BACKGROUND:Allergic diseases and vitamin D deficiency were found to have a relationship. However, there was limited number of studies on the relationship between vitamin D with allergic rhinitis (AR) and total nasal symptom scores (TNSS), particularly in determining the cut-off points of serum vitamin D levels which correlated to AR.AIM:As this particular study has never been conducted in Indonesia, the main objective of this study was to investigate this issue.METHODS:The research was conducted at Dr Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya in January 2017. A group of 30 subjects were recruited using consecutive sampling. Levels of serum vitamin D were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method while the total nasal symptom scores were obtained by accumulating all the nasal symptoms. Data of serum vitamin D levels and TNSS were analysed statistically with the Pearson correlation test.RESULTS:It was found that the mean of serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels (9.13 ng/mL) of the AR group was significantly lower than the non-AR group (26.22 ng/mL) (P = 0.000). The vitamin D cut-off points which correlated to AR was about 12.83 ng/mL (sensitivity = 80%; specificity = 100%). A Pearson correlation test found a strong, negative correlation between vitamin D levels and TNSS (P = 0.000; r = -0.800).CONCLUSION:There was a strong, negative correlation between serum vitamin D levels with AR and TNSS. The cut-off points of serum vitamin D levels correlated to AR were approximately12.83 ng/mL. Thus, further research needs to be conducted.

Background: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is the most common immunological disease that has been associated with inflammatory responses and is characterized by sneezing. Previous studies found that AR's allergen exposure significantly induces plasma cells and reduces regulatory T (Treg) cells, a population that contributes to control AR. Therefore, upregulating Treg expression can regulate plasma cells leading to inhibit sneezing in AR. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have the immunoregulatory and antiinflammation ability by secreting various cytokines including IL-10 and TGF-β which potent as a promising therapeutic modality for allergic airway diseases, including AR. Objective: To investigate the role of MSCs in generating CD4+, CD25+, and Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells associated with suppressing plasma cell in AR model. Methods: In this study, fifteen male Wistar rats (6 to 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups (control group, sham group, and MSCs treatment group). OVA nasal challenge was conducted daily from day 15 to 21, and MSCs (1x10 6 ) were administrated intraperitoneally to OVA-sensitized rats on day 21. Sneezing was observed from day 22 to 28. The rats were sacrificed on day 22 and day 28. The expression of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ in Treg and plasma cells was analyzed by flow cytometry assay. Results: This study showed that the percentage of plasma cell and sneezing times significantly decreased in MSCs treatment. This finding was aligned with the significant increase of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Treg level. Conclusion: MSCs administration suppress plasma cells population and sneezing times by up regulating Treg to control AR.

Introduction: Allergy and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D deficiency were mentioned to be correlated. Still, there was limited number of studies in determining serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels as a predictive factor, particularly in allergic rhinitis (AR). This study has never been implemented in Indonesia which the main objective was to explore this topic. Methods: Consecutive sampling was used in recruiting the fifteen subjects. Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels were quantified using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) method while the total nasal symptom scores were acquired by enumerate all nasal symptoms. Data of serum vitamin D levels and TNSS were analysed statistically.Results: Based on our previous study, the predictive value was illustrated from linier regresion = 10,230 – 0,281 (vitamin D), with negative moderate correlation (r = -0,613). This result can be comparable for someone with vitamin D level of 5.66 ng/mL that could predicted as 8.64 nasal score. Conclusion: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D could be a predictive factor for allergic rhinitis with negative moderate correlation. Hence, in the future research needs to be implemented.

<p><strong>Aim <br /></strong>Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a heterogeneous condition that has been associated with inflammatory responses and is characterized by clinical typical symptoms of nasal itching, sneezing, watery discharge and congestion. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells that have the immunoregulatory ability by secreting various cytokines which potent as a promising therapeutic modality for allergic airway diseases, including AR. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rat UC-MSCs on the number of mast cells, the expression of Hsp70 indicated by the nasal symptoms allergic, particularly nasal rubbing in ovalbumininduced AR rats.<br /><strong>Methods</strong> <br />Fifteen male Wistar rats (6 to 8 weeks old) were randomly divided into three groups (control group, sham group, and<br />OVA+MSCs group). OVA nasal challenge was conducted daily from day 15 to 21, and UC-MSCs (1x106<br />) were administrated intraperitoneally to OVA-sensitized rats on day 21. Nasal rubbing was observed from day 22 to 28. The rats were sacrificed on day 22 and day 28. The nasal cavity tissues were prepared for histological observations.<br /><strong>Results <br /></strong>The administration of UC-MSCs could reduce the number of mast cells and the expression of Hsp70 leading to reduction of<br />nasal symptoms allergic, particularly nasal rubbing.<br /><strong>Conclusion<br /></strong><span style="background-color: var(--bs-body-bg); font-weight: var(--bs-body-font-weight); text-align: var(--bs-body-text-align);">Based on this finding, MSCs present a promising </span>immediate curative effect to the inflammatory reaction in AR rats.</p>