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 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.