A randomized, double‐blind trial of the effect of glucocorticoid, antileukotriene and bβ‐agonist treatment on IL‐10 serum levels in children with asthma

BACKGROUND: Levels of an immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are reduced in asthmatic airways, potentially contributing to more intense inflammation. Triamcinolone has anti-inflammatory properties and the anti-inflammatory effects of montelukast and formoterol have been discussed. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the effect of treatment with triamcinolone, montelukast and formoterol on the serum level of IL-10, eosinophil blood counts, eosinophil cationic response (ECP) and clinical parameters (symptom score, FEV1 and PC20H) in children with moderate asthma. METHODS: An 8-week, placebo-controlled and randomized, double-blind trial was carried out. The subjects were 91 children with moderate atopic asthma who were allergic to dust mite. Patients were randomly allocated to receive 400 microg triamcinolone (n = 19), 5 or 10 mg (according to age) montelukast (n = 18), 24 microg formoterol (n = 18) or placebo (n = 36). RESULTS: Seventy-nine children completed the study. After treatment with triamcinolone and montelukast the level of IL-10 in blood serum significantly increased, eosinophil blood counts and ECP levels significantly decreased and all clinical parameters improved; treatment with formoterol had no effect on IL-10 level, eosinophil blood counts in serum and bronchial hyper-reactivity; ECP level significantly decreased after treatment and asthma symptoms and FEV1 improved significantly. Mean IL-10 levels in serum before and after treatment with triamcinolone were 7.23 pg/mL with 95% CI, 6.74 -7.72% and 14.24 pg/mL with 95% CI, 11.6-16.88%, respectively (P < 0.001); with montelukast they were 6.59 pg/mL with 95% CI, 6.26-7.23% and 10.94 pg/mL with 95% CI, 8.24-12.65%, respectively (P < 0.002); with formoterol they were 7.06 pg/mL with 95% CI, 6.61-7.52% and 7.04 pg/mL with 95% CI, 6.15-7.93%. We found statistically significant correlations between serum level of IL-10 and serum level of ECP after treatment with triamcinolone and montelukast. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that one possible way by which triamcinolone and montelukast contribute to inhibition of inflammation is by increasing IL-10 levels.     

Local mucosal immunoglobulin E production: does allergy exist in non‐allergic rhinitis?

In this review, we critically evaluate the evidence for local IgE production in allergic rhinitis mucosa and the concept of local allergy in non-atopic idiopathic rhinitis. Significantly, fewer studies have focused on the disease pathways associated with non-allergic rhinitis compared with their allergic counterparts. Recently, there's been a revival of the hypothesis concerning the existence of local tissue-specific allergic disease confined to the nasal mucosa of some systemically non-atopic rhinitis subjects. Providing the evidence for local mucosal IgE production in allergic rhinitis is a pre-requisite to reviewing its existence in non-allergic rhinitis. In addition, practical and theoretical approaches useful in the detection of allergy in non-allergic rhinitis will be discussed. Furthermore, successful therapeutic regimens used in the treatment of non-allergic rhinitis will be examined as these could provide an insight into the underlying pathophysiology of this common but poorly understood disease.     

Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in atopic and healthy individuals

BACKGROUND: Stress can aggravate the allergic inflammation, but determinants of disturbed immune regulation are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine systemic immunological, local inflammatory and functional airway responses to stress in healthy and atopic individuals. METHODS: Forty-one undergraduate students, 22 with allergy of whom 16 had asthma, and 19 healthy controls, were studied in a low-stress period and in association with a large exam. Subjects completed questionnaires on stress and health behaviours, underwent lung function tests, bronchial methacholine challenge, measurements of exhaled nitric oxide and urine cortisol. Blood cells were phenotyped, and cytokines from mononuclear blood cells were analysed. RESULTS: Perceived stress and anxiety increased in both groups during the exam period while cortisol increased only in the atopy group. Cytokine production decreased broadly in response to stress in both groups, which was paralleled by an increase in the proportion of regulatory T cells (CD4(+)CD45RO(+)CD25(bright)). Interestingly, atopic individuals, but not controls, reacted with a decreased T-helper type 1/T-helper type 2 (Th1/Th2) ratio and a decrease in natural killer (NK) cell numbers in response to stress. In control subjects only, exhaled nitric oxide decreased and forced expiratory volume in one second increased during stress. CONCLUSION: Atopic and non-atopic subjects shared some immune changes in response to stress, such as a dramatic decline in cytokines and an increase in the number of regulatory T cells in peripheral blood. However, other stress-induced immune changes were unique to atopic individuals, such as a skewed Th1/Th2 ratio and reduced NK cell numbers, indicating that some pathogenic mechanisms in atopics may be more strongly affected by stress than others.     

腰椎峡部裂型滑脱症矢状位参数分析

[目的]探讨L5峡部裂型滑脱症病人腰骶部的矢状位参数的相关性及其临床意义。[方法]回顾2000年1月~2005年12月资料完整的L5峡部裂型滑脱症76例,男32例,女44例;年龄12~68岁,排除其他腰椎节段病变及下肢畸形,在包含双侧股骨头的腰椎站立位侧位片上测量腰椎前凸角(LL)、骨盆入射角(PI)、骶骨水平角(SS)、腰骶角(LSA)及滑移度等参数,并与30例健康成人比较,用t检验比较滑脱病人与健康成人、轻度滑脱和重度滑脱病人各参数之间的差异,Pearson相关系数分析各参数间的相关性(P<0.05)。[结果]根据M eyerd ing分类,轻度滑脱53例(Ⅰ、Ⅱ度),重度滑脱23例(Ⅲ、Ⅳ度)。腰椎滑脱患者的PI、LL、SS、LSA均较健康成人高,差别有统计学意义(P<0.001)。重度滑脱病人的PI、LL、LSA均较轻度滑脱的病人高,差别有统计学意义(P<0.001)。PI与滑移度、SS、LL及LSA有显著相关性,LSA与滑移度、SS与LL有显著相关性,但SS与滑移度无显著相关。[结论]骨盆的矢状位形态对滑脱的发展有直接影响,PI越大,发生滑脱的风险越大,PI、LSA越大,滑脱进展的可能性越大。     

瘦素、C-反应蛋白与老年急性冠脉综合征患者的相关研究

目的探讨急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者血浆瘦素(LP)及C-反应蛋白(CRP)水平的变化及其临床意义。方法测定急性心肌梗死组(AMI组)、不稳定型心绞痛组(UA组)、对照组(健康体检者)血浆LP及CRP浓度,分析LP、CRP与病情严重程度的关系以及LP与CRP的相关性。结果AMI组、UA组患者血浆LP、CRP浓度较对照组显著升高(P<0.01),2组患者血浆LP与CRP浓度之间均呈显著正相关;AMI组血浆LP、CRP浓度比UA组明显升高(P<0.05)。结论血浆LP及CRP浓度与ACS病情严重性呈正相关,且LP与CRP浓度呈正相关。说明LP与CRP共同参与组织炎症反应,是ACS重要的危险因素及预测因子。     

The aging process and potential interventions to extend life expectancy

Aging is commonly defined as the accumulation of diverse deleterious changes occurring in cells and tissues with advancing age that are responsible for the increased risk of disease and death. The major theories of aging are all specific of a particular cause of aging, providing useful and important insights for the understanding of age-related physiological changes. However, a global view of them is needed when debating of a process which is still obscure in some of its aspects. In this context, the search for a single cause of aging has recently been replaced by the view of aging as an extremely complex, multifactorial process. Therefore, the different theories of aging should not be considered as mutually exclusive, but complementary of others in the explanation of some or all the features of the normal aging process. To date, no convincing evidence showing the administration of existing “anti-aging” remedies can slow aging or increase longevity in humans is available. Nevertheless, several studies on animal models have shown that aging rates and life expectancy can be modified. The present review provides an overlook of the most commonly accepted theories of aging, providing current evidence of those interventions aimed at modifying the aging process.     

阿托伐他汀和匹格列酮对心血管高危人群的影响

目的探讨单独应用阿托伐他汀与联合应用阿托伐他汀和匹格列酮对高危心血管人群颈动脉内膜中层厚度（CIMT）、高敏C反应蛋白（hs-CRP）、基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）、脂联素及脂质状况的影响。方法90名有心血管危险因素的患者被随机分为两组：单独应用阿托伐他汀治疗组、联合应用阿托伐他汀和匹格列酮治疗组,分别检测两组患者治疗前及治疗六个月后的CIMT、hs-CRP、脂联素、MMP-9的血浆水平及检测血脂水平。结果单独应用阿托伐他汀及联合应用阿托伐他汀和匹格列酮均显示CIMT的显著降低（P〈0.001）,无组间差异（P〉0.05）。两组的MMP-9在治疗后均较治疗前降低,有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,但组间无统计学差异（P〉0.05）。两组对h-CRP、脂联素及血脂水平均有有意义的影响,组间有统计学差异,联合用药组提示影响更显著（P〈0.05）。联合用药组血浆脂联素水平明显升高而单独应用阿托伐他汀组未被观察到。结论阿托伐他汀明显改善CIMT,联合应用阿托伐他汀和匹格列酮对脂质状况和炎症因子有额外的影响。     

The relationship between interstitial cystitis and endometriosis in patients with chronic pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the relationship between interstitial cystitis (IC), endometriosis (endo), and chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in individuals in whom nongynecological and nonurological problems had been previously ruled out. METHODS: A prospective study of 162 consecutive women with a complaint of chronic pelvic pain seen in the clinic was performed between August 2002 and December 2005. These patients underwent a workup to exclude other causes of pelvic pain, had PUF (Pain Urgency and Frequency) questionnaires filled out, and underwent a laparoscopy and a cystoscopy with hydrodistention. Pain levels were determined, and treatment was reviewed and enumerated. Results were obtained and quantified. RESULTS: In this study, 123 (76%) patients were diagnosed with active endometriosis, 133 (82%) were diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, and 107 (66%) had both disease entities simultaneously. Thirteen (8%) patients were diagnosed with pathologies unrelated to endometriosis and interstitial cystitis. Pain levels were seen to decrease at 6 months in all groups of patients with the exception of those patients with endometriosis only. CONCLUSION: CPP is a difficult, taxing, and frustrating concern for many women in the United States. These individuals have traditionally been difficult to treat. A large number of women with CPP in our patient population have been shown to have endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, or both. Therefore, a workup for premenopausal individuals with CPP involves obtaining a history that keys into possible nongynecologic causes of pain, a complete accounting of urinary problems, and a thorough history of gynecological problems. A physical examination with a comprehensive history should be performed, and the investigation may include the possibility of a simultaneous laparoscopy and cystoscopy if warranted. These procedures can serve as both a means for diagnosis and treatment of these problems when encountered.     

Xanthogranulomatous orchitis: Review of the published work and report of one case

Xanthogranulomatous orchitis is an extremely rare inflammatory non-neoplastic destructive lesion of the testis. We report a 44-year-old man who presented with right scrotal swelling and two discharging sinuses. Testicular tumor markers were normal. Scrotal ultrasound showed heterogeneous testicular areas and irregular margin of the tunica. Surgical exploration revealed infected, unhealthy testicular tissue with necrosis and tumor-like lesion. Orchidectomy was done and histopathology showed xanthogranulomatous orchitis.