Allergic asthma is a chronic obstructive disease of the airways characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness,inflammation and remodeling.Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) level is highly correlated with eosinophilic airway inflammation.Since the advantage of noninvasion,convenience,and specificity of eNO measurement,it has been widely used as a biomarker.In this article eNO metabolism and its effects on airway physiology and pathophysiology are described.The usefulness of eNO in asthma diagnosis and management is discussed in detail.

Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the constant fission,fusion,docking,transportation,and mitophagy of mitochondria within cells.These dynamic processes are not only critical to regulating mitochondrial morphology and function,but also playing key roles in cell survival,metabolism and function.Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are special and important neurons in retina and are exquisitely sensitive to disturbances in mitochondrial dynamics.Recent studies on autosomal dominant optic atrophy have demonstrated that genes which encode a mitochondrial protein involved in mitochondrial fusion are closely associated with the function of RGCs.In experimental glaucoma models,increased intraocular pressure induced mitochondrial fission,changes of optic atrophy 1 (OPAl) mRNA and protein expression,and resulted in RGCs death.The normal transportation and distribution of mitochondria in RGCs are critical for the function of axons.The studies on inherited and experimental optic neuropathies suggest that mitochondrial dynamics plays a central role in regulating the survival of RGCs.Manipulating mitochondrial dynamics has emerged as a promising strategy in RGCs protection.This paper reviewed the main content of mitochondrial dynamics and the role of mitochondrial dynamics in RGCs.

Objective:To explore the relationship between serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels of progranulin (PGRN) and prognosis in children with purulent meningitis (PM).Methods:Sixty children with PM (PM group) and 60 children without central nervous system infection (suspected central nervous system infection, or having indications for lumbar puncture; control group) in Zhuji People′s Hospital of Zhejiang Province from January 2014 to December 2018 were selected. The serum and cerebrospinal fluid PGRN, C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were detected. The correlation was analyzed by Pearson method; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the prognostic value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid PGRN were evaluated.Results:The serum and cerebrospinal fluid PGRN, CRP and PCT in PM group were significantly higher than those in control group, serum: (42.61 ± 4.79) ng/L vs. (26.13 ± 4.26) ng/L, (58.46 ± 3.74) mg/L vs. (1.34 ± 0.37) mg/L, (7.48 ± 0.24) μg/L vs. (0.31 ± 0.06) μg/L; cerebrospinal fluid: (3.52 ± 0.43) ng/L vs. (1.47 ± 0.36) ng/L, (23.06 ± 0.67) mg/L vs. (2.17 ± 0.45) mg/L, (4.13 ± 0.25) μg/L vs. (0.18 ± 0.07) μg/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). The correlation analysis result showed that serum and cerebrospinal fluid PGRN were positively correlated with CRP and PCT in children with PM (serum: r = 0.517 and 0.546, P<0.01; cerebrospinal fluid: r = 0.541 and 0.528, P<0.01). Among the 60 children with PM, 44 had good prognosis and 16 had poor prognosis. The serum and cerebrospinal fluid PGRN, CRP and PCT in children with poor prognosis were significantly higher than those in children with good prognosis, serum: (48.78 ± 4.65) ng/L vs. (34.15 ± 5.12) ng/L, (67.15 ± 3.84) mg/L vs. (47.02 ± 4.23) mg/L, (8.46 ± 0.35) μg/L vs. (6.23 ± 0.31) μg/L; cerebrospinal fluid: (3.93 ± 0.49) ng/L vs. (3.12 ± 0.37) ng/L, (27.62 ± 0.74) mg/L vs. (18.53 ± 0.81) mg/L, (4.97 ± 0.28) μg/L vs. (3.24 ± 0.31) μg/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). ROC curve analysis result showed that the area under curve of serum and cerebrospinal fluid PGRN for assessing the prognosis of children with PM was 0.821 (95% CI 0.818 to 0.824) and 0.913 (95% CI 0.910 to 0.916), with a sensitivity of 81.23% and 89.46%, and a specificity of 72.34% and 79.58%, cut-off value of PGRN was 41.53 and 3.54 ng/L. Conclusions:Serum and cerebrospinal fluid PGRN levels in children with PM are significantly increased, which are closely related to the prognosis of children with PM, and are potential indicators for evaluating the prognosis of PM.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in the clinical efficacy on endometriosis (EM) between electroacupuncture (EA) and western medication.

METHODSSeventy-two EM patients were divided into an EA group and a western medication group according to visiting departments, 36 cases in each one. In the EA group, acupuncture was applied to Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Diji (SP 8), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3). After qi arrival, G6805-I pulse electronic apparatus was attached to bilateral Zigong (EX-CA 1), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zhongji (CV 3), with continuous wave, 70 Hz in frequency, 3 mA in intensity. The EA was given once every two days. In the western medication group, mifepristone tablets were prescribed for oral administration, 12. 5 mg per treatment, once a day, for 6 months. The pain degree was observed before and after treatment and the clinical efficacy and recurrence rate were evaluated in the two groups. The enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the tumor marker serum CA125 before and after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 94. 4% (34/36) in the EA group and was 91. 7% (33/36) in the western medication group, without significant difference (P>0. 05). The pain score after treatment was lower than that before treatment in the two groups (both P< 0. 01), but the score after treatment in the EA group was lower than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). Serum CA125 was reduced after treatment in the patients of the two groups (both P<0. 01), and serum CA125 after treatment in the EA group was lower than that in the western medication group (P<0. 05). In the follow-up visit of one year, the reoccurrence rate was 17. 6% (6/34) in the EA group and was 33. 3% (11/33) in the western medication group, indicating the significant difference (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONEA achieves the significant clinical efficacy and the reoccurrence rate in 1 year in the EA group is obviously lower than that in the western medication group. This therapy could be promoted in clinical practice of acupuncture and moxibustion.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Endometriosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Alopecia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hair ; growth & development ; Humans

Specific detection of amatoxins and phallotoxins in body fluids is necessary for an early diagnosis of an intoxication with mushrooms.In this study, a rapid method for the simultaneous determination of α-, (β-and γ-amanitin, phalloidin and phallacidin in human urine and plasma was first developed by ultra-perform ance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.Urine sample was directly injected into the separation system and plasma sample was initially prepared by precipitation of proteins with 1% acetic acid in acetoni trile.The toxin was analyzed on an ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column using a gradient program with a cycle time of 9 min, and detected by positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the MRM mode, and quantified by matrix-match standard solution.The detection limits (S/N = 3) of the toxins were within 0.2-1 μg/L and 0.1-0.5 μg/L for urine and plasma, respectively.The standard curves were linear in the range of 2-100 μg/L for urine and 1-100 μg/L for plasma.The average recoveries were 92.0%-108.0% and 85.0%-100.0% for the toxins spiked in urine and plasma, with RSDs of 1.0%-22.0% and 2.0%-22.0% (n = 6), respectively.The method was simple, selective and sensitive to detect the amatoxins and phallotoxins in urine and plasma for both clinical and forensic purposes.

A rapid method for the detection of tetrodotoxin(TTX) in human plasma and urine was developed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. After a simple protein precipitation step was undertaken, the subsequent analysis of TTX was achieved on a TSK-gel amide-80 column using an ammonium formate-methanol-acetonitrile gradient with a cycle time of 13 min, and detected by positive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the MRM mode, and quantified by matrix-match standard solution. It was found that linearity in urine was observed within concentration ranged from 3 μg/L to 500 μg/L, that in plasma 1 μg/L to 200 μg/L and that limits of detection(S/N=3) for urine and plasma were 1 and 0.3 μg/L, respectively. The average recoveries were 96%-108% and 100%-105% for TTX spiked in urine and plasma, respectively, with relative standard deviations of 1.7%-8.6% and 8.9%-16%(n=6). This method was simple, selective and sensitive to detect TTX in urine and plasma for both clinical and forensic purposes.

Objective To analyze the changes of the quality of life of patients with advanced lung cancer accompanied with dyspnea before and af?ter methylprednisolone therapy,so as to investigate the effects of methylprednisolone on the quality of life of the patients. Methods Totally 134 ad?vanced lung cancer patients with dyspnea were divided into two groups,the methylprednisolone group and the control group,according to whether they consented to the use of hormone therapy. All of them were followed with visual analog scale(VAS),the quality of life questionnaire?core 30 (EORTC QLQ?C30)and the quality of life questionnaire?lung cancer module 13(QLQ?LC13)questionnaire. Results At one hour after treatment compared to before treatment,the VAS scores for both groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the score for the methylprednisolone group were lower than the control group(P<0.05). At two weeks after treatment compared to before treatment,social function,emotional function, and overall quality of life scores for both groups were decreased(P<0.05). But the scores of pain,dyspnea,insomnia,loss of appetite,constipation, dysphagia were increased(P<0.05). Compared to the methylprednisolone group,the dyspnea and pain score for the control group was higher(P<0.05). Conclusion Methylprednisolone may improve the quality of life of advanced lung cancer patients with dyspnea in short term and slow down the deteriorating process of their quality of life.

Objective To investigate the value of bronchoscopy in the etiologic diagnosis and therapy of right middle lobe atelectasis. Methods Clinical data of 45 cases of right middle lobe atelectasis under fiberoptic bronchoscopy from January 2012 to February 2016 were analyze retrospectively. Results 28 cases (62.2 %) were determined inflammation, 9 cases (20.0 %) of tumor, 4 cases (8.9 %) of tuberculosis, 1 case (2.2%) of foreign body, 3 cases (6.7 %) unexplained. After treatment, 30 cases (66.7 %) were cured, 8 cases (17.8 %) improved while 7 cases (15.5 %) invalid. Conclusions The bronchoscopy is a critical technology for diagnosis and therapy of right middle lobe atelectasis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate systematically the existence of bactericidal/permeability increasing protein(BPI) in normal rat organs and tissues,for providing important information about BPI in clinical application.METHODS The total RNA was extracted from organs and tissues homogenates.Then the first-strand cDNA was synthesized and BPI DNA was amplified by PCR.RESULTS BPI mRNA was found in kidneys,ovary,testes,liver,small intestine,large intestine,thymus,spleen and neutrophils of 21 various organs and tissues.Among them,BPI mRNA content was the richest in testes,relatively rich in liver and large intestine.CONCLUSIONS BPI mRNA presents in many organs and tissues of rat and it indicates that the role of BPI in host defense against bacterial infection is relatively widespread.