Effects of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis on olfaction dysfunction in allergic rhinitis / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To explore the relationship between NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and olfactory dysfunction (OD) in allergic rhinitis (AR), and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of CY-09, a selective NLRP3 inhibitor for OD. Methods: An AR mouse model was established with ovalbumin, and the olfactory function of AR mice was detected by the buried food pellet test. Mice with OD were intraperitoneally injected with CY-09 or saline. The activation of microglia and astrocytes in olfactory bulb was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression level of pyroptosis associated protein was detected by Western blot. The level of pyroptosis associated proinflammatory factor mRNA was determined by real-time PCR. SPSS 24.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: After the test, ovalbumin successfully established AR mice model, in which 52.5% (21/40) of them showed OD. The number of activated microglia and astroglia in olfactory bulb tissue in OD group were more than those in non-OD group (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and gasdermin D (GSDMD) was significantly increased in the olfactory bulb of the OD group (all P<0.05). CY-09 could significantly reduce the level of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β and IL-18 expression, and inhibite the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the olfactory bulb tissues (all P<0.05). Conclusion: NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis is closely related to the OD associated with AR. CY-09 could improve the olfactory function in AR mice, which may be related to blocking the NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.

Predictive diagnostic value of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: To compare the value of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-(OH)D3) with other clinical parameters in the prediction and diagnosis of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP). Methods: Eligible chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients and healthy subjects in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January to April of 2021 were included for this study. The age, gender, past history and other basic characteristics of all subjects were recorded. The CRSwNP patients were classified into ECRSwNP and non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (nECRSwNP) endotypes by the percentage of tissue eosinophils. Serum 25-(OH)D3 levels measurements were performed in all subjects. Paranasal sinus CT scans, blood eosinophil counts, and determination of total immunoglobulin E (total IgE), Th1/Th2 plasma cytokines and nasal nitric oxide (nNO) levels were performed before surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the related factors of ECRSwNP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was used to evaluate the predictive potential of the clinical parameters. Results: One hundred and twenty-seven CRSwNP patients and 40 healthy subjects were recruited, including 74 males and 93 females of the patients, with the age of (38.73±13.05) years. In patients with ECRSwNP, serum 25-(OH)D3 levels were significantly lower than those in nECRSwNP patients ((26.14±4.58) ng/ml vs (35.71±7.86) ng/ml, t=-8.564, P<0.01). The prevalence of asthma, prevalence of allergic rhinitis, peripheral blood eosinophil counts, total IgE levels, nNO levels and CT scores ratio for ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus (E/M ratio) of ECRSwNP patients were significantly higher than those in nECRSwNP patients (all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in Th1/Th2 cytokines levels between the histological types of CRSwNP (all P>0.05). Among the predictive indicators, 25-(OH)D3 had the highest predictive value, with ROC area under curve (AUC) value of 0.882. The best cut-off point of 28.5 ng/ml for 25-(OH)D3 demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.871 and a specificity of 0.762 for ECRSwNP. Conclusion: Measurement of serum 25-(OH)D3 level may be used as an effective method to distinguish between ECRSwNP and nECRSwNP.

Changes of new urinary biomarkers in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective • To evaluate the changes of urinary angiotensinogen (UAGT), fibroblast-specific protein-1 (FSP-1) and thrombin in the children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). Methods • Fourteen children with HSPN (HSPN group), 28 children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) but without renal injury (HSP group) and 23 children with normal urinalysis (control group) were included in the study. Ten HSPN children before treatment (untreated group), 9 HSPN children after glucocorticoid (GC) pulse therapy (GC group) and 8 HSPN children after GC and cyclophosphamide (CTX) double pulse therapy (GC+CTX group) were also selected in the study. Clinical information and fresh morning urine samples were collected from all the children. UAGT, FSP-1 and thrombin in urine were measured by kits. Urine creatinine (Ucr) was also measured for correction. Results • UAGT/ Ucr and FSP-1 in HSPN group were significantly higher than those in HSP group and control group (P0.05), but thrombin levels in HSPN group and HSP group were both significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05). UAGT/Ucr in HSPN untreated group had no significant difference, compared with GC group, while it was significantly higher than that in GC+CTX group (P=0.000). FSP-1 in untreated group was significantly higher than that in GC group, but had no significant difference, compared with GC+CTX group. There was no significant difference in thrombin among the 3 HSPN groups. Conclusion • UAGT/Ucr, FSP-1 and thrombin all increase in the urine of HSPN children, and UAGT/Ucr and FSP-1 may reflect the treatment effect to some extent. [Key words]