OBJECTIVE To evaluate the difference of efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy on different age patients with allergic rhinitis. METHODS 229 patients with dermatophagoides farina drops allergic rhinitis who have finished SLIT at least 2 years were enrolled and analyzed by retrospective analysis. All patients were divided into different age groups: pre-adolescence(n=107), adolescence(n=53), adulthood(n=69). Indexes for therapeutic effects of SLIT visual analogue scale(VAS) score, rhinitis symptom scores, medication scoreintra- and inter groups were assessed during different stage of treatment(3 months, 1 year and 2 years). Data were analyzed with SPSS 19.0 software. RESULTS Compared with prior treatment, after the SLIT for 3 months, 1 year, 2 years, VAS scores, rhinitis symptom scores, medication scoresof all the patients with allergic rhinitis are significantly decreased; Differences of rhinitis symptom scores(H=0.844, 4.153, 2.669, P>0.05), VAS score(H=1.356, 3.720, 0.313, P >0.05), medication scores(H=1.044, 5.841, 3.399, P>0.05) between groups had no statistical significance at different stage after treatment(3 months, 1 year and 2 years); The differences between 2 years and 1 year of SLIT treatment showed statistical significance in the VAS scores(Z=1.635, P =1.635). CONCLUSION SLIT with dust mites drops had good curative effect and security in patients with allergic rhinitis, which hadno obvious difference between different age groups.

AIM:To investigate the effect of N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-L-alanyl]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) on the Notch signaling pathway in a model of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) damage.METHODS:HUVECs were divided into control group, ox-LDL group, DAPT group and ox-LDL+DAPT group.The morphological changes of the HUVECs with different treatments were observed under light microscope.The viability of the HUVECs was measured by CCK-8 assay.The protein expression levels of Notch1, Notch4 and Jagged1 were determined by Western blot.RESULTS:ox-LDL induced great damage to the HUVECs, evidenced by increased cell death and debris in the culture.However, the cell damage was abolished by adding DAPT into the culture.The viability of the HUVECs was increased by co-treatment with DAPT and ox-LDL.ox-LDL treatment significantly decreased the protein expression levels of Notch1 and Jagged1, and elevated Notch4.However, these changes were totally reversed by DAPT.None of these proteins showed significant change in the HUVECs co-treated with DAPT and ox-LDL as compared with control group.CONCLUSION:ox-LDL is able to induce HUVEC damage in vitro.DAPT attenuates ox-LDL-induced damage in the HUVECs by regulating the Notch signaling pathway.

The clinical characteristics of patients who presented in poor clinical grade due to ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms (MCAAs) associated with large sylvian hematomas (SylH) were analyzed and an ingenious designed prophylactic hinged craniectomy was introduced. Twenty-eight patients were graded into Hunt-Hess grades IV-V and emergency standard micro-neurosurgeries (aneurysm clipping, hematoma evacuation and prophylactic hinged craniectomy) were performed, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. 46.43% of the patients reached encouraged favorable outcomes on discharge. The favorable outcome group and the poor outcome group significantly differed in terms of patients' anisocoria, Hunt-Hess grade before surgery, extent of the midline shift and time to the surgery after bleeding (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in age, sex, volume and location of the hematoma, size of aneurysm between the favorable and poor groups (P>0.05). However, ingenious designed prophylactic hinged craniectomy efficiently reduced the patients' intracranial pressure (ICP) after surgery. It was suggested that preoperative conditions such as Hunt-Hess grading, extent of the midline shift and the occurrence of cerebral hernia affect the prognosis of patients, but time to the surgery after bleeding and prophylactic hinged craniectomy are of significant importance for optimizing the prognosis of MCAA patients presenting with large SylH.

The clinical characteristics of patients who presented in poor clinical grade due to ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms (MCAAs) associated with large sylvian hematomas (SylH) were analyzed and an ingenious designed prophylactic hinged craniectomy was introduced. Twenty-eight patients were graded into Hunt-Hess grades IV-V and emergency standard micro-neurosurgeries (aneurysm clipping, hematoma evacuation and prophylactic hinged craniectomy) were performed, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. 46.43% of the patients reached encouraged favorable outcomes on discharge. The favorable outcome group and the poor outcome group significantly differed in terms of patients' anisocoria, Hunt-Hess grade before surgery, extent of the midline shift and time to the surgery after bleeding (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in age, sex, volume and location of the hematoma, size of aneurysm between the favorable and poor groups (P>0.05). However, ingenious designed prophylactic hinged craniectomy efficiently reduced the patients' intracranial pressure (ICP) after surgery. It was suggested that preoperative conditions such as Hunt-Hess grading, extent of the midline shift and the occurrence of cerebral hernia affect the prognosis of patients, but time to the surgery after bleeding and prophylactic hinged craniectomy are of significant importance for optimizing the prognosis of MCAA patients presenting with large SylH.
Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Aqueduct ; pathology ; Craniotomy ; methods ; Female ; Hematoma ; complications ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; CA-19-9 Antigen ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis and treatment of primary hepatic carcinoid tumor (PHCT).

METHODSReport one case of huge PHCT treated in February 2004, and search the other 19 cases which were published from January 1994 to December 2006 in the Chinese biological and medical literature database. The clinical manifestation, pathological findings, diagnosis and treatment of these 20 PHCT patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe main symptoms were abdominal pain or discomfort (8 cases) and abdominal mass (7 cases), cases with typical carcinoid syndrome were rare (3 cases). Immunohistochemical staining was positive for neuron-specific enolase, chromogranin A and synaptophysin in most cases. Sixteen cases received operation, among which there were 13 removed completely, other 4 cases were treated by transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

CONCLUSIONSThe definite diagnosis of PHCT depends on pathological and histochemical findings. Complete surgical resection is the best treatment for PHCT with favourable prognosis. TACE is also effective for nonoperative cases.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Carcinoid Tumor ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Chromogranin A ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo identify the phenotype and immune function of dendritic cells derived from HBV-related HCC patients's peripheral blood monocytes pulsed with soluble tumor antigen, and their relation to immune escape.

METHODSPeripheral blood monocytes were isolated from 18 HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, 11 HBV-related liver cirrhosis patients (LC) and 10 health blood donors; DCs were induced in the completed medium containing GM-CSF and IL-4. The morphology of DCs was studied using a confocal microscope and scanning electronic microscope, and the phenotype of DCs were detected by flow cytometric analysis. The mixed leucocyte reaction test was employed to determine the stimulatory capacity of DCs before and after being pulsed with soluble tumor antigen (prepared from HCCLM6 cell line). IL-12 ELISA kit was used to investigate IL-12 secretion of DCs in the supernate of MLR.

RESULTSThe amount of PBMC and DCs was significantly lower in LC and HCC compare to those in the healthy subjects; the expression levels of HLA-DR, CD1a, CD80 and CD86 on DC surfaces were lower in LC and HCC patients than those of the healthy group; the stimulating capacity of DC in MLR and levels of IL-12 in supernate of MLR were also lower in LC and HCC, but were enhanced after tumor antigen pulsed in all three groups, particularly in the LC group; the secretion of IL-12 in MLR supernate was still lower than that of the healthy group.

CONCLUSIONThe phenotype and function defects of DC derived from PBMC of LC and HCC patients might play a key role in immune escape in HBV infection and HCC. The function of DC of LC patients can be enhanced after the tumor was antigen-pulsed.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; immunology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; virology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; virology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; virology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed

OBJECTIVETo explore the race- and gender-specific distribution characteristics of rs1891385A/C and rs10975519C/T polymorphism of interleukin-33 (IL-33) gene in Zhuang and Han populations.

METHODSThe polymorphisms of rs1891385A/C and rs10975519C/T of IL-33 gene in 283 subjects from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were analyzed with single base extension (PCR-SEB) and DNA sequencing to analyze the differences in their distribution frequencies between genders and between Zhuang and Han populations.

RESULTSThree genotypes (AA, AC and CC) were found in rs1891385A/C with frequencies of 64.3%, 32.5% and 3.2%, respectively. The genotype and allele frequencies of rs1891385A/C in this Guangxi population showed no significant difference between Zhuang and Han subpopulations and between genders (P>0.05), but differed significantly from those in European and African black populations (P<0.01). Three genotypes (CC, CT and TT) were identified in rs10975519C/T with frequencies of 34.3%, 53.0%, and 12.7%, respectively, showing no significant ethnic or gender-specific differences in this population (P>0.05). The genotype frequency of rs10975519C/T in this population differed significantly from those in the European and Japanese populations (P<0.01), but the allele frequencies only showed significant differences from those in the European population (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONrs1891385A/C and rs10975519C/T polymorphisms of IL-33 gene show a race-specific difference.

African Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-33 ; genetics ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo study the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) gene rs66818855 and rs1078152 in Chinese Guangxi healthy population in comparison with that in different ethnic populations.

METHDOSPolymerase chain reaction-single base extension (PCR-SBE) and DNA sequencing were used to detect the allele and genotype frequencies of AVP gene among 303 Chinese healthy individuals in Guangxi, China, and the results were compared with the reported frequencies in 4 other populations (HapMap-CEU, HapMap-YRI, HapMap-JPT, and HapMap-HCB) from Human Genome Project group (HapMap) data.

RESULTSWe found significant AVP gene polymorphisms in this Guangxi healthy population. The frequencies of allele and genotype of AVP gene rs66818855 and rs1078152 polymorphisms in this Guangxi population differed significantly from those in HapMap-CEU population (P<0.01), and allele frequencies of AVP gene rs66818855 polymorphism differed significantly from those in HapMap-YRI populations (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe distribution pattern of AVP gene polymorphisms in this Guangxi population is significantly different from that in other ethnic populations, which might account for the difference in the morbidity of AVP-related disease among different ethnic groups and may have important indications in the study of population genetics and anthropology.

Alleles ; Arginine Vasopressin ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and treatment of hepatic angiomyolipoma (HAML).

METHODSThe clinical, histopathological, treatment and prognosis data of 51 patients treated for HAML from October 1998 to October 2007 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSHAML had a female predilection (female/male = 41/10) and the mean age was 44 years old. The main symptoms were abdominal mass (33 cases) and abdominal pain or discomfort (15 cases), the other 2 cases presented as fever. Histopathologically, HAML was composed of a heterogeneous mixture of blood vessels, smooth muscle, and adipose cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed relatively high positive rate of HMB-45 (50/51), SMA (47/49) and S-100 (39/42). All 51 patients underwent partial hepatectomy. The mean hospital stay was 13.8 days and mean intraoperative blood loss was 263 ml. There was no recurrence or metastasis after a mean follow-up of 55.4 months.

CONCLUSIONSHAML is a rare benign mesenchymal tumor of the liver. Definitive diagnosis of HAML depends on the pathohistological findings and HMB-45 positive myoid cell is an important diagnostic marker. Complete surgical resection is the optimal treatment for HAML with favorable prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult