Objective To evaluate the role of guide sheath (GS) utilization in radial endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial lung biopsy (EBUS-TBLB) for diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent EBUS-TBLB in Peking University First Hospital from July 2012 to June 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups,ie. a GS group, a non-GS group, and a double biopsy group. Results A total of 118 patients with 126 PPLs were collected. The overall diagnostic yield of EBUS-guided bronchoscopy was 60.3%. The diagnostic yield of GS group, non-GS group and double biopsy group was 65.4%(36/55), 61.5%(8/13), 59.6%(31/52), respectively. The diagnostic yield of the non-GS group was significantly lower than other two groups when PPLs≤20 mm (χ2=6.8,P=0.033), whereas no significant difference was observed when PPLs>20 mm (χ2=2.301,P=0.301). Conclusion GS significantly improves diagnostic yield in EBUS-TBLB when PPLs≤20 mm.
Objective To detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) in the upstream promoter region of chemokine like factor ( CKLF) gene and analyze their possible associations with asthma and asthma-related phenotypes. Methods Direct Sequence of the 1553bp upstream promoter region of CKLF gene was performed in 245 Chinese Han human genomic DNAs ( 119 asthmatics and 126 controls) .The frequencies of alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes were determined and the association of these SNPs with asthma were further analyzed. Results Four novel SNPs, SNP88 ( T gt; C) , SNP196 ( T gt; C) , SNP568 ( C gt;G) , and SNP1047 ( C gt; G) were found in the promoter region of CKLF. The frequency of rare allele was 0. 168 ( SNP88C) , 0. 168 ( SNP196C) , 0. 352 ( SNP568G) and 0. 167 ( SNP1047G) , respectively.Haplotypes, their frequencies and the linkage disequilibrium coefficients between SNPs were constructed.Complete linkage disequilibrium( LDs) were observed between SNP88 and SNP196, SNP88 and SNP1047,as well as SNP196 and SNP1047, respectively ( D′=1. 000, r2 = 1. 000) . SNP568 was in partial LD with the other three SNPs ( r2 = 0. 366) . No association between asthma and the SNPs was observed. Conclusions Four SNPs in the regulatory region of CKLF in Chinese Han population were firstly identified. Although no significant correlation with asthma was revealed, the SNP and haplotype information is useful for other disease association studies in the future.