ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of Orem's self-care model in school-age children with asthma. MethodsSeventy-four children with asthma treated between March 2012 and June 2014 were divided into observation group (n=37) and control group (n=37) randomly. Orem's self-care model was applied in the observation group, while routine nursing was carried out in the control group. We observed the pulmonary function, therapeutic compliance and quality of life in children of both the two groups before and one year after treatment. ResultsOne year after treatment, forced expiratory volume in one second and peak expiratory flow increased significantly (P<0.05), and increase in the observation group was significantly more than that in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significant increased treatment compliance rate (P<0.05). Pediatric asthma quality of life questionare scale results showed that one year after treatment, the two groups got significantly increased scores in the dimensions of emotion, symptom and activity (P<0.05), and the scores were significantly higher in the observation group (P<0.05). ConclusionOrem's self-care model has a significant curative effect for the improvement of lung function in school-age children with asthma, which can promot the treatment compliance and quality of life of the patients.
Objective To investigate the value of procalcitonin-guided treatment on antibiotic use in severe acute exacerbations of asthma. Methods From April 2008 to December 2010, a total of 77 patients with severe acute exacerbations of asthma were randomly assigned into a PCT group ( n =38) and a control group ( n=39) . The serum concentration of procalcitonin ( PCT) were measured in all patients. On the base of similar routine treatment, the control group received antibiotics based on the physician’s decision.Meanwhile the PCT group were treated with antibiotics according to serum PCT levels: antibiotic treatment was applied with PCT level ≥0. 25ng/mL and was discontinoued with PCT level lt; 0. 25ng/mL. Length of hospitalization, duration of antibiotics, cost of antibiotics, clinical efficacy were observed. Results The duration of antibiotics use in the PCT group [ 7 ( 5 ～11) d] was shorter than that in the control group [ 11( 7 ～16) d] ( Z = - 2. 26, P = 0. 025) , and the cost of antibiotics in the PCT group [ 2125( 1560 ～4347) yuan] was lower than that in the control group [ 3588 ( 2677 ～5280) yuan] ( Z = - 2. 01, P =0. 033) . The clinical efficacy and length of hospitalization were similar in two groups ( P gt; 0. 05) .Conclusion PCT guidance can reduce antibiotic duration and antibiotic cost in treatment of acute severe exacerbations of asthma.
Objective To investigate the changes of small airway function and diffusing capacity in patients with mild asthma before and after bronchial provocation test (BPT).Methods BPT was performed in suspected asthma patients with chief complaints of paroxysmal wheeze,chest tightness and cough，but with normal chest X-ray and baseline pulmonary function.BPT positive group was regarded as asthma group，while BPT negative group as control group.Lung volume，ventilatory function and diffusing capacity were measured before and after BPT and compared between the asthma and control groups.Results （A）No statistical differences were found in FEV1%，FEV1/FVC，FVC%，VC%，TLC%，FRC%，RV%，RV/TLC between the asthma and control groups before BPT.FEV1/FVC and FVC% were significantly decreased (all Plt;0.01)，while FRC% (Plt;0.05)，RV% (Plt;0.01) and RV/TLC (Plt;0.01) increased significantly in the asthma group after BPT compared with the control group.The decline rate of FEV1/FVC and FVC% and the increase rate of TLC%，RV%，RV/TLC were significantly higher in the asthma group than those in the control group (all Plt;0.01).（B）Compared with the control group，FEF25%-75% (Plt;0.05)，Vmax75% (Plt;0.01) and Vmax50% (Plt;0.05) were significantly lowered before BPT，while the above parameters and Vmax25% were significantly decreased after BPT in the asthma group (all Plt;0.01).The decline rate of FEF25%-75%，Vmax75%，Vmax50% and Vmax25% was significantly higher in the asthma group than those in the control group (all Plt;0.01).（C）There was no statistical difference in DLCO in both groups before and after BPT.Conclusions Patients with mild asthma had small airways impairment before BCT which further declined after BPT.However,no impairment of diffusion capacity was found before or after BPT.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatments of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). MethodsThe clinical data of four cases of ABPA diagnosed in our department between 2009 and 2014 were analyzed. The related literature was also reviewed. ResultsABPA tends to occur in people with chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and cystic fibrosis. The main clinical manifestations are wheezing, fever, cough, and sputum production. Laboratory examinations include immediate Aspergillus skin test reactivity, elevated total serum IgE and Aspergillus specific IgE and IgG antibodies, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Radiological findings include recurrent chest roentgenographic infiltrates and central bronchiectasis. Treatments involve corticosteroids and antifungal therapy with itraconazole. ConclusionsABPA is easy to misdiagnosis clinically. It should be considered in patients with poor controlled asthma and asthmatic patients with acute pulmonary infiltrates. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can minimize lung injury from ABPA and improve outcomes.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in patients with asthma, and explore the association of OSAHS with asthma. MethodsPatients who were diagnosed as asthma between March 2014 and February 2015 were recruited in the study. They were categorized into an OSAHS group and a non-OSAHS group according to the Berlin questionnaire. The data of clinical characteristics and pulmonary function test were collected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the factors associated with the incidence of OSAHS in asthma. ResultsA total of 64 patients with asthma were enrolled and 36 patients were complicated with OSAHS. The body mass index (BMI), allergic rhinitis history, inspiratory capacity, maximal mid-expiratory flow and provoking dose which make FEV1 reduce 20% were significantly different between two groups (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the increased BMI was an independent risk factor of OSAHS in patients with asthma. ConclusionThe occurrence of OSAHS with asthma is very high, and BMI may be an important associated risk factor.
Objective To observe the effect of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 intervention on airway Muc5ac level in asthmatic mice, and to explore the role and mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in asthmatic airway mucus hypersecretion. Methods A total of 50 SPF grade BALB/c female mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were randomly divided into normal control group (NS group), asthma model group (AS group), dexamethasone group (Dex group), MCC950 high-dose intervention group (MH group) and MCC950 low-dose intervention group (ML group), with 10 mice in each group. Furthermore, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice in each group was counted by total cell count, associated with white blood cell different count. In addition, the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-1β in BALF were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; The lung tissues were prepared into paraffin-embedded sections, which were then subject to hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff base staining and Masson staining to observe the pathological changes of lung tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression levels of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and caspase-1 in lung tissues. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the relative mRNA expressions of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in lung tissues. Results Compared with NS group, AS group showed significant increase in total cell count of BALF, the percentage of eosinophils, the infiltration score of inflammatory cells around the airway, the positive relative staining area of airway mucus and the deposition area of airway collagen fibers in mice (P<0.05), upregulated protein expression levels of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in lung tissues (P<0.05), elevated relative mRNA expressions of Muc5ac, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in lung tissues (P<0.05), and raised concentrations of IL-18 and IL-1β in BALF (P<0.05). While compared with AS group, the above indicators were reduced in MH group and ML group (P<0.05). Moreover, in relative to Dex group, these indicators were increased in MH group ML group (P<0.05). In addition, no statistically significant difference was observed in the aforementioned indications between MH group and ML group.Conclusions MCC950 intervention can inhibit airway inflammation and airway mucus secretion in asthmatic mice. Its mechanism is speculated to be related to the suppression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18 and IL-1β expressions, downregulation of Muc5ac expression, and inhibition in airway mucus hypersecretion.
ObjectiveTo explore the mediating effect of depression between fatigue and quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma, and to provide a clinical basis for alleviating fatigue and improving the quality of life in asthma patients.MethodsBronchial asthma patiens were recruited with convenience sampling method to conducta questionnaire survey in outpatients department of respiratory of a tertiary hospital in Guangxi from November 2018 to March 2019. The general data questionnaire, the Chinese version of Checklist Individual Strength-Fatigue, the Self-rating Depression Scale, the Questionnaire for Asthma Quality of Life in Adult, and the Asthma Control Test were used. We collected data to analyze the mediating effects of depression between fatigue and quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma.ResultsFinally, 120 patients were included. There were statistically significant differences in quality of life among patients with different ages, education levels, residences, time of high incidence of symptoms, degrees of lung function impairment, asthma control conditions, and degrees of depression, and between patients with fatigue and the ones without fatigue (P<0.05). The quality of life score was negatively correlated with depression score and fatigue score (r=−0.749, −0.770; P<0.001). The depression score was positively correlated with fatigue score (r=0.769, P<0.001). The fatigue score had a negative predictive effect on quality of life score [standardized partial regression coefficient (β’)=−0.587, P<0.001], and a positive predictive effect on depression scores (β’=0.657, P<0.001). After adding depression score, the effect of fatigue score on quality of life score decreased and the β’ changed from −0.587 to −0.319, suggesting that depression played a partial mediating role in the relationship between fatigue and quality of life. Mediation tests showed significant mediation effects.ConclusionsRelieving or eliminating fatigue can improve the quality of life in asthma patients directly. At the same time, it can indirectly improve the quality of life in asthma patients through relieving depression.
Objective To explore the relationship between nasopharyngeal microecology and diseases in children with bronchial asthma. Methods A total of 41 children with asthma who were treated in Hainan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between November 2020 and March 2023 were retrospectively included in the study, and 26 healthy children undergoing adenoid examination in the same period were selected as the control group. Samples of nasal mucosa were collected from the anterior and medial side of inferior turbinate, and the expression of DEFB2, IL17A, TSLP, IL13, IL5 and T1R3 genes was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Nasal swabs were collected from the children, and the bacterial composition was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Results Compared with the control group, the rate of atopy cases in the asthma group increased significantly (53.7% vs. 19.2%, P<0.05). At the phylum level, compared with the control group, the phylum Chloroflexi, the phylum Patescibacteria, the phylum Tenericutes and the phylum Nitrospirae in the asthma group increased significantly (P<0.05), and the phylum Elusimicrobia decreased significantly (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared with the control group, the members of Bacillus (Fimnicutes), Ruminococcus (Fimnicutes), Rhodococcus (Actinobacteria), Acinetobacter (Proteobacteria), Moraxella (Proteobacteria) and Asaia (Proteobacteria) in the asthma group increased significantly (P<0.05), and the members of Enterococcus (Fimnicutes), Alkanindiges (Proteobacteria), Rickettsia (Proteobacteria), and Rhizobium (Proteobacteria) in the asthma group decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the Shannon index of the asthma group decreased significantly (2.63±1.45 vs. 3.90±1.44; t=2.708, P=0.010). According to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cut-off point of Shannon index was 3.10. In all study populations, compared with children whose Shannon index was higher than the cut-off point, children whose Shannon index was lower than the cut-off point were characterized by increased expression of IL17A and T1R3 (P<0.05) and decreased expression of TSLP (P<0.05). Conclusion The composition and abundance of nasopharyngeal microbiota are significantly different between children with asthma and healthy control children.
Objective To investigate the depression status，score of asthma control test (ACT) and quality of life in asthma patients before and after health care education according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines.Methods 59 enrolled outpatients with asthma were asked to self-administer the CES-D (center for epidemiologic studies-depression) scale，ACT scale and the quality of life (QOL) questionnaire respectively.All the patients were educated and treated by health care professionals under the guidance of GINA 2004.After average of 2.5 months ± 15 days，they were asked to self-administer all the scales and questionnaire mentioned above once again on return visit.The data was collected and analyzed statistically based on whether or not the patient had depression according to the CES-D score and the data before and after the education was compared statistically.Results （A）40.7% (24/59) of the patients had depression emotion before guided treatment，and after that the percentage significantly decreased to 13.6% (8/59) (Plt;0.05).（B）Comparing the depressive and non-depressive groups，there was significant difference in 3 of 5 domains in QOL excluding limitation of activity and self concern about health (Plt;0.05) before guided treatment.While on return visit 3 domains in QOL excluding limitation of activity and psychologic status had shown a significant difference (Plt;0.05).There was no significant difference in ACT score before guided treatment，while wise versa after that (Plt;0.05).（C）Before guided treatment the depression status was inversely correlated with 3 in 5 domains of QOL (symptoms of asthma，psychologic status and response to irritant)，as well as QOL as a whole (Plt;0.05)，but not with the other two domains of QOL scale and ACT score.After guided treatment，the depression status had inverse correlation with QOL and 3 in 5 domains of QOL scale (excluding limitation of activity and psychologic status) (Plt;0.05)，as well as ACT score (Plt;0.05).Conclusions The symptoms of asthma and response to irritants are common factors that influence the depressive emotion in asthma population.While psychologic status and self concern about health are both important factors that can not be overlooked.Health care education is important for asthma patients in view of appropriate treatment，symptom control and relief of depression emotion.