BACKGROUND/AIMS: Food intolerance/malabsorption, particularly histamine intolerance (HIT), may cause nonspecific functional gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms. We evaluated gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in patients with HIT. METHODS: In an analysis of outpatients' charts we identified 133 patients, who presented with recurring nonspecific functional gastrointestinal, extraintestinal symptoms, and a diamine oxidase value <10 U/mL, indicative of HIT. A standardized anonymous questionnaire with symptoms of HIT based on known symptoms and the 4 histamine receptors including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory and skin complaints was developed, and sent by mail to the patients. RESULTS: In the 62 patients that completed the questionnaire, bloating was the most common and most serious symptom. Other commonly reported gastrointestinal symptoms were postprandial fullness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation. The presence of 2 from a list of 24 symptoms resulted in 276 various symptom combinations. From calculated 2.024 possible combinations of 3 symptoms the patients with HIT presented 1.975 combinations. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of this wide variability of symptoms and complex symptom combinations in patients with HIT may help to clinically recognize and diagnose HIT.
Abdominal Pain ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Constipation ; Diarrhea ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Glutens ; Histamine ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Postal Service ; Receptors, Histamine ; Skin

BACKGROUND: In adult patients with chronic urticaria (CU), the prevalence of food allergy is low compared to childhood patients. However, there are many patients who report food-related aggravation of CU, and some of them may have histamine intolerance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ingested histamine and to investigate the effect of a histamine-free diet in adult patients with CU. METHODS: Twenty-two adult patients with CU were enrolled. Foods with high amounts of histamine were prohibited to all patients for four weeks. The degree of severity of the urticaria was evaluated using the urticaria severity score (USS) and urticaria activity score (UAS). Plasma histamine levels and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity were determined and compared before (baseline) and after the histamine-free diet. RESULTS: Twenty-two adult patients were recruited and completed four weeks of histamine-free diet. The USS and UAS scores each showed significant differences before and after the histamine-free diet (p=0.010, p=0.006). There was a significant reduction in plasma histamine level after the histamine free-diet, compared with baseline (p=0.010). However, DAO activity did not change after the histamine-free diet (p=0.165). CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that ingested histamine might be related to CU severity and that a histamine-free diet is helpful for treatment of adult patients with CU.
Adult* ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; Diet Therapy ; Diet* ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Histamine ; Humans ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Urticaria*

BACKGROUNDInflammation is supposed to play a key role in the pathophysiological processes of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IIRI), and Candida albicans in human gut commonly elevates inflammatory cytokines in intestinal mucosa. This study aimed to explore the effect of C. albicans on IIRI.

METHODSFifty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups according to the status of C. albicans infection and IIRI operation: group blank and sham; group blank and IIRI; group cefoperazone plus IIRI; group C. albicans plus cefoperazone and IIRI (CCI); and group C. albicans plus cefoperazone and sham. The levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-μ, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and diamine oxidase (DAO) measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to evaluate the inflammation reactivity as well as the integrity of small intestine. Histological scores were used to assess the mucosal damage, and the C. albicans blood translocation was detected to judge the permeability of intestinal mucosal barrier.

RESULTSThe levels of inflammatory factors TNF-μ, IL-6, and IL-1β in serum and intestine were higher in rats undergone both C. albicans infection and IIRI operation compared with rats in other groups. The levels of DAO (serum: 44.13 ± 4.30 pg/ml, intestine: 346.21 ± 37.03 pg/g) and Chiu scores (3.41 ± 1.09) which reflected intestinal mucosal disruption were highest in group CCI after the operation. The number of C. albicans translocated into blood was most in group CCI ([33.80 ± 6.60] ×102 colony forming unit (CFU)/ml).

CONCLUSIONIntestinal C. albicans infection worsened the IIRI-induced disruption of intestinal mucosal barrier and facilitated the subsequent C. albicans translocation and dissemination.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; metabolism ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Cefoperazone ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Intestines ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; immunology ; metabolism ; microbiology

Present study aimed to investigate the eff ect of curcumin-pretreatment on intestinal I/R injury and on intestinal mucosa barrier. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into: sham, I/R, and curcumin groups (n=10). Animals in curcumin group were pretreated with curcumin by gastric gavage (200 mg/kg) for 2 days before I/R. Small intestine tissues were prepared for Haematoxylin & Eosin (H&E) staining. Serum diamine oxidase (DAO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels were measured. Expression of intestinal TNF-alpha and tight junction protein (ZO-1) proteins was detected by Western blot and/or immunohistochemistry. Serum DAO level and serum and intestinal TNF-alpha leves were signifi cantly increased after I/R, and the values were markedly reduced by curcumin pretreatment although still higher than that of sham group (p<0.05 or p<0.001). H&E staining showed the significant injury to intestinal mucosa following I/R, and curcumin pretreatment signifi cantly improved the histological structure of intestinal mucosa. I/R insult also induced significantly down-regulated expression of ZO-1, and the eff ect was dramatically attenuated by curcumin-pretreatment. Curcumin may protect the intestine from I/R injury through restoration of the epithelial structure, promotion of the recovery of intestinal permeability, as well as enhancement of ZO-1 protein expression, and this eff ect may be partly attributed to the TNF-alpha related pathway.
Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Curcumin* ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intestinal Mucosa ; Intestine, Small ; Intestines ; Permeability ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury* ; Tight Junctions* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha* ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein*

BACKGROUND: For atopic dermatitis (AD), the causal relationship between food and exacerbation is relatively weak in adults compared to children. However, many adult patients report food-related aggravation of AD, and some may have histamine intolerance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ingested histamine and investigate the effect of a histamine-free diet in adult patients with AD. METHODS: Adult patients with AD and healthy controls were enrolled. Patients were prohibited from eating foods with high amounts of histamine for 4 weeks. There were no diet restrictions for the controls. The eczema area and severity index (EASI) and degree of pruritus using the visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated. Plasma histamine levels and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity were determined, and compared with those of the control group. RESULTS: Seventeen adult patients were recruited and of these, 12 completed the 4-week histamine-free diet. There was no significant difference in the basal plasma histamine levels between the patients and controls. Basal DAO activity was significantly higher in patients compared to the controls. There was no significant difference in plasma histamine levels after the histamine free-diet and DAO activity was not altered. Moreover, EASI and VAS were similar before and after the histamine-free diet. CONCLUSION: Ingested histamine might be unrelated with AD severity and a histamine-free diet is unhelpful for adult patients with AD.
Adult* ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diet* ; Eating ; Eczema ; Histamine ; Humans ; Plasma ; Pruritus

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of oral administration of mixed enteral nutritional agent on intestinal mucosal barrier of patients with severe burn injury at early stage.

METHODSTwenty-four patients with severe burn injury admitted to our burn ward from August 2013 to September 2014, conforming to the study criteria, were divided into conventional therapy group (n = 12) and early enteral feeding group (n = 12) according to the random number table. Patients in conventional therapy group received conventional treatment immediately after admission, while those in early enteral feeding group were orally given 100 mL of a mixture of glutamine, probiotics, and prebiotics once a day besides conventional treatment for 7 days. Serum levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) and procalcitonin (PCT) and plasma level of LPS were determined by ELISA before treatment and on treatment day (TD) 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Wound secretion and blood samples were collected for bacterial culture within the 21 TD. The incidence of MODS within the 21 TD was observed. Data were processed with Fisher's exact test, rank sum test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, and LSD-t test.

RESULTS(1) Serum levels of DAO in patients of early enteral feeding group on TD 7, 14, and 21 were respectively (14.9 ± 3.7), (12.4 ± 3.1), and (9.5 ± 0.7) ng/mL, which were significantly lower than those of conventional therapy group [(17.5 ± 4.0), (16.3 ± 3.3), and (13.0 ± 1.1) ng/mL, with t values from 2.913 to 15.304, P values below 0.01]. Serum levels of DAO at the other time points were close between the two groups (with t values from -0.598 to 0.139, P values above 0.05). (2) Compared with serum levels of PCT in patients of conventional therapy group [(11.7 ± 20.9) and (12.9 ± 23.9) ng/mL], those of early enteral feeding group were significantly lower on TD 7 and 14 [(2.7 ± 8.1) and (2.0 ± 5.6) ng/mL, with Z values respectively -2.919 and -2.139, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. Serum levels of PCT at the other time points were close between the two groups (with Z values from -1.833 to -0.346, P values above 0.05). (3) Plasma level of LPS in patients of early enteral feeding group on TD 7 was (33 ± 56) pg/mL, which was significantly lower than that of conventional therapy group [(102 ± 108) pg/mL, Z = -2.046, P < 0.05]. Plasma levels of LPS at the other time points between the two groups showed no significant difference (with Z values from -2.003~-0.526, P values above 0.05). (4) Positive results in bacterial culture of wound secretion were approximately the same between the two groups (P > 0.05). Bacterial culture of blood was positive in 7 patients of conventional therapy group and 1 patient of early enteral feeding group, showing significantly statistical difference (P < 0.05). MODS was observed in 1 patient of conventional therapy group, showing no significantly statistical difference with that of early enteral feeding group (no patient, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEarly intestinal feeding of mixed enteral nutritional agent in addition to conventional therapy can effectively promote repair of the impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier, protect integrity of intestinal mucosa, reduce damage to intestines, and alleviate inflammatory response in patients suffering from severe burn injury.

Administration, Oral ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; blood ; Burns ; metabolism ; therapy ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Enteral Nutrition ; methods ; Female ; Glutamine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the couplet medicines (Astragalus Membranaceus and Jiaozhen) on intestinal barrier functions of postoperative colorectal cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 90 inpatients with confirmed colorectal cancer by pathological diagnosis were recruited as subjects in this study. They were assigned to the Chinese medicine group (CM, treated with Astragalus Membranaceus and Jiaozhen), the Western medicine group (WM, treated with glutamine), and the blank control group (treated with normal saline) according to random digit table, 30 in each group. The treatment course consisted of eight days. Levels of blood D-lactic acid, diamine oxidase (DAO), urinary lactulose/mannitol ratio (L/M), ET, TNF-alpha, and postoperative recovery time of bowel sound were observed before surgery and after surgery. The effect of the couplet medicines (Astragalus Membranaceus and Jiaozhen) on intestinal barrier functions of postoperative colorectal cancer patients were comprehensively assessed by taking blood D-lactic acid levels, DAO levels, urinary L/M as main potency indices; ET and TNF-alpha, recovery time of bowel sound as the secondary potency indices.

RESULTSCM showed similar effect with that of WM in improving blood D-lactic acid levels and DAO levels, and urinary L/M ratio, with no statistical difference between them (P > 0.05). But they showed better effect than that of the blank control group (P < 0.05). Levels of ET and TNF-alpha were decreased more in the CM group than in the WM group (P < 0.05). The recovery time of bowel sound was shorter in the CM group than in the WM group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Levels of ET and TNF-alpha were decreased more in the WM group than in the blank control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the recovery time of bowel sound between the WM group and the blank control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe couplet medicines (Astragalus Membranaceus and Jiaozhen) had obvious protection for intestinal barrier dysfunction of postoperative colorectal cancer patients, showing similar efficacy to that of WM. It was even superior to glutamine in restoring bowel functions, reducing toxin absorption, and lowering levels of pro-inflammatory factors.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; methods ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Glutamine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; Intestines ; Lactic Acid ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change of aortic semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) activity in diabetic rats and examine the effect of 2-bromoethylamine (2-BEA) on SSAO activity and vascular endothelium in diabetic rats. SSAO was prepared from rat aorta. For assessment of the inhibitory effect, the enzymes were preincubated in the presence of different concentrations of 2-BEA before the addition of benzylamine in vitro. Type 1 diabetic rat model was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), diabetic model group (DM), 2-BEA 5 mg/kg group, 2-BEA 20 mg/kg group (n = 10 in each group). 2-BEA was administered daily via intraperitoneal injection for 8 weeks. At the end of 8 weeks, blood sample was collected from the abdominal aorta. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) was determined by nitrate reductase method. Plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) was determined by radioimmunoassay. Aorta SSAO was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The aorta was prepared to observe morphological changes and ultramicroscopic structures. The results were as follows: Compared with NC group, aortic SSAO activity and the plasma ET-1 were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and plasma NO was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in DM group. 2-BEA decreased plasma ET-1 and elevated plasma NO by inhibiting aortic SSAO activity in diabetic rats (P < 0.01), and 2-BEA 20 mg/kg group was more significant than 2-BEA 5 mg/kg group (P < 0.05). Endothelial injury of 2-BEA group rats was less serious than DM group. These results suggest that 2-BEA protect aortic endothelium by inhibiting aortic SSAO activity.
Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; enzymology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; enzymology ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Ethylamines ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is considered a complex and multifactorial disease. Excessive histamine intake may induce an attack of urticaria. The main enzyme for histamine metabolism is diamine oxidase (DAO). OBJECTIVE: Plasma histamine concentrations and DAO activities were evaluated to determine whether there are abnormalities in the histamine metabolism of CIU patients. METHODS: Seventy-five CIU patients and twenty-five healthy control subjects were included in the study. Blood was taken from all subjects to measure plasma levels of the histamine and DAO. RESULTS: Mean plasma histamine levels were significantly higher in CIU patients (11.59+/-10.98 nM) than in the control subjects (8.75+/-2.55 nM) (p=0.04). Mean DAO activities were lower in patients of CIU (80.86+/-26.81 histamine degrading unit [HDU]/ml) than in the controls (81.60+/-9.67 HDU/ml), but without significant difference. In 15 CIU patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, the mean histamine concentration was higher (12.43+/-7.97 nM) and DAO activity was lower (77.93+/-27.53 HDU/ml) than in the remaining 60 CIU patients without gastrointestinal symptoms (11.38+/-11.67 nM and 81.58+/-26.82 HDU/ml), without significant difference. The relationship between DAO activity and plasma histamine concentrations showed a significant negative linear value (p=0.001). There were no significant relationships between plasma histamine concentrations and symptom severity score. CONCLUSION: In CIU patients, a high plasma histamine concentration may not be explained by DAO activity. CIU patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms showed no significantly lower DAO activity. Larger group studies are required to elucidate the relationship between plasma histamine concentrations and DAO activity, especially of CIU patients with GI symptomsto understand the difference in CIU patients with and without GI symptoms.
Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; Histamine ; Humans ; Plasma ; Urticaria

OBJECTIVETo observe effects of Yiqi Huoxue Qufeng Decoction (YHQD, with the actions of replenishing qi, activating blood, and dispelling wind) on diamine oxidase (DAO) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) of patients with chronic urticaria.

METHODSEighty-five chronic urticaria patients from the clinics of dermatology, Shaanxi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were randomly assigned to the treatment group (50 cases) and the control group (35 cases). Besides, another 15 healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy group. Patients in the treatment group took YHQD, one dose daily, once in the morning and once in the evening. Patients in the control group took Fuyang Granule (FYG), 6 g each time, three times daily. The therapeutic course for the two groups was 8 weeks. The effective rates of the two groups were observed after treatment and 2 months after quitting treatment. The levels of DAO and IgE were observed in the three groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe post-treatment recovery rate (20 cases, 44.0%) and the effective rate 2 months after quitting treatment (62.0%) were higher in the treatment group than in the control group (7 cases, 20.0%; 31.4%) with statistical difference (P<0.05). The DAO level in the two treatment groups (6.9 +/- 1.8 in the treatment group and 6.5 +/- 1.8 in the control group) was obviously higher than that in the healthy group (1.1 +/- 0.4), showing statistical difference (P<0.05). The post-treatment DAO and IgE both decreased in the treatment group and the control group when compared with before treatment in the same group. Those were lower in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONYHQD could improve the symptoms of chronic urticaria patients, ameliorate the intestines mucosa barrier function and the immunity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Urticaria ; blood ; drug therapy ; Young Adult