Evaluation of exposure and sensitization to house dust mites among rhinitis patients in the steppe environment of Inner Mongolia / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<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>

Comparison of clinical characteristics between patients with non-allergic and allergic rhinitis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze and compare the differences of clinical characteristics and comorbidities between patients with non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) and allergic rhinitis (AR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 556 out-patients were enrolled from January 2010 to June 2011. The chief complaints of the patients included at least two of the following nasal symptoms: nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching. Based on the results of the disease history, physical examination and allergen skin prick test, the patients were classified into NAR group (n = 206) and AR group (n = 350). Detailed information including general data, nasal symptoms and signs, accompanied symptoms and comorbidities were obtained by questionnaires. A scoring was adopted to estimate the severity of disease. SPSS 13.0 software was applied for statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean age of NAR patients (31.8 ± 16.7) was older than that of AR patients (26.3 ± 14.8), and the difference was significant (t = 4.01, P = 0.0001). While there was no significant difference on gender distribution between two groups (χ² = 0.12, P = 0.73). The percentage of nasal congestion was not significantly different between NAR and AR patients (89.8% and 92.0%, respectively; χ² = 0.26, P = 0.611). However, the symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal itching, eyes itching, lachrymation, wheeze and cough were more popular in AR patients than those in NAR patients (all P < 0.05). Moreover, above symptoms (except cough) were more serious in AR patients, and the symptom scores were significantly higher than those in NAR patients (all P < 0.05). Most of patients with NAR (67.0%) and AR (62.9%) were moderate-severe persistent (χ² = 1.25, P = 0.264). Accompanied asthma were more common in patients with AR (12.6%) compared with NAR (2.4%), while hypertension were more common in patients with NAR (7.3%) compared with AR (1.7%), and the differences were significant (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NAR and AR are two different disease entities, which have different clinical characteristics, as well as different comorbidities. Further clinical study should be done on the rhinitis phenotypes.</p>

The comparative study of effect of a modified open door laminoplasty using anchor method on axial symptoms and cervical curvature / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of a modified open door laminoplasty using anchor method on reducing the occurrence of axial symptoms and loss of cervical curvature.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October 2004 to May 2007,56 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent this procedure and been followed up (group A). Another 50 patients who underwent conventional unilaterally open-door laminoplasty served as control (group B). The operation time, blood loss, JOA scores and the incidence of newly developed or deteriorated axial symptoms were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative curvature angle which was presented on the tangent of posterior vertebral body margins of C2 and C7 in the cervical spine were measured on cervical radiographs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The operative time was (116 +/- 27.9) min in group A and (120 +/- 18.9) min in group B,showing no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). The operative blood loss was (148 +/- 68.3) ml in group A and (152 +/- 63.4) ml in group B (P > 0.05). According to JOA scores, the average recovery rates were (61.1 +/- 24.5)% in group A and(53.3 +/- 23.3)% in group B (P < 0.05). Postoperative development or deterioration of axial symptoms occurred in 41.1% of patients in group A and 76.0% of patients in group B,showing statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between preoperative (6.3 degrees +/- 5.1 degrees) and postoperative (6.6 degrees +/-4.5 degrees) cervical curvature angle in group A,whereas the mean value of postoperative angle(4.8 degrees +/- 3.5 degrees) was significantly smaller than that of preoperative one(5.9 degrees +/- 5.1 degrees) in group B (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The modified open door laminoplasty using anchor method was effective on reducing the occurrence of axial symptoms and loss of cervical curvature and to the benefit of early functional training.</p>

Inhibitory effect of soman on stress induced hyperthermia in rats and the influence of central and peripheral cholinergic antagonists / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To determine the effect of soman on stress induced hyperthermia and the influence of central and peripheral cholinergic antagonists.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Effects of subcutaneous injection of soman, scopolamine, methylscopolamine and pyridostigmine on stress-induced hyperthermia were observed in rats by radio telemetry in an open-field environment. Plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity was measured by a spectrophotometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Core temperature of the control group increased by 0.96 degrees C when exposed to open-field, whereas core temperature only increased by 0.55 degrees C in soman treated animals. Scopolamine, a central cholinergic antagonist, nearly abolished inhibitory effects of soman on core temperature when exposed to open-field. Methylscopolamine, a peripheral cholinergic antagonist, coadministered with soman reduced significantly the hyperthermic response to open-field exposure compared with rats dosed with soman. (2) Pyridostigmine, a peripheral anti-ChE agent that caused a 52% decrease in plasma ChE activity led to a significant enhancement of the hyperthermic response to open-field exposure. Methyl scopolamine nearly abolished the effects of pyridostigmine on stress-induced hyperthermia response.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inhibitory effect of soman on the open field hyperthermia suggested that soman treatment hampered the ability of the rat to develop a normal hyperthermic response when placed in the open-field environment. Its inhibitory effects were mediated primarily through a central muscarinic pathway. In addition, peripheral cholinergic nerve was involved in the control of stress hyperthermic response.</p>

Correlation and influences of inflammatory mediators on permeability of the blood-brain barrier at high altitude exposure / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the influences of inflammatory mediator on permeability of the blood-brain barrier(BBB) at high altitude environmental exposure as well as relationship and water content in brain.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were exposed to different altitude gradients, then brain tissue homogenate was prepared, and the activities of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and endothelin (ET) in brain tissue homogenate were measured by radioimmunoassay methods. The activities of nitric oxide (NO) in brain tissue homogenate were measured by chemical methods. The evans blue (EB) content in brain tissue was determined by colorimetry and the wet weight/dry weight ratio (W/D) was used to express the water content in brain.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With altitude going up, the activities of TNFalpha, NO and ET in the brain of rats rose, and they also rose gradually with time prolonging under high altitude hypoxia exposure. Their most obvious rise was seen during 9 days after ascending 5 000 m high altitude regions. At the same time, the EB and water content in the brain of mice showed the same change trends. Therefore, the inflammatory mediator activity and EB content as well as water content in brain showed an evidently linear relationship.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The inflammatory mediator plays an important role in the change of permeability of BBB. It's a critical inducing factor in the change of permeability of BBB under high altitude exposure.</p>