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.
The globally distributed cystic echinococcosis (CE) is caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus), a cosmopolitan and zoonotic disease with potentially life-threatening complications in humans. The emerging roles for extracellular vesicles (EVs) in parasitic infection include transferring proteins and modifying host cell gene expression to modulate host immune responses. Few studies focused on the host-derived EVs and its protein profiles. We focused on the EVs from mouse infected with E. granulosus at different stages. ExoQuick kit was used for isolating EVs from mouse plasma and ExoEasy Maxi kit was used for isolating protoscolex culture supernatant (PCS) and hydatid cyst fluid (HCF). Firstly, EVs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and immunoblot. Secondly, the proteins of plasma EVs were identified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The resulting LC–MS/MS data were processed using Maxquant search engine (v 1.5.2.8). Tandem mass spectra were researched against the mice and E. granulosus proteins database in the NCBI. The differentially expressed proteins are performed by proteomic label-free quantitative analysis and bioinformatics. Thirdly, in vitro experiment, the results of co-culture of plasma EVs and spleen mononuclear cells showed that 7W-EVs can increase the relative abundance of regulatory T (Treg) cells and IL-10. We further verified that EVs can be internalized by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). These results implied host-derived EVs are multidirectional immune modulators. The findings can contribute to a better understanding of the role of host-derived EVs which are the optimal vehicle to transfer important cargo into host immune system. In addition, we have found several important proteins associated with E. granulosus and identified in infected mouse plasma at different stages. Furthermore, our study further highlighted the proteomics and immunological function of EVs from mouse infected with E. granulosus protoscoleces at different infection stages. We have laid a solid foundation for the role of EVs in cystic echinococcosis in the future research and supplemented a unique dataset for this E. granulosus.
Objective. To compare the outcomes of visualized puncture needle and small needle-knife therapy in 68 patients with primary frozen shoulder. Method. Sixty-eight patients with primary frozen shoulder were recruited and randomly divided into two groups, with 34 patients in each group. In the treatment group, an ultrasound-guided 18G-PTC puncture needle was inserted into the joint space, followed by a liquid injection until complete lysis and dissociation of the intraarticular adhesion were achieved. Then, the lesser tuberosity of the coracoid and humerus, the intertubercular groove of the humerus, and the greater tuberosity of the humerus were stripped, first vertically and then horizontally, by an amplitude ≦ 0.5 cm per treatment. This treatment procedure was performed once per week, and each cycle covered three treatments. The small needle-knife therapy was set as a control, and the efficacy was observed. Result. The visualized puncture needle significantly outperformed the small needle-knife therapy in overall efficacy, UCLA scores of the shoulder joint, shoulder mobility, and muscle elasticity and thickness. Conclusion. The efficacy of the visualized puncture needle for primary frozen shoulder was better compared to the small needle-knife therapy. The former was safer and more convenient, which caused less pain to patients and took effect more quickly. In a word, the visualized puncture needle for primary frozen shoulder is worthy of clinical popularization.
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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