Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common and most lethal diffuse fibrosing lung
disease, with a mortality rate that exceeds that of many cancers. Recently, there have been …

Although the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) remains unknown, cytokine
production and release are key events in this autoimmune disease, characterized by T cell …

Objective. To assess the efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in SSc. Methods. Fourteen patients with
SSc were evaluated. Eight patients were randomized to receive two cycles of RTX at …

In therapeutic studies in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the low prevalence of significant
change in pulmonary functional tests (PFTs) has been a major constraint. The prognostic …

Profibrotic cells derived from circulating CD14+ monocytes include fibrocytes and
alternatively activated macrophages. These cells are associated with interstitial lung disease …

Abstract Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) has high mortality and morbidity. Current
management focuses on early detection and treatment of organ-based manifestations. Aim …

Introduction The objective of the present study was to examine the association of baseline
demographic and clinical characteristics with sequentially obtained measurements of forced …

Mice sc injected with bleomycin, an experimental model for human systemic sclerosis,
develop skin and lung fibrosis, which is mediated by inflammatory cell infiltration. This …

Objectives To evaluate an improved quantitative lung fibrosis score based on a computer-
aided diagnosis (CAD) system that classifies CT pixels with the visual semi-quantitative …

Objective Rapamycin, a novel macrolide immunosuppressive drug, is increasingly used as
an agent for posttransplant immunosuppression and treatment of autoimmune disease. The …