Differences in airway remodeling and airway inflammation among moderate-severe asthma clinical phenotypes.

Background: To identify asthma clinical phenotypes using cluster analysis and improve our understanding of heterogeneity in asthma.

Methods: Clustering approaches were applied to 203 patients who were diagnosed with asthma in XinHua Hospital (January 2012 to December 2015). One hundred and twenty patients underwent multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) examination and 30 underwent bronchial mucosal biopsy for evaluation of airway remodeling and airway inflammation among the phenotypes.

Genetic diversity of Haemonchus contortus isolated from sympatric wild blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and sheep in Helan Mountains, China.

Background: Haemonchus contortus is known among parasitic nematodes as one of the major veterinary pathogens of small ruminants and results in great economic losses worldwide. Human activities, such as the sympatric grazing of wild with domestic animals, may place susceptible wildlife hosts at risk of increased prevalence and infection intensity with this common small ruminant parasite. Studies on phylogenetic factors of H.

Clinical and pathological features and imaging manifestations of bronchial anthracofibrosis: the findings in 15 patients.

Background: Bronchial anthracofibrosis (BAF) has been defined as a luminal narrowing associated with anthracotic pigmentation on bronchoscopy without a relevant history of pneumoconiosis or smoking. The aim of the study is to study the clinical features and imaging manifestations of BAF, and to promote the awareness of this disease.

Method: Between October 2006 and January 2012, 15 patients were diagnosed at our department as BAF that showed a narrowing or obliteration of lobar or segmental bronchi with anthracotic pigmentation in the overlying mucosa on bronchoscopy.

Cigarette smoke-induced skeletal muscle atrophy is associated with up-regulation of USP-19 via p38 and ERK MAPKs.

Ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs) deubiquitinate ubiquitin-protein conjugates in the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Previous research shows that ubiquitin-specific protease-19 (USP-19) is up-regulated in mammalian skeletal muscle in some degradative conditions, such as including fasting, diabetes, dexamethasone treatment, and cancer, and its function is associated with muscle atrophy. However, it is still unclear whether USP-19 is involved in muscle atrophy induced by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.