Objective To reveal the differences in gene expression levels between Th2-driven classical asthma (CA) and Th2-driven cough variant asthma (CVA) in order to investigate the pathogenesis of asthma further. Methods Clinical data were collected from asthmatic patients in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from June 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019. The healthy control (HC) group was healthy adults from the physical examination center. Gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the CA group, CVA group, and HC group was determined by full-length transcriptome sequencing. Differential genes were screened by GO, KEGG analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. The results of interaction network analysis were visualized by Cytoscape. Finally, the candidate genes were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). ResultsA total of 31 patients with asthma were included in the study, including 20 patients in the CA group and 11 patients in the CVA group. According to serum total IgE > 60 IU/mL and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) > 40 ppb as the screening condition, 9 cases of Th2-driven CA and 5 cases of Th2-driven CVA were screened for analysis. Gene expression analysis showed 300 differentially expressed genes between the Th2-driven CA group and the Th2-driven CVA group, among which 155 genes were up-regulated, and 145 were down-regulated. GO enrichment analysis showed that differential genes were mainly enriched in drug response, nitrogen compound biosynthesis, cytoplasmic matrix, protein binding, ATP binding, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that differential genes were mainly concentrated in 2-oxy-carboxylic acid metabolism and cytotoxic signaling pathways mediated by natural killer cells. PPI analysis revealed extensive protein interactions between different genes. Ten candidate genes were screened for RT-PCR verification and finally found that CLU, GZMB, PPBP, PRF1, PTGS1, and TMSB4X were significantly differentially expressed between the Th2-driven CA group and the Th2-driven CVA group. Conclusions Asthma's occurrence results from the interaction of many genes and pathways. CLU, GZMB, PPBP, PRF1, PTGS1, and TMSB4X genes may be essential in developing Th2-driven CVA to Th2-driven CA.
Objective To investigate the etiological diagnosis of chronic cough with pharyngitis-like manifestations. Methods Patients with chronic cough and pharyngitis-like manifestations were recruited from Outpatient Department of Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases between December 2002 to March 2010. The causes of chronic cough were investigated using a well-established diagnostic protocol, including history taking and physical examination, pulmonary function tests, induced sputum cytology, 24-h esophageal pH monitoring, etc. The final diagnosis depended on clinical manifestations, examination findings, and a successful response to therapy. Results 326 patients with chronic cough and pharyngitislike manifestations were included in the study with amedian duration of 24 ( 2 ～480) months, amean age of 41 ±13 years. The causes of chronic cough were identified as follows: post nasal drip syndrome or upper airway cough syndrome in 73 cases ( 23. 31% ) , cough variant asthma in 61 cases( 18. 71% ) , eosinophilic bronchitis in 70 cases( 22. 47% ) , gastroesophageal reflux-induced cough in 54 cases ( 16. 56% ) , atopiccough in 48 cases ( 14. 72% ) , and others in 40 cases ( 12. 27% ) . There is no significant difference in percentage of common causes of chronic cough ( P gt; 0. 05) . Conclusion The proportions of upper airway syndrome and other common causes are similar in chronic cough with pharyngitis-like manifestatioins, whichsuggest pharyngitis-like manifestations are not specific for diagnosis of upper airway cough syndrome.
Objective To investigate the changes of small airway function，airway resistance and responsiveness of extrathoracic airway in chronic cough patients before and after bronchial provocation test (BPT)．Methods 68 chronic cough patients were requested to conduct lung function test and BPT．The airw ay resistance were measured via forced oscillationary technology before and after BPT．Results BPT revealed airway hyperresponsiveness in 52％subjects．MEF50 and R0 before BPT were significantly different between the patients with or without airway hyperresponsiveness．Post BPT changes in MEF50(MEF50％) were correlated positively to the changes in FEV1(FEVl％)，and negatively to the changes in R0[Ro-d]． Extrathoracic airway hyperresponsivenes(EAHR)was f0und in13 patients，in which 6 patients were not revealed by routine BPT．Conclusion There is small airway function abnormalities in chronic cough patients．Extrathoracic airway responsiveness test is a valuable supplementary index to routine BPT．
Objective To analyze the risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 427 NSCLC patients who underwent pulmonary surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China, between January 2021 and June 2023. Patients were categorized into a chronic cough group (103 patients) and a non-chronic cough group (324 patients) based on the presence of cough at 8 weeks post-surgery. A comparative analysis was performed between the two groups, considering gender, age, smoking history, comorbidities, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration. Factors showing statistical significance in univariate analysis underwent multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 427 patients undergoing pulmonary surgery, there were 165 males and 262 females, with an average age of (59.93±12.11) years. The incidence of chronic cough was 24.12%. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in smoking history, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the surgical site (right upper lung), operative techniques (lobectomy), lymph node dissection, and anesthesia time ≥135.5 minutes were independent risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery. ConclusionPatients undergoing right upper lung surgery, lobectomy, lymph node dissection, and experiencing anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes are at a higher risk of developing chronic cough post-pulmonary surgery.
Detection of the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a safe, simple and easy method to assess airway inflammation noninvasively. Thus, FeNO detection has been paid more attention to diagnosis and guide treatment of pulmonary diseases. The common feature of pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cough is the existence of varying degrees of airway inflammation. In this review, FeNO production and its potential pathologic and physiologic role in various pulmonary diseases were discussed.
In recent years, the number of lung surgeries has increased year by year, and the number of patients with postoperative cough has also increased gradually. Chronic cough after lung surgery seriously affects patients' quality of life and surgical outcome, and has become one of the clinical problems that clinicians need to solve. However, there is currently no guideline or consensus for the treatment of chronic cough after lung surgery in China, and there is no standardized treatment method. Therefore, we searched databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases ect. from 2000 to 2023 to collected relevant literatures and research data, and produced the first expert consensus on chronic cough after lung surgery in China by Delphi method. We gave 11 recommendations from five perspectives including timing of chronic cough treatment, risk factors (surgical method, lymph node dissection method, anesthesia method), prevention methods (preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative), and treatment methods (etiological treatment, cough suppressive drug treatment, traditional Chinese medicine treatment, and postoperative physical therapy). We hope that this consensus can improve the standardization and effectiveness of chronic cough treatment after lung surgery, provide reference for clinical doctors, and ultimately improve the quality of life of patients with chronic cough after lung surgery.
Objective To investigate the causes of chronic cough in Chongqing City and assess the efficacy of specific therapy. Methods A total of 233 consecutively non-selected referred patients ( 136 females) whose cough duration more than eight weeks were studied. Their age[ median ( range) ] was 44. 5( 15-78) yrs and cough duration was 2. 6 ( 0. 2-30) yrs. They were diagnosed using a diagnostic protocol based on the Guideline on Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough established by China Medical Association and American College of Chest Physicians. The etiological diagnosis was made according to clinical manifestations, lab examinations, and response to specific therapy. The effects was assessed four weeks after the drug withdraw. Results The cause of chronic cough was confirmed in 216 patients ( 92. 7% ) . Seventeen patients( 7. 3% ) had not been definitely diagnosed. Cough due to a single cause was found in 163 patients ( 75. 45% ) , and due to multiple causes in 53 patients ( 24. 53% ) . The causes included upper airway cough syndrome ( UACS) in 127 patients( 44. 4% ) , cough variant asthma ( CVA) in 73 patients( 25. 5% ) , gastro-esophageal reflux cough ( GERC) in 26 patients( 9. 1%) , postinfectious cough and angiotensin converting enzyme ( ACE) inhibitor-induced cough in 6 patients( 2. 1% ) , atopic cough in 5 patients( 1. 7% ) , chronic bronchitis in 3 patients ( 1. 0% ) , respectively. After specific therapy based on diagnosis, cough cured in 59 patients ( 25. 3% ) , and alleviated in 114 patients ( 49. 3% ) , no response in 40 patients( 17. 1% ) . Conclusion The causes of chronic cough in different areas maybe variant. UACS, CVA and GREC are the main causes of chronic cough in Chongqing City. Specific therapy is effective in majority of patients with chronic cough.
ObjectiveTo evaluates the values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in the treatment of chronic cough prospectively.MethodsSubjects with chronic cough were recruited from the outpatient clinic of China-Japan Friendship Hospital. All the patients accepted FENO tests, sputum cell counts, pulmonary function tests, bronchial provocation tests, serum IgE, cough symptom scores and Leicester Cough Questionnaire before and after treatment of 4 weeks.ResultsThere were 29 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA), 19 patients with eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) and 39 patients with other causes. The baseline FENO level of the subjects whose coughs were relieved after inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy of 4 weeks was (63±42) ppb, significantly higher than those with bad-response [(28±13) ppb, P<0.01]. The proportion of FENO decrease after ICS therapy was not only significantly related to the proportion of eosinophilic decrease (r=0.54, P<0.01), but also significantly related to the proportion of decrease of cough symptom scores (r=0.48, P<0.01). To distinguish the good responders from bad responders, the optimal baseline FENO cutoff value was 36 ppb, with sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 93%, positive predictive value of 94%, negative predictive value of 87%, accuracy of 83%.ConclusionsThere is a good relationship between the FENO decreasing levels after ICS therapy and the reliefs of cough symptoms in the CVA and EB patients. Chronic cough patients with FENO value more than 36 ppb are indicated to respond to ICS therapy.
Cough recognition provides important clinical information for the treatment of many respiratory diseases. A new Mel frequency cepstrum coefficient (MFCC) extracting method has been proposed on the basis of the distributional characteristics of cough spectrum. The whole frequency band was divided into several sub-bands, and the energy coefficient for each band was obtained by method of principle component analysis. Then non-uniform filter-bank in Mel frequency is designed to improve the extracting process of MFCC by distributing filters according to the spectrum energy coefficients. Cough recognition experiment using hidden Markov model was carried out, and the results showed that the proposed method could effectively improve the performance of cough recognition.
Objective To systematically assess the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) in treating upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) or postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS). Methods Such databases as MEDLINE (1950 to 2011), PubMed (1996 to 2011), VIP (1989 to 2011), WanFang Data (1998 to 2011), CNKI (1979 to 2011) and CBM (1978 to 2011) were searched for collecting the randomized controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-RCTs about TCM treating UACS/PNDS. The trials were screened according to the inclusive and exclusive criteria, and then after the quality assessment and data extraction were conducted, the statistical analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.0 software. Results A total of 10 RCTs and quasi-RCTs in Chinese were identified. The results of analysis showed that: a) The integrated Chinese and western medicine was superior to western medicine alone, either for adults and children with UACS, or for adults with PNDS. However the effectiveness had to be further assessed due to lack of high-quality literatures; b) TCM alone was probably more effective than western medicine alone for adults with PNDS, but not for adults and children with UACS. No obvious adverse reaction related to TCM was reported. Conclusion The recent research outcomes show that the integrated Chinese and western medicine is superior to western medicine alone, either for adults and children with UACS, or for adults with PNDS, but no definite evidence is found to support the superiority of TCM in treating UACS/PNDS. More high-quality RCTs with large scale need to be conducted in future to verify this conclusion due to the overall low methodological quality and significantly different intervention of the included trials.