Medicinal plants useful for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Current status and future perspectives

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem. The current therapies are inadequate and have numerous adverse effects. There is an acute need of potential alternative therapies. Medicinal plants are classical and most widespread form of medication for treating various human ailments throughout the world. For COPD also, various plants are practiced in many countries. We have surveyed the literatures for the medicinal plants which are used in obstructive lung diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema. These plants were segregated into two categories. Firstly, the plants which are used for obstructive lung diseases based on various traditional recommendations only. Secondly, the plants or their formulations which have been studied grossly in COPD patients and animal models for their scientific validation. Further, we have described some known cellular and molecular factors involved in COPD and their modulation by plant-derived compounds. Certain future perspectives have also been discussed.     

Association of SOX5 polymorphisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related pulmonary hypertension

SOX5) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients,COPD with pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients and healthy controls,and to explore the association of the SOX5 SNPs in COPD-related PH.METHODS: From April 2013 to April 2015,250 patients with stable COPD were enrolled continuously in Ningxia People's Hospital according to COPD treatment guidelines (2013 edition).All the patients received echocardiography,and were divided into COPD with PH group[pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP)≥50 mmHg,n=103] and COPD without PH group (PASP<50 mmHg,n=147).The healthy persons (matched for age,sex,race and smoking index,n=127) were selected as control group at the same period.Genotyping of SOX5 gene rs10842262 and rs11046966 loci was performed using MassARRAY genotyping system (Sequenom).Genotype frequencies were calculated.RESULTS: Age,sex and smoking index showed no significantly difference between control group and COPD group,neither between COPD with PH group and COPD without PH group.Genotype frequencies of SOX5 gene rs10842262 and rs11046966 loci between control group and COPD group was of significant difference (P<0.05).Genotype frequencies of SOX5 gene rs10842262 and rs11046966 loci showed no significant difference between COPD with PH group and COPD without PH group.CONCLUSION: SOX5 gene rs10842262 and rs11046966 loci may play an important role in COPD,but not in COPD-related PH.     

Effect of cigarette smoking condensate on HDAC2 and inflammatory mediators in mouse myoblast C2C12 cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of cigarette smoking condensate on histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) and inflammatory mediators in mouse myoblast C2C12 cells. METHODS: C2C12 cells were treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE). HDAC2 siRNA was transfected into the cells using Lipofectamine^TM 2000. The levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA, and the expression of HDAC2 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: The expression of HDAC2 at mRNA and protein levels in CSE group was lower than that in control group (P<0.05). The supernatant levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in CSE group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). When the cells were transfected with HDAC2 siRNA followed by CSE stimulation, the expression of HDAC2 at mRNA and protein levels was decreased, and the supernatant levels of IL-8 and TNF-α were significantly increased as compared with CSE group and control group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Under the oxidative stress condition, C2C12 cells generate high levels of IL-8 and TNF-α by down-regulating the expression of HDAC2.     

MRI CHARACTERISTICS OF FOURTH VENTRICLE ARACHNOID DIVERTICULA IN FIVE DOGS

Intracranial arachnoid diverticula (cysts) are rare accumulations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the arachnoid membrane. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of fourth ventricle arachnoid diverticula in a group of dogs. The hospital's medical records were searched for dogs with MRI studies of the brain and a diagnosis of fourth ventricle arachnoid diverticulum. Clinical characteristics were recorded from medical records and MRI studies were reinterpreted by a board‐certified veterinary radiologist. Five pediatric dogs fulfilled inclusion criteria. Clinical signs included cervical hyperaesthesia, obtundation, tetraparesis, and/or central vestibular syndrome. In all five dogs, MRI findings were consistent with obstructive hydrocephalus, based on dilation of all ventricles and compression of the cerebellum and brainstem. All five dogs also had cervical syringohydromyelia, with T2‐weighted hyperintensity of the gray matter of the cord adjacent to the syringohydromyelia. A signal void, interpreted as flow disturbance, was observed at the mesencephalic aqueduct in all dogs. Four dogs underwent surgical treatment with occipitalectomy and durotomy. A cystic lesion emerging from the fourth ventricle was detected in all four dogs during surgery and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of arachnoid diverticula. Three dogs made excellent recovery but deteriorated shortly after surgery and were euthanized. Repeat MRI in two dogs revealed improved hydrocephalus but worsening of the syringohydromyelia. Findings from the current study supported theories that fourth ventricle arachnoid diverticula are secondary to partial obstruction of the central canal or lateral apertures and that arachnoid diverticula are developmental lesions in dogs.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重患者痰病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的 分析本院慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重期（acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,AECOPD）患者痰菌分布及耐药特点,更好的指导早期临床用药。方法 采集2014年8月到2016年7月本院呼吸病房的613例行痰培养的AECOPD患者的临床资料及痰培养结果,分析其痰菌分布及耐药特点。结果 送检痰标本共检出病菌406株,其中革兰阴性菌、真菌、革兰阳性菌各247株（60.8%）、103株（25.4%）、56株（13.8%）,常见的病菌包括铜绿假单胞菌（17.0%）、白假丝酵母菌（12.8%）、金黄色葡萄球菌（9.9%）、鲍氏/溶血不动杆菌（8.1%）、肺炎克雷伯菌（7.9%）、大肠埃希氏菌（6.9%）、嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌（6.9%）。大肠埃希菌及肺炎克雷伯杆菌产超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）阳性率分别为71.4%和34.4%,二者对大部分抗生素有不同程度耐药,铜绿假单胞菌、鲍氏/溶血不动杆菌、嗜麦芽窄食单胞菌耐药率均较高。结论 革兰阴性杆菌为AECOPD患者痰培养的主要菌群,总体耐药性高,结合当地病菌分布及耐药特点选用抗菌药物尤为重要。     

白茶对烟雾诱导的小鼠慢性阻塞性肺病的改善研究

60只ICR小鼠随机等分成正常对照组、模型组、寿眉组、白牡丹组、白毫银针组和表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯（EGCG）组。通过烟熏法建立小鼠慢性阻塞性肺病（Chronic obstructive pulmonary,COPD）模型,3个等级的白茶水提物和EGCG通过灌胃给予药物,5周后处死,收集血浆、支气管肺泡灌洗液、肺组织和肝组织,测定肺组织病理学变化和各样品的生化指标,研究白茶对小鼠COPD的改善作用及机制。结果显示：（1）模型组肺组织出现大量炎性浸润与杯状细胞化生等病理损伤,白茶提取物和EGCG处理均能明显改善肺组织病理性损伤,白毫银针效果最佳;（2）模型组出现明显的氧化应激和炎症反应,丙二醛（MDA）、白介素-6（IL-6）与肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平显著升高,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性显著下降,白茶提取物和EGCG处理均能显著降低MDA、IL-6与TNF-α水平并上调SOD活性;（3）模型组血浆一氧化氮（NO）水平和肺组织髓过氧化物酶（MPO）活性显著升高,在支气管肺泡灌洗液和肺组织中NO水平降低,白茶提取物和EGCG组均能改善NO失调,降低MPO活性;（4）白茶提取物和EGCG均能上调COPD小鼠单磷酸腺苷依赖的蛋白激酶（AMPK）磷酸化水平的下降;上述处理过程中均未见白茶提取物和EGCG对小鼠的肝毒性。综上,白茶提取物能够通过抗氧化、抗炎和调节NO失常来明显改善香烟烟雾诱导的小鼠COPD。     

沙丁胺醇联合中药穴位贴敷治疗慢性阻塞性肺病的疗效观察

目的 探讨沙丁胺醇联合中药穴位贴敷治疗慢性阻塞性肺病（Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,COPD）的疗效。方法 将120名COPD患者分成实验组和对照组,对照组采用单纯沙丁胺醇治疗,实验组采用沙丁胺醇联合中药穴位敷贴治疗。观察两组临床疗效情况、Borg评分变化情况、肺功能[用力肺活量（FVC）、1s 用力呼气容积（FEVl）、1s用力呼气容积占用力肺活量百分比（FEVl/FVC）、]以及血气指标[动脉血氧分压（PaO²）以及二氧化碳分压（PaCO²）]变化情况。结果 实验组总有效率为91.67%,明显对高于对照组的73.33%,两组差异有统计学意义（P<0.01）;实验组Borg评分指数改善情况明显优于对照组（P<0.01）;治疗后两组患者FVC、FEVl、FEVl/FVC均较治疗前增高（P<0.05或P<0.01）,且实验组高于对照组（P<0.05或P<0.01）;治疗后,两组患者PaO²较治疗前升高、PaCO²较治疗前下降（P<0.05或P<0.01）,且实验组PaO²高于对照组、PaCO²低于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.01）。结论 沙丁胺醇联合中药穴位贴敷治疗COPD相比单用沙丁胺醇治疗,能显著改善肺功能情况,显著提高疗效,值得临床应用与推广。     

CONTRAST RADIOGRAPHY OF THE LOWER URINARY TRACT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OBSRUCTIVE UROLITHIASIS IN SMALL RUMINANTS AND SWINE

Contrast radiographic visualization of the small ruminant and porcine lower urinary tract is an infrequently used modality for the evaluation and management of obstructive urolithiasis. The administration of contrast medium through a tube cystostomy catheter used to divert urine flow until the resolution of the obstruction may provide an easy method to evaluate the status of the urethral obstruction. Contrast fluoroscopy is utilized to monitor and visualize therapeutic flushing of the urethra. A review of 26 patients seen at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital suggested that among the radiographic techniques used, positive contrast normograde cystourethrography through the tube cystostomy catheter allowed the best visualization of the lower urinary tract structures and enabled assessment of the resolution of the obstructive lesion.     

四川盆地一次暴雨天气过程溃变分析及数值预报检验

利用溃变理论之V-3θ图对2009年7月14~17日出现在四川盆地西部的连续暴雨天气进行分析,并对此过程中ECWMF、T213数值预报产品的形势场和降水进行检验分析。结果表明,V-3θ图能对该次暴雨过程进行准确地描述;结合常规天气图、经验及数值预报产品可以确定暴雨的落区;ECWMF形势场的预报准确率明显高于T213;T213对于暴雨的预报准确性较低。     

安徽省农村宅基地有偿转让研究

安徽农村宅基地存在房屋空置、占用面积超标、未建房宅基地耕种、耕地上建房等现象。行政村所处位置、农户农业收入水平、非农业收入水平、农户工作状态四个因素是影响农户宅基地流转意愿的显著因素。建议制定农村宅基地流转和依法入市的有效制度,建立合理、健康的农村宅基地流转市场,打破城乡二元分割的土地利用机制,推动城乡协调发展,从而推进农村宅基地有偿转让。