Objective To investigate the effect of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) on oxidative stress and alveolar septal cell apoptosis in mice with emphysema after smoking cessation. Methods Twenty-two male SPF C57BL/6J mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were randomly divided into 4 groups, ie. a healthy control group, an emphysema group, a smoking cessation group, and a SAM intervention for 8 weeks after smoking cessation group, with 8 mice in each group. The mice model of emphysema was established by intraperitoneal injection of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) combined with cigarette smoke exposure. Smoking cessation started after the emphysema model was successfully constructed and lasted for 8 weeks. After smoking cessation, the mice in SAM intervention groups were intraperitoneally injected with SAM mg·kg–1·d–1 for 8 weeks. The right lung sections of the mice were taken for hematoxylin-eosin staining to observe pathological changes, and the mean linea rintercept (MLI) and mean alveola rnumber (MAN) of lungs were measured. The concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide-dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) in alveolar lavage fluid of left lung were detected by spectrophotometry. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique was carried out to detect the alveolar septal cells apoptosis. Results MLI, apoptosis index of alveolar septal cell and MDA concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) increased significantly in the emphysema group compared with healthy controls, increased significantly in the smoking cessation group compared with the emphysema group, and decreased in the SAM intervention group compared with the smoking cessation group (all P<0.05). GSH concentration and SOD activity in BALF and MAN was significantly lower in the emphysema group compared with the healthy control group, significantly lower in the smoking cessation group compared with the emphysema group, and significantly higher in the SAM intervention group compared with the smoking cessation group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Lung histopathology and apoptosis of alveolar septal cells in emphysema mice progress continuously after smoking cessation. SAM may reduce oxidative stress and improve apoptosis of alveolar septal cells, so as to protect emphysema mice after smoking cessation.
Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) is highly heterogeneous. In theory, the patients with same clinical manifestations, treatment response and prognosis can be classified into one phenotype, which may have same biological or physiological mechanisms. In this study the profiles of patients with COPD including body mass index( BMI) , Goddard score, fractional exhaled nitric oxide( FeNO) were analyzed in order to find some special phenotypes.Methods Patients with COPD at stable stage in Ruijin Hospital from May 2011 to February 2012 were evaluated with COPD assessment test ( CAT) in Chinese version, St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire( SGRQ) , hospital anxiety and depression( HAD) rating scale, pulmonary function test, and 6-minute walking test ( 6MWT) . Baseline data was collected including height, weight, drug use, times of exacerbation, etc. Results A total of 126 patients were recruited. The patients with low BMI had poorer quality of life, lower FEV1 , poorer diffusion function, and higher Goddard score, and was easier to develop anxiety and depression. The patients with high BMI had lower oxygen saturation at rest. We failed to define a certain kind of phenotype according to FeNO. The patients of emphysema phenotype( assessed by Goddard score) had lower BMI, decreased lung diffusion capacity, and poorer quality of life. Conclusion The study can define COPD patients into some special phenotypes( low BMI and emphysema phenotype) , but failed to define a certain kind of phenotype according to FeNO.
Objective To investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) in the pathogenesis of emphysema and its relationship with tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) . Methods 48 rats were randomly divided into four groups, ie. a normal control group, an emphysema group, a rhTNFR∶Fc intervention group, and a sham intervention group. The rats in the emphysema group, the rhTNFR: Fc intervention group, and the shamintervention group were exposed to cigarette smoking for 80 days. After 30 days of exposure, rhTNFR: Fc hypodermic injection was administered in the rhTNFR: Fc intervention group while placebo was injected in the sham intervention group as control. Lung tissue sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin. Mean linear intercept ( MLI) and mean alveolar numbers ( MAN) were measured to estimate the extent of emphysema. The level of TNF-αin serumand BALF, and the level of VEGF in BALF were measured with ELISA. Results In the emphysema group, MLI was higher and MAN was lower than those in the normal control group. Moreover, the levels of TNF-αin serum and BALF were higher, and thelevel of VEGF in BALF was lower significantly ( P lt;0. 05) . After the intervention with rhTNFR∶Fc, MAN increased and the serum TNF-αdecreased significantly compared with the emphysema group ( P lt; 0. 05) .However there were no significant differences in MLI, VEGF, and TNF-α in BALF ( P gt; 0. 05 ) . No correlation was found between the level of TNF-αand VEGF in BALF in the emphysema group. Conclusion VEGF and TNF-αare related to the pathogenesis of emphysema of smoking rats, and may contribute to the development of emphysema in different pathways.
Objective To investigate whether the sleep-induced hypoxemia ( SIH) at different time and different level have different effects on pulmonary emphysema and coagulation systemfunction in the rats with pulmonary emphysema. Methods Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups( n = 10 in each group) . All rats were exposed to cigarette smoke twice a day ( 30 min each time) . From29th day on, the rats in Group A ( pulmonary emphysema with short SIH) were also exposed to mixed gas of 12. 5% oxygen for 1. 5 hours during sleeping time every day ( the expose time was divided into 4 periods, 22. 5 min each) . The rats in Group B ( pulmonary emphysema with mild SIH) were also exposed to mixed gas of 15% oxygen for three hours during sleeping time every day( the expose time was divided into 4 periods, 45 min each) . The rats in Group C( pulmonary emphysema with standard SIH) were also exposed to mixed gas of 12. 5% oxygen for three hours during sleeping time every day( the expose time was divided into 4 periods,45 min each) . After continuous exposure for 56 days, the rats were sacrificed. Semi-quantitative image analytic method was employed for histopathological analysis including pathological score of lungs, mean linear intercept ( MLI) and mean alveolus number( MAN) . ATⅢ, FIB, vWF, FⅧ were measured. Results All animals in three groups manifested the histopathological features of emphysema. Pathological scores of lungs and MLI of every group were significantly different from each other( F = 21. 907, F = 18. 415, all P lt; 0. 05) , Group A [ ( 61. 90 ±4. 25) % , ( 92. 45 ±1. 78) μm] and Group B[ ( 64. 60 ±3. 95) % , ( 92. 80 ±3. 65) μm] were significantly lower than Group C[ ( 73. 30 ±3. 86) % , ( 99. 32 ±2. 81) μm, q= 8. 96, q =6. 84, q = 12. 64, q =9. 65, all P lt; 0. 05] . Levels of FIB were significantly different among three groups ( F = 20. 592, P lt; 0. 05) while FIB in Group A[ ( 189. 98 ±5. 29) mg/ dL] and Group B[ ( 182. 70 ±2. 78) mg /dL] were significantly lower than that in Group C[ ( 198. 40 ±7. 37) mg/ dL, q = 4. 86, q= 9. 07, all P lt; 0. 05] , and FIB in Group A was significantly higher than that in Group B( q = 4. 20, P lt; 0. 05) . Levels of FⅧ were significantly different from each other( F = 33. 652, P lt;0. 05) while FⅧ in Group A[ ( 232. 26 ±4. 17) % ]and Group B[ ( 242. 53 ±14. 50) % ] were significantly lower than that in Group C[ ( 303. 25 ±32. 93) % ,q= 10. 73, q = 9. 18, all P lt; 0. 05] . Conclusions Pulmonary emphysema and hypercoagulable states increases with time and severity of SIH in rats with pulmonary emphysema. The elevated activity of blood coagulation factor may be a critical role in the hypercoagulable states.
Objective To improve the knowledge and diagnostic accuracy of combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) syndrome in connective tissue diseases (CTD) by summarizing the clinical characteristics of 20 CTD patients with CPFE and reviewing literatures. Methods The medical records of 20 CTD patients with CPFE from January 2011 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 11 males and 9 females. The average age was 47 years. Among them, 4 patients were smokers and 15 patients were nonsmokers. The average duration of CTD was 3.5 years with an average onset age of 41 years. Respiratory symptoms were reported in 17 patients and Velcro rale was found in 9 patients; The most common type of CTD disease in these 20 patients was inflammatory myopathy (9 patients, 45%) followed by systemic sclerosis (SSc) (4 patients, 20%). High resolution computerized tomography of lung showed typical radiological features of CPFE containing fibrosis lesions predominantly distributed in the subpleural (14 patients) and basal (18 patients) parts and emphysema mainly located in upper zones. Relatively normal results of lung volume and ventilation function, and markedly reduced carbon monoxide transfer capacity were observed. One patient was confirmed with pulmonary hypertension and 1 patient died from severe inflammation and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusions The CPFE syndrome can be identified in CTD patients as an entity with male predominance, especially among patients with inflammatory myopathy and SSc. Higher risk of secondary pulmonary hypertension and acute lung injury in these patients may increase mortality. Early differentiation of CPFE from pure interstitial lung disease in CTD patients could be helpful in improving prognosis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and efficacy of staged bilateral single-port thoracoscopic lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) for the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema (COPE). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of eleven male patients with bilateral COPE and bullae in Xuzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from January 2013 through June 2014. All the patients underwent staged bilateral single-port thoracoscopic LVRS with their age of 60.27± 12.11 years. The hyperinflated bullae were resected using endoscopic staplers (Endo-GIA), followed by continuous suture and biological glue for reinforcement of the margin. Besides, the pulmonary function, blood gas assay, 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD), and life quality evaluated by short form 36 Health survey questionnaire (SF-36) were recorded before and after LVRS respectively. ResultsAll the patients survived after surgery. Chest tube drainage time was 9.09± 1.31 days. Postoperative hospital stay was 15.73± 2.75 days. There were 5 patients with persistent air leakage and 7 patients with pulmonary infection who were cured finally. The pulmonary function, arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2), 6-MWD and life quality after unilateral or bilateral LVRS improved than those before surgery in postoperative 3 months. However, there was no statistical difference in outcomes between unilateral and bilateral LVRS patients. ConclusionStaged bilateral single-port thoracoscopic LVRS could improve short-term life quality of patients with COPE.
Objective To observe the value of serum soluble receptor of advanced glycation endproducts (sRAGE) combined with lung function and high resolution lung CT (HRCT) in predicting the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) developing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods From January 2019 to June 2021, 140 patients with COPD combined with NSCLC, 137 patients with COPD, and 133 patients with NSCLC were enrolled in the study from the People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. General data, clinical symptoms, pulmonary function indexes and HRCT emphysema indexes (EI) were collected. Serum sRAGE levels of these patients were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical characteristics of patients with COPD complicated with NSCLC were analyzed. Serum sRAGE, lung function and lung HRCT were combined to evaluate the correlation between the degree of emphysema and the occurrence of NSCLC in COPD, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for diagnostic efficiency. Results Compared with NSCLC group, COPD combined with NSCLC group had higher proportion of male patients, higher proportion of elderly patients, higher smoking index, and higher proportion of squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.05). FEV1 and FEV1%pred in COPD combined with NSCLC group were significantly lower than those in COPD group and NSCLC group. The Goddard score and EI values of emphysema were significantly increased (P<0.05). Serum sRAGE was significantly lower than that of COPD group and NSCLC group (P<0.05). Serum sRAGE level was positively correlated with FEV1%pred (r=0.366, P<0.001) and FEV1/FVC (r=0.419, P<0.001), and negatively correlated with Goddard score (r=–0.710, P=0.001) and EI value (r=–0.515, P<0.001). Binary multi-factor logistic regression analysis showed that age, smoking index, EI, Goddard score, RV/TLC were positively correlated with the risk of COPD developing NSCLC, while FEV1%pred, FVC, FEV1/FVC and serum sRAGE were negatively correlated with the risk of COPD developing NSCLC. ROC curve results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of single diagnosis of sRAGE was 0.990, and the optimal cut-off value of 391.98 pg/mL with sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 89.7%. The AUC of sRAGE combined with age, smoking index, EI, Goddard score, FEV1%pred, FVC, FEV1/FVC, RV/TLC was 1.000 with sensitivity of 96.7%, specificity of 96.6%, and Yoden index of 0.933. Conclusion The combination of serum sRAGE, lung function and HRCT emphysema score can improve prediction of NSCLC occurrence in COPD.
Emphysema is a chronic progressive disease characterized by abnormal terminal bronchioles. Patients in end-stage have limited treatment. Lung volume reduction surgery(LVRS) is to remove the non-functional emphysematous lung tissue with the aim of palliating symptoms in selected patient with severe emphysema. It provides a new therapeutic method for emphysema. When LVRS is widely accepted after 1990s, a large number of institutions carried out the researches on surgical approaches, perioperative mortality, long-term efficacy and complications. Its targeted beneficial patients and surgical safety had been confirmed too. Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) successfully carried out on the basis of the development of LVRS and bronchoscopy. This article reviews the surgical approaches, safety and efficacy of LVRS and BLVR in patients with emphysema.