A clinical and canine experimental study in small-airway response to bronchial thermoplasty: Role of the neuronal effect

BackgroundThe effects of bronchial thermoplasty (BT) on smooth muscle (SM) and nerves in small airways are unclear.MethodsWe recruited 15 patients with severe refractory asthma, who received BT treatment. Endobronchial optical-coherence tomography (EB-OCT) was performed at baseline, 3 weeks' follow-up and 2 years' follow-up to evaluate the effect of BT on airway structure. In addition, we divided 12 healthy beagles into a sham group and a BT group, the latter receiving BT on large airways (inner diameter >3 mm) of the lower lobe. The dogs’ lung lobes were resected to evaluate histological and neuronal changes of the treated large airways and untreated small airways 12 weeks after BT.ResultsPatients receiving BT treatment had significant improvement in Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) scores and significant reduction in asthma exacerbations. EB-OCT results demonstrated a notable increase in inner-airway area (Ai) and decrease in airway wall area percentage (Aw%) in both large (3rd-to 6th-generation) and small (7th-to 9th-generation) airways. Furthermore, the animal study showed a significant reduction in the amount of SM in BT-treated large airways but not in untreated small airways. Protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5)–positive nerves and muscarinic receptor 3 (M3 receptor) expression in large and small airways were both markedly decreased throughout the airway wall 12 weeks after BT treatment.ConclusionsBT significantly reduced nerves, but not SM, in small airways, which might shed light on the mechanism of lung denervation by BT.     

布地奈德联合沙丁胺醇雾化吸入对急性哮喘发作患儿诱导痰液炎性细胞和细胞因子的影响

目的 布地奈德（普米克令舒）联合沙丁胺醇雾化吸入治疗儿童哮喘急性发作前后气道炎性细胞、白介素6（IL-6）、IL-8、肿瘤坏死因子α（TNF-α）的变化，探讨其影响机制。方法 对急性哮喘发作患儿采用上述联合治疗1周，共对34例急性发作期、24例缓解期患儿和15例正常儿童的诱导痰液进行炎性细胞计数和分类，测定其中IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α水平。结果 急性组的总白细胞数，嗜酸粒细胞、中性粒细胞单核细胞比例及IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α水平均高于正常对照组。缓解组除嗜酸粒细胞及淋巴细胞比例明显高于正常对照组外，其余上述炎性细胞比例及细胞因子水平均降至正常。结论 普米克令舒联合沙丁胺醇雾化吸入可显著降低急性哮喘发作患儿气道分泌物内嗜酸粒细胞、中性粒细胞和单核细胞数量及IL-6、IL-8、TNF-α水平。     

Prevalence of pulmonary embolism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: The overlap syndrome

ObjectiveGrowing evidence indicates that both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be closely associated with the prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the relationship of overlap syndrome (OS) (coexistence of OSA and COPD) with PE is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether OS were associated with increased PE prevalence.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent sleep study at Beijing An Zhen Hospital from 2011 to 2014. The association of OS with PE prevalence was estimated by using logistic regression models.ResultsIn contrast to control patients (neither OSA nor COPD), those subjects with OS had higher odds of PE (OR9.61; 95%CI 4.02–21.31, p < 0.001) with significance persisting after adjusting for covariates (OR 5.66; 95%CI 1.80–16.18, p = 0.004). Meanwhile, patients with OS compared with those with isolated OSA also had significantly higher odds of PE in univariate (OR 4.79; 95%CI 2.04–10.33, p = 0.0007) and adjusted models (OR 3.89; 95%CI 1.27–10.68, p = 0.019). In subgroup analysis, patients with OS had higher odds of PE than control group among male subjects (OR 8.12, 95%CI1.86–31.87, p = 0.007) and patients ≥ 58years (OR 5.50, 95%CI 1.51–18.14, p = 0.012) in multivariable models. Percentage of total sleep time with saturation lower than 90% (T90) ≥ 2.6% was significantly associated with prevalence of PE (OR 4.72, 95%CI1.34–19.83, p = 0.015) in subgroup of patients older than 58.ConclusionsOS is independently associated with PE prevalence. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand the relationship with incident PE.     

Functional contribution of mandibular advancement to awake upper airway patency in obstructive sleep apnea

In the narrowed upper airway of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a neuromuscular compensatory mechanism augments the activity of the upper airway dilator muscles in defense of upper airway patency, particularly during inspiration. We hypothesized that mechanical enlargement of the upper airway by a mandibular advancement oral appliance would permit a reduction in this neuromuscular compensation during wakefulness. To test this hypothesis, we focused on changes in the cross-sectional (CS) area of the upper airway before and after emplacement of a ventrally titrated oral appliance in 12 awake OSA patients. The CS areas at the end of tidal expiration (CS area-EET) and at the nadir of intraluminal pressure during inspiration (CS area-IN) were obtained using videoendoscopy. The median apnea–hypopnea index decreased with mandibular advancement. Before mandibular advancement, there was no difference between CS area-EET and CS area-IN in the velopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx. This indicates that upper airway dilator muscle activity increased during inspiration to counteract the intraluminal negative pressure of the upper airway. After mandibular advancement, CS area-EET increased in the velopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx, but CS area-IN was unchanged at any level and was less than CS area-EET in the velopharynx and oropharynx. These findings suggest that mandibular advancement enlarges the upper airway and may reduce upper airway dilator muscle activity during inspiration. We conclude that oral appliances act to return the upper airway towards a normal configuration and pattern of muscle function in OSA patients.     

Significance of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection in the 1st Year of Life

Summary Background: In this study we investigated the frequency, symptoms and predisposing factors of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection during the 1st year of life in infants with obstructive airway disease in comparison with infants without airway disease. Patients: We enrolled 216 infants in their 1st year of life, who were hospitalized because of obstructive airway disease. As an age- and sex-balanced control group, we examined 133 infants hospitalized for other reasons than airway disease. Method: A deep pharyngeal swab was taken from all infants and immediately examined for the presence of RSV antigen by using an enzyme immunoassay (Directigen?). Patient data were surveyed by a questionnaire. Results: The frequency of RSV infections among infants with obstructive airway disease (34.3%; n = 74) differed significantly from the control group (15%; n = 20; p < 0.01). The frequency of RSV-infected infants with obstructive airway disease decreased with age ranging from 39.1% in trimenon I to 29.0% in trimenon IV. This trend was not observed in the control group. With respect to clinical symptoms and risk factors, there were no differences between RSV-infected versus noninfected infants. Conclusion: RSV is an important agent causing lower obstructive airway disease (34.3% of all patients). There are no specific symptoms that can be used for diagnosing RSV infection. In order to prevent other patients on the ward from contracting nosocomial RSV infection and in the light of therapeutic options, one should test newly admitted patients presenting with symptoms of an obstructive airway disease for RSV antigen. On a ward with high-risk patients, we would recommend the use of an RSV test for all new patients. Received: March 21, 1999 · Revision accepted: December 2, 1999     

Structural Signaling Regulates Inflammation-Induced Enhanced Restitution and Increased Mib-1 and Bax-Indexes After Superficial Injury in Isolated Guinea Pig Gastric Mucosa

Several growth factors and cytokines are involved in regulation of the immediate repair of gastrointestinal mucosa, a process also called restitution. Few data exist on the effect of inflammation on this process using an explant model, where the folded basal lamina is included. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of simulated inflammation on restitution and on concomitant proliferation and apoptosis in isolated guinea pig gastric mucosa. Paired gastric mucosae were mounted in Ussing chambers (37 degrees C) and a superficial injury was induced (1.25 M NaCl/5 min) followed by a 4-hr restitution (pH 7.3-7.5). During perfusion, simulated inflammation was induced (with 0.5 or 5.0 ng/ml IL-1beta or with activated polymorphonuclear [PMN] cells). The PI (proliferative index) and AI (apoptotic index) are expressed as the number of Mib-1- or Bax-immunopositive cells per 300 foveolar cells, respectively. The mean recovery of electrophysiological resistance of tissues (R) after injury and exposure to serosal IL-1beta during restitution was 95.2 +/- 5.3% (mean +/- SD), whereas the value for control tissues was 89.6 +/- 6.9% (P = 0.016; N = 9). The mean recovery of R in tissues exposured to activated serosal PMN cells during restitution was 97.6 +/- 2.7%, whereas the value for unexposed control tissues was 93.8 +/- 2.9 (P = 0.004; N = 9). The enhancing effect of PMN cells was partially eliminated by serosal anti-ICAM, whereas serosal cytochalasin D abolished the process completely. The PI of tissues exposed to serosal PMN cells was 34.6 +/- 17.3, whereas the value for unexposed controls was 24.7 +/- 15.5 (P = 0.04; N = 5). The corresponding AI values were 17.0 +/- 2.8 and 12.0 +/- 5.7, respectively (NS; N = 4). Simulated inflammation either with serosal IL-1beta or with activated PMN cells enhances restitution and proliferation, whereas their effect on AI is only suggestive. Exogenous serosal anti-ICAM modulates restitution, whereas cytochalasin D abolishes it completely, suggesting that the structural signaling system including focal adhesions and cytoskeleton plays a significant role in the regulation of restitution.     

Modulation of postoperative immune and inflammatory response by immune-enhancing enteral diet in gastrointestinal cancer patients

AIM To evaluate if the administration of anenteral diet supplemented with glutamine,arginine and ω-3-fatty acids modulatesinflammatory and immune responses aftersurgery.METHODS A prospective randomized double-blind,clinical trial was performed.Forty-eightpatients with gastrointestinal cancer wererandomized into two groups,one group wasgiven an isocaloric and isonitrogenous standarddiet and the other was fed with the supplementeddiet with glutamine,arginine and ω-3-fattyacids.Feedings were started within 48 hoursafter operation,and continued until day 8.Allvariables were measured before operation andon postoperative day 1 and 8.Immune responseswere determined by phagocytosis ability,respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear cells,total lymphocytes lymphocyte subsets,nitricoxide,cytokines concentration,andinflammatory responses by plasma levels of C-reactive protein,prostaglandin E_2 level.RESULTS Tolerance of both formula diets wasexcellent.There were significant differences inthe immunological and inflammatory responsesbetween the two groups.In supplementedgroup,phagocytosis and respiratory burst aftersurgery was higher and C-reactive protein levelwas lower(P<0.01)than in the standard group.The supplemented group had higher levels ofnitric oxide,total lymphocytes,T lymphocytes,T-helper cells,and NK cells.Postoperativelevels of IL-6 and TNF-α were lower in thesupplemented group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION It was clearly established in thistrial that early postoperative enteral feeding issafe in patients who have undergone majoroperations for gastrointestinal cancer.Supplementation of enteral nutrition withglutamine,arginine,and ω-3 fatty acidspositively modulated postsurgicalimmunosuppressive and inflammatoryresponses.     

急性心肌梗死患者中断大剂量他汀治疗后炎症因子的变化

目的探讨在入院时及出院后持续使用大剂量他汀调脂治疗的急性心肌梗死（AMI，包括非ST段抬高者在内）患者，因各种原因中断大剂量治疗后血清炎症标识物水平的变化。方法接受标准治疗的急性心肌梗死患者（均接受了冠脉介入治疗），在入院24h内即开始使用大剂量的阿托伐他汀（40mg／d）治疗，并在住院期间及出院后继续使用阿托伐他汀（40mg／d），出院后均接受长期随访，分别在入院时及出院后1、3、6个月检测所有患者的高敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、白介素-6（IL-6）等炎症标记物水平。根据随访结果分为持续大剂量（40mg／d）用药组（A组，50例）和大剂量中断组（B组，0-20mg／d，62例），比较两组患者在各时期炎症标识物水平的变化。结果（1）两组患者出院后除他汀药物外的其他治疗情况无明显不同；两组患者均接受了至少1个月的大剂量调脂治疗。（2）两组患者的hs-CRP、IL-6等水平随服用时间的延长逐渐降低，但B组患者在中断大剂量治疗后hs-CRP、IL-6的降低程度不如A组；第6个月时B组患者的hs-CRP及IL6水平均显著高于同期的A组患者（hs-CRP：2.62（1．41～16．12）mg／L vs 1．53（0．36～7．92）mg／L，P〈0．01；IL-6：9．61（3．26～17．86）ng／L vs 5．26（0．20～10．51）ng／L，P〈0．05]。结论急性心肌梗死患者长期坚持大剂量他汀调脂治疗后hs-CRP等炎症标识物水平持续下降，中断大剂量治疗后炎症标识物水平将逐渐升高。