Passive smoking causes significant adverse effects on the origins and progress of childhood asthma. Passive smoking may lead to an increased risk for the development of new cases of asthma in child. For the children who have already established asthma, passive smoking has great impact on asthma control, including increasing asthma symptoms, inducing exacerbations, decreasing quality of life and responsiveness to therapy drugs. The related mechanisms by which passive smoking makes induction of asthma and worsening of established asthma are still in exploration. The presented mechanisms have been postulated are impaired immune responses,impaired lung development, bronchial hyperreactivity, and genetic predisposition.

Flavonoids are polyphenolic plant secondary metabolites, which ubiquitously present in our daily diet.Flavonoids have been found to have several biological effects, that is, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory,anti-allergic and immune-modulating properties.Because of the safety and strong biological effects of flavonoids,it has been widely concemed about the prevention and treatment of asthma.This review focuses on the effects and mechanism of flavonoids in the prevention and treatment of asthma.

Objective Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways.T lymphocytes play important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma.The voltage-gated Kvl.3 potassium channel may be a key factor in the activation of T lymphocytes.This research aims to detect the function of Kvl.3 channel in the neutrophlial asthma(NA) model and eosinophilic asthma(EA) model.Methods A total of 24 mice were randomly assigned into three groups:control,neutrophilic asthma model and eosinophilic asthma group.Neutrophilic asthma model was established with ovalbumin (OVA)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS);eosinophilic asthma was established with OVA and Al(OH)3;airway responsiveness of mice in each group was measured with a noninvasive pulmonary function instrument;lung inflammation changes were observed by pathological HE staining;IL-17A and IL-4 cytokines levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were evaluated by ELISA;Kvl.3 channel protein level in lung was evaluated by western blot;the change of current density in CD4 +.T lymphocytes were tested by whole-cell patch clamp technique.Results Levels of IL-17A and IL-4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid increased in both NA and EA model (P ＜ 0.05).Compare with EA model,the IL-17A level was significantly higer in NA model,while the IL-4 level was significantly lower.In NA and EA model,kv1.3 protein expression in lung tissue was significantly higher than that in the control group(P ＜ 0.05),and kv1.3 protein expression in NA model was significantly higer than that in the EA model (P ＜ 0.05).Current intensity and current density of kv1.3 channel increased in both NA and EA model.While the current intensity and current density of kv1.3 channel were significantly higher in NA model than that in EA model.Conclusion Kv1.3 protein level,Kv1.3 channel current intensity and kv1.3 channel current density increased in both NA and EA model,especially in NA group,providing a new way for treatment of bronchial asthma.

Humans ; Neck ; pathology ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; diagnosis ; Neurilemmoma ; diagnosis

Objective To explore effect of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE)on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of ovalbumin-induced murine asthma model and the associated regulatory effect on Treg/Th17 imbalance.Methods A total of 40 mice were randomly assigned to four experimental groups:control,asthma model,low dose GSPE (40 mg/kg),and high dose GSPE (80 mg/kg).Acute asthma model was established with OVA;airway responsiveness of mice in each group was measured with a noninvasive pulmonary function instrument;lung inflammation changes were observed by pathological HE staining;Treg/Th17 cytokines levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were evaluated by ELISA;the expressions of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor(Foxp3) mRNA and retinoid-related orphan receptor gammat (RORγt) mRNA in lung tissue of each group were gained by Real-time PCR method.Results GSPE inhibited ovalbumin-induced increases in airway responsiveness(P ＜ 0.05).Histological studies demonstrated that GSPE substantially inhibited OVA-induced airway inflammation in lung tissue.GSPE decreased IL-17A levels and increased IL-10 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (P ＜ 0.05).In the asthma model group,RORγt mRNA expression in lung tissue was significantly higher than that in the control group(P ＜ 0.05)and Foxp3 mRNA expression was significantly lower than that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).In the GSPE group,RORγt mRNA expression was lower than that in asthma model group (P ＜ 0.05),however the Foxp3 mRNA expression was higher than that in asthma model group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion GSPE could alleviate airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation of in asthmatic mice.It can modify the asthmatic mice Treg/Th17 imbalance by decreasing IL-17A and increasing IL-10 concentration at the level of cytokines;and also by increasing Foxp3 mRNA expression and inhibiting the expression of RORγt mRNA at the transcriptional level,which provide a new way for treatment of bronchial asthma.

Objective: To investigate the expressions of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) in the hippocampus of the mice of embryonic (E) 18 d and postnatal (P) 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 d, and to discuss its possible role during the hippocampus development of the mice. Methods: The hippocampus tissues of the mice of E 18 d, P 1 d, P 3 d, P 7 d, P 14 d, P 21 d and P 28 d were obtained. Each time point was used as observation group. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and image analysis technique were used to analyze the expression levels of pERK protein in hippocampus tissue at each time point. Results: The immunohistochemistry results revealed that pERK protein mainly expressed in the nucleus of the nerve cells in the granular layer of dentate gyrus and pyramidal layer of Ammon' s horn in hippocampus. In the mice of E 18 d, the expression of pERK in DG and CA regions of hippocampus were slightly stained and arranged sparsely, and the expression level was low; and the pERK was deeply stained and the expression levels of pERK were increased gradually with the development of the hippocampus from E 18d to P 7 d; compared with other six time points, the expression level of pERK of the mice of P 7 d was the highest (F=34. 537, P<0. 01). From P 14 d to P 21 d, the pERK was slightly stained and the density was decreased; the expression levels of pERK were decreased (F = 28.754, PCO.Ol), and then remained stably on P 28 d (F= 6.075, P>0.05). The Western blotting results showed that pERK expressed at each time point, from E18 d to P7 d, the expression levels of pERK were increased gradually; compared with other six time points, the expression level of pERK on P 7 d was the highest (F = 33.856, P<0. 01). The expression levels of pERK were decreased from P 14 d to P 21 d (F=22. 627, P< 0.01), and then remained stably on P 28 d (F=7. 421, P>0.05). Conclusion: The hippocampus development is increased significantly at the early stage of the mice (E18 - P 7 d), and the expression levels of pERK are increased gradually in the meanwhile; the expression level peaks on P 7 d, and then it is gradually decreased until a stable level. pERK may take part in the cell proliferation in the development of hippocampus of the mice.

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on the immune imbalance of regulatory T lymphocytes/helper T lymphocytes 17 (Treg/Th17) in the mice with obese asthma, and to provide the basis for the treatment of obese asthma by EGCG. Methods: A total of 40 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal control group (fed with chow diet), obese group (fed with high fat diet), obese asthma group [fed with high fat diet and sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (ova)], EGCG intervention group (20 mg middot; kg-1 EGCG was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before challenge of OVA) and dexamethasone intervention group (2 mg middot; kg-1 dexamethasone was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before challenge of OVA), and there were 8 mice in each group. The edhanced pause (Penh) values of the mice in various groups were measured with non-invasive lung function instrument; the pathomorphology of lung tissue of the mice in various groups were observed by HE staining, and the inflammation scores were evaluated by semi-quantitative method for HE staining section; the levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and adiponectin and leptin in serum of the mice in various groups were detected by ELISA method, and the percentages of Treg and Th17 in spleen tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by flow cytometery. Results: Compared with normal control group, the body weight of the mice in obese group was increased (P<0. 05); it was 1. 67 times the average weight of the mice in normal control group. Compared with normal control group, the Penh value and inflammation score of the mice in obese asthma group were increased (P< 0. 05); the leptin level in serum of the mice in obese asthma group was increased (P<0. 05); the IL-17 level in BALF of the mice in obese asthma group was increased (P<0. 05) and IL-10 level in BALF of the mice in obese asthma group was decreased (P<0. 05); the percentage of Th17 in spleen tissue of the mice in obese asthma group was increased (P<0.05) and the percentage of Treg in spleen tissue of the mice in obese asthma group was decreased (P<0. 05). Compared with obese asthma group, the Penh value and inflammation score of the mice in EGCG intervention group were decreased (P<0. 05); the leptin level in serum of the mice in EGCG intervention group was decreased (P<0. 05); the IL-17 level in BALF of the mice in EGCG intervention group was decreased (P<0. 05) and IL-10 level in BALF of the mice in EGCG intervention group was increased (P<0. 05); the percentage of Th17 in spleen tissue of the mice in EGCG intervention group was decreased (P<0. 05) and the percentage of Treg in spleen tissue of the mice in EGCG intervention group was increased (P < 0. 05). Conclusion: Treg/Th17 immune imbalance exists in the mice with obese asthma. EGCG could inhibit the airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in the mice with obese asthma and improve the Treg/Th17 immune imbalance.

Objects:To investigate the current situation of counselors'implementation and their attitude to informed consent in Beijing.Methods:Eleven counselors who worked in Beijing were interviewed,the average of their working years was (7.4 ± 4.4).A semi-structured interview was used to learn about their practicing processes in and viewpoints on informed consent,and their interview transcripts were analyzed through qualitative method.Results:The results could be categorized into four categories,including the content of informed consent,the influential factors of informed consent,problems and confusions,and the significance of informed consent.The crucial role of informed consent in psychotherapy was generally recognized by counselors,and they could obey the related rules as well.The therapists had some confusion and problems about informed consent,such as the form and length,the consent for special population and online consultation.Conclusion:Basically,the counselors in Beijing could comply with the ethical standards of informed consent.However,they also suggest that certain limitations of these rules should be noticed.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the reasons of the choosing CBT.Method:Totally 14 psychotherapists accepted a semi-structured interview,including their backgrounds of CBT training,the application of CBT in psychotherapy,their attitude toward consultative relations,their opinion on comparing other schools with CBT,and their reasons for choosing CBT.Results:The main reasons for choosing CBT included the influence of important others,the characters of CBT and personal factors.In clinical practice,the most commonly used behavioral techniques included exposure therapy,roll play,relaxation Waining and so on.The most commonly used cognitive techniques included Socratic questioning,cognitive restructuring and challenge unreasonable cognition.Conclusion:Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is suitable for those who are sensible and preferring structural therapy.Nevertheless,the trend in therapy is the integration of different psychotherapy schools.

Wheezing is one of the characteristic symptoms of asthma.But non-asthmatic preschool children may also experience repeated wheezing.Asthma diagnosis is difficult.Preschool children are not cooperative enough to participate in spiromet~ and invasive tests.Thus,searching for biological markers that can help diagnose and evaluate asthma in preschool children has been a hot research topic.We reviewed studies on biomarkers for diagnosis and assessment of asthma in preschool children.