ABSTRACT
Objective To summarize the clinical features of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis(ABPA)to facilitate its early diagnosis and treatment. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 77 patients who had been admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1996 to July 2015 with ABPA. Results The average age of these 77 patients(38 men and 39 women)was(41.8±18.3)years. The co-morbidities included bronchial asthma(n=74,96%)and pulmonary cystic fibrosis(n=3,4%). The main symptoms and signs of ABPA were chronic cough(100%),sputum production(97%),wheeze(86%),sputum plugs(25%),blood-stained sputum(18%),hemoptysis(9%),chest pain(9%),fever(47%),weight loss(30%),and night sweat(12%). Laboratory tests revealed elevated levels of blood eosinophils absolute count(87%),anti-aspergillus antigen-specific IgE(89%)and specific IgG(57%)as well as a positive result of Aspergillus antigen skin test(88%). Pulmonary function testing showed that the incidences of obstructive ventilation and diffusion dysfunction were 66% and 65%,respectively;in addition,bronchodilatation test showed positive result in 60% of the patients. The most common CT findings were central bronchiectasis(81%),patchy infiltrations(79%),pleural thickening(49%),mediastinal adenopathy(35%),nodular opacities(25%),mucoid impaction(21%),and fleeting infiltrations(35%). In addition,44 cases(58%)were misdiagnosed as tuberculosis,pneumonia,lung abscess,and/or lung cancer autoimmune diseases. Conclusions ABPA can be easily misdiagnosed. ABPA should be carefully considered in patients with asthma or pulmonary cystic fibrosis who also suffer from wheeze,sputum plugs,elevated eosinophils central bronchiectasis,and fleeting infiltrations.
ABSTRACT
Hospital-acquired pneumonia(HAP)is one of common causes of hospital-associated infections.Because of the higher prevalence and mortality in elderly patients,HAP has been becoming the challenge for the clinicians.HAP is highly associated with host status,pathogen(particularly the occurrence of multidrug resistant pathogens),and the extensive use of antibiotics.The diagnostics should include clinical and bacteriologic strategies.The initial therapy with antibiotics should consider whether HAP was early-onset or late-onset and cover the potential pathogens.The quantitative or semiquantitative cultures of the samples from low respiratory tracts are used to direct the target and step down therapy.The prevention of HAP in the elderly patients is a priority.
ABSTRACT
Objective To generate an autoimmune cholangitis animal model and investigate whether CXCR3 and its ligand were involved in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Methods Female C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice and CXCR3 knockout (CXCR3-/-) mice were injected with 5 mg/kg of poly I:C intra-peritoneally twice a week for 24 consecutive weeks. Liver specimens were collected to evaluate the degree of cell infiltration. AMA was assayed by ELISA. Differences in pathology were compared between CXCR3-/- mice and wild-type. Student's test was used to assess the differences. Results Anti-mitochon-drial antibody (AMA) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level were elevated significantly in the sera of all poly Ⅰ:C injected mice compared with control mice. AMA titers in serum were increased in the poly I:C injected WT mice compared with that of the control mice at week 8, 16, and 24 respectively (0.70±0.41 vs 0.17±0.04,0.48±0.35 vs 0.19±0.07, 0.69±0.44 w 0.20±0.06, P＜0.01). There was no significant difference between AMA titers in the serum of WT PBC mice and CXCR3-/- PBC mice (0.70±0.41 vs 0.56±0.25, 0.48±0.35 vs 0.46±0.35, 0.69±0.44 vs 0.85±0.34). Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were raised among the poly I:Cinjected WT mice compared with WT controls (115±33) vs (65±7) U/ml; (119±32) vs (70±9) U/ml; (133±52) vs (77±10) U/ml. The serum ALP levels in CXCR3-/- PBC mice were (106±29), (112±29)and (122±60) U/ml at week 8, 16 and 24 respectively. There was no significant difference in ALP level between WT and CXCR3-/- mice PBC model. Considerable numbers of infiltrating cells were detected at the portal areas 8weeks after poly I:C injection, which progressed up to 24 weeks. At week 24, the interlobular bile ducts were lost and bile-plug were evident. Compared to WT mice model, this results revealed that CXCR3-/- mice, had fewer foci of inflammation and significant reduction in total inflammatory cells in their livers than those of the WT mice at 8, 16 and 24 weeks after injection of poly I:C. At week 24, there were no cholestasis orgranulomas in CXCR3-/- mice of PBC models. Compared to the control model, CXCL10 serum level was increased in PBC model. With the disease progression, CXCL10 serum level was elevated gradually. In comparison with wild mice, CXCR3-/- mice model had a higher serum level of CXCL10. At week 24, there was significant difference of CXCL10 serum level between wild-type mice and CXCR3-/- mice model. Conclusion In conclusion, these findings indicate that, CXCR3-/- mice might have a delayed onset and ultimately could not recruit sufficient effector cells to the liver for inflammation development.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the mutual effect between G protein-coupled receptors(GPCR)including C5a receptor(C5aR),C5a like receptor 2(C5L2)and chemotaxis inhibitory protein(CHIPs)secreted by Staphylococcus aureus.Methods The purified CHIPs was incubated with HEK 293T cells overexpressing C5aR,C5L2 and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 3(CXCR3).Binding signal was detected by Western blot.Results HEK 293T cells overexpressing C5aR can efficiently bind to CHIPs.No apparent relation between CHIPs and C5L2 or CXCR3 was identified.Conclusion C5aR but not C5L2 is a membrane receptor for binding CHIPs,suggesting a difference between C5aR and C5L2 in association with binding CHIPs.
ABSTRACT
Objective To establish a pulmonary allergic inflammation model with C57BL/6 mice.Methods C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group and treatment group.The mice of treatment group were sensitized by intra peritoneal injection of house dust mite extracts at day 1,3,5,7,9 and 11.Then they were exposed to aerosolized allergen at day 13,16,19,20 and 21.Physiological saline instead of house dust mite extracts was used in control group.All mice underwent pulmonary lavage in 24h after the final exposure to aerosolized allergen challenge.Pathological manifestation of the lung,cell counts and classification were studied and IL-4 and IFN-? levels in BALF were detected by ELISA.Cells from spleen were cultured for 3 d with house dust mite extracts,IL-4 and IFN-? in supernatants was measured by ELISA.Results There was pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation in the mice treated with house dust mite extracts.Compared with control group,total cells,lymphocytes,eosinophils and the level of IL-4 in BALF from treated mice increased significantly,while IFN-? in BALF decreased.The level of IL-4 in cultured splenocyte supernatants also significantly increased,while IFN-? in supernatants decreased.Conclusion A pulmonary allergic inflammation model of is established by sensitizing and challenging C57BL/6 mice with house dust mite Der f.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the effects of the total flavonoids of tartary buckwheat germ (TFTBG) on serum lipid and antioxidation in hypercholesterolemic rats. Method: According to body weight,60 Wistar rats were divided randomly into 6 groups: normal control group (NC), high-fat control group (HFC), Jiaogulan positive control group (JPC, Gynostemma pantaphyllum total glucoside tablet 0.032g/kg bw),TFTBG 1.0,0.5and TFTBG 0.2 g/kg bw (HD,MD,LD) group. Except NC group, all other groups were fed high-fat diet for hyperlipidemia model. NC group and HFC group were given distilled water 10 ml/kg bw. Water and TFTBG were given by gavage once a day for 6 w respectively. Serum TG, TC HDL-C, LDL-C, apoA1, apoB, SOD, GSH-Px and MDA were determined. Results: Compared with HFC group, serum TG ,TC were lowered significantly(P
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes, especially HLA-DQ genes, which are highly polymorphic, have been thought to be candidate loci for the etiology of asthma, and shown to be involved in antigenic presentation. This study was conducted to investigate whether susceptibility or resistance to asthma is associated with HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genes polymorphism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Venous blood samples were collected from northern Chinese population with Han ethnic. (1) One hundred and twenty-five unrelated asthmatic individuals and 52 subjects from 12 asthmatic pedigrees. (2) Ninety-six healthy controls without asthma and atopy with the same ethnic. Genomic DNA was extracted using standard phenol-chloroform method. The second exon of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genes were amplified by sequence-specific primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) method. All asthmatics had their serum IgE (total and specific) antibody or skin-prick test measured, bronchial reactivity to methacholine (Mch) and bronchial reversibility by beta(2)-agonist evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HLA-DQA1 * 0104 allele and HLA-DQB1 * 0201 allele were significantly higher in asthmatics than those in healthy controls (0.408 vs 0.177, P < 0.01; 0.568 vs 0.198, P < 0.01). Odds ratios (ORs) were 3.203 (95% CI 1.699 - 6.037), 5.328 (95% CI 2.883 - 9.849) respectively. Conversely, HLA-DQA1 * 0301 allele and HLA-DQB1 * 0301 were significantly decreased in asthmatics compared to healthy controls (0.296 vs 0.50, P < 0.01; 0.4 vs 0.563, P < 0.05); Logistic regression analysis showed that HLA-DQA1 * 0104 allele was associated independently with asthma etiology, OR [represented by Exp(B)] was 5.0942 with 95% CI 2.2520 - 21.1813; Spearman's analysis showed that HLA-DQA1 * 0104 allele and HLA-DQB1 * 0201 allele were positively associated with atopy, the correlation coefficient were 0.183 and 0.289 respectively, P < 0.01. By contrast, HLA-DQA1 * 0301 allele was negatively related to atopy, the correlation coefficient was -0.168, P < 0.05; linkage analysis did not support the view that HLA-DQA1/DQB1 genes were linked to asthma with LOD value being 0.72.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HLA-DQA1 * 0104 allele and HLA-DQB1 * 0201 allele were implicated in susceptibility to asthma and atopy, HLA-DQA1 * 0301 allele and HLA-DQB1 * 0301 might be protective factor against asthma. Asthma and atopy are multifactorial disorders, HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 genes are involved in the regulation of immune specific response to common allergen.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Asian People , Genetics , Asthma , Genetics , China , Disease Susceptibility , HLA-DQ Antigens , Genetics , HLA-DQ alpha-Chains , HLA-DQ beta-Chains , Polymorphism, GeneticABSTRACT
Objective To optimize the extracting technology of total flavones in powder of Fagopyrum tataricum stem and leaf by enzymatic treatment. Methods The powder was treated by cellulase before extracted using water, the effects of enzyme dosage, treatment temperature, treatment time, and pH value on the extract rate of total flavones were studied. Results The optimum extracting technology was as follows: enzymatic treatment temperature: 55℃, enzyme dosage: 3.0 ?L, pH value: 6.5, treatment time: 90 min, extracting 3 times at: 90℃ for 30 min once. The extract rate of total flavones was 1.47% by this technology. Conclusion Cellulase could be applied in the assisstant extraction of total flavones in powder of F. tataricum stem and leaf.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To analyse the composition and content of the fatty acid and unsaponifiable matters in both tartary buckwheat seed oil and buckwheat seed oil. Methods: Fatty acids were obtained by the methods of KOH-EtOH(95%) saponification and treatment of inorganic acid. They were analyzed and determined by gas chromatography and GC/MS chromatography respectively. Results: 4-5 kinds of fatty acid were determined in both oils, and the content of unsaturated fatty acids in tatary buckwheat oil was 83.2% ( oleic acid 47.1%, linoleic acid 36.1%), buckwheat oil was 81.8% ( oleic acid 35.8% , linoleic acid 40.2% and linolenic acid 5.8%). The content of unsaponifiable matters in tartary buckwheat seed oil was 6.56%(?-sitosterol 54.37%), and in buckwheat seed oil was 21.90%(?-sitosterol 57.29%,?-tocopherol 1.41%). Conclusion: Both buckwheat oils were functional vegetable oils.