Diagnostic value of DNA or RNA-based metagenomic next-generation sequencing in lower respiratory tract infections.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic performance of RNA-mNGS and DNA-mNGS workflow in bacterial pneumonia, fungal pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Methods: A total of 134 cases suspected pneumonia undergoing both DNA and RNA based mNGS of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and also traditional etiological examination were evaluated retrospectively.Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy rate of DNA and RNA based mNGS were estimated.

Distinct roles of PI3Kδ and PI3Kγ in a toluene diisocyanate-induced murine asthma model.

TDI-induced asthma is characterized by neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation and often associated with poor responsiveness to steroid treatment. Both PI3Kδ and PI3Kγ have been demonstrated to play important proinflammatory roles in ovalbumin-induced asthma. We've already reported that blocking pan PI3K effectively attenuated TDI-induced allergic airway inflammation.

[Analysis of the positive rate of anal swab nucleic acid test and clinical characteristics in patients with different severity of coronavirus disease 2019].

Objective: To compared the positive rate of anal swab nucleic acid test and clinical characteristics of critical and general coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods: Clinical data of 18 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the First People's Hospital of Lianyungang City from February to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into general group (n = 11) and critical ill group (n = 7) according to the severity of the disease.

Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on a chemical-induced murine model of asthma.

Introduction: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of inflammatory airway diseases, including asthma. In this study, we elucidated the possible protective effects of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on a toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced murine asthma model.

Methods: Male BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with TDI to generate a chemical-induced asthma model.

Survival after cardiac arrest secondary to high-risk pulmonary embolism without reperfusion therapies: A case report.

Introduction: High-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) needs reperfusion therapies. However, it is difficult to make medical decisions when thrombolysis is contraindicated, though pulmonary embolectomy and percutaneous catheter-directed treatment (CTD) are recommended for these patients.

Patient Concerns: We reported here a case of high-risk PE patient with cardiac arrest (CA), vertebral compression fracture, as well as scalp and frontal hematoma.

Chicken IgY facilitates allergic airway inflammation in a chemical-induced murine asthma model by potentiating IL-4 release.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a DNA-binding protein that is abundantly expressed in most tissues. Recently, HMGB1 has gained much attention for its regulation of immunity and inflammation. Yet its role in toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced asthma still remains poorly characterized.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Mediates β-Catenin Dysfunction of Airway Epithelium in a Toluene Diisocyanate-Induced Murine Asthma Model.

Cell-cell junctions are critical for the maintenance of cellular as well as tissue polarity and integrity. Yet the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in dysregulation of airway epithelial adherens junctions in toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-induced asthma has not been addressed. Male BALB/c mice were first dermally sensitized and then challenged with TDI by means of compressed air nebulization.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 prevents toluene diisocyanate-induced airway epithelial barrier disruption.

The loss of airway epithelial integrity contributes significantly to asthma pathogenesis. Evidence suggests that vitamin D plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of asthma. However, its role in airway epithelial barrier function remains uncertain.

Ethyl pyruvate decreases airway neutrophil infiltration partly through a high mobility group box 1-dependent mechanism in a chemical-induced murine asthma model.

Background: Diisocyanates are one of the leading causes of occupational asthma, which is dominated by granulocytic inflammation in the airway. In this study, we intended to explore the role of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on neutrophil infiltration in a toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI)-induced murine asthma model.

Methods: The experimental mice were first dermally sensitized and then challenged with TDI via oropharyngeal aspiration.

Induction of thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression in 16-HBE human bronchial epithelial cells by 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

Vitamin D exerts profound effects on airway epithelial cells. Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) derived from airway epithelial cells plays a role in the innate and antigen‑specific adaptive immune responses. However, the effect of vitamin D on TSLP expression in airway epithelial cells is unclear.

Mechanism of E-cadherin redistribution in bronchial airway epithelial cells in a TDI-induced asthma model.

E-cadherin (epithelial cadherin), a transmembrane protein, provides essential architecture and immunological function to the airway epithelium, a barrier structure that plays an essential role in asthma pathogenesis. Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is currently one of the leading causes of occupational asthma. However, relatively few studies have been undertaken to determine the biological effects of TDI on the barrier properties of airway epithelium, but it is known that TDI can damage airway epithelial tight junctions in vitro.

[High-mobility group box protein 1 in synergy with interleukin-1β promotes interleukin-8 expression in human airway epithelial cells in vitro].

Objective: To test the effect of high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) alone or in synergy with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on the expression of IL-8 in human airway epithelial cells in vitro.

Methods: Human airway epithelial 16HBE and A549 cell lines were incubated with HMGB1 (100 ng/ml) in the absence or presence of IL-1β (10 ng/ml) for 24 h, and the changes of IL-8 mRNA and protein expressions were assessed using quantitative PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: In the two human airway epithelial cell lines, HMGB1 alone did not produce obvious effect on the expression of IL-8, but in the presence of IL-1β, HMGB1 caused a significant increase of IL-8 expressions at both the mRNA and protein levels.