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 effect and mechanism of Xiaoyaosan on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced nerve injury. Method: The 56 rats were randomly divided into control group, sham group, model group, amitriptyline group (10 mg·kg^-1), fluoxetine group (10 mg·kg^-1), Xiaoyaosan group high and low-dose (30,15 g·kg^-1).The nerve injury model rat were established by LPS injection into lateral ventride, rats were administrated for 14 days by gavage. The levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the expressions of BDNF, nerve growth factor (NGF), tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) mRNA in hippocampus and cortex were detected by Real-time PCR.Protoin expression of BDNF, TrkB, CREB, p-CREB, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), synaptophysin (SYP) in hippocampus and cortex were detected by Western blot. Result: Compared with control group, LPS decreased the level of BDNF and β-NGF in serum(P<0.01),reduced the expression of BDNF, NGF, TrkB,TrkA, CREB mRNA and the expression of BDNF, TrkB, CREB, Phospho-CREB (p-CREB), PSD95, SYP in hippocampus and cortex(P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with model group, levels of BDNF and β-NGF in serum in Xiaoyaosan high and low-dose group were increased significantly (P<0.05,P<0.01),and expressions of BDNF, NGF, TrkB,TrkA, CREB, PSD95, SYP in hippocampus and cortex were increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion: Xiaoyaosan has a certain antagonistic effect on LPS inducednerve injury, which suggests that the effect is related to activate BDNF/NGF-TrkB/TrkA-CREB pathway and upregulated the expression of synaptic protein.

Objective To investigate the correlation between moderate to severe periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD) and to examine the serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in subjects with CHD and/or moderate to severe periodontitis.Methods Serum CRP levels, serum lipids [low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride(TG)] and clinical periodontal parameters [clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing depth (PD), and bleeding on probing (BOP)] were measured and analyzed in coexistant moderate to severe periodontitis and CHD patients (n = 47), CHD patients (n = 28), moderate to severe periodontitis patients (n=40), and healthy subjects (n =40).Results The serum CRP levels in control group, moderate to severe periodontitis patients, CHD patients and patients with both diseases were (1.30±0.15), (2.44±0.18), (5.99±0.82) and (6.88±0.71) mg/L, respectively.The differences among these four groups were significant (P < 0.001).The multivariate logistic regression revealed that moderate to severe periodontitis patients exhibited markedly elevated odds of having CHD (OR = 2.417, 95% CI: 1.126-6.659).The total cholesterol levels were also significantly different among the four groups (P = 0.017).Conclusions The moderate to severe periodontitis was associated with elevated serum CRP levels which may in turn affect the initiation and progression of CHD, and may be a risk factor for CHD.

AIMTo identify the factors influencing diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) among Chinese urologists.

METHODSA sample of 656 urologists from 29 provinces of China were asked to complete a questionnaire that explored attitudes towards CP as well as diagnosis and treatment patterns in the management of CP. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis schemes were used to determine the factors that influence the diagnosis and treatment of CP.

RESULTSA total of 656 questionnaires were given out. All were returned and 410 of those were included in the final univariate and multivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that belief of bacterial infection in the etiology of CP (odds ratio [OR], 2.544; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.650-3.923; P < 0.001) was the most significant factor influencing the routine performance of bacterial culture test. Using the same model, the type of hospital (OR, 2.799; 95% CI, 1.719-4.559; P < 0.001) and the routine use of the 4- or the 2-glass test (OR, 3.194; 95% CI, 2.069-4.931; P < 0.001) were determined to be significant factors influencing the use of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) new classification system. According to the same model, belief of bacterial infection in the etiology of CP (OR, 3.415; 95% CI, 2.024-5.762; P < 0.001) and the routine use of bacterial culture test (OR, 2.261; 95% CI, 1.364-3.749; P < 0.01) were important factors influencing the routine prescription of antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that attitudes towards CP, and the characteristics of individual urologists' practices may influence the diagnosis and treatment of CP among Chinese urologists.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; China ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; Prostatitis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires