Cough variant asthma is a special type of asthma, of which the only or main symptom is cough, and it is the main cause of chronic cough. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent cough variant asthma developing into typical asthma. This article summarizes the progress in pathogenesis, diagnosis and assessment, treatment, and prognosis of cough variant asthma, aiming to improve the prevention and treatment of this disease, and increase the patients’ quality of life.
Objective To analyze the data from patients with pathologically proved granulomatous lung disease, including etiology, clinical, radiological features and laboratory results. Methods 36 patients with granulomatous lung disease confirmed by lung biopsy in Shanghai First People’s Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from January 2008 to June 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical presentation, radiological features and laboratory results were collected and statistically analyzed.Results After haematoxylin and eosin stain combined with special stain, the diagnoses were comfirmed, ie.13 cases of mycobacterial infection, 5 cases of aspergillar infection, 4 cases of cryptococcal infection, 6 cases of sarcoidosis, 4 cases of Wegener’s granulomatosis, 4 cases of unknown causes. Cough was the most common clinical symptom, followed by expectoration. Some patients also developed fever, chest tightness and weight loss. The lesions were widely distributed, of which the right upper lung was the common lesion of mycobacterial infection, inferior lobe of right lung was the common lesion of aspergillar infection. The common lesion of cryptococcal infection was uncertain. The common lesions of sarcoidosis and Wegener ’s granulomatosis were in left upper lung. Small nodule was the most common shapes of lesion, while mass and consolidation were present sometimes. Cavity, air bronchogram, pleural effusion, hilar and mediastinal lymph node enlargement could be found in the chest CT. Interferon gamma release assay, galactomannan antigen assay and latex agglutination test were helpful in the diagnosis of mycobacterial infection, aspergillar infection and cryptococcal infection induced granuloma. Conclusions The clinical presentations and radiological features of granulomatous lung disease are nonspecific. Histopathology obtained through biopsy is the key for the diagnosis. Immunological examination, test of new antigens to microorganism and clinical microorganism detection are valuble in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of granulomatous lung disease.
Objective To investigate the effects of TiotropiumBromide on airway inflammation in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) . Methods Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group A received normal breeding as normal control. Group B and group C received LPS( 200 μg, intratracheally injected at the 1st and the 14th day) and tobacco exposure( from the 2nd day to the 30th day except the 14th day) to establish COPD model. And group C received a nebulized dose of Tiotropium Bromide( 0. 12 mmol / L, 10 minutes) 30 minutes before the tobacco exposure each time. Airway resistance and compliance were measured before sacrificed. Histological examination was performed with Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. The concentrations of IL-8 and LTB4 , total and differential cells counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid( BALF) were examined, and the concentrations of IL-8 and LTB4 in blood serum were also examined by ELISA. Results Severe lung inflammation and decreased lung function were demonstrated in the rats in the group B compared with those in the group A. The inflammatory cell counts in BALF, and the levels of IL-8 and LTB4 in BALF and serum were significantly increased in the group B compared with those in the group A. Tiotropium Bromide administration improved the parameters above. Conclusions The results suggest that Tiotropium Bromide can alleviate the lung inflammation and improve the lung function in a rat COPD model. These effects may be exerted through reducing the mediators of inflammation.
