Elevated interleukin-18 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients with eosinophilic pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-18 can induce Th2 cytokine production particularly in collaboration with IL-2. Accumulation of Th2 cells and increased levels of Th2 cytokines are found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with eosinophilic pneumonia (EP). To evaluate the role of IL-18 in the pathogenesis of EP, we measured the concentration of IL-2, IL-12, IL-18, and Th2 cytokines in BALF from patients with EP. METHODS: The concentrations of interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-18 in BALF were measured in patients with idiopathic acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP), with idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP), with sarcoidosis and healthy volunteers (HV). RESULTS: The BALF concentrations of Th2 cytokines, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13, were higher in patients with EP than in sarcoidosis and control. The IL-2 level in BALF was higher in EP than in sarcoidosis and control. The IL-18 and IL-12 (p40 + p70) levels were higher in patients with EP than sarcoidosis, while the level of IL-12 (p70) was below the detection limit in patients with EP. There was a significant correlation between IL-2 level and both IL-5 and IL-13 in BALF of patients with EP. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that IL-18 may contribute to Th2 cytokine-dominant responses in patients with EP in collaboration with IL-2.     

Cell and cytokine profiles in nasal secretions from patients with nasal polyposis: effects of topical steroids and surgical treatment

BACKGROUND: Nasal polyposis (NP), a chronic inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinus mucosa, is frequently associated with asthma. Previous reports showed that surgical treatment for nasal polyps may influence asthma evolution. We hypothesized that sinus surgery may alter the cytokine network in nasal secretions. METHODS: We evaluated the characteristics (cells and mediators) of nasal lavages in nine patients with untreated NP (group A), 17 patients treated with topical steroids (group B), 21 patients treated by nasal surgery endonasal ethmoidectomy associated with topical steroids (group C), and 12 healthy subjects (controls). RESULTS: Percentages of both eosinophils and neutrophils were higher in NP patients than in controls. Percentages of eosinophils and interleukin-5 (IL-5) level were higher in group A than in group C and controls. There was a positive correlation between IL-5 and eosinophils. In marked contrast, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-1beta levels were significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B and controls; TNF-alpha concentration was significantly lower in group C than in groups A and B and controls; and there was a negative correlation between IL-10 and TNF-alpha. The percentage of eosinophils was higher in asthmatic patients with NP than in nonasthmatic patients. In addition, in group C, asthmatic patients also had a significantly higher level of IL-10 than nonasthmatic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that percentages of eosinophils and neutrophils, and IL-5 level were increased in nasal secretions from untreated patients with NP. Topical steroid treatment is associated with a decrease of inflammatory cells and mediators. In marked contrast, nasal surgery is associated with marked changes, in cytokine profile in nasal secretions, that are clearly different from those of controls and topical steroid-treated NP patients.     

鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎患者临床特点分析

 目的 探讨分析鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎患者的临床表现及辅助检查结果特征,以提高对该病的认识。方法 回顾性分析某医院2019年6月- 2021年8月经宏基因组二代测序（mNGS）诊断鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎的9例患者临床资料。结果 9例患者中男性7例,女性2 例,包含1例妊娠36⁺²周孕妇;年龄25~70岁,中位年龄63岁;临床主要表现为高热（9例）、咳嗽（9例）、咳痰（7例）。白细胞计数正常8例,淋巴细胞计数降低9例,CRP升高9例,ESR升高9例,PCT正常4例,门冬氨酸氨基转移酶和丙氨酸氨基转移酶升高6例。9例患者胸部 CT均表现为斑片或斑片实变影。经血及肺泡灌洗液mNGS确诊后使用多西环素、莫西沙星、左氧氟沙星、阿奇霉素单药治疗方案,疗程14~21 d,均好转出院。结论 鹦鹉热衣原体肺炎临床表现多样、诊断困难,mNGS检测可以快速明确病原学诊断,有助于及时启动特异性抗感染治疗,可减少抗菌药物的使用,改善预后。     

PCT与SDI比值对重症细菌性肺炎患者短期预后的预测价值

 目的 探讨血清降钙素原(PCT)与肺泡灌洗液辛普森菌群多样性指数(SDI)比值对重症监护病房(ICU)内细菌性肺炎患者短期预后的预测价值。方法 回顾性调查扬州大学附属医院ICU 2019年10月—2021年7月选择肺泡灌洗液宏基因组二代测序(mNGS)技术的56例细菌性肺炎患者病历资料,依据其入ICU 24 h内急性生理学与慢性健康状况评分Ⅱ(APACHE-Ⅱ)分为非危重症组21例和危重症组35例。以细菌性肺炎造成死亡为终点事件,记录28天转归,并将患者分为生存组38例和死亡组18例。对各组患者的SDI、PCT、C-反应蛋白(CRP)、PCT/SDI、CRP/SDI进行比较分析。结果 与非危重症组比较,危重症组患者血清PCT/SDI、PCT水平均升高,且呼吸机辅助通气时间更长,28天病死率更高(均P＜0.05);与存活组比较,死亡组患者SDI较低,PCT/SDI、PCT水平均较高(均P＜0.05);SDI与呼吸机辅助通气时间呈负相关(r值为-0.655,P＜0.001),PCT水平、PCT/SDI与呼吸机辅助通气时间呈正相关(r值分别为0.660、0.734,均P＜0.001)。受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)显示,PCT/SDI预测患者28天死亡的ROC曲线下面积(AUC)为0.851,其次为PCT+SDI (0.845)、PCT (0.808)、SDI (0.785)、CRP/SDI (0.731),PCT/SDI的最佳截断值为11.56时预判患者28天死亡的灵敏度为89.5%,特异度为66.7%。Cox回归分析显示,PCT/SDI值高(HR=1.562,95%CI：1.271~1.920,P=0.031)、PCT水平高(HR=1.106,95%CI：1.021~1.198,P=0.024)是ICU细菌性肺炎患者死亡的独立危险因素。结论 PCT/SDI、PCT、PCT+SDI、SDI、CRP/SDI均可作为ICU细菌性肺炎患者短期预后的评估指标。与其他指标相比,PCT/SDI预测患者短期预后更有价值。     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子在治疗吸入性损伤中的疗效观察

目的：观察碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（BFGF）对吸入性损伤后气道粘膜及肺泡上皮的修复作用。方法：依据纤支镜结果将中、重度吸入性损伤分别随机分为BFGF治疗组与对照组。在相应时段进行纤支镜支气管肺泡灌洗术,摄像记录纤支镜所见及检测支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中蛋白质含量、胶体渗透压（COP）与细胞分类计数。结果：在中、重度吸入性损伤中,其气道修复时间BFGF治疗组比对照组平均提前4．5天与3．3天;发生出血、气管支气管狭窄等并发症的机率平均降低64．65及31．9％。BFGF治疗组的BALF中总蛋白（TP）、白蛋白（ALb）、COP以及细胞总数、中性粒细胞、淋巴细胞数量均比对照组明显降低（P＜0．05）。结论：BFGF治疗中、重度吸入性损伤,能促进气道粘膜及肺泡上皮的修复。     

慢性阻塞性肺病大鼠模型的建立及药物干预的影响

目的：寻求建立慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）大鼠模型的新方法,探讨吸入皮质激素布地奈德及抗胆碱能受体支气管扩张剂溴化异丙托品（异丙托品）对大鼠COPD模型干预的影响。方法：用两次气管内注入脂多糖（LPS200μg/次）及熏香烟4周的复合刺激法建立大鼠COPD模型（模型组）,药物干预组于制作模型后第8天起分别吸入布地奈德及异丙托品溶液。观察支气管病理学改变及支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）细胞计数与分类,检测有关呼吸功能指标。结果：模型组气管、支气管及肺组织有慢性支气管炎、阻塞性肺气肿的特征性病理改变;气管壁厚度及腺体厚度／气管壁厚度的比值显著高于对照组（P＜0．01－0．001）;BALF中白细胞总数及中性粒细胞数较对照组显著增高（P＜0．01）,静息分钟通气量（VE）、呼气峰流速（PEF）和“0．3s用力呼气容积”（“FEV0．3”）则显著降低（P＜0．05）。与模型组相比,布地奈德组白细胞总数及中性粒细胞数显著降低,单核－巨噬细胞所占构成比显著升高（P＜0．05）,异丙托品组则无显著差异（P＞0．05）。结论：采用两次气管内注入适量LPS和反复熏香烟的方法,可成功制备大鼠COPD模型,其病理及病生理改变与人类COPD类似,为人类COPD研究提供了一个新工具。皮质激素对大鼠COPD模型有一定保护作用。     

实验性肺纤维化肺灌洗液磷脂组分分析

对博莱霉素肺纤维化大鼠模型不同时期作支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)细胞计数与分类、蛋白含量测定和磷脂及其组分测定,并与肺病理变化作对照分析。结果发现BALF细胞计数和分类与肺组织细胞浸润基本一致,BALF蛋白含量增加,磷脂酰甘油(PG)随病变进展而下降,磷脂酰肌醇(PI)和磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)升高。PG／PI比值下降,PG／PI比值可作为肺纤维化的一种标志。     

双入路小切口坏死组织清除术联合持续灌注引流治疗感染性坏死性胰腺炎的临床疗效

目的探讨双入路小切口坏死组织清除术联合持续灌注引流治疗感染性坏死性胰腺炎(INP)的临床疗效。方法采用回顾性描述性研究方法。收集2016年4月至2019年7月陆军军医大学大坪医院收治的20例INP病人的临床资料;男11例,女9例;年龄为(42±9)岁。20例病人均行双入路小切口坏死组织清除术,联合术后脓腔持续灌注引流。观察指标:(1)手术情况。(2)术后情况。(3)随访情况。采用门诊及电话方式进行随访,了解病人发热、腹痛、腹胀、腹泻等临床表现及胰腺周围残余组织感染和生存情况。随访时间截至2020年1月。正态分布的计量资料以x±s表示,偏态分布的计量资料以M(范围)表示。计数资料以绝对数表示。结果(1)手术情况:20例病人均顺利完成手术,其中14例手术入路为腹上区+左侧腹膜后入路,1例为腹上区+右侧腹膜后入路,5例为腹上区+双侧腹膜后入路。20例病人中,14例行附加手术,其中10例行空肠造瘘术、2例行胃造瘘及空肠造瘘术、1例行腹腔镜胆囊切除及空肠造瘘术、1例行胆囊造瘘术。20例病人手术时间为(228±41)min,术中出血量为100 mL(50~700 mL)。(2)术后情况:20例病人术后开始行0.9%氯化钠溶液脓腔持续灌注引流时间为2 d(1~14 d)。20例病人中,6例发生术后并发症,其中1例为术后胃瘘合并腹腔出血(于术后13 d行剖腹探查止血+胃造瘘术)、1例为术后十二指肠瘘(于术后111 d行胃肠吻合+空肠造瘘术)、1例为术后腹膜后残余组织坏死感染(于术后11 d再次行胰腺周围坏死组织清除引流术)、1例为术后胆囊瘘(于术后71 d行胆囊切除术)、2例为术后胰瘘(经保守治疗后痊愈)。20例病人第1次手术后住院时间为42 d(20~178 d)。(3)随访情况:20例病人均获得术后随访,随访时间为6.0~45.0个月,中位随访时间为14.5个月。随访期间,1例病人继发糖尿病;无病人出现发热、腹痛、腹胀、腹泻等临床表现。20例病人胰腺周围残余组织吸收良好,无病人死亡。结论双入路小切口坏死组织清除术联合持续灌注引流治疗INP安全、可行。     

Expression of activation markers on alveolar macrophages in allergic asthmatics after endobronchial or whole-lung allergen challenge

We examined the effect of endobronchial (EB) or whole-lung (WL) challenge with ragweed or Timothy grass extract on alveolar macrophage (AM) activation. Expression of 17 constitutive activation markers on AM was examined by flow cytometry. Late-phase bronchial obstruction was greater after WL challenge, while changes in bronchoalveolar lavage cytology (eosinophil accumulation) were greater after EB challenge. After EB challenge, levels of 10 of 17 markers (CD11a, CD11b, CD14, CD18, CD23, CD32, CD63, CD64, HLA-class I, and HLA-DR) were significantly increased (by 33-234%, P < 0.05). Six markers (CD16, CD29, CD33, CD35, CD44, CD71, and HLA-DQ) remained unchanged. Levels of seven markers following EB challenge (CD14, CD16, CD18, CD29, CD32, HLA-class I, and HLA DQ) correlated with airway sensitivity to methacholine. WL challenge only increased expression of HLA-class I. The different results obtained with the two challenge methods probably depend on higher local concentrations of allergen in the EB challenge. We suggest that activation of AM occurs following EB challenge with antigen in asthmatics.     

Interleukin-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from patients with COPD

目的　本研究通过检测支气管肺灌洗液 (BALF)中及肺泡巨噬细胞 (AM)产生的IL 6 ,揭示IL 6与慢性支气管炎(COPD)肺气肿发生的关系 ,为IL 6提供新的研究领域。方法　检测 6名正常无吸烟人及 2 1名COPD患者BALF中及AM释放的IL 6 ,根据正常人组BALF中IL 6的 95 %正常值可信区限 ,将COPD患者分为二组 ,在正常值可信区限内为第一组 ,在正常值可信区限外为第二组。结果　表明 2组中AM产生的IL 6第二组明显高于第一组 ,且 2组患者肺功能 (Dlco ,FEV1,FEV1/FVC和RV/TLC)有明显差异结论　AM产生的IL 6可能与COPD患者肺功能变化有关 ,在COPD患者肺气肿发生发展过程中发挥重要作用