Objective To investigate the correlations between eosinophil counts in induced sputum and lung function (FENO) and evaluate these parameters in medication adjustment in patients with asthma.Methods Sixty-five outpatients with mild to moderate persistent asthma ( mild,32 ; moderate,33 ) from January to August 2008 were enrolled in the study.All were treated with combined medications comprising inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting β2 agonists for 1 year.Lung function (FEV1％ and PEF％ ),eosinophil counts in induced sputum,FENO,and Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores were obtained at regular follow-up intervals.Twenty-one healthy volunteers served as controls,and lung function,eosinophil counts in induced sputum,and FENO were also obtained.Results Sixty-three subjects completed 1-year or longer follow-up.Lung function of 63 subjects recovered quickly in the early days and improved slowly during the following 6 months.FENO decreased from (61 ± 25 ) nmol/L at baseline to ( 32 ± 19 ) nmol/L by the third month (q =7.32,P＜0.05) and to (22 ± 12) nmol/L by the sixth month,which showed significant difference from normal controls [ ( 13 ± 8) nmol/L; q =6.63,P ＜ 0.05 ].Eosinophil counts in induced sputum of the asthma group at baseline were (0.093 ±0.023) × 109/L and decreased to (0.032 ±0.011)× 109/L by the third month,which was significantly different from baseline and normal controls [ (0.005 ±0.003) × 106/ml; q =5.49,P ＜0.05 and q =5.87,P ＜0.05,respectively].FENO showed a significantly positive correlation with eosinophil counts in induced sputum in the first 6 months (r1 =0.612,r2 =0.558,r3 =0.675; all P＜0.05) and a negative correlation with FEV1 (r1 =-0.537,r3 =-0.658,r6 ＝ -0.623,r9 =-0.537,r12 =-0.597 ; all P ＜0.05 ) at any time point of the study.The ACT score of 63 subjects at baseline was 14 ±3,and the scores after treatment for 1,3,6,9,and 12 months were 18 ±5,19 ±7,23 ±2,24 ± 1,and 24 ± 1,respectively; at the same time,significant difference was found ( F =5.72,P ＜ 0.05).Effectiveness was found according to the ACT score only 1 month after treatment.Conclusion The parameters of FENO and eosinophil counts in induced sputum were sensitive in the detection of airway inflammation and may be useful in evaluation of the efficacy of treatment and adjustment of medication regimens.

Nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis is used for the determination of the contents of diosgenin and ruscogenin in Radix Ophiopogonis. The operating buffer was composed of 20 mmol x L(-1) Na2B4O7-HCl (pH 7.61) in 70% methanol. The applied voltage was 25 kV and detection potential was at +0.70 V. With these conditions, the components were successfully separated. The content of diosgenin in Radix Ophiopogonis was 0.018 mg x g(-1) and ruscogenin was 0.008 mg x g(-1). The average recoveries of diosgenin and ruscogenin were 102% and 99.2%, respectively. A new method of the quality control of diosgenin and ruscogenin in Radix Ophiopogonis is provided.

【Objective】 To establish a dry fluorescent luminescence method for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) and evaluate its clinical application. 【Methods】 Anti-HCV antibody was detected by double-antigen sandwich dry fluorescent luminescence method established using multi-epitope chimeric antigen. The established method was used to detect national reference samples(positive 20, negative 20), and a total of 349 clinical samples, including 108 HCV patients, 36 patients with other diseases and 205 healthy individuals, which were tested in parallel with enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) to evaluate the performance of the established method. 【Results】 The concordance rate of positive and negative(each 20) reference samples were both 100% (20/20), and the CV of precision reference sample was 9.16%, which met the requirements of national reference samples. In clinical performance evaluation, the AUC value was 0.984, and the sensitivity and specificity of the dry fluorescent luminescence method were 96.30% (104/108) and 96.27% (233/241). The overall concordance rate between dry fluorescent luminescence method and ELISA was 97.71% (341/349) (Kappa=0.952). 【Conclusion】 The dry fluorescence luminescence method of HCV antibody is simple and rapid, with high sensitivity and high specificity, and can be used in clinical application.

Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; Single-Cell Analysis