Objective To observe the eotaxin expression of rat airway smooth muscle cells ( ASMCs) induced by serum from asthmatic rats, and explore the possible mechanism. Methods ASMCs isolated fromrat tracheas were cultured in vivo. Then they were treated with serum from asthmatic rats, or treated with serum and dexamethasone simultaneously. The level of eotaxin protein in supernatant and eotaxin mRNA in ASMCs were measured by ELISA and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The expression of cAMP in ASMCs was examined by radioimmunoassay. Results After the treatment with sensitized serum, the eotaxin level in supernatant and mRNA expression in ASMCs were significantly higher [ ( 107. 09 ±7. 12) ng/L vs. ( 0. 63 ±0. 56) ng/L, P lt; 0. 05; 1. 39 ±0. 04 vs. 0. 05 ±0. 01, P lt;0. 05] , and the level of cAMP in ASMCs was significantly lower compared with the control group [ ( 17. 58 ±3. 62) ng/L vs. ( 32. 39 ±3. 36) ng/L, P lt; 0. 05] . After intervened by the sensitized serum and dexamethasone simultaneously, the protein and mRNA expressions of eotaxin were lower compared with those intervened by sensitized serumalone [ ( 64. 18 ±4. 04) ng/L and 0. 77 ±0. 19] . The level of eotaxin in supernatant was negatively correlated with cAMP level in ASMCs ( r = - 0. 788, P lt; 0. 01) . Conclusions There is anautocrine function in ASMCs as inflammatory cells after stimulation with sensitized serum. Eotaxin may play an important roll in the pathogenesis of asthma via a cAMP-dependent pathway.
ObjectivesTo detect expressions of trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) and TFF3 in the mice with acute allergic airway disease (AAD) after different interventions, and explore primitively the effect of recombinant TFF3 on airway inflammation and mucous secretion.MethodsForty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups, each group with 8 mice, ie. a normal saline control group (group A), an AAD group (group B), a budesonide intervention group (group C), a recombinant TFF3 intervention group (group D), and a budesonide+recombinant TFF3 intervention group (group D). The BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to induce AAD. Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining for assessment of airway inflammation, and immunohistochemistry was used for detecting TFF1/TFF3 expression in the airway. Alcian blue stain was applied to determine mucous secretion.ResultsAirway inflammation score and airway mucous secretion: Group B was significantly more than group A (P<0.01); Group C was less than group B (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between group D and group B (P>0.05); There was no significant difference between group C and group E (P>0.05). Expression of TFFs: TFF1 and TFF3 were expressed in epithelial cells, goblet cells and submucosal gland cells of bronchi and bronchioles in all groups; The expressions of TFF1 and TFF3 in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P<0.01), while the expressions of TFF1 and TFF3 in group C were lower than those in group B (P<0.05). TFF1 expression in airway epithelium was positively correlated with inflammatory score (r=0.876, P=0.000) and mucin expression (r=0.807, P=0.000). TFF3 level was positively correlated with inflammatory score (r=0.654, P=0.006) and mucin expression (r=0.666, P=0.005).ConclusionsOvalbumin-induced acute allergic airway inflammation significantly increases TFF1/TFF3 expression. Intranasal TFF3 treatment may not influence airway inflammation and mucus secretion. Inhaled corticosteroids to some extent inhibit expressions of TFF1 and TFF3, simultaneously suppress airway inflammation and mucus secretion in the mouse model of acute AAD .
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Budesonide / formoterol to control asthma under real-life conditions. Methods A multi-center, open label, non-interventional study was conducted. Asthma control after 12 week therapy with Budesonide/ formoterol was assessed by Asthma Control Questionnaire( ACQ) and modified Asthma Control Questionnaire ( ACQ5) . Results A total of 360 asthma patients were recruited, including 228 adult patients and 132 child patients. After 12 weeks’ therapy, all the patients’medium value of ACQ was decreased significantly from 2. 03 ( adults 2. 20, children 1. 74) at baseline to 0. 60 ( adults 0. 78, children 0. 29) ( P lt; 0. 0001 ) , and the medium value of ACQ5 was also decreased significantly from2. 4 ( adults 2. 24, children 1. 76) at baseline to 0. 47 ( adults 0. 62, children 0. 20) ( P lt;0. 0001) . Conclusion Budesonide / formoterol is effective in asthma treatment, by which most asthma patients obtain and maintain clincal control.
Objective To analyze the risk factors of hospitalized children with acute asthma exacerbation in Chongqing region. Methods A total of 193 cases were randomly selected from the hospitalized children with acute asthma exacerbation in Chongqing Children’s hospital and Jiangjin District People’s Hospital from January 2009 to December 2009. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data. A control group of children were randomly selected from the out-patients who received regular maintain therapy without asthma attacks for more than 3 months. Results The first independent risk factor of asthma hospitalization was respiratory infection ( 85. 5%, 165 /193) . Irregular use of control medications was the second important factor for the acute exacerbation. There were 75% ( 138 /193) patients didn’t take controlmedications regularly, includes 102 undiagnosed and 36 pre-diagnosed cases which was more common than that in regular maintain therapy group ( 21/110, 19. 1% ) . A variety of allergen-induced acute exacerbation of asthma was also common, which accountted for 9. 3 % ( 18/193) . There were more boys than girls ( M/F:124 /69) and no significant difference in the family history of allergic diseases ( P gt; 0. 05) . Conclusion Respiratory infection, under-diagnosis of asthma, and irregular use of the control medications are risk factors of acute exacerbation in children with asthma in Chongqing region. Meanwhile allergen exposure warrantsmore attention.
ObjectiveIn order to improve the prevention and treatment of bronchial asthma, the prevalence and risk factors of asthma in Chengdu among residents over 14 years old were investigated.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in Chengdu. The inhabitants (age > 14 years) recruited in this household questionnaire survey were through multi-stage cluster random sampling. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors of asthma.ResultsA total of 3 477 subjects were finally recruited in this study. Of them, 131 were asthmatic patients; and the prevalence rate was 3.8%. There were significant differences observed in the prevalence of asthma among people of different ages, residences, occupations and educational levels (χ2=191.084, P<0.05; χ2=9.114, P<0.05; χ2=114.268, P<0.05; χ2=62.123, P<0.05). Univariate regression analysis showed that the risk factors of asthma included five factors (measles, chickenpox, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis and intestinal parasitic diseases) related to childhood illness, and two factors (asthma and chronic bronchitis) related to the first-degree relatives (P<0.05). In addition, active smoking history was a risk factor for asthma in men (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression indicated that measles, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, intestinal parasitic diseases in childhood and first-degree relatives suffering from asthma were independent risk factors for asthma.ConclusionsThis study describes the epidemiological characteristics of asthma in Chengdu among adolescents (age>14 years) and adults. The history of measles, pneumonia, tracheobronchitis, and intestinal parasitic diseases in childhood, and first-degree relatives suffering from asthma are the independent risk factors for asthma. In addition, active smoking history is a risk factor for asthma in men.
Objective To review literatures regarding the diagnosis of asthma with the measurement of exhaled nitric oxide( eNO) and assess the effectiveness and accuracy of eNO in the diagnosis of asthma.Methods MEDLINE, OVID, CBMdisc, CNKI( 1991 to 2008) for studies involving the diagnostic value of eNO were searched, and references of included studies were also hand searched. QUADAS ( Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) items were used for quality assessment in the systematic review. Meta-disc software was used to analyze heterogeneity. Sensitivity, specificity and summary diagnostic odds ratio( SDOR) were used for the pooled analysis. The summary receiver operating characteristic ( SROC)curves were drew and the summary areas under the SROC ( SAUC) were calculated. Finally, sensitivity analysis was performed. Results Eleven literatures with15 studies were included. These 15 studies had well controlled the bias of partial verification, differential verification, incorporation and withdrawals. The possibility of the disease progression bias was less and the reference standard review could have a greater bias. The spectrumcomposition of a study, the inclusion and exclusion criteria and the reporting quality were poorly reported. In statistical analysis, the totally pooled sensitivity, pooled specificity, SDOR, SAUC of the measurement of eNO in the diagnosis of asthma was 0. 68, 0. 79, 12. 73, 0. 8446, respectively. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated no disproportionate influences of individual study. Conclusions eNO has a certain value in the diagnosis of asthma. To make further analysis, more studies with high quality are needed.
Objective To evaluate the status of asthma control in asthmatic outpatients.Methods We performed an investigation by a questionnaire in a face-to-face setting from Feb 2006 to May 2006 in asthmatic outpatients of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.Results A total of 101 asthmatic patients were investigated with a mean age of 47±14.8 years and course of disease of 9.1±12.8 years.80.2% of the asthmatic patients had various social insurance.40.6% of the respondents had visited emergency department because of asthma exacerbation.The percentage of adults with lost workdays caused by asthma was 61.7% (29/47)，and which of children with lost schooldays was 75% (3/4).37.6% of asthmatic patients were completely controlled.Approximately three fourth of respondents (75.2%) was either well or completely controlled.72.3% of respondents had undergone a lung-function test during the past year.The one third of respondents (36.6%) owned oneself peak flowmeter.Only 12.9% reported kept regular use of peak flowmeter.87.1% of patients use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) regularly.Conclusion With the implementation of patient education program and asthma guideline，the asthma control level has been further improved.
Objective To investigate the modulating roles of Clara cell secretory 16 kD protein ( CC-16) , transcription factor T-bet, and GATA-3 in airway inflammation of patients with asthma. Methods 25 patients with acute exacerbation of asthma were enrolled as an asthma group and 33 healthy volunteers were enrolled as control. The plasma levels of CC16, IFN-γ, and IL-4 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . The mRNA expressions of T-bet and GATA-3 in the peripheral bloodmononuclear cells ( PBMCs) were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) .Results The levels of CC16 and IFN-γin the asthma group were lower than those in the control group [ ( 21. 96 ±7. 31 ) ng/mL vs. ( 64. 88 ±25. 27) ng/mL, ( 118. 73 ±22. 59) pg/mL vs. ( 145. 53 ±29. 50) pg/mL, both P lt;0. 01] . The IL-4 level in the asthma group was significantly higher than that in the control group [ ( 425. 22 ±4. 37) pg/mL vs. ( 69. 72 ±10. 15 ) pg/mL, P lt; 0. 01] . The T-bet mRNA expression and T-bet /GATA-3 ratio of PBMCs in the asthma group were significantly lower than those in the control group( both P lt; 0. 01) . The expression GATA-3 mRNA was significantly higher than that in the control group( P lt;0. 01) . The level of CC16 was positively correlated with T-bet mRNA expression and the ratio of T-bet /GATA-3 ( r =0. 792, 0. 761, respectively, P lt; 0. 01) . There was no correlation between CC16 and the GATA-3 mRNA expression ( P gt;0. 05) . Conclusions These results suggest that CC16 and T-bet play important protection roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. GATA-3, IFN-γ, and IL-4 also participate in the airway inflammation of asthma.
Objective To analyse the clinical characteristics of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Methods The clinical data of 26 patients diagnosed as ABPA from September 2016 to February 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among 26 patients with ABPA, 15 were female, 11 were male, with a mean age of (47.6±11.7) years. Before the diagnosis of ABPA, 13 cases had been misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma, 8 as bronchiectasis, 8 as pulmonary infection, 3 as tuberculosis. All patients had cough, sputum production, wheeze in 2, fever in 5, hemoptysis in 4, chest pain in 4, dyspnea in 2. The wheezing sound were heard in 20 patients and wet rales were heard in 4 cases. All patients had increased total IgE level ［median 5 000 (654 – 5 337)IU/ml］. The eosinophil counts were increased in 23 patients ［median 0.99 (0.50 – 3.69)×109/L］ and percentages of peripheral blood eosinophil were elevated to (0.36±0.10). Skin prink test was positive in 10 cases. All patients had increased Aspergillus fumigatus specific IgE ［median 15.1 (0.4 – 29.6)kU/L). Chest X-ray showed fleeting consolidation. Chest CT showed multiple pachy, central cylindrical bronchiectasis, mucous plugging, band linear or glover-finger opacities. Sixteen cases underwent bronchoscopy, out of them 5 cases underwent transbronchial lung biopsy, 2 cases underwent CT guided percutaneous lung biopsy. Fourteen cases were treated with oral corticosteroids combined with antifungal therapy. Conclusions ABPA is a relatively rare and without specific clinical manifestations. In the early period, it is mostly misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma, so it is necessary to improve the early diagosis of ABPA and give appropriate treatment. Regular follow-up should be made to prevent the recurrence.
Objective To evaluate the clinical value and safety of adenosine monophosphate( AMP)bronchoprovocation test in patients with asthma. Methods Sixty asthmatics, including 19 cases with uncontrolled asthma, 22 with partially controlled asthma, and 19 with controlled asthma were enrolled. Twenty-four healthy volunteers were enrolled as control and 20 patients with upper respiratory tract infection ( URI) were also included. AMP bronchoprovocation test ( AMP-BPT) was performed. PD20 FEV1-AMP lt;40 mg was set as a cut-off value of positive response to AMP. Positive rate, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and adverse reactions of AMP-BPT were evaluated. Eleven cases with uncontrolled asthma and 12 cases with partially controlled asthma were followed up with AMP-BPT three months and six months after inhaledcorticosteroids treatment. Asthma symptom scores were recorded a week early before each challenge. The correlation between PD20FEV1 -AMP and asthma symptom score was analyzed. Values of PD20 FEV1 -AMP were represented as median and quartile range [ M( QR) ] . Results No positive responses to AMP were found in both healthy and URI subjects. On the other hand, positive responses to AMP were found in all the uncontrolled asthmatics ( 100% ) with PD20FEV1 -AMP as 0. 6 mg ( 0. 4 mg) , in 19 partially controlled asthmatics ( 86. 4% ) with PD20 FEV1 -AMP as 5. 38 mg ( 32. 67 mg ) , and in 5 controlled asthmatics( 26. 3% ) with PD20FEV1 -AMP as 40 mg ( 29. 3 mg) . There were negative correlations between the logarithms of PD20 FEV1 -AMP and logarithms of asthma symptom scores ( r = - 0. 598, P lt; 0. 01) . The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy was 72% , 100%, and 84% , respectively. Percentage of subjects who experienced wheezing, cough, dyspnea, swallows stimulation, chest tightness, expectoration and cyanosis during AMP-BPT were 37. 5%, 21. 2%, 15. 4%,7. 7%, 7. 7%, 4. 8%, and 1. 0%, respectively. No severe adverse reaction was found. Conclusions AMP-BPT is helpful to the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of bronchial asthma. It also can be used to evaluate the severity and control level, and to monitor the therapeutic efficacy in clinical practice. Moreover, AMP-BPT is well tolerated with little adverse reaction.