Objective To study the clinical effects of Dingchuan zhike decoction with ambroxol hydrochlo-ride on the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary heart disease.Methods According to the random number table,the patients were divided into the observation group (70 cases)and the control group (73 cases).The patients were treated with ambroxol hydrochloride and Dingchuan zhike decoction in the observation group;the control group had a treatment with ambroxol hydrochloride.The lung function,sputum fluid inflammatory cytokines and clinical symptoms were compared between the two groups.Results When the two groups received treatment for 7 days,VC and FEV1 in the observation group were (2.45 ±0.38)L and (1.51 ±0.24)L,those in the control group were (1.94 ±0.38)L,(1.01 ±0.21)L,the patients′lung functions:FVC,VC,PEF,FEV1,and MVV% were improved in the observation group than those in the control group (t=10.64,15.87,12.14,10.22, 14.04,all P<0.05);After 14 days treatment,VC and FEV1 of patients in observation group were (2.83 ±0.35)L and (1.67 ±0.27)L,those in control group were (2.25 ±0.22)L,(1.21 ±0.23)L,the patients in the observation group were better than those in the control group on the lung functions:FVC,VC,PEF,FEV1 ,and MVV% (t =11.02,11.87,12.68,16.41,16.09,all P<0.05).The CRP of the observation group were (14.13 ±5.21)mg/L, (3.94 ±2.39)mg/L,after 7 and 14 days treatment respectively.And these in the control group were (20.99 ±9.77) mg/L,(9.94 ±8.22)mg/L.The PCT of the observation group were (0.31 ±0.24)μg/L,(0.27 ±0.09)μg/L. These in the control group were (0.51 ±0.21)μg/L,(0.31 ±0.18)μg/L.The levels of CRP and PCT on the obser-vation group′patients were better than those on the control group′patients after 7 days treatment (t=16.75,22.05, all P<0.05).When patients received 14 days therapy,the levels of CRP and PCT on the observation group′patients were better than those on the control group′patients (t=10.75,12.05,all P<0.05).The total effective rate was 86.30% in the control group and that of the observation group was 97.14 %.The total effective in the observation group was better than that in the control group.(χ2 =5.46,P<0.05).Conclusion The therapy of ambroxol hydro-chloride with Dingchuan zhike decoction is better than therapy of ambroxol hydrochloride alone.

BACKGROUND: Currently, a significant number of miners are involved in mining operations at the Gejiu tin mine in Yunnan. This occupational setting is associated with exposure to dust particles, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and radioactive radon, thereby significantly elevating the risk of lung cancer. This study aims to investigate the involvement of leptin-mediated extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in the malignant transformation of rat alveolar type II epithelial cells induced by Yunnan tin mine dust. METHODS: Immortalized rat alveolar cells type II (RLE-6TN) cells were infected with Yunnan tin mine dust at a concentration of 200 μg/mL for nine consecutive generations to establish the infected cell model, which was named R₂₀₀ cells. The cells were cultured normally, named as R cells. The expression of leptin receptor in both cell groups was detected using the Western blot method. The optimal concentration of leptin and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor (U0126) on R₂₀₀ cells was determined using the MTT method. Starting from the 20th generation, the cells in the R group were co-cultured with leptin, while the cells in the R₂₀₀ group were co-cultured with the MEK inhibitor U0126. The morphological alterations of the cells in each group were visualized utilizing hematoxylin-eosin staining. Additionally, concanavalin A (ConA) was utilized to detect any morphological differences, and an anchorage-independent growth assay was conducted to assess the malignant transformation of the cells. The changes in the ERK signaling pathway in epithelial cells after the action of leptin were detected using the Western blot method. RESULTS: Both the cells in the R group and R₂₀₀ group express leptin receptor OB-R. Compared to the R₂₀₀ group, the concentration of leptin at 100 ng/mL shows the most significant pro-proliferation effect. The proliferation of R₂₀₀ cells infected with the virus is inhibited by 30 μmol/L U0126, and a statistically significant divergence was seen when compared to the control group (P<0.05). Starting from the 25th generation, the cell morphology of the leptin-induced R₂₀₀ group (R₂₀₀L group) underwent changes, leading to malignant transformation observed at the 30th generation. The characteristics of malignant transformation became evident by the 40th generation in the R₂₀₀L group. In contrast, the other groups showed agglutination of P40 cells, and the speed of cell aggregation increased with an increase in ConA concentration. Notably, the R₂₀₀L group exhibited faster cell aggregation compared to the U0126-induced R₂₀₀ (R₂₀₀LU) group. Additionally, the cells in the R₂₀₀L group were capable of forming clones starting from P30, with a colony formation rate of 2.25‰±0.5‰. However, no clonal colonies were observed in the R₂₀₀LU group and R₂₀₀ group. The expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) was enhanced in cells of the R₂₀₀L group. However, when the cells in the R₂₀₀L group were treated with U0126, a blocking agent, the phosphorylation level of pERK decreased. CONCLUSIONS Leptin can promote the malignant transformation of lung epithelial cells infected by mine dust, and the ERK signaling pathway may be necessary for the transformation of alveolar type II epithelial cells induced by Yunnan tin mine dust.
Rats ; Animals ; Alveolar Epithelial Cells/pathology* ; Dust ; Tin/adverse effects* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Leptin/adverse effects* ; Receptors, Leptin ; China ; Signal Transduction ; Epithelial Cells/pathology* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases/adverse effects*