Pollen allergens sensitization characteristics and risk factors among allergy rhinitis of children in mainland China: A multicenter study.

Background: No comprehensive multicenter study of sensitization patterns among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) to various common pollen allergens was available nationwide, and risks factors of pollen-induced allergic rhinitis (PiAR) in mainland China was unclear. This study aimed to fill this gap. Methods: A multicenter study was performed on 736 AR patients aged below 18 from four regions of mainland China. Patients completed a standardized questionnaire asking for the environmental risk factors and AR severity, and undertook skin prick tests (SPT) with 14 common pollen allergens. Findings: Among the 736 patients, 341 patients (46.33%) suffered at least one positive pollen allergen sensitization. The positive rate of pollen allergens was significantly higher in the high-age group (Damato et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2018; Luo et al., 2016; Demoly et al., 2011; Sampson and Albergo, 1984; Li et al., 2009; Luo et al., 2021; Ziska and Beggs, 2011; Melén et al., 2020; Jensen-Jarolim, 2017; Rönmark et al., 2017; Ge et al., 2017) [6-17] than the low-age group ( ≤ 5), while no significant difference was found between the sexes. The sensitizations to pollen allergens varied widely among four geographical areas. The positive rate was higher in north China and west China than in east China, and south China had the lowest positive rate. The region of residence, ages, ethnic minorities, history of pollen exposure, the material of living room floor and material of pillow were statistically significant risks of PiAR. Interpretation: This study provides new insights into the pollen allergens sensitization characteristics in AR and the factors affecting PiAR in mainland China.

TGF-ß Signaling Promotes Glioma Progression Through Stabilizing Sox9.

Gliomas are brain and spinal cord malignancies characterized by high malignancy, high recurrence and poor prognosis, the underlying mechanisms of which remain largely elusive. Here, we found that the Sry-related high mobility group box (Sox) family transcription factor, Sox9, was upregulated and correlated with poor prognosis of clinical gliomas. Sox9 promotes migration and invasion of glioma cells and in vivo development of xenograft tumors from inoculated glioma cells. Sox9 functions downstream of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) pathway, in which TGF-ß signaling prevent proteasomal degradation of the Sox9 protein in glioma cells. These findings provide novel insight into the wide interplay between TGF-ß signaling and oncogenic transcription factors, and have implications for targeted therapy and prognostic assessment of gliomas.

Quantitative analysis of mitral valve morphology in rheumatic and degenerative mitral valve disease with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To analyze abnormal characteristics of mitral valve (MV) caused by rheumatic and degenerative mitral valvedisease in virtue of the real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT3DTEE) and quantitative analysis software.Methods Sixty patients underwent RT3DTEE study:21 patients with rheumatic valvular disease(RHD) studied intraoperatively(9 severe mitral stenosis,6 severe mitral regurgitation,6 severe mitral stenosis couple with regurgitation ) and 20 patients with normal MV who were used as controlsubjects(NS).TomTec-Arena 1.0-4D MV-Assessment 2.3 software was used to measure parameters of annular dimensions and geometry,[eafletsurface area and so on.Results Compared with NS,the diameter between anterior and posterior(AP) of RIID increased,however,the commissural width (CW)didn't change.Parameters of AP,CW,annulus circumference(AC) and annulus area(AA) of degenerative mitral valve disease(DMVD) increased obviously,the spherical index instead didn't change,the original "saddle" shapebecame flat.The impact on mitral valve leaflets is difference between RHD and DMVD.The anterior instead of posterior leaflet arena and length became larger of the group MS and MS&MI.However,the group of DMVD has increased leaflet area of anterior as well as posterior.Posterior leaflet angle is significantly increased in the group of MS&MI.The angle,between the DAP and plane of aortic valve annular (Angle AAo-AP),were magnified in both RHD and DMVD.From the automatic dynamic analysis,the parameters of annular displacement(max),annulus area fraction(2D)decreased considerably in RHD group.Conclusion RHD has relatively mild impact on annular of MV,but the lesions of mitral valve leaflet and chordae tendineae limit the movement of bicuspid valve an nular.The dilated and flattened annular of DMVD still has the "saddle" shape.

Quantitative analysis of mitral valve morphology in rheumatic and degenerative mitral valve disease with real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To analyze abnormal characteristics of mitral valve (MV) caused by rheumatic and degenerative mitral valvedisease in virtue of the real-time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography(RT3DTEE) and quantitative analysis software.Methods Sixty patients underwent RT3DTEE study:21 patients with rheumatic valvular disease(RHD) studied intraoperatively(9 severe mitral stenosis,6 severe mitral regurgitation,6 severe mitral stenosis couple with regurgitation ) and 20 patients with normal MV who were used as controlsubjects(NS).TomTec-Arena 1.0-4D MV-Assessment 2.3 software was used to measure parameters of annular dimensions and geometry,[eafletsurface area and so on.Results Compared with NS,the diameter between anterior and posterior(AP) of RIID increased,however,the commissural width (CW)didn't change.Parameters of AP,CW,annulus circumference(AC) and annulus area(AA) of degenerative mitral valve disease(DMVD) increased obviously,the spherical index instead didn't change,the original "saddle" shapebecame flat.The impact on mitral valve leaflets is difference between RHD and DMVD.The anterior instead of posterior leaflet arena and length became larger of the group MS and MS&MI.However,the group of DMVD has increased leaflet area of anterior as well as posterior.Posterior leaflet angle is significantly increased in the group of MS&MI.The angle,between the DAP and plane of aortic valve annular (Angle AAo-AP),were magnified in both RHD and DMVD.From the automatic dynamic analysis,the parameters of annular displacement(max),annulus area fraction(2D)decreased considerably in RHD group.Conclusion RHD has relatively mild impact on annular of MV,but the lesions of mitral valve leaflet and chordae tendineae limit the movement of bicuspid valve an nular.The dilated and flattened annular of DMVD still has the "saddle" shape.

Exogenous α-calcitonin gene-related peptide attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats.

α-Calcitonin gene-related peptide (α-CGRP) is a 37 amino-acid neuropeptide that is primarily released from C-type sensory neurons. α-CGRP exerts multiple modulatory effects on immune responses and visceral organ function, but the role of exogenous α-CGRP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) has remained to be elucidated. Forty-eight rats were randomized to receive continuous intraperitoneal infusion of α-CGRP (0.4 µg/kg/min) or normal saline for 30 min, followed by intratracheal injection of 0.5 mg/kg LPS or saline. There were four groups of animals: The saline-saline (S-S) group; the saline-α-CGRP (S-C) group; the LPS-saline (L-S) group and the LPS-α-CGRP (L-C) group. Mean arterial pressure and arterial blood gases were assessed prior to α-CGRP and LPS administration and every hour following LPS treatment. After 4 h, bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and used to assess total cell count and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, intracellular cell adhesion molecule 1 and macrophage inflammatory protein 2. Lung tissue was also collected for assessing wet-to-dry (W/D) ratio, histology and Evans blue (EB) dye extravasation. Pulmonary α-CGRP concentration and α-CGRP receptor expression were also examined, and inducible cyclic adenosine monophosphate early repressor (ICER) and TNF-α mRNA expression levels were measured. Treatment with exogenous α-CGRP improved oxygenation during LPS-induced ALI. Correspondingly, histological injury, total cell count, inflammatory cytokine levels, W/D ratio and EB dye extravasation were also significantly reduced. α-CGRP receptor 1 expression was noted in pulmonary endothelial cells and alveolar macrophages and α-CGRP receptor expression levels were decreased during ALI, whereas pulmonary α-CGRP expression was continuously increased. Furthermore, exogenous α-CGRP induced upregulation of ICER during LPS-induced ALI. In conclusion, exogenous α-CGRP improved oxygenation and ameliorated lung damage in LPS-induced ALI, and these effects were associated with the upregulation of ICER.