Hypersensitivity to house dust mite (HDM; Dermatophagoides sp.) allergens is one of the most common allergic responses, affecting up to 85% of asthmatics. Sensitization to indoor allergens is the strongest independent risk factor associated with asthma. Additionally, >50% of children and adolescents with asthma are sensitized to HDM. Although allergen-specific CD4+ Th2 cells orchestrate the HDM allergic response through induction of IgE directed toward mite allergens, activation of innate immunity also plays a critical role in HDM-induced allergic inflammation. This review highlights the HDM components that lead to activation of the innate immune response. Activation may due to HDM proteases. Proteases may be recognized by protease-activation receptors (PARs), Toll-like receptors (TLRs), or C-type lectin receptors (CTRs), or act as a molecular mimic for PAMP activation signaling pathways. Understanding the role of mite allergen-induced innate immunity will facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies that exploit innate immunity receptors and associated signaling pathways for the treatment of allergic asthma.
Adolescent ; Allergens ; Asthma ; Child ; Dendritic Cells ; Dust ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunity, Innate ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation ; Lectins, C-Type ; Mites ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Pyroglyphidae ; Risk Factors ; Th2 Cells ; Toll-Like Receptors

In commemorate the 9th Asia Pacific Congress of Allergy, Asthma, and Clinical Immunology (APCAACI) in Taipei, Taiwan in November this year, some of the seminar works and contributions by the researchers from Taiwan to the advance in the field of allergy and clinical immunology, such as DNA vaccine, traditional Chinese medicine, anti-IgE antibody, and personalized medicine for severe drug allergic reaction, are summarized in this special review.
Allergy and Immunology ; Asia ; Asthma ; DNA ; Hypersensitivity ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Precision Medicine ; Taiwan

No abstract available.
Hypersensitivity

To investigate the influence of HIF-1alpha overexpression on the differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) ex vivo, EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation, overexpressed HIF-1alpha was transfected to EPCs by electroporation; HIF1alpha, HIF1beta, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA level were measured with RT-PCR; HIF-1alpha protein was detected with immunohistochemistry in a time course. CD31(+) cells were measured with flow cytometry. Cell morphology was observed after transfection. The results showed that the transfection efficiency of HIF-1alpha to EPCs was about 20%. HIF-1alpha and its controlled target gene VEGF were markedly induced by HIF-1alpha vector (P < 0.05). HIF1beta had its same level as it before interference (P > 0.05). HIF-1alpha protein was induced by HIF-1alpha transfection after 12 hours but was undetectable at 24 hours. After 7 - 14 days cultured in 21% oxygen pressure, fluorescence-trace experiments revealed that CD31 + EPCs/EC could be generated more efficiently from overexpressed HIF-1alpha than that from pEGFP transfected group (P > 0.05). EPC morphology was observed by light microscopy. HIF-1alpha-transfected cells under normoxia sprouted more rapidly from the EPC colonies than the untransfected cells or cells transfected with an GFP vector, which essentially maintained the original colony formation. HIF-1alpha transfected cells took on an array-like arrangement rather than random dispersal, suggesting that they were in an advanced state of differentiation. It is concluded that the utility of overexpression of HIF-1alpha can induce target genes which have influence on cell differentiation. HIF-1alpha transfection was found to give a prospected way to do the insight research on ischemic treatment in vivo.
Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics

AIMTo study the basis of actions of Gualou xiebai baijiutang.

METHODSGuided by bioactivities, chemical and chromatographic ways were applied to isolate and purify the prescription. The chemical structures were identified by chemical and spectral ways. The activities on cardiovascular system of the pure compounds were measured.

RESULTSSeven steroidal compounds were isolated and identified from the active parts.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 5 and 6 showed good anti-platelet aggregation activities induced by ADP and PAF. The IC50 of compound 5 and 6 induced by 2 mumol.L-1 ADP were 0.082 and 0.078 mmol.L-1, and the IC50 induced by 0.5 mumol.L-1 PAF were 0.182 and 0.151 mmol.L-1, respectively.

Allium ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rabbits ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Trichosanthes ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo observe the substance basis of actions of Gualou xiebai baijiutang.

METHODGuided by bioactivities, the prescription was isolated and purified by chemical and chromatographic methods, and the structures were identified by chemical and spectral methods.

RESULT4 compounds were isolated from active parts.

CONCLUSION3 compounds were isolated for the first time from Trichosanthes kirilowii and Allium macrostemon. Compound 1 had a good activity against platelet aggregation.

Allium ; chemistry ; Animals ; Disaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ethanol ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Quercetin ; isolation & purification ; Rats ; Trichosanthes ; chemistry

Asthma is an important health problem worldwide and the prevalence is increasing in most part of the world. The burden of this disease to governments, health-care systems, and patients and their families have been greater more than ever despite efforts advocated by Global Initiative for Asthma for total asthma controls. Using Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, in this review, the population-based prospective studies showed the costs and health care utilization of childhood asthma in Taiwan was 2 folds higher than non-asthmatic children, and the prescription patterns of anti-asthmatic medications among physician in different discipline were all far from satisfied. The appropriateness of combinational therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and long acting β-agonists for moderate to severe childhood asthma was only 62%. In a government-sponsored disease management program for asthmatic patients within national health insurance, though the total mean costs (26.5%) and outpatient costs (26.1%) increased, the mean emergency department visits and hospitalization rates were significantly reduced by 34.4% and 51.74%, respectively, compared to the previous year. Therefore, in the real-world situation, asthmatic patients as well as medical professions who take care of asthmatic children still have much space for their symptoms controls and knowledge improvement to reduce the burden of asthma. From the experience of care and management of childhood asthma in Taiwan may reveal same problems of childhood asthma care in the similar cultural and ecological environments of Asian pacific countries, and suggest government-sponsored program may also have significant impact aimed at improving the care of patients with asthma.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Child ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Management ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Government Programs ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; National Health Programs ; Outpatients ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Prescriptions ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Taiwan

No abstract available.

Abstract: Objective （ ） To compare the measured results of arsenic in urine by atomic fluorescence spectrometry AFS and - （ - ）， Methods inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy ICP MS and analyze the reasons of the difference. The samples WS/T 474-2015 Determination of Arsenic in Urine by Hydride Generation Atomic Fluorescence were pretreated according to Spectrometry， （ ∶ ∶ ∶∶ ，V/V/V） and digested with mixed acid nitric acid sulfuric acid perchloric acid=3 1 1 and then determined by - - AFS and ICP MS. The samples were diluted with 0.50% nitric acid and determined by ICP MS. The samples included urine ， ， （ arsenic quality control samples inorganic arsenic supplemented samples and organic arsenic arsenic choline and arsenic ） - betaine supplemented samples. Standard curve method was used to compare the results of AFS method and ICP MS method. Results （ ） （ ） The results of quality control samples by AFS method digestion and ICP-MS method without digestion were ， - within the range of reference values but the values obtained by AFS method were lower than those obtained by ICP MS method. - - - ， The recovery of AFS and ICP MS was 97.79% 100.82% and 99.55% 99.98% respectively. In the middle and high ， - （ P ） concentration groups the measured values of inorganic arsenic by AFS were lower than that by ICP MS all <0.01 . The （ ） - recovery of arsenic betaine and arsenic choline by AFS method digestion was only 2.17% 2.63%. The values of arsenic betaine （ ） - （ and arsenic choline measured by AFS method digestion were lower than those measured by ICP MS method without ） - （ ）（ P ）Conclusion digestion and ICP MS method digestion all <0.01 . The result of urine arsenic measured by AFS method - ， was lower than that measured by ICP MS method which may be related to the mixed acid digestion of AFS method. Keywords: ； - ； ； ； ； ；

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of TIMP-2 local gene transfer on atherosclerotic plaque.

METHODSAtherosclerosis models were induced by denuding femoral artery endothelium plus high lipid diet in rabbits. TIMP-2 gene was transferred locally by balloons eluted with pcDNA3-TIMP-2. RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to verify exogenous genes transfer. MMPs activity in atherosclerotic plaque was evaluated by zymography. HE and VG staining and automatic image analysis system were used for pathological analysis of atherosclerotic femoral arteries. The lumen area of the vessel and the collagen contents in the atherosclerotic plaque were measured.

RESULTSThe expression of TIMP-2 gene in pcDNA3-TIMP-2 transferred group was significantly higher than control-vector transferred group at the end of week 2 after operation and reached the peak at the end of week 4. Comparing with the control group, the expression of TIMP-2 protein in treated group was also higher at the end of week 2, 4, and 8 after operation. Correspondingly, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were lower in treated group. The thickness of fibrous cap of atherosclerotic plaque and the amount of collagen of the lesion were increased significantly in treated group compared with the control group, but there were no significant differences in vessel lumen area.

CONCLUSIONTIMP-2 gene transfer locally in atherosclerotic plaque could inhibit the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the lesion, increase the thickness of fibrous cap and the amount of collagen of the lesion, but may have no effect on the degree of the stenosis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; enzymology ; pathology ; Blotting, Western ; Collagen ; analysis ; Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; physiology