AIM: To investigate the effect of dexamethasone on eosinophil apoptosis and expression of interleukin-5 mRNA and interleukin-10 mRNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic guinea pig. METHODS: 30 Hartley male guinea pigs were divided into 3 groups randomly: dexamethasone group, asthma group and control group. The EOS apoptosis, IL-5 mRNA and IL-10 mRNA expressions were measured by the techniques of TUNEL and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The EOS in BALF of dexamethasone group decreased prominently compared with the asthma group (P

0.01). There was no recurrence in both groups. Mean hospitalization stay was 8.1 days in the laparoscopy group, whereas it was 11.8 days in the open surgical group. Post- operative fever lasted a mean of 4.1 and 5.4 days in the two groups respectively ( P

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effects of clindamycin injection on respiratory tract infections. 　Methods:Clindamycin injection was used in 50 respiratary tract infections patients aged over 18 years by intravenous drip with a dosage of 1.2 g once a day for a consecutive of 10 days. The symptoms and signs of the patients were observed, and the laboratory tests made.　Results: The numbers of patients who were cured, remarkably improved, improved and without any improvement were 25, 19, 5 and 1, respectively. The total effectiveness rate was 98.0%.　Conclusion: Clindamycin injection is significantly effective for treating the mild to moderate respiratory tract infections, especially for those caused by haemolytic streptococcus, streptococcus pneumoniae and lamellar bacillus. It has very little and mild side effects and is suitable for those allergic to penicillin.

Objective To explore the effect of rapamycin on pulmonary fibrosis in rats and its mechanism.Methods Pulmonary fibrosis model was induced by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (5mg/kg).Control group was treated by intratracheal instillation of saline (1.25 ml/kg) to obtain the negative control.The rats of the rapamycin-treated group were given rapamycin (1 mg/kg per day) by gastric perfusion for consecutive 10 days beginning on the third day after intratracheal instillation of bleomycin.On the 28th day,all rats were sacrificed and the peripheral blood and the lung tissues were harvested.Lung tissues were performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.The severity of pulmonary fibrosis in rats was assessed by Ashcroft score.Lung tissues were performed immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta).The expression level was judged by integrated optical density.Results The severity of pulmonary fibrosis was improved in rats of rapamycin-treated group compared with the rats of bleomycin-treated group.A significant difference in Ashcroft score was found between rapamycin-treated group and bleomycin-treated group(2.92 ± 0.64 vs 5.76 ± 1.76,P ＜ 0.01).The expression level of TGF-β was increased in rapamycin-treated group compared with the normal control group (5520.00 ± 1614.20 vs 3370.00 ± 1478.14,P ＜0.01).The expression level of TGF-β was decreased in rapamycin-treated group compared with the bleomycin-treated group (5520.00 ± 1614.20 vs 7772.00 ±1526.46 P ＜0.01).Conclusions Rapamycin can prevent bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the morbidity of anomalous coronary origin from the opposite coronary sinus, which may cause sudden death of young athletes in Chinese population.And to identify the imaging characteristics of this anomaly and its clinical significance combined with literature review.Methods The computed tomographic coronary angiography (CTCA) database at TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital was reviewed.All of the patients diagnosed with isolated anomalous origin of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus of valsalva (anomalous origin of coronary artery, AOCA) and subsequent coursing between the pulmonary artery and the aorta were collected from 14 343 Chinese individuals.The location of anomalous coronary origin, the shape and course of the proximal ectopic arterial segments were identified.The nonatherosclerostic stenotic caliber of the segments and the angle between the ectopic coronary artery and the adjacent aortic wall were assessed.Results Seventy-four patients of AOCA (including the left or right single coronary artery) were diagnosed using CTCA.Among the 74 cases, the potentially serious course of the ectopic coronary artery between the pulmonary artery and the aorta were identified in 59 individuals.Fifty-six cases of ectopic right coronary with interarterial course (anomalous origin of right coronary artery, AORCA) and three patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (AOLCA) were found, including two cases judged as potentially serious origin of either single left coronary artery (n=1) or single right coronary artery (n=1).The morbidity of the potentially serious anomalous origin of coronary artery in Chinese population was established as 4.1‰ (59/14 343).In the subgroup of AORCA, the lumen of initial ectopic segment was frequently compressed and stenotic.In 29 cases (52.7%) the stenosis of the lumen were more than 50%, and in 3 cases (5.4%) the stenosis of the ectopic coronary artery were more than 70%.The incidence of AORCA was 17.7 times higher (56/3) than that of AOLCA in Chinese population.Conclusions Nowadays CTCA is considered the most useful imaging technique in identifying the origin, shape and course of ectopic initial segment of the coronary artery.The significance of these anatomic characteristics, that may induce sudden death in Chinese young athletes, need to be investigated further.

Objective To analysis complications and its associated risk factors of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in treatment of uterine leiomyoma for selecting rationale indicated patients and reducing complications. Methods Medical documents of 171 patients with 231 leiomyomas in total treated by HIFU were studied retrospectively. Common complications were categorized and analyzed, the relationship between risk factors and complications were studied. Results Common complications in treatment of uterine leiomyomas by HIFU were 71.9% (123/171) of abdominal pain, 17.5% (30/171) of vaginal bloody discharge, 8.2% (14/171) of sacroiliac or buttock pain, 7. 6% (13/171) of skin blister,4. 7% (8/171) of leg pain, 2. 9% (5/171) of hematuria and 1.8% (3/171) of febrile. By logistic regression analysis, the factor correlated with abdominal pain included diameter of uterine leiomyomas,sonication time and average power (P < 0. 05). The factor correlated with sacroiliac or buttock pain was uterine leiomyomas located in posteriors of uterine wall(P <0. 05); the factors correlated with vaginal bloody discharge were sonication time and type of uterine leiomyomas (submucous > intramural > subserous, P <0. 05); the factors correlated with skin blister was sonication time (P < 0. 05). There were no statistical relationship between multiple factors and leg pain, hematuria, febrile (P > 0. 05). Conclusion The modality of high-power and short-term treatment might reduce complications of HIFU ablation.

Objective To investigate the Huatan Huoxue Jiangqi prescription in treating AECOPD clinical curative effect. Methods 123 patients with AECOPD were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group. The two groups were treated with western medicine, and the treatment group added with Chinese herbal medicine treatment with Huatan Huoxue Jiangqi prescription. The syndrome effect, clinical symptom score, CAT score, mMRC classification, lung function, the serum FIB and CRP levels were obtained to evaluate the efficacy of the two groups before and after treatment. Results The syndrome effect of the treatment group was significantly better than that of the control group. Compared with the control group, there was significant difference between traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, CAT score (P < 0.05); Lung function (including FEV1, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC) was significantly improved in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05). The serum FIB and CRP levels decreased significantly in the treatment group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Huatan Huoxue Jiangqi prescription has reliable effets on treating AECOPD.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)granules made by the formula of Shegan Mahuang decoction for treatment of patients with asthma. Methods A prospective study was conducted,51 cases of light to moderate asthma(cold type)patients were randomly divided into treatment group (25 cases)and control group(26 cases). Conventional symptomatic treatments were of the same in two groups. The patients in control group were given salbutamol aerosol inhalation,100μg each time,4 times per day;based on the treatment of the control group,additionally the above mentioned TCM granules dissolved in water was administered orally 1 dose/day taken twice once in the morning and another once in the evening in treatment group. The therapeutic course was 12 weeks in both groups. Before and after treatment,the asthma control test(ACT)score,forced expiratory volume in 1 second(FEV1)and peak expiratory flow(PEF)were observed. The therapeutic effect,adverse reaction and compliance were evaluated. Results The number of patients with asthma completely controlled in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group(16 cases vs. 9 cases,χ2=4.82,P=0.028). In the patients of two groups,FEV1,PEF and ACT scores were significantly improved after treatment,and in the treatment group,they were obviously higher than those in control group〔FEV1(L):2.67±0.46 vs. 2.32±0.47,PEF(L/min):327.6±49.4 vs. 273.1±42.8,ACT score:22.8±2.0 vs. 21.1±2.6,all P<0.05〕. After treatment,FEV1%predicted value was increased in the treatment group but decreased in control group,there was significantly statistical difference〔(0.68±0.07)% vs.(0.80±0.11)%,P<0.05〕,no significant adverse reaction was found,compliance was good. Conclusion TCM granules made by formula of Shegan Mahuang decoction can improve the clinical symptoms, pulmonary function and control level in patients with asthma,so it is an effective medicine for the control of asthma.

This study compared the efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder (spiriva) and doxofylline oral tablet (doxofylline) in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-controlled study involved 127 eligible stable moderate to severe COPD patients treated with inhaled tiotropium dry powder (18 μg/day) or oral doxofylline tablets (0.2 g/time, 2 times a day) for 12 and 24 weeks. Before and after treatment for 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively, pulmonary function, 6-min walking distance and dyspnea index were recorded. The results showed that in both tiotropium group and doxofylline groups, after 12-week treatment, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC% and 6-min walk distance were significantly higher than those before the medication, while dyspnea index decreased as compared with that before treatment. After 24-week treatment, a slight improvement in the measures was observed as compared with that of 12-weeks treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. With both 12-week and 24-week treatment, the effect of tiotropium was slightly better than that of doxofylline tablets, with the difference being statistically insignificant. The major adverse events in the tiotropium group and doxofylline group were observed in 9 cases (9.9%) and 12 cases (12.9%), respectively, and no statistically significant difference was found between them. We are led to conclude that both tiotropium at 18 μg a day and doxofylline tablets at 0.2 g/day (two times a day) are effective and safe for the treatment of COPD.

Objective To establish a comprehensive method combining physical model experiment and numerical simulation for studying airflow state of upper respiratory tract. Methods Based on CT medical images published online, a three-dimensional (3D) model of human upper respiratory tract was reconstructed. Based on 3D printing technology, an experimental model of the upper respiratory tract was established and the flow process of respiration was measured. A numerical simulation model was created based on the meshing of upper respiratory tract model and the turbulent Realizable k-ε model. Results Firstly, the result of numerical simulation was compared with the experimental conditions, and good agreement was achieved. The numerical simulation results showed that the airflow in respiratory process was in a parabolic shape; the distribution of flow field, pressure on wall and vortex structure were different between inspiratory and expiratory phases; there were air residues in the upper and lower nasal passages during the respiratory exchange process. In addition, the effects of airflow on physiological environment of the upper respiratory tract were preliminarily analyzed through the steak line, pressure field and vortex structure distribution. Conclusions The method proposed in this paper has the characteristics of pertinence, rapidity and accuracy, which gives full play to the advantages of reliable physical experiments and fine numerical simulation, and is applicable for studying different problems of the upper respiratory tract in different cases, with a high value for personalized diagnosis and treatment in clinic.