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.
Objective To investigate levels of 8-isoprostane in serum of patients with bronchial asthma. Methods Eighteen patients diagnosed with acute exacerbation of asthma were enrolled as the experimental group from Department of Respiratory Medicine from February 2009 to August 2009. After treatment all the patients reached remission. Twenty healthy workers from Department of Respiratory Medicine were enrolled as the control group in August 2009. The levels of 8-isoprostane in serum of all subjects were measured, and their FEV1% pred was also evaluated. Results The levels of 8-isoprostane in serum were significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbation of asthma compared with those in remission stage and the healthy control group [ ( 157. 46 ±46. 99) pg/mL vs. ( 43. 52 ±13. 62) pg/mL and( 15. 23 ±1. 96) pg/mL, P lt;0. 01] . Meanwhile the levels of 8-isoprostane in serum of patients with asthma in remission stage were significantly higher compared with the healthy control group ( P lt;0. 05) . The levels of 8-isoprostane in serum were negatively correlated with FEV1% pred in the asthma group( r = - 0. 533,P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions 8-isoprostane as amarker of oxidative stress response involves in the pathogenesis of asthma. Monitoring 8-isoprostane levels in serum may reflect the state of oxidative stress, and may be useful for severity judgment and follow-up of treatment effectiveness in patients with asthma.
Objective To explore the differences in lung function, neutrophil polarization, and serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels among bronchial asthma patients, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACO) patients. Methods The retrospective analysis enrolled 127 patients with respiratory system diseases diagnosed and treated in Wuwei People’s Hospital between March 2016 and March 2019. Among them, 45 patients with moderate and severe bronchial asthma were in included the asthma group, 42 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD were included in the COPD group, and 40 patients with moderately persistent and severely persistent ACO were included in the ACO group. Forty-eight healthy examinees in the same period were selected as the control group. The pulmonary function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC) ratio, and percentage of FEV1 to predicted value (FEV1%pred)], neutrophil polarization, and serum total IgE levels of the four groups were compared. Results In the control group, the ACO group, the asthma group, and the COPD group, the FEV1 values were (3.65±0.79), (2.04±0.58), (1.81±0.46), and (1.59±0.43) L, respectively, the FVC values were (4.13±0.92), (3.18±0.76), (2.69±0.63), and (2.43±0.58) L, respectively, the serum total IgE levels were (92.36±12.20), (334.81±55.96), (455.61±65.59), and (142.65±28.36) U/mL, respectively, and the between-group differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05). In addition, the FEV1/FVC ratios in the asthma group, the COPD group, and the ACO group were (67.93±11.51)%, (63.81±9.22)%, and (61.28±9.23)%, respectively, the FEV1%pred levels were (74.55±11.70)%, (63.29±8.60)%, and (61.34±7.91)%, respectively, which were lower than those in the control group [(83.60±7.18)% and (94.23±8.21)%] (P<0.05). The spontaneous polarization rates in the ACO group, the asthma group, the COPD group, and the control group were (29.43±5.58)%, (25.11±4.09)%, (16.28±4.51)%, and (7.18±2.12)%, respectively, the arbitrary polarization rates in the ACO group, the asthma group, the control group, and the COPD group were (30.01±5.29)%, (25.76±5.53)%, (21.42±4.36)%, and (19.85±5.00)%, respectively, the directional polarization rates in the asthma group, the ACO group, the control group, and the COPD group were (14.67±2.30)%, (8.21±1.81)%, (5.12±1.10)%, and (2.52±0.63)%, respectively, and the between-group differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion There are certain differences in lung function, neutrophil polarization, and serum immunoglobulin E level among patients with bronchial asthma, COPD, and asthma-COPD overlap syndrome.
Objective To investigate the expression of RNP（alpha defensins） in guinea pigs with bronchial asthma and the influences of P2Y2 receptors on the expression. Methods Seventy-two adult male guinea pigs were randomly divided into a control group （group A） and an asthma group （group B）. The asthma model was established by sensitizing with ovalbumin injection intraperitoneally and challenging with ovalbumin inhalation. Then the A and B groups were divided into following subgroups,ie,the saline groups （A1/B1），ATP groups （A2/B2），and Suramin groups （A3/B3），in which the animals were intervented with saline，ATP，and suramin respectively. Total pulmonary resistance （RL） was measured.Total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） were measured. Pathological changes of lung were observed under light microscope using HE staining. The plasma levels of RNP and IL-8 were measured by ELISA. The protein and mRNA expressions of RNP and P2Y2 were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results The RL increased significantly as much as 10% in group B compared with group A. Pathological study revealed that luminal narrowing of bronchus and inflammatory cells infiltration in the asthma group. The total cell and polymorphonuclear neutrophil （PMN） counts in BALF in group B1 were significantly higher than group A1 and B3，but lower than group B2 （Plt;0.05）,but no significant difference among group A1，A2，or A3 was found. The RNP expression in plasma and lung tissue in group B1 was higher than group A1 and B3，but lower than group B2 （Plt;0.05）. The RNP expression in plasma and lung tissue was lower in group A1 than group A2，but higher than group A3（Plt;0.05）. The IL-8 expression in plasma in group B1 was significantly higher than group A and B3，but lower than group B2 （Plt;0.05） but no significant difference among group A1，A2，or A3 was found（Pgt;0.05）. RNP protein expressed predominantly in lung tissues，especially where the PMN infiltrated. The expression of RNP mRNA were consistent with the RNP protein expression in all groups. P2Y2 mRNA expression in group A1 was lower than group A2，and higher than group A3 （Plt;0.05）.P2Y2 mRNA expression in group B1 was lower than group B2 but higher than group B3 （Plt;0.05）. The linear correlation analysis showed that RNP had no significant correlation with PMN and IL-8 in group A，and was positively correlated with P2Y2 mRNA （Plt;0.05） while RNP was positively correlated with PMN，IL-8，and P2Y2 mRNA in group B. Conclusion RNP expression increases in bronchial asthma guinea pigs and may be related to P2Y2 receptors.
ObjectiveTo explore the application of pulmonary ventilation and perfusion imaging (V/P SPECT/CT) in quantitative evaluation of ventilation and perfusion function and its potential value in guiding local treatment of lung in patients with asthma.MethodsA total of 20 patients with asthma were included in this study. All patients underwent V/P SPECT/CT and pulmonary function test, and symptoms were assessed by the ACT questionnaire. Patients were graded for degree of airway obstruction according to V/ P SPECT/CT image visual scoring criteria. The comprehensive lung function (%) of the patients was quantitatively evaluated by combining the ventilation and perfusion defect of each lung segment in V/P imaging. The correlation between the degree of airway obstruction, comprehensive lung function, pulmonary function test and ACT score was analyzed.ResultsV/P SPECT/CT imaging can be used to grade the degree of airway obstruction in asthma patients (0-3 grade). Airway obstruction grading by V/P SPECT/CT visual score was associated with predictive forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%pred) of patients (r=–0.74, P<0.001). V/P SPECT/CT can also comprehensively evaluate ventilation and perfusion function in patients with asthma, and comprehensive lung function measured by this method was also correlated with FEV1%pred (r=0.629, P=0.003). V/P SPECT/CT can be used to quantitatively analyze the percentage of ventilation and perfusion function in each lung lobe. Compared with V/P SPECT/CT results, the CT volume overestimates the contribution in the upper lobes, and underestimates the lower lobes contribution to overall function.ConclusionsV/P SPECT/CT can be used as a new method to directly reflect the degree of airway obstruction in patients with asthma. Moreover, it can comprehensively and quantitatively evaluate the ventilation and perfusion function of asthma patients. V/P SPECT/CT can also be used to evaluate lobe function in patients with asthma, helping to identify the heterogeneity of changes in pulmonary function in patients with asthma, and has potential value for future treatment targeting specific areas of the lung.
Objective To explore the influencing factors of inhalation medication compliance in Chinese asthma patients, and to provide evidence for improving the compliance of patients with inhalation therapy. Methods PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Chongqing VIP, and SinoMed were searched for literature on factors influencing inhalation medication compliance in Chinese asthma patients from the establishment of databases to December 2021. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.2 software. Results A total of 16 studies were included, with a sample size of 2 600 cases, 1 084 cases of good compliance with inhalation administration, 1 516 cases of poor compliance with inhalation administration, and good compliance with inhalation administration accounted for 41.69%. The literature quality evaluation scores were all ≥4 points, all of which were of medium quality and above. Meta-analysis showed that the factors affecting inhalation compliance of asthma patients included age [odds ratio (OR)=0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.32, 0.91), P=0.02], educational level [OR=0.57, 95%CI (0.36, 0.90), P=0.02], doctor-patient relationship [OR=0.42, 95%CI (0.19, 0.93), P=0.03], disease severity [OR=0.25, 95%CI (0.11, 0.58), P=0.001], degree of mastery of asthma knowledge [OR=2.51, 95%CI (1.11, 5.65), P=0.03], degree of mastery of inhalation technique [OR=8.66, 95%CI (3.20, 23.40), P<0.0001], adverse drug reaction [OR=0.23, 95%CI (0.13, 0.41), P<0.00001]. Conclusion The compliance of inhaled dosing in Chinese asthma patients needs to be improved urgently. Age, education level, doctor-patient relationship, disease severity, mastery of asthma knowledge, mastery of inhalation technology, and adverse drug reactions are the important influencing factors of inhaled medication compliance.
ObjectiveTo explore the predictive value of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the treatment response of adult asthmatic patients.
Methods64 adult outpatients with asthma from Peking Union Hospital between March and September 2013 were recruited in the study. All patients completed asthma control test (ACT) together with exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and pulmonary function test. Then the patients were classified into a higher FeNO group (n=33) and a normal FeNO group (n=31) according to FeNO level. All patients accepted regular inhaled ICS/LABA treatment (salmeterol and fluticasone 50/250). Three months later all patients reaccepted ACT,FeNO and pulmonary function test.
ResultsThe ACT score increased in all patients,and was significantly higher in the higher FeNO group than that in the normal FeNO group[22.07±5.49 vs. 19.23±5.48,t=2.893,P<0.05]. The complete control rate of the higher FeNO group was higher than that in the normal FeNO group (42.42% vs. 19.35%,χ2=3.960,P<0.05). The FEV1 and FEV1%pred of two groups both increased significantly (P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). Correlation analysis showed that FeNO and the declined rate of FeNO was negatively correlated with the ACT score(r=-0.302,P<0.05;r=0.674,P<0.01) and positively correlated with the improvement of ACT score (r=0.514,P<0.01;r=0.674,P<0.01). No significant correlation was found between FeNO and FEV1 or FEV1%pred.
ConclusionThe effect of ICS/LABA therapy is better for asthma patients with higher FeNO. FeNO can be used for predicting the response to ICS/LABA therapy in patients with asthma and guiding the treatment.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the indoor influencing factors of asthma in Chinese children. MethodsThe CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect databases were electronically searched to collect cross-sectional studies on the indoor influencing factors of asthma in Chinese children from inception to November 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies; then, meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 software. ResultsA total of 29 cross-sectional studies were included, and 11 influencing factors were analyzed by meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that redecoration (OR=1.57, 95%CI 1.37 to 1.79, P<0.01), environmental tobacco smoke (OR=1.59, 95%CI 1.34 to 1.88, P<0.01), cooking oil fume (OR=1.98, 95%CI 1.20 to 3.25, P<0.01), mold and water damage (OR=1.49, 95%CI 1.09 to 2.02, P<0.01), mold (OR=2.01, 95%CI 1.40 to 2.90, P<0.01), water damage (OR=1.72, 95%CI 1.44 to 2.06, P<0.01), moldy odor (OR=1.38, 95%CI 1.22 to 1.56, P<0.01), indoor humidity (OR=1.50, 95%CI 1.18 to 1.91, P<0.01), furry pets (OR=1.55, 95%CI 1.39 to 1.72, P<0.01) and cockroach (OR=1.63, 95%CI 1.24 to 2.14, P<0.01) were risk factors for asthma in Chinese children, while burning incense had no association with the occurrence of asthma in children. ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that redecoration, environmental tobacco smoke, cooking oil fume, mold and water damage, mold, water damage, moldy odor, indoor humidity, furry pets, and cockroaches are influencing factors of asthma in Chinese children. Due to the limited quality and quantity of the included studies, more high-quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
The number of clinical guidelines developed and published in different countries is increasing worldwide. Too many guidelines do not remain in regular use, even though the aim is to implement them in clinical practice. The scientific validity and reliability of the guidelines need to be reviewed. Here is a case presented to show how to optimally use the evidence-based guideline to improve clinical decision making.
Objectives To investigate the frequency of LTC4S A-444C polymorphism in Chinese Han population in Beijing and to evaluate its association with susceptibility to asthma，asthma severity and clinical response to leukotriene receptor antagonist.Methods The LTC4S A-444C polymorphism was analyzed in 101 patients with asthma and 105 healthy controls.Then 18 asthmatics were recruited，and a 2-week prospective，open trial of montelukast was performed in addition to the previous medications.Results In the asthma group，the frequencies of A and C allele at -444 locus of LTC4S gene were 81.0% and 19.0%，respectively，and genotype frequencies of AA，AC and CC were 65.4%，30.5% and 3.8%，respectively.There was no significant difference in LTC4S A-444C polymorphism between the asthmatics and healthy controls（Pgt;0.05）.The asthmatics with the C-444 allele had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second（FEV1） than wild-type A homozygotes [（58.6±21.6）% predicted vs （70.3±22.4）% predicted，Plt;0.05）].A correlation was observed between the variant C-444 allele and asthma severity（Plt;0.05）.After administered montelukast 1 week，the A-444 allele homozygotes（n=9） responded better than the C（-444） allele carriers（n=7）[（10.8±10.2）% vs （–9.8±16.2）% improvement of FEV1，Plt;0.05].After 2 weeks，the A-444 allele hemozygotes also responded better，although there was no statistical difference（Pgt;0.05）.Conclusion In Chinese Han population LTC4S A-444C polymorphism is associated with asthma severity and probably contributes to the clinical response to leukotriene receptor antagonists.
