Metabolomics of nasal lavage fluid in patients with allergic rhinitis treated by Xiaoqinglong Decoction / 中国中药杂志

This study used nasal lavage fluid for metabolomics to explore its feasibility, and applied it to the clinical metabolomics study of Xiaoqinglong Decoction in the treatment of allergic rhinitis(AR), aiming to investigate the molecular mechanism of Xiaoqing-long Decoction in the treatment of AR through differential changes in local nasal metabolism. AR patients were selected as the research subjects, and nasal lavage fluid was collected as the sample. Metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was performed on normal group, AR group, and Xiaoqinglong Decoction group. The differences in metabolic profiles among the groups were compared using principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis, and differential metabolites were identified and subjected to corresponding metabolic pathway analysis. The results showed that Xiaoqinglong Decoction significantly improved the symptoms of AR patients. The metabolomics analysis revealed 20 differential metabolites between AR group and Xiaoqinglong Decoction group. The core metabolite with a trending return in comparison to normal group was trimethyladipic acid. The metabolites were involved in multiple pathways, including β-alanine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis. The feasibility of applying nasal lavage fluid in nasal metabolomics was preliminarily demonstrated. Differential metabolites and enriched pathways in the treatment of AR patients with Xiaoqinglong Decoction were identified, indicating that it may improve rhinitis symptoms through the regulation of various metabolites, including antioxidant effects and correction of Th1/Th2 imbalance.

Clinical analysis of myoepithelial carcinoma of head and neck / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate clinical feature, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of myoepithelial carcinoma (MC) in the head and neck.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 11 patients which were confirmed by pathology and immunohistochemistry in Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University from Jan. 1992 to Dec. 2006, were reviewed. There were 5 cases in parotid gland, 1 in hard palate, 1 in maxillary sinus, 1 in pharyngeal recess, 1 in bucca cavioris, 1 in scalp, and 1 in gingiva. Male female ratio is 4 to 7. The median age at diagnosis was 37 years (range: 14 - 60 years).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All cases were operated, 4 underwent surgery alone, 2 underwent surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy, 2 received surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy, 3 underwent surgery plus adjuvant chemoradiation. After operation, 8 cases occurred local recurrence and 4 cases occurred distance and lymph nodes metastasis. There was spindle cell type in 5 cases, clear cell type, plasmacytoid cell type in 2 cases, epithelioid cell type, mixed type in 1 case. The median follow-up time was 40 months. AS to the last follow-up time, 8 patients died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The characteristics of the tumor were rapidly enlarging, invading the surrounding regions, high rates of lymph node metastasis, high rates of distance metastasis. It was easily recurrence if the surgical excision was not radically for MC, and the prognosis was poorly. MC was a sort of malignant tumor. Radical operation must be advocated initially. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be effective after operation.</p>