An epidemiology study of bronchial asthma in the Li ethnic group in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma in the Li ethnic group in Hainan, China. METHODS: This study employed a stratified random sample design using custom-designed questionnaires. Subjects with asthma-like symptoms were first identified by two rounds of surveys and then confirmed by respiratory physicians using pulmonary function test, bronchial dilation test and challenge test. Demographic data, information on family history of asthma, history of allergies, smoking habits, domestic cooking fuel and other potential risk factors were collected. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate risk factors for asthma. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group was 3.38%, much higher than the national average level in China. Aging, agriculture industry (the rubber industry in particular), rural residence, family history of asthma, history of allergies, cold air, inhalation of dust and irritant gases, smoking, domestic cooking fuel and living environment were associated with increased risk of asthma. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group highlights the importance of asthma prevention and treatment in this population. Risk factors indentified in this study warrant special attention. Elevating public awareness about asthma in local communities will benefit the prevention of the disease.

Carbohydrate-associated immunodominant epitope(s) of CA215.

RP215 monoclonal antibody (Mab) was initially generated against OC-3-VGH ovarian cancer cells and was shown to react with a cancer-associated carbohydrate epitope in glycoproteins designated as CA215. Additional five high affinity Mabs, designated as RCA-10, -100, -104, -110 and -111, respectively, were generated by using affinity-purified CA215 as the immunogen in this study. All RCA Mabs were found to recognize periodate-sensitive carbohydrate-associated epitope(s) and to pair with RP215 in typical sandwich enzyme immunoassays for the quantification of CA215. When compared with those of RP215, the amino acid sequence homology of the Fab regions ranged from 100% for RCA-100 to 65% for RCA-110, based on which 3 distinct Mab groups were categorized. In vitro TUNEL apoptosis and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays were performed with these Mabs and found to have comparable inhibitory efficacy to cancer cells. Results of biochemical and immunological assays revealed that RP215, RCA-100 and RCA-10 react with the linear carbohydrate-associated epitope, whereas the others recognize the conformational form of the epitope in CA215. This study has suggested that the unique carbohydrate-associated epitope(s) is immunodominant in mice when immunized with CA215. It remains to be demonstrated if the differential anti-cancer efficacy exists among the distinct groups of these anti-CA215 Mabs.

[Effect of TXA2 inhibitor on the proliferation and apoptosis of hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells of porcines].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) inhibitor on the proliferation of hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) of porcines. METHODS: The methods of 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), immunohistochemistry of Ki67 and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) were employed to measure the proliferation, inhibition rate and apoptosis of PASMC. RESULTS: U46619, a thromboxane A2 agonist, could promote the proliferation and expression of Ki67 in PASMC under hypoxic and normal conditions. It could also inhibit the apoptosis of PASMC. Ozagrel, a thromboxane A2 inhibitor, inhibited the proliferation and the expression of Ki67 in PASMC under hypoxia. The inhibition rate was 71.4%, but it had no effect on the proliferation and expression of Ki67 in PASMC under normal conditions. It promoted the apoptosis of PASMC. Ozagrel could inhibit the action of U46619 in promoting the proliferation and expression of Ki67 in PASMC and inhibit the apoptosis of PASMC. CONCLUSION: Ozagrel may be used in treating the pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting the proliferation of PASMC, pulmonary vascular remodeling, and promote the apoptosis of PASMC.

[Prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma among Li nationality in Hainan province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the risk factors of bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan. METHODS: A total of 13 050 subjects of Li nationality were selected by random unequal ratio stratified cluster sampling method from southern, central and western part of Hainan and investigated with Hainan Epidemiological Asthma Survey Questionnaire of Li Nationality. There were 441 cases of bronchial asthma, and 1296 cases of control that were sampled by random number table method. The logistic regression method was used to analyze risk factors. RESULTS: The asthma prevalence of Li nationality in Hainan was 3.38%(441/13 050). The main risk factors of asthma were family asthma (OR = 4.323, 95%CI = 3.259 - 5.735), hypersensitiveness (OR = 7.775, 95%CI = 5.686 - 10.632), smoking (OR = 1.494, 95%CI = 1.174 - 1.902), cooking fuels and living environment. Cold air change (OR = 1.604, 95%CI = 1.286 - 2.001) and respirable dust or irritant gas (OR = 2.123, 95%CI = 1.702 - 2.648) were the important incentives. CONCLUSION: The main risk factors of asthma among Li nationality were family asthma, hypersensitiveness, smoking, cooking fuels by means of fuel oil, hay or wood, living environment by means of couch grass room and human-livestock mix live, cold air change, respirable dust or irritant gas.

[Correlation between high sensitive C-reactive protein, lipoprotein(a), blood uric acid and severity of coronary artery disease].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the relationship between high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), lipoprotein (Lp)(a), blood uric acid (BUA) and severity of coronary artery disease (CHD). METHODS: A total of 813 cases of suspected or established coronary atherosclerotic heart disease patients were recruited. The patients received selective coronary arteriography and they were divided into normal and CHD groups according to the result of selective coronary arteriography. The dividing mark was coronary artery stenosis more than 50% by selective coronary arteriography. Patients in CHD group were further divided into 1-4 vessel disease. Blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-ch, hs-CRP and BUA were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. RESULTS: Among them, 754 cases (CHD group, 92.7%) were confirmed as coronary heart disease while 59 cases (control group, 7.3%) confirmed as non-coronary heart disease. There were significantly difference between two groups (P < 0.05): hs-CRP (7.12 ± 4.48 vs 1.71 ± 1.42) mg/L, Lp(a) (0.45 ± 0.42 vs 0.18 ± 0.03) mmol/L and BUA (402 ± 103 vs 327 ± 88) µmol/L. The levels of hs-CRP, Lp(a) and BUA in different number of diseased coronary vessels significantly differed from each other (P < 0.05). A comparison of 1-vessel disease group versus 4 vessel disease group was as follows: hs-CRP (3.59 ± 2.93 vs 13.11 ± 3.00) mg/L, Lp(a) (0.37 ± 0.25 vs 0.58 ± 0.17) mmol/L and BUA (384 ± 126 vs 444 ± 91) µmol/L. Logistic regression analysis showed that hs-CRP, Lp(a) and BUA were independent risk factors of coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: The elevations of hs-CRP, LP(a) and BUA promote the establishment and development of coronary artery disease. A joint detection of hs-CRP, Lp(a) and BUA shows a comparatively great value in evaluating high-risk groups and the patient's condition. And it provides references for an active intervention of clinical coronary heart disease.

[The study of relationship between platelet function and thrombus in patients with essential thrombocythaemia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of the plasma thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-PGF1alpha, CD62P and PAC-1 and Thrombus in patients with primary thrombocytosis (ET). To observe the effect of sodium ozagrel to prevent and treat thrombosis in patients with ET. METHODS: The subjects including 48 patients with ET. All patients were measured the plasma TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha, CD62P and PAC-1 before and after treatment with or without sodium ozagrel. RESULTS: The plasma levels of CD62P, PAC-1, TXB2, 6-keto-PGF1alpha and TXA2/PGI2 in the patients with ET were significantly higher than the normal people (P < 0.01). The levels of CD62P, PAC-1, TXB2, TXB2/6-keto-PGF1alpha in patients with treatment of sodium ozagrel were higher than patients without treatment of sodium ozagrel (P < 0.01). The plasma levels of CD62P, PAC-1 and TXA2/PGI2 in patients with treatment of sodium ozagrel and that in normal people had no significant distinction (P < 0.01). All the index of conventional therapy group were higher than normal people (P < 0.01) but had no significant distinction with the patients before conventional treating. The incidence of thrombus in patients treated with sodium ozagrel was lower than patients treated without sodium ozagrel (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: With the treatment of sodium ozagrel in patients with ET, the CD62P, PAC-1, TXB2 and TXA2/PGI2 of plasma could be decreased. And the incidence of thrombus was decreased.

[Prevalence survey on bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan from 2003 to 2007].

OBJECTIVE: To learn the prevalence rate and distribution of bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan by epidemiological survey so as to provide rationales for preventing and treating asthma. METHODS: A total of 13 050 subjects of Li nationality in Hainan were investigated by random sampling of stratified cluster method with an unequal ratio according to the medical records, physical signs and symptoms and pulmonary function tests. Then the prevalence was analyzed according to different population characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of asthma was 3.38% for Li nationality in Hainan. And it increased with an advancing age. It was much higher in agricultural population (4.08%) than that in cultivation and commercial populations (2.52% and 1.97%, P < 0.01). The asthma prevalence rate was in the highest at 4.62% in rubber workers. And it was much higher in rural areas than that in urban areas (3.85% vs 2.63%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological distribution of asthma of Li nationality in Hainan has been determined. And asthma remains a severe problem locally. The efforts of preventing and treating asthma and its education should be strengthened.

[Serum adiponectin level in patients of chronic pulmonary heart disease with cardiac failure].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of the concentration of serum adiponectin in patients of chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD) with cardiac failure. METHODS: Thirty-eight CPHD patients with cardiac failure underwent conventional treatment, and were divided into 2 subgroups: remission subgroup (n = 32) and non-remission subgroup (n = 6) according to the therapeutic effects 2 weeks later. Peripheral blood samples were collected from these 38 CPHD patients (CPHD group), including the remission subgroup and non-remission subgroup, and 30 healthy persons (as normal control group). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of adiponectin, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha before and 2 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: The serum adiponectin of the CPHD group was (9.5 +/- 7.1) ng/L in general, significantly lower than that of the normal control group [(21.5 +/- 9.0) ng/L, P < 0.01]. The serum adiponectin of the remission group was (17.0 +/- 6.3) ng/L, significantly higher than that of the non-remission group [(8.1 +/- 4.8) ng/L, P < 0.01], but still significantly lower than that of the normal control group (P < 0.05). The IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels of the CPHD group were (50.0 +/- 17.6) and (53.8 +/- 16.2) ng/L respectively, both significantly higher than those of normal control group [(24.4 +/- 9.1) and (28.4 +/- 11.4) ng/L respectively, both P < 0.01]. The IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels of the remission group were (29.0 +/- 12.1) ng/L and (32.3 +/- 13.5) ng/L respectively, both significantly lower than those of the non-remission group [(56.0 +/- 16.0) and (59.3 +/- 19.1) ng/L respectively, both P < 0.01], but not significantly different from those of the normal control group. There were no significant differences in the adiponectin, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels between the non-remission group and the CPHD group. CONCLUSIONS: Adiponectin is involved in the pathophysiological process of heart failure in the CPHD patients. It may be a useful index to guide treatment and judge prognosis by dynamically determining the serum adiponectin.

[Serum levels of erythropoietin and transferrin receptor in thalassemia of the Li nationality].

immunosorbent To determine serum EPO and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) level and to assess the degree of erythropoietic proliferation in patients with thalassemia of Li nationality, 50 cases and 50 normal individuals were studied. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for EPO and sTfR. Results showed that serum EPO and sTfR levels in beta-thalasemia major patients were significantly higher than those in normal control group, and no significant difference in beta-thalassemia minor cases with those in control. It is concluded that increase of serum EPO and sTfR level is related to the type of thalassemia.