Does dust-associated pulmonary alveolar proteinosis represent an autoimmune disorder?

The role of autoantibodies against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in the development of secondary pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) in patients exposed to occupational and environmental dust remains unclear. Herein, we describe two cases of secondary PAP who had GM-CSF antibodies and absence of STAT5 phosphorylation index, suggestive of a potential relationship between the appearance of GM-CSF antibodies and environmental dust exposure. However, whether the presence of GM-CSF antibodies is a part of the pathological process or represents an epiphenomenon is currently unknown. In this report, we would like to present two cases supporting these new data and briefly discuss the possible role of autoimmune mechanisms in the development of secondary PAP. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:591-597, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Led enhancement in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for hepatectomized rats

Recently, the LED (light emitting diode) developed by the Optics Group of IFSC-USP has been used instead of laser for the treatment of skin tumors by the PDT (Photodinamic Therapy) because of its low operational cost compared to the use of a laser. In this paper we investigate the effect of LED light on oxidative phosphorylation during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (250 g) were kept in identical housing units on a 12-hour light/12 hour dark cycle. The LED 10 group was exposed to LED at 638 nm (10 J/cm² for 3 minutes). Seventy percent partial hepatectomy was performed in the LED 10 and HPC (Partial Hepatectomy-Control). A sham-operated group (C) was used for control. Twenty four hours after the procedure, LED 10, HPC and control animals were sacrificed. Samples of liver tissue were used for the mitochondrial respiration assay. Statistical comparisons of the groups were performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Bonferroni post-test. Probability values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. the phosphorylation index (FI) for the LED 10 group was higher than that for the HPC group and for the sham group (p 005). The FI for the HPC group was higher than that for the sham group (p 005). The values of the ADP:O ratio for the three groups, which did not differ significantly from one another (p > 0.05). In the present study we noted an effective interaction between LED light and hepatic mitochondria, with an increased phosphorylation rate for the latter.