Polyphenols have been described to have a wide range of biological activities, and many reports, published during recent years, have highlighted the beneficial effects of phenolic compounds, illustrating their promising role as therapeutic tools in several acute and chronic disorders. The purpose of study was to evaluate, in an already-assessed model of lung injury caused by bleomycin (BLM) administration, the role of resveratrol and quercetin, as well as to explore the potential beneficial properties of a mango leaf extract, rich in mangiferin, and a grape leaf extract, rich in dihydroquercetin (DHQ), on the same model. Mice were subjected to intra-tracheal administration of BLM, and polyphenols were administered by oral route immediately after BLM instillation and daily for 7 d. Treatment with resveratrol, mangiferin, quercetin and DHQ inhibited oedema formation and body weight loss, as well as ameliorated polymorphonuclear infiltration into the lung tissue and reduced the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Moreover, polyphenols suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase expression, and prevented oxidative and nitroxidative lung injury, as shown by the reduced nitrotyrosine and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase levels. The degree of apoptosis, as evaluated by Bid and Bcl-2 balance, was also suppressed after polyphenol treatment. Finally, these natural products down-regulated cyclo-oxygenase-2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylated expression and reduced NF-κBp65 translocation. Our findings confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol and quercetin in BLM-induced lung damage, and highlight, for the first time, the protective properties of exogenous administration of mangiferin and DHQ on experimental pulmonary fibrosis.

Aminocaproic acid (ACA) and Premarin® (PRE) are used to treat exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) at the racetrack based upon their putative coagulation effects. We hypothesized that neither ACA nor PRE would reduce EIPH because the literature does not substantiate coagulation deficits being manifested in EIPH. Six Thoroughbreds were run from 4 m s− 1 until fatigue (1 m s− 1s × 1 min increments; 6° inclined treadmill) after being treated with placebo, PRE (25 mg) or ACA (5 g) at 2-week intervals in a randomized crossover design. Coagulation and exercise-related variables were measured at rest and maximal effort. EIPH and inflammation were quantified via bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) 30–60 min post-exercise. EIPH was not altered by either treatment (3.8 ± 1.7 (placebo), 4.6 ± 3.2 (ACA) and 2.4 ± 1.2 (PRE) × 106 RBC ml− 1 BALF; p = 0.12), nor was coagulation. However, inflammation was decreased (5.9 ± 0.9 (placebo), 4.4 ± 0.9 (ACA) and 4.2 ± 0.4 (PRE) × 105 WBC ml− 1 BALF; both p < 0.05). There was a trend for decreased time-to-fatigue (720 ± 27 (placebo), 709 ± 24 (ACA) and 726 ± 28 (PRE) s; p = 0.09 for placebo vs. ACA) and a reduction in plasma lactate (19.5 ± 3.0 (placebo), 14.7 ± 1.0 (ACA) and 17.6 ± 2.5 (PRE) mmol l− 1; p < 0.05 for placebo vs. ACA) following ACA administration. ACA and PRE were not effective in reducing EIPH, and ACA may be detrimental to performance. However, both may mitigate exercise-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is a major health concern in performance horses, but the presence and severity of this condition in racing greyhounds has received little attention. While equids and greyhounds share many physiological attributes, there are important structural and functional differences that may help protect greyhounds from EIPH. We tested the hypothesis that greyhounds performing a simulated 503 m race would experience EIPH and that the time course of recovery would be similar to the horse, even though the severity or relative extent as indexed by the concentration of red blood cells [RBCs] in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid would be lower in comparison with that demonstrated previously in horses. Greyhound dogs (n = 6) raced on two occasions (separated by 7 weeks) and BAL was performed 1 week before, 2 h after and each week for 4 weeks following each race to examine the [RBC], concentration of white blood cells [WBCs], WBC differentials and haemosiderophages in the lungs. Racing increased 10 min post-exercise venous blood [lactate] to 18.6 ± 0.4 mmol l− 1. No epistaxis or pink froth was observed at the nose or mouth of any of the dogs. The [RBC] in the BAL fluid was increased significantly 2 h post-race (baseline = 109.6 ± 11.7 × 103; post-race = 292.3 ± 69.9 × 103 RBC ml− 1 BAL fluid, P < 0.05) and returned to baseline 1 week post-race (149.2 ± 46.2 × 103 RBC ml− 1 BAL fluid, P>0.05 versus baseline). The number of haemosiderophages was not different for any of the measurement periods. The [WBC] in the BAL fluid decreased from baseline and race values at 2, 3 and 4 weeks post-exercise (all P < 0.05). Alveolar neutrophil concentrations were also decreased from baseline and immediate post-race values for 4 weeks post-race. The increased [RBC] in the BAL fluid post-exercise is consistent with the presence of EIPH in these greyhounds. However, the relative extent of EIPH in greyhounds (as indexed by [RBC] in the BAL fluid), as compared with that in the horse, was mild, and the lack of elevation of WBC suggests that, unlike their equine counterparts, inflammatory airway disease was absent.

Ascariasis is an important infection in humans (Ascaris lumbricoides) and pigs (Ascaris suum) and individuals appear to be predisposed to either heavy or light worm burdens. These extremes of susceptibility and resistance are represented in a mouse model by 2 strains of mice, CBA mice showing high resistance to infection and C57BL/6 which are highly susceptible, as reflected in worm burdens in the lungs 6–7 days after infection. In an attempt to identify the point at which the difference between these 2 strains is first manifested, we quantified worm burdens at key stages during infection leading up to the pulmonary stage of development. Thus mice were inoculated with fully embryonated A. suum eggs and larval burdens were enumerated in the large intestine and rectum, liver and lungs of the 2 strains at 6 h post-inoculation (p.i.) and on each of days 1–8 p.i. inclusively. A higher percentage of the total inoculum was recovered from the intestine/rectum of C57BL/6j mice in contrast to CBA/Ca mice at 6 h p.i. Larvae were recovered from the intestinal contents and also whilst actively migrating through the large intestinal wall. The number of larvae recovered was significantly reduced in CBA/Ca mice in contrast to C57BL/6j mice between the phase of migration from the liver and arrival in the lungs. The combined results of the inoculation of mice with corticosteroids and the examination of the change in profile and number of leukocytes present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid suggested that the pulmonary inflammatory immune response was not prominently involved in primary protection of mice to A. suum infection in the latter days of infection in the lungs. The susceptible C57BL/6j mice produced a BAL response almost twice as intense as that of resistant CBA/Ca mice with stronger neutrophil, lymphocyte and eosinophil but not macrophage components, suggesting that the difference in worm burdens between the strains was generated earlier in the course of infection. These results were further corroborated by a histological examination of the lung tissues which showed that the passage of the larval stages of A. suum through the mouse lungs was associated with a marked inflammatory response in both strains. Again, C57BL/6j mice exhibited increased inflammation relative to CBA/Ca mice. Hence some hepatic/post-hepatic factor that varies between the 2 strains, but exerts its effect before the lung phase plays a critical role in determining the success of larvae through the host tissues. The possible sites of this host defence are reviewed.

Background: Diseases of the lungs and airways can be life-threatening in patients with congenital cardiac disease. External compression, and tracheobronchomalacia, as well as pathology of the large airways, can cause respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, stridor, fever, and dyspnoea, along with producing difficulty to wean the patient from mechanical ventilation. A definite diagnosis may be achieved by fibreoptic flexible bronchoscopy. Aims: To characterize the patients who underwent bronchoscopy for respiratory diseases associated with congenital cardiac disease, and to evaluate the safety, total diagnostic rate, and diagnostic rate, which yielded alteration of treatment in this group of patients. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the records of 39 patients with congenital cardiac disease associated with abnormalities of the airways who underwent 49 fibreoptic bronchoscopies between 1999 and 2004. The patients were evaluated with regard to rate of diagnosis, the rate of procedures that resulted in alteration of management, and the rate of complications. Results: Fibreoptic flexible bronchoscopy was safe, and contributed to a specific diagnosis in almost nine-tenths of the procedures. A specific diagnosis that resulted in treatment alteration was achieved in one-fifth of the procedures. Conclusions: Fibreoptic flexible bronchoscopy has an important role in the evaluation of pulmonary abnormalities in patients with congenital cardiac diseases, and should be considered as an initial diagnostic tool that may guide the clinician with regard to the proper therapy.

Exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is a serious condition that affects the health and possibly the performance of all racehorses. However, only two treatments, furosemide and the Flair™ equine nasal strip, both of which reduce capillary transmural pressure, have been successful in reducing EIPH. Alternatively, transient impairment of platelet function and coagulation during exercise has been considered an additional contributor to EIPH. Consequently, herbal formulations designed to enhance platelet function, and hence coagulation, are hypothesized to reduce EIPH. To investigate the validity of this hypothesis, five Thoroughbred horses completed three maximal incremental exercise tests on a 10% inclined treadmill in a randomized cross-over design experiment. Treatments included twice daily oral administration (for 3 days) of a placebo (PL; cornstarch) and two herbal formulas, Yunnan Paiyao (YP) or Single Immortal (SI). Blood samples for coagulation profiles, complete blood counts and biochemistry profiles were collected before each exercise test. During each test, pulmonary arterial pressure, oxygen uptake, arterial blood gases, plasma lactate and time-to-fatigue were measured. Severity of EIPH was quantified via bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at 30–60 min post-exercise. The herbal formulations were not effective in decreasing EIPH (×106 red blood cells ml−1 BAL fluid: PL, 27.1±11.6; YP, 33.2±23.4; SI, 35.3±15.4, P>0.05) or in changing any of the other variables measured with the exception of time-to-fatigue, which was slightly but significantly prolonged by Single Immortal compared with placebo and Yunnan Paiyao (PL, 670±9.6 s; YP, 665±5.5 s; SI, 685±7.9 s, P<0.05). Thus, these results do not support the use of these herbal formulations in the prevention of EIPH.

Furosemide (FUR) and the equine nasal strip (NS) decrease exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) compared with control (CON) conditions in the Thoroughbred horse during near-maximal running trials. As FUR and NS have potential performance-enhancing properties, we studied Thoroughbreds running to fatigue to test the hypothesis that time-to-fatigue (TTF) would be increased, yet EIPH reduced, in FUR and NS compared with CON. Thoroughbred geldings (n=6) were run to volitional fatigue on a level treadmill (1 m s−1 increment per minute from an initial trot) every two weeks (order randomized) under CON, NS, FUR (1 mg kg−1; 4 h prior) and FUR+NS conditions. Pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and pulmonary gas exchange were measured throughout exercise, while arterial blood gases were sampled at the end of each 1-min stage. EIPH severity was quantified via bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) at 30 min post-exercise. TTF was increased for all experimental conditions (i.e. an additional 20±13, 28±8 and 40±6 s for NS, FUR and FUR+NS, respectively; P<0.05) compared with CON. Peak mean Ppa was significantly reduced (P<0.05) for FUR (93.6±6.3 mmHg) and FUR+ NS (95.4±5.1 mmHg), yet unchanged with NS (98.0±5.8 mmHg; P>0.05) compared with CON (100.5±4.9 mmHg). All three experimental conditions exhibited a significant reduction in EIPH compared with CON (64.1±36.8× 6 red blood cells (RBCs) ml−1); however, no significant difference was noted between these conditions (×106 RBCs ml−1: 29.1±16.8, 20.9±13.1 and 26.7±19.8 for NS, FUR and FUR+NS, respectively). Furthermore, no differences for either end-exercise cardiorespiratory (i.e. V˙O2 or V˙CO2) or blood-borne metabolic (i.e. blood gases, lactate or pH) variables were observed. These findings demonstrate that both FUR and NS enhance TTF and reduce EIPH to a similar degree during high-speed treadmill running to fatigue.

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis is often treated with bronchopulmonary lavage. Transoesophageal echocardiography has been used to detect lung atelectasis in critical situations. A 68-yr-old male with pulmonar alveolar proteinosis underwent bronchopulmonary lavage and was examined using transoesophageal echocardiography. His dependent left-lung area was observed through the descending aorta. Following saline infusion, no bright areas containing air were observed. The average area of the air-free region following instillation was 37.4 ± 1.8 cm2, which decreased to 22.8 ± 2.6 cm2 after drainage (P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the percentage venous admixture and air-free area during lavage (P < 0.05, r = −0.76). The image of the right lung was unclear. Transoesophageal echocardiography can yield useful information about the lung during bronchopulmonary lavage.