The diagnostic value of bronchial provocation testing combined with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in children with chest tightness-variant asthma (CTVA).

BACKGROUND: Chest tightness-variant asthma (CTVA) is a novel atypical asthma characterized by chest tightness as the sole or primary symptom. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of bronchial provocation testing combined with fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the diagnosis of CTVA in children. METHODS: This study included 95 children aged 6-14 years with chest tightness as the sole symptom, with a duration of symptoms exceeding 4 weeks. All subjects underwent FeNO measurement, pulmonary function testing, and bronchial provocation testing using the Astograph method. Subjects with positive bronchial provocation testing were classified as the CTVA group, while those with negative results served as the non-CTVA control group. RESULTS: The lung function of children in both groups was normal. The FeNO level in the CTVA group was (22.35 ± 9.91) ppb, significantly higher than the control group (14.85 ± 5.63) ppb, with a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The value of FeNO in diagnosing CTVA was analyzed using an ROC curve, with an area under the curve of 0.073 (P < 0.05). The optimal cutoff point for diagnosing CTVA using FeNO was determined to be 18.5 ppb, with a sensitivity of 60.3 % and specificity of 77.8 %. There was a negative correlation between FeNO and Dmin as well as PD15 (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: FeNO can serve as an adjunctive diagnostic tool for CTVA, with the optimal cutoff point for diagnosing CTVA being 18.5 ppb. However, FeNO is not a specific diagnostic marker for CTVA and should be used in conjunction with bronchial provocation testing to enhance its diagnostic value.

Sex-specific photosynthetic capacity and Na+ homeostasis in Populus euphratica exposed to NaCl stress and AMF inoculation.

Soil salinity and associated land degradation are major ecological problems. Excess Na+ ions in soil impede the plant photosynthetic process and Na+ homeostasis status. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can alleviate salt stress in host plants. Although a number of studies have demonstrated that Na+ accumulation is decreased by mycorrhizae, the molecular mechanisms involved have received little attention from researchers. Populus euphratica is a typical natural woody tree with excellent salt tolerance. Due to its symbiosis forming capability with AMF, we explored the influence of Funneliformis mosseae on the growth, photosynthesis, and expression of three genes involved in Na+ homeostasis within dioecious P. euphratica under salt stress. The results indicated that salt stress significantly increases Na+ contents and inhibits growth status and photosynthetic capacity, especially in females. However, AMF had positive effects on the growth status, photosynthetic capacity and Na+ homeostasis, especially in males. The expression levels of NHX1 in shoots and HKT1 and SOS1 in roots, all of which are involved in Na+ homeostasis, were upregulated by F. mosseae under salt stress. For males, the beneficial effect of AMF centered on extruding, sequestering and long-distance transporting of Na+ ions . For females, the beneficial effect of AMF centered on extruding excessive Na+.

High-infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages predicts unfavorable clinical outcome for node-negative breast cancer.

The tumor microenvironment is composed of tumor cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and infiltrating immune cells, which may inhibit or promote tumor growth and progression. The objectives of this retrospective study were to characterize the density of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in breast cancer, and to correlate the density of TAMs with clinicopathological parameters. Paraffin-embedded specimens and clinicopathological data, including up to 5 years follow-up information, were obtained from 172 breast cancer patients. Immunohistochemical staining for CD68 (marker for macrophages) was performed and evaluated in a blinded fashion. We found that TAMs were significantly frequent in high histopathological grade breast cancer patients. Breast cancer patients with a high density of TAMs had significantly lower rates of disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival than patients with low density of TAMs. Furthermore, high-infiltration of TAMs indicated worse survival rate for patients with node-negative breast cancer. In conclusion, the number of TAMs in the tumor stroma is an independent predictor of survival time for breast cancer patients. High-infiltration of TAMs is a significant unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with invasive breast cancer and, as such, is a potentially useful prognostic marker for breast cancer.

Wheel-like Mn(II)6 and Ni(II)6 complexes from the use of 2-pyridinealdoxime and carboxylates.

The employment of 2-pyridinealdoxime, (py)C(H)NOH, in nickel(II) and manganese(II) carboxylate chemistry under solvothermal conditions is reported. The syntheses, crystal structures and magnetochemical characterization (for two representative compounds) are described for [Ni(6)(O(2)CMe)(6){(py)C(H)NO}(6)].H(2)O (1.H(2)O), [Ni(6)(O(2)CPh)(6){(py)C(H)NO}(6)].2EtOH (2.2EtOH), [Ni(6){(4-Cl)O(2)CPh}(6){(py)C(H)NO}(6)].2EtOH (3.2EtOH) and [Mn(6)(O(2)CMe)(6){(py)C(H)NO}(6)].H(2)O (4.H(2)O), where (4-Cl)PhCO(2)(-) is 4-chlorobenzoate. The reactions of M(O(2)CMe)(2).4H(2)O (M = Ni, Mn) with one equivalent of (py)C(H)NOH in EtOH at 120 degrees C under autogenous pressure give isostructural 1.H(2)O and 4.H(2)O. Complexes 2.2EtOH and 3.2EtOH were obtained from the 1 : 1 : 1 Ni(O(2)CMe)(2).4H(2)O/{(py)C(H)NOH/(X)PhCO(2)H reaction mixtures in EtOH under solvothermal conditions (X = H, 4-Cl). The structurally similar clusters 1-4 have a wheel-like topology with the six metal ions in a chair conformation. Each metal site is bound to four oxygen and two nitrogen atoms; the donor atoms come from two carboxylate oxygens, two oximate oxygens, one pyridyl nitrogen and one oximate nitrogen atom. The carboxylate ligands show the syn, syn eta(1):eta(1):mu mode, while the (py)C(H)NO(-) ions behave as eta(1):eta(1):eta(2):mu(3) ligands. Each metal...metal vector is bridged by one carboxylate group, one mu-O derived from a (py)C(H)NO(-) ligand and by one diatomic oximate-NO- group from an adjacent (py)C(H)NO(-) group. The IR spectra of the complexes are discussed in terms of the coordination modes of the ligands. Variable-temperature, solid-state dc magnetic susceptibility studies were carried out on polycrystalline samples of 1 and 4. The data in the 2.0-300 K range have been fit to a model with one J value revealing moderate (1) or weak (2) antiferromagnetic M(II)...M(II) exchange interactions. This work demonstrates the synthetic potential of combining (py)C(H)NOH with carboxylate ligands and the usefulness of solvothermal techniques in 3d-metal cluster chemistry.