Correlation of eosinophil counts in induced sputum and fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide and lung functions in patients with mild to moderate asthma

Background The airway inflammation could be assessed by some noninvasive approaches. To investigate the value of eosinophil counts in induced sputum and fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide （FENO） for the regimen adjustment in patients with asthma, the correlation was analyzed between the two parameters and lung function parameter （forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV1））. Methods Sixty-five outpatients with mild to moderate non-exacerbation asthma from Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital were enrolled as treatment group. Combined medications of inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting beta-2 agonist were administered for one year. Lung function parameters, eosinophil counts in induced sputum, concentration of exhaled nitric oxide and the Asthma Control Test scores were recorded, at regular intervals in the follow-up period. Twenty-one healthy volunteers were enrolled as control group and underwent examination of eosinophil counts in induced sputum, lung function and concentration of exhaled nitric oxide. Results Sixty-three subjects from treatment group completed follow-up period for one year or longer. Mean FEV1 value of the 63 subjects was （2.75±0.54） L at baseline, （2.97±0.56） L and （3.07±0.52） L at month 3 and month 6, respectively, and maintained as （3.14±0.51） L in the following six months. Mean FENO decreased from （61±25） parts per billion （ppb） at baseline to （32±19） ppb at month 3 （P 〈0.05）, and continued to decrease to （22±12） ppb at month 6, the difference being significant when compared to both baseline and control group （（13±8） ppb）. Mean eosinophil counts decreased to （0.032±0.011） ×106/ml at month 3, which was significantly different from baseline （（0.093±_0.023） xl06/ml） and the control group （（0.005±0.003）×l06/ml （both P 〈0.05）. The eosinophil counts in induced sputum correlated positively with concentration of FENO in the first six months （all P 〈0.05）. The concentration of FENO had a significant negative correlation with FEV1 value （all P 〈0.05） in any time point in the follow-up period. The Asthma Control Test scores were 18±5, 19±7, 23±-2, 24±1 and 24±1 at months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12, respectively, which were significantly different from the score at baseline （14±3） （P 〈0.05 ）. The most rapid clinical effect was observed at the second month after treatment. Conclusion Eosinophil counts in induced sputum and FENO are sensitive parameters to detect airway inflammation and may be useful in evaluating the efficacy of treatment and adjusting medication regimens.

Five-phase Synchronous Reluctance Machines Equipped with a Novel Type of Fractional Slot Winding

Multi-phase machines are so attractive for electrical machine designers because of their valuable advantages such as high reliability and fault tolerant ability.Meanwhile,fractional slot concentrated windings(FSCW)are well known because of short end winding length,simple structure,field weakening sufficiency,fault tolerant capability and higher slot fill factor.The five-phase machines equipped with FSCW,are very good candidates for the purpose of designing motors for high reliable applications,like electric cars,major transporting buses,high speed trains and massive trucks.But,in comparison to the general distributed windings,the FSCWs contain high magnetomotive force(MMF)space harmonic contents,which cause unwanted effects on the machine ability,such as localized iron saturation and core losses.This manuscript introduces several new five-phase fractional slot winding layouts,by the means of slot shifting concept in order to design the new types of synchronous reluctance motors(SynRels).In order to examine the proposed winding’s performances,three sample machines are designed as case studies,and analytical study and finite element analysis(FEA)is used for validation.

Studies on Antibacterial Effect of Berberis julianae Schneid and Cinnamomum camphora( L.) Presl. to Avian Escherichia coli and Salmonella

[Objective]This study aimed to observe the antibacterial activity of Berberis julianae Schneid and Cinnamomum camphora（ L.） Presl. aqueous extracts and their antibiotical effect when being used with commonly used antibiotics in- vitro. [Method] Broth microdilution method and checkerboard dilution method were used and the reference strain E. coli ATCC25922 and clinical sample separation strains of E. coli and Salmonella were selected to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration（ MIC） and fractional inhibitory concentration（ FIC）. [Result] The MICs of Berberis julianae Schneid and Cinnamomum camphora（ L.） Presl. for E. coli and Salmonella were both 1 mg /mL,and that of other antibiotics for the two strains were in the quality control range provided by NCCLS. [Conclusion] The synergistic effect or additive effect were observed when they were applied with the commonly used antibiotics.

Combined Action of Lysozymes of Fresh-Water Bivalve Mollusks and Antibacterial Preparations against Some Clinical Strains of Microorganisms

The aim of the present study was to determine the MICs using broth microdilution method and their combination effect by （minimum inhibitory concentrations） of selected antibiotic agents determination of FICindex （fractional inhibitory concentrations）. Lysozyme Anodonta cygnea was more active than Lysozyme Uniopictorum, especially against Gram-negative bacterias. Combination of Macropen and Lysozyme Unio pictorum has a synergistic effect, while a separation of these antibacterial agents was not active against some of the strains of microorganisms.

Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity of Berberine Hydrochloride, Baicalein and Borneol against Candida albicans

Objective To determine the synergistic effects of berberine hydrochloride, baicalein,and borneol in different combinations on Candida albicans. Methods The broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration（MIC） and minimal bactericidal concentration（MBC） of the three agents, and the checkerboard method was simultaneously used to determine the MIC and fractional inhibitory concentration index（FICI） of the combination of three antimicrobial agents to study their extracorporeal effects. Results Berberine hydrochloride was the most potent inhibitor of C. albicans（MIC and MBC of 0.160 and 0.640 mg/mL）, followed by borneol（MIC and MBC of 0.320 and 0.640 mg/mL） and baicalein（MIC and MBC of 1.28 and 20.48 mg/mL）. Moreover, the antifungal effect of the combination was significantly stronger than that tested alone. Further in vivo study showed that the mortality rate of tainted mice reduced over 50% compared with the control group. Conclusion The results of experiments in vitro and in vivo indicate the synergistic effect of the combination of three antimicrobial agents on C. albicans, which can make reference for the future clinical treatment.