Real-world tobacco cessation practice in China: findings from the prospective, nationwide multicenter China National Tobacco Cessation Cohort Study (CNTCCS).

Background: Tobacco cessation is proven to be the most effective and cost-effective strategy for smokers to reduce their risk of smoking-related disease and premature death. Providing effective, efficient, safe, and patient-centred tobacco cessation treatment to reach those who need them is a significant challenge. To date, only a few nationwide studies in China have assessed the overall clinical care practice and treatment outcome of tobacco cessation.

Blood Eosinophils and Clinical Outcome of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Numerous studies have shown the association between eosinophilia and clinical outcomes of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). But the evidences are lack of consensus.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis was to conduct a pooled analysis of outcome comparing eosinophilic (EOS) AECOPD and non-EOS AECOPD patients.

Efficacy of Early Combination Therapy With Lianhuaqingwen and Arbidol in Moderate and Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan City, China, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic. However, no special therapeutic drugs have been identified for COVID-19. The aim of this study was to search for drugs to effectively treat COVID-19.

Normal lung attenuation distribution and lung volume on computed tomography in a Chinese population.

Although lung attenuation distribution and lung volume on computed tomography (CT) have been widely used in evaluating COPD and interstitial lung disease, there are only a few studies regarding the normal range of these indices, especially in Chinese subjects. We aimed to describe the normal range of lung attenuation distribution and lung volume based on CT. Subjects with normal lung function and basically normal chest CT findings (derivation group) at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai (from January 2010 to June 2014) were included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Emphysema extent on computed tomography is a highly specific index in diagnosing persistent airflow limitation: a real-world study in China.

Objective: The diagnostic value of emphysema extent in consistent air flow limitation remains controversial. Therefore, we aimed to assess the value of emphysema extent on computed tomography (CT) on the diagnosis of persistent airflow limitation. Furthermore, we developed a diagnostic criterion for further verification.

Dragonfly wing decorated by gold nanoislands as flexible and stable substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

A flexible and stable biomimetic SERS substrate was successfully fabricated by depositing gold (Au) nanoislands on the dragonfly wings (DW) via a simple DC magnetron sputtering system. Characterizations of the Au/DW nanostructure indicated that the optimum Au/DW-45 (sputtering time was 45 min) substrate owns high sensitivity, good stability and outstanding reproducibility. The limit of detection (LOD) for Rhodamine 6 G (R6G) was as low as 10 M and enhancement factor (EF) was calculated to be 2.

A Comparison of Different Training Methods in the Successful Learning of Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration.

Background: Standardized training of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS- TBNA) is available only in highly developed countries.

Objective: To compare the skill differences in the performance of EBUS-TBNA by pulmonologists trained under different learning methods.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 145 EBUS-TBNA cases.

Clinical features of three avian influenza H7N9 virus-infected patients in Shanghai.

Introduction: Since February 2013, a novel reassortant H7N9 virus associated with human deaths, but no apparent outbreaks in poultry and wild birds has emerged in eastern China.

Objectives: The potential reemergence of H7N9 during next year's influenza season demand a further understanding of this important disease.

Methods: Between March 1 and April 30, 2013, we obtained and analyzed clinical, epidemiologic and radiologic features, and virologic data from three laboratory-confirmed patients of A H7N9 infection admitted in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital.

Association between the interleukin-13 gene and development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in southern Chinese Han population: a case-control study.

Background: Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has been implicated to be responsible for recruitment of inflammatory cells from the blood to the lung, regulation of matrix metalloproteinase and induction of mucin production and secretion in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and investigated its association with common polymorphisms of IL-13 gene in a case-control study.

Methods: We genotyped 160 cases and 175 control subjects in a local hospital using Mass-Array(TM) Technology Platform then tested the association of four SNPs in IL-13 (rs1295685, rs1800925, rs1881457, rs20541) with COPD, and then determined plasma IL-13 levels in patients with COPD and controls.

CD39/CD73 and the imbalance of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells in allergic asthma.

In the immune system, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain self‑tolerance and Th17 cells mediate inflammatory responses. CD39 is expressed on the surface of a subset of naturally occurring human Tregs that are important in constraining pathogenic Th17 cells. Additional studies have shown that Tregs differentiate into interleukin‑17 (IL‑17)+Foxp3+ T cells.

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with impaired glucose metabolism in Han Chinese subjects.

Background: Increasingly, evidence from population, clinic-based and laboratory studies supports an independent association between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes; however, this observation has yet to be replicated in China and the potential mechanisms that link these two conditions are not clear.

Methods: A total of 179 Han Chinese subjects were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent polysomnography, the oral glucose tolerance-insulin releasing test (OGTT-IRT) and serum HbA(1)c measurement.

[Characteristics of histone deacetylase 9 in peripheral blood of patients with bronchial asthma].

Objective: To investigate the expression pattern of histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) in peripheral blood of asthmatics and its effect on immune cells (Th2, Th17, Tregs) involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Methods: Forty-seven asthmatics from Ruijin Hospital were recruited and assigned to intermittent, mild and moderate-severe groups. Lung function test and Asthma Control Questionnaire were performed to evaluate asthma control and severity.

Coexistence of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg imbalances in patients with allergic asthma.

Background: Recent recognition is that Th2 response is insufficient to fully explain the aetiology of asthma. Other CD4(+) T cells subsets might play a role in asthma. We investigated the relative abundance and activities of Th1, Th2, Th17 and CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells in patients with allergic asthma.

Effects of thrombolytic drugs and a selective endothelin-1 receptor antagonist on acute pulmonary thromboembolism in dogs.

Background: It has been shown that neurohumoral factors other than mechanical obstruction are involved in the pathophysiology of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of thrombolytic drugs, a selective endothelin-1 receptor (ET-1R) antagonist alone or their combination on APTE in a canine model.

Methods: Twenty dogs were randomly assigned to five groups: sham, model, urokinase (UK), BQ123, and combination (UK plus BQ123).

[A heterozygous point mutation G13328A in antithrombin gene causes thrombosis].

Objective: To identify the phenotype and the gene mutation in a kindred with antithrombin (AT) deficiency.

Methods: Immuno-nephelometry and chromogenic assay were used to detect the plasma level of AT antigen (AT: Ag) and activity (AT: A), respectively. All the seven exons and intron-exon boundaries of AT gene from the propositus were amplified by PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR pro-ducts was performed.