Intermittent fasting alleviates IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis via reduced γδT17 and monocytes in mice.

Psoriasis is a chronic immune mediated inflammatory skin disease with systemic manifestations. It has been reported that caloric restriction could improve severity of psoriasis patients. However, the mechanism of intermittent fasting effects on psoriasis has not been investigated. Caloric restriction is known to reduce the number of circulating inflammatory monocytes in a CCL2-dependent manner. However, it is still unknown whether caloric restriction can improve psoriasis by regulating monocytes through CCL2. In this study, we used imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like mouse model to explore the effects and the mechanisms of intermittent fasting on psoriasis-like dermatitis. We found that intermittent fasting could significantly improve IMQ-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis, and reduce the number of γδT17 cells and IL-17 production in draining lymph nodes and psoriatic lesion via inhibiting proliferation and increasing death of γδT17 cells. Furthermore, intermittent fasting could significantly decrease monocytes in blood, and this was associated with decreased monocytes, macrophages and DC in psoriasis-like skin inflammation. Reduced monocytes in circulation and increased monocytes in BM of fasting IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mice is through reducing the production of CCL2 from BM to inhibit monocyte egress to the periphery. Our above data shads light on the mechanisms of intermittent fasting on psoriasis.

Factors impacting human exposure to legacy and emerging contaminants in residential dust in Beijing, China: Characteristics of indoor microenvironment.

Exposure to indoor dust is of concern since dust may be contaminated by various toxic chemicals and people spend considerable time indoors. Factors impacting human exposure risks to contaminants in indoor dust may differ from those affecting the loadings of contaminants, but the dominant factors have not yet been well clarified. In this study, the occurrence, human exposure, and related influencing factors of several classes of legacy and emerging contaminants in residential dust across Beijing were investigated, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and three types of flame retardants (FRs), i.e., organophosphate esters (OPEs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and novel halogenated FRs (NHFRs). OPEs (median: 3847 ng/g) were the most abundant group, followed by PBDEs (1046 ng/g) and NHFRs (520 ng/g). PFASs (14.3 ng/g) were one to two orders of magnitude lower than FRs. The estimated daily intakes of these contaminants were relatively higher for toddlers than other age groups, with oral ingestion being the main exposure pathway compared with dermal contact. Higher human exposure risks were found in new buildings or newly finished homes due to the elevated intake of emerging contaminants (such as OPEs). Furthermore, higher risks were also found in homes with wooden floors, which were mainly associated with higher levels of PFASs, chloroalkyl and alkyl OPEs, compared with tile floors. Citizens in the urban area also showed higher exposure risks than those in the suburban area. The quantity of household appliances and finishing styles (simple or luxurious) showed an insignificant impact on overall human exposure risks despite their significant effect on the levels of some of the dust contaminants. Results in this study are of importance in understanding human exposure to the co-existence of multiple contaminants in indoor dust.

Effect of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 with galactooligosaccharide synbiotics on obese individuals: an in vitro fermentation model.

BACKGROUND: The use of synbiotics is emerging as a promising intervention strategy for regulating the gut microbiota and for preventing or reducing obesity, in comparison with the use of probiotics or prebiotics alone. A previous in vivo study revealed that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei K56 (L. paracasei K56) could alleviate obesity induced in high-fat-diet mice; however, the effect of the synbiotic combination of L. paracasei K56 and prebiotics in obese individuals has not been explored fully. RESULTS: The effect of prebiotics on the proliferation of L. paracasei K56 was determined by spectrophotometry. The results showed that polydextrose (PG), xylooligosaccharide (XOS), and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) had a greater potential to be used as substrates for L. paracasei K56 than three other prebiotics (melitose, stachyose, and mannan-oligosaccharide). An in vitro fermentation model based on the feces of ten obese female volunteers was then established. The results revealed that K56_GOS showed a significant increase in GOS degradation rate and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content, and a decrease in gas levels, compared with PG, XOS, GOS, K56_PG, and K56_XOS. Changes in these microbial biomarkers, including a significant increase in Bacteroidota, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, and Blautia and a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and Escherichia-Shigella in the K56_GOS group, were associated with increased SCFA content and decreased gas levels. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the effect of the synbiotic combination of L. paracasei K56 and GOS on obese individuals and indicates its potential therapeutic role in obesity treatment. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Efficacy of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 in the treatment of functional dyspepsia: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Current treatment for functional dyspepsia (FD) has limited and unsustainable efficacy. Probiotics have the sustainable potential to alleviate FD. This randomized controlled clinical trial (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2000041430) assigned 200 FD patients to receive placebo, positive-drug (rabeprazole), or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-99 (BL-99; low, high doses) for 8-week. The primary outcome was the clinical response rate (CRR) of FD score after 8-week treatment. The secondary outcomes were CRR of FD score at other periods, and PDS, EPS, serum indicators, fecal microbiota and metabolites. The CRR in FD score for the BL-99_high group [45 (90.0%)] was significantly higher than that for placebo [29 (58.0%), p = 0.001], BL-99_low [37 (74.0%), p = 0.044] and positive_control [35 (70.0%), p = 0.017] groups after 8-week treatment. This effect was sustained until 2-week after treatment but disappeared 8-week after treatment. Further metagenomic and metabolomics revealed that BL-99 promoted the accumulation of SCFA-producing microbiota and the increase of SCFA levels in stool and serum, which may account for the increase of serum gastrin level. This study supports the potential use of BL-99 for the treatment of FD.

Novel MSH2 and TSC2 variants in a Chinese family with Lynch syndrome and their synergistic impact in urothelial carcinoma.

Lynch syndrome, an autosomal dominant hereditary disease arising from mutations in mismatch repair genes, is linked to the development of multiple tumor types, notably colorectal cancer, endometrial carcinoma and upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. In this study, we present the case of a young patient diagnosed with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma, notable for a familial history of diverse malignancies. By employing genetic analysis, we verified the presence of Lynch syndrome within the family and detected novel variants, MSH2 p.A604D and TSC2 p.C738Y, utilizing NGS technology. Subsequently, we conducted validation experiments to assess the pathogenicity of the MSH2 and TSC2 variants. We illustrated that the MSH2 variant can result in diminished MSH2 expression, compromised mismatch repair function, and induce resistance to cisplatin in urothelial carcinoma. Furthermore, we substantiated the promotional impact of the identified TSC2 variant on urothelial carcinoma, encompassing proliferation, invasion, and migration. Significantly, we found that the MSH2 p.A604D variant and TSC2 p.C738Y variant synergistically enhance the promotion of urothelial carcinoma.

Research on Coix seed as a food and medicinal resource, it's chemical components and their pharmacological activities: A review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen (Romanet du Caillaud) Stapf is a plant of the genus Coix in the Gramineae family. Coix seed is cultivated in various regions throughout China. In recent years, with the research on the medicinal value of Coix seed, it has received more and more widespread attention from people. Numerous pharmacological effects of Coix seed have been demonstrated through modern pharmacological studies, such as hypoglycemia, improving liver function, anti-tumor, regulating intestinal microbiota, improving spleen function, and anti-inflammatory effects. AIMS OF THE STUDY: This article is a literature review. In recent years, despite the extensive research on Coix seed, there has yet to be a comprehensive review of its traditional usage, medicinal resources, chemical components, and pharmacological effects is still lacking. To fill this gap, the paper provides an overview of the latest research progress on Coix seed, aiming to offer guidance and references for its further development and comprehensive utilization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To gather information on the traditional usage, phytochemical ingredients, and pharmacological properties of Coix seed, we conducted a literature search using both Chinese and English languages in five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Springer. RESULTS: This article is a literature review. The chemical constituents of Coix seed include various fatty acids, esters, polysaccharides, sterols, alkaloids, triterpenes, tocopherols, lactams, lignans, phenols, flavonoids and other constituents. Modern pharmacological research has indeed shown that Coix seed has many pharmacological effects and is a natural anti-tumor drug. In addition to its anti-tumor effect, it also has pharmacological effects such as hypoglycemia, improving liver function, regulating intestinal microbiota, improving spleen function, and anti-inflammatory effects. CONCLUSIONS: This article provides a brief overview of the traditional uses, biotechnological applications, chemical components, and pharmacological effects of Coix seed. It highlights the importance of establishing quality standards, discovering new active ingredients, and exploring pharmacological mechanisms in Coix seed research. The article also emphasizes the significance of clinical trials, toxicology studies, pharmacokinetics data, and multidisciplinary collaboration for further advancements in this field. Overall, it aims to enhance understanding of Coix seed and its potential in pharmaceutical development and wellness products.

Design and Evaluation of Ginkgolides Gastric Floating Controlled Release Tablets Based on Solid Supersaturated Self-nanoemulsifying.

Ginkgolides are receptor antagonist of platelet activating factor with great clinical prospect, but its application is limited by its low solubility, short half-life and poor alkaline environment stability. It is difficult to solve these problems with a single drug delivery system. In this study, supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying gastric floating tablets of ginkgolides were developed through the combination of solid supersaturated self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (solid S-SNEDDS) and gastric retentive floating drug delivery system (GFDDS) to solve these problems of ginkgolides. Solid S-SNEDDS was prepared by D-optimal mixture design, normalization method and single factor experiment. The properties of solid-S-SNEDDS were studied by TEM, PXRD, FT-IR, SEM and in vitro drug release profile. Then, the optimal formulation of stomach floating tablet was obtained through single factor experiment and center composite design, followed by the study of in vitro release, model and mechanism of release, in vitro buoyancy and kinetics of erosion and swelling. PXRD and FT-IR showed that the drug in solid S-SNEDDS existed in an amorphous manner and formed hydrogen bond with excipients. The results showed that the cumulative release of GA and GB in the optimal tablets was 96.12% and 92.57% higher than the simple tablets within 12 h. The release mechanism of the tablet was skeleton erosion and drug diffusion. In 12 h, the optimal tablets can float stably in vitro and release the drug at a constant rate, with a cumulative release of more than 80%. In summary, the combination of SNEDDS and GFDDS is a promising means to solve the problems of ginkgolides.

Data-Driven Optimal Tracking Control for Discrete-Time Nonlinear Systems With Unknown Dynamics Using Deterministic ADP.

This article aims to solve the optimal tracking problem (OTP) for a class of discrete-time (DT) nonlinear systems with completely unknown dynamics. A novel data-driven deterministic approximate dynamic programming (ADP) algorithm is proposed to solve this kind of problem with only input-output (I/O) data. The proposed algorithm has two advantages compared to existing data-driven deterministic ADP algorithms for the OTP. First, our algorithm can guarantee optimality while achieving better performance in the aspects of time-saving and robustness to data. Second, the near-optimal control policy learned by our algorithm can be implemented without considering expected control and enable the system states to track the user-specified reference signals. Therefore, the tracking performance is guaranteed while simplifying the algorithm implementation. Furthermore, the convergence and stability of the proposed algorithm are strictly proved through theoretical analysis, in which the errors caused by neural networks (NNs) are considered. At the end of this article, the developed algorithm is compared with two representative deterministic ADP algorithms through a numerical example and applied to solve the tracking problem for a two-link robotic manipulator. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the developed algorithm.

Effects of nanoscale zinc oxide treatment on growth, rhizosphere microbiota, and metabolism of Aconitum carmichaelii.

Trace elements play a crucial role in the growth and bioactive substance content of medicinal plants, but their utilization efficiency in soil is often low. In this study, soil and Aconitum carmichaelii samples were collected and measured from 22 different locations, followed by an analysis of the relationship between trace elements and the yield and alkaloid content of the plants. The results indicated a significant positive correlation between zinc, trace elements in the soil, and the yield and alkaloid content of A. carmichaelii. Subsequent treatment of A. carmichaelii with both bulk zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) demonstrated that the use of ZnO NPs significantly enhanced plant growth and monoester-type alkaloid content. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for these effects, metabolomic analysis was performed, resulting in the identification of 38 differentially expressed metabolites in eight metabolic pathways between the two treatments. Additionally, significant differences were observed in the rhizosphere bacterial communities, with Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota identified as valuable biomarkers for ZnO NP treatment. Covariation analysis further revealed significant correlations between specific microbial communities and metabolite expression levels. These findings provide compelling evidence that nanoscale zinc exhibits much higher utilization efficiency compared to traditional zinc fertilizer.

Low-dose IL-2 therapy in autoimmune diseases: An update review.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are essential for maintaining self-immune tolerance. Reduced numbers or functions of Treg cells have been involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases and allograft rejection. Therefore, the approaches that increase the pool or suppressive function of Treg cells in vivo could be a general strategy to treat different autoimmune diseases and allograft rejection. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is essential for the development, survival, maintenance, and function of Treg cells, constitutively expressing the high-affinity receptor of IL-2 and sensitive response to IL-2 in vivo. And low-dose IL-2 therapy in vivo could restore the imbalance between autoimmune response and self-tolerance toward self-tolerance via promoting Treg cell expansion and inhibiting follicular helper T (Tfh) and IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cell differentiation. Currently, low-dose IL-2 treatment is receiving extensive attention in autoimmune disease and transplantation treatment. In this review, we summarize the biology of IL-2/IL-2 receptor, the mechanisms of low-dose IL-2 therapy in autoimmune diseases, the application in the progress of different autoimmune diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH), Alopecia Areata (AA), Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) and Chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). We also discuss the future directions to optimize low-dose IL-2 treatments.

Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases. IL-2 is a protein that helps regulate the immune system, and low doses of it can activate regulatory T cells (Tregs), which help control the immune response. This can be beneficial in autoimmune diseases where the immune system attacks healthy tissues. We discuss several clinical trials that have investigated the effectiveness of low-dose IL-2 in treating autoimmune diseases. These trials have shown promising results, with some patients experiencing improvements in symptoms and disease progression. However, more research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of low-dose IL-2 as a treatment for autoimmune diseases. IL-2 can also activate other immune cells, which may cause unwanted side effects. Therefore, careful monitoring and dosing are necessary when using this treatment. We should also take note of some of the challenges associated with using low-dose IL-2 as a treatment for autoimmune diseases. For example, it can be difficult to determine the optimal dose and dosing schedule for each patient. In addition, there may be individual differences in how patients respond to low-dose IL-2 treatment. Overall, we believe that low-dose IL-2 shows promise as a treatment for autoimmune diseases, but more research is needed to fully understand its potential benefits and risks.

Cationic Conjugated Polymer Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer for DNA Methylation Assessment to Discriminate the Geographical Origins of Lonicerae japonicae flos.

The flavor and taste of Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJF) products are heavily influenced by geographical origin. Tracing the geographical origin is an important aspect of LJF quality assessment. Here, DNA methylation analysis coupled with chemometrics revealed that, in 10 CpG islands upstream of genes in the chlorogenic acid and iridoid biosynthetic pathways, DNA methylation differences appear close association with LJF geographical origin. DNA methylation status in these CpG islands was determined using the cationic conjugated polymer fluorescence resonance energy transfer method. As a result, LJFs from 39 geographical origins were classified into four groups corresponding to Northern China, Central Plain of China, Southeast China, and Western China, according to cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Our findings contribute to an understanding of the modulation of LJF taste and can assist in understanding how DNA methylation in LJF varies with geographical origin.

New Evidence for Artemisia absinthium as an Alternative to Classical Antibiotics: Chemical Analysis of Phenolic Compounds, Screening for Antimicrobial Activity.

Artemisia absinthium, an important herb of the Artemisia genus, was evaluated in this study for its potential as an alternative to classical antibiotics. The antimicrobial activity of methanol extracts of A. absinthium (MEAA) was evaluated using the broth microdilution method, revealing that A. absinthium exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to analyze the chemical profile of the MEAA, with a focus on flavonoids, quinic acids, and glucaric acids. A total of 90 compounds were identified, 69 of which were described for the first time in A. absinthium. Additionally, a new class of caffeoyl methyl glucaric acids was identified. The main active compounds were quantified and screened for antimicrobial activity. A. absinthium was found to be rich in quinic acids and flavonoids. The screening for antimicrobial activity also revealed that salicylic acid, caffeic acid, casticin, and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid had varying degrees of antimicrobial activity. The acute toxicity of MEAA was examined following OECD guidelines. The administration of 5000 mg/kg bw of MEAA did not result in mortality in male and female mice. Furthermore, there were no observed effects on the visceral organs or general behavior of the mice, demonstrating the good safety of MEAA. This study provides new evidence for the use of A. absinthium as an alternative to classical antibiotics in addressing the problem of bacterial resistance.

[Cloning and gene function of dicarboxylate-tricarboxylate carrier protein in Gastrodia elata].

The gene GeDTC encoding the dicarboxylate-tricarboxylate carrier protein in Gastrodia elata was cloned by specific primers which were designed based on the transcriptome data of G. elata. Bioinformatics analysis on GeDTC gene was carried out by using ExPASY, ClustalW, MEGA, etc. Positive transgenic plants and potato minituber were obtained by virtue of the potato genetic transformation system. Agronomic characters, such as size, weight, organic acid content, and starch content, of potato minituber were tested and analyzed and GeDTC gene function was preliminarily investigated. The results showed that the open reading frame of GeDTC gene was 981 bp in length and 326 amino acid residues were encoded, with a relative molecular weight of 35.01 kDa. It was predicted that the theoretical isoelectric point of GeDTC protein was 9.83, the instability coefficient was 27.88, and the average index of hydrophilicity was 0.104, which was indicative of a stable hydrophilic protein. GeDTC protein had a transmembrane structure and no signal peptide and was located in the inner membrane of mitochondria. The phylogenetic tree showed that GeDTC was highly homologous with DTC proteins of other plant species, among which GeDTC had the highest homology with DcDTC(XP＿020675804.1) in Dendrobium candidum, reaching 85.89%. GeDTC overexpression vector pCambia1300-35Spro-GeDTC was constructed by double digests, and transgenic potato plants were obtained by Agrobacterium-mediated gene transformation. Compared with the wild-type plants, transgenic potato minituber harvested by transplanting had smaller size, lighter weight, lower organic acid content, and no significant difference in starch content. It is preliminarily induced that GeDTC is the efflux channel of tricarboxylate and related to the tuber development, which lays a foundation for further elucidating the molecular mechanism of G. elata tuber development.

[Application of strigolactone analogs in storage of Gastrodia elata].

This study explored the preservation effect of strigolactone analogs on Gastrodia elata tubers and screened out the suitable preservation measures of G. elata to provide a safer and more effective method for its storage and preservation. Fresh G. elata tubers were treated with 7FGR24, 2,4-D isooctyl ester, and maleic hydrazide, respectively. The growth of flower buds, the activities of CAT, and MDA, and the content of gastrodin and p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol were measured to compare the effects of different compounds on the storage and preservation of G. elata. The effects of different storage temperatures on the preservation of 7FGR24 were compared and analyzed. The gibberellin signal transduction receptor gene GeGID1 was cloned, and the effect of 7FGR24 on the expression level of GeGID1 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR). The toxicity of the G. elata preservative 7FGR24 was analyzed by intragastric administration in mice to evaluate its safety. The results showed that compared with 2,4-D isooctyl ester and maleic hydrazide, 7FGR24 treatment had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of G. elata flower buds, and the CAT enzyme activity of G. elata was the highest, indicating that its preservation effect was stronger. Different storage temperatures had different effects on the preservation of G. elata, and the preservation effect was the strongest at 5 ℃. The open reading frame(ORF) of GeGID1 gene was 936 bp in length, and its expression level was significantly down-regulated after 7FGR24 treatment, indicating that 7FGR24 may inhibit the growth of flower buds by inhibiting the gibberellin signal of G. elata, thereby exerting a fresh-keeping effect. Feeding preservative 7FGR24 had no significant effect on the behavior and physiology of mice, indicating that it had no obvious toxicity. This study explored the application of the strigolactone analog 7FGR24 in the storage and preservation of G. elata and preliminarily established a method for the storage and preservation of G. elata, laying a foundation for the molecular mechanism of 7FGR24 in the storage and preservation of G. elata.

[Effect of BBM gene on callus growth and ginsenoside content in Panax quinquefolius].

Baby Boom(BBM) gene is a key regulatory factor in embryonic development and regeneration, cell proliferation, callus growth, and differentiation promotion. Since the genetic transformation system of Panax quinquefolius is unstable with low efficiency and long period, this study attempted to transfer BBM gene of Zea mays to P. quinquefolius callus by gene gunship to investigate its effect on the callus growth and ginsenoside content, laying a foundation for establishing efficient genetic transformation system of P. quinquefolius. Four transgenic callus of P. quinquefolius with different transformation events were obtained by screening for glufosinate ammonium resistance and molecular identification by PCR. The growth state and growth rate of wild-type and transgenic callus were compared in the same growth period. The content of ginsenoside in transgenic callus was determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS). The results showed that transgenic callus growth rate was significantly higher than that of wild-type callus. In addition, the content of ginsenoside Rb_1, Rg_1, Ro, and Re was significantly higher than that in wild-type callus. The paper preliminarily proved the function of BBM gene in promoting growth rate and increasing ginsenoside content, which provided a scientific basis to establish a stable and efficient genetic transformation system for Panax plants in the future.

Mediation effects of positive and negative affect on the relationship between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction in rural school teachers.

Few studies have investigated the ways in which the specific facets of trait emotional intelligence (EI), positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA) influence individuals' general life satisfaction, especially in teachers. This study explored the effects of three facets of trait EI [appraisal and expression of emotions (AEE), utilization of emotion (UE), and regulation of emotions (RE)] and two typical affects (PA and NA) on teachers' general life satisfaction. The participants were 577 Chinese rural school teachers (ages 18-49 years) who completed three questionnaires-the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test, Positive and Negative Affective scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. After validating the scales, a structural equation modeling analysis showed that trait EI, PA, and NA had a significant and positive effect on teachers' general life satisfaction. PA played a partial mediating role between trait EI and life satisfaction. Furthermore, this study found that PA significantly and positively mediated the relationship between AEE, UE, RE, and life satisfaction. These results suggest that teachers with higher EI are more likely to have positive emotions, thereby enhancing their general life satisfaction, and that understanding the role of one's own and others' emotions and increasing positive emotions may be the key to improving teachers' general life satisfaction. Future implications and the study limitations are discussed.

Heat-Killed Bifidobacterium longum BBMN68 in Pasteurized Yogurt Alleviates Mugwort Pollen-Induced Allergic Airway Responses through Gut Microbiota Modulation in a Murine Model.

Many probiotic bacteria have been proven to prevent allergic airway responses through immunomodulation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of heat-killed Bifidobacterium longum BBMN68 (BBMN68) in pasteurized yogurt on the alleviation of mugwort pollen (MP)-induced allergic inflammation. BALB/c mice aged 5-6 weeks were randomly assigned and fed pasteurized yogurt containing heat-killed BBMN68 for 27 days, followed by allergic sensitization and challenge with MP extract. The allergic mice that received pasteurized yogurt containing heat-killed BBMN68 had improved immune status, including a lower serum IgE level, decreased serum interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 concentrations, and alleviated airway inflammation manifested by increased macrophage and decreased eosinophil and neutrophil counts in BALF, as well as airway remodeling and suppressed peribronchial cellular infiltration. Moreover, oral administration of pasteurized yogurt containing heat-killed BBMN68 significantly modulated gut microbiota composition by influencing the proportion of beneficial genera associated with inflammation and immunity, such as Lactobacillus, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Odoribacter, and Parabacteroides, which also negatively correlated with serum IgE and Th2 cytokine levels. These results demonstrated that pasteurized yogurt containing heat-killed BBMN68 had mitigative effects on allergic airway inflammation, likely through maintaining the systemic Th1/Th2 immune balance by altering the structure and function of the gut microbiota.

Age and gender differences in expressive flexibility and the association with depressive symptoms in adolescents.

Objective: This study investigated age and gender differences in the ability to flexibly enhance and suppress facial expressions according to situational demands, known as expressive flexibility (EF), as well as its relationship with depressive symptoms in adolescents. Methods: The participants included 766 Chinese high school students aged between 12 and 18 years (mean age = 14.96 years, standard deviation = 2.04; 52.2% female). Data on EF and depressive symptoms were collected using self-report questionnaires. Results: Girls scored higher on enhancement abilities than boys, but with no significant gender difference in suppression abilities. There were also no significant age-related differences in enhancement and suppression abilities. Only enhancement ability was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The development of EF abilities was stable among adolescents, with varying effects in terms of gender, and the importance of EF and enhancement abilities in reducing depressive symptoms in adolescents was highlighted.

PuCRZ1, an C2H2 transcription factor from Polyporus umbellatus, positively regulates mycelium response to osmotic stress.

Polyporus umbellatus is an edible and medicinal mushroom with the capacity to produce sclerotia. However, the mechanism of P. umbellatus sclerotia formation is unclear. CRZ1 is a C2H2 family transcription factor involved in the Ca2+-calcineurin signaling pathway, which has the function of regulating sclerotia formation, maintaining ion homeostasis, and responding to stress. In this study, we identified 28 C2H2 transcription factors in P. umbellatus genome, 13 of which are differentially expressed between mycelium and sclerotia, including PuCRZ1. Combining DNA affinity purification and sequencing (DAP-seq) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), three genes (PuG10, PuG11, PuG12) were identified as putative PuCRZ1 target genes containing a putative binding motif (GTGGCG) within their promoter. Yeast single hybridization (Y1H) and EMSA further confirmed that PuCRZ1 can bind to the promoter region of PuG10, PuG11, and PuG12. PuCRZ1 gene could reduce the sensitivity of NaCl in yeast cells. Furthermore, overexpression of the PuCRZ1 target gene, especially the FVLY domain containing gene PuG11, could improve the mycelia growth rate and mannitol tolerance in P. umbellatus. These results demonstrate that PuCRZ1 in the Ca2+-calcineurin signaling pathway plays an important role in mycelia growth, as well as osmotic stress tolerance.