Objective To explore the application potential of forced expiratory volume in three second/forced vital capacity (FEV3/FVC) in early lung diseases,such as early airway obstruction and mild gas trap.Methods A total of 288 patients (excluding those with restrictive ventilation dysfunction) who underwent pulmonary function examination in the pulmonary function room of our hospital from January 2014 to October 2017 were collected.288 patients were divided into three groups.Group A:FEV3/FVC and forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were normal;Group B:FEV3/FVC decreased alone;Group C:FEV1/FVC decreased.The general data and pulmonary function indexes of the three groups were compared.Results Compared with group A,group B had lower FEV1 ％ and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of the lung (DLCO％),but higher total lung capacity (TLC％),residual volume (RV％) and RV/TLC.Compared with group B,group C had higher TLC ％,RV％,RV/TLC％,while FEV1％,DLCO％ reduce more remarkably.There were significant differences in the three groups of small airway function (P ≤ 0.01).FEV3/FVC was positively correlated with max expiratory at 50％ FVC (MEF50％),max expiratory at 75％ FVC (MEF25％) and maximal mid expiratory flow (MMEF％).The correlation coefficients were respectively 0.613,0.610,0.608 (P ≤0.01).When FEV3/FVC serves as an indicator to determine airway obstruction,the specificity of it is 45.7％,sensitivity 98.5％,and negative predictive value 99％,positive predictive value 35.5％.Conclusions FEV3/FVC individual decline is the indication of early lung diseases such as mild airway obstruction,mild gas trap and diffuse disorder.

Objective To value different stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with the detection of the levels of serum thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP),serum amyloid A (SAA),and C-reactive protein (CRP).Methods A total of 33 patients with COPD during and after hospitalization and 16 healthy controls were enrolled in the study from the 3rd affiliated hospital of SYSU.Differences and correlations of the level of serum TSLP,SAA and CRP were analyzed to value the veracity of those factors in different stages of COPD.Results The levels of CRP and SAA were higher in acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) group than stable COPD group,TSLP was lower in the AECOPD group than the healthy control group (P ＜ 0.05).CRP had a positive correlation with SAA (correlation r =0.546,P =0.000),CRP [area under curve (AUC) =0.797] and SAA (AUC =0.815),and they were statistically significant in identity of different stages of COPD (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Serum TSLP level is decreased in acute exacerbation phase of COPD.CRP and SAA are increased in AECOPD.SAA is more confident in identity of different phases of COPD.

Objective To compare the clinical features and prognosis between dermatomyositis-associated interstitial lung disease (DM-ILD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Methods Patients with interstitial lung disease with dermatomyositis (DM-ILD) or idiopathic pneumonia fibrosis (IPF) from January 2003 to March 2014 in the third affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were included.Results Among the 64 patients enrolled,44 were DM-ILD and 20 were IPF.IPF was more common in the elderly (P =0.000),men (P =0.004) and smokers (P =0.000),and its high-resolution computed tomography (CT) mostly showed grid shadow (P=0.014) and honeycomb shadow (P=0.000).DM-ILD usually had cough symptoms (P =0.025).High-resolution CT showed patchy (P =0.048) and banded (P =0.000).Glucocorticoid (P =0.000) and immunosuppressive agents (P =0.000) were commonly used in the treatment of DM-ILD.However,there was no significant difference in 90d mortality between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions IPF is more common in the elderly,men and smokers,and its high-resolution CT mostly shows grid shadow and honeycomb shadow,distribution is diffuse.DM-ILD often has cough symptoms,and its high resolution CT is mostly plaques and streaky shadows.Glucocorticoids and immunesuppressants are commonly used in DM-ILD,but there is no significant difference in 90-day mortality between them.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effect of intranasal administration of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN), compared with intradermal administration, on lower airway inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced al-lergic combined airway disease (ACAD) mouse model.METHODS: Totally 30 female BALB/c mice aged from 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into control group , allergic rhinitis model group (AR group), ACAD group, ACAD intrana-sally treated with CpG-ODN group (CpG i.n.group) and ACAD intradermally treated with CpG-ODN group (CpG i.d. group).The mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA .Treatment with CpG-ODN was also performed during chal-lenge, either intranasally or intradermally .Immunologic variables and nasal symptom were studied .RESULTS:Compared with CpG i.d.group and ACAD group, the percentage of eosinophils from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the levels of Th2 cytokine production in BALF and supernatants of cultured splenic lymphocytes , OVA-specific IgE from blood , peri-bronchial inflammation score in the lung , and nasal symptoms were significantly reduced in CpG i .n.group.CONCLU-SION:Allergic rhinitis treated by CpG-ODN has a significant improvement on lower airway inflammation in ACAD mouse model;and it may be more effective when administrated intranasally than intradermally .

Objective:To investigate whether thymic stromal lymphopoietin ( TSLP) participate in asthmatic airway remodeling partially by promoting myofibroblast accumulating in the lung. Methods:Twelve mice evenly were randomly divided into four groups:a saline group;an HDM-exposed group;an IgG isotype-treated group and an anti-TSLP-treated group. The supernatant of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) was used to analyze the levels of TSLP,IL-25 and IL-33 by ELISA. Fluorescence-labeled collagenⅠ( ColⅠ)/α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) -dual-positive myofibroblasts were examined by confocal microscopy. Results:Chronic allergen exposure induced obviously abnormal airway structural changes,which were inhibited by blocking TSLP. We detected a highly increased number of myofibroblasts in the sub-epithelial zone in mice from HDM-challenged group. However, TSLP neutralization significantly reduced myofibroblasts recruitment. Moreover,blocking TSLP not only decreased the level of TSLP,but also inhibited the expression levels of TGF-β1 and IL-33 in BAL fluid. Conclusion:The results suggest that orchestrating myofibroblasts recruiting into the lungs is one of the main pathogenesis that TSLP involves in airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.

Objective To explore clinical value of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) rate in early evaluation of imaging tumor efficacy and prognosis of disease control for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before and after the second course of chemotherapy, and provide the basis for clinical adjustment chemotherapy regimens.Methods Patients in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were randomly collected in January 2007-September 2014 during the pathological diagnosis of 130 cases for advanced NSCLC, who had an elevated serum CEA level, including pre-chemotherapy and prochemotherapy, were collected.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was used to evaluate efficacy of CEA change in evaluation of early disease control (DC).SPSS 18.0 was used to analyze the relationship between CEA change and prognosis.Results After two chemotherapy cycles, the area under the ROC curve was 70.6％.When the cut-point of the change rates of CEA levels was 2.05％ , the Youden index reaches the maximum.Adenocarcinoma group and squamous cell carcinoma patients after 2 courses of CEA change rate evaluation, which area under the ROC curve was 72.0％ (95％ CI :61.4％ ～ 82.5％), and 70.1％ (95％ CI:45.8％ ～94.5％).Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method, which showed the change rates of CEA levels were all the influencing factors of progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced NSCLC(P ＜ 0.05).While the change rates of CEA levels were not predictive overall survival (OS) (P =0.715).Conclusions It prompts effective chemotherapy, and patients have the extended PFS, when CEA levels before and after chemotherapy dropped to a certain degree.

AIM:To investigate the specific anti-tumor effects of mature dendritic cells ( DCs) transfected with amplified mucin 1 ( MUC1) mRNA in vitro.METHODS:DCs separated and purified from the peripheral blood mononu-clear cells were induced in vitro and then identified by flow cytometry .pcDNA3.1(+)-MUC1 plasmid was constructed and was able to transcribe MUC1 mRNA in vitro.The MUC1 mRNA was transfected into DCs by electroporation .MUC1-trans-fected DCs were used to induce T cells to be cytotoxic T-lymphocytes .Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess MUC1 mRNA expression in transfected DCs .The proliferation of T cells was examined by MTT assay .The proportion of CD8 +cells in the T cells was determined by flow cytometry and the specific cytotoxicity was measured by LDH assay .The secretion of IFN-γwas detected by ELISA .RESULTS: The marker gene expression in the DCs transfected with MUC 1 mRNA was significantly increased compared with control group , peaking at 24 h.The transfection group showed the higher capacity to stimulate the proliferation of T cells compared with control group when the ratio of DCs to T cells was 1∶10.The proportion of CD8 +cells in transfection group was higher than that in control group .The lethal effect of special cytotoxic T-lymphocytes on target cells in transfection group was stronger than that in control group .The level of IFN-γin the cell su-pernatant of transfection group was higher than that in control group .CONCLUSION:DCs plus MUC1 mRNA by electri-cal transfection induces specific anti-tumor effects , which provides an experiment evidence of using MUC 1 as a target for immunotherapeutic strategy against non-small cell lung cancer .

Objective To assess antifungal activity of aspirin and fluconazole administered alone or in combination against Candida albicans biofilms in vitro,and to evaluate the combined effect of these two drugs.Methods The MIC50 of aspirin and fluconzole against biofilm-associated adherent cells were determined respectively,then the efficacy of combinations of aspirin and fluconazole were evaluated by calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index.The influence of aspirin on the mRNA expression of gene ALS3,HWP1 in biofilm cells were analyzed by fluorescent quantitative PCR assay.Results The MIC50 of aspirin for ATCC64550,clinical strains 14215,15346,15538,16335 were ＞ 1440 mg/L,＞ 1440 mg/L,1440 mg/L,720 mg/L and 1440 mg/L respectively,the MIC50 of fluconazole for biofilms cells of all the strains were ＞ 64 mg/L.Aspirin did not enhance the antifungal effect of fluconazole against biofilm formed by ATCC64550,but synergistic and additive effects were found for the combination of aspirin and fluconazole to block the biofilm formation by clinical isolates (FIC index =0.75,0.5,0.75,0.75).Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed aspirin could reduce the transcript level of ALS3 and HWP1.Conclusion Aspirin could inhibit C.albicans biofilm formation; it may increase the sensitivity of biofilm cells of C.albicans to fluconazole.

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of the differences in biofilm formation abilities of Candida albicans isolated from the respiratory tract.

METHODSThe biofilms formed by Candida albicans isolates from the respiratory tract and the standard strain ATCC90028 were examined for bacterial proliferation using XTT reduction assay. The mRNA expression of CPH1, EFG1, ALS3 and HWP1 in the isolates were measured with fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSXTT reduction assay demonstrated a strong ability of biofilm formation in 8 clinical isolates, and a relatively low biofilm formation ability in 7 clinical isolates and ATCC90028 strain. The strong and weak biofilm formers showed significant differences in ALS3 and HWP1 mRNA expressions (P<0.05) but not in EFG1 or CPH1 mRNA expressions (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical isolates from the respiratory tract have different biofilm formation abilities under regulation by genes other than the transcription factors CPH1 and EFG1.

Biofilms ; Candida albicans ; classification ; genetics ; physiology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Exons ; Fungal Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Phenotype ; Respiratory System ; microbiology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the lipoteichoic acid(LTA) induced apoptosis and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in human alveolar macrophage (AM) and the anti-apoptotic and anti-inflamatory effect of moxifloxacin (MXF).Methods Obtained human AM from bronchoalveolar lavage and used MTT assay to observe the effects of LTA and MXF on cell activity,optical microscope to investigate the change of the cell morphology,flow cytometry to assess cell apoptosis,RT-PCR to detect the mRNA levels of TLR2,IL-1 β,IL-8 and TNF-α,ELISA for the production of IL-8 to exam RT-PCR.Results LTA showed cytotoxicity on AM in a dose-dependent manner ( P＜0.05 ) ; MXF inhibited the effect of LTA without cytotoxicicy ( P＜0.05 ).LTA promoted apoptosis ( P＜0.05 ) and the mRNA expressions of TRL2,IL-1 β,IL-8 and TNF-α significantly in AM (P＜0.05),the peaks and peak time ofthe above factors were (3.56±0.03) at 12 h,(46.63±7.06) at 6 h,(28.07±1.24) at 12 h and (2.34 ±0.50) at 3 h respectively and increased the release of IL-8 protein level at 24 h (P＜0.05).MXF inhibited the cell apoptosis and the above mRNA expression at 12h ( P＜0.05 ),and inhibited the IL-8 protein level at 24 h( P＜0.05 ).Conclusion LTA showed cytotoxicity on AM,induced AM apoptosis and increased the expression of TLR2,IL-I β,IL-8 and TNF-α of AM ; MXF could protect AM through inhibiting of the above effects and may play a key role beside bactericidal effect in gram-positive bacteria pneumonia.