Objective To validate the repeatability of the simplified cough score and its responsiveness to effective treatment and investigate the relationship between the simplified cough score and cough symptom score.MethodsA total of 119 patients with chronic cough referred to our respiratory clinic were recruited into the study between June 2010 and February 2011. Cough severity was evaluated by the simplified cough score,cough symptom score,Leicester cough questionnaire,and cough reflex sensitivity detection,and the correlations among them were analyzed.The change ratio,effect size,and standardized response mean of the simplified cough score were calculated after a 2-week course of effective treatment.The repeatability of the simplified cough score was assessed in 99 untreated patients with stable chronic cough.ResultsThe intraclass correlation coefficient in a 3-day test-retest interval of simplified cough score was 0.90 ( 95 ％ CI =0.84 - 0.92,P =0.00 ) for daytime and 0.89 ( 95 ％ CI =0.91 - 0.96,P =0.00 ) for nighttime. There was an obvious positive linear correlation between the simplified cough score and cough symptom score ( daytime:r =0.82,P =0.00 ; nighttime:r =0.92,P =0.00 ),a significant negative linear correlation between the cough score and Leicester cough questionnaire,and a weak but significant negative correlation between the simplified cough score and cough threshold C2 or C5 to capsaicin. After a 2-week course of effective treatment,the change ratio,effect size,and standardized response mean were 46.71％,1.16,and 1.05 for daytime and 71.87％,1.09,and 1.10 for nighttime,respectively.ConclusionThe simplified cough score is a reliable and valid tool for evaluation of cough severity in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVEObese children and adolescents are often complicated with the abnormalities of lipid and glucose metabolism, which are often associated with adulthood hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this study, the blood lipids, blood pressure and carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) in obese children and adolescents were measured to investigate the relationship between the dyslipidemia and early vascular lesions.

METHODA total of 580 obese children and adolescents aged from 7 to 17 years of age were enrolled from 3 hospitals from Jan. 2008 to Sept. 2009. They were divided into 2 groups according to their blood lipoid levels. Ortholiposis group included 100 males and 52 females with a mean age of 10.47 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.28 kg/m(2). Dyslipidemia group included 305 males and 123 females with a mean age of 10.83 years and a mean BMI of 27.60 kg/m(2). Physical examination, and measurement of blood lipid, glucose and liver enzyme were taken. Carotid IMT was measured for 285 subjects.

RESULT(1) Hypertension was found in 12.5% (19/152) and 20.1% (86/428) patients in ortholiposis and dyslipidemia groups, respectively, with a significant difference (χ(2) = 4.362, P = 0.037). The OR was 1.760 with 95% confidence interval of 1.030 - 3.008. Higher prevalence of hypertension was found in patients with dyslipidemia. (2) The left, right and mean common carotid IMTs of dyslipidemia group were higher than those of ortholiposis group without significant difference (all P > 0.05). The left, right and mean internal carotid IMTs in dyslipidemia group were (0.66 ± 0.15) mm, (0.65 ± 0.15) mm and (0.65 ± 0.15) mm, respectively while these in ortholiposis group were (0.62 ± 0.13) mm, (0.60 ± 0.13) mm and (0.61 ± 0.12) mm, respectively (P < 0.05 for all). (3) Bivariate correlation analysis showed that systolic blood pressure was positively correlated with age, BMI, BMI Z score, waist circumference, hip circumference, uric acid, alanine transaminase, triglyceride, fasting insulin and insulin resistance index (P < 0.05 for all). Moreover, mean carotid and internal carotid IMTs were positively correlated with age, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and triglyceride (all P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that hip circumference and insulin resistance index were independent determinants of systolic pressure. Waist circumference was independent determinant of mean common and internal carotid IMT and triglyceride was independent determinants of mean internal carotid IMT.

CONCLUSION(1) Vascular lesions, including hypertension and thicker tunica intima are common in obese children and adolescents. (2) Vascular lesions are closely related with dyslipidemia, and waist circumference and hypertriglyceridemia are the risk factors.

Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; Child ; Dyslipidemias ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Obesity ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; complications ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Sounds ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To study the antifungal activity of phenazines derivatives. Methods The anti-fungal activity of phenazine compounds was evaluated initially with micro-liquid dilution. No significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans was found. Then, with the combination of phenazine compounds and fluconazole, the anti-fungal activity against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans was detected. Results The phenazine-17 had significant antifungal activity when combined with fluconazole through the inhibition of hyphae formation. Conclusion This study provides a new idea for the development of antifungal drugs and the solution of antifungal drug resistance.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of vinyl chloride monomer( VCM) on the expression of mir-122 in the liver tissue and serum of rat. METHODS: Specific pathogen free adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 24 rats in each group: the control group,the low-,medium- and high-dose groups. The 4 groups were intraperitoneally injected with VCM exposure levels at 0,5,25 and 125 mg / kg body weight 3 times per week,respectively. Eight rats per group were randomly selected and sacrificed after 6,8 and 12 weeks. Small RNA( < 200 nt) in the liver tissue and total RNA in the serum were isolated and purified. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymease chain reaction technique was used to detect their expressions of mir-122. RESULTS: Compared with the control group and the low-dose group at the same time points,the relative expressions of mir-122 in the liver tissue of rats in the medium- and high-dose groups were significantly increased after exposed to VCM for 6 weeks( P < 0. 05),and then were significantly decreased after exposed to VCM for 12 weeks( P < 0. 05). The relative expressions of mir-122 in the liver tissue of rats in the medium- and highdose groups were decreased with VCM exposure time( P < 0. 05). Compared with the control group at the same time points,the relative expressions of mir-122 in serum of rats in the three dose groups were significantly increased after being exposed to VCM for 8 weeks( P < 0. 05),and then were significantly decreased after being exposed to VCM for 12 weeks(P < 0. 05). Among the three dose groups,the relative expressions of mir-122 in serum of rats after 12-week exposure were lower than those after 6-week and 8-week exposure in the same group respectively( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION:s The VCM exposure significantly changes the expression of mir-122 in the liver tissue and serum of rat,which suggested that mir-122 may be one of the effect biomarkers for VCM exposure.