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Introduction: Serum cotinine and magnesium intake are often associated with childhood asthma. This study evaluated the interaction between serum cotinine and magnesium intake and childhood asthma., Methods: This cross-sectional study included 14,159 subjects from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2018. Serum cotinine levels were classified according to the lower quartile: ≤0.2089 ng/mL as low level and >0.2089 ng/mL as high level. Magnesium intake was categorized as high (>98 mg/1,000 kcal) or low level (≤98 mg/1,000 kcal) based on the upper quartile. Weighted logistic regression analyses were adopted to analyze the association between cotinine, magnesium intake, and childhood asthma. Additionally, the combined effect of cotinine and magnesium intake on childhood asthma risk was examined. The stratified analyses were based on gender, body mass index, and family history of asthma to further examine the relationship between cotinine, magnesium intake, and childhood asthma., Results: The prevalence of asthma was approximately 17.56%. Compared to low-level cotinine, high-level cotinine was associated with asthma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.50). Low-level magnesium intake was related to asthma compared with high-level magnesium intake (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04-1.40). Using interaction analysis, we also found that the combined effect of cotinine and magnesium intake was associated with childhood asthma risk, and the interaction between high-level cotinine and low-level magnesium intake was associated with the highest risk of childhood asthma (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.04-1.74). Additionally, this interaction was also found in males, overweight/non-overweight, and those with family history of asthma., Conclusion: There was an interaction between serum cotinine and magnesium intake on childhood asthma. The results suggested that implementing smoking bans in certain settings (e.g., communities, schools) and promoting the consumption of magnesium-rich foods may be effective strategies for preventing childhood asthma., (© 2023 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Glaucocalyxin A (GLA), an ent-kauranoid diterpene derived from Rabdosia japonica var. glaucocalyx , possesses antibacterial, anti-oxidative and anti-neuroinflammatory properties. The present study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying GLA in the pathogenesis of pneumonia. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (hPMVECs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were treated with GLA, followed by the detection of cell viability, inflammation, apoptosis and cell permeability. Furthermore, the protein expression levels of apoptosis- and permeability-associated proteins were determined using western blot analysis. Following treatment with a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activator, the protein expression levels of STAT3 and endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated proteins were determined, to confirm whether STAT3 signaling was mediated by GLA. Lastly, the mRNA expression level of inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis and permeability injury were also determined following treatment with a STAT3 activator. The results revealed that GLA ameliorated inflammation, apoptosis and permeability injury in LPS-induced hPMVECs. Following treatment with a STAT3 activator, the therapeutic effects of GLA on LPS-induced hPMVECs were abrogated. In conclusion, GLA alleviated LPS-induced inflammation, apoptosis and permeability injury in hPMVECs by inhibiting STAT3 signaling, which highlighted the potential therapeutic value of GLA in the treatment of pneumonia., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Cao et al.)