Asthma

Activin A is associated with asthma in underweight and overweight patients

L. L. Zhang and Liu, C. T., Activin A is associated with asthma in underweight and overweight patients, vol. 14, pp. 440-452, 2015.

There are limited data regarding the effects of activin A on underweight, normal weight, and overweight patients with asthma. We determined serum levels of activin A in asthmatic patients in relation to body mass index. The study protocol included questionnaires, measurement of exhaled nitric oxide, blood sampling for inflammatory biomarkers, and high-resolution computed tomography of the lungs to identify bronchial wall thickening. Serum and sputum activin A levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 94 asthmatic patients.

Association between V4 polymorphism in the ADAM33 gene and asthma risk: a meta-analysis

W. Zheng, Wang, L., Su, X., and Hu, X. F., Association between V4 polymorphism in the ADAM33 gene and asthma risk: a meta-analysis, vol. 14, pp. 989-999, 2015.

In this study, we evaluated the associations between the V4 (rs2787094 G>C) polymorphism in a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain 33 (ADAM33) gene and asthma risk. We searched Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases from inception through August 2013, without language restrictions. Meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0 software. Crude odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Eight case-control studies were included, with a total of 2128 asthma patients and 3134 healthy controls.

Association of the IL-4R Q576R polymorphism and asthma in the Chinese Han population: A meta-analysis

Z. Y. Huang, Cheng, B. J., Cai, G. J., and Zhang, B. F., Association of the IL-4R Q576R polymorphism and asthma in the Chinese Han population: A meta-analysis, vol. 14, pp. 2900-2911, 2015.

The IL-4R Q576R polymorphism has been reported to increase susceptibility to asthma, but the results are controversial. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the association of the IL-4R Q576R polymorphism and asthma risk in the Chinese Han population. A total of sixteen eligible case-control studies that evaluated the relationship between the IL-4R Q576R polymorphism and asthma in the Chinese Han population were obtained by comprehensive literature search incorporating electronic databases, and included 2077 asthma cases and 1589 controls.

Correlation between the genetic polymorphism of ORMDL3 gene and asthma risk: a meta-analysis

W. H. Zhai, Song, C. Y., Huang, Z. G., and Sha, H., Correlation between the genetic polymorphism of ORMDL3 gene and asthma risk: a meta-analysis, vol. 14, pp. 7101-7112, 2015.

While increasing scientific evidence suggests that the ORMDL3 rs7216389 polymorphism may contribute to a higher susceptibility to asthma, many of the current studies have yielded inconclusive results. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between the ORMDL3 rs7216389 polymorphism and the risk of asthma. An extensive literature search for relevant studies was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Google Scholar. This meta-analysis was performed using the STATA 12.0 software.

Cytoskeleton changes of airway smooth muscle cells in juvenile rats with airway remodeling in asthma and the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway mechanism

B. Wei, Shang, Y. X., Li, M., Jiang, J., and Zhang, H., Cytoskeleton changes of airway smooth muscle cells in juvenile rats with airway remodeling in asthma and the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway mechanism, vol. 13, pp. 559-569, 2014.

This article aimed to investigate changes in the cytoskeleton of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) in juvenile rats with airway remodeling in asthma. We further investigated the involvement of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway mechanism. Rat models of airway remodeling in asthma were established by antigen sensitization with ovalbumin for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. The control group was treated with normal saline instead of ovalbumin. In the intervention group, after 8 weeks of culture, ASMCs were treated with the ROCK-specific inhibitor Y-27632.

Association of IL-4 promoter polymorphisms with asthma: a meta-analysis

L. Tang, Lin, H. G., and Chen, B. F., Association of IL-4 promoter polymorphisms with asthma: a meta-analysis, vol. 13, pp. 1383-1394, 2014.

This study aimed to more precisely assess the correlation between interleukin-4 (IL-4) promoter polymorphisms and the susceptibility risk of asthma. We conducted association studies on IL-4 promoter C-33T, C-589T, and G-1098T polymorphisms with asthma using data obtained from MEDLINE up to September 2011. Results showed that the polymorphisms IL-4 C-33T and C-589T were significantly associated with asthma; however, significant associations were found only in the European population.

Association between polymorphisms in ADAM33, CD14, and TLR4 with asthma in the Uygur population in China

J. Wang, Simayi, M., Wushouer, Q., Xia, Y., He, Y., Yan, F., Zhang, J., Cui, S., and Wen, H., Association between polymorphisms in ADAM33, CD14, and TLR4 with asthma in the Uygur population in China, vol. 13, pp. 4680-4690, 2014.

We evaluated the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of the genes encoding a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33 (ADAM33), cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the susceptibility of developing specific adult phenotypes of bronchial asthma in a Chinese Uygur population.

Vitamin D with asthma and COPD: not a false hope? A systematic review and meta-analysis

L. L. Zhang, Gong, J., and Liu, C. T., Vitamin D with asthma and COPD: not a false hope? A systematic review and meta-analysis, vol. 13, pp. 7607-7616, 2014.

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are increasingly being recognized in the general population over the last few decades. However, a number of other disorders have now been linked to vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, including asthma and COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evidence on the effect of vitamin D on asthma and COPD. We searched electronic databases including SCI, EMBASE, Ovid, and PubMed. Reviewers working independently and in duplicate extracted study characteristics, quality, and the outcomes.

Genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in a Han Chinese population

F. - X. Li, Tan, J. - Y., Yang, X. - X., Wu, Y. - S., Wu, D., and Li, M., Genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in a Han Chinese population, vol. 11, pp. 340-347, 2012.

A genome-wide study has shown an association between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma. Such associations have been identified in several populations, but little is known about the Han Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study in a Han Chinese population to investigate the relationship between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma; 241 asthmatic patients and 212 healthy controls were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Nanfang Hospital, Guangdong Province, southern China.

Bottom-up assembly of RNA nanoparticles containing phi29 motor pRNA to silence the asthma STAT5b gene

C. Qiu, Peng, W. K., Shi, F., and Zhang, T., Bottom-up assembly of RNA nanoparticles containing phi29 motor pRNA to silence the asthma STAT5b gene, vol. 11, pp. 3236-3245, 2012.

Activation of the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) is a key event in the development of asthma. The potent ability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to inhibit the expression of STAT5b mRNA has provided a new class of therapeutics for asthma. However, efficient delivery of siRNAs remains a key obstacle to their successful application. A targeted intracellular delivery approach for siRNA to specific cell types would be highly desirable.

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