Chinese medical journal
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In China, upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) is only less frequent than cough-variant asthma and accounts for 24.71% of chronic cough. This study aimed to determine the pathogenetic constituents and factors affecting UACS in children of different age groups, and to identify clinical clues for diagnosing UACS and a method for curative effect evaluation. ⋯ There are different pathogeneses in different UACS age groups. Clinical treatment efficacy of children with UACS can be evaluated by the VAS combined with an objective examination. We recommend that the course of treatment should be 12 weeks.
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Chinese medical journal · Mar 2019
Interleukin-18 exacerbates skin inflammation and affects microabscesses and scale formation in a mouse model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis.
As a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine of the interleukin (IL)-1 family, IL-18 was elevated in early active and progressive plaque-type psoriatic lesions and that serum or plasma levels of IL-18 correlated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Although results from previous studies have established that IL-18 may aggravate psoriatic inflammation, the mechanisms of this process remain unknown. In this study, IL-18 knock out (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice were used to investigate the effects of IL-18 within a mouse model of psoriasis. ⋯ IL-18 may exacerbate prominent inflammation and influence pathological features in IMQ-induced mouse model of psoriasis. IL-18 may upregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduce protective cytokines, thus aggravating psoriatic inflammation. In addition, IL-18 may be involved in the formation of Munro microabscesses and scales.
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Chinese medical journal · Mar 2019
Matrine suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced fibrosis in human peritoneal mesothelial cells by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
Peritoneal fibrosis is the primary reason that patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have to cease peritoneal dialysis. Peritonitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) were on the rise. We had previously shown that matrine inhibited the formation of biofilm by E. coli. However, the role of matrine on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in peritoneal mesothelial cells under chronic inflammatory conditions is still unknown. ⋯ Matrine could inhibit LPS-induced EMT in HPMCs and reverse LPS inhibited expressions of miR-29 b and miR-129-5P in HPMCs, ultimately reduce peritoneal fibrosis. These findings provide a potential theoretical basis for using matrine in the prevention and treatment of peritoneal fibrosis.