Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of honokiol in a mouse model of particulate matter ( PM ) 2.5-induced asthma .Methods Female SPF BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups:normal saline group (group A), ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized group ( group B), PM2.5-exposed+OVA-sensitized group ( group C), dexamethasone-treated group (group D) and honokiol-treated group (group E).All mice except those in group A were sensitized and challenged with OVA, and the mice in groups C, D and E were exposed to PM2.5 every two days since the first challenge.Samples of lung sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) to observe in-flammatory infiltration.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and PBMCs were collected from each mouse . Expression of RORγt and Foxp3 at mRNA level was detected by quantitative real-time PCR.Flow cytometry analysis was performed to measure the percentages of Th 17 and Treg cells.ELISA was performed to measure the levels of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-17 in the supernatants of cell culture .Results Compared with group B , group C showed an enhanced expression of RORγt at mRNA level, increased IL-17 level and up-regulated percentage of Th17 cells (all P<0.05), but a suppressed expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level, decreased IL-10 level and down-regulated percentage of Th17 cells (all P<0.05).No significant difference in the per-centage of Th1 cells or in the expression of Th 1-related cytokines was observed .The expression of RORγt at mRNA level, IL-17 level and the percentage of Th 17 cells were decreased in PM2.5-exposed mice upon honokiol intervention (all P<0.05), while the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level, IL-10 level and the per-centage of Treg cells were increased after honokiol intervention (all P<0.05).Honokiol had similar efficacy to dexamethasone in the treatment of asthma .Conclusion Honokiol can alleviate airway inflammation in mice with PM2.5 exposure-induced asthma through regulating the percentages of Th 17 and Treg cells.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Honokiol on the airway inflammation induced by particulate matter 2.5(PM2.5)in the asthmatic mice and its mechanism.Methods Fifty male specific pathogen free (SPF)Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups.Group A:normal control group;group B:asthmatic model group;group C:PM2.5 exposure asthmatic group;group D:TAK -242 group;group E:Honokiol group. Asthmatic mouse models were established by ovalbumin(OVA)sensitization and challenge.On days 0 and 7,the mice in B-E groups were injected intraperitoneally with injection 100 mg/L OVA and aluminum hydroxide for sensitization;on days 14 to 21,10 g/L OVA solution was given 30 min per day to challenge.During challenge phrase,the mice in C -E groups received intratracheal injection of PM2.5,every other day,4 times totally.On this basis,the mice in group D re-ceived TAK-242 intraperitoneal injection,and the mice in group E received honokiol intragastric administration.Group A was given saline instead of OVA.Animals were sacrificed 24 h after the final inhalation challenge,and the bronchoal-veolar lavage fluid(BALF)of the left lung was used for differential inflammatory cell counts.The expressions of Toll-like receptors 4(TLR4)and nuclear factor(NF)-κB at mRNA level were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to measure the levels of Th17 and Treg cells.Results Compared with group A,mice in group B and group C expressed more serious disorders of bronchial epithelial cells,alveolar wall congestion and edema,increased mucus secretion in the airway and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung,and those in group C were more obvious than those of group B and group E significantly reduced respiratory inflammation;compared with group A[(4.15 ± 1.35)×108/L,0.012 0 ± 0.002 3],the total number of inflammatory cell counts[(16.79 ± 5.62)×108/L and(24.58 ± 13.46)×108/L],eosinophils proportions(0.113 8 ± 0.022 3 and 0.197 8 ± 0.084 9)in group B and group C,were significantly higher,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05);The total number of inflammatory cell counts and eosinophils proportion in group E(8.56 ± 3.28)×108/L and 0.041 5 ± 0.013 5)were significantly lower than those in group C,and the differences were statistically significant(all P <0.05);The expressions of TLR4 mRNA and NF-κB mRNA in group B and C(1.85 ± 0.56,1.82 ± 0.28 and 2.97 ± 0.41,2.83 ± 0.32)were significantly higher,and the differences were statistically significant(all P <0.05);The expressions of TLR4 mRNA and NF-κB mRNA in group E(1.60 ± 0.28,1.54 ± 0.25)was significantly lower than those in group C,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05);the expressions of Th17 in group B and C[(2.89 ± 0.61)% and(4.96 ± 0.27)%]were significantly higher than those of group A[(1.03 ± 0.35)%] (all P<0.05);The expression of Th17 in group E[(1.83 ± 0.23)%]was significantly lower than that of group C,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05);the expressions of Treg in group B and C[(4.96 ± 0.35)%and(2.27 ± 0.41)%]were significantly lower than those of group A[(7.37 ± 0.56)%],and the differences were sta-tistically significant(all P<0.05);The expression of Treg in group E was significantly increased[(6.45 ± 0.38)%] compared with that in group C,and the difference were statistically significant(P<0.05);and those of group D and E were improved remarkably.Conclusions Honokiol can relieve PM2.5 exposure of asthmatic airway inflammation through down-regulating the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB and Th17 and regulating the balance of Th17 and Treg cells.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, several prevention and control measures have been successively promulgated in Wuhan. To name a few, setup of designated hospitals for severe COVID-19 patients is key to enforcing the policy of pooling patients, experts, resources and standardizing treatment. These efforts contribute decisively to improving the cure rate and reducing the mortality of COVID-19. As one of the designated hospitals composed of multiple medical teams, Wuhan Union Hospital put in place a joint working mode for treating severe COVID-19 patients, and found solutions to the main problems and difficulties in management. Its experiences provide references for the operation of joint medical institutions in emergency.

Background Kunming is a plateau city with sufficient sunshine, high ultraviolet intensity, and strong radiation. In recent years, ozone (O₃) pollution has gradually become the primary problem of air pollution in the city. Objective To evaluate the health effects of atmospheric O₃ exposure on non-accidental deaths in Kunming. Methods The data of meteorological variables (average temperature, average relative humidity, average air pressure, and average wind speed), air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, CO, and O₃) and non-accidental deaths (NAD) of residents were collected in Kunming from 2017 to 2019. A generalized additive model was adopted to conduct time-series analyses on the current-day (lag0), single-day (lag1-lag3), and cumulative lag (lag01-lag03) effects of O₃ on NAD; furthermore, hierarchical analyses by gender, age, and season (warm and cold) were conducted. Results The average concentration of O₃-8h from 2017 to 2019 was (84.3±32.3) μg·m⁻³. For every 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in O₃-8h concentration, the NAD risks of lag0, lag01, and lag02 of total population increased by 0.70% (95%CI: 0.11%-1.29%) 0.79% (95%CI: 0.14%-1.44%), and 0.75% (95%CI: 0.08%-1.43%), respectively; for women, the NAD risks of lag2 and lag02 increased by 0.80% (95%CI: 0.08%-1.53%) and 1.05% (95%CI: 0.09%-2.03%) respectively; for the residents over the age of 65, the associated NAD risks of lag0, lag01, and lag02 increased by 0.82% (95%CI: 0.16%-1.48%), 0.93% (95%CI: 0.20%-1.67%), and 0.96% (95%CI: 0.20%-1.73%), respectively; in the warm season, the NAD risks of lag0, lag01, and lag02 increased by 0.91% (95%CI: 0.12%-1.70%), 0.98% (95%CI: 0.12%-1.86%), and 1.00% (95%CI: 0.07%-1.93%), respectively; After introducing PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, and CO to the model, the effects of O₃ exposure level on resident’s NAD was not statistically significant. Conclusion An increase of O₃ exposure level associates with an increase of NAD risk in residents, and there is a lag effect. Residents over the age of 65, women, and all residents in warm season may be more sensitive to O₃ exposure.

Humans ; Adult ; Serum Albumin, Human ; Consensus ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Thoracic Surgery