Acinetobacter Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Animals ; Birds ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; complications ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy

BACKGROUNDIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal fibrotic lung disease of unknown etiology. Host susceptibility or genetic factors may be important for the predisposition to it. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1, a potent profibrotic cytokine) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) play important roles in the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The objective of the study was to investigate the association between the gene polymorphisms of TGF-β1 869 T > C and PAI-1 4G/5G and the susceptibility to IPF in Han ethnicity.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism were performed to analyse the gene polymorphisms of TGF-β1 in 869T > C and PAI-1 4G/5G in 85 IPF patients and 85 healthy controls matched in age, gender, race and smoker status.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference in 869T > C genotype distribution of TGF-β1 between IPF cases and controls, a significant negative association between TC genotype and the development of IPF (OR = 0.508, 95%CI: 0.275 - 0.941) and a positive association between CC genotype and the development of IPF (OR = 1.967, 95%CI: 1.063 - 3.641). There was a significant positive association between PAI-1 5G/5G genotype and the development of IPF (OR = 0.418, 95%CI: 0.193 - 0.904).

CONCLUSIONSGene polymorphisms of TGF-β1 in 869T > C and PAI-1 4G/5G may affect the susceptibility to IPF in Han ethnicity. Further investigations are needed to confirm these findings and assess their biological significance in the development of the disease in this ethnic population.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics

BACKGROUNDPulmonary hypertension (PH) frequently complicates the course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and is associated with significantly worse outcomes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of PH in IPF patients and evaluate the correlation between clinical parameters and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP).

METHODSHospitalized patients with IPF, who were evaluated for sPAP by Doppler echocardiography from January 2004 to December 2011, were enrolled in our study. Patients were defined as PH by an estimated sPAP > 50 mmHg and graded as PH likely, PH possible and PH unlikely, based on the 2009 European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society PH Guidelines. The correlations between clinical parameters and sPAP were analyzed by multiple linear regression.

RESULTSTotally, 119 IPF patients were enrolled in our study and 28 (23.5%), 20 (16.8%) and 71 (59.7%) patients were PH likely, PH possible and PH unlikely, respectively. Borg dyspnea score was positively correlated with sPAP, r = 0.467, P < 0.001. Oxygen saturation was negatively correlated with sPAP, r = -0.416, P < 0.001. Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide percentage predicted was negatively correlated with sPAP, r = -0.424, P = 0.003. N-terminal fragment of pro-brain natriuretic peptide and pulmonary artery width was positively correlated with sPAP, r = 0.452, P = 0.011 and r = 0.513, P < 0.001, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of PH in IPF patients was 23.5% in a single center of China. PH may worsen the dyspnea, right heart dysfunction and decrease the life quality of the patients with IPF.

Aged ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; blood ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; physiopathology ; Smoking

BACKGROUNDPneumonia is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in lung transplant (LT) recipients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the incidence, etiology, risk factors and prognosis of pneumonia in LT recipients.

METHODSThe LT cohort consisted of 28 recipients receiving LT in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from August 2005 to April 2011. Data collected included demographic data, underlying disorders, time and type of transplant, follow-up information, date of last follow-up, and patient status. A retrospective analysis was made of observational data that were prospectively collected.

RESULTSTwenty-two patients of 28 LT recipients had 47 episodes of pneumonia throughout the study period. Thirtyeight episodes of pneumonia in 19 recipients occurred post-LT with a median follow-up of 257.5 days (1-2104 days), the incidence of pneumonia was 192.4 episodes per 100 LT/year and its median time of onset was 100.5 days (0-946 days) post-transplantation. Bacteria, virus and fungi accounted for 62%, 16% and 15% of the microbial pathogens, respectively. The most frequent were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (15%), and Aspergillus fumigatus (10%). A total of 29% (11/38) of pneumonias occurred in the first month post-LT, and then the incidence decreased gradually. The incidence of CMV pneumonia was 25% (7/28) with a median time of 97 days (10-971 days). More than one bacterial infection and CMV infection were independent risk factors for aspergillus infection. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was 18% (5/28), and the history of TB was a risk factor for TB relapse. There were 58% (7/12) of recipients who died of infection, and 71% (5/7) of these died in the first year after LT.

CONCLUSIONSPneumonia is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in LT recipients. The most frequent microorganisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, CMV, and Aspergillus fumigates. The incidence of CMV pneumonia decreases with a delayed median time of onset. More than one incidence of bacterial infection and CMV infection are independent risk factors for aspergillus infection. LT recipients are at high risk for TB, and the history of TB is a risk factor for TB relapse.

Aspergillus fumigatus ; pathogenicity ; Cytomegalovirus ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Lung Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; microbiology ; virology ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; pathogenicity

Objective To explore the protective mechanism of RNA binding protein LIN28 on diabetic nephropathy(DN).Methods LIN28 was overexpressed or knocked down by adenovirus in HEK 293T cells.The gene and functional signaling pathway significantly changed after overexpression of LIN28 were obtained through RNA Seq transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.HEK 293T cells were divided into the Control group,the Treatment group,the Adv-LIN28-OE+D-ribose group and the Adv-LIN28-NC+D-ribose group in in vitro LIN28 overexpression studies.And HEK 293T cells were divided into the Control group,the Treatment group,the Adv-shRNA LIN28+D-ribose group and the Adv-shRNA NT+D-ribose group in in vitro LIN28 knockdown studies.ELISA was used to detect the levels of human advanced glycation end products(AGEs)of cells supernatants in the above groups.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of RAGE,NF-κB and MMP-2 of cells in the above groups.Results The results of RNA-Seq transcriptome sequencing,GO analysis and KEGG analysis showed that overexpression of LIN28 resulted in a significant down-regulation of AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in HEK 293T cells(P<0.05).The results of ELISA showed that compared with the Control group,the cell in the Treatment group produced a large amount of AGEs(P<0.05);compared with the Treatment group,the AGEs level of cells in the Adv-LIN28-OE+D-ribose group was significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the AGEs level of cells in the Adv-shRNA LIN28+D-ribose group was increased(P>0.05).The results of Western blot showed that compared with the Control group,the expression levels of RAGE,NF-κB and MMP-2 of cells in the Treatment group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with the Treatment group,the expression levels of RAGE,NF-κB and MMP-2 of cells in the Adv-LIN28-OE+D-ribose group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the expression levels of RAGE,NF-κB and MMP-2 of cells in the Adv-shRNA LIN28+D-ribose group were significantly increased(P>0.05).Conclusion Overexpression of LIN28 by adenovirus at the cellular level in vitro can lead to significant differential expression of thousands of genes.In particular,it can inhibit the diabetes and complications-related AGE-RAGE signaling pathway,which is critical in the progression of DN disease,and play a role in protecting DN.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion combined with coptis chinensis ointment sealing on plaque psoriasis complicated with obesity. METHODS: A total of 52 patients of plaque psoriasis complicated with obesity were randomized into an observation group (26 cases) and a control group (26 cases, 2 cases dropped off). Coptis chinensis ointment sealing was adopted in the control group. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, moxibustion was applied at ashi point (area of local target lesions), Zhongwan (CV 12) and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Fenglong (ST 40), Quchi (LI 11), Tianshu (ST 25), Shangjuxu (ST 37) in the observation group. The treatment was given 30 min each time, once a day for 4 weeks in both groups. The psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score, obesity related indexes (body mass, waist circumference, body mass index [BMI]), triglyceride, cholesterol, uric acid and plasma glucose were compared before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the PASI scores were decreased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.01), and the PASI score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05); the body mass, waist circumference, BMI, triglyceride, cholesterol, uric acid and plasma glucose were decreased compared with those before treatment in the observation group (P<0.01, P<0.05), the triglyceride and cholesterol in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 53.8% (14/26) in the observation group, which was superior to 20.8% (5/24) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Moxibustion combined with coptis chinensis ointment sealing can effectively improve the clinical symptoms in patients of plaque psoriasis complicated with obesity.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Blood Glucose ; Ointments ; Uric Acid ; Psoriasis/therapy* ; Triglycerides ; Obesity/therapy*

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare but clinically well-known, polygenic, and systemic autoinflammatory disease, which is characterized by spiking fever, evanescent skin rash, arthralgia, and sore throat. The application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids, which are first-line therapies of AOSD, is limited due to their side effects such as liver injury or disorder of blood glucose. Therefore, patients who suffer from systemic diseases in China prefer to seek help from Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), which is an important part of complementary and alternative medicine. In this case, we report a 28-year-old male badminton coach presenting with a 15-day history of fever and skin rash, accompanied by sore throat, fatigue, myalgia and chills. Additionally, hepatosplenomegaly, multiple lymphadenopathies, aminotransferase abnormality, and elevated inflammatory factor levels were observed during hospitalization. Infectious diseases, solid tumors, hematological diseases, and common autoimmune diseases were excluded. Not benefitting from antibiotic therapy, the patient was finally diagnosed with AOSD, after a careful examination, then showed rapid remission after a six-week treatment with CHM granules based on Xiaochaihu Decoction and Yinqiao Powder. After stopping the treatment, there was no relapse within a 15-month follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of this successful treatment. The present case report suggests that CHM is a reliable choice for complementary and alternative therapy for AOSD, but confirming the utility of CHM for AOSD requires further support from prospective studies.

From the perspective of state differentiation and treatment， it is believed that the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS） is that evil poisons injured the lungs， and the lung qi suddenly collapsed， then blocked and exhausted， and the qi failure to control blood and liquid， then the fluids overflow outside the vessels， and damp phlegm， stasis， and toxins became knotted up in the body， which ultimately leads to qi dysfunction， and a series of symptom arise， so qi impairment is the principal mechanism of ARDS. A combination of Chinese and Western medicine was proposed to treat ARDS by combining tangible qi and intangible qi， using Chinese herbal medicine to boost qi and relieve collapse， percolate and drain dampness with bland medicinals， resolve toxins and dissolve stasis， and regulate qi， and combining with Western medicine to assist qi circulation to improve qi's consolidation， propulsion， and transformation， so as to make the evil qi go away， the positive qi restored， the viscera qi circulated， qi， blood， yin， and yang connected， and the activities of life maintained， and thus to achieve the goal of treating ARDS by integrated Chinese medicine and Western medicine.

China ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers