An intratracheal challenge murine model of asthma: can bronchial inflammation affect the nose?

Purpose: Extensive data support the influence of the upper airway on lower airway inflammation and pathophysiology in allergic disease. However, few studies have focused on allergic inflammation in the nose after an isolated lower airway allergen challenge, a situation that can exist clinically when human subjects breathe primarily through the mouth, as occurs when nasally congested. This study used a mouse model to investigate whether upper airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness were induced by an isolated lower airway allergen challenge.

Carbocisteine attenuates hydrogen peroxide-induced inflammatory injury in A549 cells via NF-κB and ERK1/2 MAPK pathways.

Carbocisteine is a mucolytic drug with anti-oxidative effect, we had previously proved that carbocisteine remarkably reduced the rate of acute exacerbations and improved the quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), however, very little is known about its mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of carbocisteine against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). A549 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with H2O2 as damaged cell models, carbocisteine was administered 24h prior to or after H2O2 exposure, and the protective effects of carbocisteine were determined by MTT, qRT-PCR, ELISA, western blot and immunofluorescence assays.

Risk factors shared by COPD and lung cancer and mediation effect of COPD: two center case-control studies.

Purpose: To reveal the shared risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, and to analyze the mediation effect of COPD during lung carcinogenesis.

Methods: We conducted four independent case-control studies included 1,511 COPD patients and 1,677 normal lung function controls and 1,559 lung cancer cases and 1,679 cancer-free controls during 2002-2011 in southern and eastern Chinese.

Results: Eight factors were observed to be consistently associated with both diseases risk, including pre-existing tuberculosis, smoking, passive smoking, occupational exposure to metallic toxicant, poor housing ventilation, biomass burning, cured meat consumption, and seldom vegetables/fruits consumption.

Breathlessness or health status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the impact of different definitions.

Objective: The GOLD 2011 report recommends the use of symptoms, exacerbation history, and FEV1% predicted to categorise patients into groups A-D. We investigated the choice of mMRC or CAT on category assignment and characterization of the categories.

Methods: Patients were prospectively recruited from tertiary hospitals in China, as part of the INTACT study, with a prior diagnosis of COPD.

Effect of tiotropium on neural respiratory drive during exercise in severe COPD.

Background: Studies have shown that tiotropium once daily reduces lung hyperinflation and dyspnea during exercise and improves exercise tolerance in patients with COPD. Mechanisms underlying the effects of the muscarinic receptor antagonist tiotropium on COPD have not been fully understood.

Objective: In this study, we investigated whether improvement in neural respiratory drive is responsible for reducing dyspnea during exercise and improving exercise tolerance in COPD.

The draft genome, transcriptome, and microbiome of Dermatophagoides farinae reveal a broad spectrum of dust mite allergens.

Background: A sequenced house dust mite (HDM) genome would advance our understanding of HDM allergens, a common cause of human allergies.

Objective: We sought to produce an annotated Dermatophagoides farinae draft genome and develop a combined genomic-transcriptomic-proteomic approach for elucidation of HDM allergens.

Methods: A D farinae draft genome and transcriptome were assembled with high-throughput sequencing, accommodating microbiome sequences.

The role of viral infection in pulmonary exacerbations of bronchiectasis in adults: a prospective study.

Background: Although viral infections are a major cause of exacerbations in patients with chronic airway diseases, their roles in triggering bronchiectasis exacerbations in adults remain unclear. Therefore, we prospectively investigated the incidence and clinical impacts of viral infection in adults with bronchiectasis exacerbations.

Methods: The study cohort of 119 adults with bronchiectasis was followed up prospectively for 12 months.

Capsaicin cough sensitivity and the association with clinical parameters in bronchiectasis.

Background: Cough hypersensitivity has been common among respiratory diseases.

Objective: To determine associations of capsaicin cough sensitivity and clinical parameters in adults with clinically stable bronchiectasis.

Methods: We recruited 135 consecutive adult bronchiectasis patients and 22 healthy subjects.

Duplicated copy of CHRNA7 increases risk and worsens prognosis of COPD and lung cancer.

Recent genome-wide association studies implicated that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are common susceptible genes of two contextual diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. We aimed to test whether the copy number variations (CNVs) in nAChRs have hereditary contributions to development of the two diseases. In two, two-stage, case-control studies of southern and eastern Chinese, a common CNV-3956 that duplicates the cholinergic receptor, nicotinic, α7 (CHRNA7) gene was genotyped in a total of 7880 subjects and its biological phenotype was assessed.

Compliance with severe sepsis bundles and its effect on patient outcomes of severe community-acquired pneumonia in a limited resources country.

Introduction: Validation of compliance with severe sepsis bundles is still needed. The purpose of this study was to determine compliance and its outcomes in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients in a limited resources country.

Material And Methods: A prospective cohort study of 212 severe CAP patients was carried out.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3-deficiency enhances oxidative stress and corticosteroid resistance in severe asthma exacerbation.

Oxidative stress plays a significant role in exacerbation of asthma. The role of vitamin D in oxidative stress and asthma exacerbation remains unclear. We aimed to determine the relationship between vitamin D status and oxidative stress in asthma exacerbation.

[Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy real-time guidance lung biopsy for the diagnosis of small peripheral pulmonary lesions].

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy real-time guidance lung biopsy (ENB-guided TBLB) of small peripheral lung lesions (diameter < 3 cm).

Methods: Patients were selected by small peripheral pulmonary lesions (diameter < 3 cm) on thoracic CT in our hospital between September 1, 2011 and May 30, 2012. ENB-guided TBLB was performed by flexible bronchoscope, while fluoroscopy-guided lung biopsy was performed as a control.

Impact of short term forced oral breathing induced by nasal occlusion on respiratory function in mice.

Inconsistent findings regarding the experimental nasal obstruction on respiratory functions in small animals have been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of short term forced oral breathing on respiratory functions as well as the therapeutic implication of esophageal intubation in BALB/c mice. Thirty BALB/c mice were randomized equally to two groups: an experimental group and control group.

Vitamin C mitigates oxidative stress and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in severe community-acquired pneumonia and LPS-induced macrophages.

Oxidative stress is an important part of host innate immune response to foreign pathogens. However, the impact of vitamin C on oxidative stress and inflammation remains unclear in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We aimed to determine the effect of vitamin C on oxidative stress and inflammation.

[The effect of nasal irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis].

Objective: To compare the symptoms and lower airway inflammatory factors of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), and to observe the effect of nasal irrigation in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Method: Sixty-one cases diagnosed as AR after skin prick test (SPT)were selected and randomly divided into three groups: 17 patients in group A used nasal steroid spray; 21 cases in group B used nasal irrigation; 23 patients in group C combined ir rigation with nasal steroid. Before and after 3 months treatment, nasal visual analogue scale (VAS) score, rhino conjunctivtis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) score, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) values were observed and compared in each group.

Spirometric reference values for healthy Han children aged 5-15 years in Guangzhou, southern China.

Background: Reliable interpretation of spirometry rests on appropriate reference values, but there are few published reference values for healthy children in China.

Objective: To develop the updated spirometric normative values for healthy children aged 5-15 years in Guangzhou, southern China, and to explore the differences by comparison with published reference values.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, health questionnaire and physical examination conducted for screening healthy Han children.

[A cross-sectional survey of familial aggregation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: in seven provinces/cities in China].

Objective: To investigate the familial aggregation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Based on a cross-sectional survey in seven provinces/cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Liaoning, Tianjin, Chongqing and Shaanxi) from 2002 to 2004, the familial aggregation of COPD was investigated with multi-stage cluster random sampling method.One urban and one rural area were selected as samples from each of seven provinces/cities.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 inhibits liposaccharide-induced inflammation in the airway.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a multifunctional growth factor that belongs to the TGF-β superfamily. The role of BMP4 in lung diseases is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that BMP4 was upregulated in lungs undergoing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation, and in airway epithelial cells treated with LPS or TNF-α.

The normative value of inflammatory cells in the nasal perfusate of Chinese adults: a pilot study.

Objective: To establish stable, well-accepted nasal perfusion and a normative value of classifying cells in the nasal perfusate of Chinese adults.

Methods: A total of 500 healthy adults were divided into two groups of 250 people per group (group A, 16-30 years old and group B, 31-60 years old; male-to-female ratio, 1:1). All volunteers were non-smokers; they were irrigated with saline, and multiple inflammatory cells in the perfusate were analyzed.

Sleep disturbances and health-related quality of life in adults with steady-state bronchiectasis.

Background: Sleep disturbances are common in patients with chronic lung diseases, but little is known about the prevalence in patients with bronchiectasis. A cross sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and determinants associated with sleep disturbances, and the correlation between sleep disturbances and quality of life (QoL) in adults with steady-state bronchiectasis.

Methods: One hundred and forty-four bronchiectasis patients and eighty healthy subjects were enrolled.

Cellular mechanism underlying hydrogen sulfide induced mouse tracheal smooth muscle relaxation: role of BKCa.

Recent studies have suggested that hydrogen sulfide (H2S), an important endogenous signaling gaseous molecule, participates in relaxation of smooth muscle. Nevertheless, the mechanism of this relaxation effect on respiratory system is still unclear. The present study aims to investigate the physiological function as well as cellular mechanism of H2S in tracheal smooth muscle.