Objective To study the value of application of histamine provocation test and airway resistance measurement in diagnosis and therapeutic efficacy in preschool children with asthma.Methods Histamine provocation test and airway resistance measurement by the Italian MEFAR MB3 provocating instrument and Germen Microloop lung function instrument for 42 cases who were diagnosed as asthmatic(27 patients with bronchial asthma and 15 cases of cough variant asthma)and 21 healthy cases was compared,and the differences between the 2 groups and the value of therapeutic efficacy were analyzed.Results The resistance ratio of respiratory tract of control group was(97.11?9.09)%,which in asthma and cough variant asthma group was(229.37?57.48)% and(248.80?76.80)%.There was significant difference between the 3 groups(F=48.466 P

Objective To approach the evaluative effect of respiratory variation of superior vena cava peak flow velocity measured using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on fluid responsiveness in patients with mechanical ventilation.Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted.All mechanical ventilated critically ill patients whose fluid therapy was planned due to hypovolemia in Department of Critical Care Medicine of Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital Medical University from April 2011 to April 2013 were enrolled.Volume expansion was performed with 500 mL Linger solution within 30 minutes.Patients were classified as responders if pulse pressure variation (PPV) increased ≥ 13％ before volume expansion.The respiratory variation in superior vena cava peak velocity was calculated as the difference between maximum and minimum values of velocity in peak A,peak S and peak D over a single respiratory circle,and their variations (ΔA,ΔS,ΔD) were also calculated.The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to assess the evaluative effect of respiratory variation of superior vena cava peak velocity on fluid responsiveness.Results Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in this study.Volume expansion increased PPV ≥ 13％ happened in 14 patients (responders).The velocity of superior vena cava in peak A,peak S,peak D was significantly increased after volume expansion compared with that before volume expansion in responders [peak A (cm/s):34.6 ± 2.2 vs.31.3 ±2.1,t=-2.493,P=0.027; peak S (cm/s):39.1 ± 1.3 vs.35.3 ±2.1,t=-2.564,P=0.024; peak D (cm/s):28.1 ± 1.2 vs.23.3 ± 1.4,t=-4.995,P=0.000],but there was no significant difference in ΔA,ΔS and ΔD between before and after volume expansion.The ΔA,ΔS and ΔD were positively correlated with PPV (r＝0.040,P=0.854; r=0.350,P=0.074; r=0.749,P=0.000).The area under ROC curve (AUC) of peak S was 0.36 [95％ confidence interval (95％CI):0.11-0.52],but the AUC of ΔS was 0.68 (95％CI 0.47-0.89),the AUC of peak D was 0.41 (95％CI 0.19-0.63),but the AUC of ΔD was 0.95 (95％CI 0.86-1.00),so the aberration rate of superior vena cava in respiration was better than the flow rate in superior vena cava.When the cut-off value of ΔS was 20.7％ for predicting fluid responsiveness,the sensitivity was 78.6％ and the specificity was 61.5％.When the cut-off value of ΔD was 12.7％ for predicting fluid responsiveness,the sensitivity was 92.0％ and the specificity was 92.3％.Conclusion Respiratory variations in superior vena cava peak velocity measured by TTE could assess fluid responsiveness in patients with mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVEThe role of air pollution on asthma can not be ignored, diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in the air is one of the most important pollutants. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of DEP inhaled on immediate reaction in the asthma rats.

METHODSixty male Wistar rats of "Clean" grade, 6 - 7 week-old, with an average weight of (140 +/- 20) g were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, 10 in each. Group A was treated with normal saline attack as a negative control, Group B with ovalbumin attack as a positive control. After ovalbumin attack, groups C, D, E, F continued to inhale DEP for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively. The concentration of DEP was 200 microg/ml, the animals were subjected to inhalation of ultrasound nebulized DEP for 30 min per day. One week after all the attacks were concluded, Group A was stimulated with normal saline for 30 min, other groups were stimulated with ovalbumin. Then the airway resistance was determined with multi-channel signal acquisition and processing system and compared. The changes in neutrophils, eosinophils, and other inflammatory cells of BALF and the pathological changes in lung tissue, including epithelial cells loss, the inflammatory cells infiltration around the airway, basement membrane fibrosis, goblet cell hyperplasia etc. were observed. The concentration of IL-5 and gamma-interferon in the lung tissues, and the changes of serum IgE etc. were determined.

RESULTAirway resistance values of group A, B, C, D, E, F after ovalbumin excitation for 30 min were (3.56 +/- 0.21), (7.06 +/- 0.63), (6.46 +/- 0.38), (7.47 +/- 0.33), (8.87 +/- 0.61), (11.00 +/- 0.69) cm H2O/(ml.s). No airway hyperresponsiveness occurred in group A, while Groups B, C, D, E, F had higher airway resistance than group A, group E and F had higher airway resistance than that of group B, the differences were statistically significant. And the airway resistance was different in each group among 0 min, 10 min, 20 min and 30 min (F = 160.646, 148.901, 162.204, 156.186, P < 0.01 for both). The time of DEP inhalation and the airway resistance was positively correlated (r = 0.948, P < 0.01); IgE concentrations of the serum between groups B, C, D, E, F was not significantly different (P > 0.05), but higher than that of group A (F = 2.639, P < 0.01). The infiltrated inflammatory cells included eosinophils and lymphocytes, etc. The percentages of neutrophil(%) were (4.3 +/- 2.0), (9.7 +/- 5.2), (10.3 +/- 5.6), (13.0 +/- 5.2), (42.6 +/- 18.3), (55.3 +/- 6.9). The groups E and F had higher percentage than Group A and Group B (F = 114.226, P < 0.01). The percentages of eosinophils(%) were 0, (11.9 +/- 3.8), (15.8 +/- 6.3), (13.0 +/- 4.9), (21.1 +/- 5.6), (27.1 +/- 4.8). The difference between Groups B, C, D, E, F and Group A was statistically significant. There was significant difference between groups C, D, E, F and group B (F = 46.462, P < 0.05); Lung tissue biopsy in group A showed that the epithelial cells were intact, no inflammatory cells infiltrations were found around the airways, instead, mainly ciliated columnar epithelial cells and only a small number of goblet cells were seen without basement membrane fibrosis. With the inhalation of DEP, the epithelial cells showed gradual necrosis, disruption and loss, goblet cells showed hyperplasia, and infiltrations with inflammatory cells were seen around the airway. In the lung tissue, concentrations of IL-5 in group B, C, and E were (12.8 +/- 2.8), (17.1 +/- 5.2), (18.6 +/- 4.2) pg/mg, the difference between groups C, E and group B was statistically significant (F = 4.236, P < 0.01), the difference in gamma-interferon concentration among all groups was not statistically significance (F = 1.185, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDEP inhalation increased the airway responsiveness of asthma rats in immediate reaction, promoted the lung epithelial cell loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, basement membrane fibrosis and goblet cell hyperplasia.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; etiology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vehicle Emissions

Objective To investigate whether the spores from mushroom antigen can cause the allergic pneumonia and manufacture allergic animal model in the C57BL/_6 mouse.Methods Aged 6 weeks old,weight 25-30 g C57BL/_6 mice were collected.In the mouse tail injection compound of spore antigen and the Freud′s adjuvant.Then pours into through the trachea the antigen once a week.The mice were divided into 4 groups.Group A was the normal mouse,Group B was given Freud′s adjuvant(the same method)to determine whether there was affect to the mouse.Group C and D were injected spore antigen 2 and 4 times.When the antigen sensitization finished 1 week later group C and D were completely divided 2 groups,among them one group was inhalation 1.5% spore antigen and induce the acute response.Six hours later the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was collected to observe cell change,and excise the lung tissue to manufacture the pathology specimen,another group had not been induced the acute response and collect the BALF and to exsise the lung tissue directly.Group B were inhalted saline later to collect the BALF and the lung tissue.In the mouse blood serun,enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to mensurate antigen specific IgG.Results In group C and D,antigen specific IgG significantly inhanced than that in group A and B(all P

BACKGROUND: allergic disease is an inflammatory disease, whose main inflammatory cells are eosinophils, mast cells, and T lymphocytes. From that point, new therapeutic targets on allergic inflammation focusing on them are under investigation. We extracted four isoflavonoids from sophorica japonica such as sophi, orobol, genistin and genistein which are known PTK antagonists. We documented that these iso-flavonoids except genistein had an antagonism on IL-5 and IL-3 in vitro eosinophil activation and also in allergic mouse model sensitized by OA(ovualbumin). Their common action is due to the common beta chains. GM-CSF also share common beta chains, through which it activates eosinophils. OBJECTIVES: From the above results, We observed the antagonistic effects of these compounds on GM-CSF using eosinophil activation in vitro. METHODS: LTC4 which was detected by RIA and ECP by UniCAP were activation markers. RESULTS: Among those compounds, sophi was the most potent antagonist on GM-CSF induced LTC4 release and even on degranulation and orobol and genistin also had antagonism on them but genistein an antagonist of PTK did not show any antagonistic effects. CONCLUSION: From these results, We concluded these three iso-flavonoids were GM-CSF antagonists and the mechanism might not be through PTK signaling.
Animals ; Eosinophils ; Genistein ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-3 ; Interleukin-5 ; Leukotriene C4 ; Mast Cells ; Mice ; T-Lymphocytes

OBJECTIVETo examine the levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the induced sputum of children with cough variant asthma (CVA), with the aim of studying the roles of NGF and IL-4 in childhood CVA.

METHODSThirty-four children with CVA were enrolled in this study. Twenty healthy children were used as a normal control group. The induced sputum was separated into supernatant and cells. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to count differential cells. The expression of NGF and IL-4 in supernatant was measured using ELISA. The mRNA expression of NGF and IL-4 in cells was determined by Real-time PCR analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of eosinophils in the CVA group was significantly higher than in the control group [(13.4±3.6)% vs (2.6±1.7)%; P<0.01]. The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly higher in the CVA group than in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA was positively correlated with the percentage of eosinophils (P<0.01). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly reduced in the CVA group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEosinophils infiltration and increased expression of NGF and IL-4 play key roles in the development of childhood CVA, suggesting that they may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood CVA.

Asthma ; complications ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; etiology ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Sputum ; metabolism

Early restoration of blood flow to the ischemic myocardium not only saves myocardium but also induces reperfusion injury. While no specific therapy to reduce reperfusion injury has yet been established, recent laboratory studies have shown that G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists, insulin, and postconditioning can effectively prevent reperfusion injury in various experimental settings and animal species. The potential mechanisms underlying the cardioprotection initiated by these interventions may include activation of the reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathway, inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), and modulation of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. These encouraging laboratory findings may help us develop successful clinical strategies to salvage reperfused myocardium in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; physiology ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Myocardium

Objective To investigate whether gastroesophageal reflux can cause asthma-like pathophysiological changes and its mechanism.Methods Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:group A was gastroesophageal reflux control group,group B was asthma control group,group C was gastroesophageal reflux group,and group D was asthmatic group.The asthmatic models were replicated with ovalbumin(OVA) and aluminum hydroxide,and gastroesophageal reflux models were replicated with hydrochloric acid solution pepsin.After the last inhaling ovalbumin and slow perfusion,the airway pressure was detected,and eosinophil (EOS) and neutrophil granulocyte in bronchial lavage fluid were counted.The flow cytometer was used to determinate IL-4,IFN-γ,and Th1/Th2 ratio changes of spleen cells;Lung tissue and esophagus sections were stained with HE,and pathological changes of lung tissue and esophagus were observed.Results In group C and group D,the airway hyper-responsiveness was significantly increased compared with group A and group B,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).In group C and group D,IL-4were significantly increased,while IFN-γand Thl/Th2 ratio were significantly decreased than that in the group A and B group,the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).EOS of group C and group D accounted for a high percentage of total cells and they were significantly higher than that in group A and group B,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Through lung tissue biopsy,in group C and group D,bronchial lumen deformation,infiltration of inflammatory cells around the wall,basement membrane thickening,inflammatory cell infiltration around the wall,peripheral vascular edema,enlarging alveolar cavity,alveolar wall thinning,fracture,part of alveolar fusion into bullace of lung,could be observed.The lung pathological section showed that the endothelial cells in group A and group B were integrated and had no denaturation or necrosis,and there was no inflammation cell infiltrate around.EOS biopsy could be observed in group A and group B of lower esophagus markedly submucosal edema,submucosal inflammatory cell infiltration,and keratin hyper function,visible bacteria group A group B and group D were basic ally normal,with no pathological changes.Conclusions Gastroesophageal reflux can induce Th1/Th2 decreasing,airway hyper-responsiveness and pathophysiological changes similar to asthma.

To investigate the reversal effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) on suppression of NK cells by reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) in K562 cells, interleukin-2 (IL-2) or mononuclear cell (Mo) was added in cultured cell line of K562 cells and NK cells, the yield of ROM and K562 cell suppression rate were observed. Then the histamine dihydrochloride (DHT) or GSH was added in the mixed cultured cell lines, the ROM production and K562 cell suppression rate were observed. The results showed that the ROM yield increased from 33.17 +/- 5.08 U/L to 223.59 +/- 9.41 U/L by IL-2, and K562 cell suppression rate increased from 65.56% to 85.89% by IL-2 (P < 0.01). The ROM yields were 389.79 +/- 43.83 U/ml, 456.74 +/- 42.77 U/ml and 601.42 +/- 21.92 U/ml respectively, and K562 cell suppression rates were 82.36%, 81.36% and 48.09% respectively, when Mo was added in the mixed cultured cell lines under ratios of E/Mo being 10/2, 10/5 and 10/10. When E/Mo was 10/2, DHT or GSH was added in the mixed cultured cell line ROM yield decreased from 389.79 +/- 3.83 U/L to 50.21 +/- 2.4 U/L or -3.58 +/- 9.49 U/L (P < 0.05) respectively. With increase of concentration of DHT or GSH, the ROM yield in the mixed cultured cell line decreased (P < 0.05), the K562 cell suppression rate increased from 82.53% to 94.64% or 96.39% (P < 0.05), the more ROM yield, the less K562 suppression rate (P < 0.05). When E/Mo is 10/5 or 10/10, the ROM yield decreased by the high concentration of DHT or GSH (P < 0.05), but the K562 cell suppression rate not increased by every concentration of DHT or GSH. GSH was as effective as DHT in the reversing ROM and increasing K562 cell suppression rate. It is concluded that GSH may reverse ROM and increase K562 cell suppression rate, and GSH is as effective as DHT, but GSH has less side-effect than DHT. Therefore, GSH would be better antileukemia immune adjuvant.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Glutathione ; pharmacology ; Histamine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; immunology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Objective     To investigate the relationship between preoperative mean daily step counts and pulmonary complications after thoracoscopic lobectomy in elderly patients. Methods     From 2018 to 2021, the elderly patients with pulmonary complications after thoracoscopic lobectomy were included. A 1∶1 propensity score matching was performed with patients without pulmonary complications. The clinical data were compared between the two groups. Results    Totally, 100 elderly patients with pulmonary complications were enrolled, including 78 males and 22 females, aged 66.4±4.5 years. And 100 patients without pulmonary complications were matched, including 71 males and 29 females aged 66.2±5.0 years. There was no significant difference in the preoperative data between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared to the patients with pulmonary complications, the ICU stay was shorter (8.1±4.4 h vs. 12.9±7.5 h, P<0.001), the first out-of-bed activity time was earlier (8.8±4.5 h vs. 11.2±6.1 h, P=0.002), and the tube incubation time was shorter (19.3±9.2 h vs. 22.5±9.4 h, P=0.015) in the patients wihout pulmonary complications. There was no statistical difference in other perioperative data between the two groups (P>0.05). The mean daily step counts in the pulmonary complications group were significantly less than that in the non-pulmonary complications group (4 745.5±2 190.9 steps vs. 6 821.1± 2 542.0 steps, P<0.001). The daily step counts showed an upward trend for three consecutive days in the two groups, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion     The decline of preoperative mean daily step counts is related to pulmonary complications after thoracoscopic lobectomy in elderly patients. Recording daily step counts can promote preoperative active exercise training for hospitalized patients.