Exploring the Comorbidity Mechanisms Between Asthma and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and the Pharmacological Mechanisms of Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi Decoction Therapy via Network Pharmacology

Backgrounds. Asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are common chronic diseases of the respiratory system in clinical practice. However, the relationship and molecular links between them remain unclear, and the current treatment's efficacy is disappointing. Bu-Shen-Yi-Qi (BSYQ) decoction has clinically proved to be effective in treating various chronic airway inflammatory diseases, including asthma and IPF. But the underlying pharmacological mechanisms are still to be elucidated. Methods. This study searched the proteins related to asthma and IPF via TTD, CTD, and DisGeNET database. We then submitted them to the STRING database to establish the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The co-bioinformatics analysis was conducted by Metascape. The active ingredients of BSYQ decoction were screened from TCMSP，ETCM，BATMAN-TCM database and HPLC/MS experiment. Then we predicted the corresponding targets based on TCMSP，ETCM, and BATMAN-TCM database. The common targets for asthma and IPF treatment were recognized, and further GO and KEGG analyses were conducted with the DAVID platform. Finally, molecule docking via Autodock Vina was employed to predict the potential binding mode between core potential compounds and targets.Results. One thousand three hundred thirty-three asthma-related targets and 404 IPF-related proteins were retrieved, 120 were overlapped between them, and much of the asthma-related proteins fall into the same statistically significant GO terms with IPF. One hundred sixteen active ingredients of BSYQ decoction were acquired, and 1535 corresponding targets were retrieved. Eighty-three potential compounds and 56 potential targets were recognized for both asthma and IPF treatment. GO and KEGG analysis indicated that the inflammation response, cytokine production, leukocyte differentiation, oxygen level response, etc., were the common pathological processes in asthma and IPF, which were regulated by BSYQ decoction. Molecule docking further predicted the potential binding modes between the core potential compounds and targets.Conclusion. The current study successfully clarified the complex molecule links between asthma and IPF and found the potential common targets between them. Then we demonstrated the efficacy of BSYQ decoction for asthma and IPF treatment from the angle of network pharmacology, which may provide valuable references for further studies and clinical use.

Assessing Habitat Suitability of Parasitic Plant Cistanche deserticola in Northwest China under Future Climate Scenarios

: Cistanche deserticola Ma, a perennial parasitic herb of family Orobanchaceae, is mainly parasitic on the roots of the Haloxylon ammodendron Bunge. In view of this special parasitic relationship, we applied random forest (RF) model to forecast potential geographic distribution, and developed a comprehensive habitat suitability model by integrating bioclimatic and soil factors to assess the suitable distribution of C. deserticola and H. ammodendron across China in 2050s and 2070s under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5, respectively. We modeled the core potential geographic distribution of C. deserticola by overlaying the distribution of these two species, and analyzed the spatial distribution pattern and migration trend of C. deserticola by using the standard deviational ellipse. In addition, we evaluated the accuracy of RF model through three evaluation indexes, and analyzed the dominant climate factors. The results showed that the core potential distribution areas of C. deserticola are distributed in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the junction of Shaanxi–Gansu–Ningxia provinces, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The spatial dispersion would intensify with the increasing of emission scenarios, and the geographical habitat is moving towards higher latitude. Among the three evaluation indexes, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistic (TSS) have better assessment results. The main bioclimatic factors affecting the distribution are min temperature of coldest month (Bio6), annual precipitation (Bio12), precipitation of wettest month (Bio13), precipitation of wettest quarter (Bio16), and precipitation of warmest quarter (Bio18), among which the importance of precipitation factors is greater than temperature factors. More importantly, the results of this study could provide some guidance for the improvement of desert forest system, the protection of endangered species and the further improvement of the ecological environment.

Conceptual Toolkit

Chapter 1 sets out the conceptual framework for the rest of the book. It first and foremost develops the meaning and relevance of structures of bonding that formally legally connect the Union and its citizens. One prominent example is the European Parliament’s legal mandate to represent EU citizens. The chapter further identifies the autonomy and effectiveness of the EU legal order as the unique features that set it apart from international organizations and international law. The potential of structures of bonding depends on these features. Chapter 1 also develops the mutually dependant relationships of autonomy, effectiveness, structures of bonding, and the legitimacy of the Union and its actions. It identifies different dimensions of legitimacy and emphasizes, drawing on Jürgen Habermas, justifiability or, even more precisely, worthiness of recognition (Annerkennungswürdigkeit) as the core of legitimacy. Justification to individuals, as EU citizens and national citizens, returns in all the following chapters as a necessary precondition for legitimacy and as the core potential of bonding structures.