It is proposed that although allergic rhinitis manifests primarily in the nasal orifices， its root lies in deficiency of the lung and spleen and insecurity of the lung defensive qi， while deficiency of healthy qi with latent pathogen， triggering by external stimuli， and constraint of defensive yang constitute the key pathogenesis. The onset of disease is not caused solely by newly contracted external pathogens. Rather， on the basis of insecurity of the lung-defense qi， external stimuli such as wind-cold and abnormal qi， dust mites， pollen， and sudden climatic changes， activate the latent pathogen， resulting in constraint of defensive yang， disharmony between nutritive and defensive qi， impaired diffusion of lung qi， failure to contain body fluids， and dysfunction of the nasal orifices. The disease progression can be summarized as following steps， deficiency of healthy qi with latent pathogen， activation by external stimuli， constraint of defensive yang， dysfunction of the nasal orifices， incomplete elimination of the pathogen and incomplete recovery of healthy qi. The general therapeutic principle is to consolidate the defensive qi and vent the latent pathogen while regulating the lung and nasal orifices simultaneously. The empirical prescription Xingui Fangzhi Decoction （辛桂防芷汤） is used as the basic formula and modified dynamically according to the attack and remission stages. During the attack stage， treatment focuses on dispelling wind and cold， regulating defensive qi， and venting the latent pathogen； during the remission stage， it emphasizes supplementing qi， consolidating the defensive exterior， and reinforcing the spleen to resolve the latent pathogen.

Objective Zinc finger protein 335 (Zfp335) plays a crucial role in the early development of thymic T cells and the differentiation of peripheral T cell subpopulations. The objective of this study is to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of Zfp335 in the regulation of regulatory T cell (Treg) within tumor immunity. Methods The Zfp335 gene was specifically knocked out in Treg using tamoxifen (Zfp335^fl/fl FOXP3^creERT2), and the MC38 tumor model was established. On the 7th day after tumor inoculation, tumor size was observed and measured. Tumor size was monitored and recorded daily starting from day 7 post-inoculation. On day 12, tumors were harvested, and the proportions of CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and Treg were analyzed by flow cytometry. Additionally, the mitochondrial function of effector regulatory T cell (eTreg) was assessed. Results From day 10 post-tumor inoculation, tumor volume in the Zfp335^CKO group was significantly reduced compared to that of the wild-type (WT) group. Furthermore, the infiltration of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, along with their respective effector cells, was significantly higher in the Zfp335^CKO group than in the WT group. The proportions of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells producing interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were also significantly increased in the Zfp335^CKO group compared to that of the WT group. In addition, the percentage of CD8⁺ T cells secreting granzyme B (GzmB) was significantly higher in the Zfp335^CKO group than that in the WT group. In contrast, the proportion of Treg and inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS)⁺ Treg in the Zfp335^CKO group was significantly lower than that in the WT group. Finally, the expression level of Mitotracker Deep Red in eTreg from the Zfp335^CKO group was significantly reduced compared to that in the WT group. Conclusion During tumorigenesis, the specific deletion of Zfp335 impairs Treg activation, which is related to decreased mitochondrial function in eTreg. In Zfp335^CKO mice. Tumors exhibit increased infiltration of effector T cells, accompanied by elevated levels of cytotoxic cytokines, ultimately enhancing resistance to tumor progression.
Animals ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism* ; Mice ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Female

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the changes in fungal community diversity and volatile components during the aging process of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum and explore the internal relationship between them. MethodAquilariae Lignum Resinatum samples with different aging years were collected. High-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze the fungal diversity and abundance， and α and β diversity indicators were calculated to reveal the composition and dynamic changes of the fungal community. In addition， the essential oils of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum with different aging years were extracted， separated， and identified by two-dimensional gas chromatography-high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry. ResultA total of 61 compounds were identified from the volatile components of five groups of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum samples， including 2 monoterpenes， 24 sesquiterpenoids， 1 diterpene， 13 aromatic hydrocarbons， 9 alkanes， and 12 other compounds. Among them， the volatile compounds isolated from the sample aged for 1 year had the largest number， and those from the sample aged for 2 years accounted for the largest proportion of the total components. The internal transcribed spacer（ITS） amplicon sequencing revealed that the fungi in the five groups of samples belonged to 162 genera. Kirschsteiniothelia， Aspergillus， Lasiodiplodia， Phaeoacremonium， and Trichoderma were the dominant fungal genera. The fungal diversity in the Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum sample aged for 4 years was significantly higher than that in the samples aged for 0 to 3 years. ConclusionThe volatile component content and composition of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum altered dramatically during aging. The aging of Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum was accompanied by the increasing fungal diversity， decreasing relative content of aromatic hydrocarbons， and increasing relative content of sesquiterpenoids. In general， aging was beneficial to the transformation of sesquiterpenoids and the enrichment of fungi.

Three new lignan glucosides, baicalensinosides A-C (1-3), were isolated from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis. The structural elucidation was achieved by in-depth spectroscopic examinations and qualitative chemical test. Structurally, these compounds belong to the 3,4-dibenzyltetrahydrofuran-type lignan glycoside with a mono-hydroxyl substitution at the 7'-position of benzylidene group on the numbering system of lignans being one of their shared critical features. The anti-osteoporotic activity of the isolated compounds was assessed in an in vitro osteoprotegerin (OPG) transcriptional activity assay using dual luciferase reporter detection. At 10 μmol/L, compounds 1-3 increased the relative activating ratio of OPG transcription to 1.83, 0.84 and 0.98 times that of the control group, respectively.

Objective To assess the clinical value of MPI with ATP intervention (ATP-MPI) in the diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods To collect published literatures on ATP-MPI studies for the diagnosis of CHD,the PubMed,the Excerpta Medica Database (EMbase),Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBMdis),Vip and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched with computer and manual method since the data were available until to 2014.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,the literatures were screened to extract data by two independent evaluators.Meta-analysis was conducted with Stata 12.0 software.Results A total of 11 studies involving 968 patients were included.In patient study,which included 9 literatures and 933 patients,the Se,Sp,LR+,LRand 95％ CI of ATP-MPI diagnosis of CHD were 0.89 (0.82-0.94),0.84 (0.74-091),6.00 (3.25-9.91),0.13 (0.07-0.22),respectively.The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) was 45.04.The AUC of summary ROC (SROC) curve was 0.94.In the coronary artery study,which included 6 literatures and 1 079 coronary arteries,the Se,Sp,LR+,LR-and 95％ CI of ATP-MPI diagnosis of coronary stenosis were 0.83 (0.71-0.91),0.92 (0.86-0.95),10.00 (5.58-16.99),0.18 (0.09-0.34),respectively.The DOR was 53.24 and the SROC AUC was 0.94.Conclusion ATP-MPI has a significant value in the diagnosis of CHD.

Objective The aim of this study was to establish rat models of immunosuppression and immune hyper-function.Methods Sixty-four SPF Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into groups A, B, and C.All rats were immunized with intraperitoneal injection of 100 μg ovalbumin ( OVA) .The group A was used as control.At 6 hours after immunization, the rats of group B were injected with different doses of cyclophosphamide (Cy) at different time points.The rats of group C were injected with Cy in different ways at 3 days before immunization.Results Immunosuppressed rats were successfully induced by Cy (125 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg) at 6 h after immunization and also by injection of 225 mg/kg Cy at 3 days before immunization with ovalbumin.Small dose (20 mg/kg) of Cy injected once or a smaller dose (5 mg/kg/d) injected once a day for consecutive 3 days can also result in immune hyperfunction.Conclusions Rat models of immunosuppression and immune hyperfunction are successfully established, which provide methodological and data support for establishment of such animal models and useful reference for related research.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cytotoxicity of normal CD8(+) T lymphocytes retrovirally transduced with WT1 peptide-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) genes against human lung cancer cells.

METHODSHLA-A*2402-restricted and WT1 peptide-specific TCR-α/β genes were cloned from a cytotoxic T lymphocyte clone and inserted into a retroviral TCR expression vector. The cytotoxicity of normal peripheral CD8⁺ T cells transduced with the WT1-TCR genes against human lung cancer cells was evaluated using a standard ⁵¹Cr release assay.

RESULTSThe WT1-TCR gene-modified T cells recognized the peptide-pulsed target cells but not the non-pulsed cells. TCR-redirected CD8⁺ T cells lysed WT1-overexpressing human lung cancer cells in an HLA-A*2402-restricted manner, but did not kill normal cells positively expressing HLA-A*2402.

CONCLUSIONThese data demonstrate the feasibility of adoptive immunotherapy with TCR-redirected T cell for the treatment of lung cancer.

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor ; Humans ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Peptides ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta ; genetics ; Retroviridae ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology ; Transduction, Genetic ; WT1 Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the trace chemical constituents from the roots of Linum usitatissimum.

METHODIsolation and purification of the trace constituents were carried out mainly by solvents extraction and macroporous adsorbing resin and silica gel column chromatography. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis,including 1D and 2D NMR, MS, and HRMS.

RESULTFive trace compounds were isolated and identified as 3-methyl-2, 5-pyrrolidinedione-5-oxime (1), hypoxanthine (2), nonanedioic acid-1,9 (3), and the mixture of isoleucine and leucine(4 and 5).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is a new compound, and compounds 2-5 are isolated from L. usitatissimum for the first time.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flax ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the relationship between changes in Ca2+ concentration and unit discharge in the hippocampal neurons of epileptic rats.Methods Thirty-six healthy male Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Rats of the epilepsy group received an intraperitoneal injection of benzylpenicllin sodium at 6 million unit/kg; Rats of the epilepsy pretreatment group received 20 mg/kg of flunarizine at 14 and 2 hours before injection of benzylponicllin;the control group of rats received an intraperitoneal injection of normal saline.Three groups of rats were euthanized after recording of the unit discharge,and bilateral hippocampal cells were obtained to measure the cellular concentration of Ca2+ fluorescence using the new generation Ca2+ fluorescent dye Fluo-3-AM and flow cytometry.Results (1) A total of 24 units of hippocampal discharges were recorded in the control group.The average concentration Ca2+ fluorescence of the hippocampal neurons was 37.12±5.08.(2)A total of 78 units of hippocampal discharges were recorded in the epilepsy group.The average concentration of Ca2+fluorescence of the hippocampal neurons was 52.04±6.75.(3)A total of 47 units of hippocampal discharges were recorded in the epilepsy pretreatment group. The average concentration of Ca2+ fluorescence of the hippocampal neurons was 37.79±3.09.The correlation coefficient between the average concentration of Ca2+ fluorescence of the hippocampal neurons and the number of units of hippocampal discharge ( r=0.737,P＜0.01).Conclusion There is a positive correlation between changes in average concentration of Ca2+ fluorescence of the hippocampal neurons and the numbers of units of hippocampal discharge.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents from the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale.

METHODIsolation and purification of the chemical constituents were carried out on the column chromatography of silica gel and Sephadex LH-20. The structures were elucidated on basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTTen compounds were isolated and identified as beta-sitosterol palmitate (1), isovanillin (2), glycol monopalmitate (3), hexacosanoic acid 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (4), maleimide-5-oxime (5), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (6), adenine (7), 6-gingerol (8), 6-shogaol (9), and 1-(omega-ferulyloxyceratyl) glycerols (10a-10f).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-7 and 10a-10e are obtained from Z. officinale for the first time, and compound 10f is a new compound.

Ginger ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry