Clinical significance of serum carbohydrate antigen 125 in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the serum level of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and its relation with pulmonary hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-six patients with AECOPD complicated by pulmonary hypertension, 46 with AECOPD and 38 healthy control subjects were examined for their clinical data, pulmonary function, echocardiographic findings, and serum levels of lung tumor markers and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the healthy control group, COPD patients with or without pulmonary hypertension showed significantly decreased pulmonary function (P<0.05), especially in those with AECOPD and concurrent pulmonary hypertension (P<0.05). Serum CA125 level was obviously higher in AECOPD group than in the healthy control group, and further increased in AECOPD patients with pulmonary hypertension (P<0.05). The levels of lung tumor markers (CEA, NSE, CYFRA and PROGRP) were similar among the 3 groups (P>0.05). The serum level of BNP in patients with AECOPD and concurrent pulmonary hypertension was significantly higher than that in patients with AECOPD (P<0.05). Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that serum CA125 was positively correlated with pulmonary artery systolic pressure and BNP in AECOPD patients with pulmonary hypertension (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Serum CA125 may serve as a serological index to identify AECOPD patients with pulmonary hypertension.</p>

Analysis of the allergenicity and immunogenicity of Psilogramma menephron allergen / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the allergenicity and immunogenicity of Psilogramma menephron allergen so as to provide the basis for preparing recombinant and standardized allergen vaccines of Psilgramma menephorn.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The extracts of Psilgramma menephorn were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and the allergenicity and immunogenicity of the extracts were tested with 9 sera from allergic patients by means of immunoblotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>More than 20 allergen proteins were separated from the extract of Psilgramma menephorn by SDS-PAGE, with the relative molecular weight ranging from 12,000 to 128,000. The relative molecular weight of the allergenic proteins were 74,000 (88.9%), 66,000 (22.2%), 49,000 (22.2%), 36,000 (77.8%), or 25,000 (33.3%), and those of the immunogenic proteins were 79,000 (33.3%), 74,000 (66.7%), 66,000 (22.2%), 49,000 (22.2%), 36,000 (44.4%), or 25,000 (55.6%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The relative molecular weight of the major allergenic proteins of Psilgramma menephorn are 74,000 and 36,000, and 74,000 and 25,000 for the major immunogenic proteins. These proteins constitute the major allergenic components for diagnosis and specific treatment of Psilgramma menephorn allergy.</p>

Cloning, screening and sequence analysis of the major allergens of Psilgramma menephorn / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify and isolate the genes encoding the allergens of Psilgramma menephorn by screening the cDNA expression library.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cDNA expression library of Psilgramma menephorn was constructed in lambdaZAPIIphage, and the library was screened using the sera from the patients allergic to Psilgramma menephorn and those from the rabbits immunized with Psilgramma menephorn extracts. The positive clones were subcloned into pBluescript plas, and the cDNA in the positive clones were amplified with PCR and sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION</b>Five positive clones were obtained by immunological screening of 5 x 10(4) recombinants. Sequence analysis showed that the positive clones contained the new genes of Psilgramma menephorn allergens. This success in isolating these genes may facilitate the development of specific immunotherapy against Psilgramma menephorn allergy and further research of allergic diseases.</p>