RESUMO
Objective To investigate the protective effect of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid protein (HCFP) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) in mice. Methods Twenty-four BALB/c mice at ages of 8 to 10 weeks, each weighing approximately 20 g, were randomly divided into four groups, including groups A (blank control group), B (blank intervention group), C (AR model group) and D (AR+HCFP intervention group), with 6 mice in each group. On days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, mice in groups A, B, C and D were injected with 200 μL sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 200 μL sterile PBS containing 20 μg HCFP, 200 μL sterile PBS containing 50 μg OVA and 5 mg Al(OH)3 gel, and 200 μL sterile PBS containing 50 μg OVA, 5 mg Al(OH)3 gel and 20 μg HCFP, respectively. On days 14 to 20, mice in groups A, B, C and D were administered with 40 μL sterile PBS, 40 μL sterile PBS containing 20 μg HCFP, 40 μL sterile PBS containing 2 mg OVA and 40 μL sterile PBS containing 2 mg OVA and 20 μL HCFP by nasal drop, respectively. Mouse behavioral changes were observed and behavioral scores were estimated. The serum levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-10, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and OVA-specific IgE antibody (OVA-sIgE) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the pathological changes of mouse nasal mucosa were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Results The mean behavioral score was significantly greater in Group C (6.83 ± 0.50) than in groups A (1.17 ± 0.52) and B (1.33 ± 0.52) (P < 0.05), while a lower mean behavioral score was estimated in Group D (3.50 ± 0.50) than in Group C (P < 0.05). There were significant differences among the groups in terms of serum IFN-γ (F = 4.08, P < 0.05), IL-4 (F = 275.90, P < 0.05), IL-5 (F = 96.82, P < 0.05), IL-10 (F = 77.67, P < 0.05), TGF-β (F = 9.98, P < 0.05) and OVA-sIgE levels (F = 44.69, P < 0.05). The serum IFN-γ level was significantly lower in Group C than in groups A, B and C (P < 0.05), and the serum levels of IL-4, IL-5 and OVA-sIgE were significantly higher in Group C than in groups A, B and C (P < 0.05), while the serum IL-10 and TGF-β levels were significantly greater in Group D than in Group C (P < 0.05). Microscopy showed apparent loss of nasal mucosa cilia, increased number and enlargement of goblet cells, interstitial edema and submucous vascular dilation in Group C, while the pathological changes of nasal mucosa were alleviated in Group D relative to Group C. Conclusions E. granulosus HCFP has a protective activity against OVA-induced allergic rhinitis in mice.
RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the clinical effects of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in the treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-center study was performed on 67 premature infants with NRDS between March 2011 and May 2012 and selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These premature infants were randomly assigned to receive NIPPV and NCPAP. Oxygenation index (OI), pH, PaCO2, duration of respiratory support, complications, success rate, hospital mortality, and incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-two patients were finally enrolled in the study, including 32 cases in the NIPPV group and 30 cases in the NCPAP group. After one hour of non-invasive ventilation, OI in the NIPPV group was higher than the NCPAP group (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in pH and PaCO2 between the two groups (P>0.05 for both). A significantly lower proportion of infants needed mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube (MVET) when they were treated initially with NIPPV than when they were treated initially with NCPAP (P<0.05). The NIPPV group had a significant higher success rate than the NCPAP group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in duration of respiratory support between the two groups (P>0.05). In addition, no significant differences in incidence of pneumothorax, hospital mortality and incidence of BPD were seen between the two groups (P>0.05 for all).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with NCPAP, NIPPV can significantly decrease the proportion of premature infants with NRDS in need of MVET. However, there is no evidence that NIPPV can significantly reduce hospital mortality and incidence of BPD in premature infants with NRDS.</p>