction and altered coagulation in lungs. Given the increasing prevalence of vaping, further research using in vitro, in vivo, and human studies is needed to elucidate how inhaled toxicants alter LEC function and to identify novel targets for preserving lymphatic health in lung disease.

To explore sex differences in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and clinical parameters in patients with Sjögren's disease (SjD). Consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of SjD, enrolled in the prospective RESULT cohort or retrospective DiagnoSS registry, who fulfilled 2016 ACR/EULAR classification criteria, were included. PROMs evaluating sicca symptoms, fatigue, pain and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL), and clinical parameters including salivary and ocular gland function, salivary gland ultrasound (SGUS) and biopsy outcomes, physical examination results, serological parameters, systemic disease activity and damage were compared between female and male patients. Of the 405 SjD patients, 360 (89%) were female and 45 (11%) were male. Females had earlier onset of symptoms (median 37 vs. 51 years), longer diagnostic delay (5 vs. 3 years), scored worse on PROMs assessing sicca symptoms (e.g. ESSPRI dryness median 7 vs. 5), had lower salivary gland function (SWS, UWS; UWS<0.1ml/min: 69% vs. 44%), and more tender points than male patients. ESSDAI total score did not differ, but female patients less often had pulmonary (1.7% vs. 6.7%) and peripheral nervous system activity (3.4% vs. 11.1%) than male patients. Clinical parameters including ocular tests, SGUS (Hocevar), biopsy parameters, immunological serology and damage (SSDDI) did not differ. HR-QoL (SF-36, EQ-5D-5L: index median 0.76 vs. 0.74) and PASS (72% vs. 70%) were comparable between sexes. In this cohort of SjD patients from daily clinical practice, female and male patients showed distinct patterns of experienced symptoms and disease manifestations. The overall impact of SjD on HR-QoL was similar.

Atractylenolide I alleviates bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis via regulating HIF-1α to suppress oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Determination of hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles under physiologically relevant conditions

SiO₂ exposure triggers NOX1/ROS-dependent epithelial necroptosis and drives Th17 cell activation to initiate pneumonia in mice.

Mechanical ventilation is crucial for critically-ill patients, but requires continuous adjustments to prevent injuries and ensure optimal performance. Accurate estimation of respiratory parameters is essential for guiding disease-specific ventilator adjustments and optimizing respiratory support. The traditional equation of motion (EOM), widely used for this purpose, assumes linear compliance and resistance and neglects key physiological phenomena such as flow-dependent resistance and viscoelasticity, which can lead to biased estimates. In this study, we propose and validate an extended equation of motion (EEOM) that integrates nonlinear resistance and viscoelastic effects into a single framework. We fit the EEOM to simulated data, experimental data with a test lung, and clinical patient data (N=10). The accuracy of the EEOM to measure airway resistance, compliance, and viscoelasticity was improved compared to the traditional models (EOM and turbulent EOM, TEOM). In simulations, EEOM method consistently reduced estimation errors across all scenarios. For example, in estimating compliance ( C rs ), EEOM achieved an average percentage error range of 0.06-1.18% across all scenarios, compared to 2.5–14.5% with EOM and 10.5–18.6% with TEOM. Across all parameters and simulations, EEOM yielded lower total mean absolute errors (3.5%) than EOM (11.5%) and TEOM (11.9%). In clinical data, EEOM estimates for viscoelastic parameters ( C d , R d ) were statistically comparable to the interrupter technique ( p > 0 . 05 ), additionally providing real-time estimates for nonlinear resistance terms. These results demonstrate that extended mechanical parameters, including nonlinear resistance and viscoelasticity, can be identified noninvasively using standard ventilator signals, enabling more personalized, safer and adaptive ventilator settings. • An extended equation of motion integrates nonlinear resistance and viscoelasticity. • Extended modeling reduces errors in compliance and resistance estimation across datasets. • Respiratory mechanics are estimated noninvasively using standard ventilator signals.

The emergence of COVID-19 has highlightedthe issue of secondary fungal infections, such as COVID-19-Associated invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA), in critically ill patients. Continuous use of therapies employing steroids and immune-modulating agents has increased the risk of co-infections resulting from fungi, further weakening the respiratory systems of patients and leading to complex situations such as multi-organ failure and elevated mortality. The increasing occurrence of antifungal resistance in Aspergillus strains has made the management of these infections challenging, highlighting the need for novel and effective antifungal agents. Plants and their bioactive compounds offer promising alternatives to conventional antifungal medications. Phytochemicals such as 1,8-cineole from Eucalyptus, thymol from commercial extracts, and cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon have demonstrated significant antifungal activities by targeting fungal cell walls, membranes, and gene expression. Additionally, compounds like eugenol from cloves and citral from lemongrass exhibit potent antimicrobial effects by disrupting cellular integrity. However, challenges such as variability in phytochemical content, limited clinical data, and potential drug interactions must be addressed. This review explores the potential of plant-based medicines for treating aspergillosis, emphasizing the need for further research to validate their effectiveness, safety, and optimal dosages through clinical studies.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are commonly used in various industries, but they can be toxic and pose significant health risks, primarily affecting the respiratory system and contaminating groundwater. As a result, there is growing interest in developing reliable sensors for monitoring VOCs. This study presents a convenient and straightforward sensor that utilizes cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) for quantitatively detecting volatile organic solvents. Our results demonstrate the performance of two cholesteric liquid crystal sensors, CLC1 and CLC2, across varying concentrations and temperatures. CLC1 exhibited the fastest response times, with the R color channel achieving the shortest response of 5.4 s and the highest linear correlation, particularly at elevated temperatures (27–30 °C). Ethanol was also evaluated within a similar operating window, but it produced a measurable yet weaker optical response than acetone under controlled temperature conditions, requiring a broader concentration range to capture the dynamic response prior to signal saturation. In contrast, CLC2 performed optimally in the G color channel for acetone detection, showing the most consistent and reliable linearity across 21–24.5 °C. These findings underscore the significant influence of volatile organic solvents and temperature on sensor performance and confirm that specific optical channels (R for CLC1, G for CLC2) are most suitable for quantitative, liquid-phase detection. • CLCs enable rapid, real-time VOC solvent detection and customizable sensor design. • CLC1 (red) showed strongest linearity and fastest response at 27–30 °C. • CLC2 (green) exhibited best stability and sensitivity at 21–24.5 °C. • Temperature increase enhanced response speed and detection performance. • Findings guide tailored CLC design for VOC sensing across environments.

Assessing links between dental fluorosis and oral/systemic health via salivary microbiome in Chinese young adults.