Vitamin D has an effect on airway inflammation and Th17/Treg balance in asthmatic mice.

Asthma is regarded as a chronic inflammation of the airway. Research has highlighted the significance of Vitamin D in asthma. This study explored the mechanism of vitamin D on asthma. The asthma mouse model was established by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and treated with vitamin D (50 or 100 ng/ml). The morphological changes of the airway were observed by HE staining. The serum IgE contents and MDA, ROS, and SOD expressions in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA. The Th17 and Treg cells were detected using flow cytometry. The RORγt and Foxp 3 expressions were detected by Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-ß1 expressions were detected using ELISA. The NF-κB pathway was blocked using the NF-κB pathway inhibitor, Andrographolide sulfonate. The NF-κB pathway-related indexes were detected by western blotting. After blockade of the NF-κB pathway, the IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-G1 expressions were detected. OVA-sensitized asthma induced airway remodeling and elevated IgE content in mice, which was downregulated after vitamin D treatment. MDA and ROS were upregulated and SOD was downregulated in asthmatic mice, while vitamin D inverted the changes. Th17/Treg ratio was imbalanced, RORγt and IL-17 were upregulated, and Foxp 3, IL-10, and TGF-ß1 were downregulated after OVA sensitization, while vitamin D treatment inverted these changes and inhibited the NF-κB-p65 phosphorylation level. After blockade of the NF-κB pathway, IL-17 was downregulated and IL-10 and TGF-ß1 were upregulated. In conclusion, vitamin D rectified the Th17/Treg balance and alleviated airway inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway in asthmatic mice.

Association between bullying and family factors among middle school students in a city of central China / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To explore the relationship between bullying among middle school students and family factors in a city of central China, so as to provide support for the prevention and reduction of school bullying among middle school students.@*Methods@#The stratified cluster random sampling method was used to investigate the bullying involvement and family factors of 2 996 middle school students from first grade in junior high school to third grade in high school in a city in central China. Chi-square test and Logistic-regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between family factors and bullying participation of middle school students.@*Results@#Among 2 996 students, 390 students(13.0%) were found of having bullying behavior, and 1 127 students(37.6%) were found of being bullied. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in family factors such as whether she or he is the only child, father-child relationship, mother-child relationship, marital status of parents, whether the mother work away from hometown, education level of father and mother(χ2=8.88, 56.49, 30.85, 30.91, 3.89, 10.36, 11.72；25.00, 69.33, 46.76, 57.09, 3.93, 23.19, 45.49, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the only child and mother’s education degree was junior college and below were the risk factors for middle school students’ bullying involvement (OR=1.37，1.39). Parents’ harmonious marital status and father’s not working outside are the protective factors of middle school students’ bullying(OR=0.53, 0.83).The only child is the risk factor of bullying in middle school students (OR=1.42), and good father relationship is the protective factor of bullying in middle school students (OR=0.38).@*Conclusion@#Family factors have a certain impact on the involvement of middle school students in bullying in a city of central China, and corresponding preventive measures should be formulated from the perspective of family to focus on the intervention of high-risk groups.