Immunotherapy vs inhaled budesonide in bronchial asthma: an open, parallel, comparative trial

Background Budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid and specific immunotherapy, are both routinely used in the treatment of bronchial asthma. However, there are as yet, no studies comparing the effects of budesonide vs immunotherapy. Objective The aim of this study is to compare the effects of budesonide with immunotherapy in patients having perennial asthma. Methods This study is an open, parallel, comparative trial, in which 51 young patients were administered either immunotherapy or budesonide for 1 year and their global symptom scores and FEV₁, values assessed. Both treatments were abruptly discontinued after 12 months and the effects of cessation analysed. Results The use of budesonide resulted in a faster and more striking improvement during the first few months as compared to immunotherapy, with an even more rapid decline in benefits on cessation of budesonide. Immunotherapy on the other hand, resulted in slow but steady improvement which did not decline as rapidly as budesonide on cessation. Conclusion Although this was an open trial, it could be concluded that relief with inhaled corticosteroids in bronchial asthma is more rapid than immunotherapy; however the decline in benefit on cessation of inhaled cortieosteroid is even more rapid, a phenomenon not seen with immunotherapy.     

Identification of neutrophil chemotactie factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of asthmatic patients

Background Although neutrophils have been implicated in bronchial asthma, the mechanism(s) which bring these cells into the airways is poorly understood. Objective To investigate the presence and identity of neutrophil chemotactic factors in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from atopic asthmatic subjects. Method BAL fluid was obtained from 13 subjects (seven asthmatics and six normals). aged 19 to 60 yr, at bronchoscopy. Separation of neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) was achieved by FPLC cation exchange chromatography. Fractions were collected and assayed for chemotaxis multiwell micro-chemotaxes chambers using polycarbonate filters, for the complement peptide C5a/C5a des Arg by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and for interleukin-8 (IL-8) by ELISA. Results NCA was found in FPLC fractions of BAL samples in four out of seven asthmatics and each of these subjects had at least three similar peaks of NCA. The major peak of NCA was found to contain immunoreactive C5a/C5a des Arg and chemotaxis. In response to this NCA could be blocked by desensitization of the neutrophils with recombinant C5a. Purified serum derived C5a/C5a des Arg was found to have altered chromatographic properties when added to BAL fluid; this suggested that BAL fluid contained proteins which interacted with the C5a/C5a des Arg. Immunoreactive IL-8 (iIL-8) was also detected but its concentration or chemical form was insufficient to induce neutropbil chemotaxis. Conclusion This study demonstrates that bronchial asthmatic lavage fluid contains C5a/C5a des/Arg and iL-8, together with other as yet unidentified factors which may contribute to neutropbil recruitment in this disease.     

INFANTILE MYOFIBROMATOSIS WITH HEMANGIOPERICYTOMA-LIKE FEATURES OF THE TONGUE: A Case Study Including Ultrastructure

We report a case of an infantile myofibromatosis with hemangiopericytoma-like features arising in the tongue of a 5-month-old female infant. Many authors now classify neoplasms as infantile myofibromatosis that were previously called infantile hemangiopericytoma. The ultrastructural features of our tumor illustrate its biphasic nature and provide a possible explanation for its histogenesis. Infantile myofibromatosis, including those diagnosed as infantile hemangiopericytomas, rarely arise in any intraoral location. Despite the generally good prognosis associated with these neoplasms, complete surgical excision is recommended to avoid recurrences.     

Are hypodense eosinophils in children activated or immature?

In patients with allergic asthma and rhinitis high numbers of hypodense eosinophils (HE) have been demonstrated. In a previous study we reported that asthmatic and healthy children had more HE than their adult counterparts. We assumed that this might, in part, he due to the presence of immature eosinophils in children. To distinguish between immature and activated eosinophils, determination of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) might be interesting as it is known that high serum levels of ECP are associated with increased activation of eosinophiis. In this study we determined (he levels of ECP in scrum in asthmatic and healthy children and adults trying to distinguish activated from immature eosinophils. We found that ECP levels were not increased in children (healthy and asthmatic) compared to adults (healthy and asthmatic). This supports the hypothesis that increased numbers of HE in childhood are, at least in part, immature eosinophils. Nevertheless, we could confirm that inflammation was present in children because soluble interleukin-2-receptor (slL-2R), a marker of lymphocyte activation, was higher in asthmatic children as compared to healthy children. IL-6, a marker of macrophage/monocyte activation, was not different in the different patient groups. We conclude that although signs of inflammation are present in childhood asthma, the increased numbers of HE in children are in part due to the presence of immature eosinophils.     

支气管哮喘患者早期病理形态学改变

目的：应用电镜对支气管哮喘患者以气管粘膜进行观察，了解支气管病理形态学改变。方法：对持续咳嗽３￣１２个月的１２例哮喘患者，１周内未使用类固醇、妥痉平湍及抗组织胺类药物，行支气管镜常规检查，每例患者取２￣３块病理组织行电镜检查。结果：电镜下观察早期哮喘患者已具备了哮喘病理形态学改变，并且还发现线粒体变性、粗面内质网（ＲＥＲ）扩张及髓磷体的出现和轻度钙过载。意义：即使是早期哮喘患者的病理形态学改变也与     

Ischemic stroke in infancy,childhood, and adolescence

The authors studied 34 patients with juvenile ischemic cerebrovascular disease over a 15-year period. Of the 34 patients, 23 had intracranial occlusions attributed to cerebral thrombosis or embolism and 11 had occlusions resulting from moyamoya disease. Clinicopathological features were evaluated in the 23 cases with ischemic stroke, but not those with moyamoya disease. The cause of the arterial occlusion remained undetermined in 11 patients and was found to be an embolism based on congenital heart disease in 8, on trauma in 3, and on infection in 1. Cerebral angiography was performed in 21 patients. Of these, 17 had stenoses or occlusions corresponding to their symptoms. CT scans were performed in 10 patients; the lesion in question showed no stenosis or occlusion with cerebral angiography. With regard to prognosis, patients with unknown etiology had good outcomes compared with those with congenital heart disease. With respect to acute infantile hemiplegia, 10 patients had convulsive seizures and 4 had a history of an earlier infection. Angiography and CT scans in patients with congenital heart disease demonstrated arterial occlusive sites in the middle cerebral artery region. Three patients had abscesses after their ischemic lesions.     

酪酸梭菌活菌散对支气管哮喘患儿辅助性T细胞17、调节性T细胞及其相关细胞因子和肠道菌群的影响

目的 探讨酪酸梭菌活菌散对支气管哮喘患儿辅助性T细胞17(Th17细胞)、调节性T细胞(Tr细胞)及其相关细胞因子和肠道菌群的影响。方法 选择2018年3月至2020年6月新乡医学院第三附属医院收治的97例支气管哮喘患儿为研究对象,根据治疗方法将患儿分为观察组(n=49)和对照组(n=48)。对照组患儿给予吸入用布地奈德混悬液、吸入用异丙托溴铵溶液和孟鲁司特钠颗粒治疗;在对照组治疗基础上,观察者组患儿给予酪酸梭菌活菌散治疗,2组患儿均治疗2个月。应用流式细胞仪检测2组患儿治疗前后Th17细胞和Tr细胞水平,并计算Th17细胞与Tr细胞的比值(Th17/Tr);采用酶联免疫吸附试验检测2组患儿治疗前后血清中白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、白细胞介素-10(IL-10)水平。使用儿童肺功能仪检测2组患儿治疗前后第1秒用力呼气容积(FEV₁)、FEV₁/用力肺活量(FVC)、呼气流量峰值(PEF)日变异率;分别于治疗前后收集并培养2组患儿新鲜粪便,观察肠道菌群分布情况。治疗期间观察2组患儿不良反应发生情况,治疗后评估患儿临床疗效;所有患儿治疗后随访...     

The biochemical effects of high-dose inhaled salbutamol in patients with asthma

Summary We have studied the biochemical effects of high doses of inhaled salbutamol in 14 asthmatic patients age 38 years, FEV₁ 62%. Cumulative doubling doses of inhaled salbutamol were given every 20 min as follows: 100 µg, 200 µg, 500 µg, 1000 µg, 2000 µg, 4000 µg. Plasma glucose, potassium, and magnesium were measured at each step of the doseresponse curve.Salbutamol produced significant hypokalaemic and hyperglycaemic effects, but no significant change in magnesium. There were linear log-dose responses for both glucose (r/it=0.58) and potassium (r=–0.46).There were wide individual variations in maximum responses to salbutamol 4000 µg (as means and 95% confidence intervals): glucose 1.46 (0.83 to 2.09) mmol/l, potassium –0.38 (–0.64 to –0.12) mmol/l.Thus, hypokalaemic and hyperglycaemic effects may occur with doses of salbutamol similar to those curently used for nebulizer therapy (2.5–5 mg). We postulate that during acute exacerbations of airflow obstruction these changes may be accentuated and become clinically relevant.     

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) occurs in nonimmunocompromised patients and belongs to the hypersensitivity disorders induced by Aspergillus. Genetic factors and activation of bronchial epithelial cells in asthma or cystic fibrosis are responsible for the development of a CD(4)+Th2 lymphocyte activation and IgE, IgG and IgA-AF antibodies production. The diagnosis of ABPA is based on the presence of a combination of clinical, biological and radiological criteria. The severity of the disease is related to corticosteroid-dependant asthma or/and diffuse bronchiectasis with fibrosis. The treatment is based on oral corticosteroids for 6-8 weeks at acute phase or exacerbation and itraconazole is now recommended and validated at a dose of 200 mg/day for a duration of 16 weeks.