Formation, characterization, and antigenicity of lecithin-ß-conglycinin complexes.

Lipid binding has been proposed to represent a functional property of many allergenic proteins. This study investigated the formation, characterization, and antigenicity of lecithin-ß-conglycinin complexes. The results indicate that lecithin was combined with ß-conglycinin via static quenching and primarily driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. In addition, heat treatment reduced the antigenicity of complexes, as evidenced by changes in molecular weight and secondary and tertiary structures. It revealed that large aggregates developed and more hydrophobic regions were exposed for complexes after heat treatment, as well as a decrease in the ß-sheet contents and an increase in the ß-turn and random coil contents. Furthermore, the average particle size of the complexes increased with increased temperature treatment, and the morphology of the complexes exhibited an amorphous polymer. These findings shedlight on the interaction between lecithin and ß-conglycinin and help us understand the role of lecithin in allergic reactions.

Research Progress on the Correlation between the Intestinal Microbiota and Food Allergy.

The increasing incidence of food allergy is becoming a substantial public health concern. Increasing evidence suggests that alterations in the composition of the intestinal microbiota play a part in the development of food allergy. Additionally, the application of probiotics to correct gut microbiota imbalances and regulate food allergy has become a research hotspot. However, the mechanism by which the gut microbiota regulates food allergy and the efficacy of probiotics are still in the preliminary exploration stage, and there are no clear and specific conclusions. The aim of this review is to provide information regarding the immune mechanism underlying food allergy, the correlation between the intestinal microbiota and food allergy, a detailed description of causation, and mechanisms by which the intestinal microbiota regulates food allergy. Subsequently, we highlight how probiotics modulate the gut microbiome-immune axis to alleviate food allergy. This study will contribute to the dovetailing of bacterial therapeutics with immune system in allergic individuals to prevent food allergy and ameliorate food allergy symptoms.

Role of the dietary components in food allergy: A comprehensive review.

Currently, the increasing incidence of food allergy is considered a major public health and food safety concern. Importantly, food-induced anaphylaxis is an acute, life-threatening, systemic reaction with varied clinical presentations and severity that results from the release of mediators from mast cells and basophils. Many factors are blamed for the increasing incidence of food allergy, including hygiene, microbiota (composition and diversity), inopportune complementary foods (a high-fat diet), and increasing processed food consumption. Studies have shown that different food components, including lipids, sugars, polyphenols, and vitamins, can modify the immunostimulating properties of allergenic proteins and change their bioavailability. Understanding the role of the food components in allergy might improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of food allergy. This review considers the role of the dietary components, including lipids, sugars, polyphenols, and vitamins, in the development of food allergy as well as results of mechanistic investigations in in vivo and in vitro models.

EBV-positive intravascular large B-cell lymphoma of the liver: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is an extremely rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that most commonly involves the central nervous system, skin, and bone marrow. To our knowledge, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive IVLBCL in the liver has never been reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 65-year-old Chinese man with complaint of fever for 18 days. No obvious abnormality was found by physical examination. Laboratory findings were notable for anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated level of serum lactate dehydrogenase. Bone marrow on smear, biopsy, and flow cytometry revealed no lymphoma. Imaging studies showed a slightly lower density lesion in the liver with high fluorodeoxyglucose uptake and hepatosplenomegaly. Percutaneous liver biopsy revealed clustering of large atypical lymphocytes within the hepatic sinusoids. Immunohistochemically, these lymphoma cells were positive for CD20, PAX-5, MUM-1, BCL-6 and CD5, but negative for CD3 and CD10. Besides, Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA was detected in tumor cells by in situ hybridization. BCL-2, BCL-6 and MYC genes were intact tested by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. The patient was diagnosed as IVLBCL and died after 1 month of hospitalization without receiving immunochemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: IVLBCL of the liver is a highly rare lymphoma with nonspecific manifestations and dismal prognosis. Full recognition of its clinicopathological features will help to better diagnose this disease.

Three United Laparoscopic Surgery for the Treatment of Gastric Cardia Cancer-A Comparative Study with Laparotomy and Laparoscopy-Assisted Surgery.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. We have invented a novel hand-assist device that allows the placement of surgical instruments and the maneuvering of the surgeon's hand, and we have established a new hand-assisted laparoscopic technique called Three United Laparoscopic Surgery (TULS) for laparoscopic dissection of advanced gastric cancer. The present study aimed at exploring the usefulness of TULS in the treatment of advanced gastric cardia cancer. METHOD: A retrospective study on 100 patients with advanced gastric cardia cancer admitted from January 2014 to June 2015 was done. There were 38 cases of TULS, 30 cases of laparotomy, and 32 cases of laparoscopy-assisted surgery. Statistical comparisons between three treatment groups in operative time, incision length, amount of bleeding, number of lymph nodes dissected, time to flatus after surgery, rate of postoperative complications, hospital stay, and expense were done. RESULTS: For lymph node dissection, there were no significant differences between TULS, laparotomy, and laparoscopy-assisted surgery. However, compared with conventional laparotomy, TULS and laparoscopy-assisted surgery were found to be able to minimize incision length, reduce blood loss during surgery, lower postoperative complication rate, and shorten time to flatus and hospital stay. The differences were statistically significant (P < .05). The operative time of TULS was significantly shorter than that of the laparoscopy-assisted surgery (P < .05), and it was comparable to that of laparotomy. CONCLUSION: TULS is as efficient as laparotomy in lymph node dissection, and it shows the advantages of minimally invasive surgery. It can be considered a novel and promising surgical intervention for treatment of advanced gastric cancer.