Objective To investigate the curative effect of modified tracheal catheter in acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis.Methods 16 cases inpatient with acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis were involved.Found out the position and range of stenosis of central airway by X-ray and CT of chest and fiberbronchoscope,chose the suitable silicon suction tube and cut it to make a tracheal catheter,then guided the catheter through the stenosis by fiberbronchoscope to construct artificial airway.Results The dyspnea of all 16 cases of acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis could by relieved in short time,the PaO_2 raised from(39?12)mm Hg to(72?10)mm Hg,SaO_2 raised from(75?13)% to(93?3)%,PaCO_2 dropped from(102?21)mm Hg to(62?13)mm Hg after therapy.The effective rate is 100%.There was no other serious complication except for 2 cases of little amount of bleeding in trachea.15 cases survived and one died of serious muhisystem organ failure.Conclusions The use of modified tracheal catheter in treatment of acute respiratory failure caused by central airway stenosis can relieve the acute dyspnea in short time,it also can dilate central airway,save the cost of tracheal balloon dilatation for the follow-up therapy.

Objective To explore the radiosensitivity of berberine on esophageal cancer cells under hypoxia condition.Methods MTT assay and clonogenic survival assay were used to evaluate the effect of berberine on proliferation inhibition and radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer cells,respectively.Immunofluorescence was employed to examine the expression of HIF-1.The change of cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry.The expression of HIF-1 was measured by Western blot.DNA damage was detected by γ-H2AX Foci counting.Results With a clear dose and time effect,berberine inhibited cell proliferation and enhanced cell radiosensitivity(t =3.69,P＜0.05)with a sensitizing enhancement ratio(SER)of 1.42.Berberine caused a dose-dependent decrease in HIF-1 protein expression and also significantly increased the cell apoptosis in ECA-109 population(t=4.74,P＜0.05).Compared with the radiation alone group,berberine enhanced X-ray induced DNA double chain breaks(DSB).Conclusions Berberine can increase the radiosensitivity of esophageal cell line ECA-109,which may be associated with decrease of HIF-1 expression and induction of apoptosis in ECA-109 cells.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of different tidal volume(Vt) ventilation on apoptosis and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in rat lungs. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a control group, a low Vt ventilation group (LV), a middle Vt ventilation group (MV), and a high Vt ventilation group (HV). Rats were subjected to different tidal volumes (10,20,and 40 mL/kg) for 2 h except the control group, which kept their own breath. We determined the lung histopathology score, W/D ratio and WBC in bronchoalceolar lavage fluid (BALF) to evaluate the lung injury and examine the apoptotic cell death, Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression by using TUNEL technique and immunohistochemistry 24 h after the operation. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, MV and HV increased lung histopathology score, W/D ratio, WBC in BALF, apoptosis index (AI )and Bax protein expression, but decreased Bcl-2 protein expression (P<0.05). These changes showed no significant difference between the control group and the low Vt ventilation group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Low Vt ventilation contributed little to apoptosis. Higher Vt ventilation can improve Bax while inhibit Bcl-2 expression to aggravate apoptosis in rat lungs.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Female ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiration, Artificial ; adverse effects ; methods ; Tidal Volume ; physiology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate influence of Azithromycin on breath hydrogen test(BHT) in acute upper respiratory infection(AURI) in Children.Methods Fasting BHT and lacunose BHT were respectively performed by using HD-1 breath hydrogen detector for 38 inpatients before and after receiving Azithromycin.Fasting BHT of 115 healthy controls were determined.Results After Azithromycin was given,Fasting BHT was lower than that before Azithromycin used(P

Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; epidemiology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection on the production of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and Th1/Th2 balance in asthmatic mice.

METHODSThirty-two female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely the PBS group, ovalbumin (OVA) group, RSV group and OVA/RSV group. The mice were sensitized by OVA and then stimulated with nebulized OVA, and RSV was inoculated into the nasal cavity of the mice. BUXCO noninvasive lung function detection was performed to examine the airway response to metacholine, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-gamma in the mice. The cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted and classified, and the supernatants of the BALF were used for the detection of TSLP. Histopathological changes in the lung tissues of the mice were examined using HE staining, and immunohistochemistry using anti-mouse TSLP antibody was performed to examine TSLP expressions in the airway epithelial cells.

RESULTSRSV infection promoted the production of TSLP in the asthmatic mice, and the concentration of TSLP in OVA/RSV group (2.13-/+0.05 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in the other groups (P<0.01). RSV infection increased the serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-gamma in the mice. The total BALF cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes and neutrophils in OVA/RSV group were significantly higher than those in the other groups; noninvasive lung function examination showed higher Penh value in OVA/RSV group (318.66-/+50.87) than in the other groups when the inhaled metacholine increased to 6.25 mg/ml (P<0.01). More obvious and extensive airway inflammatory cell infiltration in OVA/RSV group were observed, and immunohistochemical staining also showed higher expression of TSLP in the airway epithelial cells of OVA/RSV group.

CONCLUSIONSRSV infection promotes the production of TSLP in the airway epithelial cells and increases the level of Th2 cytokines in asthmatic mice. Concurrent RSV infection can exacerbate Th2 inflammatory reaction in asthmatic mice.

Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; secretion ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; immunology ; virology ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Lung ; immunology ; metabolism ; virology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; blood ; immunology ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; virology

Models, Statistical ; Propensity Score

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different factors on the expressions of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-infected human airway epithelial cell line 16HBE cells.

METHODSRSV amplified by infecting Hep-2 cells was identified for its virulence. 16HBE cells were divided into six groups, namely the control group, RSV group, RSV/anti-TLR3 group, RSV/IFN-gamma group, RSV/IL-4 group and RSV/dexamethasone group with corresponding treatments. Real-time RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of TSLP mRNA in the cells 6 h after RSV infection. Western blotting was used to examine TSLP protein expression in the cells 24 h after the infection.

RESULTSThe expression of TSLP mRNA in 16HBE cells 6 h after RSV infection increased by 1.63-/+0.08 folds as compared to the expression level in the control cells. The expression of TSLP mRNA was significantly decreased in RSV-infected cells treated with anti-TLR3 antibody (P=0.034) and recombinant human IFN-gamma (P<0.001), but increased with the treatment by recombinant human IL-4 (P=0.025). Dexamethasone significantly inhibited the expression of TSLP mRNA in RSV-infected cells (P<0.001). The production of TSLP protein in 16HBE cells increased by 1.9 folds (P<0.001) 24 h after RSV infection, but underwent no significant changes after treatment with anti-TLR3 antibody (P=0.114). Recombinant human IFN-gamma significantly decreased while IL-4 enhanced the expression of TSLP protein in the infected cells (P=0.020 and 0.014, respectively). Dexamethasone significantly inhibited the increment of TSLP protein expression in RSV-infected cells (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSRSV infection can enhance the expressions of TSLP in human airway epithelial cells. IFN-gamma, anti-TLR3 and dexamethasone can inhibit the elevation of TSLP expression induced by RSV infection, but IL-4 synergistically enhances its expression.

Bronchi ; cytology ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; metabolism ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; pathogenicity

BACKGROUNDChronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is the most important pathophysiologic feature of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). To explore the relationship between SAS and dementia, the effects of CIH on the expression of Nip3, neuron apoptosis and beta-amyloid protein deposit in the brain cortex of the frontal lobe of mice were evaluated in this study.

METHODSThirty male ICR mice were divided into four groups: control group (A, n = 10, sham hypoxia/reoxygenation), 2 weeks CIH group (B, n = 5), 4 weeks CIH group (C, n = 5), and 8 weeks CIH group (D, n = 10). The ICR mice were placed in a chamber and exposed to intermittent hypoxia (oxygen concentration changed periodically from (21.72 +/- 0.55)% to (6.84 +/- 0.47)% every two minutes, eight hours per day). Neuron apoptosis of the cortex of the frontal lobe was detected by means of terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase-mediated in situ end labeling (TUNEL). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for measuring expression of Nip3 and beta-amyloid protein. The ultrastructure of neurons was observed under a transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSTUNEL positive neurons in each square millimeter in the cortex of the frontal lobe were categorized by median or Ri into group A (1, 5.5), group B (133, 13), group C (252, 21), and group D (318, 24). There were significant differences among the above four groups (P = 0.000). The significance test was performed between the control group and each CIH group respectively: group A and B (P > 0.05); group A and C (P < 0.01); and group A and D (P < 0.005). The number of apoptotic neurons kept increasing in the ICR mice under CIH condition, and reached the peak in the group D, but there was no significant difference between groups B and C, between groups B and D, and between groups C and D. Nip3 positive neurons in each square millimeter in the cortex of the frontal lobe in each group were calculated by median or Ri as follows: group A (2, 5.5), group B (117, 13), group C (227, 26.2), and group D (479, 21.4). There were significant differences among the four groups (P = 0.000). The statistical test was performed between the control group and each CIH group respectively: groups A and B (P > 0.05); groups A and C (P < 0.005); and groups A and D (P < 0.005). There was no significant difference between groups B and C, groups B and D, and groups C and D. The expression of Nip3 was closely correlated with neuron apoptosis in the brain (P < 0.05). The expression of beta-amyloid protein in the brain of mice was negative in all CIH groups and the control group. Ultrastructure observation showed karyopyknosis of nucleus, swelling of chondriosomes, deposit of lipofuscins and degeneration of neural sheath in all CIH groups but not in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study indicate that CIH could up-regulate the expression of Nip3, and result in neuron apoptosis and ultrastructural changes in neurons of the frontal cortex.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Neurons ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes and the clinical significance of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and glycogen phosphorylase isoenzyme BB (GPBB) levels in neonates with asphyxia complicated by myocardial injury.

METHODSSixty-four neonates with asphyxia (39 mild, 25 severe) were enrolled. Of the 64 neonates, 30 had myocardial injury and 34 did not develop myocardial injury. Twenty-five healthy neonates served as a control group. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB were measured using ELISA. Myocardial enzymes and cardiac troponin I were stimultaneously measured, and electrocardiography and chest radiographs were obtained.

RESULTSThe plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB in neonates with myocardial injury were significantly higher than those in neonates without myocardial injury and in the control group (P<0.01). The neonates with severe asphyxia had significantly increased plasma NT-proBNP and GPBB concentrations compared to those with mild asphyxia and the control group (P<0.01). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that plasma NT-proBNP level was positively correlated with plasma GPBB level in neonates with asphyxia. Plasma levels of NT-proBNP and GPBB were also positively correlated with plasma levels of CK-MB, CK and LDH (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSBoth NT-proBNP and GPBB can be used as biomarkers of myocardial injury in neonates with asphyxia. The measurement of plasma NT-proBNP and GPBB levels was useful in early identification of myocardial injury and severity evaluation in neonates with asphyxia.

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; blood ; Cardiomyopathies ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Glycogen Phosphorylase ; blood ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood