Serum IgE Predicts Difference of Population and Allergens in Allergic Diseases: Data from Weifang City, China.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is the most important promoter of allergic inflammation. However, there are few systematic studies on IgE in age range, genders, disease spectrum, and time regularity. AIM: To screen the common allergens, allergen spectrum, and IgE difference between type 2 inflammatory allergic diseases and other allergic diseases in Weifang, China. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed by estimating patients' clinical data suffering from allergic diseases (urticaria, pollinosis, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma) between May 2019 and April 2020 using an allergen detection kit of Macro-Union Pharmaceutical. RESULTS: 732 of the 1367 patients showed different antigen positive, and the positive rate was 53.5%. The most common allergens were dust mites, mixed fungi, Artemisia pollen, cat/dog dander, and cockroaches. There were 27.0% (369/1367) of the patients with single positive allergen-specific IgE (sIgE), 26.5% (363/1367) with multiple-positive IgE. The total immunoglobulin E (tIgE) levels varied with gender, age, and type of disease. There was a difference in the distribution of allergens between children and adults. A positive correlation between the serum-specific IgE and the corresponding local inhaled allergen density was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that type 2 inflammatory allergic diseases have higher serum IgE and a higher probability of inhaled sIgE positive. According to age, gender, and condition, serological IgE detection of allergens provides new insight into the early diagnosis and prevention of allergic diseases.

Predictive Factors for the Spontaneous Recanalization of Large and Middle Cerebral Arteries after Acute Occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the predictive factors for the spontaneous recanalization of occluded arteries in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: A total of 139 patients with consecutive acute ischemic stroke were enrolled from June 2010 to June 2013. The clinical and biochemical parameters were measured in each participant. Occlusion and recanalization of the carotid artery, the middle cerebral artery, and the vertebral and basilar arteries were identified by using computed tomographic angiography or digital subtraction angiography. RESULTS: Among the 139 patients, 23 showed spontaneous recanalization, whereas 116 did not. In the patients with spontaneous recanalization, the proportion of atrial fibrillation was significantly lower (0% versus 29.31%, P= .01), whereas the proportion of stage 3 hypertension was significantly higher (60.87% versus 32.76%, P= .01) than that of those without recanalization. Logistic regression analysis showed that the proportion of atrial fibrillation was negatively (odds ratio [OR]: .117, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .015-.918, P= .04) associated with spontaneous recanalization, whereas the proportion of stage 3 hypertension was positively (OR: 4.316, 95% CI: 1.533-12.154, P= .01) associated with it. CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation is associated with reduced spontaneous recanalization of the large and middle cerebral arteries in patients after acute ischemic stroke-induced occlusion, whereas stage 3 hypertension may contribute to the promotion of the recanalization.

Plasma interleukin-18/interleukin-18 binding protein ratio in Chinese with NAFLD.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The liver has been recognized as a major target of injury in patients with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has even been considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease remained unclear. Interleukin-18 belonged to pro-inflammatory cytokines and previous studies showed plasma levels of interleukin-18 correlated with metabolic syndrome. There has been no report regarding plasma levels of interleukin-18 in Chinese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODOLOGY: A total of 46 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients and 46 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics and plasma levels of interleukin-18, interleukin-18 binding protein, and interleukin-18/interleukin-18 binding protein ratio. Interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 binding protein were determined by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Bender MedSystem, Austria, R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA, respectively). RESULTS: As compared with control group, patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had significantly higher body mass index (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), triglyceride (p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.002), fasting sugar (p = 0.042), fasting insulin (p < 0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (p < 0.001), and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.006). Patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had significantly higher interleukin-18 (340.10 +/- 43.13pg/mL) and interleukin-18/ interleukin-18 binding protein ratio (1.31 +/- 0.12) compared with control group. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients with abnormal alanine aminotransferase had higher plasma interleukin-18 (352.60 pg/mL) than non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients with normal alanine aminotransferase but did not reach the statistical differences. CONCLUSIONS: Through the chemotactic and proinflammatory effects, interleukin-18 may play a role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Chinese patients, and it is reasonable to take into account interleukin-18 binding protein when evaluating the effect of interleukin-18.

Preparation, characterization, and properties of nano-TiO2/silk fibroin hybrid films by sol-gel processing.

By sol-gel processing, the regenerated nano-TiO(2)/SF (silk fibroin) hybrid films were synthesized using different ratios of TiO(2) to SF. The experimental results revealed that the nano-TiO(2) particles were well dispersed in the regenerated SF. The diameter of the nano-TiO(2) particles processed by sol-gel method was about 80 nm. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), the structures and properties of these hybrid films were characterized. The XRD measurement indicated that the crystal structures of the hybrid films were transited from typical Silk I to typical Silk II. However, it was found that excessive increase in the content of nano-TiO(2) led to the breakage of the crystal structures of the hybrid films. The FTIR and EDS analysis showed that new bonds were formed between the nano-TiO(2) particles and the SF. Through TGA and DTG, it was demonstrated that the heat transition temperature of the hybrid films was also enhanced.