ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the correlation of exposure and sensitization to house dust mites among rhinitis patients, and the consistency of skin prick test (SPT) and serum specific IgE (sIgE) in the detection of sensitization in a steppe environment of inner Mongolia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundreds and fourteen patients with rhinitis symptoms were recruited in this study in a hospital setting at Xilinhot City, inner Mongolia. All patients underwent medical history investigation, anterior rhinoscopy, and allergen tests in vivo (SPT) and in vitro (sIgE). Dust samples were collected from mattresses in patient's bedroom. The concentrations of group I major allergen of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed using a SPSS 17.0 software (t test, χ(2) test and so on).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among a total of 314 patients, the prevalence of positive SPT for Der p and Der f was 5.7% and 22.0%, respectively; and the prevalence of positive sIgE for Der p and Der f was 9.2% and 7.6%, respectively. Sensitization rates for house dust mites (Der p and/or Der f) were lower than those of pollens. The pollen allergen with the highest positive rate was mugwort (SPT, 51.9%; sIgE, 47.1%). Diagnostic tests using SPT as the gold standard for sensitization showed that the positive likelihood ratio of sIgE was 4.27 for Der p and 10.64 for Der f, and the Kappa value was 0.20 for Der p and 0.35 for Der f, respectively. A total of 276 dust samples collected from patient's mattresses were measured. The concentrations of Der p 1 and Der f1 were detectable in 2 (0.7%) and 4 (1.4%) mattress samples, respectively. There was positive correlation between the exposure levels of Derp 1 and the SPT positive reaction to Der p (r(s) = 0.156, P = 0.01), but no significant correlation was found between the exposure levels of Der p 1 and the sIgE positive reaction to Der p (r(s) = 0.116, P = 0.055). There was no significant correlation between the exposure levels of Der f 1 and the SPT as well as sIgE positive reaction to Der f 1(r(s) = 0.05, P = 0.931; r(s) = 0.07, P = 0.245).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the steppe environment of inner Mongolia, exposure to house dust mites are very low, and the Der p and Der f are not the major allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis. Also, it was not a simple dose-response relationship between exposure and sensitization to house dust mites. In such a specific environment, there is lower consistency between the results of SPT and sIgE in the detection of sensitization to house dust mites. Therefore, it is recommended that the allergen testing in vivo and in vitro should be combined for clinical diagnosis.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Allergens , Allergy and Immunology , Antigens, Dermatophagoides , Allergy and Immunology , China , Environmental Exposure , Hypersensitivity , Diagnosis , Allergy and Immunology , Hypersensitivity, Immediate , Diagnosis , Allergy and Immunology , Immunoglobulin E , Blood , Pyroglyphidae , Allergy and Immunology , Rhinitis , Diagnosis , Allergy and Immunology , Skin TestsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of cell cycle related factor sonic hedgehog (SHH) in autogenous vein graft and its relation with neointima formation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Autogenous vein graft model were established in 24 male Wistar rats of 8 weeks old and 140 g weight, by transplanting the left jugular vein to intra renal abdominal aorta with microsurgical technique. Graft veins were harvested at 14 d and 28 d after transplantation. The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the SHH and PCNA expression in the vein graft. At the same time SHH mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The opposite normal veins served as control.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histological staining showed that the percent of SHH+ cells was only (2.0 +/- 0.5)% in the normal vein, but was much more in the vein graft after surgery, as (39.4 +/- 0.4)% and (63.0 +/- 0.3)% respectively (P < 0.01). The expression of SHH and PCNA were both elevated in the vein graft. There was a positive correlation between them which indicated by Western blot (r = 0.808, P < 0.01). The SHH mRNA content also increased in vein graft to 9.5 and 23.8 folds of that in control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SHH is upregulated in autogenous vein grafts and may correlated with the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells.</p>