Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway involving various cellular players. Among the different phenotypes of asthma, neutrophilic asthma is often associated with severe airway inflammation and a notable resistance to corticosteroid treatment. Macrophages, as innate immune cells, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma. They regulate neutrophil recruitment and activation to promote the progression of airway inflammation. During this process, macrophages also undergo changes in aspects such as efferocytosis. We reviewed the recent research progresses regarding the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma, aiming to provide valuable insights for future studies in this area.
Humans ; Asthma/pathology* ; Neutrophils/pathology* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Animals ; Phagocytosis

Objective:To determine the equilibrium solubility and n-octanol/water partition coefficients (Papp)of cinnamon acid and cinnamaldehyde. Methods:The equilibrium solubility of cinnamon acid and cinnamaldehyde in different solutions was determined by HPLC,and their n-octanol/water partition coefficients were determined by a shaking flask method combined with HPLC-DAD. Results:When the pH of solution was 7.8,the equilibrium solubility of cinnamon acid was the largest,while that of cinnamaldehyde was the largest in pH 6.8 solution. The scopes of lgPappof cinnamon acid and cinnamaldehyde in different buffer solutions(pH 1.2-7.8) were -1.04-2.27 and 0.29-1.67, respectively, while those in n-octanol/water solvent were 0.85 and 1.26, respectively. Conclusion:The method is simple,accurate and fast to predicate the absorption of chemical components. In gastrointestinal physiological environment,cinnamaldehyde has good absorption, while cinnamon acid is with poor absorption in stomach and with better absorption in intestinal.

BACKGROUND: Facial nerve defect seriously impacts the mental and physical health of patients as well as their quality of life. Pediceled neck muscle transplant and autologous nerve transplant have been used in clinical to repair facial nerve defect and restore the facial muscle function. However,there are disadvantages and limits of above methods which have restricted their wide application of them. It is a research hotspot for looking for a new material to repair facial nerve defect.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of autologous degenerative skeletal muscle to repair facial nerve defect and provide theoretic basis for further improving the functions of facial nerve.DESIGN: Randomized controlled study based on animals.SETTING: Anatomy department and neurological department in a medical college.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed in the Neuro-histochemical Teaching Section of Xianning Medical College from April to September 2002. Twenty-two Japanese big ear rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: 8 in group A to conduct autologous degenerative skeletal muscle transplant, 8 in group B to conduct autologous nerve transplant and 6 in group C as normal control.METHODS: Animal model was built by make 8 mm defect of zygomatic branch of left facial nerve in 22 rabbits. Electrophysiological examination and morphologic observation were conducted to the zygomatic branch of facial nerve and the muscle it controlled to rabbits after 20 weeks.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Electrophysiological examination results and morphologic observation of each group.RESULTS: Electrophysiological examination: Neural stem action potential (NAP), compound facial muscles action potential(cMAP) and nerve conduction velocity(NCV) were compared between groups. There was no difference between group A and B( P ＞ 0.05) while significant difference existed between group A and C, B and C ( P ＜ 0.05) . Morphological image analysis:number of nerve fibers was 2 559 ± 1 683 in group A, 2 658 ± 1 295 in group B and 3 253 ± 1 564 in group C. Diameter of nerve fiber was(4. 01 ± 0. 88) μm,(4. 26 ±0.77) μm, (4.98 ± 0. 72) μm for the three groups, respectively.Average density of regenerated nerve fiber: was(220 ±30) /0. 013 89 mm2,(233 ±32) /0. 0138 9 mm2, (315 ±27)/0. 013 89 mm2, respectively. When comparing the above parameters between groups, there was no difference between group A and B( P ＞ 0. 05), while there was significant difference between group A and C, B and C ( P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: Autologous degenerative skeletal muscle can effectively induce and stimulate the regeneration of nerve and repair the facial nerve defect with the equivalent effects of autologous nerve transplant.