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Biomedical subjects

Richard Kradin

Publications and source records attributed to Richard Kradin.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Differential epithelial expression of SHH and FOXF1 in usual and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia.

Morphogenetic factors have been shown to play a role in embryogenesis and post-embryonic disease. Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic and often progressive disorder that can lead to end-stage cystic lung. Its two major subtypes, usual interstitial pneumonitis (UIP) and nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis (NSIP) differ in their response to immunosuppressive regimens, with UIP having a significantly worse prognosis. The clinical and histologic overlap between these disorders is substantial, and there are no ancillary findings that can accurately distinguish them. We examined surgical and autopsy specimens of lung in 13 cases of patients with either UIP or the fibrotic variant of NSIP (NSIP-F) for their expression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Foxf1 in situ. We identified a pattern of strong Shh expression with weak expression of Foxf1 in all cases of UIP and a complementary expression of Shh and Foxf1 in cases of NSIP-F. We conclude that morphogenetic genes may participate differentially in the pathogenesis of UIP and NSIP-F.

Adult↗

The relationship of anxiety disorders, anxiety sensitivity and pulmonary dysfunction with dyspnea-related distress and avoidance.

Little is known about factors that mediate the relationship between anxiety and respiratory-related distress and disability. We hypothesized that elevations in anxiety sensitivity would be associated with greater severity of dyspnea, greater dyspnea-related avoidance, and poorer subjective assessment of health in patients with dyspnea referred for pulmonary function testing, regardless of objective evidence of pulmonary dysfunction. A total of 182 consecutive patients receiving pulmonary function tests to evaluate dyspnea were screened with a patient-rated Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders and completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index and questionnaires assessing symptom severity and avoidance. Anxiety Sensitivity Index score predicted more severe subjective dyspnea and greater dyspnea-related avoidance, even after adjustment for anxiety disorders and pulmonary dysfunction. Despite some limitations, these data provide preliminary support that strategies to identify, measure, and address high levels of anxiety sensitivity should be examined to reduce subjective distress and improve functioning for patients with dyspnea.

Anxiety Disorders↗

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis.

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is an unusual disorder characterized by the proliferation of capillaries in the alveolar septa and pulmonary interstitium. Originally conceived as a primary idiopathic disorder of the pulmonary microcirculation, recent studies have demonstrated that PCH may be associated with other pathologies. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous free radical with protean biological effects that is released during the intracellular conversion of arginine to citrulline. Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) mediate the production of NO and the release of NO in the microvasculature is specifically catalyzed by endothelial NOS (NOS-III). As NOS contributes to angiogenesis and is reduced in the hypertensive pulmonary microcirculation, we examined the expression of NOS-III protein in situ in the lungs of patients with PCH. Reduced microvascular expression of NOS-III protein by endothelial cells was observed in 4/6 (67%) cases of PCH, and all of these showed concomitant pulmonary vascular hypertensive remodeling. In 2/6 (33%) cases of PCH with no morphologic evidence of pulmonary hypertensive arteriopathy, endothelial expression of NOS-III protein was judged to be either minimally reduced or normal. These findings suggest that NOS-III is specifically reduced in PCH when pulmonary arterial hypertensive remodeling is concomitantly present.

Aged↗

The roots of empathy and aggression in analysis.

Empathy and interpretation have complementary roles in analysis. Empathy diminishes psychological arousal, ego-defences, and promotes the therapeutic relationship. Interpretation, when adopted in the service of character analysis and the uncovering of unconscious conflict, represents one element of a larger set of interventions termed analytic aggression, whose primary goal is to promote insight. Psychoanalysis has been increasingly influenced by derivative theories that promote the therapeutic relationship. Clinical observations suggest that the application of analytic aggression has diminished and that many modern treatments may have become overly skewed towards empathic approaches. This paper explores ethical humanism, Jamesian typology, and feminine psychology, as factors that have contributed to the diminished emphasis on analytic aggression in practice. Eastern myth and Buddhist psychology are used to explicate the core features of narcissistic mental structuring and to support the continued importance of analytic aggression in its treatment. Case material is examined to elucidate the benefits and limits of analytic aggression.

Aggression↗

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis arising in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by epistaxis, telangiectases, and visceral arteriovenous malformations that can lead to hemorrhage and other complications. We report the case of a 56-year-old female patient with HHT and pulmonary hypertension who died with intractable pulmonary and gastrointestinal bleeding. Autopsy revealed vascular malformations in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, and brain. Capillary proliferations in the pulmonary alveolar walls, characteristic of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, were identified, as was evidence of pulmonary hypertensive arteriopathy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis arising in HHT. The histopathologic findings of HHT and pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis are reviewed, and a possible role for diminished capillary expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase is discussed.

Fatal Outcome↗

The placebo response complex.

Placebo effects contribute to beneficial therapeutic responses and are common in anxiety and depressive disorders. It is posited that placebo effects are yielded by autonomous feeling-toned complexes capable of re-establishing background self-states of well-being. The relationship between the placebo response complex and modern neurobiological models of self is explored. The psychological roots of the placebo response complex in implicit memories of organized attachment between child and early caretakers and in Sandler's conception of the benign superego are examined. The relationships between the negative placebo (nocebo) response complex, Freud's negative therapeutic reaction, and Fordham's defence of the self are explored. Finally, it is suggested that approaches fundamental to the analytic encounter, e.g., mirroring, affectual exchanges, attunement, and containment are likely to optimize the salutary effects of both psychological and somatic therapeutic interventions.

Ego↗

Stress regulates the lymphocyte homing receptor CD62L (L-selectin).

Based on a previous study showing that panic disorder patients had increased expression of na ve phenotype lymphocytes (CD45RA+ and CD62L+), increased plasma cortisol, as well as decreased interleukin-2 (IL-2) producion, we hypothesized that changes in the percentage of expression of these lymphocyte surface molecules could be related to the substances released by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and possibly associated to panic disorder (cortisol, IL-2, serotonin and epinephrine). In order to study the altered expression, blood mononuclear cells of normal volunteers were stimulated with mitogen, in the presence of dexamethasone, IL-2, serotonin and epinephrin. CD62L is decreased by IL-2 in vitro. Serotonin and epinephrine did not promote changes in the expression of these surface molecules. The results of the ex vivo study are in agreement with a previous clinical study with panic patients. It could be suggested that stress is responsible for certain immunologic dysfunctions and new studies should be conducted.

Analysis of Variance↗

IL-12p40(-/-) mice treated with intratracheal bleomycin exhibit decreased pulmonary inflammation and increased fibrosis.

Pulmonary lymphohistiocytic inflammation and fibrosis characterize bleomycin (BLM) lung injury. IL-12, a p70 cytokine produced primarily by macrophages and dendritic cells, promotes T-helper-1-mediated inflammation. IL-12 production by blood monocytes and bronchoalveolar large mononuclear cells (BAMC) was investigated at Days 1-14 following intratracheal administration of BLM. In the lung, BAMC showed a large peak of IL-12 expression at Day 5 that returned rapidly toward baseline. IL-12p40(-/-) mice treated with BLM intratracheally showed less pulmonary mononuclear cell inflammation at Day 7 than wild-type controls, whereas pulmonary fibrosis and hydroxyproline content were increased in IL-12p40(-/-) mice at Day 14. The expression of IP-10, RANTES, and eotaxin were decreased in IL-12p40(-/-) mice and lung IL-6 expression was increased, all compared to controls. We conclude that IL-12 promotes the lymphohistiocytic response to BLM and may inhibit the late development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Animals↗