To investigate the diagnosis, pathological characteristics and clinical treatment of gastric eosinophilic granuloma (GEG). Twenty two cases with GEG diagnosed by operation and pathology were analyzed. In this series 14 cases subjected to partial gastrectomy, 6 cases to subtotal gastrectomy, 1 case to total gastrectomy, and 1 case to radical gastrectomy. After 1-10 years of follow-up, 1 case, who was combined with gastric carcinoma at the first operation, died of the recurrence and extensive metastasis of gastric carcinoma on the 4th year after operation, 2 cases were reoperated on the 2nd or 6th year respectively after operation for forward complication, and the others recoverd well. The authors consider that gastrofiberscopic diagnosis is key to lessen the preoperative misdiagnosis, and the scope of dissection mainly depends on the size and type of focus. It is no need for extensive dissection.
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of interleukin-25 (IL-25) and its receptor during allergen challenge test in allergic asthmatics as well as its underlining mechanism.MethodsFifteen allergic asthmatic patients with dual response in allergen challenge test were enrolled and blood samples were collected before and after challenge test. The expression levels of IL-25 receptor on the surface of eosinophils, plasma and intracellular IL-25 levels were measured by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Besides, the function of eosinophils from these patients was evaluated through the expression of type 2 cytokines, degranulation and chemotaxis after stimulation with IL-25.ResultsUpon allergen challenge, the expression of IL-17RB on the surface of eosinophils were increased from (7 426±2 824)/106 white blood cells to (19 446±5 593)/106 white blood cells (P<0.001). The expression of IL-17RA/RB on eosinophils were significantly increased from (4 508±1 360)/106 white blood cells to (9 025±3 166)/106 white blood cells (P<0.001). The plasma level of IL-25 increased from (650±45) pg/ml to (851±43) pg/ml (7 hours after allergen challenge) and (813±56) pg/ml (24 hours after allergen challenge) (P<0.001). The intracellular IL-25 expression of eosinophils was also upregulated from (10 398±1 909)/106 white blood cells to (147 684±46 222)/106 white blood cells (P<0.05). In vitro study, IL-25 (1 ng/ml) stimulated eosinophils for 2 hours promoted its expression of peroxidase [(12.5±4.2) ng/ml compared to control (1.26±0.4) ng/ml, P<0.05). The intracellular expression of IL-5 and IL-13 in eosinophils were also increased after stimulated by IL-25. IL-25 (1 pg/ml) stimulation compared to control could increase eosinophil migration in eotaxin [(36±3) vs. (69±5), P<0.05).ConclusionIL-25 and its receptor play a critical role in eosinophilic aggregation, activation and mobilization during allergic inflammation in allergic asthmatics.
Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia (PIE). Methods Patients who were diagnosed with PIE in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2004 to December 2013 were recruited and retrospectively analyzed. Data of etiology, clinical manifestation, imaging and pathological features were recorded. Results pulmonary eosinophilic granuloma (PEG) (n=2), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) (n=7), Löffler syndrome (n=4), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) (n=16), and chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) (n=19). There were 27 males and 21 females. 47.9% of the PIE patients were diagnosed as asthma and treated with regular treatment but had not been controlled well. PEG was characterized with wheeze and anhelation in clinical manifestations, unelevated blood eosinophil counts and percentage, significant small airway abnormalities in lung function, diffuse pneumonectasis in Chest CT, and appearance of eosinophil cells in alveole. EGPA shows dyspnea and cough in clinical manifestations, as well as other organs function damaged, unelevated blood eosinophil counts and percentage, significant FEV1/FVC and small airway abnormalities in lung function, tree-in-bud in Chest CT, appearance of eosinophilic granuloma outside blood vessels. Löffler syndrome also showed cough, shorter course of disease, normal lung function and diffusion. ABPA showed wheeze and cough, 31.3% of them with hemoptysis, normal blood eosinophil count, central bronchiectasis in Chest CT. CEP also showed dyspnea and cough. 21.1% of CEP patientshad chest pain, increasing sputum eosinophil percentage compare with blood eosinophil percentage, and small airway abnormalities in lung function. Conclusions Most of PIE patients are diagnosed as asthma but haven’t gotten well controlled under the regular anti-asthmatic treatment. Patients with PIE have increasing eosinophil counts and decreasing lung function. The diagnosis of PIE still depends on clinical manifestation, laboratory test, imaging and pathological examination.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics and long term mortality of patients with eosinophilic and neutrophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations requiring hospital admission.MethodsA retrospective review of the clinical data and long-term follow up was performed for 510 patients with first diagnosis of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) requiring hospital admission between January 2015 and December 2016. The follow-up was completed in January 1, 2020. These patients were divided into three groups according to routine blood test: an eosinophilic exacerbation group, with peripheral blood eosinophils >2%; a neutrophilic exacerbation group, with peripheral blood neutrophils >65% or leukocytes >11×109/L; a paucigranulocytic exacerbation group, any case did not belong to the above two groups. The differences of clinical characteristics were compared among three groups. Cox regression model was used for analysis of independent risk factors of all-cause mortality of AECOPD patients.ResultsA total of 510 AECOPD patients were enrolled (180 eosinophilic, 273 neutrophilic and 57 paucigranulocytic, respectively). Compared with the neutrophilic exacerbation group, the eosinophilic exacerbation group had shorter time since onset of symptoms, the lower proportion of comorbid heart failure, the lower proportion of mechanical ventilation, dual antibiotics and systematic corticosteroid treatment, the shorter length of hospitalization and lower hospital mortality (all P<0.05). The average follow-up duration was 41 months for 485 AECOPD patients who completed long term follow-up. Compared with the eosinophilic exacerbation group, the neutrophilic exacerbation group was associated with a higher long-term mortality of AECOPD (HR=1.691, 95%CI 1.205 - 2.373, P=0.002).ConclusionCOPD patients with neutrophilic exacerbations have more serious clinical features and higher mortality than those with eosinophilic exacerbations.
Objective To study the effect of glucocorticoid-containing triple therapy on the acute exacerbation frequency of patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with different blood eosinophil percentage (EOS%). Methods One hundred and twenty-four patients who were admitted to the hospital with moderate to severe COPD from January 2020 to March 2020 in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in this hospital were selected as the research subjects, and the patients were divided into group A according to EOS% (EOS%<2%) and B group (EOS%≥2%). Then the A and B groups were randomly divided into four subgroups A1, A2 and B1, B2, and the patients in groups A1 and B1 were treated with dual long-acting bronchodilation. The medication for the patients in groups A2 and B2 was a triple preparation containing glucocorticoids. Namely A1 group (EOS%<2%, dual therapy), A2 group (EOS%<2%, triple therapy), B1 group (EOS%≥2%, dual therapy), B2 group (EOS%≥2%, triple therapy). The patients were instructed to take medication regularly as in hospital after discharge. After discharge, patients were followed up by telephone every two weeks for a period of one year. The number of acute exacerbations, the change of forced expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of the expected value (FEV1%pred) and the incidence of pneumonia were compared between group A and group B during the follow-up period of one year. Results In the patients with EOS%≥2%, triple therapy reduced the number of acute attacks by 40% during treatment compared with dual therapy patients (average 0.875 vs. 1.471 times per patient per year, P=0.0278). While in the patients with EOS%<2%, it was reduced by 4% (1.080 vs. 1.125 times, P=0.3527). In the same use of glucocorticoid-containing triple preparations, the number of acute exacerbations in the patients with EOS%≥2% during medication was 19% less than that of the patients with EOS%<2% (an average of 0.875 to 1.080 times per patient per year, P=0.0462). Regardless of EOS%≥2% or <2%, there was no significant difference in the changes of FEV1%pred between triple therapy and double therapy patients before and after treatment (P>0.05). Regardless of EOS%≥2% or <2%, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of pneumonia between patients with triple therapy and double therapy during medication (P>0.05). Conclusion Inhaled glucocorticoid triple therapy is suitable for moderate to severe COPD patients with high percentages of blood eosinophils.
ObjectiveTo analyze the features and clinical significance of blood eosinophils (EOS) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).MethodsThe general data, laboratory examination and treatment of patients with AECOPD admitted to this department from January 2014 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Based on the inclusion of treatment targets for blood EOS according to 2018GOLD, patients were divided into group A (EOS<100 cells/μL), group B (100 cells/μL≤EOS≤300 cells/μL), and group C (EOS>300 cells/μL) with two cut-off levels. The differences in general data, severity, and glucocorticoid use between group A, group B and group C were compared.ResultsA total of 515 patients with AECOPD were enrolled. 10.87% of patients had blood EOS>300 cells/μL, and 39.03% of patients had blood EOS≥100 cells/μL. Patients in group B and C were younger, with shorter disease duration, intensive care unit stay time, non-invasive mechanical ventilation use time. The time of glucocorticoid administration was significantly shortened, and the cumulative dose of venous glucocorticoid, hospitalization cost, and total drug cost were also lower than those of group A (all P<0.05).ConclusionsPatients in group B and C are younger, shorter in disease duration, lower in severity and more responsive to glucocorticoid therapy. Blood EOS can be used as a marker to guide glucocorticoid therapy in patients with AECOPD.
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) on airway inflammation, airway responsiveness and total serum IgE in asthmatic rats. MethodsEighteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups randomly, ie. a normal control group, an asthmatic model group, and an A. fumigatus group. The rats in the model group and the A.fumigatus group were sensititized and challenged with ovalbumin to establish asthmatic model. After establishment of asthmatic model, the rats in the A. fumigatus group were treated with chronic A. fumigatus spores inhalation. Subsequently, airway responsiveness/sensitivity to methacholine(Ach), levels of serum IgE and airway inflammation were assessed and compared among three groups. ResultsCompared with the asthmatic rats, the rats treated with A. fumigatus showed higher airway responsiveness (Penh/baselin value was significantly increased at the Mch concentration of 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/mL), increased inflammatory cells infiltration in pulmonary tissue slices and increased serum IgE level (P < 0.05). Most importantly, serum IgE level was detected in close relationship with PC100 which was defined as the dose of Mch causing 100% increase of enhance pause (Penh) value without Mch challenge (r=-0.873, P < 0.01). Serum IgE level was also closely related to the percentage of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (r=0.937, P < 0.01). ConclusionsChronic A. fumigatus inhalation aggravates airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and serum IgE level in asthma. IgE may play an important role in facilitating the development of bronchial responsiveness and eosinophilic inflammation.
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Aspergillus fumigatus on airway eosinophilia and hyperresponsiveness in rat model of chronic asthma. MethodsWistar rats were sensitized by intraperitoneal injections with ovalbumin (OVA) followed by chronic inhalation of nebulized OVA or physiologic saline. Rats were administered via the airways with placebo or aerosolized Aspergillus fumigatus spores suspension mimicking chronic Aspergillus fumigatus exposure. The Penh after acetylcholine provocation was detected using WBP system. The concentrations of IL-5 and eotaxin in BALF were measured by ELISA. The extents of eosinophil infiltration were evaluated on hematoxylin and eosin-stained(HE) and Wright-Giemsa stained BALF cells smear. ResultsAspergillus fumigatus worsened allergic airway inflammation in OVA-challenged rats,as evidenced by enhanced bronchial responsiveness to inhaled acetylcholine and increased bronchial eosinophilia. Elevated airway eosinophilia corresponded with higher levels of IL-5 and eotaxin in the Aspergillus Fumigatus exposure group. Aspergillus fumigatus,however,did not affect bronchial responses,numbers of eosinophils,IL-5 and eotaxin levels in saline challenged mice. ConclusionThe Results show that chronic Aspergillus fumigatus exposure aggravates eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma rats by enhancing IL-5 and eotaxin production. Aspergillus fumigatus also increases bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthma rats.
ObjectiveTo evaluates the values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in the treatment of chronic cough prospectively.MethodsSubjects with chronic cough were recruited from the outpatient clinic of China-Japan Friendship Hospital. All the patients accepted FENO tests, sputum cell counts, pulmonary function tests, bronchial provocation tests, serum IgE, cough symptom scores and Leicester Cough Questionnaire before and after treatment of 4 weeks.ResultsThere were 29 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA), 19 patients with eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) and 39 patients with other causes. The baseline FENO level of the subjects whose coughs were relieved after inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy of 4 weeks was (63±42) ppb, significantly higher than those with bad-response [(28±13) ppb, P<0.01]. The proportion of FENO decrease after ICS therapy was not only significantly related to the proportion of eosinophilic decrease (r=0.54, P<0.01), but also significantly related to the proportion of decrease of cough symptom scores (r=0.48, P<0.01). To distinguish the good responders from bad responders, the optimal baseline FENO cutoff value was 36 ppb, with sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 93%, positive predictive value of 94%, negative predictive value of 87%, accuracy of 83%.ConclusionsThere is a good relationship between the FENO decreasing levels after ICS therapy and the reliefs of cough symptoms in the CVA and EB patients. Chronic cough patients with FENO value more than 36 ppb are indicated to respond to ICS therapy.
Objective To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of mepolizumab in treating eosinophilic asthma. Methods Databases including PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, VIP and CNKI were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about mepolizumab for eosinophilic asthma from inception to October 2016. The references of these articles and relevant conference information were also manually retrieved. Meta-analysis was performed by RevMan 5.1 software after two researchers independently selected the literatures, extracted data and evaluated the quality according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results A total of 9 RCTs involving 2273 patients were included. Compared with the control group, the acute exacerbation rate of asthma was decreased significantly in the mepolizumab treatment group [RR=0.67, 95%CI (0.53, 0.85), P=0.0009], eosinophil count in blood was significantly reduced [MD=–0.22, 95%CI (–0.29, –0.15), P<0.00001], eosinophil count in sputum was also significantly reduced [MD=–6.37, 95%CI (–9.68, –3.06), P<0.0002], and the proportion of patients with increased asthma-related quality of life (ACQ) score was higher significantly. The overall incidence of adverse reactions was similar between two groups [RR=0.90, 95%CI (0.71, 1.14), P=0.39]. The incidence of serious adverse reactions of mepolizumab treatment was superior to that of placebo [RR=0.45, 95%CI (0.23, 0.89), P=0.02]. The overall incidence of cardiovascular events was comparable between placebo and mepolizumab treatment [RR=0.95, 95%CI(0.40, 2.22), P=0.90]. Mepolizumab treatment may have a role in improving lung function, but the effect was not obvious. Conclusion Mepolizumab treatment can reduce the number of eosinophils in blood and sputum, reduce the exacerbation rate, and improve the quality of life of asthmatic patients with better safety.