OBJECTIVETo test the immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC) from nasal secretion(s) and serum of patients with allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis for the purpose of exploring the possible immunological mechanism.

METHODSSixty consecutive patients were selected between September and December in 2009, involving 30 patients with allergic rhinitis and 30 patients with non-allergic rhinitis, diagnosed by symptoms, signs, SPT and sIgE. Thirty volunteers was chosen as health control (HC). ELISA was used to detect the total IgE, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), mast cell tryptase (MCT), κFLC, λFLC in nasal secretion and serum. The data was statistically analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software.

RESULTSAccording to the VAS scores, the nasal symptoms of AR and NAR, including sneeze, nasal discharge, nasal obstruction and nasal itching were compared. There was no statistical difference (t value was 1.189, 0.741, 0.758, 0.797, respectively, P < 0.5); In serum, κFLC, λFLC, IgE, ECP & MCT were increased in NAR compared to HC (P < 0.05); λFLC was increased in NAR compared to AR group (P < 0.05), κFLC and ECP were increased in AR. There was no significant difference between AR and NAR (P < 0.05); In nasal secretion, κFLC, λFLC, IgE, ECP and MCT were increased in AR and NAR compared to HC, and the ECP and IgE were significantly increased in AR compared to NAR (P < 0.05). ; In nasal secretion, the FLCs revealed a significantly higher correlation with MCT (r value was 0.518 and 0.484, P < 0.01), and in serum revealed a significant correlation with ECP (r value was 0.343 and 0.342, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSImmunoglobulin free light chain takes part in the path of physiological process of allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis with the immunological mechanism.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bodily Secretions ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nose ; immunology ; Rhinitis ; blood ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; blood ; immunology ; Tryptases ; blood ; immunology ; Young Adult

Objective To explore standardized continuing vascular ultrasound training in China.Methods Data of current ultrasound practitioner education levels in the secondary and tertiary hospitals were collected.Under the direction of the Chinese Ultrasound Doctor Association (CUDA),Vascular Ultrasound Guidelines were introduced.The CUDA Steering Committee for Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training and Vascular Ultrasound Training Centers were established.Results The questionnaires were received from 182 ultrasound departments of 57 secondary hospitals and 125 tertiary hospitals.The proportion of ultrasound practitioners who obtained a university degree was significantly higher in the ultrasound departments of tertiary hospitals than that in the secondary hospitals (75.18% vs 52.63%).The proportion of ultrasound practitioners who only received short-term ultrasound training and did not have tertiary education was significantly higher in the ultrasound departments of secondary hospitals than that in the tertiary hospitals (8.31% vs 1.03%).The directors of ultrasound departments in both secondary and tertiary hospitals believed that ultrasound practitioners should at least have a university diploma and preferably have a university degree.The CUDA and the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) co-hosted two standardized vascular ultrasound training seminars and the first Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) credential examination in Beijing.A well-known vascular ultrasound reference book,Introduction to Vascular Ultrasound was translated from English into Chinese and published in September 2008.The CUDA Vascular Ultrasound Guidelines were drafted by 12 vascular ultrasound experts from China,U.S.and Australia,which were widely discussed and passed by the CUDA Standing Committee.The guidelines have been published in the Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography and on the website of CUDA (www.cuda.org.cn).The CUDA has signed a publishing contract with a medical press to publish the guideline booklet.The CUDA Steering Committee for the Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training was established which includes 24 domestic and foreign experts.The CUDA Standardized Vascular Ultrasound Training Centers were awarded to 12 hospitals,which were selected,trained and assessed by the CUDA from 35 candidates.Each center is expected to undertake one to two standardized vascular ultrasound training courses each year.Conclusion Continuing education of vascular ultrasound introduced by CUDA has been accepted positively by a portion of Chinese doctors with ultrasound major.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the three-year efficacy and safety with standardized dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis.

METHODSNinety patients who were diagnosed as allergic to mite by skin prick test and serum IgE were include in the standardized allergen-specific dose-escalation regimen. Nasal symptom score (0-3) were collected before treatment and three years after treatment; VAS (visual analogue scale, 0-10) of all nasal symptoms and drug use score were collected every four months; frequency of local and systemic reactions were recorded in the duration of dose escalation and maintenance.

RESULTSNasal blocking, sneeze, rhinorrhea and nasal itch were significantly improved after 3 years treatment (before treatment: 2[2;3], 2[2;3], 2[2;3], 2[1;2] ; after treatment: all were 0[0;0]; Z value were -8.310, -8.408, -8.377, -8.287, all P were 0.000). VAS of all nasal symptoms and drug use score decreased dramatically after escalation period (before treatment: 8.00[7.00;8.85], 2.00[1.50;2.00]; after treatment: 1.00[1.00;1.50], 0 [0;0]; Z value were -8.287, -8.248, P value 0.086, 0.744), and maintained afterwards (F value were 2.483, 0.296; P value were 0.086, 0.744). Ninety-eight case times (64.47%) local reactions mainly happened in maintenance period; the frequency of systemic reactions was 2.54%.

CONCLUSIONThe standardized specific allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis is safe and effective.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; standards ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation between two serum specific IgE and skin prick test (SPT) for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis.

METHODSTwo hundred and sixteen patients were referred to the allergist for a suspected allergic rhinitis between June and October in 2009. Patients were classified as positive for inhalant allergy if they had a positive clinical history and a related positive SPT for the suspected inhalant allergen. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS13.0 software.

RESULTSOne hundred and fifty-eight patients had a positive SPT, comparing with the SPT, the diagnostic indexes (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity) of the ImmunoCAP system and the AllergyScreen system were 0.810 and 0.819, 0.872 and 0.780, 0.741 and 0.862 respectively. The accuracy was similar between the two systems (χ(2) = 0.112, P > 0.05). The ImmunoCAP system had a higher sensitivity (χ(2) = 7.361, P < 0.05). The AllergyScreen system had a higher specificity (χ(2) = 10.222, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis data supported the use of ImmunoCAP system and AllergyScreen system to identify potentially significant individual allergens in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. The ImmunoCAP system had a higher sensitivity. The AllergyScreen system had a higher specificity. The AllergyScreen system can be used as a complementary with the ImmunoCAP system.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical symptom, precipitating factor, associated symptom, family history and life quality of pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis, and to analyze the characteristic of clinical symptoms.

METHODSA questionnaire survey on pediatric AR patients since June 2008 to June 2010, one hundred and forty-eight pediatric AR patients were divided into 2 groups, group A (n = 43) included children aged from 3.2 to 6.0, group B (n = 105) included children aged from 6.1 to 14.8. The severity degree of clinical symptom was assessed by visual analogue scale.

RESULTSPreschool age children had more severe rhinocleisis, more severe cough and less rhinorrhea than school age children (χ(2) value were 29.194, 12.277 and 16.904, respectively, P < 0.05). According to the classification criteria of ARIA 2008, preschool children had more mild intermittent AR and less moderate-severe persistent AR than school age children (χ(2) value were 20.370 and 24.546, P < 0.05). The precipitating factor of common cold, fitment, climate, environment factors were 22.3% (33/148), 5.4% (8/148), 16.2% (24/148), 3.4% (5/148), the others was 4.7% (7/148), no obvious precipitating factor was 48.0% (71/148). The rate of parent or parents who had allergic disease history was 11.5% (17/148). Quality of sleep that 66.2% (98/148) were upset and 62.2% (92/148) had no cathexis.

CONCLUSIONSThe preschool children have different clinical symptom characteristic from the school age children, and we got some clinical data of pediatric AR patients, those were beneficial to the diagnose and therapy of pediatric AR. The clinical data obtained in this study from pediatric AR patients are beneficial to the diagnosis and therapy of pediatric AR.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To explore the influence of cyasterone on the osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation and then to investigate its effect on the bone quality in the osteoporosis mice. Methods CCK8 assay was firstly used to detect the toxic effect of cyasterone on the mouse bone marrow derived mononuclear macrophages (BMMs) and anterior osteoblast lines MC3T3E1. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Then TRAP staining and ALP staining were employed to detect osteoclast differentiation and osteoblast differentiation, respectively. Realtime PCR was carried out to test the expression of osteoclast special gene TRAP and osteogenesis crucial gene ALP. In vivo, 15 mice were divided into three groups: sham-operated group, OVX group and OVX+cyasterone treatment group. In treatment group, cyasterone was used as 5mg/kg every day. Sham-operated group and OVX group were treat with saline solution. After 4 weeks, the tibia was collected for Micro-CT detection to observe the bone quality and microstructure changes. Results Cyasterone with the concentration of less than 10 mg/L had no significant cytotoxicity nor influence on the apoptosis (P＞0.05) . Cyasterone could significantly inhibit the osteoclast differentiation of BMMs (P＜0.05), simultaneously, it also had the effect to promote the osteoblast differetiation of MC3T3E1. Real-time PCR indicated that cyasterone could block the expression of TRAP and increase the expression of ALP (P＜0.05) . In vivo, cyasterone was able to obviously improve the osteoporosis status caused by estrogen deficiency without general toxicity. Conclusion cyasterone could provide a good treatment for osteoporosis through the bidirectional effect of inhibiting osteoclast differetiation and promoting osteoblast differentiation.

BACKGROUNDInterleukin-l7 (IL-17), which exerts strong pro-inflammatory effects, has emerged as an important mediator in inflammation-associated cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between IL-17 and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), and the correlation of the microvessel density in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

METHODSHistopathological observations and immunohistochemistry staining for IL-17, CD68, and CD34 were performed on 72 specimens (32 cases of LSCC, 20 cases of adjacent tissues of carcinoma as controls, and 20 cases of chronic hypertrophic laryngitis). Double immunohistochemical staining was done to determine which cells expressed IL-17. Real-time quantitative PCR determined the mRNA expression of IL-17. ELISA was used to detect the expression of the serum level of IL-17 in the three groups.

RESULTSThe inflammation response had increased in LSCC. Overexpression of IL-17 and CD68 protein were seen in LSCC (P < 0.01). The expression of IL-17 was different between well and poorly differentiated LSCC (P < 0.01). The IL-17 expressing cells were mainly located in macrophages (CD68(+)/IL17(+)) as demonstrated by double immunohistochemical staining. IL-17 expression significantly correlated with high microvessel density (CD34(+)) in LSCC (P < 0.05). Relatively higher mRNA expression levels of IL-17 were seen in LSCC compared to the controls (P < 0.05). The serum expression of IL-17 was similar among the three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL-17 was expressed by TAMs, and IL-17 may significantly correlate to the differentiation and angiogenesis in the development of LSCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-17 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

Humans ; Child ; Nasal Bone ; Neurilemmoma/surgery*

The latest epidemiological data suggests that the situation of adult diabetes in China is severe, and metabolic diseases have become significant chronic illnesses that have a serious impact on public health and social development. After more than six years of practice, the National Metabolic Management Center(MMC) has developed distinctive approaches to manage metabolic patients and has achieved a series of positive outcomes, continuously advancing the standardized diagnosis and treatment model. In order to further improve the efficiency, based on the first edition, the second edition guideline was composed by incorporating experience of the past six years in conjunction with the latest international and domestic guidelines.

Objective: Transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed on the gene expression of nasal epithelial cells in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR) and perennial AR, so as to obtain the differences in the gene expression of nasal epithelial cells between seasonal AR and perennial AR. Methods: The human nasal epithelial cell line(HNEpC) was cultured in vitro, treated with 100 μg/ml mugwort or house dust mite (HDM) extracts for 24 hours. Total cell RNA was extracted, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the expression of cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). From November 2019 to November 2020, 3 seasonal AR patients, 3 perennial AR patients, and 3 healthy controls who attended the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University were analyzed. The patients' primary nasal epithelial cells were cultured in vitro, treated with corresponding allergens for 24 hours. Total RNA was extracted for transcriptome sequencing, and the sequencing results were analyzed by bioinformatics. Results: The qPCR results showed that the cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-33 and TSLP of HNEpC treated with mugworts extracts and HDM extracts had the same trend of change. After the nasal epithelial cells from patients with seasonal AR and perennial AR were treated with corresponding allergens, there were differences in biological processes and signal pathways between those and control. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEG) in AR patients allergic to mugwort were mainly enriched in the oxidation-reduction process, the negative regulation of apoptosis process, and the cell adhesion; the DEG in AR patients allergic to HDM were mainly enriched in cell adhesion, the negative regulation of cell proliferation and the response to drug. Enrichment analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway showed that the DEG of AR patients allergic to mugwort were significantly enriched in arachidonic acid metabolism, p53 signaling pathway and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway, while the DEG of AR patients allergic to HDM were mainly enriched in cells cycle, Fanconi anemia pathway and DNA replication. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that the inflammatory response, TNF-α/NF-κB signaling pathway and IL-2/STAT5 signaling pathway were significantly up-regulated in AR patients allergic to mugwort, indicating the promotion of inflammatory response; and AR patients allergic to HDM had significant down-regulation of G2M, E2F, and MYC, indicating the inhibition of cell proliferation. The protein-protein interaction network showed that TNF and CDK1 were the most interacting proteins in mugwort and HDM allergic AR patients, respectively. Conclusion: Seasonal AR and perennial AR may affect the different biological processes and signal pathways of nasal epithelial cells, leading to differences in the occurrence and development of AR.
Allergens ; Animals ; Computational Biology ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Epithelial Cells/metabolism* ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Interleukin-33/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8 ; Nasal Mucosa/metabolism* ; Plant Extracts/metabolism* ; Pyroglyphidae ; RNA/metabolism* ; Rhinitis, Allergic/metabolism* ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seasons