Validity of fractional exhaled nitric oxide and small airway function indices in diagnosis of cough-variant asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a non-invasive method used to reveal the eosinophilic inflammation of airway and to diagnose and manage asthma. The use of FeNO measurement or its combination with the small airway function in differentiating CVA patients from chronic cough patients is unexplored. METHODS: From December 2012 to June 2016, patients with chronic non-productive cough for more than 8 weeks based on physician's opinion were subjected to FeNO, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were obtained to evaluate the clinical value of FeNO and small airways indices in CVA diagnosis. The optimal cutoff point for the level of FeNO was also determined. RESULTS: The FeNO value in the CVA group was significantly higher than that in the non-cough-variant asthma (NCVA) group [42(41) parts per billion (ppb) vs. (16(11) ppb), P < 0.05]. The area under the ROC curve was estimated to be 0.874 for FeNO. An optimal cutoff point of 25 ppb had respective sensitivity and specificity values of 81.3% and 84.0% in differentiating CVA patients from NCVA patients. The CVA group showed small airway dysfunction, and the small airway resistance was significantly higher than in the NCVA group. The area under the ROC curve of FeNO combined with maximal midexpiratory flow (MEF) (% predicted) was 0.883, and that combined with MEF50 (% predicted) was 0.886. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of FeNO is a non-invasive, reproducible, and sensitive method of differentiating CVA patients from NCVA patients. A combination of the level of FeNO (25 ppb) and the abnormal small airway function suggested higher CVA possibility, thereby resulting in a rapid diagnosis. Unnecessary treatments are avoided. This finding provides a new perspective for the management of patients with CVA.

Effect of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation on anxiety behavior and hippocampus NO level: different responses of adolescent and adult C57BL/6J mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the difference between adolescent and adult C57BL/6J mice in response to rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) deprivation in terms of anxiety behavior and hippocampal NO level.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Both adolescent and adult C57BL/6J mice were divided into normal control (NC) group, wide platform (WP) group, and 24-hour REMS deprivation group, each group consisting of 15 mice. REMS deprivation models were established using a small platform in water tank, and the elevated plus maze test was used to examine anxiety behavior of the mice. After behavioral tests, the mice were sacrificed to examine hippocampal NO levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and hippocampal nNOS protein expression was detected with Western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The adolescent C57BL/6J mice showed no obvious differences in anxiety behaviors between the 3 groups, but NO level and nNOS expression in the hippocampus was significantly higher in REMSD group than in NC and WP groups (P<0.01). The adult mice in REMSD group, compared with those in the other two groups, exhibited significantly increased total number of arm entry (P<0.01), lowered number of open arm entry and reduced open arm time (P<0.01), increased number of close arm entry and prolonged close arm time (P<0.01 or 0.05); no obvious differences in NO level or nNOS expression in the hippocampus were found in the 3 groups of adult mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>REMS deprivation produces different effects on anxiety-related behaviors between adolescent and adult mice possibly in relation to their different responses in terms of NO levels and nNOS expression in the hippocampus.</p>

Histological and ultrastructural changes of dog skin following hair removal by laser / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the cutaneous histological and ultrastructural changes of dogs following hair removal by Alexandrite laser.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven healthy dogs with dark hair were treated for hair removal with the Alexandrite laser and skin biopsies were taken after 0.5 h, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 30 days. Specimens were examined with light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Laser-treated specimens showed widespread coagulation and charring subcutaneous hair shafts. These obviously damaged follicles were randomly dispersed among intact follicles within the same treatment sites. Microscopic changes were also seen in the basal epidermis where melanin was concentrated. A low level of inflammatory response was seen up to 10 days followed laser treatment. The efficiency in higher fluence test area was better than the lower one; the degree of damaged follicles with double pulse was similar to that with single pulse.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Alexandrite laser irradiation results in selective damage to follicles and microscopic changes in the basal epidermis. Alexandrite laser hair removal does not lead to scar formation; the efficiency of laser hair removal is fluence-depent; the degree of damaged follicles with double pulse is not different with single one; the cooled hand piece can minimize epidermal injury.</p>