Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of Xiaojianzhong Granule(XJZG)on food allergy(FA)and related mecha-nisms in terms of gut microbiota,zonula occluden-1(ZO-1),and Occludin.Methods:A total of 24 specific pathogen-free female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,prevention group,and treatment group,with 6 mice in each group.The mice in the prevention group were given XJZG by gavage at a standard dose of 5.85 g/kg/day from 3 days before the first challenge till 4 hours before the last challenge;the mice in the treatment group were given XJZG at the double dose for 3 days based on the allergy score;the mice in the other groups were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage.At the end of the experiment,al-lergy score and anal temperature were measured;flow cytometry was used to measure eosinophils and mast cells in mesenteric lymph nodes(MLNs);toluidine blue staining was performed for mast cells in jejunal tissue;immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin;16S rRNA sequencing was per-formed to analyze the microbiota in the intestinal content;high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to measure the content of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in jejunal lavage fluid.Results:Compared with the model group,the prevention group and the treatment group had significant reductions in al-lergy score(P=0.000,P=0.000),anal temperature(P=0.002,P=0.000),the proportion of eosinophils and mast cells in MLNs(P<0.05),and mast cell infiltration in jejunal tissue(P=0.000,P=0.000).Compared with the normal group,the model group had signifi-cant increases in the relative abundances of Erysipelaceae and Turicibacter,while the prevention group and the treatment group had disappearance of Erysipelaceae and Turicibacter and an increase in the relative abundance of Porphyromonadaceae.Compared with the normal group,the model group had a significant reduction in the content of propionate in jejunal lavage fluid(P=0.014),and compared with the model group,the prevention group had a significant increase in the content of propionate in jejunal lavage fluid(P=0.024),as well as a significant increase in the treatment group(P=0.008).In the model group,the expression of ZO-1 was downregulated(P=0.010),and the expression of Occludin was significantly downregulated(P=0.002),while the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin re-turned to normal levels in the prevention group and the treatment group(P=0.001,P=0.013;P=0.025,P=0.015).Conclusion:XJZG can change the composition and abundance of gut microbiota,increase the concentration of SCFAs,upregulate the expression of ZO-1 and Occludin,promote the repair of intestinal barrier,and inhibit food allergy.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of fluconazole on proteomics of Trichosporon asahii so as to reveal the responding process of T.asahii to fluconazole stress and the resistance mechanisms to azoles on the protein level.METHODS T.asahii AS 2.2174 was chosen as the research subject,the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)of fluconazole was determined by broth microdilution assay.The protein abundance of T.asahii was detec-ted by means of tandem mass tag(TMT)technique combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrom-etry(LC-MS/MS)before and after the treatment with fluconazole(1× MIC).The differentially expressed pro-teins(DEPs)were identified based on the screening standards of fold change ≥1.20 or ≤0.83 and P＜0.05.Gene ontlogy(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were performed for the DEPs so as to understand the biological property of the DEPs and the major biological pathways that the DEPs in-volved in.Finally,the targeted validation was carried out for the targeted differentially expressed proteins by using multiple reaction monitoring(MRM).RESULTS The MIC of fluconazole to T.asahii AS 2.2174 was 8 μg/ml.Totally 196 DEPs were identified,including 93 upregulated DEPs and 103 downregulated DEPs.The function en-richment analysis showed that the DEPs mainly participated in synthesis and metabolism of sterols,drug metabo-lism,stress response,energy metabolism and intertranslation.The targeted DEPs showed the consistent expres-sion trends in MRM target validation and TMT-LC-MS/MS.CONCLUSIONS The protein abundance of T.asahii has remarkable change under the fluconazole stress.The bioinformatics analysis reveals the complicated molecular mechanisms of T.asahii in response to the fluconazole stress,which may offer valuable ideas for understanding the drug resistance to azoles and developing new drug targets.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and non-specific inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Huanglian Ganjiang decoction (HGD), derived from ancient book Beiji Qianjin Yao Fang, has demonstrated efficacy in treating UC patients traditionally. Previous research established that the compatibility of cold herb Coptidis Rhizoma + Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex (CP) and hot herb Angelicae Sinensis Radix + Zingiberis Rhizoma (AZ) in HGD synergistically improved colitis mice. This study investigated the compatibility mechanisms through which CP and AZ regulated inflammatory balance in colitis mice. The experimental colitis model was established by administering 3% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) to mice for 7 days, followed by CP, AZ and CPAZ treatment for an additional 7 days. M1/M2 macrophage polarization levels, glucose metabolites levels and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) expression were analyzed using flow cytometry, Western blot, immunofluorescence and targeted glucose metabolomics. The findings indicated that CP inhibited M1 macrophage polarization, decreased inflammatory metabolites associated with tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and suppressed PDK4 expression and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) (Ser-293) phosphorylation level. AZ enhanced M2 macrophage polarization, increased lactate axis metabolite lactate levels, and upregulated PDK4 expression and PDH (Ser-293) phosphorylation level. TCA cycle blocker AG-221 and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-PDK4 partially negated CP's inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization. Lactate axis antagonist oxamate and PDK4 inhibitor dichloroacetate (DCA) partially reduced AZ's activation of M2 macrophage polarization. In conclusion, the compatibility of CP and AZ synergistically alleviated colitis in mice through M1/M2 macrophage polarization balance via PDK4-mediated glucose metabolism reprogramming. Specifically, CP reduced M1 macrophage polarization by restoration of TCA cycle via PDK4 inhibition, while AZ increased M2 macrophage polarization through activation of PDK4/lactate axis.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Mice ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase/genetics* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Colitis/drug therapy* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy* ; Metabolic Reprogramming

Within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum,secretory proteins are synthesized,processed,and transported.Disturbances in Ca2+or internal environmental homeostasis trigger the production of misfolded or unfolded proteins,thereby inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS).The ERS maintains the correct folding of secretory pro-teins by activating three signaling pathways in the unfolded protein response:inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1),protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK),and activating transcription factor 6(ATF6).In disease states such as viral infections,autoimmune diseases,and inflammation,activated immune cells secrete large amounts of cytokines,which are small molecule secretory proteins.The ERS regulates the balance of its secretory pathways,thereby affecting cellular function.The precise mechanism by which ERS affects immune cells regulating cytokine secretion remains to be fully revealed.This article provides a comprehensive review of the research progress on the role and mechanism of ERS in regulating the secretion of cytokines by immune cells.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of fluconazole on proteomics of Trichosporon asahii so as to reveal the responding process of T.asahii to fluconazole stress and the resistance mechanisms to azoles on the protein level.METHODS T.asahii AS 2.2174 was chosen as the research subject,the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)of fluconazole was determined by broth microdilution assay.The protein abundance of T.asahii was detec-ted by means of tandem mass tag(TMT)technique combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrom-etry(LC-MS/MS)before and after the treatment with fluconazole(1× MIC).The differentially expressed pro-teins(DEPs)were identified based on the screening standards of fold change ≥1.20 or ≤0.83 and P＜0.05.Gene ontlogy(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were performed for the DEPs so as to understand the biological property of the DEPs and the major biological pathways that the DEPs in-volved in.Finally,the targeted validation was carried out for the targeted differentially expressed proteins by using multiple reaction monitoring(MRM).RESULTS The MIC of fluconazole to T.asahii AS 2.2174 was 8 μg/ml.Totally 196 DEPs were identified,including 93 upregulated DEPs and 103 downregulated DEPs.The function en-richment analysis showed that the DEPs mainly participated in synthesis and metabolism of sterols,drug metabo-lism,stress response,energy metabolism and intertranslation.The targeted DEPs showed the consistent expres-sion trends in MRM target validation and TMT-LC-MS/MS.CONCLUSIONS The protein abundance of T.asahii has remarkable change under the fluconazole stress.The bioinformatics analysis reveals the complicated molecular mechanisms of T.asahii in response to the fluconazole stress,which may offer valuable ideas for understanding the drug resistance to azoles and developing new drug targets.

Within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum,secretory proteins are synthesized,processed,and transported.Disturbances in Ca2+or internal environmental homeostasis trigger the production of misfolded or unfolded proteins,thereby inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS).The ERS maintains the correct folding of secretory pro-teins by activating three signaling pathways in the unfolded protein response:inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1),protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase(PERK),and activating transcription factor 6(ATF6).In disease states such as viral infections,autoimmune diseases,and inflammation,activated immune cells secrete large amounts of cytokines,which are small molecule secretory proteins.The ERS regulates the balance of its secretory pathways,thereby affecting cellular function.The precise mechanism by which ERS affects immune cells regulating cytokine secretion remains to be fully revealed.This article provides a comprehensive review of the research progress on the role and mechanism of ERS in regulating the secretion of cytokines by immune cells.

Objective:To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and explore the associated factors of breakthrough cases (BC) from Public Health Emergency Events (PHEEs) of varicella in Zhejiang Province from 2019 to 2022.Methods:Data on cases were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and the PHEEs Reporting Information Database of Varicella in Zhejiang Province. History records were matched through the Zhejiang Provincial Immunization Information System. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression model with a bidirectional stepwise selection method were performed to explore associated factors for BC during 2019-2022.Results:A total of 144 276 varicella cases were reported from 2019 to 2022, with the annual reported incidence of 47.35-82.80 cases per 100 000 population. Among these cases, 109 172 were non-breakthrough cases (NBC, accounting for 75.67%), 34 517 were BC (23.92%), and the rest 587 cases had unclear vaccination history on varicella (0.41%). A total of 214 PHEEs of varicella were reported, of which 99.07% occurred in school settings. The proportion of PHEEs that occurred in high school increased significantly as time went on ( χ2trend=5.742, P=0.017). Multiple logistic regression model which focused on "BC vs. NBC (as the reference)" indicated that the year of onset ( OR=1.585, 95% CI:1.343-1.878), the month of onset (taking January as the reference, OR=2.311-15.652), city (taking Hangzhou as the reference, Jiaxing OR=2.370, Jinhua OR=2.197, Lishui OR=0.134), age ( OR=0.887, 95% CI: 0.826-0.944), PHEEs setting (taking "primary school and below" as the reference, "high school and above" OR=0.516, 95% CI: 0.305-0.897), and the number of rashes ( OR=0.569, 95% CI: 0.458-0.703) were associated factors. Multiple logistic regression model which focused on "two-dose BC vs. one-dose BC (as the reference)" showed that the age of initial vaccination ( OR=0.045, 95% CI: 0.014-0.107), the time interval from onset to the last dose ( OR=0.037, 95% CI: 0.011-0.087) and the age of onset ( OR=20.724, 95% CI: 8.383-72.485) were associated factors. Conclusion:During 2019-2022, the reported high-risk group of varicella in Zhejiang Province has shifted to adolescents and young adults. Although vaccination could not completely prevent the onset of VZV, it could relieve clinical symptoms and delay the age of onset.

Objective To investigate the expression levels of selenoprotein genes in the patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and the possible regulatory mechanisms.Methods The dataset GSE177477 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus,consisting of a symptomatic group(n=11),an asymptomatic group(n=18),and a healthy control group(n=18).The dataset was preprocessed to screen the differentially expressed genes(DEG)related to COVID-19,and gene ontology functional annotation and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis were performed for the DEGs.The protein-protein interaction network of DEGs was established,and multivariate Logistic regression was employed to analyze the effects of selenoprotein genes on the presence/absence of symptoms in the patients with COVID-19.Results Compared with the healthy control,the symptomatic COVID-19 patients presented up-regulated expression of GPX1,GPX4,GPX6,DIO2,TXNRD1,SELENOF,SELENOK,SELENOS,SELENOT,and SELENOW and down-regulated ex-pression of TXNRD2 and SELENON(all P＜0.05).The asymptomatic patients showcased up-regulated expres-sion of GPX2,SELENOI,SELENOO,SELENOS,SELENOT,and SELENOW and down-regulated expression of SELP(all P＜0.05).The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the abnormally high expression of GPX1(OR=0.067,95％CI=0.005-0.904,P=0.042)and SELENON(OR=56.663,95％CI=3.114-856.999,P=0.006)was the risk factor for symptomatic COVID-19,and the abnormally high expres-sion of SELP was a risk factor for asymptomatic COVID-19(OR=15.000,95％CI=2.537-88.701,P=0.003).Conclusions Selenoprotein genes with differential expression are involved in the regulation of COVID-19 development.The findings provide a new reference for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

Objective To explore the application effect of multi-component home-based exercise in elderly patients with osteoporosis and frailty.Methods A total of 52 elderly patients with osteoporosis and frailty were recruited from the osteoporosis clinic of a tertiary hospital in Nanjing,Jiangsu Province from March to August 2022 using the convenience sampling method.Subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group with 26 cases in each group by the random number table.The experimental group was given the home-based exercise program,while the control group maintained the daily lifestyle.Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB),grip strength,Frail Scale and Chinese Osteoporosis-targeted Quality of Life Questionnaire(COQOL)of the 2 groups were compared at 12 weeks and 24 weeks,and bone mineral density(BMD)was analyzed after 24-week intervention.Results The scores in the experimental group had significant statistical differences in SPPB,grip strength,Frail Scale and COQOL compared with those in the control group after 12-week and 24-week intervention(P＜0.05).The BMD of total hip of the experimental group was significantly higher than it in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The home-based exercise program can help the elderly with osteoporosis and frailty to improve the physical function and upper body strength,improve the frailty state,and enhance the quality of life,and it may be one of the effective intervention methods to prevent and reverse the frailty state of osteoporosis patients.

Objective:To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and explore the associated factors of breakthrough cases (BC) from Public Health Emergency Events (PHEEs) of varicella in Zhejiang Province from 2019 to 2022.Methods:Data on cases were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and the PHEEs Reporting Information Database of Varicella in Zhejiang Province. History records were matched through the Zhejiang Provincial Immunization Information System. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression model with a bidirectional stepwise selection method were performed to explore associated factors for BC during 2019-2022.Results:A total of 144 276 varicella cases were reported from 2019 to 2022, with the annual reported incidence of 47.35-82.80 cases per 100 000 population. Among these cases, 109 172 were non-breakthrough cases (NBC, accounting for 75.67%), 34 517 were BC (23.92%), and the rest 587 cases had unclear vaccination history on varicella (0.41%). A total of 214 PHEEs of varicella were reported, of which 99.07% occurred in school settings. The proportion of PHEEs that occurred in high school increased significantly as time went on ( χ2trend=5.742, P=0.017). Multiple logistic regression model which focused on "BC vs. NBC (as the reference)" indicated that the year of onset ( OR=1.585, 95% CI:1.343-1.878), the month of onset (taking January as the reference, OR=2.311-15.652), city (taking Hangzhou as the reference, Jiaxing OR=2.370, Jinhua OR=2.197, Lishui OR=0.134), age ( OR=0.887, 95% CI: 0.826-0.944), PHEEs setting (taking "primary school and below" as the reference, "high school and above" OR=0.516, 95% CI: 0.305-0.897), and the number of rashes ( OR=0.569, 95% CI: 0.458-0.703) were associated factors. Multiple logistic regression model which focused on "two-dose BC vs. one-dose BC (as the reference)" showed that the age of initial vaccination ( OR=0.045, 95% CI: 0.014-0.107), the time interval from onset to the last dose ( OR=0.037, 95% CI: 0.011-0.087) and the age of onset ( OR=20.724, 95% CI: 8.383-72.485) were associated factors. Conclusion:During 2019-2022, the reported high-risk group of varicella in Zhejiang Province has shifted to adolescents and young adults. Although vaccination could not completely prevent the onset of VZV, it could relieve clinical symptoms and delay the age of onset.