Objectives:To evaluate lung injury mechanism in SD rat with nitrogen dioxide(NO2) exposure. 　Methods:In the test-control study, pulmonary malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathione(GSH) and total-antioxidant content(T-AOC) were determined in 10 SD rats with long-term NO2 exposure,10 SD rats with short-term NO2 exposure and 10 SD rats with fresh air as control. 　Results: Pulmonary MDA content was increased and T-AOC was decreased significantly in SD rat exposed to NO2. Pulmonary GSH was decreased significantly in long-term NO2 exposure group as compared with short-term NO2 exposure group and control group. 　Conclusions: Imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant was an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of oxidizing lung injury in SD rat with NO2 exposure.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Azithromycin in the treatment of the bacterial infections. Method s: 94 patients with lower respiratory tract infection were randomly d ivided into 2 groups(47 for each gruop). The treated group were given Azithrom ycin 500mg in 5% glucose injection 500mL, iv drip, bid, for 5-7 days. Another 12 patients (including 4 patients with pelvic inflammatory disease and 8 patients with lower respiratory tract infection) were treated with Azithromycin as the op en group. Results: The treated group yielded a recovery ra te 61.7%, aeffective rate 91.5% and abacterial clearance rate 95.8%, which wer e higher than the controlled group [31.9%, 70.2%, and 76.6% (P＜0.01)]0,res pectively. The total response rate and the cure rate in 59 patients treated with Azithromycin were 93.2% and 62.7%, respectively. The incidence of clinical adve rse drug reactions in the treated group was 12.8%, being lower than 34.0% in the controlled group (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Azithromycin is an effective agent in the treatment of the acquired lower respiratory tract infection, urogenital and urogenital tract infection with slight adverse reaction .

Objectives: To evaluate mice as experimental animal for Chlamydia pneumoniae, a common cause of acute respiratory infections in human.　Methods: Intranasal inoculation of Icr mice with C. Pneumoniae induced a prolonged course of lung infection, as demonstrated by persistence of lung pathology(60 days).　Results: Icr mice were susceptible to C. pneumoniae. Lung pathology was characterized by patchy interstitial pneumonitis with predominately neutrophil leukocyte infiltration in the early(7 days) and lymphocytes infiltration in the later stages(14 days later) of infection.　Conclusions:Icr mice were susceptible to C. pneumoniae and the mouse model is useful for the investigation of the pathogenesis of C. pneumoniae infection.

Objectives: To identify any craniofacial morphological changes induced by a mandibular-repositioning oral appliance (MRA) and to explore the possibility of predicting the treatment response to MRA by cephalometric analysis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Seventy OSA patients [male/female: 63/7; age: (50.5±11.6) years; BMI: (27.6±4.6) kg/m2; AI: (34.9±21.3) episodes/hour; and oxygen saturation nadir: (66.3±16.5) %] were enrolled. MRA was fabricated individually for each patient after the consultation by a dentist. Polysomnographic (PSG) examination was repeated with MRA in place 3 months after the initiation of the MRA therapy. For cephalometric analysis, a pair of cephalograms of each patient was obtained, one with and another without MRA. Results and Conclusions: After 3 months' treatment, AI was (156±19.2) episodes/hour, significantly reduced compared with the pre-treatment average AI (34.9±21.3 episodes/hour,P<0.000 1). Oxygen saturation nadir improved from (66.3±16.5)% (pre-treatment) to (74.1±15.5)% (with MRA) (P<0.001). A reduction of AI≥50% was achieved in 42 patients. Insertion of MRA led to anterior shift of the mandible, increase in upper airway width and area and decrease in upper airway length. Those with evident retrognathia and longer anterior upper facial height were more likely to benefit from the MRA management.

The upper airway narrowing and changes in head posture and their relationship with apnea severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were investigated. In 86 male OSA patients and 37 healthy men, one-night polysomnographic examination was performed and a lateral cephalogram by digital image processing system was taken in each subject. Fifteen variables concerning the upper airway dimensions, area and head postures were measured by using a computer software (NIH Image). The results showed that upper airway dimensions in the OSA group at all levels were significantly smaller than those in the control group and the results hold true when the age and body mass index were well controlled in these two groups. Significant forward inclination of the cervical column was found in the patients with an apnea index (AI) greater than 35episodes/h. And changes in the head posture variables in the whole study group were significantly correlated with AI and airway dimensions at various levels. It was suggested that there exist significant and extensive upper airway narrowing in OSA patients even in upright position and awake state; And as the apnea severity progresses, patients may assume certain compensatory head postures in an attempt to maintain an adequate airway patency.

Objective To predict the biological process and signaling pathways in which hsa-miR-1908 might be in-volved by a series of bioinformatics analysis, so as to lay foundations and provide theoretical basis for the further studies of hsa-miR-1908 biological function in human preadipocytes. Methods The sequence of hsa-miR-1908 was acquired from miR-Base database, and target genes of hsa-miR-1908 were predicted by miRanda, and then the intersection of the results and the results of gene-chip as gene set were further analyzed by gene ontology and pathway enrichment. Results The hsa-miR-1908 had some conserved property among different species. The functions of the target genes were enriched in Wnt receptor signal-ing pathway through beta-catenin, cell cycle, cell apeptosis and other biological processes. The GnRH signaling, MAPK sig-naling, insulin signaling, cell cycle signal transduction pathways and signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer were signiifcantly enriched. Conclusions The target genes set of hsa-miR-1908 were enriched in multiple biological process which are related with the obesity. This study provides guidance for the further study in human preadipocytes.

The upper airway narrowing and changes in head posture and their relationship with apnea severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were investigated. In 86 male OSA patients and 37 healthy men, one-night polysomnographic examination was performed and a lateral cephalogram by digital image processing system was taken in each subject. Fifteen variables concerning the upper airway dimensions, area and head postures were measured by using a computer software (NIH Image). The results showed that upper airway dimensions in the OSA group at all levels were significantly smaller than those in the control group and the results hold true when the age and body mass index were well controlled in these two groups. Significant forward inclination of the cervical column was found in the patients with an apnea index (AI) greater than 35episodes/h. And changes in the head posture variables in the whole study group were significantly correlated with AI and airway dimensions at various levels. It was suggested that there exist significant and extensive upper airway narrowing in OSA patients even in upright position and awake state; And as the apnea severity progresses, patients may assume certain compensatory head postures in an attempt to maintain an adequate airway patency.

OBJECTIVETo study Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection in 110 patients with respiratory tract infection admitted to our hospital from January to December 1995 in Nanjing.

METHODSSputum and throat swab specimens were taken and C. pneumoniae DNA was detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the HM-1-HR-1 primer pair. At the same time, serum samples were taken and immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) fractions of antibodies to C. pneumoniae were studied by microimmunofluorescence test.

RESULTSPrevalence of specific IgG was 70% in patients with respiratory tract infection. Seventeen patients (15.5%) were serologically diagnosed as having recent C. pneumoniae infections and 12 patients (10.9%) had positive PCR in sputum and/or swab specimens. The total positive rate was 22.7% (25/110) detected by PCR combined with serological tests. Acute infection of C. pneumoniae was common in patients with asthma (57.1%), pneumonia (35.0%), COPD (25.9%) and bronchitis (25.0%). Clinical features between C. pneumoniae infection and non-C. pneumonia infection showed no significant differences.

CONCLUSIONSChlamydia pneumoniae is an important pathogen that causes infection of the human respiratory tract and attention should be drawn to this special illness.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; genetics ; immunology ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; blood ; microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate mice as experimental animals for Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection and investigate the pathogenesis of C. pneumoniae derived pneumonitis.

METHODSIcr mice were inoculated with the C. pneumoniae strain, CWL-029, either intranasally or intravenously. After a single dose inoculation, mice were killed on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and 60th days. The pathological changes in lung tissue were analyzed.

RESULTSThe Icr mice were shown to be susceptible to C. pneumoniae. Inoculation into mice with C. pneumoniae induced a prolonged course of lung infection, as demonstrated by persistence of lung pathology (up to 60 days). Via intranasal inoculation of mice, lung pathology was characterized by patchy interstitial pneumonitis with predominantly neutrophil leukocyte infiltration early (within the first 7 days) and lymphocyte infiltration in the later stages (14 days later) of infection. After intravenous inoculation, a similarly developed interstitial pneumonitis was observed, but it was milder and patchier, especially in early stages. C. pneumoniae DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) intermittently in the lung tissue. Inoculated mice developed serum IgG antibody responses.

CONCLUSIONThe Icr mice were susceptible to C. pneumoniae, resulting in a pulmonary infection characterized by interstitial pneumonitis, occurring most strongly via intranasal inoculation.

Animals ; Chlamydia Infections ; etiology ; pathology ; Chlamydophila pneumoniae ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; etiology ; pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction