Baicalin inhibits PDGF-induced proliferation and migration of airway smooth muscle cells.

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cell proliferation and migration play important roles in airway remodeling in asthma. In vitro platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) induced ASM cell proliferation and migration. Baicalin is one of flavonoid extracts from Scutellaria baicalensis, which has an anti-asthma effect.

[Changes of ophthalmic blood flow in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome].

Objective: To observe the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA) and posterior ciliary artery (PCA) blood flow and the changes of eye vascular auto-regulation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAS).

Methods: It was a case-control study. Fifteen health overweight male adult (as normal control) and 42 patients with OSAS were randomly selected from examination center and sleep detection center, respectively.

Inhibition of allergic airway inflammation by antisense-induced blockade of STAT6 expression.

Background: The signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) expression in lung epithelial cells plays a pivotal role in asthma pathogenesis. Activation of STAT6 expression results in T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cell differentiation leading to Th2-mediated IgE production, development of allergic airway inflammation and hyperreactivity. Therefore, antagonizing the expression and/or the function of STAT6 could be used as a mode of therapy for allergic airway inflammation.

[The association between polymorphism of beta(1)-adrenoceptor genes and cardiovascular complication in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome patients in Han population].

Objective: To investigate the association between polymorphism of beta(1)-adrenoceptor genes and cardiovascular complication in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients.

Method: The Gly389Arg polymorphism of beta(1)-adrenoceptor genes was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism assay in 192 OSAHS patients of "Han" population of China. The effect of polymorphisms in the OSAHS group on parameters of polysomnography and cardiovascular complication was analyzed.

[Restoration of pathological changes of emphysema by angiogenesis factors: experiment of rats].

Objective: To investigate whether intratracheal administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) restore the pulmonary function and pathology in emphysema, and research the mechanism of they restored pulmonary emphysema, and the pathogenesis of pulmonary emphysema.

Methods: Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomized into the 4 equal groups: bFGF group [receiving a single intratracheal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) 250 U/kg, and 4 weeks later receiving intratracheal instillation of bFGF 400 U once a week for 3 weeks), VEGF group (receiving a single intratracheal instillation of PPE 250 U/kg, and 4 weeks later receiving intratracheal instillation of VEGF 2 microg once a week for 3 weeks), control group [receiving a single intratracheal instillation of PPE 250 U/kg, and 4 weeks later receiving intratracheal instillation of normal saline (NS) once a week for 3 weeks], and normal group (receiving intratracheal instillation of NS in above-mentioned pattern). Four weeks after treatment, arterial blood sample was collected from the abdominal aorta to undergo blood gas analysis for assessment pulmonary function, and then the rata were killed with their lungs taken out to undergo pathological examination.

[The effects of bilirubin concentration on laminin and epidermal growth factor expression in lung tissue and type II pneumocytes in smoking rats model].

Objective: To explore the effects of bilirubin on expression of laminin (Ln) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in lung tissue and in type II pneumocytes (ATII) in smoking rats.

Methods: 36 healthy Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: a normal group, a smoking-induced emphysema model group (model group), and a bilirubin group (n = 12, for each group). According to XU San-lin method, rats both in the model group and the bilirubin group were exposed to smoke for a total of 6 months.

[Epidemiological studies of sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome: a questionnaire survey of Taiyuan].

Objective: To obtain the epidemiological data of sleep apnea-hypopnea sydrome (SAHS) in Taiyuan.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed in 6 028 people living in Taiyuan. The prevalence of SAHS was estimated by a two-stage procedure.