ABSTRACT
A pollen/food-associated syndrome (PFAS) has been described between peach and cypress pollen. Cross-reactive allergens were characterized which belong to the Gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP) family, BP14 in cypress pollen and Pru p 7 in peach. GRP are small cationic protein with anti-microbial properties. A patient suffering from a peach/cypress syndrome was explored clinically and biologically using 2 types of immunoglobulin E (IgE) multiarray microchip, immunoblots and a basophil activation test to assess the clinical relevance of various extracts and purified allergens from fruits or cypress pollen. In addition to PR10 sensitization, the patient showed specific IgE to Pru p 7, BP14 and allergen from pomegranate. These last 3 allergens and allergenic sources are able to induce ex vivo basophil activation characterized by the monitoring of the expression of CD63 and CD203c, both cell surface markers correlated with a basophil mediator release. Up to 100% of cells expressed CD203c at 50 ng/mL of BP14 protein. In contrast, snakin-1, a GRP from potato sharing 82% sequence identity with Pru p 7 did not activate patient's basophils. These results strongly suggest that, like Pru p 7, BP14 is a clinically relevant allergenic GRP from pollen. Allergen members of this newly described protein family are good candidates for PFAS where no cross-reactive allergens have been characterized.
Subject(s)
Humans , Allergens , Basophils , Cupressus , Fruit , Immunoglobulin E , Immunoglobulins , Pollen , Prunus persica , Lythraceae , Solanum tuberosumABSTRACT
Objective@#To explore the sensitization features of Cypress pollen in urban area of Beijing and analyze the seasonal changes.@*Methods@#Four thousand two hundred and one patients in Department of Allergy of Beijing Shijitan Hospital during January to December 2017 were enrolled in this study and received skin prick test (SPT) of Cypress extract. Cypress sensitization was divided into two types: mono-sensitization and multiple-sensitization. Difference of sensitization rate between age, gender and visiting month was analyzed by chi-square test. Difference of visiting rate and sensitization rate among each month was analyzed by K-W test. Pearson test was carried out for correlation analysis.@*Results@#Positive rate of Cypress pollen was 32.3% (1 358/4 201) in overall patients in which male had a higher positive rate than female (35.6% vs 30.1%, χ2=13.465, P<0.001). The positive rate was highest in age 11-20 years and 31-40 years and then decreased with age (P<0.001). Multi-sensitization was observed in this study with a rate of 27.5% (1 154/4 201) while mono-sensitization of Cypress was only 4.7% (199/4 201). The consultation rate during January to December was positively correlated with SPT positive rate of Cypress pollen (r2=0.715 9, P=0.001). The positive rate varied with season with the highest rate in March (53.0%, 316/596), followed by April (36.6%, 208/568). The season peak of positive rate was observed in adults but not children. Mono-sensitization rate varied with one season peak (spring) while multi-sensitization showed two season peaks (spring and autumn).@*Conclusion@#Cypress sensitization is prevalent in urban area of Beijing and is prone to multi-sensitization, which changes with season with the peak in March.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>Objectives:</b> Bathing in a bathtub made of hinoki cypress may promote relaxation. This study focuses on changes in autonomic nervous system function, and emotional assessments of individuals who bathed in a hinoki cypress bathtub.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> All 16 study participants bathed twice, as interventions in this study. The baths consisted of bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub and in a modular bathtub as the control experiment. During the study, participants wore a holter monitor. Before and after bathing, saliva samples were collected for cortisol measurement, and participants underwent a subjective emotional assessment, the Mood Check List-Short Form.2 (MCL-S.2). After bathing, an additional subjective emotional assessment, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), was performed.</p><p><b>Results and Discussion:</b> The emotional assessments in the MCL-S.2 indicated a significant increase in positive emotional scores (“pleasantness”) after bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub. The VAS scores showed a significant decrease in the “feeling of fatigue” after bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub, compared to bathing in a modular bathtub. These results suggest that study participants who bathed in a hinoki cypress bathtub experienced positive effects, and decreased feelings of fatigue. The salivary cortisol concentration decreased significantly after bathing in the hinoki cypress bathtub and in the modular bathtub. For both the hinoki cypress bathtub and the modular bathtub, the high frequency (√HF) values collected with the holter monitor after bathing, were higher than the √HF values collected prior to bathing. The results suggest that bathing in water temperatures of 38-39°C for 15 min enhances relaxation, and has a positive effect on the human body.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>Objectives:</b> Bathing in a bathtub made of hinoki cypress may promote relaxation. This study focuses on changes in autonomic nervous system function, and emotional assessments of individuals who bathed in a hinoki cypress bathtub.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> All 16 study participants bathed twice, as interventions in this study. The baths consisted of bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub and in a modular bathtub as the control experiment. During the study, participants wore a holter monitor. Before and after bathing, saliva samples were collected for cortisol measurement, and participants underwent a subjective emotional assessment, the Mood Check List-Short Form.2 (MCL-S.2). After bathing, an additional subjective emotional assessment, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), was performed.</p><p><b>Results and Discussion:</b> The emotional assessments in the MCL-S.2 indicated a significant increase in positive emotional scores (“pleasantness”) after bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub. The VAS scores showed a significant decrease in the “feeling of fatigue” after bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub, compared to bathing in a modular bathtub. These results suggest that study participants who bathed in a hinoki cypress bathtub experienced positive effects, and decreased feelings of fatigue. The salivary cortisol concentration decreased significantly after bathing in the hinoki cypress bathtub and in the modular bathtub. For both the hinoki cypress bathtub and the modular bathtub, the high frequency (√HF) values collected with the holter monitor after bathing, were higher than the √HF values collected prior to bathing. The results suggest that bathing in water temperatures of 38-39°C for 15 min enhances relaxation, and has a positive effect on the human body.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objectives: Bathing in a bathtub made of hinoki cypress may promote relaxation. This study focuses on changes in autonomic nervous system function, and emotional assessments of individuals who bathed in a hinoki cypress bathtub.Methods: All 16 study participants bathed twice, as interventions in this study. The baths consisted of bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub and in a modular bathtub as the control experiment. During the study, participants wore a holter monitor. Before and after bathing, saliva samples were collected for cortisol measurement, and participants underwent a subjective emotional assessment, the Mood Check List-Short Form.2 (MCL-S.2). After bathing, an additional subjective emotional assessment, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), was performed.Results and Discussion: The emotional assessments in the MCL-S.2 indicated a significant increase in positive emotional scores (“pleasantness”) after bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub. The VAS scores showed a significant decrease in the “feeling of fatigue” after bathing in a hinoki cypress bathtub, compared to bathing in a modular bathtub. These results suggest that study participants who bathed in a hinoki cypress bathtub experienced positive effects, and decreased feelings of fatigue. The salivary cortisol concentration decreased significantly after bathing in the hinoki cypress bathtub and in the modular bathtub. For both the hinoki cypress bathtub and the modular bathtub, the high frequency (√HF) values collected with the holter monitor after bathing, were higher than the √HF values collected prior to bathing. The results suggest that bathing in water temperatures of 38-39°C for 15 min enhances relaxation, and has a positive effect on the human body.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the effect of double cypress powder (DCP) combined with TDP irradiation on lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and summarize nursing experience.Methods One hundred and twenty-five patients with lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion were randomized into the observation group and control group.The control group was treated with massage and electro-acupuncture and the observation group received DCP fumigation combined with TDP irradiation besides treatments the controls received.The two groups were compared in terms of pain level and curative effect after two courses of treatment.Result The score on pains by VAS in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group and the curative effect was better than that in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion On the basis of the massage,electro-acupuncture and moxibustion therapy,DCP combined with TDP irradiation is therapeutically effective in the reduction of the pains from lumbar disc protrusion.
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Background: Austrocedrus chilensis (D. Don) Pic. Ser. et Bizzarri commonly known as Patagonian cypress is a member of the Cupressaceae family, characterized by a high adaptive potential for growing in marginal areas and good timber quality. The species grows over a wide area and under a wide range of rainfall. This study assessed adaptive genetic variation at SNP level in candidate genes involved in response to drought stress. Results: A total of 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found among 1,428 bp. Average nucleotide diversity value (π = 0.00312) was similar to those previously reported in other Cupressaceae. The Fst average among genes and populations was 0.163 and the lowest differentiation was observed in continuous and humid populations. A number of neutrality tests were applied to find evidence of positive selection in our candidate gene set, but only AcAQP2 gene in Pedregoso and San Ramón populations revealed significant departures from neutrality with positive values suggesting balancing selection. Conclusions: In this study we report the levels of nucleotide diversity searched in some drought stress candidate genes in Austrocedrus chilensis and the selective factors that may be acting on this species.