According to the 'hygiene hypothesis', the intestinal microbes would not only regulate local immune status, but also affect systematic immune homeostasis, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. This review will mainly focus on investigating the intricate relationships among intestinal microbes, immune system and allergic diseases. Multiple factors affecting gut microorganisms may influence the immune homeostasis directly and later become risk factors of allergic diseases. This point of view may pave the way for the design of new interventions to the diseases.
Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; microbiology ; Intestines ; microbiology

The clinical and pathological data of eight cases of nasal solitary keratoacanthoma were analyzed and relevant literatures were reviewed. All of the cases were verified via pathological examination after local lesion excision, along with reconstruction of tissue defects in external nose. The patients were all primary healed. With a follow up from 8 months up to 7 years, only one case relapsed one year after first surgery, and given another operation, no recurrence happened thereafter. The other seven cases did not recur so far. The nasal solitary keratoacanthoma is a squamous tumor with potential malignancy, which manifests similarly with squamous cell carcinoma, and the correct diagnosis requires comprehensive judgment from both the clinical and histopathological characteristics. The disease shows favorable prognosis and low recurrence rate.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose Neoplasms

Objective To investigate the relationship between the biological characteristics and the expres-sion of stromlysin (MMP-7) and microvessel density (MVD) in breast cancer tissue and the effect of MMP-7 on MVD of breast cancer. Methods 60 fresh samples were obtained from patients with breast cancer,and then the ex-pression of MMP-7 and vascular endothelial cell CD34 were studied by means of immunohistochemical assay (SP method). The relationship between MMP-7, MVD and age, tumor size, histological type, lymph node metastasis and expression of ER, PR, PCNA, p53 and CerbB2 was studied. The relationship between the biological characteristics and the expression of MMP-7 and MVD in breast cancer were evaluated. Results The positive expression rote of MMP-7 in the d>2 cm group,the group with lymph node metastasis,the group with positive expression of PCNA, p53 and C-erbB-2 (78.1%,74.2%,71.8%,67.6% and 72.2%)were all higher than that in the d≤2 cm group, the group without lymph node metastasis,the group without positive expression of PCNA,p53 and C-erbB-2(32.1%, 41.3%,38.1%,38.5% and 33.3%) (P<0.05). MVD was higher in the positive breast cancer tissue of the group of d>2 cm(34.61±6.97), the group with lymph node metastasis (34.37±7.50), PCNA ( 33.24±8.39), p53 (33.28±8.94), C-erbB-2 (33.55±8.57) than in the negative breast cancer tissue of the d≤2 cm group ( 28.60±9.82), the group without lymph node metastasis (27.48±8.66), PCNA (26.88±7.89), p53 (21.71± 7.59),C-erbB-2(27.42±27.69) (P<0.05). MVD(33.62±7.36)/ high power lens in the MMP-7 positive group was higher than that (27.86±9.45)/high power lens in the MMP-7 of negative group(P<0.05). The posi-tive expression of MMP-7 was correlated with MVD (r=0.380, P<0.05). Conclusion The high expression of MMP-7 and MVD is associated with the development and metastasis of breast cancer. MMP-7 could promote the mi-crovessel development in mammary cancer.

AIM: To clone and express the gene of SLC24A6, which provide the basis to illuminate the relationship between the SLC24A6 and insulin release. METHODS: The gene expression of SLC24A6 was analyzed in the insulinoma and normal pancreatic tissues by RT-PCR. The full-length cDNA sequence was subcloned into pET32a vector, and induced expression and purified in ROSSET (DE3) strain. At the same time, the ORF of SLC24A6 was cloned into green fluorescence protein vector pEGFP-C3 to study the location of SLC24A6 in the mouse insulinoma ?-TC3 cells. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of SLC24A6 in the human insulinoma tissue was significantly higher than that in normal pancreatic tissue. The fusion protein of SLC24A6 was a 80 kD protein and was purified successfully by prokaryotic vector in ROSSET strain. The localization of SLC24A6 in the mouse insulinoma ?-TC3 cells was located in the membrane of the cells. CONCLUSION: SLC24A6 might be related with insulin release. The prokaryotic expression of SLC24A6 provides the basis for the study on biological function and protein structure, and the location of SLC24A6 in the insulinoma cell will throw light on the relationship with insulin release.

Objective To investigate the relationship between androgen level and body adipose tissue content and distribution via a cross sectional survey in healthy women aged 40 to 60 years. Methods A total of 222 women were divided into 4 groups according menstruation status, i.e. reproductive stage, early perimenopausal stage, late perimenopausal stage and postmenopausal stage. Serum level of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. Body adipose tissue content and distribution were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results In women aged 40 to 60 years, DHEA, TT and FAI level of reproductive stage women was (12.3±4.1) nmol/L, (0.56±0.22) nmol/L and 1.15 (quartile:0.71 to 1.85), respectively. DHEA, TT and FAI level of early perimenopausal stage women was (12.0±3.4) nmol/L, (0.56 ± 0.24) nmol/L and 1.37 (quartile: 0.89 to 1.61), respectively. DHEA, TT and FAI level of late perimenopausal stage women was (14.2 ± 4.7) nmol/L, (0.62 ± 0.18) nmol/L and 1.38 (quartile:1.12 to 1.63). DHEA, TT and FAI level of postmenopausal stage women was (11.6±3.5) nmol/L, (0.45±0.22) nmol/L and 0.94 (quartile:0.47 to 1.49). DHEA, TT and FAI level of perimenopausal stage women was comparable with those of reproductive stage women (P>0.05), however, TT and FAI level of postmenopausal women was significantly lower than those of reproductive stage women (P=0.001, 0.014). The total adipose percentage of reproductive stage women, early perimenopausal stage women, late perimenopausal stage women and postmenopausal stage women were (35 ± 6)%, (35 ± 5)%, (37 ± 4)%and (37 ± 5)%. The adipose percentage in“android”area of reproductive stage women, early perimenopausal stage women, late perimenopausal stage women and postmenopausal stage women were (43±5)%, (43±4)%, (47±5)%and (46±5)%. The total adipose percentage was similar in 4 groups (P=0.312). Compared with reproductive stage women, adipose percentage of“android”area increased in late perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (P=0.026). Women with higher FAI level presented higher adipose tissue content and higher percentage of centrally distributed adipose tissue (r=0.28, P=0.003). Conclusions Body adipose tissue tends to distribute centrally from perimenopausal stage. Androgen level is related to body adipose tissue content and distribution, but may not be the main reason of changes of fat distribution in middle life women.

Objective To investigate the improvement of quality of life of patient with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) after knee joint cavity injection of hyaluronic acid.Methods Fifty KBD patients were selected in Yongshou County Shaanxi Province,and accepted knee joint cavity injection of hyaluronic acid (25 mg) for four times,one time a week.SF-36 health questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life of KBD patients,and the quality adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated after 2 months.Results The total score of the quality of life of KBD patients was improved from 38.81 ± 17.39 to 49.35 ± 17.95 after knee joint cavity injection of hyaluronic acid.The scores of physiological function (PF),body pain (BP),general health (GH),energy (VT),social function (SF) and mental health (MH) in the eight dimensions of SF-36 scale were 54.42 ± 21.25,47.42 ± 20.80,48.00 ± 26.12,61.05 ± 19.14,68.09 ± 28.73 and 68.74 ± 14.85,respectively,after the treatment,which were higher than those before the treatment (41.51 ± 22.11,27.63 ± 11.78,38.76 ± 25.14,51.97 ± 18.14,57.89 ± 30.95 and 56.95 ± 20.47,t =-3.942,-6.344,-2.494,-2.785,-2.819 and-4.245,all P ＜ 0.05).The QALYs of KBD patients increased 0.051 ± 0.044 with 2 months followed up.Conclusion The quality of life (PF,BP,GH,VT,SF and MH) of KBD patients could be significantly improved after knee joint cavity injection of hyaluronic acid.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features and treatment of tuberculous otitis media and mastoiditis. METHOD: Thirteen patients with tuberculous otitis media and mastoiditis were retrospectively analyzed and the related literatures were reviewed. One case was treated by surgery only, and anti-tuberculosis treatment was given to another one patient, and surgical removal of disease lesions in combination with anti-tuberculosis treatment were given to 12 patients. RESULT: One patient received surgery only was found to recur after follow-up for seven months. The patient did not recur after seven months' follow-up after antituberculosis therapy,and other patients did not recur. CONCLUSION Although the regular anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy treatment was the main treatment for tuberculous otitis and mastoiditis, surgical treatment was helpful to achieved more rapid healing of the ear.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mastoiditis ; microbiology ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Otitis Media ; microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and medication of unilateral idiopathic vocal fold paralysis. METHOD: Thirty-nine of medical treated patients with unilateral idiopathic vocal fold paralysis were retrospectively studied, and relevant literatures were reviewed. RESULT: After 4 to 19 days of medical therapy, 9 patients were cured, the vocal fold movement of 18 sufferers were improved, and 12 pantients were not healed. CONCLUSION Unilateral idiopathic vocal fold paralysis is common, and the treatment efficacy of medicine is almost the same with others. Unilateral idiopathic vocal fold paralysis is a disease with spontaneous recovery, which should be followed up.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; drug therapy ; Vocal Cords ; physiopathology

ObjectiveTo find out the risk factors and the incidence of lithiasis. MethodsA questionnaire was formulated by the National Biliary Surgical Group. It was sent to the medical staff of all levels of hospitals in the Zunyi Region, Guizhou to fill in on surgically proven cases of cholelithiasis. The clinical data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 13.0. ResultFor lithiasis, the gender ratio was 1∶ 1.78; the peak age was 41-year and 51-year respectively. The proportion of cholecystolithiasis (n =4456 ; 86.76 ％) and choledocholithiasis (n =554;10.79 ％ ) was comparatively higher than in other regions in China. ConclusionsThe commonest type of lithiasis in Zunyi was cholecystolithiasis. There was an increasing tendency for lithiasis to develop in young people. Lithiasis was closely associated with factors such as gender, food and occupation.

Objective To evaluate the value of retrospective ECG-gated 256 slices spiral CT technique in the scanning of inferior phrenic artery (IPA).Methods 80 patients with underdone abdominal CTA were divided randomly into two groups (40 patients each)as regular abdominal CTA scanning group and retrospective ECG-gated technique group.And further analysis was done to evaluate the display of IPA branches and the image quality.Results 80 patients were all scanned successfully.40 cases LIPA and 40 cases RIPA were showed in the regular group.80 cases showed 1st level branches of IPA,73 cases with 2nd level,59 cases with 3rd and 43 ca-ses showing 4th level.40 cases LIPA and 40 cases RIPA were showed in ECG-gated group.And the numbers of IPA branches levels were 80,79,71,65,respectively.There is no significant difference in the ability of showing the1st level IPA or their image quality between those two groups (P >0.05);and there is a statistical significance in the ability of showing other levels of IPA and their im-age quality.Conclusion It is feasible that we use retrospective ECG-gated 256 slices spiral CT scanning technique to show the IPA. And it could improve the ability of showing the IPA branches as well as the image quality.