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.
ObjectiveTo study the characteristics of patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation during 2013-2014 in China-Japan friendship hospital.MethodsThis was a retrospective study involving patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation in China-Japan friendship hospital during 2013–2014. Information about the demographic features, conditions before the admission, the treatment, the complications and the outcome were collected using the pre-designed case report form.ResultsThe patients hospitalized for asthma exacerbation accounted for 7.5% (250/3 326) of the total patients admitted to the respiratory department. September was the peak month when the most asthmatic patients were admitted to the hospital. A total of 99 asthma patients were included for further analysis and consisted of 12 mild-onset, 22 moderate-onset, 62 severe-onset and 3 life threatening-onset. There were 49.5% (49/99) patients who had a history of previous hospitalization or emergency department visits during the last year. There were up to 54.5% (54/99) of patients who didn't use inhaled corticosteroids before the admission. Only one patient died during the hospitalization. The mortality was 1.0%.ConclusionsThe number of asthmatic patients admitted to the hospital fluctuates with seasons, and September is the peak month. Only a small part of patients use asthma controllers regularly before the admissions.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics of idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHES), and improve the early diagnosis and treatment of such diseases.MethodsThe clinical diagnosis and treatment data were retrospectively analyzed from the patients with confirmed IHES hospitalized in China-Japan Friendship Hospital between September 2010 to May 2018.ResultsFifteen patients were included. There were 3 women and 12 men in the study, with an average age of 53.7±21.3 years. Eleven patients had respiratory problems, with an average course of 7 months. Most lesions occurred in both lungs. Patchy distribution, ground glass opacity, pleural effusion and mediastinal lymph node enlargement were common in the chest computed tomography. Serum total IgE was significantly increased. Four patients had other systems involved rather than respiratory system. One of them had digestive problems and another 3 had skin diseases. There was a significant increase in eosinophils in peripheral blood, bone marrow and histopathology, the same as eosinophils in sputum, pleural effusion, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Hypoxemia was common in patients with respiratory problems. The blood eosinophil and total IgE were reduced after glucocorticoid treatment, and the hypoxemia was significantly improved.ConclusionsThe clinical symptoms, signs and image of chest computed tomography are not specific in IHES, so the rate of misdiagnosis and wrong diagnosis is high. This disease involves many organs or systems, so the pathological examination should be completed as soon as possible to make a clear diagnosis to prevent further damage. Glucocorticoid treatment is effective in this disease.
Objective To evaluate the status of asthma control in asthmatic outpatients.Methods We performed an investigation by a questionnaire in a face-to-face setting from Feb 2006 to May 2006 in asthmatic outpatients of China-Japan Friendship Hospital.Results A total of 101 asthmatic patients were investigated with a mean age of 47±14.8 years and course of disease of 9.1±12.8 years.80.2% of the asthmatic patients had various social insurance.40.6% of the respondents had visited emergency department because of asthma exacerbation.The percentage of adults with lost workdays caused by asthma was 61.7% (29/47)，and which of children with lost schooldays was 75% (3/4).37.6% of asthmatic patients were completely controlled.Approximately three fourth of respondents (75.2%) was either well or completely controlled.72.3% of respondents had undergone a lung-function test during the past year.The one third of respondents (36.6%) owned oneself peak flowmeter.Only 12.9% reported kept regular use of peak flowmeter.87.1% of patients use inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) regularly.Conclusion With the implementation of patient education program and asthma guideline，the asthma control level has been further improved.
Objective To explore the characteristics of vibration response imaging ( VRI) among heavy smokers whose pulmonary function is normal. Methods 67 heavy smokers with normal pulmonary function, 60 healthy non-smokers, and 60 patients with COPD were recruited. History taking, physical examination, lung function test, chest X-ray, and VRI examination were performed. The difference of VRI dynamic imaging between the three groups was analyzed. Results VRI vibration energy curve which appeared low, flat, sunken-in, and single peak accounted for 43.3% , 16.4% , 16.4% , and 14.9% respectively in the heavy smokers, accounted for 6.7% , 3.3% ,0% , and 0% respectively in the healthy nonsmokers, accounted for 60% , 33.3% , 18.3% , and 16.7% respectively in the COPD patients. The results between the heavy smokers and the healthy non-smokers were significantly different. Compared with the heavy smokers, the COPD patients exhibited more low and flat in expiration period. The energy peak value ratio of inspiration and expiration phase in the heavy smokers, the healthy non-smokers, and the COPD patients were 0.56,0.74, and 0.54 respectively. There was no significant difference between the heavy smokers and the COPD patients in peak value ratio of inspiration and expiration phase. Conclusion The vibration energy curve of the VRI in heavy smokers with normal pulmonary function is significantly different fromhealthy nonsmokers, but there is no significant difference between heavy smokers and COPD patients.
Objective To explore the clinical characteristics, diagnose and treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) associated with lymphoma and paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP). Methods One patient with BO associated with lymphoma and paraneoplastic pemphigus was presented and literatures which searched through Wanfang Med online and PubMed on this subject were reviewed. Results A 44-year-old woman was admitted to this hospital because of oral ulcer for two years, and persistent dyspnea for fourteen months. She had been diagnosed with PNP one year earlier. Pulmonary function displayed severe obstructive ventilator dysfunction, negative response to the bronchodilator. Chest CT showed bronchiolectasis. The ratio of neutrophils increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The pathology of ultrasound-guided neck and inguinal lymph node biopsy showed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Based on the clinical presentation, the image and pathology of this patient, the diagnosis of having PNP with BO secondary to the lymphoma was made. After 10 cycles of CHOP chemotherapy, lymphoma and PNP went into remission, but the patient died from respiratory failure. The literatures were reviewed and 15 patients were found, out of them 60% (9/15) were female, 47% (7/15) follicular lymphoma and 47% (7/15) diagnosis of clinical BO which did not be supported by pathology. Lymphoma-PNP-BO was a clinical syndrome and 67% of the initial presentations were PNP. Patients died within 7 to 60 months. Conclusions BO associated with lymphoma and PNP is rare and the most common initial presentation is PNP. BO is the major cause of death. Treatments included chemotherapy, corticosteroid and immunosuppressor, lymphoma and PNP can be alleviated, but BO is aggravating.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and prognosis of fibrinous mediastinum and evaluate the value of different examinations in diagnosis and evaluation. MethodsTwenty-eight patients with mediastinal fibrosis diagnosed between January 2015 and September 2020 in China-Japan Friendship Hospital were studied retrospectively. The Clinical manifestations, radiological characteristics, endoscopic features, echocardiography, V/Q SPECT, cardiac catheterization, treatment and prognosis were analyzed.ResultsThe main clinical symptoms were cough (77.6%), expectoration (57.1%), wheezing or suffocating (42.9%), dyspnea (39.3%). There were 67.9% of the cases who were considered previous or present tuberculosis. Imaging findings showed that the fat density in the mediastinum disappeared, the irregular soft tissue of the mediastinum surrounded the airway and pulmonary vessels, and many lymph nodes enlarged and calcified, and multiple bronchus and pulmonary vessels were compressed and narrowed. Pulmonary function was mainly manifested as obstructive ventilate dysfunction and decreased diffusion volume. Under bronchoscopy, the bronchial mucosa showed pigmentation, bronchial distortion or multiple stenosis, even occlusion, and bronchial mucosa edema or congestion. Echocardiography and catheterization of the right heart showed that pulmonary hypertension and diastolic cardiac dysfunction were common complications of fibrillary mediastinum. Pulmonary ventilation perfusion imaging showed impaired blood perfusion in 87.5% of patients and impaired ventilation perfusion in 37.5% of patients. The symptoms of some patients alleviated after anti-infective and symptomatic treatment, but the mediastinal fibrosis was irreversible, and the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis and glucocorticoid therapy was limited. ConclusionsFor patients with clinical consideration of fibrous mediastinum, chest enhanced CT should be performed for clear diagnosis. Relevant examinations, such as pulmonary function, endoscopic, echocardiography, should be conducted to evaluate whether the disease involves airway, pulmonary vessels, pericardium, superior vena cava and esophagus, as well as the degree of functional involvement. Attention should be paid to the evaluation of patients with pulmonary hypertension and diastolic cardiac insufficiency.
ObjectiveTo investigate the disease severity and comorbidities in outpatient with asthma from urban area in China.MethodsA face-to-face, questionnaire-based survey was carried out in outpatient department in 30 general hospitals from 30 provinces in China mainland except for Tibet during October 2015 to May 2016, and asthma patients who meet the including criteria were enrolled. Data of demographic characteristics, smoking status, disease severity, and comorbidities were collected.ResultsA total of 3 875 cases were included. According to GINA criteria, the proportion of diseases severity was as following: intermittent status 52.5% (2 033/3 875), mild persistent 24.5% (951/3 875), moderate persistent 16.9% (656/3 875), and severe persistent 6.1% (235/3 875). The overweight rate was 32.9% (1 274/3 875), the rate of obesity was 10.3% (401/3 875), and the smoking rate was 20.1% (777/3 875). Obesity and smoking were related to poor asthma control. 75.9% (2 941/3 875) of the patients had comorbidities: allergic rhinitis 43.4% (1682/3 875), hypertension 16.4% (634/3 875), nasosinusitis 8.7% (338/3 875), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 7.3% (283/3 875), bronchiectasis 3.0% (118/3 875), and rhinopolypus 2.9% (114/3 875).ConclusionsThe majority of asthma patients from outpatient department are mild asthma patients. The proportion of allergic rhinitis and bronchiectasis in asthma patients is higher than mean level. Asthma patients with comorbidities of obesity and smoking is related to poor asthma control.
ObjectiveTo analyze the relationship between medication compliance of patients with uncontrolled asthma and lung function,airway inflammation level, asthma control level and quality of life so as to obtain important references for improving patient compliance and asthma control level in the future. MethodsQuestionnaires were performed in asthma patients who did not achieve asthma control and had poor compliance in 32 third-class hospitals in 28 provinces of China mainland. All patients were tested for lung function and airway inflammation levels. So the relevant data of asthma compliance was investigated and analyzed. ResultsA total of 923 patients were investigated and the questionnaire recovery rate was 100%. Two hundred and forty-three (26.33%) answered cognitive related questions about asthma completely correctly. Treatment compliance in asthma patients was positively correlated with lung function and significantly negatively correlated with exhaled nitric oxide. Better treatment compliance in asthma has higher level of asthma control and quality of life. Poor compliance in asthma patients will lead to decreased lung function and elevated levels of airway inflammation, resulting in decreased asthma control and quality of life. ConclusionAsthma treatment compliance is related to lung function, airway inflammation, asthma control level and quality of life.