Objective To investigate the environmental risk factors for allergic rhinitis, especially indoor environmental risk factors. Methods Hospital-based case-control study design was used. The 42 adult patients with allergic rhinitis and 57 controls from the third affiliated hospital of Peking University were interviewed face to face by trained nurses using questionnaire, which included general social demographic characteristics, disease history, smoking, occupation, indoor environment, family allergic history and other relevant information. Results The case whose parents had allergic diseases likely got allergic rhinitis (OR=2.882,95%CI:1.028-8.077). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was positively associated with salad oil used for cooking (OR=3.777, P

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of modified Berlin questionnaire on predicting obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS)in Chinese adults. METHOD: Differ from the original version, BMI cut-off point was adjusted to 25.0 in modified Berlin questionnaire according to the Asia -Pacific obesity definition. A total number of 244 samples who experienced polysomnography (PSG) were included. After well informed, each patient finished questionnaire by an interview. The results of the original and modified questionnaires and polysomnography reports were compared with polysomnography reports to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the modified Berlin questionnaire. RESULT: In male population, the sensitivity and specificity of original Berlin questionnaire were 74.03% and 65.71%, respectively. The percentage of diagnostic consistency was 72.49%, and Kappa coefficient was 0.304 (P < 0.01). In aspect of modified version, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.21% and 48.57%. The percentage of diagnostic consistency was 84.13%, and Kappa coefficient was 0.437 (P < 0.01). In female population, the sensitivity and specificity of original version were 50.00% and 61.90%, respectively. The percentage of diagnostic consistency was 54.55%, and Kappa coefficient was 0.110 (P > 0.01). When comes to the modified Berlin questionnaire, the sensitivity and specificity were 76.47% and 47.62% in female subjects, and the percentage of consistency agreement was 65.45%, with a Kappa coefficient 0.248 (P > 0.01). CONCLUSION Compared to the original version, the modified Berlin questionnaire has a better diagnostic consistency with a considerable sensitivity and specificity in male population. However, in female subjects group, the consistency of the modified Berlin questionnaire was still not significant remains unsatisfactory, although P value has been improved. Modified Berlin questionnaire could be. used as a primary screening tool for male OSAHS patients. However, but the screening questionnaire for female should still be need to be further explored.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; Polysomnography ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; diagnosis ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; diagnosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of large dose of Astragalus membranaceus (Astragalus) on the dentritic cell (DC) induction in vitro and augumentation by peripheral mononuclear cell (MNC) and on antigen presenting ability of DC in children with acute leukemia.

METHODSForty-four children with acute leukemia in complete remission stage were divided into two groups. Twenty patients in the Astragalus (90 g daily) group were treated with large dose of Astragalus (90 g daily) based on conventional chemotherapy for one month, while 24 patients in the control group received chemotherapy alone. MNC were extracted from peripheral blood by wall-sticking method and cultured with such cell factors as interleukin-4, gramulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha for 7-8 days. Phenotype of DC was assayed by flow cytometry and antigen presenting ability of them was assayed by mixed lymphocyte reaction.

RESULTSThere was no morphological difference in MNC induced DC between the two groups. The average number of DC in Astragalus group and control group was 4.4 x 10(6) / 2.5 x 10(6) MNC and 2.6 x 10(6) / 2.5 x 10(6) MNC, respectively, showing significant difference (P < 0.001). DC in Astragalus group could stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic lymphocytes strongly, showing significant difference when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion Large dose of Astragalus could increase the DC induction of MNC and enhance the antigen presenting ability of DC in acute leukemia patients.

Acute Disease ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; cytology ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; pathology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective:To investigate the effects of ginkgolide B on neurological function recovery and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway after ischemic stroke in mice.Methods:Fifty-five C57/BL6 mice were selected, of which 10 mice were kept as the sham group and the remaining 45 mice were constructed as the ischemic stroke model. There were 40 mice who finally completed the modeling, and then they were randomly divided into the blank control group (GB0w), short-course administration group (GB1w), long-term administration group (GB2w), and long-term administration+antagonist group (GB2w+PRI-724), with 10 mice in each group. There was no drug intervention after MCAO in GB0w. The mice in GB1w were given ginkgolide B (10 mg/kg) 0.1 ml within 1 week after MCAO; in GB2w were given ginkgolide B (10 mg/kg) 0.1 ml within 2 weeks after MCAO; and in GB2w+PRI-724 were nasally fed ginkgolide B (10 mg/kg) 0.1 ml within 2 weeks after MCAO; and selective antagonist PRI-724 was given 3 h before administration of ginkgolide B on days 8 to 14. Neurological function scores, walking on rotor bar test scores, expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), Wnt, β-catenin, and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) were compared among the groups.Results:Compared with the sham group, the expressions of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, FGF4, and GSK-3β in GB0w, GB1w, GB2w, and GB2w+ PRI-724 were increased, and the expressions of GSH-Px, SOD, TGF-β1, β-catenin, and Wnt were decreased (all P < 0.001). Compared with GB0w, the expressions of SOD, GSH-Px, TGF-β1, Wnt, and β-catenin were increased in GB1w, GB2w, and GB2w+PRI-724, and the expressions of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, FGF4, and GSK-3β were decreased (all P < 0.001). Compared with GB1w, the expressions of GSH-Px, SOD, TGF-β 1, Wnt, and β-catenin were increased in GB2w and GB2w+PRI-724, and the expressions of IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, FGF4, and GSK-3β were decreased (all P < 0.001). Compared with GB2w, the neural function score, walking on the stick test score, and expressions of IL-6, TNF-α, FGF4, MDA, and GSK-3β were increased in GB2w+PRI-724, while the expressions of GSH-Px, TGF-β1, SOD, Wnt, and β-catenin were decreased (all P < 0.001). Conclusions:Ginkgolide B can effectively improve the neurological function of ischemic stroke mice and may be related to the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Objective: To investigate the genetic characteristics of human norovirus (NoV) among infants under 5 years of age with diarrhea in Chaoyang District, Beijing from 2011 to 2017. Methods: NoV-positive stool samples were collected from 2011 to 2017 in this region. The partial RdRp and VP1 genes were amplified and sequenced. Multi-sequence alignment was performed and phylogenetic tree was constructed using Mega software. Results: A total of 151 samples were sequenced and analyzed. The ratio of male and female was 2.28∶1 with mean age of 1.72 years. Fourteen NoV subtypes were detected, including GII.Pe/GII.4 (47.68%), GII.P12/GII.3 (20.53%), GII.P4/GII.4 (17.22%), GII.P16/GII.2 (3.31%), GII.P12/GII.12 (1.99%), GII.P17/GII.17 (1.99%), GII.P16/GII.13 (1.32%), GII.P7/GII.7 (1.32%), GII.P7/GII.6 (1.32%), GII.P2/GII.2 (0.66%), GII.P21/GII.21 (0.66%), GII.Pg/GII.12 (0.66%), GI.Pa/GI.3 (0.66%) and GI.P6/GI.6 (0.66%). Conclusions NoV genetic diversity was found among infants under 5 with diarrhea in Chaoyang district, Beijing. The subtypes from surveillance and those from epidemics occurred in chronological order. The surveillance should be strengthened for early detection of new subtype for monitoring the epidemic and vaccine design.