OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between allergic rhinitis and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO).METHODS FeNO was measured in 66 allergic rhinitis patients before and after treatment. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to describe the patient's symptoms. RESULTSFeNO and VAS score were significantly decreased after treatment (t=4.25,P=0.0000;t=3.34, P=0.0008), and the decrease proportion were (14.56±27.23)% and (8.68±53.17)% respectively. Correlation analysis showed FeNO and VAS score was significantly correlated before (r=0.43,P=0.0003) and after (r=0.45,P=0.0002) treatment. After treatment, the decreased proportion of FeNO and VAS score were significantly correlated (r=0.25,P=0.0437). CONCLUSIONFeNO can provide objective evidence for the treatment efficacy of allergic rhinitis.

Objective To investigate the changes of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + regulatory T cell (Treg) and relative cell factors in peripheral blood of steroid-resistant allergic rhinitis (AR) patients,and to study their functions in occurrence of steroid-resistant AR.Methods The CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cell in 30 cases general physical examination (The control group),30 cases steroid-sensitive AR patients (steroidsensitive group) and 30 cases steroid-resistant AR patients (steroid-resistant group) were detected by flow cytometry.The levels of serum interleukin 10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in the three groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA).Results Compare to the control group,proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cell and the levels of serum IL-10,TGF-β1 in steroid-sensitive group and steroid-resistant group were significantly reduced (P ＜ 0.01).The proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cell and the levels of serum IL-10,TGF-β1 in steroid-resistant group were decreased significantly than steroid-sensitive group (P ＜ 0.01).The proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cell were positively correlated with the serum IL-10,and TGF-β1 (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The reduced proportion of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cell and lower serum IL-10,TGF-β1 play an important role in the occurrence of steroid-resistant AR patients.

Objective To investigate the function of activator protein-1(AP-1)and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)on the treatment of montelukast sodium tables for patients with steroid-resistant allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods A random-ized study was carried out in 50 patients with steroid-resistant AR. 25 cases were treated with montelukast sodium ta-bles(montelukast sodium group), and the others by ATP tables(placebo group). Score system was used to compare the therapeutic effect of these two drugs on clinical symptoms and signs on 21th day after therapy. The DNA binding activ-ities of Ap-1 and NF-κB were measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay(EMSA). The expression of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). Results The therapeutic effect rate in montelukast sodium group was significantly higher than that in placebo group at 21 days after treatment begining (P<0.01). Compared with placebo group, the DNA binding activities of Ap-1 and NF-κB were significantly reduced in montelukast sodium group (P<0.01). The score reduce index (SRI)of the clinical symptoms and signs was negatively correlated with the DNA binding activities in montelukast sodium group (P<0.05), but there was any correlation be-tween them in placebo group(P>0.05).The expression of IL-4 and IL-5 in montelukast sodium group were significantly lower and IL-10 was higher than those in placebo group (P<0.01). Conclusion The treatment effect of montelukast sodium tables for steroid-resistant AR may be aroused by suppressing the Ap-1 and NF-κB DNA binding activities, and effecting the expression of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10.