Prediction of clinical efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy for Artemisia sieversiana pollen allergic rhinitis by serum metabolomics.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Specific immunotherapy is the only effective etiological treatment for allergic rhinitis, but subcutaneous immunotherapy has a slow onset and poor compliance. Predicting the clinical efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy in advance can reduce unnecessary medical costs and resource waste. This study aimed to identify metabolites that could predict the efficacy of subcutaneous immunotherapy on seasonal allergic rhinitis by serum metabolomics. METHODS: Patients (n = 43) with Artemisia sieversiana pollen allergic rhinitis were enrolled and treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy for one year. Patients were divided into the ineffective group (n = 10) and effective group (n = 33) according to the therapeutic index. Serum samples were collected before treatment. Metabolomics was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and analyzed differential compounds and related metabolic pathways. RESULTS: A total of 129 differential metabolites (P < 0.05) were identified and 4 metabolic pathways, namely taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, pentose phosphate pathway, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, were involved. CONCLUSION: Some metabolites, such as hypotaurine, taurine, and l-alanine, have the potential to become predictive biomarkers for effective subcutaneous immunotherapy.

Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase Is a Candidate Predictive Biomarker for Successful Allergen Immunotherapy.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder that affects 10% to 40% of the population worldwide. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) represents the only therapy that has the potential to resolve clinical symptoms of allergic rhinitis. However, up to 30% of patients do not respond to AIT. Biomarkers predicting the clinical efficacy of AIT as early as possible would significantly improve the patient selection and reduce unnecessary societal costs. Methods: Artemisia pollen allergic patients who received at least 1-year AIT were enrolled. Clinical responses before and after 1-year AIT were evaluated to determine AIT responders. Artemisia specific IgE and IgG4 levels were measured by using ImmunoCAP and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) separately. Stepwise regression analysis was performed to identify which rhinitis-relevant parameters explained the most variability in AIT results. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomics was applied to identify the potential candidate biomarkers in the sera of responders and non-responders collected before and after 1-year therapy. The diagnostic performance of the potential biomarkers was then assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 30 responders and 15 non-responders. Results: Artemisia specific IgE and IgG4 levels were elevated only in the responders. Regression analysis of allergic rhinitis-relevant parameters provided a robust model that included two most significant variables (sneeze and nasal congestion). Thirteen candidate biomarkers were identified for predicting AIT outcomes. Based on their association with allergy and protein fold change (more than 1.1 or less than 0.9), four proteins were identified to be potential biomarkers for predicting effective AIT. However, further ELISA revealed that only leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) was consistent with the proteomics data. The LTA4H level in responders increased significantly (P < 0.001) after 1-year therapy, while that of non-responders remained unchanged. Assessment of LTA4H generated area under curve (AUC) value of 0.844 (95% confidence interval: 0.727 to 0.962; P < 0.05) in distinguishing responders from the non-responders, suggesting that serum LTA4H might be a potential biomarker for predicting the efficiency of AIT. Conclusion: Serum LTA4H may be a potential biomarker for early prediction of an effective AIT.

[Effects and mechanism of Angelicae Sinensis Radix on Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in mice with asthma and Yin deficiency syndrome].

Angelicae Sinensis Radix, with nourishing Yin, promoting blood circulation, and moisturizing dryness functions, is commonly used in clinical medicine. In order to investigate the effects and mechanism of Angelica sinensis(AS) on Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg in mice with asthma and Yin deficiency syndrome, asthmatic and Yin deficiency syndrome Balb/c mice models were established by injecting and inhaling ovalbumin(OVA) and thyroxin. The models were treated with dexamethasone(DXM), AS extract and AS extract+DXM, respectively. Pathological examination of lung tissues was conducted by HE staining, and ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-4, IL-17, IFN-γ, TGF-ß as well as retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor (RORγt). Results showed that AS could significantly improve the situation of inflammation infiltration, increase ratios of IFN-γ/IL-4 and TGF-ß/IL-17, decrease the levels of RORγt in lung tissues. The AS+DXM group showed a best treatment effect. The results indicated that AS played a therapeutic role for asthma with Yin deficiency syndrome and improved airway inflammation by inhibiting the expression of RORγt in lung tissues and regulating the balance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg.

[Effect of yupingfeng droppill in treatment of allergic rhinitis].

To evaluate the efficacy of Yupingfeng droppill and western medicine in treatment of allergic rhinitis, 76 patients from Beijing Shijitan hospital during April 2011 to May 2012 were selected and randomly divided into the treatment group (n = 44) and control group (n = 32). The treatment group was treated with Yupingfeng droppill and cetirizine tablets, the control group was treated with cetirizine tablets, the effect of the two groups was observed after 28 days, after treatment, the symptoms and inferior turbinate volume contrast of the two groups were better than before. The obvious effective rate and total effective rate were 84.09%, 95.45% and 46.87%, 56.25% in the treatment group and and control group. The differences in the obvious effective rate and total effective rate were statistically significant between two groups (P < 0.05), Yupingfeng droppill has the curative effect on allergic rhinitis, which is better than simple oral cetirizine tablets.

Effect of low-level laser therapy on allergic asthma in rats.

Asthma is a complex chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that involves the activation of many inflammatory and other types of cells. We investigated the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on allergic asthma in rats and compared its effect with that of the glucocorticoid budesonide. Asthma was induced by challenge and repeated exposure to ovalbumin. Asthmatic rats were then treated with LLLT or budesonide suspension. LLLT at 8 J/cm(2) once daily for 21 days could relieve pathological damage and airway inflammation in asthmatic rats. LLLT could decrease the total numbers of cells and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. LLLT could reduce levels of IL-4 and increase IFN-γ levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum, meanwhile reduce serum IgE levels. Flow cytometry assay showed that LLLT can regulate the Th1/Th2 imbalance of asthmatic rats. LLLT had a similar effect to that of budesonide. These findings suggest that the mechanism of LLLT treatment of asthma is by adjustment of Th1/Th2 imbalance. Thus, LLLT could take over some of the effects of budesonide for the treatment of asthma, thereby reducing some of the side effects of budesonide.

[Effect of water and nitrogen fertilizer coupling on yield and growth of genuine medicinal materials Chuzhou Chrysanthemum morifolium].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the suitable water and nitrogen management mode in artificial cultivation of Chuzhou Chrysanthemum morifolium. METHODS: According to two factors quadratic regression rotation design experience, pot experiment was conducted. RESULTS: There were remarkable effects of water and nitrogen coupling on inflorescence number, yield and overground part biomass of Chuzhou Chrysanthemum morifolium, and there were significant positive interaction between water and nitrogen. Effects of water on early-term inflorescence yield and overground part biomass of Chuzhou Chrysanthemum morifolium were higher than that of nitrogen fertilizer, but the effect on total inflorescence yield was opposite. CONCLUSION: Considering for the fresh inflorescence yield, the suitable water and nitrogen management mode is to keep 93% of the water holding capacity and nitrogen fertilizer (N) 0.34 g/kg of Chuzhou Chrysanthemum morifolium in pot experiment, and as for the dry inflorescence yield, the suitable water and nitrogen management mode is to keep 75% of the water holding capacity and nitrogen fertilizer (N) 0.2 g/kg.

Antidepressant effect of Shudihuang on mice exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Depression is a severe mood disorder. It was treated with Shudihuang, the steamed roots of Rehmannia glutinota Libosch. (SRG), in traditional Chinese medicine. The present paper was designed to verify its antidepressant effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mouse model of depression was established though unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). Low and high doses of SRG were administered orally. Fur state, body and organ weight, and gastric ulcers were examined. Locomotion was assayed in open field test. Liver antioxidant indexes were measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: Fur state, body and organ weight were found to be insensitive to UCMS. The locomotion reduced by UCMS was restored by low dose of SRG (2.5 g/kg BW) but not by high dose (5 g/kg BW). UCMS resulted in aggravated gastric ulceration, elevated liver malondialdehyde, together with reduced total antioxidant capability, glutathione content, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. The alterations were improved by SRG in a dose-dependent manner. The differences in the activity of glutathione peroxidase were statistically nonsignificant among groups. Clomipramine the positive drug was similar to SRG especially in antioxidation. CONCLUSION: SRG is of therapeutic value for depression-like disorders, and antioxidation may be one of the mechanisms underlying its antidepressant action.

[Therapeutic effect of puerarin on rats with pre-eclampsia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of puerarin on the nitrogen monoxide (NO) concentration in rats with pre-eclampsia. METHODS: Thirty SD rats were selected and divided into three groups: normal pregnancy group, pre-eclampsia model group and puerarin group (10 rats in each group). We used endotoxin to set up the pre-eclampsia model rats on gestation 14th day and puerarin to treat these rats. The 24 hour urine protein on gestation 8th, 15th, 19th days were determined, as well as the heart rate, blood pressure on gestation 10th, 15th, 19th days. Nitrate reductase method was used to determine the plasma NO concentration of each group on gestation 21st day. RESULTS: (1) There was significant difference in urine protein concentration between the puerarin [(73 +/- 20) microg], pre-eclampsia [(464 +/- 57) microg], and normal pregnancy [(140 +/- 12) microg], groups (which is equal to the value of urine protein of pregnancy 19th day subtracting that of pregnancy 8th day, P < 0.01). (2) There was significant difference in blood pressure (which is equal to the value of blood pressure of pregnancy 19th day subtracting that of pregnancy 10th day) between the three groups (P < 0.01). (3) There was no significant difference in changes of heart rate between the three groups (which is equal to the value of heart rate of pregnancy 19th day subtracting that of pregnancy 10th day, P > 0.05). (4) There was significant difference in NO concentration (NO concentration at gestation 19th day subtracting that of 8th day) between the three groups (P < 0.01), and the value of normal pregnancy group was (158 +/- 31) mmol/L, pre-eclampsia model group (49 +/- 36) mmol/L, puerarin group (162 +/- 14) mmol/L. CONCLUSION: Puerarin can elevate the level of NO concentration and decrease the blood pressure and urine protein, but not the heart rate in pre-eclampsia model rats, which suggests that puerarin may be used to treat pre-eclampsia.