Chemokines and chemokine receptors in allergic rhinitis: from mediators to potential therapeutic targets.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition characterized by immune cell infiltration of the nasal mucosa, with symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal obstruction, and itchiness. Currently, common medication for AR is anti-inflammatory treatment including intranasal steroids, oral, or intranasal anti-histamines, and immunotherapy. These strategies are effective to the majority of patients with AR, but some patients under medication cannot achieve symptom relieve and suffer from bothersome side effects, indicating a demand for novel anti-inflammatory treatment as alternatives. Chemokines, a complex superfamily of small, secreted proteins, were initially recognized for their chemotactic effects on various immune cells. Chemokines constitute both physiological and inflammatory cell positioning systems and mediate cell localization to certain sites via interaction with their receptors, which are expressed on responding cells. Chemokines and their receptors participate in the sensitization, early phase response, and late phase response of AR by promoting inflammatory cell recruitment, differentiation, and allergic mediator release. In this review, we first systemically summarize chemokines and chemokine receptors that are important in AR pathophysiology and then discuss potential strategies targeting chemokines and their receptors for AR therapy.

[Clinical evaluation of indirect post core by two different impression methods].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of indirect cast post core by two different impression methods between silicone rubber impression and agar/alginate combination impression. METHODS: 389 massive destruction teeth after root canal therapy were randomly divided into two groups (group A and group B). The teeth of group A was treated by silicone rubber impression material for making indirect post core impression. The teeth of group B was treated by agar/alginate combination impression for making indirect post core impression. The effect of two different impression methods was evaluated. RESULTS: The success rate of making indirect post core impression by silicone rubber impression method was higher than that of making impression by agar/alginate combination impression method. Significant difference was found in making indirect post core impression between premolars and molars by two different impression methods (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in making indirect post core impression of anterior teeth by two different impression methods (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical effect of making indirect post core impression by silicone rubber impression method is better than that of making impression by agar/alginate combination impression method.

[In vitro comparison of the retention adjustment of telescopic crowns].

PURPOSE: The objective of the present in vitro study is to explore the retention readjustment measure of the non-precious metal telescopic crown. METHODS: Twenty-seven standard size dies were divided into three groups randomly, conventional Co-Cr alloy group, Co-Cr alloy slit telescopic crown group and Au-Pd alloy group. Each group had 9 dies. The retentive force of telescopic crowns was investigated after repeated insertion/separation tests. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS12.0 software package for one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The retention of Au-Pd crown group and Co-Cr alloy slit telescopic crown was significantly larger than that of conventional Co-Cr alloy crown group. The maximal retention of Co-Cr alloy slit of the telescopic crown group was significantly larger than Au-Pd crown group. Compared with Co-Cr alloy slit telescopic crown group, the retention of all procedures in Au-Pd crown group had statistical significance except the retention of 800 procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The retention of slit telescopic crown is similar to precious mental telescopic crown. Slit telescopic crown can compensate the retention deficient of none-precious metal telescopic crown. Supported by Science and Technology Research Project of Bureau of Health of Jiangxi Province (Grant No.060436).