ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Xiaoqinglong Decoction （小青龙汤， XD） in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. MethodsForty-five rats were randomly assigned to a control group， a model group， a loratadine group， low-， medium- and high-dose XD groups， and low-， medium- and high-dose Mahuang Decoction and Cang'erzi Powder （麻黄汤合苍耳子散， MDCP） groups. Except for the control group， rats were administered with ovalbumin （OVA） and aluminum hydroxide via intraperitoneal injection for 14 days to establish an allergic rhinitis model. After the 14th-day injection， nasal stimulation was continued with 20 μl of 10% OVA solution to maintain the model. Rats in the control group and the model group received 10 ml/（kg·d） of saline， whereas those in the loratadine group were administered with 0.9 mg/（kg·d） of loratadine. The low-， medium- and high-dose XD groups were administered XD at the dose of 2.7， 5.4， and 10.8 g/（kg·d）， respectively. The low-， medium- and high-dose MDCP groups were administered MDCP at the dose of 2.43， 4.86， and 9.72 g/（kg·d）， respectively. All treatments were administered by gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days. One hour after the final gavage， nasal symptom scores were recorded for all group of rats. The next day， serum levels of immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， and interleukin-13 （IL-13） were measured. HE staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of the nasal mucosal tissue. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR （RT-qPCR） and Western Blot were performed to assess mRNA and protein expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin （TSLP） and OX40 ligand （OX40L） in the nasal mucosa. ResultsCompared to the control group， total nasal symptom score in the model group significantly increased （P＜0.01）. HE staining revealed disrupted and adhered cilia， thickened basement membranes， and extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal mucosa. Serum levels of total IgE， IL-4， and IL-13， as well as TSLP and OX40L mRNA and protein expression in the nasal mucosa， were significantly elevated in the model group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， the total nasal symptom scores in all drug intervention groups were significantly reduced； the serum total IgE levels in the loratadine group， the low- and medium-dose XD groups， and the low- and high-dose MDCP groups were significantly reduced； and the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in the high-dose XD group and the high-dose MDCP group decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Nasal mucosal structure was improved. Except for the low-dose MDCP group， all other intervention groups showed a significant reduction in TSLP and OX40L mRNA expression in the nasal mucosa （P＜0.01）. All doses of XD and the medium- and high-dose MDCP groups significantly decreased the protein levels of TSLP and OX40L （P＜0.05）. The medium-dose XD group exhibited more improvement of nasal symptom scores and greater suppression of expression of TSLP and OX40L mRNA， and TSLP protein levels compared to the loratadine group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionXD may protect nasal mucosa of rats and alleviate allergic rhinitis by suppressing the TSLP/OX40L pathway， thereby attenuating Th2-mediated immune responses.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Xiaoqinglong Decoction （小青龙汤， XD） in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. MethodsForty-five rats were randomly assigned to a control group， a model group， a loratadine group， low-， medium- and high-dose XD groups， and low-， medium- and high-dose Mahuang Decoction and Cang'erzi Powder （麻黄汤合苍耳子散， MDCP） groups. Except for the control group， rats were administered with ovalbumin （OVA） and aluminum hydroxide via intraperitoneal injection for 14 days to establish an allergic rhinitis model. After the 14th-day injection， nasal stimulation was continued with 20 μl of 10% OVA solution to maintain the model. Rats in the control group and the model group received 10 ml/（kg·d） of saline， whereas those in the loratadine group were administered with 0.9 mg/（kg·d） of loratadine. The low-， medium- and high-dose XD groups were administered XD at the dose of 2.7， 5.4， and 10.8 g/（kg·d）， respectively. The low-， medium- and high-dose MDCP groups were administered MDCP at the dose of 2.43， 4.86， and 9.72 g/（kg·d）， respectively. All treatments were administered by gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days. One hour after the final gavage， nasal symptom scores were recorded for all group of rats. The next day， serum levels of immunoglobulin E （IgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， and interleukin-13 （IL-13） were measured. HE staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of the nasal mucosal tissue. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR （RT-qPCR） and Western Blot were performed to assess mRNA and protein expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin （TSLP） and OX40 ligand （OX40L） in the nasal mucosa. ResultsCompared to the control group， total nasal symptom score in the model group significantly increased （P＜0.01）. HE staining revealed disrupted and adhered cilia， thickened basement membranes， and extensive inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal mucosa. Serum levels of total IgE， IL-4， and IL-13， as well as TSLP and OX40L mRNA and protein expression in the nasal mucosa， were significantly elevated in the model group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared to the model group， the total nasal symptom scores in all drug intervention groups were significantly reduced； the serum total IgE levels in the loratadine group， the low- and medium-dose XD groups， and the low- and high-dose MDCP groups were significantly reduced； and the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in the high-dose XD group and the high-dose MDCP group decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Nasal mucosal structure was improved. Except for the low-dose MDCP group， all other intervention groups showed a significant reduction in TSLP and OX40L mRNA expression in the nasal mucosa （P＜0.01）. All doses of XD and the medium- and high-dose MDCP groups significantly decreased the protein levels of TSLP and OX40L （P＜0.05）. The medium-dose XD group exhibited more improvement of nasal symptom scores and greater suppression of expression of TSLP and OX40L mRNA， and TSLP protein levels compared to the loratadine group （P＜0.05）. ConclusionXD may protect nasal mucosa of rats and alleviate allergic rhinitis by suppressing the TSLP/OX40L pathway， thereby attenuating Th2-mediated immune responses.

Objective To explore the expressions and clinical values of pro-gastrin-releasing peptide(ProGRP) and carbohydrate antigen 72-4 (CA72-4) in patients with gastric cancer.Methods Ninety patients with gastric cancer and fifty healthy subjects were selected from January 2014 to December 2016 in our hospital.Serum levels of ProGRP and CA72-4 were detected by electrochemiluminescence.The relationships between ProGRP and clinicopathological characteristics,postoperative recurrence and CA72-4 were analyzed.The diagnostic values of ProGRP and CA72-4 in gastric cancer were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results The expressions of ProGRP and CA72-4 in patients with gastric cancer were (249.3 + 28.9) pg/ml and (148.8 + 33.5) U/ml respectively,which were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects [(14.4 ± 7.6) pg/ml and (3.8 ± 1.4) U/ml],and the differences were statistically sigificant (t =56.320,P ＜ 0.001;t =30.504,P ＜ 0.001).The expression of ProGRP in TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ [(269.1 ±30.9)pg/ml] was obviously higher than that in stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ [(198.5 +23.9)pg/ml],with a significant difference (t =11.200,P ＜ 0.001).The expression of ProGRP in patients with lymph node metastasis [(259.9 ±31.4)pg/ml] was significantly higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis [(190.3 ±26.8)pg/ml],with a significant difference (t =9.500,P ＜ 0.001).The expression of ProGRP in patients with postoperative recurrence after one year [(181.3 ± 21.7)pg/ml] was higer than that in patients without postoperative recurrence [(26.1 ± 12.8)pg/ml],with a significant difference (t =31.830,P ＜ 0.001).There was a positive correlation between serum ProGRP and CA72-4 (r =0.792,P =0.012).According to the ROC curve,the cut-off point of ProGRP was 23.6 pg/ml,and the diagnostic sensitivity was 80.0％,the specificity was 70.0％.The cut-off point of CA72-4 was 11.2 U/ml,and the diagnostic sensitivity was 60.0％,the specificity was 89.0％.The sensitivity and specificity diagnostic value of combined detection were 89.7％ and 94.8％,better than those of individual detection (x2 =6.028,P =0.009;x2 =4.675,P =0.031).Conclusion ProGRP and CA72-4 are highly expressed in the serum of gastric cancer patients,with a positive correlation.The combined detection of ProGRP and CA72-4 can improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.ProGRP is significantly correlated with tumor stage,lymph node metastasis and prognosis,which may be a mew target for prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

The characterization and management of oral and maxillofacial spaces infections in diabetic patients were studied in order to determine the pattern of this clinical condition and formulate a management plan.There were 31 cases with average age of 61 years(s=9);the mean hospitalization time was 14 days(s=6);the average fasting blood glucose level on admission was 10.4 mmol/L.Of the 31 patients 20 were multiple-space infections and 11 were single-space infections.13 patients had major complications during admission.Odontogenic infection was the most common cause of the space infections.Streptococcus viridians and staphylococcus aureus were common organisms(5/19,4/19)identified through pus and/or blood cultures.Early surgical incision and drainage,perfect blood glucose control,intravenous antimicrobial therapy,preventing asphyxia and managing major complications are necessary and effective approaches for the management plan.

AIM and METHODS: To learn more about the mechanism of prostate cancer (PC) development and progression to androgen independence, the exons B～H of the androgen receptor (AR) gene of forty-five patients with prostate cancer, six puncture tissues and thirty-nine slide tissues, were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation technique (PCR-SSCP). RESULTS: Seven abnormal mobility shifts were found in five patients by PCR-SSCP. Combining the method with direct DNA cycle sequencing, two distinct missense (Glu872Gln, Met886Ile) point mutations were identified in puncture tissues from two patients of advanced prostate cancer with distant metastasis. These two point mutations represented two novel mutations. CONCLUSION: AR gene mutations might play an important role in the development and progression of prostate cancer.