沙美特罗/氟替卡松吸入治疗对COPD患者临床疗效及口咽部菌群和免疫功能的影响

目的 研究沙美特罗/氟替卡松吸入治疗对慢性阻塞性肺病（COPD）患者临床疗效及口咽部菌群和免疫功能的影响。方法 选取我院2015年1月至2017年12月确诊的COPD II-III级患者92例。按照随机数字表将研究对象随机分为研究组和对照组,每组46例。所有研究对象给予持续低通量吸氧、抗感染、祛痰止咳、解痉平喘等对症支持治疗,并服用盐酸氨溴索治疗。研究组在常规治疗基础上加用沙美特罗/氟替卡松干粉剂。观察患者临床疗效,记录患者肺功能指标并测定CD4+细胞、CD8+细胞、CD4+/CD8+、IgA、IgM和IgG水平。采集患者的咽拭子进行培养,计算菌落比例并鉴定种属。结果 治疗后,研究组总有效率为93.48%,明显高于对照组的80.43%,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。肺功能指标显示治疗后两组患者肺功能均有所上升,研究组肺功能指标水平上升幅度大于对照组（P<0.05）。治疗后研究组患者CD4+细胞和CD4+/CD8+水平高于对照组,而CD8+细胞水平低于照组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。两组患者治疗前后免疫球蛋白水平差异无统计学意义（P<0.05）。治疗后研究组患者发现9种细菌,对照组发现6种,各菌株的构成比具有一定差异。结论 沙美特罗/氟替卡松对COPD患者临床疗效显著,能有效提升肺功能,改善患者免疫功能,对口咽部菌群的影响较小,提示该吸入治疗方法值得临床应用推广。关键词：沙美特罗/氟替卡松;CODP;疗效;口咽部微生态     

沙美特罗联合噻托溴铵对慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者血清MMP-2, MMP-9及IL-8水平的影响

目的:探讨沙美特罗联合噻托溴铵对慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者血清炎症因子水平及肺功能的影响。方法:选择2014年5月-2016年5月我院收治的慢性阻塞性肺病患者83例作为研究对象,根据治疗方法不同,将所选患者分为研究组(45例)和对照组(38例)。研究组患者采用沙美特罗联合噻托溴铵吸入治疗,对照组患者采用沙美特罗治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后血清MMP-2,MMP-9及IL-8水平及肺功能指标的变化情况。结果:治疗前两组患者血清MMP-2,MMP-9及IL-8水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后两组患者血清MMP-2,MMP-9及IL-8水平均低于治疗前,且研究组低于对照组,差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。与治疗前比较,两组患者治疗后FEV1/FVC,FEV1及MVV均升高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与对照组比较,研究组患者治疗后FEV1/FVC,FEV1及MVV较高,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:沙美特罗联合噻托溴铵治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病的临床效果显著,不仅能够降低患者血清炎症因子水平,还可改善患者肺功能,值得临床推广应用。     

ACOS与同期哮喘和COPD患者住院情况调查分析

目的:分析ACOS与同期哮喘和COPD患者住院情况。方法:采取回顾性方法,收集6年内住院ACOS与同期哮喘和COPD患者年龄、性别、所患疾病种类和住院费用等临床资料,分别进行统计和分类汇总。结果:2009-2014年共有1327哮喘患者住院治疗,其中合并COPD有128人,即ACOS占哮喘患者的9.6%。同期收治的慢性支气管炎1989人、肺气肿1634人,但行肺功能检查确诊COPD的仅367人,其中合并哮喘同样为128人,即ACOS占COPD患者的34.9%。性别方面,ACOS组男性最多,仅与哮喘组比较,P0.05;年龄,ACOS介于哮喘和COPD之间;入住ICU、机械通气治疗,ACOS组最少,仅与COPD组比较,P0.05;人均花费最低,与哮喘和COPD组比较,P0.05;死亡情况ACOS组仅有1人死亡,死亡率3组中最低,但P0.05;共存病情况ACOS在合并II型呼吸衰竭和过敏性鼻炎方面,与哮喘相似;在合并肺炎和支气管扩张方面与COPD相似;在合并I型呼吸衰竭、冠心病、糖尿病和肝、肾功能异常方面,三组比较,组间差异无显著统计学意义,P0.05;只有合并高血压,ACOS组明显低于哮喘和COPD组,而且组间差异有显著统计学意义,P0.05。结论:与哮喘和COPD相比,ACOS有其独特的特点。     

D-二聚体测定在慢性阻塞性肺疾病的疗效评价及预后意义的研究进展

慢性阻塞性肺疾病(简称慢阻肺)是一种呼吸科常见病,其并发症多,病死率高。在慢阻肺急加重期,细胞因子、炎症介质及内毒素首先损伤血管内皮,引发全身凝血功能障碍和负氮平衡。作为体内高凝状态和纤溶亢进的分子标志物之一,D-二聚体是交联纤维蛋白在纤溶酶作用下产生的一种特异性降解产物,其反映继发性纤溶活性意义。多项研究表明,D-二聚体水平对慢阻肺的治疗效果的评价及预后有重要意义。本文将通过总结D-二聚体的结构及与吸烟、年龄、血气分析及肺功能等方面的关系来阐述D-二聚体与慢阻肺相关性,并总结D-二聚体相关的慢阻肺的治疗方法及其对慢阻肺预后方面的相关意义。     

How air pollution influences clinical management of respiratory diseases. A case-crossover study in Milan

Background

Environmental pollution is a known risk factor for multiple diseases and furthermore increases rate of hospitalisations. We investigated the correlation between emergency room admissions (ERAs) of the general population for respiratory diseases and the environmental pollutant levels in Milan, a metropolis in northern Italy.

Methods

We collected data from 45770 ERAs for respiratory diseases. A time-stratified case-crossover design was used to investigate the association between air pollution levels and ERAs for acute respiratory conditions. The effects of air pollutants were investigated at lag 0 to lag 5, lag 0–2 and lag 3–5 in both single and multi-pollutant models, adjusted for daily weather variables.

Results

An increase in ozone (O₃) levels at lag 3–5 was associated with a 78% increase in the number of ERAs for asthma, especially during the warm season. Exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) proved to be a risk factor for pneumonia at lag 0–2 and in the warm season increased the risk of ERA by 66%. A significant association was found between ERAs for COPD exacerbation and levels of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), CO, nitrate dioxide (NO₂), and particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5). The multipollutant model that includes all pollutants showed a significant association between CO (26%) and ERA for upper respiratory tract diseases at lag 0–2. For chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, only CO (OR 1.19) showed a significant association.

Conclusions

Exposure to environmental pollution, even at typical low levels, can increase the risk of ERA for acute respiratory diseases and exacerbation of obstructive lung diseases in the general population.     

High CO2 Levels Cause Skeletal Muscle Atrophy via AMP-activated Kinase (AMPK), FoxO3a Protein,and Muscle-specific Ring Finger Protein 1 (MuRF1)

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute lung injury, and critical care illness may develop hypercapnia. Many of these patients often have muscle dysfunction which increases morbidity and impairs their quality of life. Here, we investigated whether hypercapnia leads to skeletal muscle atrophy. Mice exposed to high CO₂ had decreased skeletal muscle wet weight, fiber diameter, and strength. Cultured myotubes exposed to high CO₂ had reduced fiber diameter, protein/DNA ratios, and anabolic capacity. High CO₂ induced the expression of MuRF1 in vivo and in vitro, whereas MuRF1^−/− mice exposed to high CO₂ did not develop muscle atrophy. AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), a metabolic sensor, was activated in myotubes exposed to high CO₂, and loss-of-function studies showed that the AMPKα2 isoform is necessary for muscle-specific ring finger protein 1 (MuRF1) up-regulation and myofiber size reduction. High CO₂ induced AMPKα2 activation, triggering the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of FoxO3a, and leading to an increase in MuRF1 expression and myotube atrophy. Accordingly, we provide evidence that high CO₂ activates skeletal muscle atrophy via AMPKα2-FoxO3a-MuRF1, which is of biological and potentially clinical significance in patients with lung diseases and hypercapnia.     

GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms as major risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in a Chinese Han population

Bronchopulmonary dysphasia (BPD) is a complex multifactorial disease with an obvious genetic predisposition. Oxidative stress plays an important role in its pathogenesis. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) detoxify metabolites produced by oxidative stress within the cell and protect the cells against injury. In the present study, the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes are associated with BPD in Chinese Han infants was examined. Sixty infants with BPD and 100 gestational age and birth weight-matched preterm infants without BPD were recruited. Genotyping for GSTM1 and GSTT1 was performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The GSTM1 null genotype was more prevalent in BPD infants (65.0%) than in the control subjects (48.0%), which yielded higher risk towards BPD (odds ratio (OR): 2.012, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.040–3.892, p = 0.037). There was no statistically significant association of GSTT1 genotype with BPD (OR: 1.691, 95% CI = 0.884–3.236, p = 0.111), although the frequency of GSTT1 null genotype was higher among the BPD subjects (60.0%) than in the control patients (47.0%). GSTM1 and GSTT1 double null genotype was also higher in BPD group (38.3%) than in controls (21.0%) with a higher risk towards BPD (OR: 2.338, 95%CI = 1.151–4.751, p = 0.017). The results suggest that null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes may contribute to the development of BPD in our Chinese Han population.     

Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and variation in risk factors across four geographically diverse resource-limited settings in Peru

Background

It is unclear how geographic and social diversity affects the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We sought to characterize the prevalence of COPD and identify risk factors across four settings in Peru with varying degrees of urbanization, altitude, and biomass fuel use.

Methods

We collected sociodemographics, clinical history, and post-bronchodilator spirometry in a randomly selected, age-, sex- and site-stratified, population-based sample of 2,957 adults aged ≥35 years (median age was 54.8 years and 49.3% were men) from four resource-poor settings: Lima, Tumbes, urban and rural Puno. We defined COPD as a post-bronchodilator FEV₁/FVC < 70%.

Results

Overall prevalence of COPD was 6.0% (95% CI 5.1%–6.8%) but with marked variation across sites: 3.6% in semi-urban Tumbes, 6.1% in urban Puno, 6.2% in Lima, and 9.9% in rural Puno (p < 0.001). Population attributable risks (PARs) of COPD due to smoking ≥10 pack-years were less than 10% for all sites, consistent with a low prevalence of daily smoking (3.3%). Rather, we found that PARs of COPD varied by setting. In Lima, for example, the highest PARs were attributed to post-treatment tuberculosis (16% and 22% for men and women, respectively). In rural Puno, daily biomass fuel for cooking among women was associated with COPD (prevalence ratio 2.22, 95% CI 1.02–4.81) and the PAR of COPD due to daily exposure to biomass fuel smoke was 55%.

Conclusions

The burden of COPD in Peru was not uniform and, unlike other settings, was not predominantly explained by tobacco smoking. This study emphasizes the role of biomass fuel use, and highlights pulmonary tuberculosis as an often neglected risk factor in endemic areas.     

The FGL2/fibroleukin prothrombinase is involved in alveolar macrophage activation in COPD through the MAPK pathway

Fibrinogen-like protein 2 (FGL2)/fibroleukin has been reported to play a vital role in the pathogenesis of some critical inflammatory diseases by possessing immunomodulatory activity through the mediation of “immune coagulation” and the regulation of maturation and proliferation of immune cells. We observed upregulated FGL2 expression in alveolar macrophages from peripheral lungs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and found a correlation between FGL2 expression and increased macrophage activation markers (CD11b and CD14). The role of FGL2 in the activation of macrophages was confirmed by the detection of significantly decreased macrophage activation marker (CD11b, CD11c, and CD71) expression as well as the inhibition of cell migration and inflammatory cytokine (IL-8 and MMP-9) production in an LPS-induced FGL2 knockdown human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1). Increased FGL2 expression co-localized with upregulated phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) in the lung tissues from COPD patients. Moreover, FGL2 knockdown in THP-1 cells significantly downregulated LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38-MAPK while upregulating phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Thus, we demonstrate that FGL2 plays an important role in macrophage activation in the lungs of COPD patients through MAPK pathway modulation.     

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels as molecular targets in lung toxicology and associated diseases

The lungs as the gateways of our body to the external environment are essential for gas exchange. They are also exposed to toxicants from two sides, the airways and the vasculature. Apart from naturally produced toxic agents, millions of human made chemicals were produced since the beginning of the industrial revolution whose toxicity still needs to be determined. While the knowledge about toxic substances is increasing only slowly, a paradigm shift regarding the proposed mechanisms of toxicity at the plasma membrane emerged. According to their broad-range chemical reactivity, the mechanism of lung injury evoked by these agents has long been described as rather unspecific. Consequently, therapeutic options are still restricted to symptomatic treatment. The identification of molecular down-stream effectors in cells was a major step forward in the mechanistic understanding of the action of toxic chemicals and will pave the way for more causal and specific toxicity testing as well as therapeutic options. In this context, the involvement of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels as chemosensors involved in the detection and effectors of toxicant action is an attractive concept intensively discussed in the scientific community. In this review we will summarize recent evidence for an involvement of TRP channels (TRPA1, TRPC4, TRPC6, TRPV1, TRPV4, TRPM2 and TRPM8) expressed in the lung in pathways of toxin sensing and as mediators of lung inflammation and associated diseases like asthma, COPD, lung fibrosis and edema formation. Specific modulators of these channels may offer new therapeutic options in the future and will endorse strategies for a causal, specifically tailored treatment based on the mechanistic understanding of molecular events induced by lung-toxic agents.