The present study focuses on the effects and suggests possible mechanisms of the traditional Chinese medicine Dilong as compared to dexamethasone on lower respiratory tract remodeling in rats with asthma. The number of leukocytes and eosinophils in blood from the inferior vena cava and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted. Lung tissues underwent hematoxylin and eosin staining. The thickness of the basement membrane and smooth muscle or the airways, and the ratio of inner to outer diameter of the airway wall were measured. Levels of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), matrix metallopeptidase 9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-9/TIMP-1), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and c-Myc(mRNA) were evaluated. Results indicate that treatment with Dilong decreased the number of eosinophils in blood and BALF, decreased levels of TGF-β1, MMP-9/TIMP-1, uPA, PAI-1 and c-Myc, and ameliorated the thickening of airway walls, airway basement membrane and airway smooth muscle. Co-treatment with dexamethasone was found to intensity these effects. The cellularity of eosinophils and thickness of the airway basement membrane and smooth muscle were positively correlated with levels of TGF- 1, uPA, and c-Myc. Treatment with Dilong, either alone or in combination with dexamethasone, could inhibit and partly reverse airway remodeling in rats with asthma at an early stage.

coVid-19 has swept through mainland china by human-to-human transmission. The rapid spread of SarS-coV-2 and its variants, including the currently prevalent omicron strain, pose a serious threat worldwide. The present review summarizes epidemiological investigation and etiological analysis of genomic, epidemiological, and pathological characteristics of the original strain and its variants, as well as progress in diagnosis and treatment. Prevention and control measures used during the current omicron pandemic are discussed to provide further knowledge of SarS-coV-2. Contents1. introduction 2. epidemiological features 3. clinical and pathological manifestation 4. diagnosis 5. Treatment 6. Measures to protect vulnerable groups: Vaccination 7. conclusion

To observe the clinical efficacy of heat clearing phlegm mixture combined with vibration sputum excretion instrument in the treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of COPD with phlegm-heat obstructing lung, 90 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD are selected and divided into three groups, namely, control group, traditional medicine group, and combined group: the control group (conventional western medicine treatment), traditional medicine group (heat clearing and phlegm mixture), and combined group (heat clearing and phlegm mixture + vibratory sputum excretion instrument) with 30 cases each. All the patients in the three groups were given conventional western medicine treatment. On this basis, the traditional medicine group was given the oral administration of the heat-clearing and phlegm-clearing mixture, and the combined group was given the oral administration of the heat-clearing and phlegm-clearing mixture and the vibratory sputum discharge apparatus. Machine learning is used to classify the patients into three groups based on the characteristics of their biomarkers, physical attributes, and medical history. The TCM syndrome score, blood gas analysis, lung function, and inflammatory indexes of the three groups were compared. TCM syndrome scores of the three groups were all lower than before; both the combined group and the TCM group were better than the control group ( P  < 0.05). Although the improvement degree of the combined group was better than that of the TCM group, the difference was not statistically significant ( P  > 0.05). TCM syndrome effect is seen to be 96.55% in the combined group, 89.29% in the TCM group, and 63.33% in the control group. Blood gas analysis is also performed; PO2 and PCO2 of the three groups were significantly improved after treatment. The combination group was superior to the traditional medicine group and the control group ( P  < 0.05), and the traditional medicine group was superior to the control group ( P  < 0.05). It is concluded that the combination of heat clearing phlegm mixture and vibration sputum excretion instrument can improve TCM syndrome score, CAT score, blood gas analysis, lung function, and inflammatory indicators in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD with phlegm-heat obstructing lung.

In the context of severely restricted employment opportunities, undertaking an internship is an important way for students to enhance their employability and sustainable development. The aim of this study was to judge if the implementation of the Internship Promotion Programme (IPP) at universities in Zhejiang Province, China, could enhance graduates’ employability. We conducted surveys and interviews with 400 students and 100 business executives who participated in the IPP during the past 6 years. Based on the collected data and statistical analysis, the findings show that internships help students to improve their innovative thinking, interpersonal communication abilities (domestic and international), problem-solving skills, value creation and responsibility. Participants in the IPP were compared with students who did not take part. The results demonstrated that the IPP participants exhibited higher capabilities to perform important workplace tasks and that as a result, they became more attractive to employers. The analysis, therefore, demonstrates a positive correlation between the internship experience and employability. As a result, it can be concluded that the IPP improves students’ employability and is beneficial to enhancing the quality of higher education, and hence the sustainable development of students.

L-tryptophan metabolism is involved in the regulation of many important physiological processes, such as, immune response, inflammation, and neuronal function. Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the first rate-limiting step of tryptophan conversion to kynurenine. Thus, inhibiting IDO1 may have therapeutic benefits for various diseases, such as, cancer, autoimmune disease, and depression. In the search for potent IDO1 inhibitors, natural quinones were the first reported IDO1 inhibitors with potent inhibitory activity. Subsequently, natural compounds with diverse structures have been found to have anti-IDO1 inhibitory activity. In this review, we provide a summary of these natural IDO1 inhibitors, which are classified as quinones, polyphenols, alkaloids and others. The overview of in vitro IDO1 inhibitory activity of natural compounds will help medicinal chemists to understand the mode of action and medical benefits of them. The scaffolds of these natural compounds can also be used for further optimization of potent IDO1 inhibitors.

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In recent years, professional mobility opportunities for university staff and students enshrined within various initiatives have been an effective tool in increasing the international visibility of universities. Activities such as participation in EU sponsored programs (mainly Erasmus-MUNDUS followed by ERASMUS+) as well as opportunities provided by national agencies like the China Scholarship Council, Polish National Academic Exchange Agency, and relevant schemes in other EU member states are perceived as perfect tools for turning ideas into reality. Aside from the scientific profits collected by the beneficiaries, opportunities for academic mobility serve as eye-openers, triggering new ideas and solutions based on good practices and experience. The purpose of this chapter is to study the background, practices, and effects of cooperation between China and the EU. It argues that the process of accelerating mobility cooperation between universities in China and Europe should not only start from people mobility but also from project mobility and policy mobility.