AIM: To investigate the specific molecular mechanism of Yinqiao Powder in affecting macrophage polarization in herpes simplex keratitis(HSK)through the cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING)-interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)molecular pathway.METHODS:Human corneal epithelial cells(HCE-T)were divided into control, HSK, and HSK + Yinqiao Powder groups. M0 macrophages were grouped as Ctrl, HSV-1, HSV-1+oe-cGAS, HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder, and HSV-1+oe-cGAS+Yinqiao Powder. Conditional medium(CM)from each group of M0 macrophages was collected to intervene in HCE-T cells and divided into Ctrl-CM, HSV-1-CM, HSV-1+oe-cGAS-CM, and HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder-CM groups. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay, and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. ELISA was used to detect the concentrations of Arg-1 and iNOS in cell supernatants, and Western blotting was used to detect the relative protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3. Balb/c mice were divided into control, model, and drug groups. The model and drug groups were inoculated with HSV-1 on the cornea of Balb/c mice using the corneal scratch method to construct an HSK mouse model, and the drug group was treated with Yinqiao Powder. The incidence and mortality of the three groups were compared on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after modeling.RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the HCE-T cell viability in the HSK group was decreased but apoptosis was increased, which was reversed by Yinqiao Powder intervention. Compared with the Ctrl group, the Arg-1 concentration in the cell supernatant of the HSV-1 group was decreased, the iNOS concentration was increased, and the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3 were decreased. Compared with the HSV-1 group, the Arg-1 concentration was increased, the iNOS concentration was decreased, and the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3 were enhanced in the HSV-1+oe-cGAS group and the HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder group, and the same results were obtained in the HSV-1+oe-cGAS+Yinqiao Powder group. Compared with the Ctrl-CM group, the HCE-T cell viability was decreased and apoptosis was increased in the HSV-1-CM group, which was reversed by overexpressing cGAS in macrophages or intervening with Yinqiao Powder. In vivo experiments found that Yinqiao Powder intervention could improve the pathological progression of keratitis.CONCLUSION:Yinqiao Powder inhibits M1 polarization of macrophages through the cGAS-STING-IRF3 molecular pathway, thereby delaying the progression of HSK.

ObjectiveTo characterize the seasonal patterns of influenza in Kunming City, Yunnan Province before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing influenza prevention and control strategies. MethodsInfluenza-like illness (ILI) and etiological surveillance data for influenza from the 14^th week of 2010 to the 13^th week of 2024 in Kunming City of Yunnan Province were collected. Harmonic regression models were constructed to analyze the epidemic characteristics and seasonal patterns of influenza before (2010/2011‒2019/2020 influenza seasons), during (2020/2021‒2022/2023 influenza seasons), and after (2023/2024 influenza season) the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza in Kunming City mainly exhibited an annual cyclic pattern without a significant semi-annual periodicity, peaking from December to February of the next year, with an epidemic duration of 20‒30 weeks. During the pandemic, influenza seasonality shifted, with an increase in semi-annual periodicity and an approximate one month delay in annual peaks. However, after the pandemic, the annual amplitude of influenza increased compared with that before the pandemic, and the epidemic duration extended by about one month. Although the annual peak largely reverted to the pre-pandemic levels, the annual peaks for different influenza subtypes/lineages had not fully recovered. ConclusionInfluenza seasonality in Kunming City underwent substantial alterations following the COVID-19 pandemic and has not yet fully reverted to pre-pandemic levels. Continuous surveillance on different subtypes/lineages of influenza viruses remains essential, and prevention and control strategies should be adjusted and optimized in a timely manner based on current epidemic trends.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects of Chaipo decoction on bronchial asthma in rats and its regulatory effects on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain-containing protein 3 （NLRP3）/cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 （Caspase-1）/Gasdermin D （GSDMD） pathway， aiming to elucidate its mechanism in ameliorating pyroptosis. MethodsSixty male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into six groups （n=10 per group）： normal control， asthma model， Chaipo decoction low-dose （5.0 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose （10.0 g·kg^-1）， high-dose （20.0 g·kg^-1）， and dexamethasone （1.0 mg·kg^-1）. The asthma model was established in all groups except the normal control group via ovalbumin （OVA） sensitization and challenge. Rats in the Chaipo decoction groups received intragastric administration of Chaipo decoction at the corresponding doses， while the dexamethasone group was treated with dexamethasone. The normal and model groups were administered equivalent volumes of saline. After 14 days of intervention， asthma symptom scores were assessed. Dynamic lung compliance （Cdyn）， lung resistance （RL）， and functional residual capacity （FRC） were measured using a small animal pulmonary function testing system. Lung tissue pathology was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Masson's trichrome， and periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） staining. Levels of interleukin （IL）-6， IL-1β， and IL-18 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Expression of NLRP3 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein （ASC） in lung tissues was assessed by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. Protein levels of NLRP3， Caspase-1， GSDMD， and other pyroptosis-related proteins were measured by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited significantly increased asthma symptom scores， inflammatory scores， collagen deposition， PAS scores， RL， FRC， levels of IL-6， IL-1β， and IL-18 in BALF， and expression levels of NLRP3， ASC， and other pyroptosis-related proteins in lung tissue （P0.01）， while Cdyn was significantly decreased （P0.01）. Compared with the model group， all doses of Chaipo decoction markedly improved asthma symptoms， with significantly reduced symptom scores （P0.05， P0.01）. Pulmonary function analysis showed that medium and high doses of Chaipo decoction significantly increased Cdyn （P0.05， P0.01） and decreased RL and FRC （P0.05， P0.01）. Histopathological evaluation indicated that high-dose Chaipo decoction significantly reduced inflammatory scores， collagen deposition， and goblet cell hyperplasia in lung tissue （P0.05， P0.01）. ELISA results showed that all doses of Chaipo decoction significantly decreased IL-6， IL-1β， and IL-18 levels in BALF （P0.05， P0.01）. IHC and Western blot analyses demonstrated that medium and high doses of Chaipo decoction markedly downregulated NLRP3， ASC， and other pyroptosis-related proteins in lung tissue （P0.05， P0.01）. ConclusionChaipo decoction effectively improves pulmonary function and pathological damage in asthmatic rats， potentially by inhibiting the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway and reducing pyroptosis.

Aim To explore the mechanism of modified Wuzi Yanzong pill to reduce testicular toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii by means of network pharmacolo-gy.Methods The effective chemical composition and target of modified Wuzi Yanzong Pill to reduce testicu-lar toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii were analyzed by using multiple databases to understand the mechanism of action.Results The first five compounds of modi-fied Wuzi Yanzong pill are quercetin,sucrose,kaempferol,galactose and ellagic acid,respectively.The first five targets were TP53,SRC,EP300,MAPK3,STAT3;KEGG pathway enrichment analysis mainly concentrated in cancer pathway,lipid and atherosclero-sis,hepatitis B,apoptosis,diabetes complications AGE-RAGE signaling pathway,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and other signaling pathways.Conclusions The ac-tive components of modified Wuzi Yanzong pill can re-duce the testicular toxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii mainly by interfering with TP53,SRC,EP300,MAPK3,STAT3 and other targets,regulating apoptosis,PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,diabetes complications AGE-RAGE signaling pathway,lipid metabolism and other pathways.

AIM:To explore the therapeutic effect and possible molecular mechanisms of prednisone combined with icariin(ICA)on hormone resistant nephrotic syndrome(SRNS).METHODS:In the in vi-vo experiment,rats were divided into control group,SRNS group,prednisone group,and P+I group.Each group was given corresponding drugs for 6 weeks.Detection of 24-hour urinary protein in rats using CBB;The blood biochemistry analyzer de-tects rat albumin,total cholesterol,triglycerides,creatinine,and urea nitrogen;HE and Masson were used to detect morphological changes in rat kidney tissue;Immunohistochemical detection of GR-α,GR-β,NLRP3,caspase-1,GSDMD,IL-1β.In the in vi-tro experiment,HK-2 cell injury model with doxoru-bicin,divided into control group,SRNS group,pred-nisone group,P+l group.GR-α,GR-β,NLRP3,cas-pase-1,GSDMD were detected by Rt-PCR and West-ern blot.RESULTS:In the in vivo experiment,com-pared with the control group,the SRNS group showed weight loss,increased 24-hour urine pro-tein,decreased albumin,increased total cholester-ol,triglycerides,creatinine,and urea nitrogen,renal tubular atrophy,increased renal interstitial area,sig-nificant infiltration of inflammatory cells,fibrous tis-sue proliferation,and GR-β,NLRP3,caspase-1,GSD-MD,IL-1 β in renal tissue decreased(P＜0.01);Com-pared with the SRNS group,the combined group showed weight gain,decreased 24-hour urine pro-tein,increased albumin,decreased total cholester-ol,triglycerides,creatinine,and urea nitrogen,re-duced renal tubular atrophy,reduced interstitial in-flammatory cell infiltration,reduced fibrosis,and and GR-α,NLRP3,caspase-1,GSDMD in renal tissue decreased increased(P＜0.01).In vitro experiments,compared with the control group,the model group showed GR-β,NLRP3,caspase-1,and GSDMD in-creased(P＜0.01),GR-α decreased(P＜0.01);Com-pared with the SRNS group,GR-β,NLRP3,caspase-1,and GSDMD decreased(P＜0.01),GR-α increased in the P+I group.CONCLUSION:The combination of prednisone and ICA has a protective effect on the kidneys of SRNS rats and can improve the therapeu-tic effect.The mechanism may be related to the NL-RP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.

Objective To investigate the modeling of Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis based on data mining,and to provide a reference for the preparation of a standardized Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis animal model.Methods We searched the CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,China Biomedical Literature Database,and PubMed Chinese-English Database by computer to obtain studies of animal experiments relating to Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis in the past 20 years.The species,modeling method,dosage,dosing cycle,modeling standards,and detection indexes were screened manually,and a database was established by using Microsoft Excel 2021 software for statistical analysis.The association rules of high-frequency indicators were analyzed using SPSS Modeler 18.0,and Cytoscape 3.6.1 was used to visually upgrade the association network diagram.Results A total of 106 articles that met the inclusion criteria were summarized.SD rats and KM mice were the mostly commonly used animal models of Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis and most studies used drug-induced models.Bovine serum albumin(BSA)+lipopolysaccharide(LPS)+carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)+castor oil,ovalbumin(OVA)+Freund's complete adjuvant,gliadin+Indian ink,and BSA+staphylococcal enterotoxin B(SEB)were used to produce the animal models,generally with cycles of 5～14 weeks.The standard of modeling was skin purpura and increased numbers of urine red blood cells.Proteinuria,glomerular mesangial hyperplasia in kidney tissue,and immune complex mainly composed of immunoglobulin A(IgA)deposited in small blood vessels indicated successful modeling.There were 36 medical indexes,including 23 indexes related to the kidney and urine and nine indexes related to blood.Among these,10 indexes,such as 24 h urine protein quantification,interleukin,renal pathology,urine red blood cell count,IgA,circulating immune complex and creatinine were used in≥10%of cases.Cluster analysis of high-frequency indicators showed that the comprehensive evaluation model of 24 h urinary protein quantification+interleukin+renal pathology+urinary red blood cell count+IgA was mostly used.Conclusions Most existing animal models of Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis have used male SD rats or female Kunming mice,and most models were induced by drugs.Among these,the method of stasis-heat syndrome combined with IgA nephropathy(disease-syndrome combination method)has the advantages of good repeatability and a high modeling rate,and may thus provide a reference for the selection of animal experimental models of Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura nephritis.

Objective To establish an immortalized tree shrew corneal stromal cells(CSCs)line and to study its response to virus infection.Methods Primary tree shrew CSCs were isolated and cultured by the tissue block adhesion method.CSCs were then transfected with a lentivirus carrying the SV40T gene and monoclonal cells were selected for passage culture.The characteristics of the CSCs were investigated by morphological observation and compared with 40 generations until the 50 generations or more,immunofluorescence identification of vimentin and SV40T genes,karyotype examination,and cell proliferation curve.The CSCs were infected with herpes simplex virus-1(HSV-1)(McKrae strain),Zika virus(ZIKV,GZ01 strain),Dengue virus typeⅡ,and H1N1(PR8).Results The immortalized tree shrew CSCs after＞50 passages appeared spindle-shaped with good cell morphology and structure compared with 40 generations.Positive immunofluorescence expression of vimentin and SV40T genes.The cell growth curve showed that the cells were in logarithmic-phase growth on days 4～5 and grew vigorously.The number of chromosomes in the primary cells was stable at 62,while immortalized CSCs had 64 chromosomes at P21 and P56.The virus titer results showed that the immortalized tree shrew CSCs were sensitive to HSV-1(McKrae strain),ZIKV(GZ01 strain),Dengue virus typeⅡ,and H1N1(PR8),with virus titers of 1.32×105,5.62×106,2.69×107,and 7.76×104 CCID50/mL,respectively.Conclusions The immortalized tree shrew CSCs were established successfully,suggesting that this cell line is suitable for studies of the mechanisms of HSV,ZIKV,Dengue virus,and influenza A virus infection in relation to corneal diseases and antiviral drugs.