AIM: To explore the immunologic effect of extra bacillus calmette guerin (EBCG) on asthmatic patients. METHODS: 58 asthmatic patients in acute exacerbation were randomly enrolled into two groups: EBCG group (n=34) and control group (n=24). Before treatment, the levels of interleukin 4 (IL 4) and interleukin 12 (IL 12) in blood plasma were examined in both groups. The patients in EBCG group inhaled budesonide aerosol according to asthmatic ladder treatment program and injected with EBCG. Spasmolytic could be used if necessary (excluding theophylline) .The patients in control group only used budesonide aerosol and spasmolytic. The level of IL 4 and IL 12 in blood plasma were determined again after three months. RESULTS: After the drug intervention, the level of IL 4 significantly decreased in EBCG group ( 29.0 ? 5.6 vs 22.6 ? 6.5 ng?L -1 ,P 0.05 ). Before drug intervention, no significant differences were found between two groups in IL 4 and IL 12 concentrations; However, there were markedly differences after drug intervention (P

Background Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is a common complication following cataract surgery.Establishing an objective morphological evaluation method of PCO is of important clinical significance for the prevention of PCO,but there are many problems in previous evaluating methods,and pentacam picture appears to be a useful method of assessing PCO.Recognizing the characters of different types of posterior capsule disorder and optimizing the evaluation details in tentacam picture are helpful for us to prevent and treat PCO.Objective This study was to investigate the characters of posterior capsule disorders with Pentacam tomograms.Methods Eightyfour eyes of 82 patients were included in Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January to October in 2011.Slit-lamp photography and retroilluminated photography were captured after full mydriasis,and then the Pentacam imaging was performed by using 50-scan acquisition protocol,and high-resolution Pentacam tomograms were reconstructed and analyzed by Image J software.The features of the posterior capsule disorders in Pentacam tomogram were assessed,and the mean pixel-intensity at the central 4-mm diameter and 3-mm diameter was calculated and compared.The percentage of eyes being interfered by the anterior capsule in the two analyed areas was calculated.This study was approved by Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center,and uritten informed consent was obtained from each patient prior to any examination.Results The posterior capsular membranes were completely clear under the blue background in 30 eyes without posterior capsulaopathy on the Pentacam images.In 54 eyes of 52 patients with PCO,different intensities of gray patches were exhibited on the blue background in the elschnig-pearl-type PCO,and white-color nontransparence patches were seen in the fibrosis-type PCO.The mean pixel-intensity value (inter-quartile range) was 37.07 U and 38.65 U at the central 4-mm area and 3-mm area respectively,without significant difference between them (P=0.606).Capsular block syndrome was found in 3 eyes of 3 patients,showing even gray appearance on the Pentacam images and mean pixel-intensity of 12.40,15.68 and 36.77 U at the central 3-mm area.The gray strip-like appearance on the blue background was seen in 1 eye with capsular shrinkage,and the mean pixel-intensity was 48.34 U at the central 3-mm area.The examination outcomes of 14.81％ (8/54) eyes were disturbed by the anterior capsule in the central 4-mm analysis mode,but the outcomes were unaffected in central 3-mm analysis mode.Conclusions Different types of posterior capsule disorders appear particular scenery in Pentacam tomograms.There is no difference of mean pixel-intensity between the central 4-mm analysis mode and the central 3-mm analysis mode.A central 3-mm analysis mode is more available to justify the penetrability of the posterior capsule.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of embolization of bronchial artery (BAE) in patients with pneumoconiosis massive hemoptysis.

METHODS49 patients with pneumoconiosis massive hemoptysis in observation group were underwent BAE, and 66 patients with pneumoconiosis hemoptysis in control group were cured with internal medicine. The rate of hemoptysis recurrence and controlling were counted during a year follow up.

RESULTSThe rate of hemoptysis recurrence in observation group was 18.8% (9/48), and in control group was 35.9% (23/64) during a year follow up, there was a significant difference (P < 0.05). The rate of massive hemoptysis recurrence in the both group were 4.2% (2/48) and 9.3% (6/64) respectively, there was not a significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBAE is an effective technique in patients with pneumoconiosis massive hemoptysis.

Bronchial Arteries ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Hemoptysis ; therapy ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; therapy ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish a rabbit model of silicotic pulmonary fibrosis and to investigate the effect of cordyceps sinensis in this model.

METHODSThirty healthy male white rabbits were randomly divided into control group, silicosis model group, and intervention group. The rabbits in silicosis model group and intervention group received endotracheal perfusion of silicon dioxide suspension (120 mg/kg), and the control group was treated with the same volume of saline. All the rabbits were sacrificed 30 days later. The lung coefficient was calculated by comparing the lung weight and body weight; the right lung tissue was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). The content of hydroxyproline in lung tissue was measured by alkaline hydrolysis. The mRNA levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β₁) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (Smad7) in rabbit lung sections were determined by real-time PCR.

RESULTSNo abnormalities were observed by HE staining in the lung tissues of control group, while fibrosis and silicotic nodules were discovered in the silicosis model group and intervention group. The lung coefficient and the content of hydroxyproline in lung tissue were significantly higher in the silicosis model group than in the control group and intervention group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the silicosis model group and intervention group had significantly increased TGF-β₁ mRNA levels but significantly reduced Smad7 mRNA levels (P < 0.02). Compared with the silicosis model group, the intervention group had a significantly reduced TGF-β₁ mRNA level but a significantly increased Smad7 mRNA level (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCordyceps sinensis is able to reduce the expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA and increase the expression of Smad7 mRNA in lung tissues of rabbits with silicotic pulmonary fibrosis, and thus postpone the progression of fibrosis.

Animals ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism