Objective To investigate the protective effects of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 ( rhIGF-1) on apoptosis of diaphragm in rats with COPD and its impact on pulmonary function. Methods Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, ie. a normal control group, a model group, and an IGF-1 intervention group, with 15 rats in each group. The rats in the model group and IGF-1 group were exposed to 5% smoke ( 30 min perday, lasting 28 days) in a sealed box, and 200 μg lipopolysaccharide was injected intratracheally on the 1st and 14th day. The rats in the IGF-1 group were given rhIGF-1 ( 60 μg /100 g) additionally by subcutaneous injection once a day, lasting 28 days. On the 1st, 14th, 28th day, 5 rats from each group were sacrificed. The weight, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and Fas protein expression of isolated diaphragms were detected. The pulmonary function was measured on the 28th day before sacrificed. Results The mass of diaphragms, minute ventilation ( VE) , peak expiratory flow ( PEF) , inspiratory capacity ( IC) , forced expiratory volume in 0. 3 second ( FEV0. 3) of themodel groupand IGF-1 group were all decreased compared with the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . The mass of diaphragms, VE, IC of the IGF-1 group were higher than those of the model group ( P lt;0. 05) , and the differences of PEF and FEV0. 3 were not significant ( P gt; 0. 05) . On the 14th, 28th day, rate of apoptosis, Fas gene and protein expressions in the IGF-1 group were lower than those in the model group, and still higher than those in the control group ( P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions Fas/FasL mediated apoptosis way is involved in the diaphragm apoptosis. rhIGF-1 may reduce the apoptosis of the diaphragmand improve the VE and IC of rats with COPD by intervening Fas/FasL pathway.
Objective To investigate the changes of steps walks daily in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome ( OSAHS) before and after the initiation of nasal continuous positive airway pressure ( nCPAP) ventilation. Methods 62 patients diagnosed by polysomnogaphy ( PSG) in the sleep respiratory disease center of Nanjing FirstHospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were recruited as the OSAHS group, and divided into mild,moderate, and severe subgroups according to apnea-hypopnea index ( AHI) .28 subjects without OSAHS were recruited as the control group. All the subjects were evaluated by Epworth Sleepiness Scale ( ESS) and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire ( FOSQ) . Steps walked daily were measured by electronic pedometer.10 patients with moderate and severe OSAHS were treated with nCPAP. Results Compared with the control group and the mild OSAHS patients, ESS scores were significantly higher while FOSQ scores and steps walked daily were significantly lower in the moderate and severe OSAHS patients ( P lt; 0. 05) . In the OSAHS patients, steps walked daily were correlated positively with FOSQ scores but negatively with BMI, ESS scores, AHI, oxygen desaturation index ( ODI) and saturation impair time below 90% ( SIT90) ( P lt; 0.05) . After one month of nCPAP therapy, ESS scores were significantly decreased, FOSQ scores and steps walked daily were significantly increased (Plt;0.05) . Conclusions Increased OSAHS severity is associated with decreased steps walked daily which is an objective index of routine physical activity. Untreated OSAHS may negatively impact the patients’ability to have an active lifestyle. nCPAP therapy can significantly improve steps walks daily of patients with OSAHS.
Objective To measure the serum level of adiponectin and explore its clinical implication in patients with asthma in acute exacerbation and remission phase. Methods 97 patients with asthma were recruited, including 50 patients with asthma in acute exacerbation and 47 patients in remission phase fromOctober 2010 to September 2011. 27 healthy nonsmoking volunteers of normal weight ( BMI range of 18.5-24. 9 kg/m2 ) were included as control. The concentrations of adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . The lung function was tested in all subjects. The correlations between adiponectin, TNF-αand lung function were investigated. The data was analyzed using SPSS 19. 0 software. Variables were compared with one-way ANOVA. The correlations between variables were analyzed using Peason’s correlation coefficient or Spearman correlation coefficient.Results Serum adiponectin level was significantly lower in the patients with asthma in acute exacerbation [ ( 246 ±1. 21) ng/mL] than that in the healthy subjects [ ( 9. 64 ±4. 88)ng/mL] and the patients in remission phase [ ( 3. 79 ±0. 96) ng/mL] ( P lt; 0. 01) , while serum adiponectin level was also significantly lower in the patients in asthma remission phase than that in the healthy subjects ( P lt; 0. 01) . The serum adiponectin level in the patients with asthma in acute exacerbation or in asthma remission phase was negatively correlated with the serum TNF-α level ( P lt; 0. 01) , and was positively correlated with FEV1 /predicted value ( P lt; 0. 01) . Conclusions The serum adiponectin is reduced in asthma patients and may play a protective role in asthma.
Objective To evaluate the value of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose ( 18 F-FDG) metabolism imaging in evaluating the response of patients with non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) in stable diseaseafter chemotherapy. Methods 28 patients with NSCLC in stable disease after chemotherapy admitted between September 2010 to September 2012 were retrospectively investigated. The reduction ratio of targetto-nontarget ratio ( T/N) before and after chemotherapy was calculated. The patients were followed up 3 to 12 months to measure progression-free survival ( PFS) . The correlation between the reduction ratio of T/N and PFS was analyzed. The patients were divided into a reduction group and a non-reduction group according to the difference of the reduction ratio of T/N and was compared the difference of the PFS.Results The reduction ratio of T/N had positive correlation with PFS( Pearson r = 0. 668, P lt; 0. 01) . The PFS of the reduction group was longer than that in the non-reduction group ( 8. 0 ±2. 5 months vs. 5. 3 ±1. 2 months,P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions The reduction ratio of T/N is positively correlated with PFS in NSCLC patients in stable disease after chemotherapy. It is possible to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment according to the reduction ratio of T/N.
Objective To investigate the risk factors of stroke associated pneumonia in stroke patients.Methods A case-control study was conducted. 114 patients who were diagnosed stroke associated pneumonia between January 2008 and December 2010 were recruited as a patient group. 205 patients who were diagnosed stroke without pneumoniawere recruited as a control group. General conditions, accompanied disease, vital sign, hematologic marker, severity of stroke, and bulbar paralysis were compared between two groups. Multifactor Logistic regression was used to screen associated factors.Results Age gt; 65 years ( OR=3. 310, 95% CI 2. 016-7. 549) , accompanied with COPD ( OR = 3. 624, 95% CI 1. 574-9. 236) , diabetes ( OR= 3. 781, 95% CI 1. 305-6. 842) , failed water swallowing test ( OR = 3. 625, 95% CI 1. 604- 8. 386) , big volume of stroke ( OR=14. 784, 95% CI 3. 737-38. 588) , NIH stroke scale ( NIHSS) score gt;6 ( OR=2. 913, 95% CI 1. 029-7. 985) , abbreviated mental test ( AMT) score lt; 8 ( OR = 4. 229, 95% CI 2. 215-9. 368) were associated with stroke associated pneumonia. Conclusion The risk factors for stroke associated pneumonia in stroke patients were age gt;65 years, accompanied with COPD, diabetes, failed WST, big volume of stroke, NIHSS score gt;6, and AMT score lt;8.
ObjectiveTo detect the expression of Liver X receptors (LXRs), protein phosphatase 1A (PPM1A), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and Smad2 in peripheral blood of bronchial asthma patients, and to explore whether LXRs and PPM1A are related to airway remodeling.MethodsSubjects were divided into healthy control group, mild and moderate asthma group and severe asthma group, with 30 subjects each. Lung function and high-resolution computed tomography examination were performed on patients with bronchial asthma to define airway remodeling. Peripheral blood was extracted and the serum levels of LXRα, LXRβ, PPM1A, TGF-β1 and Smad2 were detected after centrifugation. Then the data were analyzed.ResultsThe airway remodeling level of the mild and moderate asthma group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The airway remodeling level of the severe asthma group was significantly higher than that of the mild and moderate asthma group. Serum LXRα, LXRβ in asthma group were higher than those in the control group. The levels of LXRα and LXRβ in severe asthma were higher than those in mild and moderate asthma group. There was no significant correlation between LXRs and airway remodeling. The PPM1A level in mild and moderate asthma group was lower than that in the control group. The levels of PPM1A in severe asthma were lower than that in mild and moderate asthma group. PPM1A level was negatively correlated with airway remodeling.ConclusionsThe level of PPM1A in asthma patients is lower than that in healthy subjects, and is negatively correlated with the degree of airway remodeling. Serum LXRs in asthmatic patients are higher than that in healthy subjects, but LXRs are not significantly correlated with airway remodeling.
Objectve To measure the serum levels of human IL-32 and explore the clincal implication in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) at acute exacerbation or stable stage. Methods 120 patients with COPD were recruited, including 60 patients with acute exacerbation COPD and 60 patients with stable COPD from October 2010 to May 2011. Thirty healthy nonsmoking volunteers were included as controls. The concentrations of interleukin-8 ( IL-8) , tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) , and IL-32 in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) . The correlations among IL-32, IL-8, TNF-αand lung functions were investigated. The datas were analyzed using a statistical software package ( SPSS13. 0) . Variables were compared with one-way ANOVA . The correlations between variables were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient or Spearman correlation coefficient. Results SerumIL-32 level was significantly higher in AECOPD patients [ ( 174. 56 ±88. 15) ng/L] than that in healthy subjects [ ( 59. 41 ±20. 98) ng/L] and in stable COPD patients [ ( 89. 40 ±33. 84) ng/L]( P lt;0. 05) while serum IL-32 level was also significantly higher in stable COPD patients than in healthy subjects( P lt;0. 05) . The serumIL-32 1evel in patients with acute exacerbation COPD and stable COPD was positively correlated with the serumIL-8 level, TNF-αlevel ( respectively P lt;0. 01) . The serumIL-32 level was negatively correlated with FEV1 /predicted value, FEV1 /FVC and PaO2 ( respectively, P lt;0. 01) . There was no statistical significance of the serum IL-32, IL-8 or TNF-α levels in COPD patients with different severity ( all P gt;0. 05) . Conclusion The serumlevel of IL-32, a newpro-inflammatory cytokine is elevated in COPD patients, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation in COPD.