Relationships of hepatic and pancreatic biomarkers with the cholestatic syndrome and tumor stage in pancreatic cancer

We analyzed relationships of hepatic and pancreatic biomarkers with the cholestatic syndrome and tumor stage in exocrine pancreatic cancer (N = 183). Information on laboratory tests and on signs and symptoms was obtained from medical records and patient interviews. Bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase were lower in tumor stage IV. The association was due to the relationship between cholestatic syndrome and earlier presentation of patients. There was no association between hepatic biomarkers and stage when adjusting by cholestatic syndrome. Relationships of hepatic and pancreatic biomarkers with pancreatic symptoms and tumor stage must be controlled in “-omics” and other studies using biomarkers.     

阿托伐他汀对慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并肺动脉高压患者外周血ROCK2激酶活性及肺动脉压力的影响

目的：探讨口服阿托伐他汀片对慢性阻塞性肺疾病（chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease,COPD）合并肺动脉高压（pul-monary hypertension,PH）患者外周血ROCK2激酶活性及肺动脉压力的影响。方法：选取COPD合并PH患者60例为研究对象,并将其随机分为对照组（给予吸氧、抗感染、化痰、平喘等基础治疗）和阿托伐他汀治疗组（在基础治疗的基础上给予阿托伐他汀片20mg／d治疗）;随访观察周期12周,于试验开始前和结束后检测外周血ROCK2的活性,利用彩色多普勒检测肺动脉压力的变化,肺功能变化（测定FEV1,FVC）。结果：与对照组比较,阿托伐他汀治疗可显著降低患者血浆中ROCK2的水平（P〈0．01）;降低患者的肺动脉压力,改善患者的肺功能（FEV1,FVC）,P均〈0．05。结论：在常规吸氧、抗感染等治疗的基础上,联合应用阿托伐他汀可显著降低ROCK2激酶的活性和肺动脉压力,从而改善肺功能。     

不同雌激素水平下大鼠颏舌肌肌电反应的研究

目的：通过比较不同雌激素水平下大鼠颏舌肌的肌电反应,探讨雌激素在预防及降低阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）发病过程中的作用机制。方法：选择30只6周龄SD大鼠建立不同雌激素水平模型,用电子称评估术前、术后和雌激素替代治疗后大鼠的体重变化;放射免疫法检测血清雌激素水平;电生理方法检测不同雌激素水平颏舌肌的肌电反应。结果：与假手术组（SHAM）相比,去势组（OVX）大鼠术后6周体重明显增加（P〈0．01）,雌激素替代治疗组（OVX＋E2）与SHAM组体重相当。血清雌激素检测结果显示OVX组雌激素水平最低,与SHAM组相比具有显著差异（P〈0．01）;OVX＋E2组雌激素水平高于OVX组（P〈0．01）,但仍未恢复到SHAM组水平。电生理检测结果显示,与SHAM组相比,OVX组颏舌肌肌电强度最低（P〈0．05）,OVX＋E2组颏舌肌的肌电强度显著高于OVX组（P〈0．05）,但仍低于SHAM组。结论：血清雌激素水平可以直接影响大鼠颏舌肌肌电强度．这可能是雌激素保护OSAHS的原因之一。     

Three-year follow-up of Interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Past studies have shown that mean values of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) do not change significantly in COPD patients over a one-year period. However, longer period follow-up studies are still lacking. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate plasma CRP and IL-6 concentration over three years in COPD patients and to test the association between these inflammatory mediators and disease outcome markers.

Methods

A cohort of 77 outpatients with stable COPD was evaluated at baseline, and 53 (mean FEV₁, 56% predicted) were included in the prospective study. We evaluated Interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), six-minute walking distance (6MWD), and body mass index (BMI) at baseline and after three years. Plasma concentration of IL-6 was measured by high sensitivity ELISA, and CRP was obtained by high sensitivity particle-enhanced immunonephelometry.

Results

IL-6 increased significantly after 3 years compared to baseline measurements [0.8 (0.5-1.3) vs 2.4 (1.3-4.4) pg/ml; p < 0.001] and was associated with worse 6MWD performance. In the Cox regression, increased IL-6 at baseline was associated with mortality [Hazard Ratio (95% CI) = 2.68 (0.13, 1.84); p = 0.02]. CRP mean values did not change [5 (1.6-7.9) vs 4.7 (1.7-10) pg/L; p = 0.84], although eleven patients (21%) presented with changes >3 mg/L in CRP after 3 years.

Conclusions

The systemic inflammatory process, evaluated by IL-6, seems to be persistent, progressive and associated with mortality and worse physical performance in COPD patients.

Trial registration

No.:{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00605540","term_id":"NCT00605540"}}NCT00605540     

Effect of the velopharynx on intraluminal pressures in reconstructed pharynges derived from individuals with and without sleep apnea

The most collapsible part of the upper airway in the majority of individuals is the velopharynx which is the segment positioned behind the soft palate. As such it is an important morphological region for consideration in elucidating the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study compared steady flow properties during inspiration in the pharynges of nine male subjects with OSA and nine body-mass index (BMI)- and age-matched control male subjects without OSA. The k  –ω$\omega$SST turbulence model was used to simulate the flow field in subject-specific pharyngeal geometric models reconstructed from anatomical optical coherence tomography (aOCT) data. While analysis of the geometry of reconstructed pharynges revealed narrowing at velopharyngeal level in subjects with OSA, it was not possible to clearly distinguish them from subjects without OSA on the basis of pharyngeal size and shape alone. By contrast, flow simulations demonstrated that pressure fields within the narrowed airway segments were sensitive to small differences in geometry and could lead to significantly different intraluminal pressure characteristics between subjects. The ratio between velopharyngeal and total pharyngeal pressure drops emerged as a relevant flow-based criterion by which subjects with OSA could be differentiated from those without.     

金银花对梗阻性黄疸大鼠茵群失调及内毒素血症的调整作用

目的研究金银花水提取物通过调整微生态失调,对梗阻性黄疸大鼠导致菌群失调及肠源性内毒素血症（IETM）的调节作用。方法80只Wistar大鼠随机分为假手术组和梗阻性黄疸组,梗阻性黄疸组随机分成四个治疗组：金银花组、丽珠肠乐组、金银花与丽珠肠乐合剂治疗组和梗阻性黄疸模型组（自然恢复组）,分别以金银花、丽珠肠乐、金银花与丽珠肠乐合剂、生理盐水灌胃,于灌胃4、8d分别处死大鼠检测肠道菌群、内毒素水平和IgA＋细胞数。结果模型组血中内毒素明显增高,并伴有肠道菌群失调,IgA＋细胞减少,与假手术组相比差异有统计学意义。各治疗组经治疗后肠道菌群恢复,IgA＋细胞增多,明显降低了内毒素水平,金银花与丽珠肠乐合剂治疗组效果最佳。结论梗阻性黄疸伴有肠道菌群失调,肠道屏障破坏是肠源性内毒素血症（IETM）的主要因素。中药金银花从调整微生态失调的角度来防治内毒素血症取得良好效果。     

Association of cigarette smoking and CRP levels with DNA methylation in α-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency and tobacco smoking are confirmed risk factors for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. We hypothesized that variable DNA methylation would be associated with smoking and inflammation, as reflected by the level of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in AAT-deficient subjects. Methylation levels of 1,411 autosomal CpG sites from the Illumina GoldenGate Methylation Cancer Panel I were analyzed in 316 subjects. Associations of five smoking behaviors and CRP levels with individual CpG sites and average methylation levels were assessed using non-parametric testing, linear regression and linear mixed effect models, with and without adjustment for age and gender. Univariate linear regression analysis revealed that methylation levels of 16 CpG sites significantly associated with ever-smoking status. A CpG site in the TGFBI gene was the only site associated with ever-smoking after adjustment for age and gender. No highly significant associations existed between age at smoking initiation, pack-years smoked, duration of smoking, and time since quitting smoking as predictors of individual CpG site methylation levels. However, ever-smoking and younger age at smoking initiation associated with lower methylation level averaged across all sites. DNA methylation at CpG sites in the RUNX3, JAK3 and KRT1 genes associated with CRP levels. The most significantly associated CpG sites with gender and age mapped to the CASP6 and FZD9 genes, respectively. In summary, this study identified multiple potential candidate CpG sites associated with ever-smoking and CRP level in AAT-deficient subjects. Phenotypic variability in Mendelian diseases may be due to epigenetic factors.     

"三伏贴"对慢性阻塞性肺病系统炎症的影响

目的:观察"三伏贴"对稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者系统炎症的影响,并评价其有效性。方法:收集稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者60例,按随机数字表随机分为"三伏贴"治疗组与安慰剂治疗组,每组30例;在常规西医治疗的基础上,分别给予"三伏贴"和安慰剂贴敷治疗,分别在入伏、初伏、中伏及末伏进行4次穴位贴敷,完成1疗程治疗者共56例。观察治疗前、1个疗程结束时、治疗后3个月、治疗后6个月血清炎症因子的变化。应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测血清白细胞介素-8(IL-8),免疫比浊法测定血清CRP,比较治疗前后两组间的炎症因子变化趋势,同时比较治疗前后两组间CAT评分(COPD assessment test,CAT)、呼吸困难评分(MRC)及生存质量评分。结果:"三伏贴"组、安慰剂组血清IL-8、CRP随时间变化趋势不同;其中试验组血清炎症因子随时间呈逐渐下降趋势,但治疗后6个月时炎症因子略有升高,而安慰剂组炎症因子水平呈逐渐升高趋势,治疗前试验组与安慰剂组炎症因子水平差异无统计学意义,治疗3个月后,两组患者IL-8、CRP水平差异即有统计学意义(P0.05)。试验组患者治疗后CAT评分、MRC评分较治疗前下降,生存质量评分升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),而安慰剂组患者在治疗后CAT评分、MRC评分较治疗前升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),生存质量评分下降,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。同一时间点,试验组较安慰剂组CAT评分、MRC评分下降,生存质量评分明显升高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:冬病夏治穴位敷帖可以改善COPD患者生存质量,缓解症状,其作用机理可能与降低系统炎症相关因子有关。