Background Controversies persist regarding whether exposure to cat or dog increases the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Objective This meta-analysis aimed to assess the associations between exposure to cats or dogs and the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Methods A systematic review was performed to identify case-control and cohort studies before May 2019, evaluating the association between exposure to cats and dogs and the risk of asthma and rhinitis. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The odds ratios (ORs) and risk ratios (RRs) were pooled for case-control and cohort studies, respectively. Subgroup analyses were performed on prespecified study-level characteristics. Results The meta-analysis of 34 cohort studies showed a protective role of exposure to cats [RR: 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.77–0.99] or dogs (RR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.73–0.97) in the development of asthma. The subgroup analysis of birth cohort (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56–0.93) and children population (RR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.70–0.96) also suggested a favorable role of exposure to dogs in the development of asthma. Pooled evidence from 13 case-control studies indicated no significant impact of cats (OR: 1.66, 95% CI: 0.39–2.94) and dogs (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.92–1.52) on the development of asthma. A pooled analysis of five cohort studies showed a favorable effect of exposure to cats (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.33–0.86) or dogs (RR: 0.68, 95% CI 0.44–0.90) on the development of allergic rhinitis. Conclusion The findings indicated a protective effect of exposure to cats and dogs, especially ownership, on the development of asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of liver-related cancer. Progress has been made on the study of microRNA (miRNA or miR) function in HBV-related liver cancer. Hence, the objective of the present study was to determine the role and functional mechanism of miR-1271-5p in HBV-associated liver cancer. miR-1271-5p and aquaporin 5 (AQP5) expression at the mRNA level were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). The levels of hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA were assessed by ELISA or qPCR. Cell viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry or Transwell assay. The interaction of miR-1271-5p and AQP5 was predicted by TargetScan, and verified by Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation assay. The protein levels of AQP5, Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved-caspase-3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were quantified by western blot analysis. Nude mouse tumorigenicity assay was conducted to examine the role of miR-1271-5p in vivo. miR-1271-5p was downregulated, while AQP5 was upregulated in HBV-related liver cancer cells and tissues. Overexpression of miR-1271-5p or AQP5 knockdown inhibited the levels of HBeAg, HBsAg and HBV DNA, blocked cell viability, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis. AQP5 was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-1271-5p, and miR-1271-5p exerted its role through targeting AQP5. Overexpression of miR-1271-5p impeded tumor growth in vivo by weakening the expression of AQP5. In conclusion, miR-1271-5p blocked the progression of HBV-induced liver cancer by competitively targeting AQP5.
Objective: To investigate the effect of drug treatment combined with psychological intervention on mental disorders in patients with persistent moderate–severe allergic rhinitis. Methods: Sixty patients with persistent moderate–severe allergic rhinitis who met the criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group and experimental group. The control group was only given medication, whereas the experimental group was given psychological intervention on the basis of the same medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy was used for psychological intervention. After 12 weeks of treatment, Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) were used to evaluate the changes in anxiety, depression, and quality of life before and after treatment. Results: The SAS and SDS scores of the control group after treatment were lower than those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant. Similarly, the SAS and SDS scores of the experimental group after treatment were lower than those before treatment with statistically significant difference. In addition, after treatment, the SAS and SDS scores of the experimental group were statistically lower than those of the control group. The results of RQLQ showed that the scores of each dimension in the control group after treatment were lower than those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant. Similar results were found in the experimental group. After treatment with these 2 different schemes, the RQLQ scores of sleep, nonnasal/eye symptoms, and emotion in the experimental group were statistically lower than those in the control group. Conclusion: Drug therapy or drug therapy combined with psychological intervention can alleviate anxiety and depression of patients with persistent moderate–severe allergic rhinitis and improve their quality of life. Moreover, based on the effect of improving mental disorder and quality of life of patients, drug therapy combined with psychological intervention is better than drug treatment alone.
OBJECTIVE: Since December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has been discovered in Wuhan and spread rapidly across China and worldwide. Characteristics of infected patients are needed to get insight into the full spectrum of the disease. METHODS: Epidemiological and clinical information of 1738 diagnosed patients during February 7-26, 2020 in Wuhan Dongxihu Fangcang Hospital were analyzed. 709 patients were followed up on symptom, mental health, isolation site, and medication after discharge. RESULTS: There were 852 males and 886 females in the cohort. The average age of the patients was 48.8 years. 79.98% of the patients were from Wuhan, Hubei province. The most common initial symptoms were fever, cough and shortness of breath. Among all the patients, 1463 had complications, with respiratory distress as the most common complication. The average duration of hospitalization was 15.95±14.69 days. The most common post-discharge symptom is cough. After discharge, most patients were full of energy, and chose hotel as their self-isolation site. COVID-19 Chinese medicine No.2 prescription is the medication used most commonly by the patients after discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The population is generally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. After receiving aggressive treatment of combined Chinese and Western medicine, most patients had a good prognosis and mental health after discharge.
Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery on pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic rhinosinusitis. Methods: The PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for studies published in English, without any language and time restrictions from their inception to March 1, 2020. Studies examining pulmonary function outcomes in patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic rhinosinusitis following endoscopic sinus surgery were included. Primary outcomes were pulmonary function tests, including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of vital capacity (FEF 25-75). Results: A total of 12 studies with 570 patients were included for data extraction and meta-analysis. For FEV 1 (%), the summarized mean difference (MD) was −6.92 (95% confidence interval [CI] = −19.67 to 5.83, P = .29) and 0.70 (95% CI = −3.81 to 5.21, P = .76) for the postoperative results after 6 months and 12 months, respectively. The pooled MDs for FVC (%) and FEV1/FVC ratio (%) for the postoperative results after 6 months were 0.60 (95% CI = −4.12 to 5.31, P = .80) and −1.29 (95% CI = −6.14 to 3.55, P = .60). Conclusion: Endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with cystic fibrosis did not improve the pulmonary function in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with cystic fibrosis. More prospective studies and meta-analyses addressing the same topic are needed in the future.
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