epiglucan and Lung-Diseases

Using the evidence published over the last 2 years, this review discusses the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HIV-related pulmonary infections other than mycobacterial disease.. Longstanding, vertically acquired and apparently stable HIV infection is associated with significant and symptomatic small airways disease in African adolescents. The use of population-based pneumococcal vaccination in children is changing the severity and serotypes associated with HIV-related pneumococcal disease. Data on the use of blood 1,3,β-D-glucan show it has promise as a rule-out test for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).. With widespread antiretroviral medication usage, the pattern of HIV-associated pulmonary disease is changing. Whereas opportunistic infections such as PCP still occur in people not using antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-related infections are similar to those present in the general population. Chronic lung disease is more prevalent, leading to its own infectious complications. The use of specific immunizations against infections is important, though their precise benefit with concomitant widespread ART and population-based vaccination programmes in the non-HIV community is undetermined.

Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Anti-Retroviral Agents; beta-Glucans; HIV Infections; Humans; Lung Diseases; Pneumococcal Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections

The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of the mould cell wall agent beta-glucan in environmentally related pulmonary disease. All published articles where beta-glucan was administered by the airways, either as intratracheal injection or as inhalation were utilised as data sources. Data reporting consisted of analysis of data reports concerning the effects of beta-glucan on the immune system on the cellular level, particularly on the aggregation of inflammatory cells or production of inflammatory cytokines. High doses of soluble and particulate beta-glucan cause an inflammatory response characterized by cytokine activation and neutrophil invasion in the lung tissue. At lower doses, closer to environmental exposure levels, the predominant effect is an influence on the response to antigens, the reactivity of eosinophils and other Th2 driven immune responses. It is concluded that, beta-glucan can induce Th1 as well asTh2 driven immune responses. The pathology of atopy/allergy, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and toxic penumonitis might be induced by exposure to beta-glucan. Measurements of beta-glucan in different environments are useful for risk control and prevention.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucans; Dust; Fungi; Humans; Lung Diseases

Fungal infection in the lungs can cause fungal infectious diseases. This disease develops rapidly and involves a wide range. Pathogenic fungi are also more serious types of pathogenic bacteria. If it invades deep organs and tissues, it will endanger life, so it needs timely diagnosis.. To investigate the diagnostic value of serum soluble myeloid cell triggering receptor-1 (sTREM-1), procalcitonin (PCT), and 1,3-. In this study, a case-control study was conducted. 50 patients with immune-related pulmonary disease complicated with fungal infection (infection group) diagnosed by sputum culture in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 were selected as the control group, and 50 patients with immune-related pulmonary disease without fungal infection were selected as the control group. The levels of sTREM-1, PCT, and 1,3-. The levels of sTREM-1, PCT, and 1,3-. The detection of sTREM-1, PCT, and 1,3-

Topics: beta-Glucans; Biomarkers; C-Reactive Protein; Case-Control Studies; Humans; Immune System Diseases; Lung; Lung Diseases; Mycoses; Myeloid Cells; Procalcitonin; Prospective Studies; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1

Bacterial infection remains the main cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome and is a leading cause of death and disability in critically ill patients. Here we report on the use of purified β-glucan (lentinan) extracts from Lentinus edodes (Shiitake) mushroom that can reduce infection by a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae in a rodent pneumonia model, likely through immunomodulation. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to intra-tracheal administration of K. pneumoniae to induce pulmonary sepsis and randomized to three groups; vehicle control (Vehicle, n = 12), commercial lentinan (CL, n = 8) or in-house extracted lentinan (IHL, n = 8) were administered intravenously 1 h postinfection. Physiological parameters and blood gas analysis were measured, bacterial counts from bronchoalveolar-lavage (BAL) were determined, along with differential staining of white cells and measurement of protein concentration in BAL 48 h after pneumonia induction. Use of IHL extract significantly decreased BAL CFU counts. Both CL and IHL extractions reduced protein concentration in BAL. Use of IHL resulted in an improvement in physiological parameters compared to controls and CL. In conclusion, administration of lentinan to treat sepsis-induced lung injury appears safe and effective and may exert its effects in an immunomodulatory manner.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; beta-Glucans; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Humans; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Lentinan; Lung Diseases; Male; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sepsis; Shiitake Mushrooms

Four sawmills, a wood chipping mill, and five joineries in New South Wales, Australia, were studied for the effects of personal exposure to wood dust, endotoxins. (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi on lung function among woodworkers.. Personal inhalable and respirable dust sampling was carried out. The lung function tests of workers were conducted before and after a workshift.. The mean percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function was markedly high for woodworkers compared with the controls. Dose-response relationships among personal exposures and percentage cross-shift decrease in lung function and percentage predicted lung function were more pronounced among joinery workers compared with sawmill and chip mill workers. Woodworkers had markedly high prevalence of regular cough, phlegm, and chronic bronchitis compared with controls. Significant associations were found between percentage cross-shift decrease in FVC and regular phlegm and blocked nose among sawmill and chip mill workers. Both joinery workers and sawmill and chip mill workers showed significant relationships between percentage predicted lung function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75%) and respiratory symptoms.. Wood dust and biohazards associated with wood dust are potential health hazards and should be controlled.

Topics: Adult; Air Microbiology; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Ascomycota; beta-Glucans; Bronchitis; Chronic Disease; Cough; Dust; Endotoxins; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Glucans; Gram-Negative Bacteria; Hazardous Substances; Humans; Lung Diseases; Male; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; Nasal Obstruction; New South Wales; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Prevalence; Sputum; Vital Capacity; Wood

The value of the measurement of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a major and common cell wall constituent of fungi, for diagnosing pulmonary aspergillosis was assessed in comparison with that of conventional examinations. The concentrations of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan in sera was elevated in 7 out of 8 patients with active aspergillosis, but not in cases without active diseases, except for one sample. Further, the concentrations well reflected the activity of the aspergillosis in each case. Regarding conventional examinations, with the immunodiffusion test it was difficult to detect the present activity of the disease. The radioallergosorbent test was useful for diagnosing bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, but not for other types of aspergillosis. The Aspergillus-specific component, galactomannan, was insensitive and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay gave highly variable results. Thus, although the assessment of the specificity of the assay is still necessary, compared with other tests, the assay of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan has the advantage of diagnosing pulmonary aspergillosis and also of assessing the disease activity.

Topics: Antibodies, Fungal; Aspergillosis; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Aspergillus; beta-Glucans; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Glucans; Humans; Lung Diseases; Lung Diseases, Fungal; Necrosis; Radioallergosorbent Test

The number of inflammatory cells was studied in lung walls and airways after inhalation of endotoxin or beta-1,3-glucan. In the water unsoluble form, beta-1,3-glucan caused a delayed response in terms of a decrease in macrophages and lymphocytes in the lung wall, 1 to 7 days after exposure but no invasion of neutrophils into the airways. When solubilized in 0.02 N NaOH, the cell response was the same as that observed after exposure to endotoxin.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Animals; beta-Glucans; Endotoxins; Female; Glucans; Guinea Pigs; Leukocyte Count; Lung; Lung Diseases; Lymphocytes; Macrophages; Male; Neutrophils