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To conclude, we demonstrated that increases in air pollutant concentrations and changes in meteorological conditions are associated with number of outpatient visits for AR. Keywords: air pollutants; allergic rhinitis; distributed non-linear lag model; generalized additive model; meteorological factors EN air pollutants allergic rhinitis distributed non-linear lag model generalized additive model meteorological factors 1656 1659 4 06/02/23 20230601 NES 230601 Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by nasal obstruction, pruritus, rhinorrhea, and sneezing, and it affects 10% to 40% of the population.[1] The prevalence of self-reported AR has been reported increasingly from 11.1% to 17.6% in China.[2] Climate change and air pollution are thought to be responsible for the global increase in allergic diseases.[[3]] However, most previous studies on air pollution or meteorological factors affecting AR have been conducted in a single- and medium-latitude city.[[5]] To find the association between daily air pollutants and meteorological factors and the incidence of AR, we conducted this low-latitude multi-city study in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), China. (B) Percent change (95% CI) of daily AR outpatient visits for each ten units increase in concentrations of six pollutants using different lag structures in GBA. [Extracted from the article]

Under the concept of "united airway diseases," the airway is a single organ wherein upper and lower airway diseases are commonly comorbid. The upper and lower airways are lined with respiratory epithelium that plays a vital role in immune surveillance and modulation as the first line of defense to various infective pathogens, allergens, and physical insults. Recently, there is a common hypothesis emphasizing epithelium‐derived cytokines, namely IL‐25, IL‐33, and TSLP, as key regulatory factors that link in immune‐pathogenic mechanisms of allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and asthma, mainly involving in type 2 inflammatory responses and linking innate and adaptive immunities. Herein, we review studies that elucidated the role of epithelium‐derived triple cytokines in both upper and lower airways with the purpose of expediting better clinical treatments and managements of AR, CRS, asthma, and other associated allergic diseases via applications of the modulators of these cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Evidences showed improvements in clinical asthma outcomes following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients with asthma. However, pulmonary function benefits have remained controversial up to date. The goal of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of ESS on pulmonary function tests in CRS patients with asthma. Methods: Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched up to March 2018 to obtain relevant studies. The researches that evaluated the effects of ESS on pulmonary function in CRS patients with asthma and had at least one parameter of pulmonary function tests before and after surgery were included in the study. Results: A total of 13 studies containing 421 patients satisfied the eligibility after judgment by 2 reviewers. These included three RCTs and ten case series. The heterogeneity in parameters of spirometry and difference in data presented forms across studies along with the lack of standard deviation of some data make it difficult to synthesize results. If data were unavailable for meta-analyses, descriptive statistics were used to report study outcomes. After qualitative and quantitative analysis, the weighted mean change after ESS in forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF25–75%) was 0.21 L/s (95% CI 0.12–0.30); eight of ten studies supported that forced expiratory volume at 1 s (FEV1) improved after ESS; five of six studies supported that peak expiratory flow (PEF) improved after ESS. However, strength of evidence is generally low to insufficient. Conclusion: A generally low-quality evidence supports the association between ESS and improvements in FEF25–75%, FEV1 and PEF. A few studies met inclusion criteria for meta-analysis, which indicates the need for more high-quality studies to determine the effect of ESS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Cysteinyl leukotriene (LT) has been proposed in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This study sought to examine the expression of the LT receptor (LTR) in CRSwNP patients and evaluate the potential role of LTR antagonist (LTRA) in the management of eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRS) patients. Methods Nasal polyps and uncinate process tissues were collected from 18 ECRS patients, 13 non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (non-ECRS) patients, and 16 control subjects. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of LTR (cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 [CysLT1R] and cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 2 [CysLT2R]) was examined using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Moreover, the effects of LTRA and steroids on total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) of uncontrolled ECRS patients were evaluated. Results The mRNA and protein expression of CysLT1R and CysLT2R was significantly increased in polyp tissues compared with healthy controls ( p < 0.05). Compared with the non-ECRS subset, the ECRS subset showed significantly increased expression of CysLT1R and CysLT2R, as well as leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and leukotriene D4 (LTC4) levels ( p < 0.05). Moreover, combined LTRA and steroids significantly decreased TNSS more than steroids alone in uncontrolled ECRS patients ( p < 0.01). Conclusion Our findings indicate that LTR was differentially expressed between ECRS and non-ECRS patients, and that LTRA may be used as an additional therapy for ECRS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. This study aimed to investigate miR-106a expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and to analyze the function of miR-106a. Materials and Methods. miR-106a expression levels in PBMCs from 40 healthy controls and 56 CHB patients were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The luciferase activity assays were used to determine whether miR-106a binds to 3′UTR of IL-8. miR-106a mimics and inhibitors were transfected into healthy PBMCs. IL-8 mRNA and protein levels were detected and determined by qRT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Results. The qRT-PCR results suggested that the PBMC miR-106a levels were decreased in CHB patients. IL-8 was augmented in CHB patients and was inversely correlated with miR-106a levels. The luciferase activity assays indicated that IL-8 is a target of miR-106a. Exogenous expression of miR-106a could significantly repress IL-8 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in PBMCs, whereas miR-106a inhibitor had the opposite effects. Conclusions. This study suggested that miR-106a is downregulated in PBMCs of CHB patients and that miR-106a may play an important role in CHB by targeting IL-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents an impending global health challenge. Current management strategies often face setbacks, emphasizing the need for preclinical models that faithfully mimic the human disease and its comorbidities. The liver disease progression aggravation diet (LIDPAD), a diet‐induced murine model, extensively characterized under thermoneutral conditions and refined diets is introduced to ensure reproducibility and minimize species differences. LIDPAD recapitulates key phenotypic, genetic, and metabolic hallmarks of human MASLD, including multiorgan communications, and disease progression within 4 to 16 weeks. These findings reveal gut‐liver dysregulation as an early event and compensatory pancreatic islet hyperplasia, underscoring the gut‐pancreas axis in MASLD pathogenesis. A robust computational pipeline is also detailed for transcriptomic‐guided disease staging, validated against multiple harmonized human hepatic transcriptomic datasets, thereby enabling comparative studies between human and mouse models. This approach underscores the remarkable similarity of the LIDPAD model to human MASLD. The LIDPAD model fidelity to human MASLD is further confirmed by its responsiveness to dietary interventions, with improvements in metabolic profiles, liver histopathology, hepatic transcriptomes, and gut microbial diversity. These results, alongside the closely aligned changing disease‐associated molecular signatures between the human MASLD and LIDPAD model, affirm the model's relevance and potential for driving therapeutic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a heterogeneous inflammatory disease usually characterized by chronic eosinophilia in the sinonasal mucosa, which often requires glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. However, the therapeutic response varies markedly between individuals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of sinus computed tomography (CT) for GC-sensitivity in patients with CRSwNP. Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-blinded study of 47 consecutive patients with CRSwNP. These patients were given a course of oral prednisone (30 mg daily for 14 days) and subsequently classified into objectively GC-sensitive and -insensitive subgroup according to the change in nasal polyp size score, or subjectively GC-sensitive and -insensitive subgroup according to the change in total nasal symptom score. The following parameters were compared between GC-sensitive and GC-insensitive subgroups: Lund-Mackay scores, olfactory cleft (OC) scores, and blood eosinophil counts and ratio (percentage of the total white blood cells). Results: 25/47 (53.2%) and 29/47 (61.7%) patients were objectively and subjectively sensitive to GC therapy, respectively. The OC score and the blood eosinophil counts and ratio in GC-sensitive subgroup were significantly higher than those in GC-insensitive subgroup, defined either objectively or subjectively. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that OC score was independent risk factor for objective or subjective GC-sensitivity. The OC score exhibited comparable accuracy with the blood eosinophil ratio as predictor of objective and subjective GC-sensitivity (the OC score AUC = 0.775 and 0.829, respectively). A OC score of 3.5 could act as a reliable indicator for predicting the clinical response to GC therapy in CRSwNP. Conclusion: Our prospective findings validate the potential value of sinus CT scan in predicting GC-sensitivity in CRSwNP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Comorbidities, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are common in patients with rhinosinusitis (RS). However, the link between RS and GERD has not been fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the causal relationship between GERD and acute (ARS) or chronic RS (CRS), providing references for the pathogenesis and management of RS. Methods: The data were obtained from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit Open GWAS project and FinnGen. A total of 972,838 individuals were included. The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was applied to obtain the primary results of the study. Weighted median, MR-Egger, and mode-based methods were used to determine the robustness of the results. Cochran's Q statistic and MR-Egger method were applied to detect heterogeneity and pleiotrophy in instrumental variables (IVs). Other sensitivity analyses included MR-PRESSO and leave-one-out analysis. Results: The MR study showed that GERD was associated with an increased risk of CRS (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.18–1.57, p < 0.001). The results of other analysis methods were broadly consistent with the IVW estimate. No heterogeneity was detected by Cochran's Q test (p = 0.061) and MR-PRESSO (p = 0.074). No horizontal pleiotropy was shown in IVs (p = 0.700). GERD was also associated with an increased risk of ARS (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.17–1.48, p < 0.001). Some analytical results were inconsistent with the IVW estimate. No heterogeneity and pleiotropy were observed. There was no sufficient evidence for a reverse causal effect of RS on GERD. Conclusion: Our study supported that GERD promoted the risk of CRS and may be a potential risk factor for ARS. This provides additional support for further investigation into the mechanisms of GERD on RS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Accurate preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid glands is crucial for successful surgical management of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of preoperative MRI, 4D-CT, and ultrasonography (US) in localizing parathyroid lesions in patients with SHPT. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from a tertiary-care hospital and identified 52 patients who received preoperative MRI and/or 4D-CT and/or US and/or 99mTc-MIBI and subsequently underwent surgery for SHPT between May 2013 and March 2020. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of each imaging modality to accurately detect enlarged parathyroid glands were determined using histopathology as the criterion standard with confirmation using the postoperative biochemical response. Results: A total of 198 lesions were identified intraoperatively among the 52 patients included in this investigation. MRI outperformed 4D-CT and US in terms of sensitivity (P < 0.01), specificity (P = 0.455), PPV (P = 0.753), and NPV (P = 0.185). The sensitivity and specificity for MRI, 4D-CT, and US were 90.91%, 88.95%, and 66.23% and 58.33%, 63.64%, and 50.00%, respectively. The PPV of combined MRI and 4D-CT (96.52%) was the highest among the combined 2 modalities. The smallest diameter of the parathyroid gland precisely localized by MRI was 8× 3 mm, 5× 5 mm by 4D-CT, and 5× 3 mm by US. Conclusion: MRI has superior diagnostic performance compared with other modalities as a first-line imaging study for patients undergoing renal hyperparathyroidism, especially for ectopic or small parathyroid lesions. We suggest performing US first for diagnosis and then MRI to make a precise localization, and MRI proved to be very helpful in achieving a high success rate in the surgical treatment of renal hyperparathyroidism in our own experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoassays are considered important methods for detecting disease biomarkers for biomedical diagnosis. Particularly, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a commonly-used immunoassay method due to its high reliability and low cost. Nowadays, automatic analyzers integrating all steps of ELISA can achieve detection without manual operation to save labor, increase detection efficiency and avoid manual error. However, most ELISA analyzers require more than 30 min for one detection, which are not fast enough for on-site point-of-care testing (POCT). Herein, based on the reciprocating-flowing immunobinding strategy, we developed a miniaturized reciprocating-flowing POCT platform (RF-POCT platform) for rapid immunodetection. RF-POCT platform, which included an electronic control module, a fluid control module, a mechanical control module and a detection module, enabled fast immunobinding of antigen and antibody. Taking ELISA as an example of immunoassay methods for RF-POCT platform, we developed a miniaturized reciprocating-flowing ELISA analyzer (RF-ELISA analyzer) to automatically detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (SARS-CoV-2 N protein) and dust mite-specific immunoglobulin E (DM-IgE), with the LOD of 5.2–6.6 pg/mL and the CV less than 3 %. The detection required only 3.5 min. Afterwards, we detected the SARS-CoV-2 N protein in nasal swab samples and the DM-IgE in serum samples; the specificities were 85.7–100 %, the sensitivities were 96.3–100 %. The quantitative results from RF-ELISA analyzer were generally-consistent with those from large ELISA analyzers in hospitals. Therefore, RF-ELISA analyzer demonstrated excellent performance on ultrafast, highly-sensitive, and on-site immunoassay, with potential to support on-site POCT for primary hospitals and community clinics. • A miniaturized point-of-care testing (POCT) platform enables fast immunobinding of antigen and antibody. • A miniaturized ELISA analyzer based on this platform achieves automatic detection of multiple disease biomarkers. • This ELISA analyzer requires only 3.5 min for a detection, may be the fastest ELISA analyzer so far. • Compared to existing miniaturized ELISA analyzers, the LODs of this ELISA analyzer are much lower. • This ELISA analyzer could strongly support the on-site POCT for primary hospitals and community clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "The LIDPAD Mouse Model Captures the Multisystem Interactions and Extrahepatic Complications in MASLD" discusses a new mouse model called LIDPAD that accurately replicates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in humans. The model incorporates factors such as metabolic syndrome, gut dysbiosis, multiorgan dysfunction, and neurobehavioral anomalies. The study highlights the close relevancy of the LIDPAD model to human MASLD, making it a valuable tool for further research in liver disease. The authors of the article are Nguan Soon Tan and Walter Wahli, among others. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Neoadjuvant programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors have drawn increasing attention in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, we investigated the safety and efficacy of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP), combined with a PD-1 inhibitor, in patients with locally advanced HNSCC. Materials and methods: A total of 23 eligible patients were administered two cycles of toripalimab and GP followed by surgical resection. The primary endpoints were safety, treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), and non-operation delay rates. The secondary endpoints consisted of pathological complete response (pCR) rate, major pathological response (MPR) rate, objective response rate (ORR), and R0 resection rate. Results: The incidence of TRAEs from grades 1 to 4 was 43.5%, 34.8%, 13.0%, and 8.7%, respectively. Grade 3/4 TRAEs included neutropenia, fatigue, hyperglycemia, nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite, rash, and diarrhea. No treatment-related surgical delay was observed. The radiographic response rates were 5.0% (CR), 40.0% (PR), and 55.0% (SD). The ORR reached 45.0%. Eighteen patients underwent successful surgical resection. The R0 resection rate was 100%. The pathological response rates were 16.7% (pCR), 27.8% (MPR, two of five near-pCR), 16.7% (PPR), and 38.8% (NPR). CD4, CD8, CD20, and CD38 expression in the tumors significantly increased after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The increase in CD20 levels after neoadjuvant treatment in patients with pCR/MPR was significantly higher than in patients with PPR/NPR. Conclusion: Triweekly neoadjuvant toripalimab-GP is feasible and achieves promising pCR and MPR rates in patients with resectable locally advanced HNSCC. Trial registration: Chinese clinical trial registry, ChiCTR2100043743, Registered 27 Febrary 2021- Retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=120570 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Intractable epistaxis refers to deep occult bleeding and uncontrolled persistent bleeding. Effective treatment can only be implemented if the bleeding site is quickly identified and the underlying disease controlled.Objective: The relationship between the bleeding site and the pathogenic factors of intractable epistaxis was analyzed to further strengthen the prevention and treatment of intractable epistaxis by outpatient doctors, family doctors and otolaryngologists. Through accurate search and minimally invasive hemostasis, it helped optimize the treatment plan for intractable epistaxis.Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 90 patients with intractable epistaxis who were admitted to hospital from January 2016 to December 2017. Chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between intractable epistaxis site with underlying disease, gender and age.Results: The distribution of intractable epistaxis was associated with hypertension (χ2=13.76, P=0.017). The incidence of hypertension was the highest in the olfactory sulcus of the middle turbinate region at about 60%. In addition, age was also identified as a factor that affects the distribution of intractable epistaxis (χ2=21.95, P=0.02). The incidence of intractable epistaxis on the vault of inferiornasal meatus region was highest (63%) in young patients. On the other hand, the olfactory sulcus of the middle turbinate region accounted for the highest incidence in the middle-aged and elderly group (66.7%). There was no obvious relation between the bleeding site of intractable epistaxis with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.Conclusion: The bleeding site of intractable epistaxis is related to hypertension and age. This may improve the identification of the site of intractable epistaxis for timely implementation of treatment and can further strengthen the prevention and treatment of intractable epistaxis in outpatients or family doctors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of concomitant BA in AR patients under 15 years, living in rural regions, exposing to smoking, no AR family history, or no BA family history is significantly increased in 2017-2018. Patients with AR having varied family histories and staying in different environments show distinct trends in the prevalence of BA. Allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA) are both immunoglobin E (IgE)-mediated diseases triggered by similar allergens; hence, they can be considered a "united airway" rather than two distinct diseases. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Neutrophil accumulation has been observed in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, the functions of neutrophils are poorly understood. Neutrophils produce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are involved in a variety of chronic inflammatory pathologies. LL‐37 is the only member of the cathelicidin family in human. Objective: Our aims were to examine the presence of NETs in CRSwNP and to investigate the regulatory effect of LL‐37 on NET formation. Methods: Nasal polyp tissues were investigated for the presence of NETs by using immunofluorescent (IF) staining. The expression and distribution of LL‐37 were examined by using quantitative RT‐PCR, ELISA, IF, and immunohistochemistry. Purified peripheral neutrophils were stimulated with LL‐37 and stained with IF to identify NETs. NETs% was defined as percentage of NET‐generating neutrophils to the total number of neutrophils. Results: Neutrophil extracellular traps were located in the subepithelial layer of nasal polyps and control tissues. Nasal polyps had higher NETs% compared with that of controls (23.01% ± 3.43% vs 4.52% ± 1.33%, P < 0.0001). NET count was also increased in nasal polyps. NET count correlated with neutrophil count (r = 0.908, P < 0.001). LL‐37 protein and mRNA levels were upregulated in nasal polyps. LL‐37 was distributed in the epithelial and subepithelial layer and mainly expressed by neutrophils. Moreover, LL‐37 promoted peripheral neutrophils to form NETs in a dose‐dependent manner ex vivo. Interestingly, dexamethasone did not inhibit the effect of LL‐37 on inducing NET formation. Furthermore, peripheral neutrophils from CRSwNP patients were more susceptible to LL‐37‐mediated NET formation, compared with neutrophils derived from control subjects. In addition, NETs released LL‐37 in vivo and ex vivo. Conclusion: Neutrophil extracellular traps are significantly increased in nasal polyps and LL‐37 induces NET formation in CRSwNP patients. These findings indicate that NETs may contribute to the pathogenesis of neutrophilic inflammation in CRSwNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tight junctions (TJs) alteration is commonly seen in airway inflammatory diseases. Oncostatin M (OSM) is an inflammatory mediator associated with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). We have previously shown that human nasal epithelial cells (hNECs) are highly permissive cells for influenza A virus (IAV). However, its role in TJs alteration and the effects of IAV on inducing OSM expression in nasal epithelium remains to be further investigated. In this study, OSM and TJs expression was measured and compared between inferior turbinate from healthy controls and nasal polyps from CRSwNP. Additionally, hNECs cultured at air-liquid interface (ALI) were infected with H3N2 influenza virus to study the role of influenza virus in inducing epithelial OSM expression as a possible means of exacerbation. The expression of ZO-1, claudin-1, and occludin was markedly decreased and correlated negatively with that of OSM in CRSwNP. By using the in vitro hNEC model, H3N2 infection resulted in significantly increased OSM expression (2.2-, 4.7- and 3.9-fold higher at 8, 24, and 48 h post-infection vs. mock infection). Furthermore, OSM is found to co-localize with ciliated and goblet cells in hNECs infected with H3N2 influenza virus. Our findings demonstrated that increased OSM expression is implicated in CRSwNP as a possible mechanism of TJs’ impairment, which can be further augmented following influenza infection via epithelial OSM expression, possibly contributing to exacerbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Septoplasty has been the definitive treatment for nasal septum deviation, but its postoperative procedure may affect patients' quality of life. While new procedures in general surgery, such as enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), can speed up postoperative rehabilitations to improve quality of life, it is rarely applied in the ear-nose-throat field. This study therefore aims to evaluate the application of ERAS in patients with nasal septum deviation as a means of improving perioperative outcomes.Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with nasal septum deviation undergoing septoplasty were randomized as ERAS or control group (25 patients in both groups). Patients were investigated for outcomes including length of stay, operating time, bleeding volume, total cost, complications, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and visual analog symptom score of nasal obstruction, sleep disturbance, and head facial pain.Results: The preoperative anxiety in ERAS group (SAS 35.4±6.2) was lower than the control group (SAS 43.6±8.6). The anxiety levels in ERAS group (SAS 31.6±5.4) was also reduced compared to the control group (SAS 38.1±10.4) in the 3 days postsurgery, but showed no significant difference thereafter at 7 days postsurgery. In addition, the length of stay and total cost were significantly lower for the ERAS group as well. The visual analog symptom score of nasal obstruction, sleep disturbance, and head facial pain in ERAS group were all also found to be lower than the control group. The only outcomes with no significant differences were the operation time, blood volume, and complications between the groups.Conclusion: Our study indicated ERAS application can reduce hospital charges and postoperative pain in septoplasty, thereby improving patient quality of life and hospital expenses at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Forkhead box J1 (FOXJ1) plays pivotal roles in motile cilia formation. However, it remains unclear whether abnormal expression or localization of FOXJ1 in nasal mucosa tissues is associated with allergic rhinitis (AR), in which impaired mucociliary clearance is implicated. Objective: We sought to investigate the expression and localization of FOXJ1 in inferior turbinate from patients with AR and controls. Methods: We assayed mRNA levels of FOXJ1, DNAI1, DNALI1, and DNAH9 by using whole-genome expression array and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. We elucidated the localization of FOXJ1 by using immunofluorescence assays in paraffin sections and primary single cells. Four patterns of FOXJ1 localization (normal, N; intermediate, I; mislocalization, M; absence, A) were defined. We developed a semiquantitative scoring system to elucidate their localization in 5 areas per paraffin section, with individual sections being assigned a score between 0 and 2. Results: The mRNA levels of FOXJ1, DNAI1, DNALI1, and DNAH9 were significantly reduced in patients with AR compared with controls (all p < 0.05). The median (1st and 3rd quartile) of the FOXJ1 score was 0.4 (0.0 and 0.85) in patients with AR, and 0.2 (0.0 and 0.4) in controls (p < 0.05). For primary cytospin samples, the mean percentages of FOXJ1 localization patterns N, I, M, and A were 46.7, 10.0, 30.0, and 26.7% in patients with AR, and 82.5, 5.0, 5.0, and 7.5% in controls, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Downregulation and aberrant localization of FOXJ1 may be crucial characteristics of the allergic nasal mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a common respiratory disease. Acupuncture is used to treat it in traditional Chinese medicine, and generally, the L120, ST2 and ST36 acupoints are selected in clinical practice. We report a new method of acupuncture at the sphenopalatine acupoint (SPA) for treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR). The effect of this treatment was investigated using two different needling depths. The efficacy of this treatment was associated with accurate stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG).Methods/design: A total of 61 patients diagnosed with PAR were randomly allocated to either the acupuncture or the sham acupuncture group. The difference between the groups was the needle depth when acupuncture was administered, which was 50 mm and 20 mm. Alteration in total nasal symptom score (TNSS) was the primary outcome. Quality of life, medication dosages and adverse events were secondary outcomes, measured using the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ). Confidence assessment was performed to evaluate data from the treatment and follow-up periods.Results: Results were: (1) average TNSS in the treatment group was significantly lower than in the control group at week 4 (median and 25th and 75th percentiles were 5.00 (4.00, 7.00) and 8.00 (7.00, 10.00), respectively (P < 0.001)). However, scores in the two groups were not significantly different at week 12; (2) quality of life (RQLQ) was significantly improved at week 2 in the treatment group compared to the control group (scores of 35.47 ± 8.20 and 45.48 ± 8.84; P < 0.001); (3) during the follow-up period, the medication dosage in the treatment group was much lower than in the control group (3.64 ± 1.45 and 6.14 ± 2.34; P < 0.05); and (4) no adverse events were observed in either group during treatment.Conclusions: This pilot study revealed a profound effect of acupuncture at the SPA on prevention of PAR development. The TNSS in the treatment group (needle depth 50 mm), was significantly lower than in the control group (needle depth of only 20 mm). Our result demonstrates that performing acupuncture directly at the SPA to stimulate the SPG is an effective method to treat PAR.Trial Registration: Acupuncture Clinical Trial Registry, AMCTR-OOR-16000014 and Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR-IOR-16009211 . Registered on 1 September 1 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is little evidence on the role of topical budesonide in reducing the frequency of adenoidectomy, although it was reported that topical budesonide can effectively ameliorate the symptoms of adenoid hypertrophy (AH). This study was aimed to investigate the possibility and safety of alternatives to adenoidectomy with a 12-week treatment with nasal budesonide.Materials and Methods: One hundred patients with AH were randomized to receive either a double-blind budesonide (1 mg once daily) or placebo treatment for 2 weeks by transnasal nebulization. A further 12-week open study, budesonide spray (64 μg per nostril at bedtime) was administered to the treatment group. During the final 12 weeks of follow-up, the frequency of adenotonsillectomy, side effects, the degree of nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, and snoring were assessed.Results: Out of the 100 total enrolled patients, 92 children with AH completed the study. After the 2-week treatment with transnasal budesonide nebulization, the symptoms of AH significantly decreased compared to the control group. Responders (n=26) who had initially improved showed significantly decreased symptoms of AH, and the frequency of adenotonsillectomy during the follow-up (14 and 26 weeks) was compared with that of the control group and non-responders (n=21) who did not respond to the initial 2-week budesonide therapy. The 12-week nasal budesonide treatment did not suppress the growth rate of children's height or cause other side effects.Conclusion: AH children who had improved after an initial 2-week budesonide therapy can achieve clinical improvements and decreased frequency of adenoidectomy following the therapy with a 12-week treatment with nasal budesonide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that arsenic trioxide (ATO) exhibits its anti-cancer activities in a variety of human malignancies. Recent studies have revealed that ATO regulated multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) in human cancers. However, the exact mechanism of ATO-mediated tumor suppressive function has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we explore whether ATO governed oncogenic miR-27a in breast cancer cells by multiple methods such as MTT assay, RT-PCR, Wound healing assay, Western blotting analysis, migration, Transwell invasion assay, and transfection. Our results showed that ATO inhibited cell growth, migration, invasion, and induced cell apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Further molecular analysis dissected that ATO inhibited miR-27a expression in breast cancer cells. Moreover, inhibition of miR-27a suppressed cell growth, migration, invasion, and trigged cell apoptosis, whereas overexpression of miR-27a enhanced cell growth, motility, and inhibited apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Notably, we found that miR-27a inhibitor treatment potentiates ATO-induced breast cancer cell growth inhibition, apoptosis and motility inhibition. However, overexpression of miR-27a partly abrogated ATO-mediated anti-tumor activity. Our findings provide a novel anti-tumor mechanism of ATO involved in miR-27a for the treatment of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upper airway inflammatory diseases are associated with abnormal expression of nasal epithelial forkhead-box J1 (FOXJ1) which regulates motile cilia formation. We sought to investigate whether aberrant FOXJ1 localizations correlate with the disease severity and the co-existence of allergic rhinitis (AR) or asthma in patients with nasal polyps (NPs). Methods: We elucidated localization patterns of FOXJ1 by performing immunofluorescence assays in nasal specimens and cytospin samples from controls and patients with NPs. We also assayed mRNA expression levels of FOXJ1 by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Four localization patterns [normal (N), intermediate (I), mislocalization (M), and absence (A)] were defined. A semi-quantitative scoring system was applied for demonstrating FOXJ1 localization in five areas per paraffin section, with individual sections being scored between 0 and 2. Results: FOXJ1 localization score was significantly higher in samples from NPs than in controls (P < 0.001). Elevated FOXJ1 localization scores and down-regulation of FOXJ1 mRNA levels were observed in NPs with co-existing AR or asthma (all P < 0.05). Moreover, FOXJ1 localization scores positively correlated with Lund–Mackay score (r = 0.362, P = 0.007). Of primary cytospin samples, the mean percentage of patients with FOXJ1 localization patterns N, I, M and A was 15.0%, 3.3%, 53.3% and 28.3% in NPs, and 82.5%, 5.0%, 5.0% and 7.5% in controls, respectively (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Aberrant localization of FOXJ1 correlates with the severity and co-existence of AR or asthma in patients with NPs, and might be a novel target for assessment and intervention in NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]