Prevalence and risk factors of asthma in mainland China: The CARE study.

Background: There are limited population based data on the prevalence of asthma in China. The China Asthma and Risk factors Epidemiologic (CARE) survey was designed to understand the prevalence and risk factors for asthma in mainland China.

Objectives: The CARE survey aims to demonstrate the prevalence and risk factors of asthma in mainland China among adolescents (age >14 years) and adults.

[An epidemiological survey on management and insights of asthma in China in 2009 to 2010].

Objective: Through the analysis of relevant data of China Asthma and Risk factors Epidemiologic investigation (CARE study), we understand the status quo of management and insights of asthma patients in our country.

Methods: Using multi-stage random cluster sampling method, epidemiological survey was performed on the prevalence rate in 8 provinces (cities) of China residents who aged over 14 years from 2009 to 2010. Detailed epidemiological data was collected via face-to-face home visit interview among 2 034 asthmatics who were diagnosed in the last epidemiology survey.

Asthma with allergic rhinitis management in China: a nationwide survey of respiratory specialists at tertiary hospitals.

Background: Many asthmatic patients have coexisting allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aims to investigate the compliance of physicians with respiratory medicine specialty (PRMs) to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines during the management of their asthma-AR patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire study surveyed the diagnostic methods and treatment patterns for asthma-AR comorbidity by PRMs from 98 hospitals across China.

[An epidemiological survey of current asthma control status in China].

Objective: Base on the China asthma and risk factors epidemiologic investigation (CARE study), we analyzed the current status of asthma control in China.

Methods: With the multi-stage random cluster sampling method, epidemiological survey was performed among Chinese residents who aged over 14 years in 8 provinces (cities) from 2010 to 2011. Detailed clinic data of 2 034 asthma patients were collected via face-to-face home visit .

[Risk factors of bronchial asthma among people aged over 14 years in China].

Objective: To survey the risk factors of asthma among the people aged over 14 years in China.

Methods: Home visits for completing epidemiological questionnaires in accordance with stratified cluster random sampling survey were conducted in 8 provinces (cities) of China residents aged over 14 years from February 2010 to August 2011. Asthma was diagnosed based upon case history, clinical signs and lung function test.

Evaluation of asthma control: a questionnaire-based survey in China.

Background: Little is known about asthma control and perception of asthma among asthmatic patients in China. This study marked the first survey conducted on a national scale that aimed at obtaining baseline information on asthma control and patients' perception of asthma and providing a point of reference for future studies.

Methods: This face-to-face, questionnaire-based survey was conducted from April 2007 to March 2008 with 3 069 asthmatic patients from the respiratory outpatient clinics of 36 general hospitals located in 10 geographically dispersed cities.

Ligustrazine corrects Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 imbalance in a mouse asthma model.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease closely associated with activated T cells in the lung. Imbalances in Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 have been found in asthmatic patients. Ligustrazine from the Chinese herb chuanxiong has been used in China in combination with glucocorticoids to treat asthma.

Effect of β2 -adrenergic receptor gene Arg16Gly polymorphisms on response to long-acting β2-agonist in Chinese Han asthmatic patients.

Background: To evaluate the effect of variation of the Arg16Gly polymorphism of the β2-adrenergic receptor gene on clinical response to salmeterol administered with fluticasone propionate in Chinese Han asthmatic patients.

Methods: Moderate persistent asthmatic patients (n = 62) currently receiving short-acting β2-agonists were administered twice-daily therapy with salmeterol/fluticasone propionate 50/250 μg in a single inhaler for 12 weeks, followed by a 2-to-4-day run-out period. Using direct DNA sequencing, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter and coding block regions of β2-adrenergic receptor gene were determined in 62 subjects and haplotypes were combined.

The impact of concomitant allergic rhinitis on asthma control: a cross-sectional nationwide survey in China.

Objectives: Understanding the interactions between allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma is important for asthma management. This study explored the clinical features of AR as a comorbidity in Chinese asthmatic patients and its impact on asthma control.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 20 051 patients with asthma in an out-patient setting and covered all of the territories of China.

Inhibition of interleukin-13 gene expression by triptolide in activated T lymphocytes.

Background And Objective: Triptolide, a type of diterpenoid, is the active compound of Tripterygium wilfordii; it plays roles in anti-inflammatory and immune response regulation. Our objective was to investigate the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of triptolide on interleukin-13 (IL-13) gene expression in activated T lymphocytes. Understanding the molecular mechanism by which triptolide exerts a therapeutic function may be useful in developing a pharmaceutical treatment for asthma.

Evaluation of asthma control and patient's perception of asthma: findings and analysis of a nationwide questionnaire-based survey in China.

Background: Little is known about asthma control and perception of asthma among asthmatic patients on a national scale in China due to the difficulty of conducting a survey of the large, vastly distributed population of the country. We know that the medical insurance system may not evenly cover all patients and that socioeconomic status varies greatly across cities.

Objective: This study marks the first survey conducted on a national scale that was aimed at obtaining baseline information on asthma control and patients' perceptions of asthma and providing a point of reference for future studies.

Respiratory syncytial virus infection differentiates airway dysfunction in the central and peripheral airways in OVA-sensitized mice.

Much evidence suggests that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection prolongs airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and exacerbates asthma by enhancing airway inflammation. However, the characteristic of airway inflammation and kinetics of airway dysfunction occurred in the central and peripheral airways were not fully delineated. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of RSV on the allergic airway inflammation in different size airways and to elucidate its possible mechanism.

Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy in Chinese patients with asthma.

Background: Many studies have shown the superior efficacy of budesonide (BUD)/formoterol (FORM) maintenance and reliever therapy, but still lack evidence of its efficacy in Chinese asthma patients in a relative large patient-group. We finished this research to compare BUD/FORM maintenance and reliever therapy and high-dose salmeterol (SALM)/fluticasone (FP) maintenance plus an as-needed short-acting β(2)-agonist in Chinese patients with persistent uncontrolled asthma. This was a post hoc analysis based on a 6-month, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study (NCT00242775).

[A survey of knowledge on common cold and its treatment situation among physicians from various levels of hospitals in mainland China].

Objective: To investigate the cognition of the common cold and current situation of the treatment among physicians from various levels of hospitals in Chinese mainland, so as to provide evidence for future continuing medical education and rational medication.

Methods: A questionnaire designed for this survey was used to learn about the general information, cognitive degree of the common cold and prescription habits of physician who prescribed for cold within last three months, from various levels hospitals.

Results: A total of 1001 physicians were interviewed.

[A survey of knowledge on common cold in outpatient clinics].

Objective: To investigate outpatients' cognition towards common cold and their habituated medication so as to provide evidence for future public healthcare education.

Methods: Patients who attended hospital for diagnosis and treatment of common cold at least within past three months were asked to fill a questionnaire independently so as to learn their cognition towards common cold and medication habit.

Results: Among the patients underwent survey, 52.

[Effects of astragaloside IV on the expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin in a murine model of asthma].

Objective: To observe the effects of astragaloside IV on the airway remodeling and the expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in a murine model of asthma.

Methods: Forty-eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e.

Effect of delta-opioid receptor over-expression on cortical expression of GABAA receptor alpha1-subunit in hypoxia.

Recent studies show that both delta-opioid receptors (DOR) and GABA receptors play a neuroprotective role in the mature cortex. Since we have observed that DOR over-expression renders the cortex more tolerant to hypoxic stress, we asked whether DOR over-expression affects GABA receptors expression in the cortex under hypoxia. As the first step, we investigated the expression of GABAA receptor alpha1-subunit (GABAA Ralpha1, the most abundant alpha-subunit of GABA receptors in the adult brain) in the mouse cortex with transgenic DOR over-expression after hypoxia.

[Induction of monocyte-derived dendritic cell differentiation by asthmatic serum in a transendothelial trafficking model].

Objective: To explore the effect of asthmatic and healthy serum on differentiation and function of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC) in a transendothelial trafficking model.

Methods: The sera and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated from 12 asthmatic patients and 12 healthy volunteers, and monocytes were selected from PBMC using magnetic beads. The trypsin-digested human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) at passage 2 from 5 healthy lying-in women were used to construct the transendothelial trafficking model under asthmatic or healthy serum, wherein MDDC were identified by silver nitrate staining and scanning electron microscopy.