Allergic rhinitis (AR) clinically expressed by sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching and congestion is an allergen-driven mucosal inflammatory disease which is modulated by immunoglobulin E. Epidemiological studies have indicated that prevalence of AR continues to increase, and it has been a worldwide health problem that places a significant healthcare burden on individuals and society. Given the evolving understanding of the process by which an allergen is recognized and the roles of mediators which account for AR progress, the pathogenesis of AR has become clearer. Current studies have demonstrated local allergic rhinitis (LAR) that patients with both sug- gestive symptoms of AR and a negative diagnostic test for atopy may have local allergic inflammation is a prevalent entity in patients evaluated with rhinitis, but further research remains needed. Management of AR includes aller- gen avoidance, pharmacological treatment and allergen-specific immunotherapy. Recently montelukast has exhibited previously undocumented anti-inflammatory properties, leukotriene receptor antagonists therefore may serve a more important role in the treatment of AR. Not only has immunotherapy proved its efficacy, but also been able to alter disease course and thereby mitigate progression to asthma. Thus immunotherapy can be initiated while receiving pharmacotherapy, especially in children with AR. As clinical guidelines, the ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) provides basic principles of effective treatment of AR. Besides, choosing an appropriate treatment strategy should be based on the severity and chronicity of patient's symptom. The aim of this review was to provide an update mainly on the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and management of AR.
Acetates ; therapeutic use ; Allergens ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; prevention & control ; Child ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Immunoglobulin E ; immunology ; Immunotherapy ; Inflammation ; physiopathology ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Prevalence ; Quinolines ; therapeutic use ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; diagnosis ; immunology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of prophylactic drugs on allergic rhinitis. METHOD: Thirty patients diagnosed as allergic rhinitis based on mugwort allergen were randomly divided into three groups: budesonide group (n = 10), saline group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). The patients in budesonide group and saline group respectively received budesonide nasal spray (64 microg per, 256 microg once daily) and saline nasal spray twice daily starting two weeks before the date which the patient onset last year and continuing up to the end of the pollen season. The patients in control group were treated without any processing. The nasal symptom scores and attack times of the three groups was recorded. RESULT: During the pollen season, 2 patients attacked in the budesonide group (20%), and all the patients attacked in saline group and control group (100%). Statistical significance was found among the three groups (P < 0.01), and between budesonide group and the other two groups (P < 0.01). The budesonide group had lower symptom score than the other two groups and a postponed attack time. All the differences had Statistical significance (Value of chi-square statistic = 21. 558, P < 0.01, Fisher exact test P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Prophylactic administration of budesonide, starting two weeks before the date which the patient onset may release symptom and even avoid the attack of the allergic rhinitis based on mugwort allergen.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Budesonide ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pollen ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; drug therapy ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Young Adult

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury leads to oxidative stress and acute inflammatory responses that cause liver damage and have a considerable impact on the postoperative outcome. Much research has been performed to develop possible protective techniques. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of SPA0355, a synthetic thiourea analog, in an animal model of hepatic I/R injury. Male C57BL/6 mice underwent normothermic partial liver ischemia for 45 min followed by varying periods of reperfusion. The animals were divided into three groups: sham operated, I/R and SPA0355 pretreated. Pretreatment with SPA0355 protected against hepatic I/R injury, as indicated by the decreased levels of serum aminotransferase and reduced parenchymal necrosis and apoptosis. Liver synthetic function was also restored by SPA0355 as reflected by the prolonged prothrombin time. To gain insight into the mechanism involved in this protection, we measured the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which revealed that SPA0355 suppressed the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of NF-kappaB subunits. Concomitantly, the expression of NF-kappaB target genes such as IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha and iNOS was significantly downregulated. Lastly, the liver antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione were upregulated by SPA0355 treatment, which correlated with the reduction in serum malondialdehyde. Our results suggest that SPA0355 pretreatment prior to I/R injury could be an effective method to reduce liver damage.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*therapeutic use ; Benzoxazines/*therapeutic use ; Liver/*drug effects/immunology/*injuries/pathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; NF-kappa B/immunology ; Reperfusion Injury/*drug therapy/immunology/pathology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects ; Thiourea/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of total panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to observe its safety and influence on RA immune related inner environment.

METHODSEighty-four patients were randomly assigned to two groups. All were treated with the routine therapy with diclofenac sodium, Leflunomide and prednisone, but for the 43 patients in the treatment group PNS was given additionally. The therapeutic course was 28 days for both groups. Clinical efficacy and change of indexes including platelet counts, immnuoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), complement (C)3, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (CER), haptoglobin (HPT), and alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were observed.

RESULTSSignificant improvement of clinical symptoms, including the joint swelling index, joint tenderness index, joint pain index, time of morning stiffness and VAS revealed in both groups after treatment, and the effect in the treatment group was better (P<0.05 or P<0.01). PLT, CER, AAG, HPT, CRP, IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and RF were lowered in both groups (P<0.01), but the lowering in PLT, CER, AAG and CRP in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPNS can significantly improve the condition of patients, enhance the therapeutic effect in treating RA, through regulating the disordered immunity and improving the effect of anti-inflammatory and analgesia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Diclofenac ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Isoxazoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Panax notoginseng ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Rheumatoid Factor ; blood ; Saponins ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of T-lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and analyze the effects of Fuzheng Qubi Decoction (FZQBD) on T-cell subsets.

METHODSThirty RA patients were randomly divided into two groups, and treated with FZQBD or western medicine combination therapy respectively for one month, the percentage of peripheral CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ as well as the serum IgG and IgA levels were determined.

RESULTSThe percentage of peripheral CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, IgG and IgA levels increased significantly (P < 0.001) in RA patients before treatment. After 1 month of FZQBD treatment, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased obviously (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAbnormal cellular immunity exists in RA patients, FZQBD could adjust the abnormal T-lymphocyte subsets to normalize it.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Diclofenac ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

At present ventricular remodeling (VR) is regarded as the main pathological basis of chronic heart failure after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and preventing VR after AMI is of great importance for the prevention of heart failure. Previously, it has not been paid enough attention to the role of inflammation and autoimmune injury during the process of VR after AMI. This topic was discussed in the paper and the treating strategies with Chinese and Western medicine were also explored.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Heart Failure ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; physiopathology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Ventricular Remodeling ; drug effects

Although some studies have explained the immunomodulatory effects of statins, the exact mechanisms and the therapeutic significance of these molecules remain to be elucidated. This study not only evaluated the therapeutic potential and inhibitory mechanism of simvastatin in an ovalbumin (OVA)-specific asthma model in mice but also sought to clarify the future directions indicated by previous studies through a thorough review of the literature. BALB/c mice were sensitized to OVA and then administered three OVA challenges. On each challenge day, 40 mg kg-1 simvastatin was injected before the challenge. The airway responsiveness, inflammatory cell composition, and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were assessed after the final challenge, and the T cell composition and adhesion molecule expression in lung homogenates were determined. The administration of simvastatin decreased the airway responsiveness, the number of airway inflammatory cells, and the interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 concentrations in BAL fluid compared with vehicle-treated mice (P<0.05). Histologically, the number of inflammatory cells and mucus-containing goblet cells in lung tissues also decreased in the simvastatin-treated mice. Flow cytometry showed that simvastatin treatment significantly reduced the percentage of pulmonary CD4+ cells and the CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratio (P<0.05). Simvastatin treatment also decreased the expression of the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 proteins, as measured in homogenized lung tissues (P<0.05) and human epithelial cells. The reduction in the T cell influx as a result of the decreased expression of cell adhesion molecules is one of the mechanisms by which simvastatin attenuates airway responsiveness and allergic inflammation. Rigorous review of the literature together with our findings suggested that simvastatin should be further developed as a potential therapeutic strategy for allergic asthma.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/*therapeutic use ; Asthma/*drug therapy/immunology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects/immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/drug effects/immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Inflammation/*drug therapy/immunology ; Interleukins/analysis/immunology ; Lung/*drug effects/immunology ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Simvastatin/*therapeutic use

No abstract available.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Autoimmune Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatitis/complications/*diagnosis/immunology ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Retroperitoneal Fibrosis/complications/*diagnosis/immunology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The present study examined the functional profile of dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effects of simvastatin on the function of DCs. A total of 40 patients who was recently diagnosed as having RA were equally assigned to two groups: the routine treatment group (group R) and the routine treatment plus simvastatin group (group R+S). Twenty healthy individuals served as control. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated before and 4 weeks after the treatment and then cultured with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulatory factor (GM-CSF) to prepare mature DCs. The expression of co-stimulating factor CD86 on the surface of DCs was assessed by flow cytometry. And the stimulating capacity of DCs was measured by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The contents of cytokines in culture supernatants of DCs in MLR were detected by ELISA. Blood lipids and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected. The relationship between the expression of CD86 and the blood CRP level was also investigated. The results showed that, as compared with the control group, the CD86 expression and the level of cytokines secreted by DCs were significantly increased in RA patients and greater stimulating capacity of DCs in MLR was demonstrated in RA patients. T lymphocytes in MLR secreted higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-17, TNF-α and INF-γ) and lower level of anti-inflammation cytokine (IL-10). The function of DCs was markedly weakened and the level of hs-CRP and low-density lipoprotein was substantially lowered in group R+S in comparison to group R. The CD86 expression was positively correlated with hs-CRP. It was concluded that DCs in RA are highly activated and DC-initiated immune reaction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. Simvastatin administration can significantly inhibit the DCs function and reduce the level of hs-CRP, indicating the suppression on inflammatory reaction may be one of the mechanisms by which simvastatin exerts its effect in treating RA.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

No abstract available.
Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myositis/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/immunology ; *Paraspinal Muscles/drug effects/immunology/pathology ; Polymyalgia Rheumatica/diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology/immunology ; Risk Factors ; Sacroiliitis/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/immunology ; Treatment Outcome