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.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征与高血压临床关系分析

目的:研究阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征与高血压的临床关系及相关机制。方法:将258例鼾症患者分为三组:单纯鼾症对照组(N组)、单纯OSAHS组(O组)、OSAHS合并高血压组(O+H组)。对三组患者进行临床基础资料收集,ESS问卷调查及EP评分,多导睡眠监测及血压测定。结果:三组鼾症患者之间年龄、性别、吸烟、饮酒差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),OSAHS组及OSAHS+HT组体重指数及颈围明显高于单纯鼾症组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);与单纯鼾症组比较,OSAHS组及OSAHS+HT组的EP评分、AHI、LaSO2(%)、MSaO2、Ts90%差异明显有统计学意义(P<0.05);与对照组相比OSAHS组及OSAHS+HT组睡眠前后收缩压和舒张压升高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征与高血压关系密切,慢性间歇缺氧是引起高血压的核心机制。     

血脂、血小板参数、HOMA-IR与阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征合并高血压患者PSG参数的相关性及其预测价值研究

摘要 目的：探讨血脂、血小板参数、稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数（HOMA-IR）与阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征（OSAHS）合并高血压患者多导睡眠图（PSG）参数的相关性及其预测价值。方法：选择2020年1月至2022年11月徐州医科大学附属沭阳医院收治的163例OSAHS患者，根据是否合并高血压将其分为单纯OSAHS组（78例）及高血压组（85例），检测两组血脂、血小板参数、HOMA-IR、PSG参数；Pearson相关性分析血脂、血小板参数、HOMA-IR与PSG参数的相关性；多因素Logistic回归分析OSAHS合并高血压的危险因素；受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血脂、血小板参数、HOMA-IR预测OSAHS合并高血压的价值。结果：高血压组甘油三酯（TG）、总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、平均血小板体积（MPV）、HOMA-IR、微觉醒指数（MAI）、呼吸暂停低通气指数（AHI）、氧减指数（ODI）高于单纯OSAHS组（P＜0.05），高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）水平低于单纯OSAHS组（P＜0.05）。高血压组TG、TC、LDL-C、MPV、HOMA-IR与MAI、AHI、ODI呈正相关（P＜0.05），HDL-C与MAI、AHI、ODI呈负相关（P＜0.05）。高体质量指数、高HOMA-IR及TG、MPV水平升高是OSAHS患者合并高血压的危险因素（P＜0.05）。联合TG、MVP、HOMA-IR预测OSAHS患者合并高血压的曲线下面积高于以上三指标单独预测。结论：OSAHS合并高血压患者TG、MPV水平及HOMA-IR显著增高，且与MAI、AHI、ODI呈正相关，TG、MPV、HOMA-IR联合检测对OSAHS患者合并高血压的预测价值较高。     

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     

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.     

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.     

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor variants associated with susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis

Background

Only 10-15% of smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which indicates genetic susceptibility to the disease. Recent studies suggested an association between COPD and polymorphisms in CHRNA coding subunits of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Herein, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the impact of CHRNA variants on COPD.

Methods

We searched Web of Knowledge and Medline from 1990 through June 2011 for COPD gene studies reporting variants on CHRNA. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using the major allele or genotype as reference group.

Results

Among seven reported variants in CHRNA, rs1051730 was finally analyzed with sufficient studies. Totally 3460 COPD and 11437 controls from 7 individual studies were pooled-analyzed. A-allele of rs1051730 was associated with an increased risk of COPD regardless of smoking exposure (pooled OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.18-1.34, p < 10^-5). At the genotypic level, the ORs gradually increased per A-allele (OR = 1.27 and 1.50 for GA and AA respectively, p < 10^-5). Besides, AA genotype exhibited an association with reduced FEV1% predicted (mean difference 3.51%, 95%CI 0.87-6.16%, p = 0.009) and increased risk of emphysema (OR 1.93, 95%CI 1.29-2.90, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that rs1051730 in CHRNA is a susceptibility variant for COPD, in terms of both airway obstruction and parenchyma destruction.