Objective To test the hypothesis that nebulised budesonide (NB) might be an alternative to systemic corticosteroids in treatment of patients with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD).Methods Patients hospitalised with ECOPD (n = 78) were randomnized into three groups.Group 1 received only standard bronchodilator treatment (SBDT),group 2 received systemic corticosteroids (SC 40 mg methylprednisolone) plus SBDT,and group 3 received nebulised budesonide ( NB 1000 mg budesonide q.i.d.) plus SBDT.Complete blood counts,detailed biochemical analysis,spirometric measurements and arterial blood gas analysis were carried out at admission.In addition,the following were recorded:adverse effects,discharging percentage of patients at 10 day and 15 day after hospitalization,exacerbation and re-hospitalization ratio within 1month after discharge.Results The improvement of SO2,PO2,FEV1 and discharge rates was ( 5.3± 0.9 ) %、(5.9 ±0.4)%、(8.7 ±0.5)% ,(8.1 ±0.8)%,(4.9 ±0.4)% and (7.2 ±0.5)% ,which were higher than that in SBDT group.These indexes were not different between 2 group and 3 group.The fraction of patients discharged on the 10th day and 15th were not different.The deteriorate rate was higher in 1 group than in 2 group and 3 group(P ＜0.05 ).Re-admission ratio in one month is higher in 1 group( 12% ) than in 2 group( 5% ) and 3 group(9% ) ( P ＜0.05 ).Absolute blood glucose level was found to be significantly higher in group 2 in 10th day (7.4 ± 1.6)mmol/L,which is greater than that in 1 group ( 5.1 ± 0.8 ) mmol/L and 3 group ( 5.6 ± 1.2 ) mmol/L ( P ＜ 0.05 ).Dysphoria and deliration appear in one patient in group 2.Conclusions Nebulised budesonide,an effective and safe alternative to systemic corticosteroids in treatment of exacerbated COPD,may substitute systemic corticosteroids in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Lung fibroblasts are believed to play an important role in lung tissue repair and regenerative process. The differentiation potential of lung fibroblasts is not known very well.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the multi-differentiation capacity of human lung fibroblasts.DESIGN: An observational comparative experiment.SETTING: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Shijitan Hospital and Central Laboratory of the First Hospital of Tsinghua University.MATERIALS: This study was performed at the Central Laboratory of the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from March 2006 to October 2006. Human adult lung fibroblasts were isolated as primary cultures from resected lung of patients with lung cancer.The study was approved by hospital's Medical Ethics Committee, and informed consent was signed. Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), fetal calf serum (FCS), trypsin- ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), naphthol AS-MX phosphate and Fast Red TR were purchased from Sigma, USA. Mouse anti-human osteopondn antibody was from R&D Systems China Co., Ltd,Polyvinyl difluoride (PVDF) membranes were from Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc, Hercules, CA.METHODS: Human adult lung fibroblasts were isolated as primary cultures. Human lung fibroblasts were cultured in an osteogenic medium (containing 109-10-5 mol/L dexamethasone, 50 mg/L vitamin C and 10 mmol/L β-glycerophospate) and adipogenic medium (containing 15% horseurm, 10-8 mol/L dexamethasone and 10 mg/L insulin), or control medium (10% FCS).Ostcoblasts were detected by alkaline phosphatese (ALP) and calcium salt staining. The expression of osteopontin was measured by Western blotting. Oil Red-O staining was used for identification of mature adipocytes.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The differentiation of lung fibroblasts induced by osteogenie medium; The differentiation of lung fibroblasts induced by adipogenic medium.RESULTS: With the induction of ostcogenic medium for 2 weeks, the differentiation of lung fibroblasts was induced by osteogenic and adipogenic medium, respectively. The expression of ALP and osteopontin was increased and the deposition of calcium salt was detected. After lung fibroblasts were cultured in adipogenic medium for 14 days, part of the cells gradually experienced morphological change from original spindle into oval shape. Oil Red -O staining indicated lipid drops accumulation within cytoplasm.CONCLUSION: Under certain condition, human long fibroblasts could differentiate into osteoblasts or adipocytes that were characterized by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To investigate the differentiation potential of human lung fibroblasts.Methods The study was performed in First Hospital of Tsinghua University from March 2006 to October 2006.Human lung fibroblasts were cultured for 2 weeks in an osteogenic medium[containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS)and 50 g/mL Vitamin C and 10 mmol/L ?-glycerophospate],adipogenic medium(containing 15% horse serum,10-8 mol/L dexmethasone and 10 mg/L insulin),or control medium(10% FCS).Osteoblasts were detected by alkaline phosphatese and calcium salt staining.The expression of osteopontin was measured by Western blotting,Oil Red -O staining for identification of mature adipocytes.Results With the induction of osteogenic medium for 2 weeks,the expression of alkaline phosphatese and osteopontin was increased and the deposition of calcium salt was detected.Mature adipocytes formed after culture with adipogenic medium for 2 weeks.Conclusion Under certain condition,human lung fibroblasts can differentiate into osteoblasts or adipocytes,which were characterized by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

With the rapid growth of economy, environmental incidents of public health happened more frequently. To prevent and control these incidents effectively, governments explored managing information system, which provides technology and decision-making supports for dealing with the incidents. The development, application, services and characteristics of these information systems were summarized in this review, the impendence was also analyzed to develop a management information system in public health field in China.

Objective To investigate the clinical data of a patient with IgG4-related disease involving the trachea and paratracheal soft tissue and review the literature so as to improve the understanding level of the disorder.Methods To analyze the clinical manifestation,laboratory examination,imaging,histopathology,treatment and prognosis of a patient with IgG4-related disease trachea and paratracheal soft tissue involved,who was admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital.The relevant literatures were reviewed.Results A 18-year-old female was admitted with chief complaint of cough,dyspnea,and neck mass.Neck CT suggested that tracheal stenosis was caused by surrounded soft tissue.Paratracheal mass biopsy showed dense collagen fibers with infiltration of many lymphocytes and plasma cells.Immunohistochemical stain found that IgG4-positive plasma cells were ＞ 50/high power field (HPF) and a ratio of IgG4/IgG positive cells was over 40％.The level of serum IgG4 was significantly increased (2 930 mg/L).She was diagnosed as IgG4-related disease.The patient was treated with 80 mg intravenous methylprednisolone per day for three days,then prednisone 40 mg daily oral.Her dyspnea was significantly relieved.One month later,CT scan showed that the cervical tracheal stenosis was significantly improved.We identified 20 cases of IgG4-related disease involving the trachea and paratracheal soft tissue from databases,in which only 1 case was similar as this patient.The other 19 cases were of extratracheal involvement.Elevated serum IgG4 was detected in 11/12 patients.Most patients were treated with glucocorticoid,some combined with immunosuppressive agents and rituximab.The clinical outcome was good.Conclusion IgG4-related disease involving the trachea and paratracheal soft tissue is a rare condition.Serum IgG4 level and histopathology should be considered for diagnosis.Glucocorticoid is effective.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the eligibility and main problems for occupational health inspection agencies in China, and to provide technical references for improvement of occupational health inspection.

METHODSA survey was performed in occupational health inspection agencies that obtained eligibility before June 2011 in eight provinces: Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hubei, Guangxi, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Shenzhen. The survey used the General Information Questionnaire for Occupational Health Inspection Agency made by the project of Occupational Health Surveillance and Diagnosis and Identification of Occupational Diseases in China and Australia.

RESULTSA total of 650 agencies obtained eligibility for occupational health inspection in the eight provinces. These agencies contained 343 centers of disease control and prevention (CDC) or health and epidemic prevention stations (52.8%), 219 hospitals (33.7%), 25 institutes or centers for occupational disease prevention and control (3.8%), 29 community health service centers (4.5%), and 34 other agencies (5.2%) including departments of preventive and health care and preventive medicine outpatient departments. Four hundred and fifty-three agencies completed the questionnaire survey with a response rate of 69.7%. The main types of eligible agencies were different among various regions. A majority of occupational health inspection agencies were hospitals in Shanghai and Zhejiang (67.1%, 62.3%), departments of preventive and health care in Shenzhen (70.0%), and CDCs in Chongqing, Jiangsu, Hubei, and Guangxi. Each agency obtained 3.5 occupational health inspection eligibilities on average. Most of agencies could perform eligible health inspection for dust, harmful physical factors, or harmful chemical factors (84.8%, 87.9%, 87.2%). Moreover, 72.8% of agencies were eligible for all the three types of inspections. A few agencies were able to perform eligible health inspection for harmful biological factors or radiation work (22.5%, 23.0%).

CONCLUSIONAn occupational health inspection network has been established in these surveyed regions. CDCs, institutes for occupational disease prevention and control, and hospitals are the main agencies for occupational health inspection. In order to build up a network of occupational disease prevention and control, various agencies should make full use of their own advantages and enhance abilities and technical cooperation.

China ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Health ; Occupational Health Services ; organization & administration ; Organizations ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective:To determine whether insulin resistance is associated with all-cause mortality in subjects without diabetes.Methods:A total of 505 participants without diabetes, 198 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 307 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), were recruited from the Daqing Diabetes Study. The participants were followed up for 30 years. They were stratified into three groups (tertiles) according to baseline homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) levels, as the HOMA-IR 0, the HOMA-IR 1 and the HOMA-IR 2 groups, to assess the predictive effect of insulin resistance on risk of all-cause mortality.Results:During the 30-year follow-up, 52, 56 and 78 participants died across the three HOMA-IR groups, respectively. The corresponding mortality per 1 000 person-years (95 %CI) were 12.12 (9.56-15.01), 13.10 (10.46-16.03) and 19.91 (16.73-23.15), respectively. Participants in the HOMA-IR 2 group had a significantly higher risk of death than those in the HOMA-IR 0 group after adjustment of age, sex and smoking status ( HR=1.97,95 %CI 1.38-2.81, P<0.001). Cox analyses showed that a one standard deviation increase in HOMA-IR was associated with a 22% increase in the mortality after adjustment of potential confounders ( HR=1.22, 95 %CI 1.08-1.39, P=0.002). Conclusions:Insulin resistance is associated with increased risk of all-cause death in Chinese people without diabetes, suggesting that improving insulin resistance could be beneficial for people without diabetic in reducing risk of long-term all-cause mortality.

To revise GBZ 188 Technical Specification for Occupational Health Surveillance based on national laws, regulations, standards, specifications and legal documents of occupational disease, and combination with the actual situation in China. The main modifications are as follows: the occupational health surveillance for workers exposed to toluene (xylene may implement by reference), bromopropane, methyl iodide, ethylene oxide, chloroacetic acid, indium and its compounds, coal tar, coal tarasphalt, asphalt, β-naphthylamine, dust of metal and its compounds(tin, iron, antimony, barium and its compounds), hard metal dust, erionite dust, low temperature, laser, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Borrelia burgdorferi, and human immunodeficiency virus, for scraper or grind operators, and underground workers using squatting or kneeling position, crawling position, side-lying position, or shoulder position for a long period of time are included. The emergency health screening for workers exposed to arsenic, fluorine and its inorganic compounds, and acrylamide are included. The occupational medical examination (OME) for workers exposed to amino and nitro compounds of benzene, phosgene, monomethylamine, organic fluorine and dimethyl sulfate has been adjusted and made mandatory, with corresponding assessments required upon leaving the job. The special occupational health surveillance for workers exposed to mycobacterium tuberculosis and hepatitis virus is removed. The OME conclusion of reexamination is removed, and standardize recheck/additional inspection requirements. The optional items in OME performed before, during and after leaving post are removed, but the optional items in emergency medical examination are retained. Additional OME items are added. The Guideline for OME Summary Reports is added as informative appendix, and so on. The revised GBZ 188 Technical Specification for Occupational Health Surveillance is more scientific and practical.

Objective To explore the influence of lifestyle intervention on long-term diabetes in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) returned to normal glucose tolerance (NGT) within 6 years.Methods A total of 577 subjects (aged 25-74 years old) with IGT in Daqing were enrolled and randomly assigned to control,and diet,exercise and diet plus exercise groups in a six-year intervention trial in 1986.Subjects who were non-diabetic at the end of the intervention were followed up for additional 14 years.Results Among all the subjects,41.38％ of them who had returned to NGT from IGT within 6 years maintained NGT status after 20 years,and had a lower incidence of diabetes than subjects maintained IGT status (46.55％ vs.75.25％).Of note,in the intervention group,the percentage of participants developed diabetes in the NGT subjects was significantly lower than that in the IGT group (43.71％ vs.76.25％) after 20 years.There was high long-term risk for diabetes in the IGT subjects after the adjustment of age,sex and baseline glucose (HR=1.81,95％CI 1.27-2.58,P=0.001),whereas in the non-intervention group,no significant difference could be viewed in long-term diabetic risk between subjects maintained IGT status and those returned to NGT (71.43％ vs.65.22％) after adjusting of the same confounders (HR=1.03,95％CI 0.45-2.35,P=0.94).Conclusions IGT subjects who had returned to NGT in early years had lower risk for future diabetes than those who remained IGT.However,this beneficial effect could only be viewed in the intervention group,but not in the non-intervention group.

Background/Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become an increasingly important health challenge, with a substantial rise linked to changing lifestyles and global obesity. Ursolic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, has been explored for its potential therapeutic effects. Given its multifunctional bioactive properties, this research further revealed the pharmacological mechanisms of ursolic acid on MASLD. Methods: Drug target chips and bioinformatics analysis were combined in this study to explore the potential therapeutic effects of ursolic acid on MASLD. Molecular docking simulations, surface plasmon resonance analyses, pull-down experiments, and co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to verify the direct interactions. Gene knockdown mice were generated, and high-fat diets were used to validate drug efficacy. Furthermore, initial CD4+ T cells were isolated and stimulated to demonstrate our findings. Results: In this study, the multifunctional extracellular matrix phosphorylated glycoprotein secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) was investigated, highlighting its capability to induce Th17 cell differentiation, amplifying inflammatory cascades, and subsequently promoting the evolution of MASLD. In addition, this study revealed that in addition to the canonical TGF-β/IL-6 cytokine pathway, SPP1 can directly interact with ITGB1 and CD44, orchestrating Th17 cell differentiation via their joint downstream ERK signaling pathway. Remarkably, ursolic acid intervention notably suppressed the protein activity of SPP1, suggesting a promising avenue for ameliorating the immunoinflammatory trajectory in MASLD progression. Conclusions Ursolic acid could improve immune inflammation in MASLD by modulating SPP1-mediated Th17 cell differentiation via the ERK signaling pathway, which is orchestrated jointly by ITGB1 and CD44, emerging as a linchpin in this molecular cascade.