Characterization of the potential allergenicity of enzymatically hydrolyzed casein in Balb/c mouse model.

Bovine casein is a major allergen present in cow milk to induce anaphylaxis. In this study, the potential allergenicity of enzymatically hydrolyzed casein (HC) was evaluated based on in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that Alcalase and Protamex treatment (AT, PT) reduced the potential allergenicity of CN, with the greatest reductions of 68.25% and 50.75%, respectively. In addition, in vivo results showed that HC effectively alleviated allergic response symptoms of Balb/c mice; a significant tendency toward decreased serum IgG1 and mast cell tryptase levels was observed, accompanied by a decrease of Th2-associated IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 and an increase of IFN-γ levels in spleen. Moreover, the inflammation of the lung, jejunum, and ileum was remarkably ameliorated. The findings indicated that HC induced a shift toward Th1 response and maintained the Th1/Th2 immune balance. Importantly, our results provide the basis for the production of hypoallergenic dairy products.

Traditional Chinese medicine for post-stroke depression: A systematic review and network meta-analysis (Protocol).

BACKGROUND: Post-stroke depression (PSD) is common in stroke survivors, with significantly negative effects and serious impairments in terms of personal and social functioning. While both pharmacological and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions have been administered for PSD, there is still uncertainty about the balance between these and what treatment strategy should be preferred in clinical practice. Therefore, we aim to compare and rank, describing the protocol of a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA), the commonly used TCM interventions for PSD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will search CENTRAL (the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, CBM and PsycINFO, the US National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organisation International Trials Registry Platform search portal from inception to November 2018. There will be no restrictions on language, publication year or publication type. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) accessing any TCM treatments against active comparator or other controls for PSD will be included. The primary outcomes will be efficacy (the total number of participants, declining more than 50% on the total score between baseline) and acceptability of treatment (dropout rate due to any cause). A Bayesian NMA will be performed to compare all relative outcome of different TCM interventions. we will conduct the network meta-regression meta-analyses of data on the sex ratio, the types of stroke and the treatment duration of TCM interventions. Potential explanations in extra subgroup analyses according to the results of heterogeneity and inconsistency will be explored, and sensitivity analyses will be conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42018082400. CONCLUSION: Our study will generate evidence for TCM in the treatment of PSD and help to reduce the uncertainty about the effectiveness of PSD management, which will encourage further suggestions for TCM clinical practice or guideline.