Genetic variants of CDH13 determine the susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a Chinese population.

AIM: Adiponectin has been implicated in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CDH13 gene encodes T-cadherin that is an adiponectin receptor, and genetic variants of CDH13 determine blood adiponectin levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CDH13 variants on COPD susceptibility in a Chinese population. METHODS: Ten single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in CDH13 were screened using the SNaPshot method in 279 COPD patients and 367 control subjects. Association of genotypes or haplotypes constructed from these loci with COPD was analyzed in different genetic models. RESULTS: Among the 10 SNPs tested, rs4783244 and rs12922394 exhibited significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between COPD patients and control subjects, whereas 8 other SNPs did not. The minor allele T was associated with decreased risk of COPD in the recessive model at rs4783244 (OR=0.42, P=0.023) and in the dominant model at rs12922394 (OR=0.70, P=0.022). The genotype TT at either rs4783244 or rs12922394 was associated with a significantly low level of plasma adiponectin when compared to genotypes GG and CC (P<0.05). Haplotypes GC in block 1 (rs4783244-rs12922394) as well as GTAC and ATGT in block 3 (rs4783266-rs11640522-rs11646849-rs11860282) significantly increased the risk of COPD, whereas haplotypes TT in block 1, TG in block 2 (rs11646011- rs11640875) and ATGC in block 3 were protective against COPD. CONCLUSION: CDH13 genetic variants determine Chinese individuals' susceptibility to COPD and thus are efficient genetic biomarkers for early detection of COPD.

[The initial CT findings in patients suffering from invasive pulmonary aspergillosis].

OBJECTIVE: To approach the initial CT findings of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with immunosuppression. METHODS: All consecutive adult patients who met the diagnostic criteria of the 2008 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/ Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) for proven or probable IPA were included as of January 2005 to June 2011. The patients were divided into two groups according to patients with or without hematological malignancy. The initial CT findings in our study were retrospectively reviewed by two thoracic radiologists, while patients' demographics and clinical outcomes were blinded. The pattern and number of abnormalities were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 65 IPA patients were eligible, with 34 hematological malignancy patients and 31 non-hematological patients. Among all IPA patients, the pattern of ground-glass opacity and consolidation or mass formation was most commonly seen (56.9%), followed by macronodules (46.2%); halo sign (32.3%) was relatively uncommon. Ground-glass opacity and consolidation or mass formation were more commonly identified in non-hematological patients than in hematological malignancy patients (54.8%, 45.2% vs. 8.8%, both P<0.05), but macronodules, infarct-shaped macronodules and halo signs were less frequently identified in the non-hematological group (16.1%, 3.2%, 12.9%, respectively) than in the hematological malignancy group (73.5%, 23.5% and 50.0%, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The airway-invasive form of IPA was more frequently seen in non-hematological patients (67.8%), whereas the angioinvasive form was more common in hematological malignancy patients (64.7%, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that CT findings of IPA in non-hematological patients more commonly present as the airway-invasive form, manifesting ground-glass opacity and consolidation or mass formation, whereas in patients with hematological malignancy it more likely shows evidence of the angioinvasive form with macronodules and halo signs.

Initial computed tomography findings of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in non-hematological patients.

BACKGROUND: The computed tomography (CT) findings of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) are unclear in non-hematological patients. The present study was a retrospective evaluation of CT images in non-hematological patients with IPA. METHODS: All adult patients who met the 2008 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria for proven or probable IPA were included during a 5-year study at our institutions. Initial CT findings in our cohort were retrospectively reviewed by two independent thoracic radiologists blinded to patient demographics and clinical outcomes. The presence, pattern, and distribution of abnormalities were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-three non-hematological patients with pathologically confirmed IPA were included in our study. Areas of ground-glass opacities were present in 14 patients (61%), which were bilateral in 10 patients and unilateral in four. This pattern mainly involved the middle and upper lung zones. Air-space consolidation was identified in 12 patients (52%), and the areas were distributed along the bronchus or subpleura in most cases. Other findings, including five small nodules (22%), three macronodules (13%), and one halo sign (4%), were less common. CONCLUSIONS: CT findings of IPA in non-hematological patients frequently manifested as acute bronchopneumonia, and ground-glass opacities and air-space consolidations were the most common CT findings of IPA in these patients.

Association between fibroblast growth factor 7 and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AIM: Fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) is involved in a number of physiological and pathological processes, including lung disease. However, relatively little is known about the effect of FGF7 gene polymorphisms on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) susceptibility. This study aimed to investigate the association between FGF7 polymorphisms with COPD susceptibility in a Chinese Han population. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of 279 COPD patients and 367 age- and gender-distribution-matched control subjects. The tagging SNPs rs10519225 and rs7170426 in FGF7 were genotyped by SNaPshot. The associations of each SNP genotype and haplotype constructed by these loci with COPD were analyzed. RESULTS: A multivariate analysis showed that rs10519225 was significantly associated with an increased risk of COPD (P=0.011, OR=1.535, FDR q=0.022), whereas no association was found for rs7170426. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed that these loci were in weak LD, with an r(2) of 0.033 and a D' of 0.232 (95% CI: 0.150-0.520). The haplotype constructed by allele G at rs10519225 and allele A at rs7170426 was associated with a decreased susceptibility to COPD (P=0.012, OR=0.751, FDR q=0.048). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that FGF7 may be one susceptibility factor for COPD.

[Effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors affecting the effect of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) on treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: According to the disease-induced factors, patients with ARDS were divided into two groups: group A (pulmonary factors), group B (extra-pulmonary factors). Different kinds of ventilator s were used in the course of NIPPV via facial or nasal mask. The mode, biphasic intermittent positive airway pressure (BiPAP, BiPAP vision), pressure support ventilation (PSV) + positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) + PSV + PEEP, was administered. After 3-10 hours, the patients who were not fit to NIPPV were conducted intubation. RESULTS: Group A had 9 cases, of whom 5 cases were treated with NIPPV all the time, while in group B, 14 cases, of whom 12 cases The cure rate of group A by NIPPV was 55.6% (5/9), while that of group B was 85.7% (12/14), P<0.05. CONCLUSION: Selecting proper indication, reasonable ventilator mode and parameters, and improving the unfavorable factors can contribute to the decrease of intubation rate.