Plasma matrix metalloproteinase 7, CC-chemokine ligand 18, and periostin as markers for pulmonary sarcoidosis

BackgroundSome patients with sarcoidosis experience worsening of pulmonary lesions. However, no biomarker has been identified that reflects pulmonary disease status in sarcoidosis. We investigated the usefulness of potential markers of pulmonary fibrosis in patients with sarcoidosis.MethodsPlasma matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7), CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL-18), and periostin levels were evaluated in 60 patients with sarcoidosis and 30 healthy controls; bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels were analyzed in 22 patients with sarcoidosis. To determine the usefulness of these markers, we explored potential correlations between these markers and sarcoidosis clinical characteristics.ResultsPlasma MMP-7, CCL-18, and periostin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with sarcoidosis than those in healthy controls. MMP-7 concentrations in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were higher in patients with sarcoidosis with parenchymal infiltration than in those without lung lesions. Moreover, MMP-7 concentration was negatively correlated with pulmonary function.ConclusionAmong these novel biomarkers, MMP-7 most precisely reflected pulmonary sarcoidosis disease status and thus, might be useful for diagnosing and evaluating sarcoidosis, particularly in patients with pulmonary parenchymal lesions.     

Corynebacterium species as one of the major causative pathogens of bacterial pneumonia

Recent advances using molecular methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flightmass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencers enable rapid and precise detection of bacterial species in the clinical samples, revealing bacterial diversities in the human body. Corynebacterium species are Gram-positive bacilli, which can cause pneumonia and have been reported as causative pathogens of lower respiratory tract infections since the 1970's. However, Corynebacterium spp. may be recognized and sorted as part of normal respiratory flora on Gram staining and culture, resulting in clinical under-recognition as pathogenic bacteria.The results of the clone library method using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis in Japanese patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia revealed that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from the lung lesions contained 11.8% Corynebacterium spp., which was the second most predominant bacterial phylotype. Additionally, among patients in whom Corynebacterium spp. were detected, C. simulans was most commonly detected followed by C. striatum. In addition, almost half of the patients in whom C. simulans was detected was monophylotypic infection and/or co-detection of C. simulansand C. striatum. Further clinical information is expected on corynebacteria as pathogens of lower respiratory tract infection.     

连续结肠灌洗对永久性结肠造口患者自我效能与适应能力的影响．

目的探讨连续性结肠灌洗对永久性结肠造口患者自我效能与适应能力的影响。方法80例永久性结肠造口患者随机分为结肠灌洗组和对照组，每组各40例，对照组采用常规自然排便方法，结肠灌洗组采用结肠造口灌洗法，连续灌洗30d，分别于灌洗前和灌洗30d后发放一般情况调查表、造口相关自我效能问卷和造口适应量表（OAS），观察两组患者自我效能评分和OAS评分，比较两组灌洗效果。结果灌洗组灌洗后自我效能和OAS评分均较灌洗前显著增加（P〈0．01），灌洗组自我效能和OAS评分均明显高于对照组（P〈0．01），灌洗组灌洗效果优良率明显高于对照组（Uc=3．058，P=0．000）。结论连续结肠灌洗能明显改善患者生存质量。     

纤支镜肺泡灌洗联合振荡排痰仪治疗老年COPD合并肺癌的疗效观察

目的探讨纤支镜肺泡灌洗联合振荡排痰仪治疗老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)合并肺癌的效果。方法选取2019年1月至2019年10月于解放军联勤保障部队第九九〇医院接受治疗的86例老年COPD合并肺癌患者作为研究对象,随机分为2组,每组43例,对照组在对症治疗基础上采用震荡排痰仪辅助排痰,观察组在此基础上联合纤支镜进行肺泡灌洗治疗,对比两组有效率、炎症因子水平、恢复时间和住院时间。结果治疗10 d后,观察组有效率明显高于对照组,炎症因子水平低于对照组,恢复时间和住院时间短于对照组(P<0.05)。结论纤支镜肺泡灌洗联合振荡排痰仪治疗老年COPD合并肺癌效果确切,能显著改善患者肺不张状况,降低炎症水平,缩短治疗时间和住院时间。     

支气管肺泡灌洗术（ＢＡＬ）用于难治性肺部 感染的疗效分析

探讨支气管肺泡灌洗术（ＢＡＬ）用于难治性肺部感染的治疗效果。方法　选取２０１２年１月— ２０１４年１月入我院就诊的难治性肺部感染患者１６０例，随机分为观察组和对照组，各８０例，对照组采取常规抗 菌、雾化吸入、体位引流等治疗，观察者在此基础上进行支气管肺泡灌洗术。分析比较两组患者治疗效果以及患 者满意度情况。结果　观察组患者治疗效果明显优于对照组（９７５％ ＞６５０％），两组相比较差别具有统计学 意义（Ｐ＜００５）；观察组患者满意度为９６３％，对照组为５６３％，两组相比较差别具有统计学意义（Ｐ＜００５）。 结论　通过研究可知，支气管肺泡灌洗术用于难治性肺部感染效果显著，明显改善患者病情，提高满意度，值得 临床推荐应用。     

Poly-Ingredient Formulation Bresol? Ameliorates Experimental Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Rats

In the present study, the protective effect of Bresol^® – a polyherbal formulation – was evaluated in an experimental model of cigarette smoke (CS)-induced COPD in rats. Ten minutes daily exposure to CS for 7 weeks caused significant elevation of TNF-α (p<0.01) and total protein (p<0.01) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of positive untreated control animals, indicating ongoing inflammatory process in the lungs. Further, histopathological findings have confirmed the presence of pathological lesions in the trachea and lungs. Five weeks of post-treatment with Bresol^® (250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o.) showed significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effects against CS-induced lung abnormalities by maintaining the TNF-α and total protein levels within the normal range. Additionally, Bresol^®-treated animals showed normal cyto-architecture of the trachea and lungs. In conclusion, Bresol^® showed dose-dependent protection against CS-induced lung and tracheal injury in rats, which further indicates, Bresol^® is a useful healing agent, may help to decelerate the progression of COPD, and reduce the exacerbations in patients.     

Nanomedicine for acute respiratory distress syndrome: The latest application,targeting strategy,and rational design

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by the severe inflammation and destruction of the lung air–blood barrier, leading to irreversible and substantial respiratory function damage. Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been encountered with a high risk of ARDS, underscoring the urgency for exploiting effective therapy. However, proper medications for ARDS are still lacking due to poor pharmacokinetics, non-specific side effects, inability to surmount pulmonary barrier, and inadequate management of heterogeneity. The increased lung permeability in the pathological environment of ARDS may contribute to nanoparticle-mediated passive targeting delivery. Nanomedicine has demonstrated unique advantages in solving the dilemma of ARDS drug therapy, which can address the shortcomings and limitations of traditional anti-inflammatory or antioxidant drug treatment. Through passive, active, or physicochemical targeting, nanocarriers can interact with lung epithelium/endothelium and inflammatory cells to reverse abnormal changes and restore homeostasis of the pulmonary environment, thereby showing good therapeutic activity and reduced toxicity. This article reviews the latest applications of nanomedicine in pre-clinical ARDS therapy, highlights the strategies for targeted treatment of lung inflammation, presents the innovative drug delivery systems, and provides inspiration for strengthening the therapeutic effect of nanomedicine-based treatment.     

类风湿关节炎患者肺泡灌洗液检测结果分析

目的通过对类风湿关节炎（RA）患者进行高分辨CT（HRCT）和肺泡灌洗液检测（BLAF）,探讨诊断类风湿肺间质病变的有效方法。方法选择RA患者31例,进行高分辨CT、肺泡灌洗液检测。结果 31例患者中,HRCT检测发现肺间质病变1例（阳性率为3.2%）,BLAF检测发现肺间质病变4例（阳性率为12.9%）;BLAF的肺间质病变阳性检出率高于HRCT,但差异无统计学意义（χ2=1.957 9,P〉0.05）。结论 BLAF是探询早期发现及明确类风湿性关节炎引发呼吸系统损害的更为有效的检查方法,比HRCT能更好地明确肺间质病变病变的病理类型,有助于治疗方案的制定。