Nocturnal CPAP improves walking capacity in COPD patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

Background

Exercise limitation is an important issue in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and it often co-exists with obstructive sleep apnoea (overlap syndrome). This study examined the effects of nocturnal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on walking capacity in COPD patients with or without obstructive sleep apnoea.

Methods

Forty-four stable moderate-to-severe COPD patients were recruited and completed this study. They all underwent polysomnography, CPAP titration, accommodation, and treatment with adequate pressure. The incremental shuttle walking test was used to measure walking capacity at baseline and after two nights of CPAP treatment. Urinary catecholamine and heart rate variability were measured before and after CPAP treatment.

Results

After two nights of CPAP treatment, the apnoea-hypopnoea index and oxygen desaturation index significantly improved in both overlap syndrome and COPD patients, however these changes were significantly greater in the overlap syndrome than in the COPD group. Sleep architecture and autonomic dysfunction significantly improved in the overlap syndrome group but not in the COPD group. CPAP treatment was associated with an increased walking capacity from baseline from 226.4 ± 95.3 m to 288.6 ± 94.6 m (P < 0.05), and decreased urinary catecholamine levels, pre-exercise heart rate, oxygenation, and Borg scale in the overlap syndrome group. An improvement in the apnoea-hypopnoea index was an independent factor associated with the increase in walking distance (r = 0.564).

Conclusion

Nocturnal CPAP may improve walking capacity in COPD patients with overlap syndrome.

Trial registration

{"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00914264","term_id":"NCT00914264"}}NCT00914264     

血清瘦素和胰岛素与犊牛初生重相关性

本实验旨在研究分娩奶牛(Bos taurus)、犊牛和脐静脉血瘦素、胰岛素之间的相关性及与犊牛初生重的相关性,为探究瘦素、胰岛素对犊牛初生重的影响机理提供理论数据。实验选取规模化养殖场正常分娩奶牛54头,按犊牛初生重划分为A组(≤40 kg)9头、B组(40~45 kg)25头、C组(≥45 kg)20头共3组,分别采集分娩奶牛、犊牛和脐静脉血,ELISA法检测血清瘦素、胰岛素含量。多组间采用单因素方差分析和双变量Pearson分析瘦素和胰岛素在各部位静脉血中表达的相关性及与犊牛初生重的相关性。结果表明:(1)奶牛静脉血瘦素、胰岛素含量极显著高于犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血(P0.01),奶牛静脉血瘦素、胰岛素含量与犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血瘦素、胰岛素相关性均不显著(P0.05);(2)瘦素、胰岛素含量在犊牛静脉血与脐静脉血之间均差异不显著(P0.05),犊牛静脉血瘦素、胰岛素含量与脐静脉血瘦素、胰岛素均分别呈极显著正相关(P0.01);(3)奶牛静脉血和脐静脉血中瘦素与胰岛素含量均呈显著正相关(P0.05),而犊牛静脉血中瘦素与胰岛素相关性不显著(P0.05);(4)犊牛初生重与奶牛静脉血瘦素、胰岛素含量均不相关(P0.05),但与犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血瘦素含量显著正相关(P0.05),与犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血胰岛素含量极显著正相关(P0.01);(5)奶牛静脉血、犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血瘦素和胰岛素含量在公犊牛与母犊牛间均无显著差异(P0.05)。可见,奶牛静脉血、犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血均有瘦素、胰岛素表达,且其含量奶牛静脉血显著高于犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血。奶牛静脉血瘦素、胰岛素含量与犊牛初生重相关性不显著,而犊牛静脉血和脐静脉血瘦素、胰岛素含量与犊牛初生重显著正相关性。     

转录因子靶基因的鉴定

文章介绍了鉴定转录因子靶基因研究中常用的生物学方法,尤其是在基因组范围内转录因子靶位点的筛选方法,如染色质免疫沉淀、甲基化酶鉴定、pull-down、蛋白结合芯片和生物信息学方法等。     

The concentration-dependent chemokine release and pro-apoptotic effects of neutrophil-derived alpha-defensin-1 on human bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells

Defensins play a pivotal role in antimicrobial reactions, inflammatory responses, wound repair, and specific immunity. In inflammatory and infectious lung diseases, alpha-defensins are released from recruited neutrophils, and modulate a variety of lung cell functions. We found that human bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells treated with low and moderate concentrations (5 and 10 micro g/ml) of purified neutrophil-derived alpha-defensin-1 secreted more interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Under moderate and high concentrations (10 and 20 micro g/ml) of alpha-defensin-1, we observed typical apoptotic changes in the lung epithelial cells after stimulation for 24 h. Furthermore, alpha-defensin-1 triggered lung cell detachment in a time- and dose-dependent manner at moderate and high concentrations. Prior to the detachment, caspase-3 activity significantly increased. On confocal laser microscopy, rapid translocation of alpha-defensin-1 to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was noted. These findings suggest that neutrophil-derived alpha-defensin-1 has pro-inflammatory and apoptotic effects in human bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, which are concentration-dependent and may be associated with ER activity.     

花胫绿纹蝗和疣蝗配子发生时原癌基因c-kit特异性表达比较研究

应用免疫组织化学和生物统计分析相结合的方法,对花胫绿纹蝗Aiolopus tamulus (Fabricius)和疣蝗Trilophidia annulata (Thunberg)配子发生过程中原癌基因c-kit特异表达进行了比较研究。结果表明：（1）精子发生过程中,精原细胞、初级精母细胞、次级精母细胞和成熟精子中均有不同程度的c-kit蛋白表达,精巢末端还有较粗大的阳性颗粒分布;（2）卵子发生过程中,第1～6阶段卵母细胞中有不同程度的c-kit蛋白特异性表达,但随着卵黄发生的开始逐渐消失;（3）2种蝗虫配子发生过程中c-kit表达存在种间差异。     

出生后小鼠睾丸不同发育期TIMP-4的表达

金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子-4(TIMP-4)是TIMP家族的最新成员。已有研究表明,TIMP-4mRNA大量表达于成年小鼠的睾丸中。为了证实TIMP-4基因在出生后小鼠睾丸中的表达是否具有发育依赖性,本实验利用RT-PCR、Western blotting和间接免疫荧光染色三种方法,分别检测了TIMP-4mRNA和蛋白在出生后小鼠睾丸不同发育期中的时空表达方式。RT-PCR和Western blotting结果分别显示,TIMP-4mRNA和蛋白均只在成年小鼠睾丸中表达,而在出生后的其它各阶段都不表达;间接免疫荧光染色进一步证实TIMP-4蛋白只定位在成年小鼠睾丸的Leydig细胞中。结果提示,TIMP-4在出生后小鼠睾丸中的表达具有显著的发育依赖性.     

退化草地恢复过程中土壤氮素状况以及与植被地上绿色生物量形成关系的研究

 研究了在不同放牧率下形成的不同退化阶段的草地各形态氮素（全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮、无机氮和微生物氮）的变化情况,同时也研究了植被地上绿色生物量与各形态氮素季节变化的同步性关系。土壤全氮含量相对稳定,随草地植被状况和植物生长时期变化不大,说明土壤总氮库有相当的弹性。土壤硝态氮（NO－3-N）、铵态氮（NH+4-N）、无机氮（IN）和微生物氮（Micro-N）季节变化明显。土壤Micro-N和NO-3-N含量随植物生长逐渐降低,到植物枯黄期含量又回复到较高的水平;土壤NH+4-N含量随植物生长有逐渐升高的趋势;IN则随着植物的生长出现低-高-低-高的特点,且与植被地上绿色生物量呈显著负相关（R=-0.247, p<0.01）。在放牧条件下草原植物优先利用NO－3-N,NO－3-N与植被地上绿色生物量有显著的负相关性,是形成草原植被地上绿色生物量的有效性氮素。Micro-N能解释土壤IN 22.3%的变异（R2=0.223, p<0.01）,Micro-N是土壤无机氮的重要来源。土壤NH+4-N与Micro-N呈显著负相关（R=-0.222, p<0.01）,说明土壤微生物对土壤NH+4-N有偏好吸收。总体上,不同形态的氮素在各土壤层次间差异显著,随土壤层次的加深含量逐步降低。连续放牧11年恢复两年后,各氮素组分对放牧压力消除的响应并不一致。土壤全氮含量与停止放牧前相比变化差异不显著;而Micro-N对放牧压力消失的响应在不同处理下整个生长季的结果比较一致,即以前过度和中度放牧处理的Micro-N含量较高,无牧和轻牧含量较低;IN、NH+4-N和NO－3-N变化比较复杂,在不同放牧恢复处理上结果并不一致。总的来看,以前中度和过度放牧的IN、NH+4-N和NO－3-N含量较高,存在潜在损失的可能。经过两年的恢复,植被地上绿色生物量（8月）过牧处理与无牧处理差异不显著。     

黑龙江省蜜环菌生物种的地理分布概况

自1999年至2002年间对黑龙江省境内几个主要林区中的蜜环菌生物种进行了调查、采集和鉴定,并对其寄主种类和子实体发生规律以及地理分布特点进行了总结分析。结果表明:黑龙江省境内至少存在5个蜜环菌生物种,即芥黄蜜环菌Armillaria sinapina,高卢蜜环菌A.gallica,黄盖蜜环菌A.luteopileata,奥氏蜜环菌A.ostoyae和中国生物种F;寄主包括10个针叶和阔叶树种;与其他几种蜜环菌生物种相比较,A.gallica是黑龙江省境内出现概率最大的一个生物种;根据采集经验发现,温度和湿度是影响子实体发生的主要因子。     

缺氧对大鼠大脑皮层星形胶质细胞Inos Mrna表达的影响

目的：观察缺氧和谷氨酸对星形胶质细胞诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS)mRNA表达的影响,探讨大脑星形胶质细胞在缺氧性脑血管扩张反应中的作用。方法：取新生Wistar大鼠大脑皮层进行星形胶质细胞原代、传代培养,分为四组：（1）对照组;（2）谷氨酸组;（3）缺氧组;（4）缺氧＋谷氨酸组。每一组包括5个时相点：0h、3h、6h、12h、24h(以缺氧后开始记时）。于（2）和（4）组加入100μmol/Lr L-谷氨酸。（3）和（4）组用95％N2／5％CO2的混合气体缺氧。提取总RNA,用RT－PCR技术检测iNOS mRNA的表达量。结果：对照组和谷氨酸组各时相点未见星形胶质细胞iNOS mRNA表达。缺氧组与缺氧＋谷氨酸组iNOSmRNA于6h开始显著增高,以后更为显著（24h内）。缺氧＋谷氨酸组iNOSmRNA表达的幅度显著高于缺氧组。结论：缺氧及缺氧＋谷氨酸可使iNOSmRNA表达增强,后者催化合成一氧化氮,作用于脑血管平滑肌,可能是缺氧性脑血管扩张的重要机制之一。