ObjectiveTo observe the effect of gene mutation on the effectiveness of arsenic-containing Chinese herbal compound formulas in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes （MDS） of different traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） patterns， so as to provide the basis for the clinical application. MethodsClinical data of 442 MDS patients who were treated with arsenic-containing herbal compound formulas were retrospectively collected， including the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. Based on the TCM four examinations， the patients were divided into the spleen-kidney deficiency group as well as the qi-yin deficiency group， and according to the results of the next-generation sequencing （NGS） test， they were divided into the group with and without gene mutation respectively. The influence of gene mutation on the clinical effectiveness of patients with different TCM patterns was analyzed， the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients with different outcomes of the two TCM patterns were compared， and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted on the influencing factors of the effective rate of MDS patients with gene mutation. ResultsA total of 190 cases were included in the spleen-kidney deficiency group （119 cases with gene mutation） and 43 cases in the qi-yin deficiency group （23 cases with gene mutation）. No statistically significant differences were noted in effectiveness assessment， total effective rate， and total response rate between the spleen-kidney deficiency group and the qi-yin deficiency group （P＞0.05）. In the spleen-kidney deficiency group， the total effective rate of MDS with gene mutation was 65.55% （78/119）， which was lower than 80.28% （57/71） of MDS without gene mutation， with statistical significance （P = 0.033）， while no statistical differences in effectiveness assessment and total response rate were noted （P＞0.05）. In the qi-yin deficiency group， no statistical differences were observed in effectiveness assessment， total effective rate， and total response rate of the patients in with or without gene mutation （P＞0.05）. In the spleen-kidney deficiency group with gene mutation， the rate of complex karyotype （P = 0.031） and the mutation rate of CBL gene （P = 0.032） in the ineffective population were higher than those in the effective population， while the mutation rate of DDX41 gene in the effective population was higher than that in the ineffective population （P = 0.033）. No statistically significant differences were found in other gene mutations， age， gender distribution， number of gene mutations， bone marrow hyperplasia degree， blast cell range， reticular fiber tissue proliferation or not， and prognosis of chromosomal abnormalities between the effective and ineffective populations （P＞0.05）. In the qi-yin deficiency group with gene mutation， no statistically significant differences were found in various items between populations with different outcomes （P＞0.05）. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that complex karyotype， CBL mutation， and DDX41 mutation were independently associated with the effective rate of MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency and gene mutation （P＜0.05）. DDX41 mutation was an independent protective factor in the spleen-kidney deficiency group （OR＞1）， while complex karyotype and CBL mutation were independent risk factors （OR＜1）. ConclusionThe arsenic-containing TCM compound formulas exhibited better effectiveness in MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency pattern without mutation； and in MDS with spleen-kidney deficiency pattern without complex karyotypes， CBL mutation， and with DDX41 mutations. Furthermore， DDX41 mutation was an independent protective factor in the spleen-kidney deficiency group， while complex karyotype and CBL mutation were independent risk factors. In MDS with qi-yin deficiency pattern， gene mutation-related factors showed no significant impact on the effectiveness of arsenic-containing TCM compound formulas.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors are both hypoglycemia agents that specifically impact on postprandial hyperglycemia. We compared the effects of acarbose and sitagliptin add on to metformin on time in range (TIR) and glycemic variability (GV) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). METHODS: This study was a randomized, open-label, active-con-trolled, parallel-group trial conducted at 15 centers in China from January 2020 to August 2022. We recruited patients with type 2 diabetes aged 18-65 years with body mass index (BMI) within 19-40 kg/m 2 and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between 6.5% and 9.0%. Eligible patients were randomized to receive either metformin combined with acarbose 100 mg three times daily or metformin combined with sitagliptin 100 mg once daily for 28 days. After the first 14-day treatment period, patients wore CGM and entered another 14-day treatment period. The primary outcome was the level of TIR after treatment between groups. We also performed time series decomposition, dimensionality reduction, and clustering using the CGM data. RESULTS: A total of 701 participants received either acarbose or sitagliptin treatment in combination with metformin. There was no statistically significant difference in TIR between the two groups. Time below range (TBR) and coefficient of variation (CV) levels in acarbose users were significantly lower than those in sitagliptin users. Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of TBR below target level <3.9 mmol/L (TBR 3.9 ): Acarbose: 0.45% (0, 2.13%) vs . Sitagliptin: 0.78% (0, 3.12%), P = 0.042; Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of TBR below target level <3.0 mmol/L (TBR 3.0 ): Acarbose: 0 (0, 0.22%) vs . Sitagliptin: 0 (0, 0.63%), P = 0.033; CV: Acarbose: 22.44 ± 5.08% vs . Sitagliptin: 23.96 ± 5.19%, P <0.001. By using time series analysis and clustering, we distinguished three groups of patients with representative metabolism characteristics, especially in GV (group with small wave, moderate wave and big wave). No significant difference was found in the complexity of glucose time series index (CGI) between acarbose users and sitagliptin users. By using time series analysis and clustering, we distinguished three groups of patients with representative metabolism characteristics, especially in GV. CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose had slight advantages over sitagliptin in improving GV and reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. Time series analysis of CGM data may predict GV and the risk of hypoglycemia. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000039424.
Humans ; Metformin/therapeutic use* ; Sitagliptin Phosphate/therapeutic use* ; Acarbose/therapeutic use* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Blood Glucose/drug effects* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Aged ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; China ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of in vitro cultured calculus bovis (ICCB) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) and its mechanism. METHODS: A CIRI rat model and a cell model were induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in Sprague Dawley rats and oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) in BV2 cells, respectively. The CIRI rat model was evaluated using the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), brain water content, and cerebral infarction volume after 1.5 h of ischemia followed by 72 h of reperfusion. Histopathological changes in the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Microglial polarization and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein (NLRP) 3 inflammasome expression in the cortex were examined by immunofluorescence. BV2 cell viability was measured via MTT assay after treatment with ICCB and Nigericin. The expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 proteins and inflammatory cytokines were detected with Western blotting in OGD/R treated BV2 cells (0.5 h OGD+24 h reperfusion) and in cells pretreated with Nigericin for 24 h. RESULTS: ICCB treatment significantly improved neurological function, reduced cerebral infarct volume and brain water content, and mitigated pathological damage in the cortical and hippocampal CA1 regions of rats subjected to CIRI (all P<0.05). ICCB promoted the transition of cortical microglia from M1 to M2 phenotypes and suppressed NLRP3 activation in microglial cells (all P<0.01). ICCB significantly down-regulated the expression of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 proteins, and reduced the secretion of IL-18 and IL-1β in BV2 cells of OGD/R model (all P<0.01). In addition, Nigericin significantly reversed the salvage effect of ICCB on model cells (both P<0.01) and the modulation of inflammatory cytokines (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ICCB exerts a protective effect against CIRI by mitigating neuroinflammation, through the reduction of M1 microglial polarization, promotion of M2 conversion, and suppression of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Rats ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Male

Attempts have been made to modulate motor sequence learning (MSL) through repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, targeting different sites within the sensorimotor network. However, the target with the optimum modulatory effect on neural plasticity associated with MSL remains unclarified. This study was therefore designed to compare the role of the left primary motor cortex and the left supplementary motor area proper (SMAp) in modulating MSL across different complexity levels and for both hands, as well as the associated neuroplasticity by applying intermittent theta burst stimulation together with the electroencephalogram and concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation. Our data demonstrated the role of SMAp stimulation in modulating neural communication to support MSL, which is achieved by facilitating regional activation and orchestrating neural coupling across distributed brain regions, particularly in interhemispheric connections. These findings may have important clinical implications, particularly for motor rehabilitation in populations such as post-stroke patients.
Humans ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Motor Cortex/physiology* ; Male ; Electroencephalography ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology* ; Female ; Adult ; Evoked Potentials, Motor/physiology* ; Young Adult ; Learning/physiology*

From January 1, 2013, to March 1, 2024, nine patients with hematological malignancies complicated by Gilbert’s syndrome in Peking University People’s Hospital underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The patients comprised seven male and two female cases, with a median age of 38 (13-60) years old. Among them, three cases were acute myeloid leukemia, three cases were acute lymphocytic leukemia, two cases were myelodysplastic syndrome, and one case was chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. None of the patients had viral hepatitis. Of the nine cases, seven cases received the Bu-Cy+ATG regimen, while the other two cases received the TBI-Cy+ATG regimen (Bu, busulfan; Cy, cyclophosphamide; ATG, antithymocyte immunoglobulin; and TBI, total body irradiation). All patients achieved neutrophil engraftment, and eight received platelet engraftment. The median total bilirubin level was 45.4 (22.5-71.2) μmol/L before transplantation and 22.0 (18.0-37.2) μmol/L on -1d of preconditioning. The total bilirubin level on +20d after the transplantation of eight patients decreased compared with the baseline level before transplantation. Moreover, one patient had a transient increase in the total bilirubin level on +5d after transplantation, which was considered to be attributed to the toxicity of Bu. No patients were complicated by hepatic veno-occlusive disease. The median follow-up time was 739 (42-2 491) days. During the follow-up period, one patient died of recurrence, and the remaining eight patients had disease-free survival events.

Objective:In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with previous 96-week treatment with tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), we investigated the efficacy of sequential TMF treatment from 96 to 144 weeks.Methods:Enrolled subjects who were previously assigned (2:1) to receive either 25 mg TMF or 300 mg TDF with matching placebo for 96 weeks received extended or switched TMF treatment for 48 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated based on virological, serological, biological parameters, and fibrosis staging. Statistical analysis was performed using the McNemar test, t-test, or Log-Rank test according to the data. Results:593 subjects from the initial TMF group and 287 subjects from the TDF group were included at week 144, with the proportions of HBV DNA<20 IU/ml at week 144 being 86.2% and 83.3%, respectively, and 78.1% and 73.8% in patients with baseline HBV DNA levels ≥8 log10 IU/ml. Resistance to tenofovir was not detected in both groups. For HBeAg loss and seroconversion rates, both groups showed a further increase from week 96 to 144 and the 3-year cumulative rates of HBeAg loss were about 35% in each group. However, HBsAg levels were less affected during 96 to 144 weeks. For patients switched from TDF to TMF, a substantial further increase in the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rate was observed (11.4%), along with improved FIB-4 scores.Conclusion:After 144 weeks of TMF treatment, CHB patients achieved high rates of virological, serological, and biochemical responses, as well as improved liver fibrosis outcomes. Also, switching to TMF resulted in significant benefits in ALT normalization rates (NCT03903796).

Objective:In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with previous 96-week treatment with tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), we investigated the safety profile of sequential TMF treatment from 96 to 144 weeks.Methods:Enrolled subjects that previously assigned (2:1) to receive either 25 mg TMF or 300 mg TDF with matching placebo for 96 weeks received extending or switching TMF treatment for 48 weeks. Safety profiles of kidney, bone, metabolism, body weight, and others were evaluated.Results:666 subjects from the initial TMF group and 336 subjects from TDF group with at least one dose of assigned treatment were included at week 144. The overall safety profile was favorable in each group and generally similar between extended or switched TMF treatments from week 96 to 144. In subjects switching from TDF to TMF, the non-indexed estimated glomerular filtration rate (by non-indexed CKD-EPI formula) and creatinine clearance (by Cockcroft-Gault formula) were both increased, which were (2.31±8.33) ml/min and (4.24±13.94) ml/min, respectively. These changes were also higher than those in subjects with extending TMF treatment [(0.91±8.06) ml/min and (1.30±13.94) ml/min]. Meanwhile, switching to TMF also led to an increase of the bone mineral density (BMD) by 0.75% in hip and 1.41% in spine. On the other side, a slight change in TC/HDL ratio by 0.16 (IQR: 0.00, 0.43) and an increase in body mass index (BMI) by (0.54±0.98) kg/m 2 were oberved with patients switched to TMF, which were significantly higher than that in TMF group. Conclusion:CHB patients receiving 144 weeks of TMF treatment showed favorable safety profile. After switching to TMF, the bone and renal safety was significantly improved in TDF group, though experienceing change in metabolic parameters and weight gain (NCT03903796).

Objective:To investigate the biological effects of acute high-dose radon exposure on mice.Methods:BALB/c male mice aged 6 to 8 weeks were exposed once in an HD-3 ecological radon chamber with an average radon concentration of 7 × 10 5 Bq/m 3 for 10 h. Mice were weighed, their lung tissues and blood samples were collected at 1, 2 and 3 months after exposure. Control groups were set up at the three time points with four mice in each group. For these mice, the lung tissue pathology was observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining method, routine blood tests were conducted using a hematology analyzer and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the serum and lung tissues were measured using corresponding assay kits. Results:The HE staining result revealed that compared to the control groups, the experimental groups exhibited thickening of alveolar walls and increased infiltration of granulocyte, whose degrees, however, reduced over time and displayed no significant difference at 3 months after exposure. There was no significant difference in body weight or blood routine between the experimental and control groups. The detection result revealed decreased SOD levels in the lung tissues at 2 months after exposure, which were (11.34 ± 1.03) U/mgprot and (9.75 ± 0.71) U/mgprot, respectively for the control and experimental groups ( t = 2.54, P < 0.05). The MDA levels in lung tissue increased at 1 month after exposure, which were(2.30 ± 0.24) and (2.77 ± 0.29) nmol/mgprot, respectively for the control and experimental groups ( t = 2.49, P < 0.05). At 3 months after exposure, the SOD and MDA levels differed insignificantly between the control and experimental groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:After acute high-dose radon exposure, the mice suffered damage to the lung tissue, with changes in their oxidative stress indicators being detected. However, these effects gradually diminished at 3 months after exposure. Additionally, acute high-dose radon exposure did not give rise to significant changes in the body weight or routine blood result of the mice.

Objective:To demonstrate the polymorphism of α chain of bovine major histocompatibility complex(BoLA)classⅠmolecule and domain binding constant chain(Ii).Methods:Total 75 BoLA Iα genes were obtained from three Huaibei cattle and analyzed by molecular biology software;the genes of typical BoLA Iα domains and Ii were cloned,and then inserted into prokaryotic expression plasmid.After induced protein expression;the domains of BoLA Ⅰα chain binding to Ii were detected by pull-down meth-od and Western blot.The recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmids were constructed and the co-localization of BoLA Iα segments with Ii was observed by laser confocal microscopy.Results:Firstly,it was found that there were at least 5 kinds of BoLA Iα in the cloned gene sequence,which were highly polymorphic and they were mainly distributed in the antigen peptide binding region(PBR)of BoLA Ⅰ(α1α2)and cytoplasmic region.Secondly,the prokaryotic recombinant plasmids containing BoLA Ⅰα1α2α3,BoLA Ⅰα1α2 or BoLA Ⅰα 3 were constructed,then they were respectively induced to express and purified,in which,the BoLA Ⅰα1α2α3 and BoLA Ⅰα1α2 had the activity of binding to Ii.Finally,in 293T cells BoLA Ⅰα1α 2α3 or BoLA Ⅰα1α2 was found that could co-localize with Ii,while a single BoLA Ⅰα3 could not.Conclusion:BoLA Ⅰα gene is highly polymorphic.BoLA Ⅰα1α2 is a func-tional fragment that binds to Ii and co-locates intracellular.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tofacitinib on early atherosclerosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and explore the possible relationship between lupus nephritis and early atherosclerosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods:Sixteen 8-week-old female MRL/lpr mice with a body weight of 20~25 g were selected and randomly divided into the treatment group and placebo group, with 8 mice in each group. The treatment group diluted tofacitinib by normal saline, and given at a dose of 10 mg·kg -1·d -1, and the placebo group (starch tablets) administered the medication in the same way as the treatment group for a total of 8 weeks. The ELISA method was applied to detect serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels in the two groups of mice. Bradford method protein concentration was used to determine the level of urine protein in mice. Automatic biochemical analyzer was used to detect blood lipids, urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, complement C3, complement C4 levels. Western blotting was used to determine the protein expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase family 1 (JAK1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) in aortic and kidney tissues. After the aortic arch section were prepared, oil red O was used to stain the sections, and the vascular plaque area and intimal thickness were evaluated by ImageJ software. The kidneys were dissected and stained with HE, and the active lesions of lupus nephritis were evaluated using the glomerular activity scoring system. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistical analysis, in which the between-group comparison was performed using two independent samples t-test, and the correlation analysis was performed using the Spearman method. Results:①The serum anti-dsDNA antibody expression level in the treatment group [(5.2±1.0) U/ml] was lower than that in the placebo group [(6.9±1.2) U/ml], ( Z=-3.07, P=0.008), and the levels of complement C3 and complement C4 were higher than those in the placebo group [(293±10) mg/L vs. (260±19) mg/L, Z=2.72, P=0.017]; (16±6) mg/L vs. (8±9) mg/L, Z=3.78, P=0.006]. There was no significant difference in serum BUN and Scr between the treatment group and the placebo group [(10.6±0.7) mmol/L vs. (11.5±1.1) mmol/L, Z=-1.96, P=0.071; (17±5) μmol/L vs. (22±6) μmol/L, Z=-1.79, P=0.095]. ② Compared with the placebo group, the levels of LDL, TC and TG in the treatment group decreased [(0.83±0.15) mmol/L vs. (1.08±1.05) mmol/L, Z=-3.95, P=0.001; (2.90±0.08) mmol/L vs. (1.81±0.97) mmol/L, Z=-5.17, P=0.001; (1.10±0.08) mmol/L vs. (1.60±0.42) mmol/L, Z=-3.23, P=0.013], and HDL level increased [(2.02±0.99) mmol/L vs. (1.81±0.97) mmol/L, Z=4.42, P=0.001]. ③ Compared with the placebo group, the levels of aortic MCP-1, JAK1, STAT1 and STAT2 in the treatment group were reduced [(0.17±0.30) vs. (0.23±0.05), Z=-3.06, P=0.009; (0.83±0.09) vs. (1.05±0.19), Z=-3.07, P=0.008; (0.77±0.07) vs. (0.94±0.13), Z=-2.83, P=0.014; (0.70±0.07) vs. (0.82±0.09), Z=-2.83, P=0.013], the aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness were lower than those in the placebo group [(12±31) μm 2vs. (1 242±1 101) μm 2, Z=-3.12, P=0.016; (63±7) μm vs. (82.10±8.06) μm, Z=-5.13, P<0.001]. ④ Compared with the placebo group, the urine protein level and glomerulonephritis activity score in the treatment group were decreased [(0.08±0.03) mg/mL vs. (0.20±0.11) mg/mL, Z=-3.08, P=0.015; (1.79±0.38) vs. (2.79±0.14) points, Z=-7.08, P<0.001)], and renal tissue MCP-1, JAK1, STAT1.Compared with the placebo group, STAT2 levels were reduced [(0.364±0.040) vs. (0.425±0.021), Z=-3.85, P=0.003; (0.689±0.074) vs. (0.838±0.068), Z=-4.19, P=0.001; (0.508±0.070) vs. (0.646±0.019), Z=-2.85, P=0.015; (0.618±0.062) vs. (0.740±0.101), Z=-2.94, P=0.013. ⑤ The glomerular mobility scores of the two groups were positively correlated with LDL, TCHO, TG, aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness ( r=0.51, P=0.043; r=0.79, P<0.001; r=0.64, P=0.008; r=0.82, P<0.001; r=0.74, P=0.001), and negatively correlated with HDL ( r=-0.53, P=0.036). The urine protein levels in the two groups were positively correlated with LDL, TC, TG, aortic plaque area and aortic intimal thickness ( r=0.67, P=0.004; r=0.68, P=0.004; r=0.53, P=0.033; r=0.80, P<0.001; r=0.74, P=0.001), and negatively correlated with HDL ( r=-0.57, P=0.021). Conclusion:The severity of lupus nephritis is correlated with atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia in the early stage of systemic lupus erythematosus. Tofacitinib may reduce the degree of early arteriosclerosis and lupus nephritis in MRL/LPR mice, and reduce blood lipid levels, which may be effective in improving the prognosis of SLE and improving the survival rate of patients.