[Distribution characteristics and results of allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in Ningxia area].

Objective:To investigate the distribution of allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis （AR） in Ningxia, and provide theoretical data for the prevention and treatment of AR in this region. Methods:A total of 1664 patients diagnosed with AR in the Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department of Yinchuan First People's Hospital Outpatient Clinic from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively collected. Use the allergen sIgE antibody detection kit （immunoblotting method） to detect inhalation and ingestion allergens in patients.Results: ①Among all AR patients, 1 158 cases were detected positive, resulting in the detection rate was 69.59%; ②The detection rate of inhalation allergen was 65.87%, and the detection rate of ingestion allergen was 19.83%; ③Mugwort was the most sensitive allergen, and 76.32% of the patients having a positive grade ≥3; ④Out of the patients, 294 cases （25.39%） were allergic to only one allergen, 244 cases （21.07%） were allergic to two allergens, and 620 cases （53.54%） were allergic to three or more allergens; ⑤During different seasons, the highest number of positive allergens detected was in the summer, with 968 cases （83.59%）. Mugwort was the main allergen during this season （69.01%）. After the COVID-19 epidemic, the total positive rate of sIgE tests in AR patients decreased compared to before, and the difference was statistically significant （P<0.001）; ⑥Mugwort, dog epithelium, mold combination, egg, peanut, soybean, Marine fish combination and fruit combination all showed statistically significant differences between different gender groups （P<0.05）; ⑦Common ragweed, mugwort, dust mite combination, cockroach, egg, milk, Marine fish combination, shrimp, fruit combination and nut combination all showed statistically significant differences among different age groups （P<0.05）; ⑧There were statistically significant differences in hay dust among different ethnic groups （P<0.05）. Conclusion:Artemisia argyi is the main allergen in Ningxia, and the distribution characteristics of different allergens are influenced by treatment season, the COVID-19 epidemic, gender, age, ethnicity, and other factors, showing certain distribution patterns and rules.

Zinc supplement reduces allergic responses through modulating the p38 MAPK pathway activation in an allergic rhinitis mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa mediated by a variety of inflammatory mediators. Zinc (Zn) is one of the main essential trace elements in the human body and plays a variety of biological functions including the inhibition of inflammatory responses. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of Zn on the ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mouse model. METHOD: In this study, we established a model of AR by treating mice with OVA after feeding them with different doses of Zn. ELISA, real-time quantitative PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the protein expression and mRNA transcription level of IgE, inflammatory cytokines and p38, respectively. RESULTS: The authors identified that immunoglobulin E concentrations were significantly higher in the Zn-deficient mice than in the Zn-normal group; Zn supplementation significantly reversed the increase in IgE concentrations caused by Zn deficiency. The increased concentrations of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in serum caused by Zn deficiency were reduced by Zn supplementation. The study further found that Zn deficiency could significantly increase the expression and activity of the p38 MAPK protein, while its levels were significantly decreased after Zn supplementation. The role of Zn supplement in the inflammatory response induced by Zn deficiency was verified by Zn-deficient mice with a p38 pathway inhibitor (SB203580), and it was observed that the elevated concentrations of IgE and inflammatory cytokines induced by Zn deficiency could be significantly reversed. CONCLUSION: Our data indicated that Zn exerted anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the p38 MAPK activation in the AR mouse model. The findings provided evidence that Zn might be beneficial in regulating AR.

Investigation of the Immunoprotective Effect of Zinc on Ovalbumin Induced BALB/C Male Mice Based on NF-KB Signaling Pathway.

Allergic rhinitis is one of the common chronic inflammatory diseases of the nasal mucosa. In order to investigate the effect of zinc on ovalbumin induced allergic rhinitis in BALB/C male mice based on NF-KB signaling pathway, thirty BALB/C male mice are randomly divided into three groups: control group, ovalbumin induced allergic rhinitis asthma group and zinc intervention group. The experimental results show that Zinc supplementation in allergic asthma mice with allergic rhinitis correct the immune response of TH2 cells by inhibiting THE NF-KB signaling pathway, reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung nasal tissue, and reduce airway co-hyperreactivity to improve the clinical symptoms of asthma and play an immune protective role.

Role of Zinc Sulphate in Immune Regulation in Artemisia annua Pollen-challenged P815 Mastocytoma Cells.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of zinc sulphate in immune regulation in Artemisia annua pollen-challenged P815 mastocytoma cells. Methods P815 mastocytoma cells were treated with various concentrations of zinc sulphate and Artemisia annua pollen. Cell proliferation was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8. The amount of ST2 and p38 in the cells were measured using Western blotting. The level of interleukins (IL)-33 in the supernatant was determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor were measured using the cytometric bead array. Results Artemisia annua pollen at a concentration >0.001 µg/mL induced allergic response in the P815 mastocytoma cells. Expressions of IL-33, IL-4, ST2, and p38 increased along with higher concentrations of Artemisia annua pollen. Zinc sulphate of 50-200 µmol/L promoted the proliferation of P815 mastocytoma cells. Zinc sulphate attenuated the upregulation of IL-33, IL-4, ST2, and p38 caused by Artemisia annua pollen. Conclusion Zinc sulphate can promote the proliferation of P815 mastocytoma cells. It can also attenuate allergic response in the P815 mastocytoma cells induced by Artemisia annua pollen, which might provide a new treatment method for allergic diseases.

[Survey on the prevalence of childhood allergic rhinitis in Yinchuan].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemic features of childhood allergic rhinitis (AR) and correlative risk factors in Yinchuan. METHOD: A questionnaire survey on AR was conducted among 800 children in eight communities, aged from 5 to 14 years old, by random cluster sampling, from March 2012 to March 2013 in Yinchuan. Suspects of AR, as identified by the survey, were recommended to specialist examinations for accurate diagnosis. The results were statistically analyzed. RESULT: Seven hundred and sixteen questionnaires were returned and 662 questionnaires were available. The prevalence rate of AR in children aged from 5 to 14 is 14.65% in Yinchuan. Seventy-nine point thirty-eight percent children suffered from intermittent AR, while 20.61% children suffered from persistent AR. The difference of prevalence between female (13.57%) and male (15.44%) was insignificant statistically (Χ2=0.454, P>0.05). The difference of prevalence between the Han (15.72%) and the Hui (11.35%) insignificant statistically (Χ2=2.055, P>0.05). The prevalence of AR children aged five to nine years was 13.80%, as aged ten to fourteen years was 19.72%. There was a significante differece between two groups (Χ2=4.056, P<0.05). The most explosive outbreak month in children with allergic rhinitis was July to September. The most common allergens found in patients were seasonal plants: mugwort, weed, dandelion, cereal, locust, ragweed, and willow. Fifteen point forty-six percent patients with AR also had rhinitic, 14.43% patients had asthma and 14.43% patients had allergic conjunctivitis. The history of drug allergy accounted for 12.37% in patients with AR, and food allergy accounted for 26.80%. In allergic rhinitis risk factors, family history accounted for 30.92%, non-breastfeeding representing accounted for 34.02%, animal feeding history accounted for 19.59%; exposure to passive smoking accounted for 42.26%; domestic decoration accounted for 12.37%. There were significante difference between AR children and normal in family history and non-breastfeeding (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of AR in children aged from 5 to 14 in Yinchuan is 14.45%. Strategy of prevention and treatment of AR should be worked out according to the epidemic feature of AR.