Oral immunotherapy with enteric-coated capsules for allergic rhinitis caused by house dust mites.

Background: Oral immunotherapy (OIT) is a promising allergen-specific approach in the management of food allergy; however, studies on OIT for allergic rhinitis (AR) have rarely been reported. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OIT using enteric-coated capsules for AR induced by house dust mites. Methods: A total of 49 patients with AR were enrolled, including 25 who received subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and 24 who received OIT. The clinical efficacy and safety in both groups were evaluated. Results: After 1 year of treatment, both SCIT and OIT demonstrated significant therapeutic effects. OIT was found to be more effective than SCIT in reducing the total AR symptom score and improving the results of nasal provocation tests. Local and systemic adverse reactions were observed in the SCIT group, while none were reported in the OIT group. Conclusion: OIT is an effective and safe treatment for mite-induced AR.

[The World List of Ticks. 1. Argasidae and Nuttallielidae（Acari ∶ Ixodida)].

In ixodology, the world records of the nominated species of the ticks reached close to thousand. Towards the end of 2015, altogether 200 valid species names of Argasidae accommodated in 5 genera have been consensed by most of the world ixodologists, namely Argas 61 species, Ornithodoros 118 species, Antricola 17 species, Nothoaspida 2 species, and Otobius 2 species. The monotypic status of the genus Nuttalliella of Nuttalliellidae remained unchange. China is a country of poor in soft tick fauna, only 14 species were recorded so far. In order to facilitate the exchange of the scientific view-point among the colleagues about both ticks and tick-borne diseases in this country, a latest list of world argasid and nuttalliellid valid names was introduced. Meanwhile a Chinese scientific term for each valid species and named genus in conformity with the principle of simplicity and pithy, as well as systematization was proposed. A series of abbreviations for the nominated genera and subgenera of Argasidae was also suggested.

[A proposal concerning renovation of Chinese terms for cestodes with special references to metacestodes and spargana].

Some of the Chinese names involved in the cestode life cycle were not in coincidence with that of the Latin terms and their definitions, and may be imprecise in application. The term of metacestode has been misled into defining that is the larval stage in intermediate hosts or the infective stage to definite hosts; there was no specific Chinese term for sparganum which used to express it with same meaning and word as plerocercoid; the terms of oncosphere, procercoid and plerocercoid including cercomer were incorrectly translated; same meaning of hydatid and hydatid cyst were vaguely read in Chinese literature and protoscolex is concerning to a larva in the relevant literature. A renovated unified system of naming the various stages and phases of cestode development including adult in Chinese was proposed.

[Collective group Sparganum and validity of Spirometra erinacei].

Parasites and their hosts are animals, their scientific names are subject to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The core principles of the Code are the Principle of Name-Bearing Types, the Principle of Priority and the Principle of Homonymy. The Code provides guidance for zoologists to use correctly the available names. An assemblages of identifiable species of uncertain generic position are treated as a genus-group level for taxonomic convenience known as "collective groups" which requires no types and does not compete in priority with other genus-group names. The vernacular of plerocercoid metacestode of pseudophyllid tapeworm is known as sparganum, and has been treated as collective group Sparganum. The author makes a rectification for the Chinese terms of Diphyllobothrium and Spirometra according to their etymology. The original designation of the type species of the genus Spirometra is Diphyllobothrium decipiens (Diesing, 1850) by Faust et al, in 1929, but not Spirometra erinacei (Rudolphi) by Mueller in 1937, and the authorship of the latter species is Faust et al and the valid name as Spirometra erinacei (Faust, Campbell & Kellogg, 1929) synonymic with S. erinaceieuropaei (Rudolphi, 1819) and Diphyllobothrium mansoni (Joyeux et Houdemer, 1928), not vise versa, which is verified by CAB Thesaurus in 2010.

Dermatophagoides farinae mite allergen and specific immunotherapy in Shanghai.

Studies on mite allergy had been launched by the Shanghai First Medical College since 1970's in this country. The preparations of SMU-Df from the local specimens of Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) in Shanghai have been shown the highest allergenic potency in comparison with that of the foreign ones, including the Df preparations from USFDA, VUS and ALK. Similar patterns of the protein curves were yielded by gel filtration, indicating almost similar allergenicities with both Df pure mite body and its spent culture medium. Around 80% of the allergic cases were sensitive to mite allergen and can be diagnosed by skin prick test, nasal provocation test and serum IgE level assay. Seasonal classic immunotherapy for allergic patients by Injection Dermatophagoides farinae, the first commercial allergen licensed by the Chinese government, achieved significant effect in relieving symptoms of allergic disorders in majority of cases, and long lasting effect of mite specific immunotherapy was also documented with minimal adverse reactions. Modifications of the Df crude extract and various modes of treatment have been studied. Studies on sublingual mite vaccine for mite allergic disorders developed synchronously with foreign trend since 1992. Sublingual drops were well acceptable by child cases almost without age restriction with higher efficacy. Rush schedule of mite immunotherapy led to a quick relief of allergic symptoms and long lasting curative effects. The Df allergen induced immunological regulation of human beings was established not only among the atopic patients, but also in healthy persons.

[Urticaria in relation to mite sensitivity and immunotherapy with Injection dermatophagoidei farinae].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of mite sensitivity in patients with urticaria or other skin rashes, and to observe the clinical efficacy of a specific immunotherapy (SIT) by the Injection dermatophagoides farinae for the patients. METHODS: In 7-year period (1998-2005), skin prick test (SPT) with a dust mite (Df) allergen was carried out to detect the prevalence of mite sensitivity in OPD patients suffering from skin rashes. Among the patients sensitive to mite with SPT > or =++ response, 3 groups were established. In group A, routine SIT with Injection dermatophagoides farinae was conducted. In 9-week increasing dose phase, three stepwise increasing volumes (0.3 ml, 0.6 ml and 1.0 ml) each case was injected subcutaneously with mite concentration of 1:100000 (w/v), 1:10000 (w/v) or 1:5000 (w/v) respectively once a week, followed by a maintenance dose phase for an injection with 1:5000 (w/v) 1.0 ml/wk for 6 weeks. Group B received rush SIT with mite injections. A total of 15 injections in a course of therapy with same concentration and volume was given as those for the routine ones except shortened intervals, namely, 9 initial injections completed in 3 days by three injections of each concentration per day with two 30 min intervals, maintenance doses were then provided in 6 days with 1:5000 (w/v) 1.0 ml/d. Thereafter, both groups A and B were maintained for one year with a dose of 1:5000 (w/v) 1.0 ml every 2 wk. Group C received antihistamine treatment as control, the patients received daily oral Ebastine 10 mg in the morning and Cetirizine dihydrochloride 10 mg in the evening for one week course and pro re nata later. Levels of serum tIgE and serum mite sIgE were detected by ELISA in 20 urticaria cases before and after one year mite SIT. RESULTS: Altogether, 2685 cases with skin rashes were detected by Df allergen SPT. The prevalence of urticaria cases sensitive to mite was 70.3% (1754/2496), which was higher than that of eczema 63.5% (54/85) and anaphylactoid purpura 60.6% (63/104) (P < 0.05) . 248 cases of urticaria sensitive to mite with SPT > or = ++ response received SIT with Injection dermatophagoides farinae for one year, clinical evaluation revealed an overall efficacy of 91.1% (226/248) with 66.1% (164/248) of excellent or good results, significantly higher than that of antihistamine treatment [12.7% (20/158)] (P < 0.01). Faster improvement of clinical symptoms was shown in rush SIT (group B) than that of routine one (group A), with higher efficacy in group B than group A (excellent and good results being 76.7% and 55.0% respectively) (P < 0.05). Serum tIgE and mite sIgE in 20 urticaria cases were detected before and after one year mite SIT, showing that tIgE decreased by half in 40% (8) of the patients, while serum mite sIgE level increased significantly (P < 0.01) one year later. CONCLUSION: Mite allergen SPT is an etiological diagnostic technique for urticaria patients sensitive to mite. Clinical efficacy of mite allergen SIT has been proved to be good for the patients, and the rush SIT shows quicker effect of relieving symptoms and better efficacy than that of the routine immunotherapy.

Classification of the sand-mite family Walchiidae (Acariformes: Trombiculoidea).

The priority of Walchiinae Ewing, 1946 based on Walchia Ewing, 1931 or Gahrliepiinae Womersley, 1952 based on Gahrliepia Oudemans, 1912 as Walchia regarded as subgeneric taxon had been a controversy for almost half a century since 1952. Both genera are valid now. Wen (1999) redefined both subfamilial characters and in turn promoted Walchiinae to a full familial status. Walchiidae (Ewing, 1946) Wen, 1999 is characterized by SIF=4B/4Bs/5B/6B-N/B-3/2-2(1)1(0)1(0)0.0000, small to large sized sand-mites, IP=320 - 1220. Scutum is small to large size, extending backward over part of dorsum, and pentagonal with acuminate posterior angle or tongue-shaped. The scutum is never provided with anteromedian setae (AM or vi) and anteromedian projection (A or N=0). Scutal setae have AL and PL pairs basically, frequently in addition with 2 -40 accessories (PPLs), and rarely 1 - 2 pairs of intermedial setae (IM). Sensillae (Sn or sci) are short and expanded. Leg segments are 7.6.6 always without variations. Casting off the anteromedian setae on scutum, increasing the leg segments and reducing the tactile body setae are the plesiomorphic characters of sand-mites, that means Walchiidae in higher advance of evolution than both Trombiculidae (Ewing, 1929) and Leeuwenhoekiidae (Womersley, 1944). It is rationally to unify three families of vertebrate parasitic larvae into a single superfamily, Trombiculoidea nec Welbourn (1991), that separable from superfamily Trombidioidea of arthropod parasitic larvae and standing at most advanced evolution of Parasitengona. Family Walchiidae has 2 subfamilies, Walchiinae Ewing, 1946 sensu Wen 1999 and Gahrliepiinae Womersley, 1952, sensu Wen 1999. Each subfamily contains two tribes, Walchiini (Ewing, 1946) Wen 1984 and Schoengastiellini Wen 1984 for Walchiinae, and Gahrliepiini sensu Wen 1984 and Intermedialiini Wen, 1984 for Gahrliepiinae. Currently this family has 18 genera and 28 subgenera, 248 nominated species and subspecies. Walchiid sand-mites are essentially an Old World family and best developed in the Oriental Region with the center of development in Southeast Asia.

[Prevalence of anaphylaxis to dust mite in human population in Xuzhou].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of anaphylaxis to dust mite in normal individuals and patients with different allergic disorders in Xuzhou. METHODS: By skin prick test (SPT) with Dermatophagoides farinae allergen extract, the prevalence of the normal individuals and OPD patients visiting hospital with allergic symptoms were examined for hypersensitivity to mite. Histamine equivalent criteria were used to evaluate the reactivity rate and the strength of skin response. Results 34 (15.3%) out of 222 pupils and students of different age groups from different levels of schools regarded as the normal population showed positive reaction to the mite allergen with usually only very weak response(+). There were no significant differences between the different age groups (P > 0.05), but it was different between 18.6% (22/118) in females and 11.5% (12/104) in males (P < 0.05). Also the reactivity rate of younger female pupils was higher than that of older ones. Among 515 cases from the OPD patients with allergic symptoms from pediatrics, ENT, respiratory and dermatology departments, 424 (82.3%) were positive with different grades of skin reaction. The rate of strong reactivity (> or = + + +) was 68.6% in allergic children, 63.5% in patients with allergic rhinitis, 41.9% in patients of respiratory department and 25.7% in patients with dermatitis. The allergic children of < or =10 years old showed highest rate of very strong reactivity (+ + + +), the rates declined along with the growing age. CONCLUSION: In Xuzhou area the SPT reactivity rate to dust mite for normal individuals was 15.3% with only weak response; while for allergic patients it was 82.3%, 47.9% of them showed strong and very strong responses.