Effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with severe allergic asthma: A retrospective study in China.

Background: We conducted the first real-world study of treatment with omalizumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E antibody, in Chinese patients with severe allergic asthma.

Objective: The primary objective was the steroid-sparing effect of omalizumab after 12 and 16 weeks of treatment. Characteristics of the patient population, treatment patterns, response rate, and other measures of therapeutic effectiveness were also reported.

Perimenstrual asthma: Report of a case with therapeutic intervention of oral prednisone.

Introduction: Many asthmatic women of childbearing age experience cyclical aggravation of asthmatic symptoms during the perimenstrual period, or perimenstrual asthma (PMA). PMA is considered to be a difficult-to-treat asthma phenotype; conventional asthma therapies are not always effective against PMA.

Case Study: We report a case of a 27-year-old female with PMA who had received standard asthma treatment since 2013.

Role of Interleukin-17 in defense against pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in lungs.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa may cause severe or even fatal infection in hosts with immunodeficiency. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a newly discovered pro-inflammatory cytokine, which promotes the recruitment and activation of neutrophils in the respiratory tract by inducing release of chemokine C-X-C.

Objective: This study was conducted to explore the role of IL-17 in host defense against acute pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in lungs.

The study of the ratio and distribution of Th17 cells and Tc17 cells in asthmatic patients and the mouse model.

Background: Whether CD8+ IL-17-producing T cells, namely Tc17 cells, play a role in asthma has not been determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the frequency of peripheral blood Th17 cells and Tc17 cells in asthmatic patients. In addition, the number, ratio and distribution of Th17 cells and Tc17 cells in the lung tissue and splenocytes of asthmatic mice were also investigated.

[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.

Diagnostic value of interleukin 22 and carcinoembryonic antigen in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions.

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of interleukin 22 (IL-22) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in tuberculous pleural effusions (TPEs) and malignant pleural effusions (MPEs). Pleural effusion samples from 56 patients were classified on the basis of diagnosis as TPE (n=28) and MPE (n=28). The concentration of IL-22 was determined by ELISA.

Increase of the therapeutic effect on non-small-cell lung cancer cells with combination treatment of shRNA against Cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL in vitro.

Overexpression of Cyclin D1 and Bcl-xL proteins has often been found in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These two genes may play a significant role in tumorigenesis. However, the combined inhibition of the two genes in vitro is unclear in NSCLC.

Increased expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and interleukin 22 in patients with allergic asthma.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and interleukin (IL)-22 may be involved in the pathogenesis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in allergic asthmatic patients and whether their expression may be related to the severity of the disease.

Methods: Blood samples were obtained from each subject with allergic asthma (n =18), controlled asthma (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 12) respectively. The PBMCs were collected for AhR mRNA detection by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Comparative study on the efficacy of tiotropium bromide inhalation and oral doxofylline treatment of moderate to severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study compared the efficacy and safety of tiotropium bromide inhalation powder (spiriva) and doxofylline oral tablet (doxofylline) in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-controlled study involved 127 eligible stable moderate to severe COPD patients treated with inhaled tiotropium dry powder (18 μg/day) or oral doxofylline tablets (0.2 g/time, 2 times a day) for 12 and 24 weeks.

[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.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus vector-mediated delivery of antisense interleukin-5 gene attenuates airway remodeling in allergic rats.

Background: Increasing evidence indicates that eosinophils contribute greatly to airway remodeling in asthma. Since interleukin-5 (IL-5) plays a critical role in the regulation of eosinophils in asthma, anti-IL-5 therapy may be a novel approach to inhibit airway remodeling in asthma.

Objectives: In this study, we applied a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector-mediated antisense IL-5 gene delivery (rAAV-ASIL-5) system to investigate its effect on airway remodeling in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and -challenged rats.

The effects of antisense interleukin-4 gene transferred by recombinant adeno-associated virus vector on the airway remodeling in allergic rats.

Background: Th2-derived cytokines, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), are considered to play an important role in the development of airway remodeling of asthma.

Objectives: Our previous study has demonstrated that a recombinant adeno-associated virus containing antisense against IL-4 gene (rAAV-asIL4) vector could significantly suppress the expression of IL-4 protein and airway inflammation in the rat models of allergic asthma. In this study, we applied the rAAV-asIL4 vector to allergic rats to investigate the effects of anti-IL4 therapy on airway remodeling in allergic asthma.

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.

Administration of nonviral gene vector encoding rat beta-defensin-2 ameliorates chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in rats.

Background: Beta-defensin-2 (BD-2) plays an important role in host defense against pathogenic microbe challenge by its direct antimicrobial activity and immunomodulatory functions. The present study aimed to determine whether genetic up-regulation of rat BD-2 (rBD-2) could ameliorate chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in rats.

Methods: Plasmid-encoding rBD-2 was delivered to lungs in vivo using linear polyethylenimine at 48 h before challenging with seaweed alginate beads containing P.

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 alteration and significance of surfactant protein A in rats chronically exposed to cigarette smoke.

In order to confirm the alteration and significance of cigarette smoke exposure on SP-A in rats, 20 Wistar rats were assigned randomly to two groups: an N group (n=10), and an S group (n=10). The ultra-structural change was observed by electron microscopy. The number of cells positive for SPA was by immunohistochemically measured.

Primary culture of alveolar epithelial type II cells and its bionomic study.

To establish a better method of primary culture for alveolar epithelial type II cells (AEC II) and to study its bionomics, alveolar epithelial type II cells were isolated by digestion with trypsin and collagenase, which were then purified by plated into culture flask coated with rat immunoglobulin G. The purified AEC II were identified by alkaline phosphatase staining, electron microscopy, immunocytochemical staining of pulmonary surfactant protein A (SPA). The SPA expression and transfection characteristics were compared with those of A549 cell line.

Clinical value of vascular endothelial growth factor combined with interferon-gamma in diagnosing malignant pleural effusion and tuberculous pleural effusion.

In order to investigate the clinical value of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combined with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in diagnosing malignant pleural effusion and tuberculous pleural effusion, 42 cases of malignant pleural effusion and 45 cases of tuberculous pleural effusion in Tongji Hospital, from March 2004 to May 2005, were included. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), VEGF and IFN-gamma levels of pleural effusion were detected by using ELISA, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity was determined by using enzyme kinetic analytical method. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and area under the curve (AUC(ROC)) of CEA and VEGF, VEGF/IFN-gamma ratio, ADA and IFN-gamma were measured by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

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.

The effect of Ginkgo Biloba extract on the expression of PKCalpha in the inflammatory cells and the level of IL-5 in induced sputum of asthmatic patients.

To investigate the effect of the Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) on the asthma and examine its possible mechanisms, 75 asthma patients were divided into 4 groups and the patients were respectively treated with fluticasone propionate for 2 weeks or 4 weeks, or treated with fluticasone propionate plus GBE for 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Fifteen healthy volunteers served as healthy controls. Sputum inhalation with inhaling hypertonic saline (4%-5%) was performed.

Expression of leukemia inhibitory factor in airway epithelial tissue of asthmatic rats.

In order to investigate the expression of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in airway epithelial tissues of normal and asthmatic rats, the influence of dexamethasone and the role of LIF in pathogenesis of asthma, 30 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 for each group): normal group, asthma model group, and dexamethasone-interfered group. In asthma model group and dexamethasone-interfered group, asthma rat models were established by intraperitoneal (i.p.

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.