ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and T help cells (Th) in peripheral blood of patients with asthma.MethodsForty-one asthma patients were divided into an acute group (20 cases) and a chronic group (21 cases) according to the disease state of asthma. Another 18 healthy subjects were recruited as a control group. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all the subjects at admission or inclusion. The concentrations of PD-1, IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay method. The expressions of Th1 and Th2 were detected by flow cytometry method.ResultsThe PD-1 and IFN-γ concentrations, Th1 proportion and Th1/Th2 ratio in the two asthma groups were reduced compared with the healthy control group, and were significantly lower in the acute group compared with the chronic group (all P<0.05). The IL-4 level and Th2 proportion in the two asthma groups were increased compared with the healthy control group, and were significantly higher in the acute group than the chronic group (allP<0.05). In the acute group, the PD-1 level was positively correlated with IFN-γ and Th1 level (r values were 0.678 and 0.712, respectively), and negatively correlated with IL-4 and Th2 (r values were –0.745 and –0.700, respectively).ConclusionThe concentration of PD-1 in patients with asthma is reduced especially in acute asthma, and shows close correlation with conventional index of asthma.
Objective To investigate the differences in biological features between male and female patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome( OSAHS) . Methods 192 cases of patients with snoring were analyzed in the Sleep Medicine Center of West ChinaHospital fromSeptember 2004 to February 2005. The standard sleep disorder questionnaires, neck circumference, hight, weight, and all night polysomnography ( PSG) were evaluated. The clinical features of the male and female patients with OSAHS were compared. Results 170 cases of patients met the criteria of OSAHS for the apnea-hypopnea index ( AHI) more than 5 times per hour. Male gender accounted for 90% of the total patients ( male vs. female 153 vs. 17, 9∶1) . The age of male patients with OSAHS was younger than that of female ( 45. 7 ±11. 4 yearsvs. 58. 0 ±6. 1 years, P = 0. 000) . Parameters including neck circumference ( 37. 6 ±3. 2 cm vs. 35. 6 ±3. 2 cm, P =0. 000) , waist/hip rate ( 0. 94 ±0. 04 vs. 0. 9 ±0. 06, P = 0. 000) , AHI ( 36. 4 ±25. 7 vs.21. 4 ±17. 4, P =0. 004) , oxygen desaturation index ( 34. 5 ±27. 4 vs. 22. 2 ±20. 8, P =0. 035) , the number of smoking ( 52. 9% vs. 5. 9% , P = 0. 000) and drinking ( 46. 4% vs. 5. 9% , P = 0. 001) were different among the male and female patients with OSAHS. On the other hand, the morning headache ( 70. 6% vs.26. 1%, P = 0. 005) , mouth dry( 76. 5% vs. 47. 7% , P = 0. 025) , bad temper ( 52. 9% vs. 19. 0% , P =0. 004) , and hypertension ( 52. 9% vs. 20. 9% , P =0. 007) were more common in the female patients with OSAHS. Conclusion There are significant differences between male and female patients with OSAHS in prevalence, age, symptoms, and severity of the disease.
Objective To evaluate the effects of neuromuscular blocking agents( NMBAs) in acute respiratory distress syndrome( ARDS) . Methods Randomized controlled trials( RCTs) and non-RCTs were recruited fromPubMed( 1966. 1-2012. 3) , EMBASE( all the years) , Cochrane Library( all the years) and CNKI Database( 1979-2012) . Related published studies and attached references were hand searched. All the RCTs and non-RCTs ( including prospective and retrospective studies) about NMBAs for the patients with ARDS were included. Then a meta-analysis and statistic descriptions for RCTs( using RevMan5. 0 software) and non-RCTs were performed. Jadad and NEWCASTLE-OTTAWA QUALITY ASSESSMENT SCALE were used to assess the methodological quality of the included RCTs and non-RCTs. Results Three eligible RCTs and four non-RCTs were enrolled. The quality of the included trials was high. Pooled analysis for three RCTs showed that NMBAs significantly reduced 28-day mortality [ OR 0. 58, 95% CI( 0. 39, 0. 86) , P = 0. 007] and increased ventilator-free days within 28 days [ WMD 1. 91 d, 95% CI( 0. 28,3. 55) , P =0. 02] in ARDS compared with the control group. Conclusion The present meta-analysis indicates that NMBAs reduce the 28-day mortality and increase ventilator-free days within 28 days in ARDS.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical and CT findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsThe epidemiological data and clinical manifestations of 83 COVID-19 patients admitted to Chongqing Public Health Medical Center from January 24, 2020 to February 4, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. According to the clinical classification, they were divided into four groups: mild group 8 patients, common group 62 patients, severe group 10 patients, and critically severe group 3 patients. The CT characteristics and their relationship with clinical classification were analyzed.ResultsThe average age of 70 mild patients was (43.7±15.0) years, 13 severe patients was (57.4±11.8) years. The average age of mild patients was lower than that of severe patients (Z=–3.185, P=0.001). The average course of mild disease was (5.5±4.2) days, lower than that of severe disease (11.8±5.0) days (Z=–3.978, P=0.000). The clinical manifestations were fever in 72 patients, cough in 60 patients, expectoration in 34 patients, asthenia in 25 patients and shortness of breath in 19 patients. Basic diseases were complicated in 16 patients. CT findings: Both lung lobes were affected in 70 patients (93.3%), pure right lung lobe was affected in 3 patients (4.0%), pure left lung lobe was affected in 2 patients (2.7%), and there was no focus in 8 patients. The total number of affected lung segments was 203 in severe type, with an average of 15.6±5.4 and 530 in the common type, with an average of 9.6±5.3. The number of the severe type was more than that in the common type (Z=–3.456, P=0.001). The focus was mainly in the posterior part, 62 in the dorsal and 65 in the posterior basal segments, 41 in the anterior part of the upper lobe, and less in the common type (P<0.05). The main lesions were ground-glass opacities in 74 patients, patchy shadow in 72 patients, piece shadow in 46 patients, strip shadows in 51 patients and consolidation in 34 patients. Among them, the common CT showed patchy shadow in 34 patients (54.8%), less than severe patients in 12 patients (92.3%) (χ2=4.880, P=0.027). There was no significant difference between the mild CT and the severe patients (P>0.05).ConclusionsThere are some radiographic characteristics in COVID-19. Chest CT is helpful for the diagnosis and the judgement of the disease.