[Research Progress in Detection of Bee Venom Allergens].

Hymenopteran insect stings are a risk factor that cannot be ignored for the people allergic to hymenopteran venoms.In China,the current diagnostic tools cannot provide accurate information to identify sensitized insects,thus affecting clinical diagnosis and treatment.Honeybee is a common hymenopteran insect.Due to its wide distribution,large number,and complex venom composition,researchers have carried out recombination schemes for the main allergens of honeybee venom,laying a theoretical foundation for the detection of allergens.The development of diagnostic technologies for allergen components can accurately detect bee venom allergens,providing a new set of clinical diagnosis and treatment schemes for the population allergic to bee venom.

An Online Survey on the Relationship Between Positive Coping and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS) of Medical Students in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Mediating Role of Social Support.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has caused varying degrees of psychological stress among medical students. This research explored the post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) of medical students in China and their relationship with positive coping and social support. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the form of cross-sectional online survey, 2280 medical students locked down at home were selected by random cluster method to investigate social support, coping style, and PTSS using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), respectively. RESULTS This research found that the PTSS detection rate in medical students was 10.42% during the COVID-19 pandemic. The PTSS scores of females were significantly higher than that of the males. However, the PTSS detection rate in females (9.71%) was not significantly different from that in males (11.24%). Compared with those of the non-PTSS group, the total score and its all-factor score of social support, the total score of coping style and the positive coping score of the PTSS group were much lower, while the negative coping score of the PTSS group was much higher (P<0.01). Positive coping was positively correlated with social support, while positive coping and social support were negatively correlated with PTSS. The total effect of positive coping on PTSS was -0.310 (P<0.001), the direct effect was -0.128 (P<0.01), and the indirect effect was -0.182 (P<0.001). Social support played a mediating role between positive coping and PTSS, with the mediating effect accounting for 58.81% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS Social support plays a mediating role between positive coping and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Objective support and positive coping are the 2 main protective factors of PTSS.

Interleukin-10-alveolar macrophage cell membrane-coated nanoparticles alleviate airway inflammation and regulate Th17/regulatory T cell balance in a mouse model.

Background: Allergic airway disease (AAD) is a chronic disease characterized by airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and hyperresponsiveness. Although exogenous interleukin-10 (IL-10) alleviates allergic inflammation, it has a short half-life in vivo. Cell membrane-coated nanomaterials have been shown to protect therapeutic payloads and increase therapeutic efficacy. Objective: This study was aimed at investigating the efficacy of a novel macrophage-based nanoparticle drug for the treatment of house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic airway diseases. Methods: IL-10-poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles were encapsulated in alveolar macrophage cell membranes. An allergic airway disease mouse model was established by repeated inhalation of HDM extracts. The mice were treated with free IL-10, IL-10-PLGA nanoparticles (IL10-NP), or IL-10-alveolar macrophage cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (IL10-AMNP). The therapeutic effects were evaluated by measuring airway hyperresponsiveness, lung inflammation, cytokine levels, and regulatory T cells (Treg)- T-helper 17 (Th17) cell balance. Results: Compared to free IL-10, IL10-AMNP significantly reduced airway hyperresponsiveness and T-helper 2 (Th2)/Th17 cytokines and inhibited neutrophilia and eosinophilia recruitment into the airways of HDM-induced mouse models. Additionally, the balance between Tregs and Th17 cells was significantly improved in groups treated with IL10-AMNP. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that PLGA nanoparticle cores coated with alveolar macrophage cell membranes can effectively deliver therapeutic cytokines to the lungs and improve the homeostatic balance between Tregs and Th17 cells. These findings suggest that macrophage-based nanoparticle drugs represent a promising approach for treating allergic airway diseases.

Effects of Online Game and Short Video Behavior on Academic Delay of Gratification - Mediating Effects of Anxiety, Depression and Retrospective Memory.

Objective: Learner dependence on short videos has many pitfalls for learning outcomes, but the negative effects of excessive short video use have been little discussed in the learning psychology literature. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of excessive short video use on anxiety, depression, prospective memory, and academically delayed gratification (ADOG) in relation to online gaming-related behaviours, and explored the possible mechanisms by which excessive online gaming and short video use may lead to decreased ADOG, to expand our understanding of excessive short video use. Methods: Based on the whole class random sampling method, a questionnaire survey was conducted among college students in Northern Anhui, China from May 7 to July 27, 2022. The questionnaires included the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire Scale (PHQ-9), Prospective and Retrospective Memory (PRM) Questionnaire, and ADOG Scale. Results: A total of 1016 participants completed the survey. The study found that of all the internet behaviors, 20.8% of the college students mainly played online games, 43.9% mainly played short videos, and 35.3% conducted other online behaviors. When compared with other internet behaviors, online gaming and short video behaviors can cause more serious anxiety/depression and worse PRM and ADOG scores. As time spent playing online games and short videos increased, anxiety and depression became worse, and the scores for PRM and ADOG also declined. Anxiety, depression, and PRM mediate the relationship between time spent on online gaming/short videos and ADOG. Conclusion: Excessive short videos behaviour may produce the same psychological problems and learning problems as online gaming disorder. Excessive short video and online gaming behaviors may affect ADOG performance through anxiety, depression, and prospective memory. These findings could be used as a basis for future studies on the improvement of ADOG.

p-Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway Involved in Methamphetamine-induced Executive Dysfunction through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis in the Dorsal Striatum.

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is known to cause executive dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanism underlying METH induced executive dysfunction remains unclear. Go/NoGo experiment was performed in mice to evaluate METH-induced executive dysfunction. Immunoblot analysis of Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), phosphorylated Nrf2 (p-Nrf2), heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), Glucose Regulated Protein 78(GRP78), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase3 was performed to evaluate the levels of oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in the dorsal striatum (Dstr). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was conducted to evaluate the level of oxidative stress. TUNEL staining was conducted to detect apoptotic neurons. The animal Go/NoGo testing confirmed that METH abuse impaired the inhibitory control ability of executive function. Meanwhile, METH down-regulated the expression of p-Nrf2, HO-1 and GSH-Px and activated ER stress and apoptosis in the Dstr. Microinjection of Tert-butylhydroxyquinone (TBHQ), an Nrf2 agonist, into the Dstr increased the expression of p-Nrf2, HO-1, and GSH-Px, ameliorated ER stress, apoptosis and executive dysfunction caused by METH. Our results indicated that the p-Nrf2/HO-1 pathway was potentially involved in mediating methamphetamine-induced executive dysfunction by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in the dorsal striatum.

Serum IgE profiles in Chinese pollinosis patients with grass pollen sensitisation.

PURPOSE: Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds is a common allergen source. The characteristics of pollen allergy in China are obviously different from Europe. Most studies have focused on tree and weed pollen, but there is a paucity of data on grass pollen sensitisation in China. Therefore, we used component-resolved diagnostics to investigate the serum-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) to grass pollen in Chinese patients with pollinosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 547 patients with pollen allegy from an outpatient Allergy Department in Beijing, China. All the patients answered questionnaires about their clinical allergy histories. Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and sIgE levels to grass pollen (Bermuda, Timothy grass) were quantified by ImmunoCAP using 0.35 kUA/L as a threshold for positivity. RESULTS: Of the 547 pollinosis patients, 389 (71.1%) showed a positive sIgE reaction to either grass pollen, or both. The prevalence of food allergy was significantly lower in patients with grass pollen sensitisation. Among the 389 patients with grass pollen sensitisation, the prevalence of sIgE to allergen extracts of bermuda, mugwort, ragweed, plane, hop, ash, birch, and timothy grass was 97%, 96%, 94%, 88%, 88%, 84%, 78%, and 78%, respectively. However, only 134/389 (34%) were positive for Cyn d 1, 29/389 (7%) for Phl p 1, and 8/389 (2%) for Phl p 5b. For pollinosis patients, 62/547 (11%) were sIgE-positive for cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCDs), and their grass pollen-sIgE was also positive. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of in vitro IgE sensitisation to grass pollen extract is high in Chinese patients with pollinosis. But mostly spurious and characterized by IgE sensitisation to profilins and CCD, induced by other pollen. Component-resolved diagnostics is an extremely useful tool precise diagnostics of pollen allergy in China.

Associations of executive function and age of first use of methamphetamine with methamphetamine relapse.

Background and aims: Methamphetamine (MA) is a psychostimulant associated with a high relapse rate among patients with MA use disorder (MUD). Long-term use of MA is associated with mental disorders, executive dysfunction, aggressive behaviors, and impulsivity among patients with MUD. However, identifying which factors may be more closely associated with relapse has not been investigated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the psychological factors and the history of MA use that may influence MA relapse. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 168 male MUD patients (MUD group) and 65 healthy male residents (control group). Each patient was evaluated with self-report measures of executive dysfunction, psychopathological symptoms, impulsiveness, aggressiveness, and history of MA use. Data were analyzed with t-tests, analyses of variance, and correlation and regression analyses. Results: The MUD group reported greater executive dysfunction, psychopathological symptoms, impulsivity, and aggression than the control group. Lower age of first MA use was associated both with having relapsed one or more times and with having relapsed two or more times; greater executive dysfunction was associated only with having relapsed two or more times. Conclusion: Patients with MUD reported worse executive function and mental health. Current results also suggest that lower age of first MA use may influence relapse rate in general, while executive dysfunction may influence repeated relapse in particular. The present results add to the literature concerning factors that may increase the risk of relapse in individuals with MUD.

A Case of Anaphylaxis Caused by Major Royal Jelly Protein 3 of Royal Jelly and Its Cross-Reactivity with Honeycomb.

PURPOSE: Royal jelly and honeycomb are commonly consumed in China, and anaphylaxis caused by ingestion of royal jelly is rare. To date, there is no report of anaphylaxis after ingestion of royal jelly in China. Its cross-reactivity with honeycomb is still unclear. CASE REPORT: A 56-year-old Chinese female experienced two episodes of anaphylaxis within 1 hour after ingestion of royal jelly within one month. After avoiding royal jelly and other bee products, no anaphylactic reaction occurred again. The skin prick test and basophil activation test showed positive reactivity to royal jelly and honeycomb. In immunoblotting and immunoblotting inhibition tests, a 60 kDa protein was recognized in royal jelly and cross-reactivity with honeycomb. The mass spectrometry data revealed that the 62kDa protein belongs to major royal jelly protein 3. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that major royal jelly protein 3 of royal jelly is a main allergen that induces anaphylaxis and cross-reactivity with honeycomb. Therefore, the patient was allergic to royal jelly to avoid other bee products.

Characteristics of pollen-related food allergy based on individual pollen allergy profiles in the Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Patients with pollinosis are often multi-sensitized to diverse pollen allergens. However, little is known about pollen allergy types among Chinese pollinosis patients. This study is aimed to characterize clinical manifestations of food allergy among patients with different types of pollen allergy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 402 pollinosis patients from an outpatient allergy department of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital who had been diagnosed by experienced allergists. All included patients who answered a questionnaire regarding seasonal pollinosis and clinical symptoms after ingestion of food and underwent intradermal skin tests. Total IgE and specific IgE levels were quantified by ImmunoCAP, using 0.35 kUA/L as a threshold for positivity. RESULTS: The patients were divided into 3 groups, based on the season during which they experienced symptoms and the 2 peaks of Chinese airborne pollen: spring-tree pollen symptoms group (SG), autumn-weed pollen symptoms group (AG), and a combined spring and autumn pollen symptoms group (CG). Birch pollen (83%) and ash pollen (74%) were common allergens among patients with spring symptoms, while mugwort pollen (87%) was a common allergen among patients with autumn symptoms. In total, 30% of the study population experienced pollen-related food allergy. Pollen-related food allergies were more prevalent among the single-season symptom groups (68% and 50% for the SG and AG, respectively) than among the CG (20%). All patients with pollen-related food-induced anaphylaxis exhibited autumn weed pollen symptoms. Except for 2 patients, all patients with food-induced anaphylaxis were allergic to mugwort pollen. In the SG, all patients with food allergy were sensitive to birch pollen, with birch and Bet v 1-specific IgE levels higher in this group than in the group without food allergy (p < 0.001). In the AG, Art v 3 was more prevalent among patients with pollen-related food allergy than without food allergy (79% vs. 33%, p < 0.001), a proportion similar to the one in the CG (67% vs. 48%, p = 0.01). Meanwhile, the Art v 3-specific IgE levels among patients with pollen-related food allergy were higher than among tolerant patients in the AG (p < 0.001) and CG (p = 0.02). Unexpectedly, the Art v 3-specific IgE levels were higher in patients with food-induced anaphylaxis than with oral allergy syndrome only in the CG. CONCLUSIONS: Bet v 1 (a Pathogenesis-related 10 protein) and Art v 3 (a non-specific lipid transfer protein; nsLTP) are candidate molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis of food allergies in patients with season-specific pollen-related allergies. Measuring pollen allergen component-specific IgE levels might be an effective tool for the management of pollinosis in clinical practice in China.

Management of choledocholithiasis: comparison between laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy.

AIM: Choledocholithiasis is present in 5 to 10 percent of patients who have cholelithiasis. In the area of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) and intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy (IOES) have been used to treat choledocholithiasis. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and hospital costs of LCBDE with IOES. METHODS: Between November 1999 and October 2002, patients with choledocholithiasis undergoing LC plus LCBDE (Group A, n=45) were retrospectively compared to those undergoing LC plus IOES (Group B, n=57) at a single institution. RESULTS: Ductal stone clearance rates were equivalent for the two groups (88% versus 89%, P=0.436). The conversion rate was higher for Group B (8.8% versus 4.4%, P=0.381), as was the morbidity (12.3% versus 6.7%, P=0.336). There were no other significant differences between the two groups. The complications were mainly related to endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES), and the hospital costs were significantly increased in this subset of Group B (median, 23,910 versus 14,955 RMB yuan, P=0.03). Although hospital stay was longer in Group A (median, 7 versus 6 days, P=0.041), the patients in Group A had a significantly decreased cost of hospitalization compared with those in Group B (median, 11,362 versus 15,466 RMB yuan, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate equivalent ductal stone clearance rates for the two groups. LCBDE management appears safer, and is associated with a significantly decreased hospital cost. The findings suggest LCBDE for choledocholithiasis is a better option.

Prospective study of scoring system in selective intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

AIM: To evaluate of scoring system in predicting choledocholithiasis in selective intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: The scoring system of predicting choledocholithiasis was developed during the retrospective study in 264 cases, and was tested in 184 to evaluate its predictive value in choledocholithiasis. RESULTS: The scoring system was developed in a retrospective study of 264 cases, the statistical analyses showed the predictive factors included sex, transaminase levels, alkaline phosphatase level, bilirubin level, and common bile duct diameter on ultrasonography. The scoring system was used in 184 cases prospectively, of which, 3 of 162 (1.9 %) cases scoring <3 had choledocholithiasis, 17 of 22 (77.3 %) cases scores >=3 had choledocholithiasis. A case of scores >=3 or more prospectively should be considered highly intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: The scoring system can predict choledocholithiasis and is helpful in selection patients for intraoperative cholangiography.

Expression and significance of angiopoietin-2 in gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the expression and pathological factors of Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in primary gastric cancers and adjacent normal tissues. METHODS: The expression of Angiopoietin-2 and VEGF were studied in 72 primary gastric cancers and adjacent normal tissues from the same patients by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Ang-2 was mainly expression in tumor cells. There were significantly difference between expression of Ang-2 in primary gastric cancer and in adjacent normal tissue samples (P=0.003). It was statistically correlation between Ang-2 and VEGF expression in tumors (P=0.0055). With regard to Ang-2 expression in tumors, there were significant difference between early stage and advanced stage (P=0.017), and significant difference between positive vascular involvement and negative vascular involvement (P=0.032). However, there was no significant difference between moderate-poor differential type and high differential type (P=0.908), between positive lymph node metastasis and negative lymph node metastasis (P=0.752), between positive serosal invasion and negative serosal invasion (P=0.764). The cases with expression of Ang-2 were increasing with advanced stage and vascular involvement. CONCLUSION: The results manifested that Angiopoietin-2, coordinated with VEGF, play role in regulating tumor angiogenesis of gastric cancer.