Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea ; surgery ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Aged ; Coal Mining ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Pneumoconiosis ; complications

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of Pranlukast in nasal mucosal remodeling in experimental allergic rhinitis.

METHODSFourteen male guinea pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, ovalbumin (OVA) group and OVA + Pranlukast group. In the OVA group and OVA + Pranlukast group, OVA sensitized Hartley guinea pigs were exposured intranasally to OVA for a total of 12 weeks, the OVA + Pranlukast group received additional Pranlukast treatment from the second week to the 12th week. Paraffin embedded sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS), and Masson's Trichrome (MT). Infiltrating eosinophils, the number of goblet cells in the surface epithelium and gland cells in subepithelial nasal septal mucosa were counted. The damage of epithelium in nasal septum and extracellular matrix of nasal septal mucosa and conchae were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the control, the prolonged OVA exposure protocol caused significant pathological changes in the nasal mucosa, which included eosinophils infiltration into epithelium and submucosa (106.90 +/- 13.66), significant goblet hyperplasia (22.05 +/- 5.81/mm), epithelial damage (intact epithelium: 47.25% +/- 7.67%) and deposition of extracellular matrix. These changes were significantly inhibited by Pranlukast, in which group, there were few eosinophils(8.95 +/- 2.32) , few goblet cells (5.73 +/- 1.07/mm), and relative intact epithelium (intact epithelium: 83.15% +/- 8.05%), and no significant ECM deposition.

CONCLUSIONSEarly Pranlukast intervention could inhibit nasal mucosal remodeling in allergic rhinitis.

Animals ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rhinitis ; pathology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; pathology

Lysine decarboxylase is a key enzyme involved in the upstream biosynthesis of lycopodium alkaloids (LAs) such as huperzine A, contributing to the decarboxylation of lysine to 1,5-pentanediamine (cadaverine). Three lysine decarboxylase genes (HsLDC-L1, HsLDC-L2, HsLDC-L3) were successfully cloned from Huperzia serrata using transcriptomic sequence data mining strategy combined with reverse transcription PCR. The physicochemical properties, secondary and tertiary structures, amino acid identities, and evolutionary relationship of the three LDCs were analyzed by online bioinformatics analysis platforms and DNAMAN, MEGA 7.0 software, revealing that all of these proteins had the conserved PLP binding domain and active site residues were completely conserved in LDCs. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these LDCs were located in the same branch as other known LDCs from LA-producing plants. Accordingly, the ORFs of these three HsLDCs were inserted into different expression plasmids for further expression in E. coli. However, only HsLDC-L1 was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) by inserting into a pCold TF vector. The recombinant protein was purified by Ni²⁺ affinity chromatography purification. HsLDC-L1 contains 469 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular weight of 50.50 kDa. HsLDC-L1 expectedly catalyzed the decarboxylation of lysine to produce cadaverine. In addition, HsLDC-L1 can also catalyze the generation of putrescine from ornithine. However, it cannot catalyze the decarboxylation of tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and histidine. The results not only provide insight into the biosynthesis of LAs including huperzine A, but also provide a critical genetic element for the overproduction of Δ¹-piperideine and pelletierine, the essential biosynthetic precursors of LAs, using synthetic biology strategies.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feature of nasal mucosa remodeling in experimental allergic rhinitis.

METHODSTwenty-four male Hartley guinea pigs (4 weeks, 250 -300 g) were randomly divided into four groups (control group and allergen exposure groups 1 - 3), each group had 6 guinea pigs. Allergen exposure animals were sensitized by intraperitoneal (ip) injection of ovalbumin (OVA). Sensitized guinea pigs were subjected to either brief or prolonged exposure to allergen. Both brief exposure group (allergen exposure groups) and prolonged exposure group (allergen exposure group 2 and 3) received a daily intranasal challenge with 5% OVA in 0.9% saline from Day 22 to Day 28, the prolonged exposure group (allergen exposure group 2 and 3) followed by twice weekly exposure to 5% OVA intranasal for an additional 8 and 12 weeks respectively. Control animals were given saline only. At 24 h after the last intranasal challenge, the guinea pigs were killed and the heads of the animals were removed and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for 24 hours, then decalcified in 5% trichloroacetic acid for 10 days. The tissue blocks were embedded in paraffin. The paraffin sections 3 microm thick were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), alcian blue (pH, 2. 6)-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS), and Masson's Trichrome (MT). The infiltrating eosinophils in nasal mucosa were examined, AB-PAS-positive cells in the surface epithelium in nasal septal mucosa were counted. The percentage area of MT stained extracellular matrix in septal mucosa and conchae and damage of epithelium were determined by an image analyzer.

RESULTSThe control group only presented a few eosinophils. Significant eosinophil infiltration was observed in the sensitized groups. Compared with control group (intact epithelium 87.7% +/- 11.1%), there was no significant epithelial damage in 1 week exposure group. Significant epithelial damage were observed in 8 and 12 weeks groups (intact epithelium 36.7% +/- 16.9%, 37.9% +/- 12.9%, respectively). An increase in AB-PAS-positive cells was observed in the mucosa of nasal septum in the prolonged allergen exposure groups, but not in the brief allergic inflammation group in comparison with the control. The brief OVA exposure group did not show increased collagen fibrils within the mucosa of nasal septum and conchae. In contrast, after prolonged OVA exposure an increase in matrix was observed. Furthermore, in both the nasal septum and conchae, significant increasing of ECM deposition was found in a further prolonged exposure for 12 weeks compared to 8 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSEpithelial damage, goblet cells hyperplasia and extracellular matrix deposition were observed as the features of remodeling in this guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eosinophils ; immunology ; Epithelial Cells ; pathology ; Extracellular Matrix ; pathology ; Goblet Cells ; pathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Mice ; Nasal Mucosa ; cytology ; pathology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of methylprednisolone pretreatment on pulmonary lung permeability index and the content of the pulmonary surfactant dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in a rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema.

METHODSTwenty-one male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into control group, reexpansion, and reexpansion+methylprednisolone pretreatment groups. The rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema was established using Sakaos method. A bolus dosage of methylprednisolone (3 mg/kg) in reexpansion+methylprednisolone group group or 2.0 ml/kg normal saline in the other two groups was administered intravenously 20 min before reexpansion pulmonary edema. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and arterial blood samples were collected for measurement of the total protein (TP) and DPPC contents 4 h after reexpansion, and the pulmonary permeability index was calculated.

RESULTSThe pulmonary permeability index in methylprednisolone pretreatment group was significantly lower than that in the reexpansion group (0.007∓0.002 vs 0.177∓0.004, P<0.05). Methylprednisolone pretreatment significantly increased DPPC concentration in the BALF as compared with saline treatment in the reexpansion group (61.815∓28.307 vs 101.955∓24.544 µg/ml, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMethylprednisolone pretreatment can increase pulmonary surfactant content and improve pulmonary permeability in the rabbit model of reexpansion pulmonary edema.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ; analysis ; Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Capillary Permeability ; drug effects ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; pharmacology ; Permeability ; Pulmonary Edema ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Rabbits

Objective To find out the status of HIV infection,sexual behaviors with both men and women as well as condom use among currently married men who have sex with men (MSM) so as to document for HIV intervention targeting this sub-population,in Beijing,Chengdu,Harbin and Zhengzhou cities.Methods “Snowballing” sampling method was used to recruit subjects in four cities.Participants were investigated by anonymous questionnaire containing demographics,sexual orientation,both homosexual and heterosexual behaviors and condom use during the past 6 months.Blood samples from participants were used to test HIV antibodies.Results Of the 858 participants for four cities,the average age was 38.3 (SD=9.1) years.36.7％ of them had completed the junior high school or under.The percentage of participants who identified themselves as homosexual,bisexual,and heterosexual or undecided were 40.9％,54.3％ and 4.8％,respectively.The overall HIV prevalence was 8.0％,and among four cities the HIV prevalence in Chengdu was the highest ( 13.3％ ).Results from the Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that never used condoms when having anal sex with men during the past 6 months among participants who did not have a city residential card,identifying himself as having homosexual orientation,living in Harbin,having first anal sex experience before 18 years of age the range of OR value was 1.5-2.1.In addition,the faetors associated with never using condoms in vaginal sex with women during the past 6 months were as follows:being over 46 years old,not having a city residential card,living in Beijing,identifying himself as heterosexual orientated or with unknown sexual orientation,never using condoms in anal sex with men during the past 6 months,the range of OR value was 1.7-5.9.Conclusion The prevalence of HIV infection seemed to be quite high among those currently married MSM.High rates of unprotected homosexual and heterosexual behaviors might accelerate the spreading of HIV from currently married MSM to their wives.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DerP) in patients with allergic rhinitis.

METHODSNinety-two patients with allergic rhinitis to DerP were randomly allocated to receive either specific immunotherapy (n = 46) or medical treatment (n = 46). Symptom and medication scores and skin response to Derp were assessed to evaluate the clinical efficacy in the baseline and after three years treatment. DerP-specific IgE and IgG4 were measured.

RESULTSAfter three years treatment, the immunotherapy group showed sustained reductions in symptom scores (before treatment 9.20 [7.50;11.13], after treatment 3.32 [2.49;5.12], Z = -5.13, P < 0.05), medication scores (before treatment 0.72 [0.47;0.83], after treatment 0.31 [0.28;0.45], Z = -5.78, P < 0.05) and specific skin response to Derp (t = 6.37, P < 0.05) when compared with control group. There were no differences in the level of serum specific IgE before and after three-year treatment (before treatment 16.32 [4.34;38.65] kU/L, after treatment 15.85 [4.93;46.27] kU/L, Z = -0.84, P > 0.05), but the level of serum specific IgG4 increased significantly after one year treatment in immunotherapy group (before treatment 486 [319;1439] AU/L, after treatment 8387 [7732;16 634] AU/L, Z = -2.81, P < 0.05). After three-year treatment, 7.5% (3/40) of patients had asthma in immunotherapy group compared to 27.8% (10/36) in the control group (χ(2) = 5.50, P < 0.05), and 15.0% of the initially DerP nonsensitized patients in immunotherapy group had developed new sensitization compared to 47.2% in the control group (χ(2) = 9.32, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThree years immunotherapy improves allergic rhinitis symptoms, increases the level of serum specific IgG4, reduces the development of asthma and new sensitization.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Allergens ; immunology ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; immunology ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; immunology ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate HIV and treponema pallidum infection status, risky sexual behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM) and its impact factors in China.

METHODSSnowball sampling was used to recruit subjects from April to August in 2008 in Beijing, Harbin, Zhengzhou and Chengdu city. Serological test of HIV and treponema pallidum were conducted and a questionnaire survey was undertaken among subjects. The questionnaire included social demographics, characteristics of sexual partners and sexual behaviors.

RESULTSA total of 1693 subjects was enrolled in present study, which included 1390 MSM/M (82.1%) and 303 MSMW (17.9%). The infection rate of HIV among MSM/M and MSMW subjects were 7.0% (97/1390) and 6.6% (20/303), respectively. The infection rate of treponema pallidum among MSM/M and MSMW subjects were 11.9% (166/1390) and 13.2% (40/303), respectively. The proportions of MSM/M subjects who never used or sometimes used condoms when having same-sex anal intercourse in recent 6 months were 8.6% (120/1390), 45.3% (630/1390), respectively. The according proportions among MSMW subjects were 10.2% (31/303), 44.6% (135/303), respectively. Among MSM/M subjects, the risk factors of risk sexual behaviors included having less than 6 sexual partners (OR = 6.03, 95%CI: 2.54 - 14.28), no same-sex regular sexual partner (OR = 2.18, 95%CI: 1.30 - 3.65), no same-sex casual sexual partner (OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.79 - 4.71), T-pattern only during anal intercourse (OR = 1.64, 95%CI: 1.13 - 2.37) or P-pattern only (OR = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.04 - 2.41). Among MSMW subjects, the risk factors of same-sex risk sexual behaviors included having less than 6 sexual partners (OR = 12.95, 95%CI: 2.38 - 70.52), no same-sex regular sexual partners (OR = 0.42, 95%CI: 0.21 - 0.85), never used condom during heterosexual intercourse (OR = 3.53, 95%CI: 1.48 - 8.42).

CONCLUSIONThe infection rate of HIV and treponema pallidum among MSM subjects were quite high, and the same-sex risk sexual behaviors among MSM subjects were ubiquity, whose risk factors including having less than six of sexual partners, no same-sex casual sexual partner, T-pattern or P-pattern only during anal intercourse and never used condemn during heterosexual intercourse among MSMW subjects no same-sex regular partner was a risk factor in MSMS population, while having same-sex regular partners was a risk factor in MSMW population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Syphilis ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of GATA3 and Chinese with allergic rhinitis.

METHODSThis study included 109 patients with allergic rhinitis and 112 healthy control people. SNP of two loci with restriction fragment length polymorphism was detected, rs1269486 at promoter region and rs2229360 located 92 bp downstream of STOP codon. Total IgE and specific IgE of Der p and Der f with different genotypes of the two loci were compared.

RESULTSThere was SNP at both loci of rs1269486 and rs2229360. The genotypes of rs1269486 were GG, GA and AA, and the genotypes of rs2229360 were CC, CT and TT. The frequency of genotype GG and allele G in patient group was significantly higher than that in control group (chi2 = 13.75, P <0.01; chi2 = 12.91, P <0.01), and the frequency of genotype GA and allele A in patient group was significantly lower than that in control group (chi2 = 11.90, P <0.01; chi2 =12.91, P <0.01). There were no significant differences between patient group and control group for the frequencies of genotypes and alleles at rs2229360 (P > 0.05). The haplotype frequency of GC in patient group was significantly higher than that in control group (chi2 = 114.59, P < 0.01), and the haplotype frequency of AC in patient group was significantly lower than that in control group (chi2 = 87.52, P <0.01). There was no significant difference of the levels of serum total IgE and specific IgE to Der p and Der f with the genotypes at the two loci (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP at rs1269486 of GATA3 is associated with allergic rhinitis in Chinese.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; genetics ; Young Adult