Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin on pulmonary function and vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) levels in induced sputumof patients with COPD exacerbation( AECOPD) .Methods Thirty-eight patients with AECOPD were divided into two groups randomly, ie. a routine medical treatment( RT) group( n =30) and a routine + statin medical treatment( RST) group( n =28) . The VEGF levels in serumand induced sputum were detected by ELISA on the first day and after a week treatment in hospital, respectively. Meanwhile, the pulmonary function measurements were performed. Results There were no significant differences in the pulmonary function ( FEV1% pred and FEV1 /FVC) and VEGF levels in induced sputumbetween the two groups before treatment( P gt;0. 05) . The RT group showed no significantchanges in any parameters before and after a week treatment( P gt; 0. 05) . FEV1% pread, FEV1 /FVC and VEGF levels in induced sputum in the RST group after a week treatment significantly increased compared with those before treatment and the RT group( P lt;0. 01, P lt;0. 01, P lt;0. 05) . But There were no significant differences in serumVEGF levels between the two groups before and after a week treatment. The VEGF levels in induced sputum were positively correlated to FEV1% pread and FEV1 /FVC after a week treatment( r =0. 430, P lt;0. 05; r = 0. 388, P lt; 0. 05) . Conclusions Simvastatin may reduce the decline in pulmonary function and decrease the levels of VEGF in induced sputum of patients with AECOPD. Improvement in pulmonary function may be related to down-expression of lung VEGF
【Abstract】Objective To investigate the contribution of occupational exposure to dusts / gases / fumes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( COPD) and respiratory symptoms in China. Methods Based on the crosssectional survey of COPD which was conducted in urban and rural areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong,Liaoning, Tianjin, Chongqing and Shanxi for residents aged 40 years or older, the association between the occupational exposure to dusts/ gases/ fumes and COPD and respiratory symptoms was analyzed. The recruited populations were interviewed with questionnaire and were tested with spirometry. The post-bronchodilators FEV1 /FVC lt; 70% was used as diagnostic criteria of COPD. Having any cough, sputum, wheezing and dyspnea was defined as having respiratory symptoms. Results The prevalence of occupational exposure to dusts/ gases /fumes was 20. 5% . As shown by multiple-variables Logistic regression analyses, occupational exposure to dusts / fumes /gases [ OR = 1. 20 ( 1. 04, 1. 39) ] and dusts of grain [ 1. 48 ( 1. 18, 1. 86) ] were associated with COPD;occupational exposure to dusts / fumes / gases [ OR = 1. 37( 1. 25, 1. 49) ] , hard-rock mining [ OR = 2. 31( 1. 67,3. 20) ] , coal mining [ OR = 1. 71( 1. 09, 2. 70) ] , dusts of cement [ OR = 1. 92( 1. 47, 2. 52) ] , chemical or plastics manufacturing [ OR =1. 58( 1. 37, 1. 83) ] , spray painting [ OR= 1. 46( 1. 16, 1. 84) ] , and other dusts or fumes [ OR = 1. 46 ( 1. 29, 1. 64 ) ] were associated with the respiratory symptoms. Smoking and occupational exposure to dusts / gases / fumes had synergic effects on the increasing risk of respiratory symptoms. The populationattributable risk ( PAR) of exposure to dusts / gases / fumes was 3. 94% and 7. 05% for COPD and respiratory symptoms respectively. Conclusions Occupational exposure to dusts /gases /fumes is associated with COPD and respiratory symptoms. Smoking and occupational exposure to dusts/ gases /fumes may have synergic effects on respiratory symptoms.