ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of acute and chronic ozone exposure on inflammation,structure and function in murine lung. Methods32 C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into a single (acute) ozone exposed group,a single air exposed group,a multiple (chronic) ozone exposed group (every three days over 6 weeks),and a multiple air exposed group with 8 mice in each group.The mice were exposed to 2.5 ppm of ozone or air for 3 hours per time and sacrificed 24 hours after the last time of ozone exposure.Lung volume,low attenuation area (LAA) percentage,lung function,cell counts and malondialdehyde (MDA) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF),8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in serum,inflammation scores and mean linear intercept (Lm) in lung section were assessed. ResultsCompared with the single air exposed group,single (acute) ozone exposure led to increases in inflammatory cells in BALF,inflammation scores in the lung tissue,MDA in BALF and 8-OHdG in serum,but had no effect on lung volume,LAA percentage,airflow or Lm.Compared with the single (acute) ozone exposed group,the single air exposed group and the multiple air exposed group,multiple (chronic) ozone exposure increased inflammatory cells in BALF,lung volume,LAA percentage,total lung capacity and lung compliance,mediated airflow obstruction,and also increased lung inflammation socres and Lm. ConclusionAcute ozone exposure induced airway/lung inflammation and oxidative stress,while chronic ozone exposure induced airway/lung inflammation,emphysema and airflow obstruction.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and mechanism of atorvastatin in the experimental pulmonary fibrosis. MethodsFifty-four C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group,a bleomycin group and an atorvastatin group. The mice in the bleomycin group and the atorvastatin group received a single dose intratracheal injection of bleomycin (2.5 mg/kg),while the mice in the control group were injected with isodose physiological saline. The mice in the atorvastatin group were treated with atorvastatin 10 mg·kg-1·d-1 by intragastric administration the day after bleomycin instillation. All groups were sacrificed on the day 3,14 and 28,respectively. HE staining and Masson staining were used to detect the architecture of alveolar and the deposition of cellularity and collagen. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical technology were performed to detect the expression of Krüppel like factor 4 (KLF4). Zymography was used to investigate the activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2). ResultsAfter the treatment of bleomycin,the lung tissues showed acute inflammation on the day 3,the collagen deposition was more obvious and the architecture of alveolar was destroyed on the day 14. The alveolar structure,the inflammation and collagen deposition were attenuated on the day 28 compared with the day 14. Compared with the bleomycin group,the inflammation and the collagen deposition were significantly reduced in the atorvastatin group (P<0.05). Compared with bleomycin group,the expression of KLF4 significantly decreased in the atorvastatin group,although the expression of KLF4 mRNA increased on the day 3 compared with the bleomycin group (0.502±0.261 vs. 0.326±0.164,P<0.05). The expression of KLF4 protein on the day 3 was significantly decreased compared with the bleomycin group (0.048±0.015 vs. 0.130±0.017,P<0.05). After the intervention of bleomycin,the activation of MMP-2 on the day 3 and 14 significantly increased compared with the control group (3.136±1.321 and 3.449±0.356 vs. 0.983±0.147,P<0.05),and significantly decreased after the treatment of atorvastatin (2.191±0.800 and 2.506±0.761). ConclusionAtorvastatin may have anti-inflammation and anti-fibrosis activities in experimental pulmonary fibrosis through KLF4 pathway.
ObjectiveTo survey the current asthma impact on quality of life and related factors in China. MethodsTwo thousand and thirty-four asthmatic patients, from bronchial asthma prevalence epidemiology survey in the population over 14 years old in 8 areas of China from 2009 to 2013, were enrolled. The data about medical resource use, control status and quality of life were collected by detailed questionnaire and analysed using the Epidata database and SAS 9.2 software. ResultsOut of the 2034 asthma patients, 1213 patients (59.6%) reported that their activities including entertainment, learning, fertility and employment were limited due to asthma. In the four aspects of entertainment, education, family and employment, 688 patients (33.8%) had one limited activity in one aspect, 165 patients (8.19%) had most of activities limited in one aspect, 246 patients (12.1%) had limited activities in two or three aspects, 114 patients (5.6%) had limited activities in all aspects. One hundred and eighty-one patients (8.9%) needed help in daily life, such as cooking, shopping, doing housework. Seventy-one patients (3.5%) even needed help in eating, personal hygiene, toilet, and their daily activities were remarkably restricted. Eighty-one patients (4.0%) had motive of suicide. Aging, comorbidity, and medication use were the most important factors. ConclusionAsthma has a significant negative effects on the life and emotion of patients, and proper control of comorbidity and regular treatment of asthma are effective ways to improve the life and emotional state of patients with asthma.