Objective:To investigate the clinical features of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and serum-positive specific IgE (SIgE).Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 105 stable COPD patients with allergic features and completed serum SIgE testing were included, and all of them were from Capital Medical University, Beijing Tong Ren Hospital from September 2022 to October 2023. Those with at least one positive result of SIgE testing were classified as positive SIgE COPD group, and those with negative SIgE were classified as negative SIgE COPD group. There were 32 cases (30.5%) in the positive SIgE COPD group and 73 cases (69.5%) in the negative SIgE COPD group. Differences in laboratory tests, pulmonary function, chronic obstructive pulmonary symptom scores, incidence of severe acute exacerbation events in the past year, and drug therapy were compared between the two groups. The risk factors for positive SIgE COPD were analyzed, and the best predictive value for the diagnosis of positive SIgE COPD was analyzed using the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC).Results:Compared with the negative SIgE COPD group, the percentage of positive SIgE COPD group with rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis with nasal polyps, eczema, and a history of drug or food allergy were higher (all P<0.05) and the percentage of those who had quit smoking were higher ( P<0.05); the percentage of IgE above normal thresholds, the level of IgE, the percentage of peripheral blood eosinophil (EOS%), the count of EOS, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were higher (all P<0.05), and the percentage of those who had severe and above severe Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of COPD (GOLD) pulmonary function classification were higher, while the percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1% predicted), 25% maximal expiratory flow (MEF 25%) and MEF 75/25% were lower, and FEV 1/FVC was higher (all P<0.05). The positive SIgE COPD group had higher modified British medical research council (mMRC) scores and COPD assessment test (CAT) scores, and a higher incidence of severe acute exacerbation events over the past year (all P<0.05), and the use of short-acting β 2 receptor agonists (SABA) or short-acting muscarinic antagonist (SAMA), inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), theophylline and oral hormone therapy were more frequent (all P<0.05). EOS% ( OR=1.252, 95% CI: 1.039-1.508) was a risk factor for SIgE positivity in COPD ( P<0.05), and having quit smoking ( OR=0.385, 95% CI: 0.197-0.751) was a protective factor ( P<0.05). The AUC value of the ROC curve of EOS%>2.5% for the diagnosis of SIgE positivity was 0.647 (95% CI: 0.543-0.752), with a sensitivity and specificity of 52.8% and 73.1%, respectively. Conclusions:Positive SIgE COPD has sever clinical symptoms, high risk of acute exacerbation and deficiencies in treatment. The elevate of EOS% is a risk factor for the development of positive SIgE in COPD patients; positive SIgE COPD meets the diagnostic criteria for allergic COPD phenotype, and EOS% over 2.5% is suggestive of the clinical detection of allergic COPD phenotype.

With the progression of research on extrachromosomal DNA(ecDNA),it has been shown that ecDNA exists mainly in tumor cells and plays a crucial role in tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance.ecDNA is observed in several cancer types,but rarely in normal cells.Due to their strong oncogene amplification and dynamic alteration capabilities,patients with ecDNA-containing tumor cells often have negative clinical prognoses.Research has confirmed the presence of ecDNA in the cancer cells of patients with small cell lung cancer(SCLC).This re-view provides a comprehensive summary of the formation mechanism of ecDNA,the processes through which it is amplified in cancer cells,the mechanisms through which ecDNA promotes tumor growth,recurrence,and metastasis,and its relationship with high drug resistance in SCLC.Finally,we generalize the treatment direction for ecDNA-enriched SCLCs,thereby guiding future research.

Objective:To explore the independent risk factors that predict 10-year mortality in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods:The baseline data from a prospective cohort study were analyzed and long-term follow-up were performed. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of stable COPD were consecutively enrolled in the outpatient clinic from January 2010 to December 2010, and were followed up until December 31, 2020. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for all-cause mortality and mortality from respiratory causes in stable COPD patients.Results:A total of 182 stable COPD patients were enrolled and followed up for a median of 89 months. The 10-year mortality was 51.1%(93/182), and 9 patients died within one year. The leading cause of death was respiratory disorder, followed by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The risk factors independently associated with all-cause mortality included old age( HR=1.936,95% CI: 1.610~2.328, P<0.01), increased baseline COPD Assessment Test(CAT)( HR=1.331,95% CI: 1.049-1.689, P=0.02) and the increased CAT in one year( HR=1.314,95% CI: 1.197-1.420, P<0.01). The risk factors independently associated with respiratory cause mortality included increased baseline CAT( HR=1.719,95% CI: 1.026-2.880, P=0.04), emphysema index(LAA%)( HR=1.062,95% CI: 1.007-1.120, P=0.03), and one year inecreased CAT( HR=1.342,95% CI: 1.198-1.505, P<0.01)was a protective factor. Conclusions:Old age, baseline CAT, one year increased in CAT and LAA% were independent influencing factors for 10-year mortality of stable COPD patients.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of thymus in patients with COVID-19, and to analyze the CT features and dynamic changes of thymus.Methods:Data of 241 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted to Chongqing Three Gorges Central Hospital from Jan. to Mar. 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, and 242 consecutive subjects were selected as the control group from Nov. to Dec. 2019. The thymus classification, size, and average CT values between COVID-19 patients and the control group were compared, as well as those among different clinical types for COVID-19 patients, before and after treatment, were analyzed.Results:① The attenuation of the thymus: 64.7% (156/241) complete fatty replacement thymus, 17.8% (43/241) predominantly fatty thymus, 11.2% (27/241) approximately one-half fatty and one-half soft-tissue-attenuation thymus, and 6.2% (15/241) predominantly soft-tissue thymus in COVID-19 patients were found. 48.3% (117/242) complete fatty replacement thymus, 25.6% (62/242) predominantly fatty thymus, 10.3% (25/242) approximately one-half fatty and one-half soft-tissue-attenuation thymus, and 15.7% (38/242) predominantly soft-tissue thymus were found in the control group. Complete fatty replacement thymus was an independent factor affecting COVID-19 in 40 to 59 years old patients ( OR=3.071, P=0.000) . The rate of complete fatty replacement thymus: severe or critical type > common type > mild type. ② Size: There was no statistical difference of the thymus size between COVID-19 patients and the control group ( P>0.05) , no statistical difference among the mild type, common type and severe or critical type ( P>0.05) , no statistical difference between before and after treatment ( P>0.05) , and there was no correlation with treatment duration ( r=0.047, r=0.071) . ③ Density: There was no statistical difference of the CT value of thymus between COVID-19 patients and the control group ( P>0.05) , no statistical difference among the mild, common and severe type ( P>0.05) . One patient had a 17 HU increase in thymus density after treatment, but there was no statistical difference in 78 patients in thymus CT values between before and after treatment ( P>0.05) , and there was no correlation with treatment duration (r=0.013) . Conclusions:COVID-19 patients have a high rate of complete fatty replacement thymus. And the heavier the clinical classification, the higher the rate of complete fatty replacement thymus. Complete fatty replacement thymus is a risk factor for COVID-19 patients in 40 to 59 years old.

PURPOSE: Chronic cough in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients is common with multiple etiologies including cough variant asthma (CVA), non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB), gastroesophageal reflux-related cough (GERC), and upper airway cough syndrome (UACS). Practical indicators that distinguish these categories are lacking. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and forced expiratory flow at 25% and 75% of pulmonary volume (FEF(25–75)) in specifically identifying CVA and NAEB in these patients. METHODS: Consecutive AR patients with chronic cough were screened and underwent induced sputum, FeNO, nasal nitric oxide, spirometry, and methacholine bronchial provocation testing. All patients also completed gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaires. RESULTS: Among 1,680 AR patients, 324 (19.3%) were identified with chronic cough, of whom 316 (97.5%) underwent etiology analyses. Overall, 87 (27.5%) patients had chronic cough caused by NAEB, 78 (24.7%) by CVA, 16 (5.1%) by GERC, and 81 (25.6%) by UACS. Patients with either NAEB or CVA (n = 165, in total) were further assigned to a common group designated as CVA/NAEB, because they both responded to corticosteroid therapy. Receiver operating characteristic curves of FeNO revealed obvious differences among CVA, NAEB, and CVA/NAEB (area under the curve = 0.855, 0.699, and 0.923, respectively). The cutoff values of FeNO at 43.5 and 32.5 ppb were shown to best differentiate CVA and CVA/NAEB, respectively. FEF(25–75) was significantly lower in patients with CVA than in those with other causes. A FEF(25–75) value of 74.6% showed good sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with CVA. CONCLUSIONS: NAEB, CVA, and UACS are common causes of chronic cough in patients with AR. FeNO can first be used to discriminate patients with CVA/NAEB, then FEF(25–75) (or combined with FeNO) can further discriminate patients with CVA from those with CVA/NAEB.
Asthma ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchitis ; Cough ; Eosinophils ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Methacholine Chloride ; Nitric Oxide ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spirometry ; Sputum

Objective To ascertain the specific activities of nigericin on inhibiting human epithelial ovarian cancer(EOC)cells,and to investigate the possible molecular mechanism of nigericin on cell migration and invasion.Methods Cell viability under different treatments of nigericin(0.312 5,0.625,1.25,2.5,5,10,20,40,80 μmol/L)on EOC A2780 and SKOV3 cell lines was examined by CCK-8 assay,with DMSO as a control.The human epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 and SKOV3 were treated with 5,10 or 20 μmol/L nigericin or with DMSO as a control.Transwell chambers was used to observe the impact of nigericin on migration and invasion of EOC cells.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of epithelial cell marker(E-cadherin),mesenchymal cell marker(Vimentin)and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related transcription factors Slug,Snail,and Twist,as well as the expressions of proteins related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway such as Gsk-3β,p-Gsk-3β and β-catenin under different concentration treatment of nigericin.Results CCK-8 assay showed that nigericin exhibited strong cytotoxicity on A2780 [ IC 50(16.19 ± 0.26)μmol/L,95％CI 1.077-1.341)] and SKOV3 [ IC50(11.87 ±0.21)μmol/L,95％CI 1.003-1.146] cell lines.Transwell chamber assay revealed that nigericin at different concentration(5,10,20 μmol/L)induced a remarkable reduction in the number of cells migrating through the membrane relative to the vehicle-treated controls in A2780 and SKOV3 cells [(121±9),(92±7),(59±5)/HP and(120.4±2.6),(91.8±5.5),(80.0±4.0)/HP,all P <0.05]; the invasive ability of A2780 and SKOV3 cells also inhibited [(61.2±3.7),(43.2±4.3),(23.6±2.1)/HP and(85.2±7.0),(65.2±4.6),(45.6±4.4)/HP,all P< 0.05].Western blot revealed that the increased expression of E-cadherin and decreased expression of Vimentin,Slug,Snail,Twist,p-Gsk-3β,β-catenin in EOC cells with the nigericin treatment at different concentration(5,10 and 20 μmol/L)showed concentration dependence(P < 0.05).Conclusion Nigericin may induce EMT by activating Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway to promote the migration and invasion of EOC cells.

Objective To identify the expression of PTPRD in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)and analyze its correlation with pathological features and patient survival.Methods Immunohistochemistry analysis was applied to detect the expression level and location of PTPRD in 236 patients with ESCC.Clinical and pathological features were collected and a 5 years’follow-up after surgery were performed.Results Statistic analysis showed that expression of PTPRD in ESCC was lower than in normal esophageal epithelial cells (22.0% vs 57.2%,P =0.000).The expression of PTPRD was correla-ted to the differentiation grade,depth of tumor invasion and lymph nodes metastasis.The expression of PTPRD was higher in group with well differentiation,less invasion depth and no lymph node metastasis (P =0.013,0.025,0.019).The expres-sion of PTPRD was not correlated to age or gender (P =0.170,0.787).The survival analysis showed that thegroup with more PTPRD expression had better prognosis.Conclusion PTPRD was correlated to progression and prognosis of ESCC.It may be a new potential tumor suppressor gene of ESCC,and its expression level might may a useful marker for predicting prognosis for ESCC patients.

Objective To evaluate curative effect and safety of moxifloxacin in treatment of acute pelvic inflammatory with Meta analysis.Methods The database of Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, China Biology Medicine disc (DBMdisc), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang med online and VIP were retrieved, and randomized clinical trials of moxifloxacin in treatment of acute pelvic inflammatory which were open literatures published at home and abroad were collected from January 2000 to December 2014.The literatures which were accorded with the criterion were chosen and analyzed by Review Manager 5.1.7.Results The results showed that there were 14 literatures which were homogenous corresponded with the criterion, changeless benefit model statistics and analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) was 3.76(95%CI 2.14-6.59, P<0.01).And there were 5 studies on bacterial removal showed that the OR was 2.34(95%CI 1.46-3.75, P<0.01).There were 12 studies on incidence of adverse reactions showed that the OR was 0.5(95%CI 0.30-0.86,P=0.01).Conclusion Meta analysis displayed that moxifloxacin is effective for acute pelvic inflammatory.But the high quality RCTs were too few in domestic studies in treatment of the acute pelvic inflammation with moxifloxacin and the overall level of studied quality needs improvement urgently.

Objective To evaluate the lactic acid productivity of Lactobacillus acidophilus(La) exposed to formula milk containing different concentration of erythritol.Methods La was cultured under anaerobic condition(80％ N2,10％ CO2,10％ H2) at 37 ℃ in five experimental groups(formula milk mixed with different concentrations of erythritol).The five experimental groups contained 1％,2％,4％,6％,and 8％ erythritol,respectively(groups 1％ E-M,2％ E-M,4％ E-M,6％ E-M,8％ E-M).Formula milk served as control group(group M).The lactic acid was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) at 4 h intervals during 24 h.The peak-area of lactic acid was recorded and used to calculate the concentration of lactic acid through the equation of a standard curve(y=590 244x ± 67 507).ANOVA and Tukey HDS analysis were used to analyze the data.Results The concentration of lactic acid at 24 h was group M [(4.693±0.105) g/L],group 1％E-M[(4.114±0.186) g/L],group 2％ E-M[(3.720±0.158) g/L],group 4％E-M [(3.045 ± 0.152) g/L],group 6％ E-M[(2.971 ± 0.086) g/L],group 8％ E-M[(2.789 ± 0.142) g/L].Statistically significant differences in lactic acid concentrations were found between different time points(P＜0.05) and between different groups(F=187.448,P＜0.05).Moreover,the concentrations of lactic acid in each experimental group was lower than that in control group(P＜0.05).The difference among groups 4％ E-M,6％ E-M,and 8％ E-M were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusions Erythritol showed the inhibition potential against La in metabolizing lactic acid in formula milk.The effect of erythritol was concentration depended.The higher concentration of erythritol contained in the milk,the better the inhibition potential against La in metabolizing lactic acid.

Asthma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans