OBJECTIVE: Cigarette smoking exacerbates the progression of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in chronic lung diseases has gained attention; however, it remains unclear whether smoking-exacerbated lung damage in TB is associated with TLS. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of pulmonary TLS in smokers with TB and to explore the possible role of TLS in smoking-related lung injury in TB. METHODS: Lung tissues from 36 male patients (18 smokers and 18 non-smokers) who underwent surgical resection for pulmonary TB were included in this study. Pathological and immunohistological analyses were conducted to evaluate the quantity of TLS, and chest computed tomography (CT) was used to assess the severity of lung lesions. The correlation between the TLS quantity and TB lesion severity scores was analyzed. The immune cells and chemokines involved in TLS formation were also evaluated and compared between smokers and non-smokers. RESULTS: Smoker patients with TB had significantly higher TLS than non-smokers ( P < 0.001). The TLS quantity in both the lung parenchyma and peribronchial regions correlated with TB lesion severity on chest CT (parenchyma: r = 0.5767; peribronchial: r = 0.7373; both P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased B cells, T cells, and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) expression in smoker patients with TB ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Smoker TB patients exhibited increased pulmonary TLS, which was associated with exacerbated lung lesions on chest CT, suggesting that cigarette smoking may exacerbate lung damage by promoting TLS formation.
Humans ; Male ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/immunology* ; Middle Aged ; Tertiary Lymphoid Structures/pathology* ; Adult ; Lung/pathology* ; Smoking/adverse effects* ; Smokers ; Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the protective effect of dandelion flavone(DF)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced colon epithelial cell injury by intervening oxidative stress and inflammation with AT-specific binding protein 2(SATB2).Methods Colon epithelial cells FHC were cultured.FHC cells were randomly divided into control group(normal cultured),LPS group(10 μg·mL-1 LPS),experimental-L group(10 μg·mL-1 LPS+1 μmol·L-1 DF),experimental-H group(10 μg·mL-1 LPS+5 μmol·L-1 DF),experimental-H+sh-NC group(transfected with sh-NC+10 μg·mL-1 LPS+5 μmol·mL-1 DF),experimental-H+sh-SATB2 group(transfected with sh-SATB2+10 μg·mL-1 LPS+5μmol·L-1 DF).The relative expression level of SATB2 protein in FHC cells was detected by Western blotting.The survival rate of FHC cells in each group was determined by tetramethylazolium blue(MTT).The apoptosis rate of FHC cells in each group was detected by flow cytometry.The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)and interleukin-6(IL-6)in FHC cells were detected by the kit.Results The relative expression levels of SATB2 protein in control group,LPS group,experimental-H group,experimental-H+sh-NC group and experimental-H+sh-SATB2 group were 0.83±0.09,0.19±0.03,0.66±0.05,0.62±0.07 and 0.23±0.03,respectively;cell viability rates were(100.00±1.00)％,(48.16±4.31)％,(85.31±5.83)％,(81.39±6.47)％and(58.75±5.24)％,respectively;cell apoptosis rates were(3.27±0.81)％,(41.26±2.09)％,(11.35±1.04)％,(10.29±1.26)％and(35.87±2.15)％,respectively;MDA levels were(13.16±1.73),(52.87±3.49),(23.19±2.05),(20.98±3.17)and(44.87±3.05)μmol·L-1,respectively;IL-6 levels were(507.18±103.26),(2 132.09±198.15),(883.16±136.92),(801.69±119.85)and(1 736.29±206.91)pg·mL-1,respectively.The above indicators in the LPS group showed significant differences compared to the control group(all P＜0.05);the above indicators in the experimental-H group showed significant differences compared to the LPS group(all P＜0.05);the above indicators in the experimental-H+sh-SATB2 group showed significant differences compared to the experimental-H+sh-NC group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion DF has a protective effect on LPS-induced colon epithelial cell injury by intervening oxidative stress and inflammation through SATB2.

Objective To evaluate the effect of different time-window of anticoagulant therapy on secondary thrombocytosis after splenectomy. Methods Total of 200 patients with splenectomy were divided into control group (n=100) and experiment group (n=100).When throm-bocyte was over 500 ×109/L, the control group was given low molecular dextran 500 mL, low molecular heparin calcium 5000 IU, aspirin 50 mg and dipyridamole 25 mg.At postoperation 24 h, the experiment group was given low molecular dextran 500 mL, low molecular heparin calcium 5000 IU, aspirin 50 mg and dipyridamole tablets 25 mg.When platelet dropped to 400 ×109/L, drug stopped to be given.The change and difference of blood platelet level were compared between the two groups. Results The blood platelet level in two groups reached peak value at 15 days after splenectomy.In experiment group, the blood platelet level increased slowly and steadily, not exceeding 500 ×109/L.In control group, the blood platelet level increased rapidly and sharply, the peak value reached ( 945.5 ±154.4 ) ×109/L.The blood platelet level of experiment group decreased steadily from the peak value, and at 21 d after splenectomy returned to normal levels.The blood platelet level of control group returned to normal levels at 25 d after splenectomy.At postoperation 3-27 d, the blood platelet level of experiment group were significantly lower than that in control group, the difference showed statis-tically significant (P<0.05).At postoperation 29 d, the blood platelet level of two groups was no statistically signifi-cant difference(P>0.05).At 3 months of splenectomy, the blood platelet level of two groups were within the normal range.Conclusion The early anticoagulant therapy ( postoperation 24 h) can effectively prevent secondary thrombocy-tosis after splenectomy, superior to conventional anticoagulant therapy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect of Pushen capsule (PSC) in treating primary hyperlipidemia.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty patients with primary hyperlipidemia were randomly divided into two groups, the 120 patients in the treated group treated with PSC (4 capsules, tid) and the 120 patients in the control group treated with Zhibituo tablet (3 tablets, tid), and they were administered at the same time with Zhibituo placebo. The therapeutic course for both groups was 4 weeks. The therapeutic effect and the effects on blood lipids and viscosity were observed.

RESULTSThe effective rate in the treated group was 76.3%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (48.7%, P < 0.01). PSC showed a significant lowering effect on TC, TG and LDL-C and raising effect on HDL-C, and the effect in lowering TG was significantly better than that of Zhibituo (P < 0.01). PSC also showed a certain effect in decreasing whole blood viscosity of both high-sheared and low-sheared viscosity.

CONCLUSIONPushen capsule has promising blood lipid regulating effect in patients with hyperlipidemia, and some effects in lowering the blood viscosity.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Viscosity ; Capsules ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of coronary magnetic resonance angiography (CMRA) for stenoses detection by using breath-hold three-dimensional fast imaging employing steady state acquisition (FIESTA) sequence with the reference of conventional coronary catheter angiography. Methods~Consecutive 33 patients accepted CMRA examination within 3 weeks after the catheter angiography. Coronary stenoses was graded in 5 levels as 0%, 0%-25%, 25%-50%, 50%-75%, and 75%-100%, respectively, and CMRA and catheter angiogram were compared segment by segment. Results For the differentiation of the stenoses 50%, the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of CMRA was 84.3%, 84.8%, and 84.1%, respectively, and the negative prediction value was 92.3%. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the differentiation of stenoses between 50%-75% and 75%-100% were all 61.5%. Conclusion The breath-holding three-dimensional FIESTA sequence for CMRA was practical to exclude hemodynamic significant coronary stenoses but limited in detail grading.