Effect of Maximal Oxygen Pulse on Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

ObjectiveThis study evaluated the effect of maximal oxygen pulse (O₂P_max) on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and confirmed the predictive effect on acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD).MethodsThis retrospective study included 91 participants who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), lung function testing, a dyspnea scale assessment, and a 3-year follow-up. The participants were divided into two groups according to the O₂P_max value. Exercise capacity, ventilatory conditions, gas exchange efficiency, and dyspnea symptoms were compared, and the correlations between O₂P_max and these indices were evaluated. The ability of O₂P_max to predict AECOPD was examined.ResultsExercise capacity, ventilatory conditions, and gas exchange efficiency were lower, and dyspnea symptom scores were higher in the impaired O₂P_max group (P < 0.05). O₂P_max was positively correlated with forced vital capacity (FVC)%, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV-₁)%, FEV₁/FVC%, anaerobic threshold (AT), work rate (WR)%, aximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max)%, VO₂/kg_max, VO₂/kg_max%, WR_AT, WR_max, VO_2AT, VO_2max, and V_Emax, and was negatively correlated with EqCO_2AT, and EqCO_2max (P < 0.05). Most importantly, O₂P_max could be used to predict AECOPD, and the best cut-off value was 89.5% (area under the curve, 0.739; 95% CI, 0.609–0.869).ConclusionO₂P_max reflected exercise capacity, ventilation capacity, gas exchange capacity, and dyspnea symptoms in patients with COPD and may be an independent predictor of AECOPD.     

Massive pulmonary hemorrhage before living donor liver transplantation in infants

A massive pulmonary hemorrhage in patients with liver cirrhosis is a life‐threatening complication that may result in a contraindication of a liver transplantation because of its high mortality rate. Herein, we present two infant biliary atresia cases that successfully underwent an LDLT that was followed by intensive respiratory care for the pretransplant massive pulmonary hemorrhage. Both cases exhibited severe respiratory failure (minimum PaO₂/FiO₂; 46 mmHg and 39 mmHg, respectively). To arrest the bleeding, we applied a very high positive pressure ventilation treatment (maximum PIP/PEEP; 38/14 cmH₂O and 55/15 cmH₂O, respectively), plasma exchange, several FFP transfusions, and recombinant factor VIIa via intrapulmonary administration. In addition, we used CHDF treatment, applied HFOV transiently, and treated the patient with inhalation of nitric oxide. Although we prepared ECMO for intra‐operative use, both cases were successfully managed with conventional mechanical ventilation without using ECMO, which may have worsened the pulmonary hemorrhage due to the use of an anticoagulant. Use of an excessive positive pressure management, although it poses a risk for barotrauma, could be acceptable to arrest the pulmonary bleeding in selected cases of liver failure patients who have no time remaining before LDLT.     

Differential expression of HLA-G and ILT-2 receptor in human tuberculosis: Localized versus disseminated disease

Human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) is an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive molecule that can modulate immune cell activation. The role of HLA-G in tuberculosis, an immune-mediated and chronic bacterial disease remains to be elucidated. We investigated the expression profile of soluble and membrane bound HLA-G in pulmonary TB (PTB), TB pleural effusion (TB-PE, localized disease) and Miliary TB (disseminated form). The expression of HLA-G receptor, ILT-2 was also determined on the immune cells. We observed that the plasma sHLA-G levels were significantly increased in Miliary TB than in TB-PE patients. In contrast, immunophenotyping revealed that the percent frequency of CD3⁺ T cells expressing HLA-G was significantly reduced in Miliary TB as compared to TB-PE, whereas frequency of CD14⁺ monocytes expressing HLA-G was significantly higher in TB-PE patients. Strikingly in the TB-PE cases, comparison of disease site, i.e. pleural effusion with peripheral blood showed increased expression of both soluble and surface HLA-G, whereas ILT-2 expressing cells were reduced at the local disease site. Furthermore, we demonstrated that in TB-PE cases, HLA-G expression on CD3⁺ T cells was influenced by broad spectrum MMP inhibitor. Thus, differential expression of HLA-G could potentially be a useful biomarker to distinguish different states of TB disease.     

心肌型脂肪酸结合蛋白联合APACHEⅡ评分对急性肺栓塞病情及预后的评估价值

目的 探讨心肌型脂肪酸结合蛋白(heart-type fatty acid-binding protein,H-FABP)联合急性生理学与慢性健康状况评分(acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation,APACHEⅡ)在评估急性肺栓塞(acute pulmonary embolism,APE)患者病情严重程度及预后的临床价值.方法 回顾性分析本院2010年1月至2015年1月确诊的160例APE患者临床资料[男92例,女68例,年龄(51±12)岁].根据APE患者病情严重程度将其分为:低危组[n =58,男33例,女25例,年龄(50±13)岁]、中危组[n=54,男30例,女24例,年龄(54±12)岁]及高危组[n =48,男29例,女19例,年龄(52±10)岁];根据临床转归,将其分为存活组(n=132)和死亡组(n=28),比较不同组间H-FABP和APACHEⅡ评分的差异,评价H-FABP(酶联免疫吸附法测定)和APACHEⅡ评分对评估APE患者病情严重程度及预后的临床价值.结果 随着APE患者病情严重程度的增加,H-FABP和APACHEⅡ评分指标水平显著升高(P＜0.05);死亡组H-FABP和APACHEⅡ评分水平显著高于存活组(P＜0.05).相关性分析显示,血浆H-FABP与APACHEⅡ评分水平呈正相关(r=0.71,P=0.000).ROC曲线分析显示,H-FABP曲线下面积为0.854 (95％ CI 0.784～ 0.927),其血浆H-FABP＞ 13.3μg/L时,诊断APE的病情严重程度及预后的敏感性和特异性分别为81.0％和79.4％;APACHEⅡ评分曲线下面积为0.861 (95％ CI0.812～0.932),其APACHEⅡ评分＞19.2分时诊断APE的病情严重程度及预后的敏感性和特异性分别为77.8％和80.4％.二者指标串联诊断敏感性及特异性分别为88.9％和87.6％,ROC曲线下面积为0.914(95％ CI 0.825～0.948),其明显高于单一H-FABP和APACHEⅡ评分指标.结论 H-FABP联合APACHEⅡ评分评估APE患者病情严重程度及预后的敏感性及特异性显著优于单一H-FABP和APACHEⅡ评分指标,其可为临床APE患者个体化治疗,降低其病死率提供客观依据.     

CD8+ T cells contribute to macrophage accumulation and airspace enlargement following repeated irritant exposure

BACKGROUND: Persistent macrophage accumulation and alveolar enlargement are hallmark features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A role for CD8(+) lymphocytes in the development of COPD is suggested based on observations that this T cell subset is increased in the airways and parenchyma of smokers that develop COPD with airflow limitation. In this study, we utilize a mouse model of COPD to examine the contributions of CD8(+) T cells in the persistent macrophage accumulation and airspace enlargement resulting from chronic irritant exposure. METHODS: We analyzed pulmonary inflammation and alveolar destruction in wild-type and Cd8-deficient mice chronically exposed to acrolein, a potent respiratory tract irritant. We further examined cytokine mRNA expression levels by RNase protection assay, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity by gelatin zymography, and epithelial cell apoptosis by active caspase3 immunohistochemistry in wild-type and Cd8-deficient mice exposed chronically to acrolein. RESULTS: These studies demonstrate that CD8(+) T cells are important mediators of macrophage accumulation in the lung and the progressive airspace enlargement in response to chronic acrolein exposures. The expression of several inflammatory cytokines (IP-10, IFN-gamma, IL-12, RANTES, and MCP-1), MMP2 and MMP9 gelatinase activity, and caspase3 immunoreactivity in pulmonary epithelial cells were attenuated in the Cd8-deficient mice compared to wild-type. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that CD8(+) T cells actively contribute to macrophage accumulation and the development of irritant-induced airspace enlargement.     

Multiple granulomas in three squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) caused by Mycobacterium microti

Mycobacterium microti, a member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, causes tuberculosis in small rodents and occasionally in other mammals including man. Three adult male squirrel monkeys, two with a history of lethargy, weakness and stridor and one with paralysis of the hind legs, were presented for necropsy. One of the two lethargic animals showed multiple granulomas in the mesentery, mesenteric lymph nodes, lung, liver, kidneys and spleen, while the other showed granulomas only in the lung. The animal with paralysis of the legs had an abscess-like lesion in the skeletal muscle of the neck, granulomas in the mesenteric and mediastinal lymph nodes, and a fracture of the thirteenth thoracic vertebra with severe lesions of the spinal cord. Histologically the granulomas showed typical features of tuberculous granulomas, i.e., central necrosis surrounded by epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, inflammatory cells and a border of connective tissue. Ziehl-Neelsen stain demonstrated sporadic acid-fast bacilli within the granulomas, these organisms being identified as M. microti by microbiological and molecular methods.