Supplementary Material for: Demethylzeylasteral (T-96) Alleviates Allergic Asthma via Inhibiting MAPK/ERK and NF-κB Pathway

Introduction: Demethylzeylasteral (T-96), a new extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF), exerted immunomodulatory properties in autoimmune diseases, but its effect on airway inflammatory diseases remains unclear. Our study aims to explore the protective effect and underlying mechanism of T-96 in allergic asthma. Methods: The OVA-induced asthmatic mice were administered by gavage with T-96 (0.1mg/10g, 0.3mg/10g or 0.6mg/10g) one hour before each challenge. The airway hyperresponsiveness was assessed, pathological changes were evaluated by HE and PAS staining and expressions of Th2 cytokines were determined by PCR and ELISA. The activation of MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathway was assessed by western blot. Results: T-96 significantly relieved airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic mice, evidenced by reduced airway resistance (Raw) and increased lung compliance dynamic compliance (Cdyn). Also, enhanced inflammatory infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were ameliorated in lungs of asthmatic mice following increasing doses of T-96 treatment, accompanied by decreased eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), IgE and OVA specific-IgE levels in serum and downregulated IL-5 and IL-13 expressions in BALF and lung tissues as well. Notably, phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK, ERK and p65 NF-κB were obviously increased in asthmatic mice compared with the control group, which were then abrogated upon T-96 treatment. Conclusion: This study first revealed that T-96 alleviated allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness via inhibiting MAPK/ERK and NF-κB pathway. Thus, T-96 could potentially act as a new anti-inflammatory agent in allergic asthma

Supplementary Material for: Serum Human epididymis protein 4 as a prognostic predictor of new onset heart failure among women after acute coronary syndrome: a single-center retrospective study

Introduction: Little is known about the prognostic factors among women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), partly due to the small number of women included in heart failure (HF) clinical trials. Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) has been proven to be a new biomarker for acute and chronic HF over the years. We hypothesize that HE4 could be a promising predictor. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital. This study included 302 female patients with ACS between January 1, 2021, and December 1, 2021. The primary outcome was new-onset HF after ACS during the 12-month follow-up period. We used a logistic regression model to evaluate the association between serum HE4 levels and the incidence of HF. Serum HE4 levels were measured at baseline (within 24 hours after admission). Results: Of the 302 female patients, 70 (23.2 %) developed new-onset HF within 12 months. Serum HE4 levels in patients with adverse events were significantly higher than those in patients without events (8.9 (7.3-11.5) pmol/dL vs. 5.9 (5.0-6.8) pmol/dL, P 6.93 pmol/dL distinguished patients at risk of HF with 82.9 % sensitivity and 78.0 % specificity (maximum Youden index J, 0.609). Moreover, HE4 levels were associated with an increased risk of HF. Discussion/Conclusion: We found a strong relationship between HE4 and the occurrence of HF after ACS among women, which might help identify patients at high risk of HF for whom close or intense management should be mandatory