[Adult hospital acquired pneumonia: a multicenter study on microbiology and clinical characteristics of patients from 9 Chinese cities].

Objective: To investigate the etiology and clinical characteristics of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) in China and to provide evidence for appropriate therapy.

Methods: We performed a prospective multicenter study in 13 Chinese urban tertiary hospitals. All HAP cases diagnosed at respiratory general ward and respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) from August 2008 to December 2010 were studied.

[A multicentre retrospective study of pulmonary mycosis clinically proven from 1998 to 2007].

Objective: To investigate the pathogens, clinical manifestations, prognosis of and the risk factors for pulmonary mycosis in China.

Methods: All cases of pulmonary mycosis from 16 centers in 10 cities from Jan. 1998 to Dec.

Primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in China.

Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic to south-west USA, north Mexico and parts of Central and South America. We report here a case of primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a previously healthy 14-year-old boy in China, which is considered a non-endemic country. The patient had non-specific symptoms of pulmonary infection, including fever, non-productive cough and night sweats.

Expression of the Th1-specific cell-surface protein Tim-3 increases in a murine model of atopic asthma.

T-cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) is preferentially expressed on Th1-helper type T-cells and functions to repress the Th1-mediated immune response. However, the role of Tim-3 during the inflammatory pathogenesis of asthma remains unclear. This study determines the expression level of Tim-3 in CD4+ T-cells within the peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) isolated from a murine model of atopic asthma and explores the potential role of Tim-3 during the inflammatory response.

Altered surfactant protein A gene expression and protein homeostasis in rats with emphysematous changes.

Background: The decrease of surfactant protein (SP) secreted by the alveolar type II cell is one of the important causes of limiting air of pulmonary emphysema. However, the SP-A gene and protein changes in this disease are rarely studied. This study was undertaken to investigate alterations in SP-A gene activity and protein, and to explore their roles in the pathogenesis of emphysematous changes.

The efficacy and safety of combination salmeterol (50 microg)/fluticasone propionate (500 microg) inhalation twice daily via accuhaler in Chinese patients with COPD.

Background: Few studies of the efficacy and safety of therapy with combinations of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (SFCs) have been conducted in Chinese patients with COPD, and the benefits of combination therapy in nonsmoking patients with COPD are, to our knowledge, not known.

Study Objectives: The aims were to establish the efficacy and tolerability of the therapy with SFC (salmeterol, 50 microg/fluticasone, 500 microg, twice daily) in the management of Chinese COPD patients and to investigate the effectiveness of SFC in nonsmokers with COPD.

Methods And Patients: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study.

Effect of intramuscular injection of hepatocyte growth factor plasmid DNA with electroporation on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rats.

Background: So far, there is no efficient treatment for pulmonary fibrosis. The objective of this study was to determine whether intramuscular injection of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) plasmid DNA by in vivo electroporation could prevent bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats, and to investigate the possible mechanisms.

Methods: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (group C), model group (group M), early intervention group (group I) and late intervention group (group II).

[Liposarcoma of the pleura: clinical characteristics].

Objective: Primary liposarcoma of the pleura is extremely rare. The first case report in China was described.

Methods: The clinical data of a case of primary liposarcoma of the pleura diagnosed in this hospital were reported, and the pertinent literature was reviewed.

[Losartan inhibited angiotensin induced human lung fibroblast transformation and collagen synthesis].

Objective: To observe the induction of cell transdifferentiation, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression and collagen production of human lung fibroblast (HLF) by angiotensin II (Ang II), and to investigate the inhibitory effect of Ang II receptor antagonist-losartan on this process.

Methods: HLF cells were cultured and divided into a control group, an Ang II treated group, an Ang II + losartan co-incubated group and a losartan group. The marker of myofibroblast-alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot respectively, and the expression of CTGF mRNA and protein level were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry respectively.

Protective effect of tanshinone II A on lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury in rats.

Objective: To explore the protective effect of tanshinone II A on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in rats, and possible mechanism.

Methods: LPS (O(111): B4) was used to produce a rat model of acute lung injury. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (8 in each group): the control group, the model group (ALI group), and the tanshinone II A treatment group.

[Inhibitory effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection coordinated with dexamethasone on interleukin-13 and eotaxin expression in lung of asthmatic rats].

Objective: To investigate the molecular mechanism of inhibitory effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza Injection (SMI) coordinated with dexamethasone (DXM) on allergic airway inflammation in asthmatic rats.

Methods: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups equally: the normal group, the asthma model group, the DXM group, the SMI group and the DXM + SMI group, they were treated with correspondant herbal medicines. Pathologic changes of lung tissue were obseved with HE stain, count of WBC and eosinophil (Eos) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were estimated and the expressions of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and Eotaxin in lung tissue were measured by RT-PCR and SP method of immunohistochemistry assay.

[Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced expression and activity of alveolar macrophages matrix metalloproteinase-9 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To explore the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) from alveolar macrophages (AMs) induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and therefore to study the possible mechanisms.

Methods: AMs were collected from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with COPD, and then were stimulated for 24 h with TNFalpha at concentrations of 0.1 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml, 5 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, and 20 ng/ml, respectively.

[Effects of Shen-Mai injection on sternohyoid contractile properties in chronic intermittent hypoxia rat].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Shen-Mai injection (SMI) on sternohyoid contractile properties in rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia.

Methods: Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly assigned to three equal groups, the control group (A group), the chronic intermittent hypoxia group (B group) and the SMI group(C group). Rats in B group and C group were exposed to alternating periods of hypoxia and normoxia once per minute for 8 h/d for 5 weeks in order to mimic the intermittent hypoxia of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in humans.

[The effect of inhaled glucocorticosteroid on protein kinase C alpha expression and interleukin-5 production in induced sputum inflammatory cells of asthma patients].

Objective: To investigate the expression of protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha) in inflammatory cells and the level of interleukin-5 (IL-5) in induced sputum in asthma patients and the effect of inhaled glucocorticosteroid on them.

Methods: 29 asthma patients were classified into 2 groups; 14 patients were treated with fluticasone propionate for 2 weeks and the others were treated with fluticasone propionate for 4 weeks. Induced sputum with inhaled hypertonic saline (4% - 5%) was collected.

[The expression of nerve growth factor in inflammatory cells of induced sputum from patients with asthma].

Objective: To investigate the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in inflammatory cells of induced sputum from patients with asthma.

Methods: Induced sputum samples were collected from 11 asthmatics in exacerbation, 19 asthmatics with stable disease and 11 healthy individuals. Sputum samples of 12 asthmatics with stable disease were collected again after treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for 2 weeks.

[The effect of nitric oxide on potassium channels of bronchial smooth muscle cells from asthmatic rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on resting membrane potential (Em) and potassium currents of bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMC) from asthmatic rat models.

Methods: Sixteen male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and an asthmatic model group. Single BSMC was obtained by acute enzyme-digestion separation method.

[Effect of Shen-Mai injection and aminophylline on diaphragmatic muscle cell apoptosis and related gene expression in rats with chronic hypoxia].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Shen-Mai injection (SMI) and aminophylline on diaphragmatic muscle cell apoptosis and the Fas/FasL expression in chronic hypoxic rats.

Methods: Seventy-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three equal groups, control group (A group), SMI group (B group) and aminophylline group (C group). Then each group was further divided into five subgroups of pre-hypoxia, hypoxia 1 w, 2 w, 3 w and 4 w groups (5 rats each).

[Effect of shenmai injection on L-type calcium channel of diaphragmatic muscle cells in rats].

Objective: To explore the effect of Shenmai Injection (SMI) on L-type calcium channel of diaphragmatic muscle cells in rats.

Methods: Single diaphragmatic muscle cell of rats was obtained by the acute enzyme isolation method and the standard whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the inward peak L-type calcium current (IPLC) and current-voltage relationship curve of diaphragmatic muscle cells of 7 rats, and to compare the effects of SMI in various concentrations on them.

Results: When keeping the electric potential at -80 mV, stimulation frequency 0.