ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The characteristics of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) based on its radiological classification is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical significances of ABPA patients with central bronchiectasis (ABPA-CB) by different radiological classifications of mucus plugs. METHODS: ABPA-CB patients from a pulmonary hospital between 2008 and 2015 were retrospectively included and analysed. According to the chest imaging in their first visit to physician, the ABPA-CB patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of high-attenuation mucus (HAM) or low-attenuation mucus (LAM). The primary endpoint was ABPA relapse within 1 year since the glucocorticoid withdrawal. The relationship between the imaging findings and the clinical prognosis was illuminated. RESULTS: A total of 125 ABPA patients were analysed in this study. Compared to the LAM group, the HAM group presented higher blood eosinophil cells counts, higher rates of Aspergillus detection isolated in sputum and expectoration of brownish-black mucus plugs, more affected lobes and segments, poorer pulmonary function and higher rate of relapse. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical characteristics and prognosis of ABPA-CB patients are closely related to its radiological phenotype of mucus plugs in the central bronchiectasis. Clinicians should promote a diversity of personalized treatments for different patients with different radiological characteristics.
Subject(s)
Aspergillus/isolation & purification , Bronchiectasis/etiology , Bronchoscopy/methods , Mucus/microbiology , Pulmonary Aspergillosis/complications , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods , Adult , Bronchiectasis/classification , Bronchiectasis/diagnosis , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pulmonary Aspergillosis/diagnosis , Pulmonary Aspergillosis/microbiology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), which could induce the poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to characterize the molecular mechanism of the functional changes of CDllb+/Ly6Cintermediate macrophages after renal IRI. The gene expression profiles of CDllb+/Ly6Cintermcdiate macrophages of the sham surgery mice, and the mice 4 h, 24 h and 9 days after renal IRI were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Analysis of mRNA expression profiles was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), biological processes and pathways by the series test of cluster. Protein-protein interaction network was constructed and analysed to discover the key genes. A total of 6738 DEGs were identified and assigned to 20 model profiles. DEGs in profile 13 were one of the predominant expression profiles, which are involved in immune cell chemotaxis and proliferation. Signet analysis showed that Atp5al, Atp5o, Cox4i, Cdc42, Rac2 and Nhp2 were the key genes involved in oxidation-reduction, apoptosis, migration, M1-M2 differentiation, and proliferation of macrophages. RPS18 may be an appreciate reference gene as it was stable in macrophages. The identified DEGs and their enriched pathways investigate factors that may participate in the functional changes of CD 1lb+Ly6Cintermediate macrophages after renal IRI. Moreover, the vital gene Nhp2 may involve the polarization of macrophages, which may be a new target to affect the process of AKI.
Subject(s)
Gene Regulatory Networks , Kidney/blood supply , Macrophages/metabolism , Protein Interaction Maps , Reperfusion Injury/genetics , Transcriptome , Antigens, Ly/genetics , Antigens, Ly/metabolism , CD11b Antigen/genetics , CD11b Antigen/metabolism , Humans , Kidney/cytology , Kidney/metabolism , Reperfusion Injury/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Refractory globus is not rare in clinical practice, but little research about it. AIMS: To investigate the clinical-psychological characteristics of patients with refractory globus. METHODS: Six hundred and nineteen globus patients were divided into the refractory globus group (n=149) and the non-refractory globus group (n=470). All subjects completed the following questionnaires: demographic characteristics, medical information, Hamilton Rating Scale of Anxiety/Depression, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Glasgow Edinburgh Throat Scale, and 36-item Short Form Health Survey. RESULTS: No significantly differences were found in demographic characteristics between the two groups, but the refractory globus group had longer disease duration and more serious symptoms. Sought healthcare more frequently but still had poorer quality of life than did the non-refractory globus group. Compared with the non-refractory globus group, the refractory globus group also had higher percentages of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Positive correlations were observed between the severity of globus symptoms and HAMA, HAMD, and PSQI scores. CONCLUSIONS: Refractory globus is not rare in clinical practice and should receive more attention from patients and doctors because of its severe symptoms, long disease duration, poor quality of life, and accompanied by psychological disorders and sleep disorders.
Subject(s)
Anxiety/epidemiology , Conversion Disorder/psychology , Depression/epidemiology , Quality of Life , Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , China , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is critical in regulating energy metabolism. Due to the significant change in energy metabolism of myocardium upon pressure overload, we hypothesize that UCP2 could contribute to the etiology of cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS: Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to pressure overload by using transverse aortic constriction (TAC), and then received genipin (a UCP2 selective inhibitor; 25 mg/kg/d, ip) or vehicle for three weeks prior to histologic assessment of myocardial hypertrophy. ATP concentration, ROS level, and myocardial apoptosis were also examined. A parallel set of experiments was also conducted in UCP2-/- mice. RESULTS: TAC induced left ventricular hypertrophy, as reflected by increased ventricular weight/thickness and increased size of myocardial cell (vs. sham controls). ATP concentration was decreased; ROS level was increased. Apoptosis and fibrosis markers were increased. TAC increased mitochondrial UCP2 expression in the myocardium at both mRNA and protein levels. Genipin treatment attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and the histologic/biochemical changes described above. Hypertrophy and associated changes induced by TAC in UCP2-/- mice were much less pronounced than in WT mice. CONCLUSIONS: Blocking UCP2 expression attenuates cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload.
