[Research advances in influencing factors for immune tolerance to food allergens in children].

Food allergen-specific immune tolerance is defined as nonresponsiveness of the adaptive immune system to food antigens. Failed development or inhibition of such tolerance may cause food allergy. With the increasing incidence rate of food allergy year by year, more and more studies have found the association between food allergy and various diseases. The development of food allergen-specific immune tolerance in childhood has been taken more and more seriously. In recent years, many studies have shown that the development of food allergen-specific immune tolerance is influenced by various factors, which can be roughly divided into antigens, organisms, and environment. This article reviews the influencing factors for the development of immune tolerance to food allergens in children, in order to provide help for reducing the incidence of food allergy and improving the prognosis of food allergy.

Changes of serum angiogenic factors concentrations in patients with diabetes and unstable angina pectoris.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic microvascular changes are considered to be influenced by angiogenic factors. As a compensatory mechanism, the expression of some angiogenic factors are elevated in ischemic myocardium. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of serum angiogenic factors, and the association among these angiogenic factors, the severity of coronary artery stenosis and collateral vessels form in patients with diabetes and unstable angina pectoris (UAP). METHODS: 42 patients with diabetes (diabetes group), 57 patients with UAP (UAP group), and 36 age-matched healthy people (control group) were selected. Serum concentrations of angiogenic factors were measured using cytokine array technology. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was scored using the angiographic Gensini score. Coronary collateral vessels were scored according to Rentrop's classification. RESULTS: No significant differences in the serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), angiogenin, angiostatin, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) were detected between control group and diabetes group. But in patients with diabetes complicated with UAP and in patients with UAP without diabetes, serum concentrations of VEGF and Ang-2 were elevated (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). Only serum Ang-2 concentrations were significantly correlated with Gensini score (r=0.585, p < 0.001), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (r=0.501, p < 0.001), left ventricular end systolic diameter (r=0.563, p < 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.523, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum concentrations of VEGF and Ang-2 were increased, and diabetes didn't affect this increases in patients with UAP. Serum Ang-2 concentrations were correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis.

Altered serum levels of IL-33 in patients with advanced systolic chronic heart failure: correlation with oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has been linked to chronic heart failure (CHF) in animal studies, but data on serum IL-33 levels in human CHF are not available. We analyzed levels of IL-33 in serum, and investigated the possible role of IL-33 in oxidative stress. METHODS: A total of 191 subjects with advanced systolic CHF (CHF group), 175 patients with pre-existing cardiac diseases but no CHF (non-CHF group), and 177 healthy controls (HC group) were enrolled. Serum levels of IL-33, soluble ST2 (sST2) and N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (eSOD) activity, as well as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), were determined. The exact form of IL-33 in serum was identified. Effects of IL-33 and sST2 on MDA content and SOD activity in angiotensin (Ang II)-stimulated AC16 cells were assessed. RESULTS: Serum levels of IL-33 and sST2 were elevated in CHF patients, whereas IL-33/sST2 ratios were decreased. In CHF patients, pre-existing cardiac diseases and medications used upon hospital admission did not affect IL-33 concentrations or the IL-33/sST2 ratio. Full-length IL-33, which could not be detected in serum from HC and barely detected in non-CHF patients, was significantly up-regulated in CHF patients. IL-33 levels were positively correlated with markers of CHF severity. IL-33/sST2 ratios were slightly and negatively related to MDA concentrations. IL-33 directly reduced MDA and enhanced SOD activity in Ang II-stimulated AC16 cells, which were greatly attenuated by sST2. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of IL-33, especially the full-length form, were elevated in CHF patients whereas IL-33 bioactivity was reduced. In advanced CHF, IL-33 may exert anti-oxidation effects, which may be overwhelmed by concurrently elevated levels of sST2.

Dilator method and needle method for atrial transseptal puncture: a retrospective study from a cohort of 4443 patients.

AIMS: To compare the safety and efficacy of a new dilator method vs the traditional needle method for transseptal puncture (TSP) in a large cohort study. METHODS AND RESULTS: From February 1995 to December 2010, 4443 consecutive patients undergoing TSP done either by a needle method or by a new dilator method were reviewed retrospectively. Data as procedure-related time and complications were evaluated. For the standard needle method, TSP was performed by extending out the needle. In comparison, for the new dilator technique, TSP was performed without an outer sheath and with the needle kept within the dilator; the blunt tip of the dilator was used to help locating the position of the fossa ovalis on purpose. Transseptal puncture was performed by the new dilator method in 2151 patients (48.4%) and by the traditional needle method in 2292 patients (51.6%). The average TSP time needed by the dilator method was longer than that needed by the needle method (5.6 ± 3.9 vs. 3.8 ± 2.9 min, P< 0.05). Additional left atrial angiography was required in seven (0.33%) patients for the dilator and in 39 patients (1.70%) for the needle method (P< 0.05). The total rate of severe complications and obvious TSP-related complications was significantly lower in patients who underwent the dilator method than in those who underwent the needle method (0.33 vs. 1.18%, and 0.20 vs. 1.00%, respectively, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the new dilator technique is much safer than that of the standard needle method. It needs relatively longer procedure time but results in significantly fewer episodes of severe complications. Particularly, the blunt tip of the dilator can be used to help locate the fossa ovalis. Therefore, the new dilator technique might be a better choice for relatively less-experienced operators.

Complement factor H Y402H gene polymorphism and coronary heart disease susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

The complement factor H (CFH) Y402H (T1277C) gene polymorphism has been reported to be associated with coronary heart disease (CHD), but results were conflicting. To evaluate the role of the variant in CHD, we performed meta-analyses of all available data. Both electronic and manual searches were performed, all relevant studies were identified. ORs with 95% confidential intervals (CI) under codominant (CC versus TT, TC versus TT), dominant (CC + TC versus TT) and recessive (CC versus TT + TC) models were calculated. Publication bias was addressed. Ten studies including 11 cohorts comprising of 29,764 participants were included. No association between the CFH T1227C polymorphism and CHD could be found. (For overall analysis: dominant model, OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 0.97-1.11; recessive model, OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 0.97-1.11; for Caucasian subgroup: OR = 1.08 95%CI: 0.92-1.27; recessive model, OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.96-1.11). Two studies reported positive results in separate population (Caucasian study: recessive model, OR = 0.51, 95%CI: 0.30-0.86; Asians study: dominant model, OR = 2.37, 95%CI: 1.13-4.96). Current evidence do not support the association between the CFH T1277C polymorphism and CHD risk among common population. The association, which could be influenced by CHD onset age, CHD risk factors status and genetics backgrounds, might be significant in some population. More studies on different CHD onset ages and risk factor status should be encouraged.

ATG16L1 T300A polymorphism and Crohn's disease susceptibility: evidence from 13,022 cases and 17,532 controls.

Many studies have reported the association between the autophagy-related 16-like 1 gene (ATG16L1) T300A polymorphism (rs2241880) and Crohn's disease (CD) susceptibility, but the results were inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. A total of 24 studies including 13,022 cases and 17,532 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the ATG16L1 T300A polymorphism was associated with CD risk in Caucasians (P < 0.01). The pooled estimations of OR(1) (GG vs. AA) and OR(2) (GA vs. AA) in Caucasian studies by Bayesian meta-analysis method was [1.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.69-2.05] and (1.39, 95% CI 1.27-1.51), respectively. The mode of heritance of the G allele was most likely to be co-dominant in Caucasians. However, no significant association was found in Asians. This meta-analysis suggests that the G allele of ATG16L1 T300A is a low-penetrant gene for developing CD in Caucasians.

CD14 C-260T gene polymorphism and ischemic heart disease susceptibility: a HuGE review and meta-analysis.

The CD14 gene C-260T polymorphism has been reported to be associated with ischemic heart disease, but results were conflicting. To evaluate the role of the CD14 C-260T polymorphism in ischemic heart disease, we performed meta-analyses of all available data. Comprehensive searches for studies on the association between the genotypes (CC, CT, TT) distributions and ischemic heart disease risk were performed. Patients with acute coronary syndrome, prior myocardial infarction, stable angina pectoris, or angiographic coronary artery stenosis were included. Potential sources of heterogeneity were explored by meta-regression. Analyses were performed under European, East Asian, and Indian studies, respectively. Data were available for 19 studies involving 11,813 cases and 6,196 controls. The summary odds ratio under the recessive model was 1.53 (95% confidence interval: 1.20-1.96) for East Asian studies published in English language journals on overall ischemic heart disease. Pooled odds ratios under the codominant model were about 1.81 (95% confidence interval: 1.36-2.40) and 1.70 (95% confidence interval: 1.26-2.29) for Chinese studies on overall ischemic heart disease and other ischemic heart disease (angina pectoris and angiographic coronary artery stenosis), respectively. No significant association was found in a European population, an Indian population, or the vulnerable plaque ischemic heart disease (acute coronary syndrome and prior myocardial infarction) subgroup of an East Asian population. It is probable that T allele and TT genotype are associated with ischemic heart disease in the East Asian population but not in the European or Indian populations. Further studies are warranted to assess these associations in greater details, especially in East Asian and Indian populations.

[Cox regression analysis on influencing factors of coronary heart disease among people over 40 years of age].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the affecting factors on coronary heart disease among people over 40 years of age in Guangxi area, China. METHODS: Baseline data was gathered through the Third National Blood Pressure Survey in 1991 in China. A total number of 11 818 adults over 40 years old had been studied in Guangxi province. Data of morbidity and mortality of coronary heart disease was obtained. RESULTS: Cardiovascular events were related to systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, smoking, BMI regardless of their myocardial infarct (MI) history. Cox regression analysis showed that the relative risk for cardiovascular events increased by 21 [95% confidence interval (CI): 9.06-48.44] times for those people having MI history. When pulse pressure, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure increased by every 10 mm Hg, the relative risk for cardiovascular events increased by 1.29 (95% CI: 1.11-1.49), 1.18 (95% CI: 1.02-1.22), 1.13 (95% CI: 1.05-1.28) respectively. There was 1.23 (95% Cl: 1.05-1.45) times higher in smoker than non-smoker on relative risk for cardiovascular events. When BMI increasing 1, the relative risk for cardiovascular events would increase 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01-1 .05) times. CONCLUSION: Hypertension, smoking, increase of BMI were the risk factors of coronary heart disease among people who were over 40 years of age.