Clinical and computed tomographic predictors of chronic bronchitis in COPD: a cross sectional analysis of the COPDGene study

Background

Chronic bronchitis (CB) has been related to poor outcomes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). From a clinical standpoint, we have shown that subjects with CB in a group with moderate to severe airflow obstruction were younger, more likely to be current smokers, male, Caucasian, had worse health related quality of life, more dyspnea, and increased exacerbation history compared to those without CB. We sought to further refine our clinical characterization of chronic bronchitics in a larger cohort and analyze the CT correlates of CB in COPD subjects. We hypothesized that COPD patients with CB would have thicker airways and a greater history of smoking, acute bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and occupational exposures compared to those without CB.

Methods

We divided 2703 GOLD 1–4 subjects in the Genetic Epidemiology of COPD (COPDGene®) Study into two groups based on symptoms: chronic bronchitis (CB+, n = 663, 24.5%) and no chronic bronchitis (CB-, n = 2040, 75.5%). Subjects underwent extensive clinical characterization, and quantitative CT analysis to calculate mean wall area percent (WA%) of 6 segmental airways was performed using VIDA PW2 (http://www.vidadiagnostics.com). Square roots of the wall areas of bronchi with internal perimeters 10 mm and 15 mm (Pi10 and Pi15, respectively), % emphysema, %gas trapping, were calculated using 3D Slicer (http://www.slicer.org).

Results

There were no differences in % emphysema (11.4 ± 12.0 vs. 12.0 ± 12.6%, p = 0.347) or % gas trapping (35.3 ± 21.2 vs. 36.3 ± 20.6%, p = 0.272) between groups. Mean segmental WA% (63.0 ± 3.2 vs. 62.0 ± 3.1%, p < 0.0001), Pi10 (3.72 ± 0.15 vs. 3.69 ± 0.14 mm, p < 0.0001), and Pi15 (5.24 ± 0.22 vs. 5.17 ± 0.20, p < 0.0001) were greater in the CB + group. Greater percentages of gastroesophageal reflux, allergic rhinitis, histories of asthma and acute bronchitis, exposures to dusts and occupational exposures, and current smokers were seen in the CB + group. In multivariate binomial logistic regression, male gender, Caucasian race, a lower FEV₁%, allergic rhinitis, history of acute bronchitis, current smoking, and increased airway wall thickness increased odds for having CB.

Conclusions

Histories of asthma, allergic rhinitis, acute bronchitis, current smoking, a lower FEV₁%, Caucasian race, male gender, and increased airway wall thickness are associated with CB. These data provide clinical and radiologic correlations to the clinical phenotype of CB.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期病原学及细菌药性分析

目的:探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期病原学特点及细菌耐药情况,为临床合理使用抗生素提供科学依据。方法:回顾性分析我院呼吸内科和老年学科2008年1月-2009年1月563例慢性阻塞性肺疾病(急性加重期)住院患者痰培养及药敏试验结果。结果:563例患者中检出阳性结果205例,检出率为36.41%。其中G+菌46例、G-菌119例、真菌40例。G+菌以金黄色葡萄球菌最多(14例),其次为表皮葡萄球菌和草绿色链球菌;G-菌以铜绿假单胞菌最多(37例),其次为克雷伯菌;真菌以白色念珠菌最多(20例)。G-杆菌对氨苄西林、哌拉西林、头孢唑啉、复方新诺明耐药严重,对亚胺培南、含β-内酰胺酶抑制剂的联合制剂较敏感。金黄色葡萄球菌对多种抗生素严重耐药,对万古霉素、亚胺培南较敏感。真菌对氟康唑敏感占50.81%,对伊曲康唑敏感占30.12%,对酮康唑敏感占30.83%,对5-氟胞嘧啶敏感占10.74%。结论:慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期以G-为主,真菌感染有增多趋势,病原菌呈现多重耐药现象。     

Leptin, adiponectin and pulmonary diseases

Adipose tissue produces leptin and adiponectin - energy-regulating adipokines that may also play a role in inflammatory pulmonary conditions, as suggested by some murine studies. Leptin and adiponectin and their respective receptors are expressed in the human lung. The association between systemic or airway leptin and asthma in humans is currently controversial, particularly among adults. The majority of the evidence among children however suggests that systemic leptin may be associated with greater asthma prevalence and severity, particularly among prepubertal boys and peripubertal/postpubertal girls. Systemic and airway leptin concentrations may also be disproportionately higher in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, particularly among women, and reflect greater airway inflammation and disease severity. Quite like leptin, the association between systemic and airway adiponectin and asthma in humans is also controversial. Some but not all studies, demonstrate that serum adiponectin concentrations are protective against asthma among premenopausal women and peripubertal girls. On the other hand, serum adiponectin concentrations are inversely associated with asthma severity among boys but positively associated among men. Further, systemic and airway adiponectin concentrations are higher in COPD patients than controls, as demonstrated by case-control studies of men. Systemic adiponectin is also positively associated with lung function in healthy adults but inversely associated with lung function in subjects with COPD. It is therefore possible that pro-inflammatory effects of adiponectin dominate under certain physiologic conditions and anti-inflammatory effects under others. The adipokine-lung disease literature has critical gaps that include a lack of adequately powered longitudinal or weight-intervention studies; inadequate adjustment for confounding effect of obesity; and unclear understanding of potential sex interactions. It is also uncertain whether adipokine derangements precede pulmonary disease or are a consequence of it. Future research will determine whether modulation of adipokines, independent of BMI, may allow novel ways to prevent or treat inflammatory pulmonary conditions.     

Exhaled volatile organic compounds for phenotyping chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a cross-sectional study

Background

Non-invasive phenotyping of chronic respiratory diseases would be highly beneficial in the personalised medicine of the future. Volatile organic compounds can be measured in the exhaled breath and may be produced or altered by disease processes. We investigated whether distinct patterns of these compounds were present in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and clinically relevant disease phenotypes.

Methods

Breath samples from 39 COPD subjects and 32 healthy controls were collected and analysed using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Subjects with COPD also underwent sputum induction. Discriminatory compounds were identified by univariate logistic regression followed by multivariate analysis: 1. principal component analysis; 2. multivariate logistic regression; 3. receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

Comparing COPD versus healthy controls, principal component analysis clustered the 20 best-discriminating compounds into four components explaining 71% of the variance. Multivariate logistic regression constructed an optimised model using two components with an accuracy of 69%. The model had 85% sensitivity, 50% specificity and ROC area under the curve of 0.74. Analysis of COPD subgroups showed the method could classify COPD subjects with far greater accuracy. Models were constructed which classified subjects with ≥2% sputum eosinophilia with ROC area under the curve of 0.94 and those having frequent exacerbations 0.95. Potential biomarkers correlated to clinical variables were identified in each subgroup.

Conclusion

The exhaled breath volatile organic compound profile discriminated between COPD and healthy controls and identified clinically relevant COPD subgroups. If these findings are validated in prospective cohorts, they may have diagnostic and management value in this disease.     

幽门螺杆菌在慢性阻塞性肺疾病发生及 发展过程中的作用

目的研究幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori,H.pylori)在慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)发生及发展过程中的作用。方法对85例COPD患者(COPD组)和85例体检健康者(对照组)进行血清抗H.pylori抗体(抗Hp-IgG)检测,比较两组的抗Hp-IgG水平及H.pylori阳性率。全部COPD患者均行肺功能和免疫功能检查,分析抗Hp-IgG水平与COPD严重程度的相关性,比较合并H.pylori感染与无H.pylori感染COPD患者之间,以及合并H.pylori感染COPD患者根除H.pylori前后免疫功能的差异。结果 COPD组血清抗Hp-IgG水平和H.pylori阳性率均明显高于对照组(P0.05),FEV1%预计值与血清抗Hp-IgG水平呈负相关(P0.05)。与无H.pylori感染的COPD患者相比,合并H.pylori感染的COPD患者外周血CD_3~+和CD_4~+T细胞含量、CD_4~+/CD_8~+比值、血清免疫球蛋白(IgA、IgG、IgM)水平均明显较低(P0.05),经H.pylori根除治疗后各指标水平明显升高(P0.05)。结论 H.pylori感染可导致宿主免疫功能紊乱,可能因此促进了COPD的发生和发展。根除H.pylori可明显改善合并H.pylori感染COPD患者的免疫功能,有利于患者恢复。     

The unique alterations of hippocampus and cognitive impairment in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Cognitive impairment has been found in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. However, the structural alteration of the brain and underlying mechanisms are poorly understood.

Methods

Thirty-seven mild-to-moderate COPD patients, forty-eight severe COPD patients, and thirty-one control subjects were recruited for cognitive test and neuroimaging studies. Serum levels of S100B,pulmonary function and arterial blood gas levels were also evaluated in each subject.

Results

The hippocampal volume was significantly smaller in COPD patients compared to the control group. It is positively correlated with a mini mental state examination (MMSE) score, SaO₂ in mild-to-moderate COPD patients, the levels of PaO₂ in both mild-to-moderate and severe COPD patients. Higher S100B concentrations were observed in mild-to-moderate COPD patients, while the highest S100B level was found in severe COPD patients when compared to the control subjects. S100B levels are negatively associated with MMSE in both mild-to-moderate and severe COPD patients and also negatively associated with the hippocampal volume in the total COPD patients.

Conclusions

Hippocampal atrophy based on quantitative assessment by magnetic resonance imaging does occur in COPD patients, which may be associated with cognitive dysfunction and the most prevalent mechanism accountable for hippocampal atrophy is chronic hypoxemia in COPD. Higher serum S100B levels may be peripheral biochemical marker for cognitive impairment in COPD.     

肺通气功能程度与慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者夜间低氧发生的相关性分析

目的:研究肺通气功能程度与慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者夜间低氧发生的相关性。方法:选取2012年1月至2013年6月我院治疗的60例稳定期慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者,按肺通气功能分为轻度、中度、重度、极重度4组,每组15例,监测记录研究对象肺通气功能指标及夜间血氧指标,比较各组监测指标的差异,并分析其相关性。结果:不同病情程度COPD患者FEV1/FVC、FEV1、FVC、PEF、RV、RV/TLC、MsaO2、ODI、WsaO2、LsaO2、SIT90%有差异(P0.05);极重度和重度比较FEV1/FVC、FEV1、RV、MsaO2、ODI、WsaO2、LsaO2、SIT90%有差异(P0.05);极重度和中度比较FEV1/FVC、FEV1、FVC、PEF、RV、RV/TLC、MsaO2、ODI、WsaO2、LsaO2、SIT90%有差异(P0.05);极重度和轻度比较FEV1/FVC、FEV1、FVC、PEF、RV、RV/TLC、MsaO2、ODI、WsaO2、LsaO2、SIT90%有差异(P0.05);重度和中度比较FEV1/FVC、FEV1、FVC、PEF、RV/TLC、MsaO2有差异(P0.05);重度和轻度比较FEV1/FVC、FEV1、FVC、PEF、RV/TLC、MsaO2、ODI、LsaO2有差异(P0.05);中度和轻度比较FEV1/FVC、FEV1、FVC、PEF、ODI有差异(P0.05)。COPD患者的肺通气功能FEV1与MsaO2呈正相关(r=0.683,P0.05)。结论:肺通气功能程度与慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者夜间低氧发生具有相关性。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并肺曲菌病一例及文献复习

目的:提高对慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并侵袭性肺曲菌病(COPD合并IPA)临床特点、诊断及治疗的认识.方法:回顾性分析2011年4月收治的一例COPD合并IPA患者的临床资料及诊治经过,并复习相关文献.结果:男患,“咳嗽、咳痰30余年,气短3年,加重1月余”入院,肺部CT示双肺多发结节影、空洞影,经抗炎、抗念珠菌治疗无效,CT下肺结节病灶活检病理示肺曲菌.抗曲菌治疗后症状好转、肺部影像明显吸收.结论:COPD合并IPA正逐渐引起重视,临床特征无明显特异性,肺部影像以结节影、空洞影多见,早期常规治疗无效时应积极抗曲菌治疗,可明显改善症状,降低死亡率,病理活检是确诊的依据.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病合并糖尿病患者肺部真菌感染病原学及易感因素分析

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)合并糖尿病患者肺部真菌感染的病原学及易感因素。方法对58例COPD合并糖尿病肺部真菌感染患者进行病原学及预后分析,并与无糖尿病的COPD真菌感染患者76例进行比较。结果 2组患者病原菌均以白色念珠菌占首位,研究组真菌发病率高于对照组,预后较对照组更差。抗生素、年龄、糖皮质激素和营养状态等因素对2组患者真菌感染的影响差异无统计学意义。结论白色念珠菌仍是COPD患者肺部真菌感染的主要致病菌。糖尿病增加COPD患者感染真菌的风险,并且加重病情,影响预后。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者继发真菌性医院肺炎的病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病（Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases,COPD）患者继发真菌性医院肺炎的病原菌分布及耐药情况。方法回顾性分析2011年1月至2012年12月间31例COPD患者继发肺部真菌感染的情况。结果 31例COPD继发肺部真菌感染的患者送检标本中共检到34株真菌,以曲霉菌属居首位,占29.41%,其次为白色假丝酵母菌,占26.41%。7种常用抗真菌药物对真菌显示有不同的抗菌活性,尤以伊曲康唑、氟康唑、5-氟胞嘧啶为佳。结论 COPD患者继发肺部真菌感染多为曲霉菌属和白色假丝酵母菌。临床疑为COPD患者继发肺部真菌感染病例须及时采集标本培养,以早期发现病原性真菌和选择有效药物治疗。     

Genetic susceptibility for chronic bronchitis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Chronic bronchitis (CB) is one of the classic phenotypes of COPD. The aims of our study were to investigate genetic variants associated with COPD subjects with CB relative to smokers with normal spirometry, and to assess for genetic differences between subjects with CB and without CB within the COPD population.

Methods

We analyzed data from current and former smokers from three cohorts: the COPDGene Study; GenKOLS (Bergen, Norway); and the Evaluation of COPD Longitudinally to Identify Predictive Surrogate Endpoints (ECLIPSE). CB was defined as having a cough productive of phlegm on most days for at least 3 consecutive months per year for at least 2 consecutive years. CB COPD cases were defined as having both CB and at least moderate COPD based on spirometry. Our primary analysis used smokers with normal spirometry as controls; secondary analysis was performed using COPD subjects without CB as controls. Genotyping was performed on Illumina platforms; results were summarized using fixed-effect meta-analysis.

Results

For CB COPD relative to smoking controls, we identified a new genome-wide significant locus on chromosome 11p15.5 (rs34391416, OR = 1.93, P = 4.99 × 10^-8) as well as significant associations of known COPD SNPs within FAM13A. In addition, a GWAS of CB relative to those without CB within COPD subjects showed suggestive evidence for association on 1q23.3 (rs114931935, OR = 1.88, P = 4.99 × 10^-7).

Conclusions

We found genome-wide significant associations with CB COPD on 4q22.1 (FAM13A) and 11p15.5 (EFCAB4A, CHID1 and AP2A2), and a locus associated with CB within COPD subjects on 1q23.3 (RPL31P11 and ATF6). This study provides further evidence that genetic variants may contribute to phenotypic heterogeneity of COPD.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00608764","term_id":"NCT00608764"}}NCT00608764, {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00292552","term_id":"NCT00292552"}}NCT00292552

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12931-014-0113-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

COPD急性加重期呼气冷凝液中性粒细胞趋化性增加与气道免疫功能障碍的关系

摘要 目的：探讨COPD急性加重期（AECOPD）呼气冷凝液中性粒细胞趋化性增加与气道免疫功能障碍的关系。方法：2018年4月到2021年5月选择在本院诊治的COPD患者88例作为研究对象,包括AECOPD患者48例（急性组）与COPD缓解期患者40例（缓解组）,检测两组中性粒细胞氧化吞噬百分率、呼气冷凝液CCL18与CC16含量、外周血T淋巴细胞亚群水平,同时记录气道总粘性阻力、气道总阻抗、近端气道粘性阻力等指标并进行相关性分析。结果：急性组的中性粒细胞氧化吞噬百分率低于缓解组（P<0.05）。急性组的呼气冷凝液CCL18、CC16含量与气道总粘性阻力、气道总阻抗、近端气道粘性阻力高于缓解组（P<0.05）。急性组的CD4⁺T淋巴细胞比例低于缓解组,CD8⁺T淋巴细胞高于缓解组（P<0.05）。二分类Logistic回归分析结果显示：中性粒细胞氧化吞噬百分率、气道总阻抗、CD4⁺T淋巴细胞比例、呼气冷凝液CCL18为导致AECOPD发生的重要因素（P<0.05）。结论：AECOPD患者伴随有呼气冷凝液CCL18、CC16含量增加与中性粒细胞氧化吞噬百分率降低,还伴随有气道阻力增加与免疫功能降低,中性粒细胞氧化吞噬百分率、气道总阻抗、CD4⁺T淋巴细胞比例、呼气冷凝液CCL18为导致AECOPD发生的重要因素。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者继发肺部真菌感染的临床分析

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者继发肺部真菌感染的临床特点。方法回顾性分析2008年1月到2010年12月安徽医科大学第一附属医院收治的COPD继发肺部真菌感染患者病例,并对其耐药情况进行比较。结果本组199例COPD患者检出白色念珠菌137例(68.84%),光滑念珠菌32例(16.08%),热带念珠菌17例(8.54%),克柔念珠菌9例(4.52%),毛霉菌3例(1.51%),清酒假丝酵母菌1例(0.50%);白色念珠菌检出率有下降趋势,热带念珠菌有上升趋势;196例真菌对伏立康唑、氟康唑、两性霉素B、伊曲康唑、氟胞嘧啶的耐药率分别为3.6%、5.1%、1.0%、8.7%和0;2008年至2010年白色念珠菌和光滑念珠菌耐药率变化差异无统计学意义。结论 COPD患者继发肺部真菌感染病原菌仍以白色念珠菌为主,其次为光滑念珠菌和热带念珠菌;白色念珠菌和光滑念珠菌耐药率无明显改变。     

肺微生物组与慢性阻塞性肺疾病的研究进展

慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）是一种慢性炎症性呼吸道疾病,其特征是持续气流受限和肺部炎症反应异常。气道内微生物是COPD恶化的主要原因,并且使气道中的炎症反应持续存在而促成COPD进展,这导致肺功能的进一步损害和巨大的医疗保健成本。近年来随着高通量测序技术的发展和运用,人类肺微生物组的研究逐渐成为热点。大量研究表明,COPD患者肺内存在明显不同的微生物群落,而且与COPD的疾病严重程度及恶化状态有关。肺微生物组学的研究有助于人们更全面地理解COPD患者肺内的微生态系统及其在该病恶化和进展中的作用。本文就肺微生物组在COPD中的研究进展作一综述,并探讨未来的研究前景。     

TLR-4 在慢性阻塞性肺病患者肺组织表达的研究

目的:观察COPD患者肺组织中TLR-4,IL-8,MUC5AC的表达,并探讨其在气道炎症、气道高分泌中的作用。方法:非COPD、COPD组男性肺癌病人各20例,取其肺叶切除后的外周肺组织,对肺组织标本行HE及AB-PAS染色,用免疫组织化学方法检测肺组织中TLR-4,IL-8,MUC5AC的表达并分析其相关性。结果:①COPD患者肺组织中TLR-4,IL-8,MUC5AC表达较对照组增高(P<0.05)。TLR-4主要在气道上皮细胞、肺巨噬细胞及血管内皮细胞表达,IL-8在气道壁、肺泡间隔、血管壁及肺组织内浸润的单核细胞、巨噬细胞、多形核白细胞均有表达,MUC5AC主要在气道上皮杯状细胞中表达。②TLR-4、IL-8表达与气道炎细胞评分成正相关(P<0.05)。TLR-4与IL-8、MUC5AC表达成正相关(P<0.05)。结论:COPD患者肺组织中TLR-4高表达可能参与了COPD的气道炎症及气道高分泌,这可能是通过增加IL-8与MUC5AC的表达来实现的。     

Diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in lung cancer screening Computed Tomography scans: independent contribution of emphysema,air trapping and bronchial wall thickening

Background

Beyond lung cancer, screening CT contains additional information on other smoking related diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD). Since pulmonary function testing is not regularly incorporated in lung cancer screening, imaging biomarkers for COPD are likely to provide important surrogate measures for disease evaluation. Therefore, this study aims to determine the independent diagnostic value of CT emphysema, CT air trapping and CT bronchial wall thickness for COPD in low-dose screening CT scans.

Methods

Prebronchodilator spirometry and volumetric inspiratory and expiratory chest CT were obtained on the same day in 1140 male lung cancer screening participants. Emphysema, air trapping and bronchial wall thickness were automatically quantified in the CT scans. Logistic regression analysis was performed to derivate a model to diagnose COPD. The model was internally validated using bootstrapping techniques.

Results

Each of the three CT biomarkers independently contributed diagnostic value for COPD, additional to age, body mass index, smoking history and smoking status. The diagnostic model that included all three CT biomarkers had a sensitivity and specificity of 73.2% and 88.%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value were 80.2% and 84.2%, respectively. Of all participants, 82.8% was assigned the correct status. The C-statistic was 0.87, and the Net Reclassification Index compared to a model without any CT biomarkers was 44.4%. However, the added value of the expiratory CT data was limited, with an increase in Net Reclassification Index of 4.5% compared to a model with only inspiratory CT data.

Conclusion

Quantitatively assessed CT emphysema, air trapping and bronchial wall thickness each contain independent diagnostic information for COPD, and these imaging biomarkers might prove useful in the absence of lung function testing and may influence lung cancer screening strategy. Inspiratory CT biomarkers alone may be sufficient to identify patients with COPD in lung cancer screening setting.     

Effects of exogenous vitamin E supplementation on the levels of oxidants and antioxidants in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Oxidative stress has been recognized as a central feature of smoke induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant enzymes is also an established fact in these patients. But studies in regard to stable COPD patients and effect of vitamin E supplementation are lacking. Thirty patients with COPD were included in the study. Their baseline clinical examination, spirometry, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), alpha-tocopherol and red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were mea sured. Twenty healthy non-smokers who were matched for age and sex served as controls. All the above parameters were repeated after 12 weeks of supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin E daily. The mean malondialdehyde levels in the patients at baseline were higher than controls (5.91 +/- 1.23 nmol/ml vs 4.55 +/- 1.51 nmol/ml, P = 0 001), so also was plasma alpha-tocopherol levels (P < 0 001), while SOD levels were lower in the patients compared to controls (1692 +/- 259 units g/Hb vs 2451 +/- 131 units g/Hb, P < 0 001). Exogenous vitamin E (400 IU per day) supplementation did not bring about any significant change in plasma alpha-tocopherol and SOD levels. The Pearson s co-efficient of correlation between the levels of MDA, vitamin E, SOD; and spirometric measurements were not significant either on day 1 or after 12 weeks of vitamin E supplementation. The present study shows that initially the plasma lipid peroxide (MDA) levels are high and antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol and SOD) are low in patients with COPD. Exogenous supplementation with vitamin E does not have any significant effect on the spirometric measurements though it brings down the levels of MDA showing attenuation of further damage. However, inclusion of larger number of patients and supple mentation with vitamin E for longer periods may throw more light on free radical injury and protective effects of antioxidants.     

Involvement of endogenous hydrogen sulfide in cigarette smoke-induced changes in airway responsiveness and inflammation of rat lung

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), recently considered the third endogenous gaseous transmitter, may have an important role in systemic inflammation. We investigated whether endogenous H₂S may be a crucial mediator in airway responsiveness and airway inflammation in a rat model of chronic exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). Rats randomly divided into control and CS-exposed groups were treated with or without sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, donor of H₂S) or propargylglycine (PPG, inhibitor of cystathionine-γ-lyase [CSE], an H₂S-synthesizing enzyme) for 4-month exposure. Serum H₂S level and CSE protein expression in lung tissue were higher, by 2.04- and 2.33-fold, respectively, in CS-exposed rats than in controls (P < 0.05). Exogenous administration of NaHS to CS-exposed rats alleviated airway reactivity induced by acetylcholine (Ach) or potassium chloride (KCl) by 17.4% and 13.8%, respectively, decreased lung pathology score by 32.7%, inhibited IL-8 and TNF- α concentrations in lung tissue by 34.2% and 31.4%, respectively, as compared with CS-exposed rats (all P < 0.05). However, blocking endogenous CSE with PPG in CS-exposed rats increased airway reactivity induced by Ach or KCl, by 24.1% and 24.5%, respectively, and aggravated lung pathology score, by 44.8%, as compared with CS-exposed rats (all P < 0.01). Incubation in vitro with NaHS, 1–3 mmol/L, relaxed rat tracheal smooth muscle precontracted by Ach or KCl. However, the NaHS-induced relaxation was not blocked by glibenclamide (10^?4 mol/L), L-NAME (10^?4 mol/L), or ODQ (1 μmol/L) or denudation of epithelium. Endogenous H₂S may have a protective role of anti-inflammation and bronchodilation in chronic CS-induced pulmonary injury.     

Rate of progression of CT-quantified emphysema in male current and ex-smokers: a follow-up study

Background

Little is known about the factors associated with CT-quantified emphysema progression in heavy smokers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of length of smoking cessation and clinical / demographical factors on the rate of emphysema progression and FEV₁-decline in male heavy smokers.

Methods

3,670 male smokers with mean (SD) 40.8 (17.9) packyears underwent chest CT scans and pulmonary function tests at baseline and after 1 and 3 years follow-up. Smoking status (quitted ≥5, ≥1-<5, <1 years or current smoker) was noted. Rate of progression of emphysema and FEV₁-decline after follow-up were assessed by analysis of variance adjusting for age, height, baseline pulmonary function and emphysema severity, packyears, years in study and respiratory symptoms. The quitted ≥5 group was used as reference.

Results

Median (Q1-Q3) emphysema severity,<-950 HU, was 8.8 (5.1 – 14.1) and mean (SD) FEV₁ was 3.4 (0.73) L or 98.5 (18.5) % of predicted. The group quitted ‘>5 years’ showed significantly lower rates of progression of emphysema compared to current smokers, 1.07% and 1.12% per year, respectively (p<0.001). Current smokers had a yearly FEV₁-decline of 69 ml, while subjects quit smoking >5 years had a yearly decline of 57.5 ml (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Quit smoking >5 years significantly slows the rate of emphysema progression and lung function decline.

Trial registration

Registered at http://www.trialregister.nl with trial number ISRCTN63545820.     

慢性阻塞性肺病急性加重期下呼吸道病原菌感染及药敏结果分析

目的探讨慢性阻塞性肺病急性加重期(AECOPD)下呼吸道病原菌群的分布及分析药敏试验结果。方法对仙居县人民医院呼吸病房收治的128例AECOPD患者的痰细菌培养和药敏试验结果进行分析。结果 AECOPD患者感染的病原菌中,革兰阴性杆菌占61.95%,以铜绿假单胞菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、鲍曼不动杆菌为主;革兰阳性球菌占21.43%,以金黄色葡萄球菌、粪肠球菌为主;真菌占14.88%;2种以上病原菌混合感染占20.31%。体外药敏试验发现:亚胺培南对大部分革兰阴性杆菌有较好敏感性,万古霉素对大部分革兰阳性球菌有较好敏感性,检出的真菌对氟胞嘧啶、两性霉素、氟康唑、依曲康唑均保持较高敏感性。结论 AECOPD患者下呼吸道感染病原菌以革兰阴性杆菌为主,真菌感染率和混合感染率较高,应引起重视,应根据药敏结果合理选用抗菌药物。