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At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[The cellular kinetics in BAL fluid of hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pulmonary function].

The cellular components of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis were analyzed in regard to the inhalation period of antigen in the environment before BAL procedure. BAL fluid in early phase of antigen inhalation contained increased percent of neutrophils as well as lymphocytes while low percent of neutrophils and prominent increase of lymphocytes in chronic antigen inhalation. Furthermore, the increased neutrophils in BAL fluid decreased rapidly after admission as cessation of antigen inhalation while the lymphocyte percent decreased gradually. In relation to respiratory function the lymphocyte percent showed statistically significant negative correlation with %TLC, %VC and %DLco. On the other hand the percent of neutrophils showed some relationship with the airway damage and inflammatory changes in early phase of this disease.

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
PubMed2005

Correlation between the cytology of the nasal middle meatus and BAL in chronic rhinosinusitis.

The relation between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and the associated lower airways involvement is not clear yet. In this context, the aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the correlation between middle meatal lavage (MML) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology in adult CRS patients. Based on clinical history and pulmonary function changes, CRS patients were divided into three subgroups: asthma, small airway disease (SAD) and normal lower airway (NLA) subgroups. Preoperatively, 50 MMLs and 25 BALs were performed in 25 CRS patients scheduled for FESS. At 1000X power microscopic magnifications, 48 MML and 24 BAL cytospin slides were examined for total and differential cell counts (DCC). This study showed that eosinophils were the dominant inflammatory cells in MMLs of the asthma subgroup and were significantly correlated to FEVI (p = 0.042) and Tiffineau index (p = 0.037). On the other hand, neutrophils were the dominant inflammatory cells in MMLs of the SAD subgroup and significantly correlated to FEF75% and Tiffinau index (p = 0.013 and p = 0.012 respectively). There was no significant correlation between MML and BAL cell differential counts in CRS patients (p > 0.05). The data showed that the lower airways involvement in CRS patients could be related to the dominant type of inflammatory cells in the upper airways.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The role of BAL in the process of decision making with regard to the treatment of sarcoidosis].

The results of a preliminary analysis on the role of lymphocyte count on prognosis of therapy outcome and influencing the decision to start therapy carried out on 21 patients with sarcoidosis are presented. The decision to commence treatment was carried out after BAL was performed but the results of it were not taken in account. The patients were observed for 7 to 33 months. The course of the disease was assessed basing on clinical, radiological and functional examination. In 6 patients a control BAL was carried out. The results allow to state that high lymphocyte BAL counts do not have to be poor prognostic factors. On the other hand low counts cannot predict a benign clinical course. In the discussion the authors evaluate, basing on literature data, the role of BAL in sarcoidosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Theophylline in serum and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in atopic bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.

To evaluate the penetration of theophylline into the airways its concentration (Theo-Dur, Astra, Sweden) was determined in BAL and in serum in 20 patients with atopic bronchial asthma, 24 patients with chronic bronchitis and 5 smokers as controls. The results were statistically analyzed. Slow-release theophylline in Theo-Dur was well tolerated. The mean concentrations of theophylline in BAL and serum in all analyzed groups were similar, but theophylline concentration in BAL was 1/3 of serum value. Moreover, the low correlation between concentrations of theophylline in BAL and serum was detected. The calculation of theophylline values in relation to total protein or albumin is not recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Oral N-acetylcysteine reduces selected humoral markers of inflammatory cell activity in BAL fluid from healthy smokers: correlation to effects on cellular variables.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on eleven healthy smokers before and after eight weeks of oral treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 200 mg t.i.d. The concentrations of selected eosinophil and neutrophil granule constituents and of selected proteases and protease inhibitors, albumin and endotoxin were determined in the recovered BAL fluid and in plasma or serum samples. In addition, in vitro chemotactic activities for neutrophils and eosinophils were assessed in the BAL fluid. Significant reductions in BAL fluid content of lactoferrin (LF), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), antichymotrypsin (ACT) and chemotactic activity for neutrophils were recorded after NAC treatment. The levels of other examined markers tended to be reduced or were not affected. In serum/plasma, the concentrations of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase were reduced after NAC treatment whereas concentrations of other constituents examined were unaltered. These data, together with previously reported findings, suggest that oral NAC may influence the activity of "inflammatory" cells in the bronchoalveolar space of smokers.

Acetylcysteine↗
PubMed1988

Effect of different volumes of BAL fluid on arterial oxygen saturation.

We monitored arterial oxygen saturation (StcO2) continuously using the OHMEDA Biox 3700 oximeter. We studied seven patients undergoing a 100 ml bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL-100), seven patients undergoing a 200 ml bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL-200), and seven patients during diagnostic fibreoptic bronchoscopy alone. Immediately following insertion of the bronchoscope a brief increase in StcO2 level (0.3-0.5%) was seen, followed by a gradual decline, never exceeding 2-5% during the diagnostic bronchoscopy. Introduction of lavage fluid into a segmental bronchus always produced a further decline in StcO2. In the BAL-100 group the fall did not exceed 7%, whereas in the BAL-200 group a fall of up to 15% from the baseline level was observed. Return to initial values was seen in most of the patients within 10 min following completion of the procedure. Only in those patients with the most profound StcO2 fall was this period increased, up to 30 min.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Effect of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) on gasometric and spirometric parameters in patients with sarcoidosis].

The effect of BAL and fiberoptic bronchoscopy on gasometric and spirometric parameters was studied in 22 patients with sarcoidosis and 15 volunteers. In 12 patients with sarcoidosis during the repeated BAL procedure the effect of oxygen supplementation (by nasal prongs 3 L/min) was analysed. Significant decrease of oxygen pressure (PaO2) and vital capacity was seen in patients undergoing BAL and fiberoptic bronchoscopy. The administration of oxygen during the BAL procedure prevented the fall in oxygen pressured.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Usefulness of BAL in understanding of pulmonary diseases].

Since the introduction of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) by Reynolds, et al. in 1974, direct examination of cells from interest sites in the lung has generated great progress in our understanding of pulmonary diseases. In the present study, BAL and the clinical usefulness of BAL in diagnosing and treating pulmonary diseases were described. In addition, recent research using BAL to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of pulmonary granulomatous disorders was also described.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1996

[Neutrophil elastase and elastin-derived peptides in BAL fluid and emphysematous changes on CT scans].

We examined the relationship between neutrophil elastase, elastin-derived peptides in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and the development of pulmonary emphysema. The level of neutrophil elastase was higher in asymptomatic current smokers with emphysematous changes on computed tomographic scans than in current smokers without emphysematous changes, and was found to be correlated with the level of elastin-derived peptides in BAL fluid. Subjects with high levels of neutrophil elastase in BAL fluid had faster annual declines in FEV1. We conclude that the level of neutrophil elastase in BAL fluid can be used to differentiate asymptomatic cigarette smokers who are at risk for pulmonary emphysema from those who are not.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Lipocortin I gene expression is higher in blood monocytes than in BAL fluid macrophages in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF WORK: Lipocortin I, induced by corticosteroids in vivo is considered to be related to cell activation and differentiation in mononuclear phagocytes, key cells in the process of epithelioid cell granuloma formation in sarcoidosis. Therefore, we focused on the expression of lipocortin I gene in mononuclear phagocytes in patients with sarcoidosis. METHOD: The amounts of transcripts of lipocortin I gene obtained from both BAL fluid macrophages and blood monocytes were measured by RT-PCR and HPLC, and then standardized as the ratio of lipocortin I/beta-actin for comparison. RESULTS: 1. Smoking did not affect the expression of lipocortin I gene in BAL fluid macrophages and monocytes. 2. There were no differences in the amounts of expression in BAL fluid macrophages between patient groups (nonsmokers and smokers), or between patients and healthy subjects. 3. The gene expression in BAL fluid macrophages was higher than that in monocytes in patients with IPF (macrophages 1.23 +/- 0.48, vs monocytes 0.50 +/- 0.38, p < 0.05) and healthy subjects (nonsmokers: 1.66 +/- 1.17, vs 0.34 +/- 0.26, p < 0.05, smoker: 1.98 +/- 0.96, vs 0.34 +/- 0.48, p < 0.05, but sarcoidosis patients showed a higher expression of lipocortin I gene even in monocytes (2.62 +/- 1.87, vs 2.66 +/- 2.21). CONCLUSION: The increase in lipocortin I gene expression in monocytes was a disease-related finding in sarcoidosis.

Annexin A1↗
PubMed1998

[Expression of IL-2 receptor in peripheral blood lymphocytes and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) in patients with sarcoidosis].

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) and its receptor (IL-2R) plays the important role in the lymphocytic alveolitis in sarcoidosis. The aim of this study was the comparative analysis of expression of IL-2 receptor subunits: alpha chain (IL-2R alpha) and beta chain (IL-2R beta) in peripheral blood and broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BAL) in patients with sarcoidosis. We examined 18 patients (aged 23 to 47 years, 8 women and 10 men) with sarcoidosis and 5 healthy persons (the control group consisted of 2 women and 3 men, aged 25 to 39 years). The expression of IL-2R was evaluated by immunophenotyping in ORTHO Cytoron Absolute flow cytometer. Comparing the patients group to the control group, we found in BAL fluid of sarcoidosis patients statistically higher number of lymphocytes with IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta expression (p < 0.002), when the percentage of these lymphocytes was similar in both groups. In peripheral blood of sarcoidosis patients comparing to control group, we noted higher percentage of lymphocytes with expression of IL-2R alpha and IL-2R beta (more evident difference concerned IL-2R beta) but without statistical significance. We also compared BAL fluid to peripheral blood in patients group. We found in BAL fluid lower percentage of lymphocytes with expression IL-2R beta (p < 0.02) and no significant changes in percentage and number of lymphocytes IL-2R alpha+. Our data concerning IL-2 and IL-2R suggest the activation of T lymphocytes in the lung in sarcoidosis. They present only little reflection of immunological reactions, which take place in sarcoidosis infant. The above study should be completed in future by evaluation of the other activation markers including IL-2R gamma.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Precursor-product relationship of larger to smaller molecular forms of the BAL 31 nuclease from Alteromonas espejiana: preferential removal of duplex exonuclease relative to endonuclease activity by proteolysis.

Two molecularly and kinetically distinct major species of the extracellular nuclease BAL 31 from Alteromonas espejiana, previously characterized as the "fast" (F) and "slow" (S) BAL 31 nucleases, have been evidenced to derive from proteolysis starting from a still larger (approximately 120 kDa) precursor nuclease. The expected protease activity in the culture fluid has been confirmed and is strongly dependent on the cell growth phase. The disappearance of the largest nuclease species with the concomitant sequential appearance of first the F and then the S species has been demonstrated for nuclease obtained from culture supernatants as a function of cell growth phase. Nuclease from periplasmic extracts displayed very little of the F and S nucleases. Treatment of purified F nuclease with Pronase or subtilisin readily converted it to species with only a few percent of the native exonuclease activity against duplex DNA but retaining much of the initial activity against single-stranded DNA. Electrophoresis in nuclease-detecting gels demonstrated a parallel conversion of the larger species to one indistinguishable in molecular weight from the S species. The observed loss of exonuclease activity could correspond to the conversion of the F to the S nuclease. However, treatment of S nuclease with subtilisin resulted in a drastic reduction of exonuclease activity of this enzyme on duplex DNA with retention of most of the activity against single-stranded and nicked circular duplex DNA substrates. Evidence of internal proteolysis of the S nuclease could be seen after electrophoresis in denaturing gels but only after the denaturation buffer was adjusted to 6 M in urea. The preferential removal of the exonuclease activity may enhance the usefulness of the BAL 31 nuclease in such applications as heteroduplex mapping.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed1988

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in miliary tuberculosis.

We report bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cellular analysis in eight patients with miliary tuberculosis. The total cell count and lymphocytes count of BAL fluid were significantly increased and the alveolar macrophage count was significantly decreased in patient with miliary tuberculosis compared to normal subjects. Epithelioid cell granulomas were seen in BAL fluid in two patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Decreased interleukin-18 expression in BAL cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adult cystic fibrosis patients.

Lymphocytes from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients secrete less interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) upon stimulation compared to controls. Expression of interleukin (IL)-18 as an IFN-gamma inducing factor and of IL-10 as an IL-18 inhibiting factor were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from CF patients (n=5) and from normal control subjects (n=9) as well as in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients (n=12) and from control subjects (n=9) with RT-PCR. IL-18 and IL-10 serum protein levels were measured using ELISA. BAL cells and PBMC of CF patients expressed significantly less IL-18 compared to controls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference for IL-10 in BAL cells. However, PBMC from patients expressed significantly more IL-10 mRNA (p<0.05). IL-18 serum protein levels were decreased in the patient group, whereas IL-10 serum concentrations were elevated. Stimulation with rhIL-10 reduced IL-18 expression in PBMC from CF patients. Decreased IL-18 expression in CF patients may contribute to decreased IFN-gamma production. IL-10 may contribute to inhibit IL-18 expression in PBMC in CF.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Lipid analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and 31P NMR spectroscopy.

Despite the high clinical relevance, only the cellular moiety of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) has been intensively investigated and is used for diagnosis purposes. On the other hand, the cell-free fluid is, by far, less characterized. Although this fluid represents a relatively simple mixture of only a few different phospholipids (mainly phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and cholesterol), methods for the routine analysis of these fluids are still lacking. In the present investigation we have applied, for the first time, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, as well as 31P NMR spectroscopy to the analysis of organic extracts of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. BAL from different mammals (rat, minipig, rabbit and man) were investigated and, for means of comparison, organic extracts of lung tissue were also examined. Both applied methods provide fast and reliable information on the lipid composition of the bronchoalveolar lavage. However, despite of its comparably low sensitivity, 31P NMR spectroscopy detects all phospholipid species in a single experiment and with the same sensitivity, whereas MALDI-TOF fails in the detection of phosphatidylethanolamine in the presence of higher quantities of phosphatidylcholine. In contrast, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is more suitable for the detection of cholesterol and the determination of the fatty acid composition of the individual phospholipids, especially lysolipids. It will be shown that all BALs exhibit significant, species-dependent differences that mainly concern the content of phosphatidylglycerol and lyso-phosphatidylcholine. It is concluded that both methods are suitable tools in lipid research due to the (in comparison to alternative methods) simplicity of performance.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Chelation of cadmium with BAL and DTPA in rats.

Cadmium is unique among non-essential metals in several of its toxicological effects because of its long biological half life, slow excretion and delayed action on the kidneys. Although cadmium poisoning in humans is uncommon, there are reports of chronic cadmium poisoning in workmen and also in others in certain polluted areas. At present there are no suitable methods either to measure the body burden of cadmium or to treat cadmium poisoning. The therapeutic effects of various chelating agents including 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) and its soluble glycosides have been studied without much success in acute cadmium intoxication. However, those studies were done before anything was known of the specific binding of cadmium to metallothionein, an intracellular low molecular weight protein. The potential role of this protein in the detoxification and toxicity of metals has been reviewed recently. The induced synthesis of metallothionein has a marked effect on the pharmacokinetics of cadmium and other divalent metals. Thus it is important to consider the intracellular binding of cadmium with metallothionein in developing a suitable chelation therapy for chronic exposure to cadmium. The in vivo chelation of cadmium with BAL or BAL and diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) from rats exposed to cadmium is reported here.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The effect of high intensity exercise on the functional capacity of equine pulmonary alveolar macrophages and BAL-derived lymphocytes.

The effect of strenuous exercise on the functional capacity of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) and bronchoalveolar lavage-derived lymphocytes was determined in eight horses prior to and after 7 weeks of training. Strenuous exercise had no effect on the total cell count or the percentage of live cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples prior to or following training. However, training was associated with a significant increase in the total cell count of pre-exercise BAL samples and a significant reduction in the percentage of live cells in post-exercise samples. Strenuous exercise was associated with impaired phagocytosis by PAM after 7 weeks of training but had no effect on similar samples obtained from untrained horses. The oxidative burst activity of PAM was significantly increased following strenuous exercise for both untrained and trained horses. BAL -derived lymphocyte oxidative burst was similarly affected following training. These results suggest that strenuous exercise and training may influence pulmonary immune cell function.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The BAL-binding protein BBAP and related Deltex family members exhibit ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase activity.

Members of the DTX (Deltex) family act as Notch signaling modifiers and may also regulate transcription through interactions with specific transcription factors. DTX proteins have a basic N terminus; a central proline-rich region; and a C-terminal RING finger domain, a motif often found in ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligases (E3). Recently, we identified and characterized a unique diffuse large B-cell lymphoma risk-related gene named BAL (B aggressive lymphoma). Using a yeast two-hybrid screen for BAL-binding partners, we have now identified a novel protein termed BBAP (B-lymphoma- and BAL-associated protein). Although BBAP has a unique N terminus, the C-terminal region is highly homologous to that of DTX family members. Herein, we report that BBAP and the human family of DTX proteins (DTX1, DTX2, and DTX3) function as E3 ligases based on their capacity for self-ubiquitination. DTX family members homodimerize and heterodimerize in vivo, suggesting that physical interactions between various DTX family members modify E3 activity and/or substrate availability. Consistent with this idea, BBAP and DTX1 associate via their unique N termini, resulting in enhanced self-ubiquitination.

Amino Acid Sequence↗