This paper summarized professor XUE Boshou's clinical experience of using Fangfeng （Radix Saposhnikoviae）. Firstly， Fangfeng is used to scatter wind and release the exterior， disseminate and penetrate the pathogens， and can treat the early-staged externally contracted heat diseases with exterior qi constraint and blocking， and serious internal heat through Xiaodu Xijiao Beverage （消毒犀角饮） from Beneficial Formulas from the Taiping Imperial Pharmacy （《太平惠民和剂局方》）combined with Yinqiao Powder （银翘散）， Shengjiang Powder （升降散） and Zhizichi Decoction （栀子豉汤） in their modifications. Secondly， it eliminates wind and dispels dampness， relieves itching， and heals sores， with self-made Xue's Guomin Decoction （薛氏过敏煎） in modification being formulated to treat allergic skin diseases caused by pathogenic wind attacking the exterior. Thirdly， it disperses liver qi and soothes the spleen， lifts yang and stops diarrhea， and can be used in modified Tong Xie Yao Formula （痛泻要方） from Teachings of ZHU Danxi （《丹溪心法》） when treating diarrhea caused by liver constraint and spleen deficiency. Fourthly， it can disperse stagnated qi throughout the body and unblock the meridians of the five zang （脏） organs， commonly in formulation of modified Huangqi Chifeng Decoction （黄芪赤风汤） from Correction of Errors in Medical Works （《医林改错》） to treat patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis after radiotherapy and chemotherapy of tumors， as well as alopecia areata or even alopecia universalis， chronic rhinitis and others.

African swine fever virus(ASFV)I177L gene deletion vaccine is one of the key directions of African swine fever(ASF)live attenuated vaccine research and development.In order to effec-tively distinguish between the wild-type ASFV strain and the I177L gene-deleted strain,specific primers and probes were designed based on ASFV B646L and I177L genes,respectively.After screening and optimization,a duplex real-time PCR method was developed that can simultaneously detect these two genes.The results showed that ASFV B646L and I177L genes were detected spe-cifically and simultaneously by the method developed without cross-reactions with porcine circovir-us type 2,Seneca virus A,classical swine fever virus,foot-and-mouth disease virus,porcine respira-tory and reproductive syndrome virus.The detection limits of the duplex real-time PCR for recom-binant plasmids pUC57-B646L and pUC57-I177L were 1×103 copies/mL.The intra-and inter-as-say coefficients of variation were less than 4％,respectively.Detection of 122 pork and pork prod-ucts using the duplex real-time PCR developed and the real-time PCR recommended by WOAH showed that the coincidence rates of the two methods for B646L gene detection was 100％with two amplification curves appeared in the positive results of the established methods.The method established in this study can be used for the detection of ASFV I177L gene deletion strains,which provides technical support for ASF surveillance and epidemiological investigation.

Objective To explore the application of the TST-IGRA two-step method in the screening of close contacts of active tuberculosis patients among three high schools in Jinshan District in 2020-2021，and to provide evidence for improving the prevention and control of tuberculosis in schools. Methods Three school tuberculosis outbreaks in Jingshan District from 2020 to 2021 were included in the present study. After excluding active tuberculosis, tuberculin skin test and γ-interferon release assay (IGRA) were conducted to screen latent infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in close contacts, and the necessity of the two-step method was analyzed. Results A total of 362 close contacts were screened in the three outbreaks, and 350 people were tested by TST. Comparing the results of TST and IGRA among different types of close contacts, it was found that the positive rate of TST in teachers was higher than that in students（54.84% vs 20.38%，P<0.05）. The positive rate of TST among students from high-burden areas of pulmonary tuberculosis in Shanghai was higher than that of local students（24.71% vs 18.80%，P<0.05). IGRA detection was performed on those with moderate and strong positive TST results, and the results showed that the positive rate of IGRA in those with strong positive TST results was only 17.7%, with Kappa value of 0.3. Conclusion The prevention and control of tuberculosis in school should strengthen the annual health examination of teachers and staff, promote timely medical treatment for suspected tuberculosis symptoms, reasonably increase the screening frequency of students in high-burden areas of tuberculosis in Shanghai, and collect students’ previous history of tuberculosis exposure. When screening close contacts, after excluding active tuberculosis, it is recommended that TST and IGRA should be combined to determine latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and achieve accurate intervention.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the deadly diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), which presents a significant public health challenge. Treatment of TB relies on the combination of several anti-TB drugs to create shorter and safer regimens. Therefore, new anti-TB agents working by different mechanisms are urgently needed. FtsZ, a tubulin-like protein with GTPase activity, forms a dynamic Z-ring in cell division. Most of FtsZ inhibitors are designed to inhibit GTPase activity. In Mtb, the function of Z-ring is modulated by SepF, a FtsZ binding protein. The FtsZ/SepF interaction is essential for FtsZ bundling and localization at the site of division. Here, we established a yeast two-hybrid based screening system to identify inhibitors of FtsZ/SepF interaction in M. tuberculosis. Using this system, we found compound T0349 showing strong anti-Mtb activity but with low toxicity to other bacteria strains and mice. Moreover, we have demonstrated that T0349 binds specifically to SepF to block FtsZ/SepF interaction by GST pull-down, fluorescence polarization (FP), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and CRISPRi knockdown assays. Furthermore, T0349 can inhibit bacterial cell division by inducing filamentation and abnormal septum. Our data demonstrated that FtsZ/SepF interaction is a promising anti-TB drug target for identifying agents with novel mechanisms.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.01.022.].

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging pathogen associated with neurological complications, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and microcephaly in fetuses and newborns. This mosquito-borne flavivirus causes important social and sanitary problems owing to its rapid dissemination. However, the development of antivirals against ZIKV is lagging. Although various strategies have been used to study anti-ZIKV agents, approved drugs or vaccines for the treatment (or prevention) of ZIKV infections are currently unavailable. Repurposing clinically approved drugs could be an effective approach to quickly respond to an emergency outbreak of ZIKV infections. The well-established safety profiles and optimal dosage of these clinically approved drugs could provide an economical, safe, and efficacious approach to address ZIKV infections. This review focuses on the recent research and development of agents against ZIKV infection by repurposing clinical drugs. Their characteristics, targets, and potential use in anti-ZIKV therapy are presented. This review provides an update and some successful strategies in the search for anti-ZIKV agents are given.
Adult ; Animals ; Drug Repositioning ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Microcephaly ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Zika Virus ; Zika Virus Infection/prevention & control*

How to discover the valuable knowledge from the large amount of prescription data accumulated in the long-term medical practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the important contents of TCM modernization.Based on the prescription data of Xue' s clinical practice of many years,this paper explored the method of combining TCM network and prescription network to find out Xue' s common core drug combination.Based on 9,584 prescriptions in the Hospital Information System of Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences,prescription network and drug network were constructed according to the similarity of prescription composition and drug co-occurrence relationship.Using the complex network analysis methods,such as community analysis method,to analyze the prescription and drug compatibility,the results were evaluated and analyzed by Xue and his successors.As a result,through complex network analysis,126 modular prescriptions and 4 TCM modules were obtained.One of the core components of the prescription module included Xiao Chai Hu decoction,Yin Qiao powder,and Sheng Jiang powder compound addition and subtraction.It was in consistent with the drug composition of exogenous febrile prescriptions excavated earlier.In conclusion,using the complex network methods,we can get some core drug combinations prescribed by Prof.Xue,and achieve the common compound core drug combination for treating diseases with certain vantages,laying a foundation for further inheriting and excavating Xue' s effective experience.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of standard dose prednisone(starting dose about 0.4 mg/kg bw) combined with glutamine(2 g/d) for Graves' ophthalmopathy(GO) after 131I treatment.Methods The prospective randomized controlled trial was performed and included 116 consecutive patients with mild-to-moderate GO or no active GO after 131I treatment,but with high risk factors.The experimental group(59 cases) started to take oral prednisone(0.44 ± 0.13)mg/kg at 2 d atter theatment,meanwhile replenishing glutamine,and prednisone was gradually decreased by 5mg per 2 weeks and stopped until 2 months;the control group(57 cases) received the initial dose prednisone(0.43± 0.14)mg/kg without replenishing glutamine,and the rest was same as the experimental group.The GO change and prednisone adverse reactions in 2,4,6 months after treatment were evalua ted in the two groups.Results The baseline characteristics had no significant difference between the two groups.In comparison of the experimental group and control group after 6-month treatment,the CAS score was (2.8 ± 0.8 vs.3.5 ± 0.9),exophthalmos degree was (19.6±8.1)mm vs.(21.7±3.0)mm,eyelid width was (11.3±2.9)mm vs.(13.8±3.1)mm,the improvement degree in the experimental group except for degree was superior to the control group (P＜0.01).No new onset GO or deterioation oc curred in the two groups;the experimental group had 42 cases(71.2 ％) of GO improvement and 17 cases(28.8 ％) of stability,while the control group had 39 cases(68.4％) of GO improvement and 18 cases(31.6％) of stability,and the curative effects had no sttis-tical difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The side effects in the control group were more than those in the experimental group(63.1％ vs.30.5％,P＜0.05).the body mass increase was more obvious [(3.8±1.8) kg vs.(1.4±1.2)kg,P＜0.01],and SBP and DBP in the two groups were slightly increased[(10±4)mm Hg vs.(9±5)mm Hg P＞0.05].Conclusion Using the initial dose of oral prednisone(about 0.4 mg/kg) for 2 months and simultaneously replenishing glutamine (2 g/d)can effectively improve mild-moderate GO,and effectively reduce the adverse reactions of GC.However it is needed to extend the follow-up time to assess whether it can truly prevent the deterioration of GO,and to conduct a further study for the role of glutamine.

Objective To study the expression and significance of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) in the process of early radiation-induced lung injury in mice.Methods 40 mice were randomly divided into control group (10 cases) and post-irradiation group (30 cases).A large dose (15 Gy) irradiation on chest was performed in post-irradiation group.Every 10 mice in this group were killed on the 1st day (RT1d),the 10th day (RT10d),the 30th day (RT30d),respectively,and the specimens were collected.The expression of MCP-1 mRNA was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR),and MCP-1 and IL-6 proteins in BALF were detected by ELISA.The pathological changes of lung tissue were observed with HE staining.Results Under the microscope,lung tissue began to show inflammation on the 10th day and was more seriousness on the 30th day in post-irradiation group.Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the expression of MCP-1 in lung tissue irradiated was increased.RT-PCR results showed that the relative expressions of MCP-1 mRNA in control group,RT1d group,RT10d group and RT30d group were 7.63±0.77,6.81±0.75,5.75±0.73 and 4.61±0.75,respectively.The differences between RT1d group and control group,RT10d and RT1d group,and RT30d and RT10d were significantly different (all P ＜ 0.05).ELISA results showed that the levels of MCP-1 and IL-6 proteins in post-irradiation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression of MCP-1 in mice after irradiation is abnormal,and MCP-1 may participate in early radiation-induced lung injury.

Optimum research on famous TCM doctors’ experienced prescriptions can optimize the composition of prescriptions which originated from experienced prescriptions, clarify the functions of indications and efficacy features of experienced prescriptions. Case report forms which are normally adapted to clinical new medicine study cannot meet the demand of observational study to optimize experienced prescriptions. This article expounded design features, structure elements and collection timing and proposed requirements for information collection through practice of case report forms in the optimum research on famous TCM doctors’ experienced prescriptions, with a purpose to realize the optimization of experienced prescriptions through observational study on famous TCM doctors’ experienced prescriptions and provide evidence for further clinical research on experienced prescriptions.