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Objective To evaluate the application of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in the reducing treatment of bronchial asthma.Methods From October 2015 to September 2016,60 asthmatic patients with FeNO＞25 ppb were randomized into FeNO group and control group with 30 cases in each group.Patients in both groups were treated with combined inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta 2 agonist (ICS/LABA) starting with low doses;the dosage was adjusted according to the symptom control alone in control group,while in FeNO group the dosage was adjusted according to the symptom control and FeNO level.After 1 year-follow up,the Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores,Asthma Life Questionnaire (mini AQLQ)scores,pulmonary function,FeNO levels,blood eosinophil counts,total IgE,hierarchical control level,cumulative corticosteroid use and cumulative months of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) use were compared before and after treatment within group,and between two groups.Stratified analysis was carried out in the patients complicated with allergic rhinitis.Results After treatment,ACT scores,mini AQLQ scores and FEV1/pred (％) were significantly higher than those before treatmentin both groups (t=10.755,10.189,8.632 and 13.311,8.102,12.456,respectively,all P＜0.05),while the FeNO,EOS and total IgE levels were significantly lower than those before treatment (t=8.005,3.313,3.924 and 8.967,3.885,3.270,respectively,all P＜0.05),and the numbers of patients with good control were significantly increased (Z=-5.035 and-4.976 respectively,P＜0.05).Compared with control group,FeNO level was lower,mini AQLQ scores of symptom scores and emotional scores were higher and the average numbers of asthma attacks per patient per year were less after treatment in FeNO group (t=2.912,4.214,4.589,U=2.154,all P＜0.05).However,there was no significant difference in cumulative corticosteroid use and cumulative months of LTRA use between two groups (U=564.000 t=1.921 and 0.165,respectively,P＞0.05).For patients complicated with allergic rhinitis,the numbers of acute asthma attack were increased and the cumulative dosage of systemic corticosteroid use was higher in control group than those in FeNO group (both P＜0.05).Conclusion The reducing treatment strategy based on FeNO level and symptom control is of clinical value for patients with bronchial asthma,especially for those complicated with allergic rhinitis.
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Objective@#To investigate the effects of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38 MAPK) inhibitor (SB203580) on airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.@*Methods@#Forty-eight female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups (n=12): control group, asthma group, dexamethasone group (2 mg/kg) and SB203580 group (5 mg/kg). Within 24 hours after the last ovalbumin (OVA) challenge, airway responsiveness was measured by lung resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for counting total cells, eosinophils, lymphocytes, neutrophils and macrophages. IgE and OVA-specific IgE in serum and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ in BALF were detected by ELISA. Lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) to observe histopathological changes. Expression of p38 MAPK and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) MAPK was detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot, respectively.@*Results@#(1) The mice in the asthma group showed typical symptoms of acute asthma after inhaling aerosolized OVA, while the symptoms were alleviated in those treated with dexamethasone or SB203580. (2) When challenged with the methacholine at the doses of 0.050 mg/kg, 0.100 mg/kg and 0.200 mg/kg, asthmatic mice treated with dexamethasone or SB203580 showed significantly decreased RL and increased Cdyn as compared with those in the asthma group (all P<0.05). (3) The concentrations of total IgE and OVA-specific IgE in serum in both dexamethasone and SB203580 groups were lower than those in the asthma group (all P<0.05). (4) Compared with the asthma group, the numbers of the total cells, eosinophil, lymphocytes and neutrophils in BALF were decreased in dexamethasone and SB203580 groups (all P<0.05). (5) Compared with the asthma group, the dexamethasone and SB203580 groups showed lower levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, but higher levels of IFN-γ in BALF (all P<0.05). (6) Dexamethasone or SB203580 significantly decreased the hyperemia and edema in airway mucosa, reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the peribronchial areas and alleviated the tracheal epithelium goblet cell metaplasia in asthmatic mice. (7) Treatment with dexamethasone or SB203580 inhibited OVA-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in asthmatic mice as revealed by immunohistochemical staining (both P<0.05). No significant difference in the expression of p38 MAPK was observed among the four groups (all P>0.05). (8) Expression of p-p38 MAPK at protein level in both dexamethasone and SB203580 groups was lower than that in asthma group (both P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#SB203580 regulated the Th1/Th2 balance through inhibiting the activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway to alleviate OVA-induced airway inflammation.
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Objective To explore drug resistance and distribution of multidrug-resistant(MDR)Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis)in a county-level hospital,so as to strengthen the prevention and control of health-care-associated infection with M.tuberculosis .Methods Specimens with positive sputum smear were performed M. tuberculosis culture and drug resistance testing,and distribution of MDR tuberculosis patients in the departments before isolation were investigated retrospectively.Results Of 488 patients with tuberculosis,254 were positive for sputum smear,122 M.tuberculosis strains were isolated from positive sputum smear patients,120 isolates were per-formed drug susceptibility testing,results revealed that 86 isolates were drug-resistant strains,46 of which were monodrug-resistant,40 were MDR.Of MDR strains,16 were all resistant to isoniazide,rifampicin,streptomycin, and ethambutol.The percentage of monodrug-resistance,MDR,pandrug resistance was 9.43%,8.20%,and 3.28% respectively.Medical imaging department,ultrasound department,and respiratory disease department were the main units of M.tuberculosis exposure.Conclusion The percentage of MDR M.tuberculosis is high among M. tuberculosis ,surveillance should be intensified,so as to prevent the transmission in hospital.
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Objective To investigate the drug resistance and risk factors of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) induced by imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.Methods Clinical data on 114 patients with Acinetobacter baumannii-related HAPs admitted in Wujiang First People' s Hospital in Suzhou during January 2013 and December 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the results of drug sensitivity test,patients were divided into imipenem-resistant group and non imipenem-resistant group.Drug resistance to 20 commonly used antibiotics was observed in two groups,and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection.Results Among 114 strains ofAcinetobacter baumannii,66 strains (57.89％) were imipenem-resistant and 48 strains (42.11％) were non-imipenem-resistant.The resistance rates to β-lactams,quinolones and aminoglycosides were significantly higher in imipenem-resistant group than those in non-imipenem-resistant group (P ＜ 0.01),and no tigecycline-resistant strain was found in both groups.Univariate analysis showed that acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score ≥ 15,plasma level of albumin ≤ 25 g/L,intensive care unit (ICU) stay,indwelling gastric tube,deep venous catheterization,establishment of artificial airway,mechanical ventilation time ≥ 7 d,use of broad-spectrum antibiotics ≥ 14 d and combined use of antibiotics were risk factors of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii related HAP (x2 =13.06,6.86,25.40,15.09,17.87,21.46,17.94,6.91 and 10.10,P ＜0.01).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that establishment of artificial airway [OR =72.014,95％ confidetial interval (CI):19.566-265.061,P ＜ 0.01],and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics ≥ 14 d (OR =3.892,95％ CI:1.092-13.879,P ＜ 0.05) were independent risk factors of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii related HAP.Conclusion Imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains are highly resistant to most antibiotics.Strict control of invasive procedures and long-term combined use of antibiotics may reduce the occurrence of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii related HAPs.
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Objective To investigate whether maternal antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs)in infants may interfere with the antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine. Methods Infants from singleton pregnant mothers,who delivered at full term at the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School from October 2006 to January 2007,were divided into two groups based on their mothers'status of anti-HBs(43 positive and 29 negative).All infants were vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine at birth and one month thereafter.Serum anti-HBs were quantitatively determined for the mothers before delivery and for infants in cord blood at delivery and in serum at the age of 1 and 3.5 months. Results Anti-HBs of all 43 newborns in the positive group were positive in cord blood with the coefficiency of 0.98 to the maternal serum anti-HBs level(t=39.05,P<0.01).Forty-two out of the 43 infants remained anti-HBs positive at the age of 1 month.Anti-HBs was negative both at birth and 1 month old in infants of the negative group.However,all infants in both groups were anti-HBs positive at 3.5 months of age,while the average concentration of anti-HBs in infants of the negative group was significantly higher than that of the positive group [(466.9±86.7)mIU/ml vs(151.2±23.1)mIU/ml,t=2.72,P=0.011].Among the 5 infants whose maternal anti-HBs level>1000 mIU/ml,3 did not produce active antibodies against two doses of hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusions Passively acquired maternal anti-HBs in infants can inhibit the active antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine,and the extent of this effect is associated with maternal anti-HBs level.
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Objective To investigate the influencing factors of pain and the changes of vital signs in newborn infants. Methods Forty two newborn infants were rated by the behavioral scale of acute pain in newborn infants. The scores of pain were compared among infants with different gender,gestational age,birth weight,birth age,type of puncture and whether by vaginal birth or not. At the same time,the respiration rate,heart rate,blood pressure and oxygen saturation (SO2)were dynami-cally recorded by the multi-function monitor in the process of puncture. Results The average score of pain was 7.6. There was no significant difference among newborn infants with different gender,gestational age,birth weight and type of puncture(P> 0.05),while significant differences among infants with different birth age and whether by vaginal birth or not (P=0.015 and 0.043 respectively). In the process of puncture,the SO2 was significantly decreased,while the respiration rate,heart rate,sys-tolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly increased. Conclusions Pain is prevalent in newborn infants and accom-panied by obvious changes of vital signs. The means of childbirth and birth age have significant influence on the neonatal pain. It is suggested to pay close attention to the neonatal pain and take effective interventions.
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Objective To observe the effect and mechanism of imiquimod on T helper (Th) cell subsets in the Parabronchial lymph node (PBLN) cell cultures from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized rats.Methods PBLN were isolated and cultured. PBLN cells were divided into A~F, according to different concentrations of intervention. Cultured for 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours, the expressions of IL-4 and IFN-? in supernatants were determined by ELISA. The mRNA expressions of the cytokines in cells were detected by RT-PCR.Results In the group A, only low concentrations of IFN-? were detected. Based on the cultured time, the concentrations of IFN-? were increased significantly if imiquimod concentration was between 1 and 10 ?g/ml. Levels of IL-4 were increased slowly compared with those in the group B (P0.05).Conclusion Imiquimod show the best effect on antigen-specific Th cell subsets when cultured for 12h. The results suggest that imiquimod have benefit in atopic diseases such as the late inflammation reaction of asthma.