Objectives To investigate the effects of cryptotanshinone (CTS) on cigarette smoke (CS) -induced airway inflammation and oxidative stress in mice and the possible mechanisms. Methods BALB/c mice were exposed to CS for 4 weeks to establish airway inflammation model. CTS was given by intraperitoneal injection before CS exposure at a dosage of 30 mg·kg−1·d−1 or 15 mg﹒kg−1·d−1. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was acquired for cell counting and detection of pro-inflammatory cytokine [interleukine (IL)-17, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] levels. Lung tissue was collected for histological examination, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction for Muc5ac detection, and western blot for lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein-1 receptor (LOX-1) and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Results CTS administration attenuated CS exposure induced thickening of the airway epithelium, peribronchial inflammatory cell infiltration, and lumen obstruction, increased numbers of total cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, and decreased the releases of IL-17, MCP-1, TNF-α in BALF of mice. CS exposure could induce the elevation in MDA levels and decrease in SOD activities, markers of oxidative stress. CTS could attenuate these changes. CTS also attenuated CS induced up-regulation of the protein levels of LOX-1 and phosphorylated p65, down-regulation of the levels of NF-κB inhibitor α. Conclusion CTS alleviates the airway inflammation, oxidative stress and mucus hypersecretion induced by CS, which may be through the regulation of LOX-1 and NF-κB signaling pathway.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical value of age/pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (age/ADA) ratio and serum lactate dehydrogenase/pleural fluid adenosine deaminase ratio (Cancer Ratio, CR) in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions (MPE). MethodsThe study collected 44 patients with MPE and 48 patients with benign pleural effusion (BPE) to compare the differences in age, gender, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), age/ADA ratio and CR between the groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of CEA, age/ADA and CR was constructed and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity was calculated to identify the diagnostic performance of the three indicators alone or in combination in MPE. ResultsCEA, age/ADA and CR were significant higher in the MPE group than those in the BPE group (all P<0.05), the AUCs of CEA, age/ADA and CR were 0.768, 0.837 and 0.866, respectively; the sensitivity was 61.36%, 88.64% and 81.82%, the specificity was 85.42%, 75.00%, 83.33%, respectively. The AUCs of CEA combined with age/ADA, CEA combined with CR, age/ADA combined with CR, CEA combined with age/ADA and CR were respectively 0.892, 0.911, 0.837 and 0.907; the sensitivity was 81.82%, 86.36%, 88.64% and 90.91%, the specificity was 79.17%, 79.17%, 75.00% and 77.08%, respectively. ConclusionsAge/ADA and CR demonstrated good diagnostic performance in MPE, moreover, the diagnostic performance can be further improved when combined with the traditional tumor marker CEA, and more research about its diagnostic value is needed in the future.