[Application of ion chromatographic fingerprint analysis for quality evaluation of tobacco flavors].

Tobacco flavor, an important tobacco additive, is an essential raw material in cigarette production that can effectively improve the quality of tobacco products, add aroma and taste, and increase the suction flavor. The quality consistency of tobacco flavors affects the quality stability of branded cigarettes. Therefore, the quality control of tobacco flavors is a major concern for cigarette and flavor manufacturers.

Comparative genomic analysis of the genus Marinomonas and taxonomic study of Marinomonas algarum sp. nov., isolated from red algae Gelidium amansii.

Members of the genus Marinomonas are known for their environmental adaptation and metabolically versatility, with abundant proteins associated with antifreeze, osmotic pressure resistance, carbohydrase and multiple secondary metabolites. Comparative genomic analysis focusing on secondary metabolites and orthologue proteins was conducted with 30 reference genome sequences in the genus Marinomonas. In this study, a Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-flagellated and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated as strain E8, was isolated from the red algae (Gelidium amansii) in the coastal of Weihai, China.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test score correlated with dyspnea score in a large sample of Chinese patients.

Background: The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT) is an easy to use health-related quality of life questionnaire, the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale is a classic dyspnea scale which is widely used, while the correlation between them is still not clear. This study investigated the use of the Chinese translation of CAT in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and its correlation with the mMRC dyspnea scale.

Methods: The multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in 329 hospitals throughout China from March 1 to April 30, 2010.

[Clinical analysis of diffusive interstitial lung diseases with positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody].

Objective: To explore the features of pulmonary interstitial pathological changes in diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) patients with positive anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), and the similarities as well as differences between ANCA positive patients with non-primary vasculitis and primary systematic vasculitis.

Methods: Clinical data of 122 patients with DILD having ANCA examined from October 1995 to September 2008, were reviewed. Among the ANCA positive patients with non-primary vasculitis (Group A), those with primary systematic vasculitis (Group B), and the ANCA negative patients (Group C), the results of syndromes, signs, radiological manifestations, pulmonary function tests, bronchoscope examinations, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cytology and other laboratory examinations were compared.

[The changing patterns and the associated factors of microbial pathogens in ventilator-associated pneumonia in a respiratory intensive care unit from 1995 to 2004].

Objective: To investigate the changing patterns and associated factors of microbial pathogens which caused ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in our respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) from 1995 to 2004.

Methods: Cases of VAP in our RICU from 1995 to 2004 (n = 137) were retrospectively analyzed, 47 cases from 1995 to 1999 and 90 cases from 2000 to 2004. VAP was diagnosed according to the following criteria: pneumonia occurred 48 hours after tracheal intubations; new or progressive infiltrative opacities on chest X ray film; and at least two of the following clinical features: (1) Temperature > 38.

[Investigation and analysis of neonate deformity in water arsenic exposure areas].

Objective: To explore the level and feature of neonate deformity in water arsenic exposure areas, as to finding out an evidence for the study and prevention of the arsenic exposure.

Methods: The birth situation of neonate was surveyed from 1998 to 2004 in water arsenic exposure areas according to cross-sectional survey. The results were classified in accordance with ICD-10 and common surveillance of china.

Arsenic and fluoride exposure in drinking water: children's IQ and growth in Shanyin county, Shanxi province, China.

Background: Recently, in a cross-sectional study of 201 children in Araihazar, Bangladesh, exposure to arsenic (As) in drinking water has been shown to lower the scores on tests that measure children's intellectual function before and after adjustment for sociodemographic features.

Objectives: We investigated the effects of As and fluoride exposure on children's intelligence and growth.

Methods: We report the results of a study of 720 children between 8 and 12 years of age in rural villages in Shanyin county, Shanxi province, China.

[Pleural sarcoidosis: report of cases and review of the literature].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features and differential diagnosis of pleural disease caused by sarcoidosis.

Methods: The clinical data of cases of sarcoidosis diagnosed with pathological evidence in this hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical features and the diagnostic procedures of the cases with pleural disease as the main manifestations were reported.

[Cross-talk between calcineurin and protein kinases in airway remodeling in asthma].

Objective: To determine the role of cross-talk between calcineurin-dependent signal transduction pathway and protein kinase C (PKC), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase A (PKA) in airway remodeling in asthma.

Methods: Male guinea pigs were sensitized with intraperitoneal injections of ovabumin (OVA), then treated with cyclosporin A (CsA, 5 mg/kg), an inhibitor of calcineurin, then inhaled OVA for 2 weeks 14 days later. Activities of calcineurin, PKC, MAPK, and PKA were was analyzed by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation.

Endogenous hydrogen sulfide in patients with COPD.

Objectives: COPD is characterized by progressive airway obstruction. Recent studies showed that besides nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) might be the third signaling gasotransmitter. To clarify the role of endogenous H(2)S in the pathogenesis of COPD, we investigated the relation of serum H(2)S level to severity of COPD as defined by lung function and airway inflammation.

[Endogenous hydrogen sulfide in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To investigate the role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Levels of serum H(2)S and nitric oxide (NO), lung function and cell differential count in induced sputum were studied in 27 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), 37 patients with stable COPD and 13 health subjects. Echo-Doppler assessment and arterial blood gas were measured in patients with AECOPD.

[Characteristics of non-symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients].

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of non-symptomatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in a rural area in Beijing.

Methods: The data of 1,624 people aged more than 40 in 5 villages in Yanqing county in Beijing were collected. Information of medical history and symptom were obtained, and physical examination and lung function test were performed.

[The clinical, radiological and pathological diagnosis of non-specific interstitial pneumonia].

Objective: To describe the clinical,radiological and pathological features of non-specific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), and to evaluate the multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis of NSIP.

Methods: The clinical data, lung CT scans and pathologic slides of patients with a diagnosis or a probable diagnosis of NSIP on discharge were re-evaluated by a panel of respiratory physicians, radiologists and pathologists. A pathological diagnosis and a clinical diagnosis were made by the panel according to the 2002 classification by American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society.

[The changes and significance of interleukin-17 in rat models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma].

Objective: To investigate the changes of interleukin-17 (IL-17) both in rat models of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in asthma.

Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into COPD group, asthma group, smoking group and control group. The concentrations of IL-17 in lung tissues and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

[The investigation of genotype and expression of alpha1-AT in patients with COPD].

Objective: To detect genotype and expression of alpha1-AT in the patients with COPD to investigate the effect of alpha1-AT on pathogenesis of COPD.

Methods: Detection of PiZ allele in exon V and S allele in exon III were performed by PCR-Amplification of Specific Allele (PASA). The levels of serum alpha1-AT in some of subjects were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunoadsordent Assay (ELISA).

[Epidemiological data of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Yanqing County in Beijing].

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristic and risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the rural area of Beijing.

Methods: The data of 1,624 people aged more than 40 in 5 villages in Yanqing County in Beijing were collected. The habitation condition, life and cooking habit, smoking history, personal history and family history were asked, and their physical examinations and lung function tests were conducted.

Association of gene polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-13 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Han nationality in Beijing.

Background: Genetic factors are believed to play a role in the individual susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been reported but inconsistent results may arise from different populations and phenotypes of COPD. There are only a few published studies of interleukin-13 (IL-13) SNPs on COPD.

[The levels and clinical implications of induced sputum interleukin-17 in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma].

Objective: The study aims to investigate the changes of interleukin (IL)-17 in induced sputum, and to observe the correlation between concentrations of IL-17 and the number of inflammatory cells in induced sputum in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in asthma.

Methods: Induced sputum was obtained in patients with COPD both during acute exacerbation and stable stage and in asthma during acute attack. Healthy nonsmoking volunteers were included as controls.

[The study of interleukin-13 gene promoter polymorphism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To study the frequencies of interleukin-13 (IL-13) gene promoter 1055 (IL-13-1055) polymorphism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to investigate the effect of this genetic polymorphism on COPD in Chinese.

Methods: The polymorphism in 111 COPD patients and 97 controls who had non-obstructive pulmonary disease were studied. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by using standard high-concentration salt method.

[The relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Chlamydiae pneumoniae infection].

Objective: To determine the possible association between Chlamydiae pneumoniae (Cpn) infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: This work comprised of two studies. The first was an animal study which involved 40 male Wistar rats.

The signal transduction pathway in the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells induced by urotensin II.

Background: Human urotensin II (UII) is the most potent mammalian vasoconstrictor identified so far. Our previous study showed that UII is a potent mitogen of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) inducing ASMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The signal transduction pathway of UII mitogenic effect remains to be clarified.