High immunoglobulin E level is associated with increased readmission in children with bronchopneumonia

Polyphenols as Therapeutics in Respiratory Diseases: Moving from Preclinical Evidence to Potential Clinical Applications

Respiratory diseases are the most common and severe health complication and a leading cause of death worldwide. Despite breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, few safe and effective therapeutics have been reported. Phytochemicals are gaining popularity due to their beneficial effects and low toxicity. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites with high molecular weights found at high levels in natural food sources such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and citrus seeds. Over recent decades, polyphenols and their beneficial effects on human health have been the subject of intense research, with notable successes in preventing major chronic non-communicable diseases. Many respiratory syndromes can be treated effectively with polyphenolic supplements, including acute lung damage, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, pulmonary hypertension, and lung cancer. This review summarizes the role of polyphenols in respiratory conditions with sufficient experimental data, highlights polyphenols with beneficial effects for each, and identifies those with therapeutic potential and their underlying mechanisms. Moreover, clinical studies and future research opportunities in this area are discussed.

Clinical implications of Golgi protein 73 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and their related factors in children with bronchopneumonia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical implications of Golgi glycoprotein 73 (GP73) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in children with bronchopneumonia (BP).

METHODS

Seventy-two children with BP (observation group) and 81 healthy children (control group) consecutively brought to the present study's hospital between June 2019 and October 2020 were enrolled. GP73 and G-CSF levels were determined to analyze their diagnostic value for pediatric BP. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was also measured. The clinical implications of GP73 and G-CSF in pediatric BP complicated with respiratory failure and their connections with the inflammatory response were discussed.

RESULTS

GP73 and G-CSF levels were remarkably higher in the observation group (p < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection (GP73+G-CSF) in predicting pediatric BP were 72.22% and 86.42%, respectively (p < 0.001). GP73 and G-CSF, which are closely related to X-ray classification and complications in the observation group, decreased after treatment and were positively correlated with hs-CRP (p < 0.05), especially in children complicated with respiratory failure. Regression analysis identified the independence of the course of the disease, hs-CRP, X-ray classification, GP73, and G-CSF as influencing factors of respiratory failure in children with BP (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

GP73 and G-CSF, with elevated levels in children with BP, are strongly linked to disease progression and are independent influencing factors of respiratory failure, which may be the key to diagnosing and treating pediatric BP in the future.

Blocking TNF signaling may save lives in COVID-19 infection

Global vaccination effort and better understanding of treatment strategies provided a ray of hope for improvement in COVID-19 pandemic, however, in many countries, the disease continues to collect its death toll. The major pathogenic mechanism behind severe cases associated with high mortality is the burst of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF, IL-6, IFNγ and others, resulting in multiple organ failure. Although the exact contribution of each cytokine is not clear, we provide an evidence that the central mediator of cytokine storm and its devastating consequences may be TNF. This cytokine is known to be involved in activated blood clotting, lung damage, insulin resistance, heart failure, and other conditions. A number of currently available pharmaceutical agents such as monoclonal antibodies and soluble TNF receptors can effectively prevent TNF from binding to its receptor(s). Other drugs are known to block NFkB, the major signal transducer molecule used in TNF signaling, or to block kinases involved in downstream activation cascades. Some of these medicines have already been selected for clinical trials, but more work is needed. A simple, rapid, and inexpensive method of directly monitoring TNF levels may be a valuable tool for a timely selection of COVID-19 patients for anti-TNF therapy.

The therapeutic effects of naringenin on bronchial pneumonia in children

Bronchial pneumonia in children is a common infectious disease in toddlers and infants, which may cause hyperpyrexia, pulmonary moist rales, and even respiratory failure. Traditional drugs for bronchial pneumonia in children often lead to drug resistance and side effects. Recently, naringenin has been reported to be a potential treatment for several airway inflammatory diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities. The current clinical study aimed to evaluate the safety and therapeutic effect of naringenin in treating bronchial pneumonia in children. A total of 180 eligible patients were randomly assigned into naringenin (NAR) group and azithromycin (AZI) group. All participants were required to follow a 5-day oral administration, and their serum cytokine levels were measured during the clinical intervention. After the treatment, the disappearance time of clinical symptoms, and the incidences of complications and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Naringenin was able to inhibit inflammation, shorten the disappearance time of clinical symptoms, reduce the incidences of bronchial pneumonia complications and related adverse reactions, and improve the health conditions of the patients. Our results suggested that naringenin was safe and beneficial to children with bronchial pneumonia, providing new insights into the clinical application of naringenin.