Clarifying the relationship and analyzing the influential factors of bronchial asthma in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

BACKGROUND Bronchial asthma is closely related to the occurrence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD)in children,which can easily have adverse effects on children’s learning and social interactions.Studies have shown that childhood asthma can increase the risk of ADHD and the core symptoms of ADHD.Compared with children with ADHD alone,children with asthma and ADHD are more likely to show high levels of hyperactivity,hyperactive-impulsive and other externalizing behaviors and anxiety in clinical practice and have more symptoms of somatization and emotional internalization.AIM To explore the relationship between ADHD in children and bronchial asthma and to analyze its influencing factors.METHODS This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Dongying People's Hospital from September 2018 to August 2023.Children diagnosed with ADHD at this hospital were selected as the ADHD group,while healthy children without ADHD who underwent physical examinations during the same period served as the control group.Clinical and parental data were collected for all participating children,and multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify risk factors for comorbid asthma in children with ADHD.RESULTSSignificant differences were detected between the ADHD group and the control group in terms of family history ofasthma and allergic diseases, maternal complications during pregnancy, maternal use of asthma and allergymedications during pregnancy, maternal anxiety and depression during pregnancy, and parental relationshipstatus (P < 0.05). Out of the 183 children in the ADHD group, 25 had comorbid asthma, resulting in a comorbidityrate of 13.66% (25/183), compared to the comorbidity rate of 2.91% (16/549) among the 549 children in the controlgroup. The difference in the asthma comorbidity rate between the two groups was statistically significant (P <0.05). The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that family history of asthma and allergicdiseases, maternal complications during pregnancy, maternal use of asthma and allergy medications duringpregnancy, maternal anxiety and depression during pregnancy, and parental relationship status are independentrisk factors increasing the risk of comorbid asthma in children with ADHD (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONChildren with ADHD were more likely to have comorbid asthma than healthy control children were. A familyhistory of asthma, adverse maternal factors during pregnancy, and parental relationship status were identified asrisk factors influencing the comorbidity of asthma in children with ADHD. Clinically, targeted interventions basedon these factors can be implemented to reduce the risk of comorbid asthma. This information is relevant for resultssections of abstracts in scientific articles.

Research Progress on Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Children with Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that poses a significant threat to the physical and mental health of children globally.Currently,pulmonary rehabilitation is a non-pharmacological intervention that has shown promise in treating chronic respiratory diseases.However,most studies related to pulmonary rehabilitation only focus on chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),lung cancer,and bronchiectasis.Research on bronchial asthma in children is still in the preliminary stages.This article reviews the concept,basic content,and application mode of pulmonary rehabilitation,to provide reference for the clinical research of pulmonary rehabilitation in children with bronchial asthma,and to carry out multimodal pulmonary rehabilitation to improve the disease control level and quality of life of asthma in children.

The Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease. Allergies are intensely related to bronchial asthma and to other respiratory diseases such as chronic sinusitis, middle ear infections, and nasal polyps. Treatment can vary from inhalers to oral medications to drugs delivered in a nebulizer or breathing machine. Besides, dietary involvement was a significant tool to reduce the severity of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma. Randomly assigned, double blind, and placebo controlled 290 adults with mild to moderately persistent bronchial asthma concluded in this study, were subjected to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn either singly or in combination. Subjective symptom improvement, pulmonary function, and biochemical tests were carried out at the beginning of the study and at the end of each therapeutic phase. The study findings showed that nearly half of the cases were in age between 18 years to 40 years followed by 29.6 of the cases that fall in age range between 40 years and 60 years. It was clear that all the four supplements (ogema-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn, and combination) contributed more than placebo in reducing the severity of bronchial asthma. However, omega 3 fatty acids and combined supplement significantly contributed in symptomatic improvement (p < 0.05). There was a significant improvement of pulmonary function and sputum inflammatory markers with diet supplementation (p < 0.05). So, the subjects with mild and moderately persistent bronchial asthma may get benefit from their dietary supplementation with omega 3 fatty acids, Zinc and vitamin C. It is evident from this study that omega 3 fatty acids and combined supplementation significantly improved the severity of bronchial asthma.

Comparison of Allergic Rhinitis and Bronchial Asthma Impacts on Tympanometric Parameters in Children at Kano, Nigeria

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a multifocal IgE-mediated type I hypersensitivity reaction that affects sino-nasal mucosa and is characterized by excessive sneezing, watery rhinorrhea, nasal itching, nasal stuffiness and eyes itching. Bronchial asthma (BA) is one of the common childhood diseases that affects the respiratory system characterized by recurrent cough, wheezing, chest tightness and difficulty with breathing. The two conditions are different manifestations of allergic disease of the airway;the composition of the inflammatory substrate in the mucosa of allergic patients is similar to the late-phase allergic response seen elsewhere in the respiratory tract, such as in bronchial asthma. Aim: The aim was to compare the impacts of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma on tympanometric parameters in children. Patients & Methods: This is a hospital based comparative cross-sectional study. Two groups of participants aged 4 - 12 years, one group with documented clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and the other group with documented clinical diagnosis of bronchial asthma were consecutively selected from ear, nose and throat (ENT) and pediatrics cardiopulmonary outpatient clinics of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano respectively. Equal number of children aged 4 - 12 years with no history of ENT diseases or bronchial asthma that were selected from elementary schools within the same community served as a control group. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was filled out for all the participants, complete ENT and chest examinations were carried out and subsequently all the selected participants had tympanometry done, findings were recorded and analyzed. Results: The mean age of participants with bronchial asthma was found to be 7.5 ± 2.6 years while participants with allergic rhinitis had the mean age of 6.8 ± 2.1 years. The mean middle ear pressure (MEP) of participants with bronchial asthma was found to be -15.22 dapa and -40.32 dapa in those with allergic rhinitis. Acoustic reflex was found to be absent in 15.4% of the participants with bronchial asthma and 29.6% of allergic rhinitis participants. Type B tympanogram was found in 2.8% of bronchial asthma participants and 7.3% in participants with allergic rhinitis. Type C tympanogram was found in 4.6% of participants with bronchial asthma and 15.5% of participants with allergic rhinitis. Type A tympanogram was found in 90% of participants with bronchial asthma and 75% of participants with allergic rhinitis. The difference between type A, B and C tympanograms of participants with bronchial asthma and those with allergic rhinitis was found to be statistically significant (Type A χ2 = 14.62, df = 4, p value = 0.01, Type B χ2 = 14.06, df = 4, p value = 0.01, Type C χ2 = 17.01, df = 6, p value = 0.01). Conclusion: Participants with allergic rhinitis were found to have more abnormalities of tympanometric parameters compared to participants with bronchial asthma which signifies allergic rhinitis conferred an increased risk of having middle ear diseases and otitis media with effusion compared to bronchial asthma.

Prevalence of Work-Aggravated Asthma among Bakery Workers in Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire)

Introduction: Work-aggravated asthma is pre-existing or concomitant asthma whose symptoms are aggravated by the work environment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this pathology and its associated factors among bakery workers in Abidjan. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of four (4) months from 18 December 2019 to 18 April 2020. Two questionnaires were used, one on employees and the other on the indoor environment of bakeries. In addition, a spirometry test was performed on all bakery workers. Statistical analysis was performed using stata 15.1 software. Results: A total of 599 bakery employees, including bakers (59.73%), sales assistants/ cashiers (23.52%), cleaners (6.34%) and administrative staff (10.18%), were investigated. The mean age was 30.8 ± 8 years, with a sex ratio (M/F) = 2.2. Asthma symptoms were found in 95 (15.86%) employees, of whom 74 (77.9%) had work-related asthma and 11 (14.9%) had asthma aggravated by work. The factors associated with work-aggravated asthma were personal or family history of allergy or atopy [ORa = 3.75;CI95%: 1.56 - 8.93;p = 0.003], exposure to dust [ORa = 5.01;CI95%: 1.43 - 7.50;p = 0.011] and humidity level (60% - 70%) [ORa = 1.80;CI 95%: 0.99 - 3.28;p = 0.05]. Conclusion: Work-aggravated asthma is a reality in bakeries in Abidjan, with an estimated prevalence of 14.9%. Two of the three factors associated with this condition suggest a link with indoor air pollution. Combating air pollution in these establishments must therefore be a priority for the relevant authorities, in order to provide employees with a working environment that protects their health.

Laccase/caffeic acid-catalyzed crosslinking coupled with galactomannan alters the conformational structure of ovalbumin and alleviates Th2-mediated allergic asthma

Ovalbumin(OVA)is the major allergenic protein that can induce T helper 2(Th2)-allergic reactions,for which current treatment options are inadequate.In this study,we developed a polymerized hypoallergenic OVA product via laccase/caffeic acid(Lac/CA)-catalyzed crosslinking in conjunction with galactomannan(Man).The formation of high molecular weight crosslinked polymers and the Ig G-binding were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)and Western blotting.The study indicated that Lac/CA-catalyzed crosslinking plus Man conjugation substantially altered secondary and tertiary structures of OVA along with the variation in surface hydrophobicity.Gastrointestinal digestion stability assay indicated that crosslinked OVA exhibited less resistance in simulated gastric fluid(SGF)and simulated intestinal fluid(SIF).Mouse model study indicated that Lac-Man/OVA ameliorated eosinophilic airway inflammatory response and efficiently downregulated the expression of Th2-related cytokines(interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,and IL-13),and upregulated IFN-γand IL-10 expression.Stimulation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells with Lac-Man/OVA suppressed the expression of phenotypic maturation markers(CD80 and CD86)and MHC class II molecules,and suppressed the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines.The knowledge obtained in the present study offers an effective way to acquire a hypoallergenic OVA product that can have a therapeutic effect in alleviating OVA-induced allergic asthma.

Inhibition of Bcl-6 Expression Ameliorates Asthmatic Characteristics in Mice

Objective The function of Bcl-6 in T follicular helper(Tfh)cell maturation is indispensable,and Tfh cells play a pivotal role in asthma.This study investigated the impact of Bcl-6 on asthmatic traits.Methods The microscopic pathological alterations,airway resistance(AR),and lung compliance(LC)were determined in asthmatic mice and Bcl-6 interference mice.The surface molecular markers of Tfh cells and the Bcl-6 mRNA and protein expression were determined by flow cytometry,RT-qPCR,and Western blotting,respectively.The relationships between the Tfh cell ratio and the IgE and IgG1 concentrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were determined.Results Asthmatic inflammatory changes were observed in the lung tissue and were attenuated by Bcl-6 siRNA and dexamethasone(DXM).Asthmatic mice exhibited an increased AR and a decreased LC,while Bcl-6 siRNA or DXM mitigated these changes.The percentages of Tfh cells and eosinophils were significantly increased in the asthmatic mice,and they significantly decreased after Bcl-6 inhibition or DXM treatment.RT-qPCR and Western blotting analyses revealed that the Bcl-6 expression level in PBMCs was significantly higher in asthmatic mice,and it decreased following Bcl-6 inhibition or DXM treatment.The IgE expression in the serum and BALF and the B cell expression in PBMCs exhibited a similar trend.In asthmatic mice,the ratio of Tfh cells in the peripheral blood showed a strong positive correlation with the IgE levels in the serum and BALF,but not with the IgG1 levels.Conclusion The amelioration of airway inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness is achieved through Bcl-6 suppression,which effectively hinders Tfh cell differentiation,ultimately resulting in a concurrent reduction in IgE production.

Correlation between TGFβ1 Gene Polymorphism and Asthma in Baise, Guangxi Children

Objective: This research was to study the correlation between the rs1800469, rs1800470, rs2241712, rs224171 and rs4803455 of TGFβ1 gene and asthma in Baise, Guangxi children. This research also studied the relationship between serum concentration of TGFβ1 and childhood asthma. Method: From June 2022 to December 2023, 121 children had physical examination in affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities were selected as control group and 118 children suffered from asthma in affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities during the same period were selected as asthma group. Result: There was no correlation between rs1800469, rs1800470, rs2241712, rs2241715, rs4803455 and asthma in Baise, Guangxi children. Linkage disequilibrium analysis showed that there were strong linkage disequilibrium among rs1800469, rs1800470, rs2241712, rs2241715 and rs4803455. Their haplotypes had no significant correlation with childhood asthma. The serum concentration of TGFβ1 in asthma group was lower than that in control group (p β1 had no significant relationship with the genotypes of rs1800469, rs1800470, rs2241712, rs2241715 and rs4803455.

Systematic Evaluation and Meta-analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Zhichuanling Oral Liquid (止喘灵口服液) in the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma

Objective:To systematically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Zhichuanling Oral Liquid(止喘灵口服液)in the treatment of bronchitis asthma.Methods:A systematic search of CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,CBM,Cochrane Library,PubMed,Embase and Web of Science was conducted to screen out randomized controlled trials of Zhichuanling Oral Liquid in the treatment of bronchial asthma.Meta-analysis and systematic evaluation of the included studies were conducted to finally included researches using the Cochrane Handbook 5.1 evaluation standard tool and RevMan 5.3 software.Results:Five studies were included,with a total sample size of 354 cases,176 in experimental group and 178 in control group.Meta-analysis showed that the total effective rate of Zhichuanling Oral Liquid combined with conventional treatment was better than that of conventional treatment alone(RR=1.27,95%CI[1.13-1.42],P<0.0001).Conclusion:Based on the existing data and methods,Zhichuanling Oral Liquid combined with conventional Western medicine in the treatment of bronchial asthma can improve the total effective rate.However,the quality of the included studies is not high and the number is small,so it is necessary to adopt clinical trial protocols with large samples,rigorous design and in line with international standards to improve the quality of evidence in the future.

Childhood asthma biomarkers including zinc: An exploratory crosssectional study

BACKGROUND Childhood bronchial asthma(BA)is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease.Nutritional conditions,including zinc deficiency,can affect such allergic disorders.AIM To outline the difference in serum zinc levels between asthmatic children and healthy controls.METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out at Children’s Hospital,Cairo University,investigating serum zinc levels in children with BA(n=40)and healthy children(n=21).Other markers included serum ferritin,iron,hemoglobin(Hb),and immunoglobulin E(IgE)levels.Independent t-tests and Mann-Whinny tests were used for comparisons.The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare serum ferritin and IgE levels with regard to asthma severity.Spearman's rank correlation was performed to explore the relationship between serum ferritin levels and both iron and Hb levels in asthmatic children.RESULTS Children with BA had higher levels of zinc,yet the difference was not significant(P=0.115).Serum ferritin and IgE levels were significantly higher in asthmatic children(P=0.006 and 0.001,respectively),yet their levels did not differ significantly by severity(P=0.623 and 0.126,respectively).There was a nonsignificant weak correlation between serum ferritin levels and both serum iron and Hb levels.CONCLUSION Serum zinc levels do not seem to differ between asthmatic children and healthy children.Serum ferritin levels may be a marker of asthma control.Serum IgE levels are not markers of asthma severity.

Unveiling childhood asthma:Exploring biomarkers,zinc,and beyond

This editorial discusses a case-control study by Ibrahim et al,published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics.Childhood bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease.It was found that an increase in oxidative stress leads to a decrease in antioxidants causing oxidative damage to mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes resulting in the inflammation of the airway,hypersecretion of mucus causing a cascade of clinical manifestations ranging from recurrent episodes of coughing,wheezing,and breathlessness to shortness of breath.Since oxidative stress mediates the inflammatory response in asthma,the supplementation of anti-oxidants can be one strategy to manage this disease.Zinc is one such antioxidant that has attracted much attention about asthma and airway inflammation.Zinc is a crucial trace element for human metabolism that helps to regulate gene expression,enzyme activity,and protein structure.Apart from zinc,free serum ferritin levels are also elevated in case of inflammation.Several previous studies found that ferritin levels may also help determine the pathology of disease and predict prognosis in addition to tracking disease activity.However,this study's results were different from the findings of the previous studies and the zinc levels did not show a significant difference between asthmatic children and non-asthmatic children but ferritin levels were significantly high in asthmatic children as compared to the controls.Hence,the possible role of the biochemical nutritional assessment including zinc and ferritin as biomarkers for asthma severity should be assessed in the future.

Is there a correlation between the changes in airway inflammation and the changes in respiratory mechanics after vaping in patients with asthma?

BACKGROUND Electronic cigarettes(ECs)have been promoted as alternatives to traditional cigarettes.To investigate ECs’effects on respiratory system,especially in patients with respiratory diseases.METHODS We randomly selected 25 smokers with stable moderate asthma and matched them with 25 healthy smokers.All were subjucted to pulmonary function tests(PFTs),impulse oscillometry(IOS),fraction exhaled Nitric Oxide(FeNO),exhaled breathe condensate(EBC)and biomarker measurements before and after vaping one nicotinecontaining EC.RESULTS The increase in FeNO 30 minutes after EC,reflecting airway inflammation,significantly correlated with increase of residual volume(RV),total lung capacity,respiratory impedance at 5 Hz(Z5Hz)and respiratory resistance at 5 and 20 Hz(R5Hz and R20Hz).No significant correlations were found between EBC biomarkers'changes and respiratory mechanics.CONCLUSION This is the first study demonstrating that the changes in airway inflammation caused by EC have direct effects in respiratory mechanics of asthmatic patients.

Application Value of Early Comprehensive Rehabilitation Nursing in Patients with Occupational Asthma

Background Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by exposure to asthma-causing substances in an occupational setting. Its incidence is closely related to the degree of industrial development, but also related to the nature of asthma. In some specific industries, such as workers who are exposed to asthmatic isocyanates for a long time, the incidence of occupational asthma can reach 5%-10%, and the incidence of occupational asthma can even reach 50% or higher among workers engaged in the detergent industry who are in contact with proteolytic enzymes for a long time. Objective To analyze the clinical value of early comprehensive rehabilitation nursing for patients with occupational asthma, methods a total of 48 patients with occupational asthma who were admitted from January 2020 to December 2022 were divided into control group and study group by random number table method The disappearance time of chest tightness and shortness of breath, the disappearance time of wheezing and cough, and the FEV1, forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) indexes before and after treatment were compared between the two groups after nursing, the disappearance time of clinical symptoms in the study group was shorter than that in the control group, and the levels of FEV1, FVC and PEF were higher than those in the control group, and the P < 0.05 was significantly improved.

The Value of RDW,PDW,and Immunoglobulin E in the Clinical Diagnosis of Pediatric Asthma

Objective:To observe and explore the value of the combined application of red blood cell distribution width(RDW),platelet distribution width(PDW),and immunoglobulin E(IgE)in the process of clinical diagnosis of children with asthma.Methods:Fifty-five children with suspected asthma were admitted to the hospital from July 2021 to July 2023.They underwent a bronchodilator test upon admission and their RDW,PDW,and IgE were detected.The efficacy of diagnosis with a single indicator(RDW/PDW/IgE)and combined parameters(PDW+PDW+IgE)were compared with the results of the bronchodilator test.Results:49 cases of pediatric asthma were diagnosed by the bronchodilator test.RDW and PDW of asthmatic children were lower than those of non-asthmatic children,while the IgE of asthmatic children was higher than that of non-asthmatic children,and there was a significant difference in the RDW,PDW,and IgE among children with different degrees of asthma severity(P<0.05).The positive rate of the three combined diagnostic tests of RDW,PDW,and IgE was significantly higher than the positive rate of a single-parameter diagnosis(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combination of RDW,PDW,and IgE plays a crucial role in the clinical diagnosis of asthmatic children.These tests further improve the efficiency of clinical diagnosis and help identify the severity of the disease.

The Effect of Respiratory Care on the Treatment of Asthma Patients

Objective:To analyze the intervention effect of respiratory care on asthma patients.Methods:49 asthma patients admitted to the hospital between December 1,2018 and November 30,2022 were selected for this study.The patients were divided into Group A(25 cases)and Group B(24 cases).The patients in Group A received respiratory care,while the patients in Group B received routine care,and the nursing effects of both groups were compared.Results:Group A demonstrated a better nursing effect compared to Group B;the patients in Group A were generally more satisfied with the care given compared to those of Group B.Furthermore,Group A showed better improvements in respiratory function compared to Group B(P<0.05).Before care,there was no difference in quality-of-life scores between the two groups(P>0.05).After care,Group A’s quality of life score was lower than Group B’s(P<0.05).Conclusion:Respiratory care for asthma patients can improve the quality of care and patient satisfaction.Besides,it also leads to a better improvement in respiratory function and the quality of life of the patients.

Mechanism of Yanghe Pingchaun granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats based on IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis

Objective: To investigate the effects of Yanghe Pingchuan Granules on airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and to explore the mechanism of Interleukin-6/Janus kinase 2/ Signal transducing activator of transcription 3(IL-6/JAK2/STAT3) signal axis. Methods: We separated 42 healthy male SD rats into two groups, a control group (7) and a model group (35).The model group was sensitized with a combination of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide for 2 weeks, while the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline.After 2 weeks, the modeling group was randomly divided into Model group, Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, medium and low dose groups and Dexamethasone group, each group consisted of 7 animals. After 4 weeks, OVA atomization and gavage were used for stimulation and treatment. Yanghe Pingchuan Granules high, middle and low groups were given 15.48, 7.74, 3.87 g∙kg-1 Yanghe Pingchuan Granules daily, dexamethasone group was given 0.0625 mg∙kg-1 dexamethasone daily, and the other groups were given the same amount of normal saline. HE, PAS and Masson staining were used to observe the lung histopathological changes in rats. The levels of interleukin-6, IL-23 and IL-17A were detected by ELISA. The expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 in lung tissues were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in rat lung tissue. Results: The lung tissue structure of the model group was severely damaged compared to the control group, accompanied by a great many of inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were more obvious. The expressions of IL-6, IL- 23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly increased (P<0.01), the protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01);Compared with the model group, inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell proliferation, subepithelial collagen fiber deposition and airway epithelial thickening were significantly reduced in each administration group, and the expressions of IL-6, IL-23 and IL-17A in serum were significantly decreased (P< 0.01). The protein expression levels of JAK-2, P-JAK2, STAT3 and P-STAT3 and mRNA expression levels of IL-6, JAK2 and STAT3 in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Conclusion: Yanghe Pingchuan Granules can significantly alleviate airway remodeling in asthmatic rats, and its mechanism may be through inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signal axis.

An epidemiology study of bronchial asthma in the Li ethnic group in China

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of bronchial asthma in the Li ethnic group in Hainan,China.Methods:This study employed a stratified random sample design using custom-designed questionnaires.Subjects with asthma-like symptoms were first identified by two rounds of surveys and then confirmed by respiratory physicians using pulmonary function test,bronchial dilation test and challenge test.Demographic data,information on family history of asthma,history of allergies,smoking habits,domestic cooking fuel and other potential risk factors were collected.Logistic regression was performed to evaluate risk factors for asthma.Results: The prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group was 3.38%,much higher than the national average level in China.Aging,agriculture industry(the rubber industry in particular),rural residence,family history of asthma,history of allergies,cold air,inhalation of dust and irritant gases,smoking,domestic cooking fuel and living environment were associated with increased risk of asthma.Conclusions:The high prevalence of asthma in the Li ethnic group highlights the importance of asthma prevention and treatment in this population.Risk factors indentified in this study warrant special attention.Elevating public awareness about asthma in local communities will benefit the prevention of the disease.

Structural Modulation of Gut Microbiota in Rats with Allergic Bronchial Asthma Treated with Recuperating Lung Decoction

Objective To investigate whether recuperating lung decoction （RLD） can modulate the composition of gut microbiota in rats during asthma treatment. Methods Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly and equally into control group, model group, dexamethasone （DEX） group, RLD medium-dose group, and RLD high-dose group. The asthma model was established in all groups, except for the control group. The rats in the DEX and RLD groups were treated orally with DEX and RLD, respectively. The rats in the control and model groups were treated orally with 0.9% saline. The intestinal bacterial communities were compared among groups using 16S rRNA gene amplification and 454 pyrosequencing. Results The microbial flora differed between the control and model groups, but the flora in the RLD groups was similar to that in the control group. No significant differences were observed between the RLD high-dose and medium-dose groups. RLD treatment resulted in an increase in the level beneficial bacteria in the gut, such as Loctobocillus and Bifidobocterium spp. Conclusion Oral administration of RLD increased the number of intestinal lactic acid-producing bacteria, such as Loctobocillus and Bifidobecterium, in asthma model rats.

Regulating effect of glycyrrhetinic acid on bronchial asthma smooth muscle proliferation and apoptosis as well as inflammatory factor expression through ERK1/2 signaling pathway

Objective: To study the influence of glycyrrhetinic acid(GA) on bronchial asthma(BA)smooth muscle proliferation and apoptosis as well as inflammatory factor expression and its molecular mechanism.Methods: Male SD guinea pigs were selected and made into asthma models, bronchial asthma smooth muscle cells were cultured and divided into BA group, GA group and GA + LM group that were treated with serum-free RPMI1640 culture medium, serumfree RPMI1640 culture medium containing 50 ng/mL glycyrrhetinic acid, serum-free RPMI1640 culture medium containing 50 ng/mL glycyrrhetinic acid and 100 ng/mL LM22B-10 respectively; normal guinea pigs were collected and bronchial smooth muscle cells were cultured as control group. The cell proliferation activity as well as the expression of proliferation and apoptosis genes, inflammatory factors and p-ERK1/2 was determined.Results: Proliferation activity value and m RNA expression of Bcl-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6,YKL-40, protein expression of p-ERK1/2 of airway smooth muscle cell in BA group were significantly higher than those of control group while m RNA expression levels of Bax,caspase-9 as well as caspase-3 were significantly lower than that of control group(P < 0.05); proliferation activity value and m RNA expression of Bcl-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, YKL-40, protein expression of p-ERK1/2 of airway smooth muscle cell in GA group were significantly lower than those of BA group(P < 0.05) while the m RNA expression levels of Bax, caspase-9 as well as caspase-3 were significantly higher than those of BA group(P < 0.05); proliferation activity value and m RNA expression of Bcl-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, YKL-40 of airway smooth muscle cell in GA + LM group were significantly higher than those of GA group(P < 0.05) while m RNA expression levels of Bax, caspase-9 as well as caspase-3 were significantly lower that of GA group(P < 0.05).Conclusion: GA can inhibit the proliferation of bronchial smooth muscle cells and reduce the expression of inflammatory factors by inhibiting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.

The cross-talk between family and pediatrician: The case of bronchial asthma

Today the most important challenge facing the pediatrician is the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. With this regard, pediatricians play a key role in the management of these conditions. The closeness with the family, the knowledge of the clinical case and the care continuity allow the pediatrician to acquire a position of director of every case. When pathological events have a chronic feature, suddenly the quality of life of the whole family changes. For this reason the first communication of chronic disease is very important and the task of the pediatrician should be to provide a positive message to help the family in facing the difficulty of this new challenge. The bronchial asthma is the most common chronic disease worldwide. The incidence, the prevalence, and the mortality of the disease have increased in children over the past decades. These trends are particularly marked above all in preschool children. The success reached by Pediatricians is closely related to the compliance and the implementation of the therapy followed by the little patient and his family. With this regard authors, in this review, focus on the illustration of several strategies, based on the pediatrician’ skills and medicine documents, that can be used for the improvement of communication among pedia- trician-family and child, never forgetting the hu- man aspect of the same doctor, that should con- ciliate with the scientific knowledge in the taking care of a specific chronic disease.