BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells show extremely therapeutic potential for radiation-induced lung injury through delivering exosomes.Age is a primary factor affecting the function and biological efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effects of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of different mouse ages on radiation-induced lung injury in mice.METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice and old mice were obtained by whole bone marrow adherent culture.The exosomes were isolated from the supernatant of passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Ten 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the control group after anesthesia and not irradiated.The remaining 30 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were used to establish a mouse radiation-induced lung injury model and were randomly divided into three groups.Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice,exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice,and PBS were injected through the tail vein,respectively.The survival rate of mice was monitored.The lung function,lung inflammation and fibrosis were assessed at 1 and 12 weeks after irradiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The concentrations of particles and proteins in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice were higher than those in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(2)Compared with the control group,the survival rate of mice in the PBS group was low,and lung inflammation was obvious at week 1 after irradiation,and the levels and mRNA expressions of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α were increased.Collagen deposition in lung tissues was observed at week 12 after irradiation,and the mRNA level of E-cadherin was decreased,while the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor-β1,and β-catenin were increased.(3)Compared with the PBS group,the survival rate of mice in the exosome group was significantly improved,and the level of proinflammatory factors and their mRNA expression were reduced at week 1 after irradiation,the mRNA level of E-cadherin was increased,and the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor β1 and β-catenin were reduced at week 12 after irradiation.(4)Among all the above indicators,the therapeutic effect of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(5)The results showed that exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice contained more particles and proteins,and the effect of alleviating early inflammation and late fibrosis of radiation-induced lung injury in mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.

BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cells show extremely therapeutic potential for radiation-induced lung injury through delivering exosomes.Age is a primary factor affecting the function and biological efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effects of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of different mouse ages on radiation-induced lung injury in mice.METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice and old mice were obtained by whole bone marrow adherent culture.The exosomes were isolated from the supernatant of passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.Ten 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly selected as the control group after anesthesia and not irradiated.The remaining 30 2-month-old C57BL/6J mice were used to establish a mouse radiation-induced lung injury model and were randomly divided into three groups.Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice,exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice,and PBS were injected through the tail vein,respectively.The survival rate of mice was monitored.The lung function,lung inflammation and fibrosis were assessed at 1 and 12 weeks after irradiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The concentrations of particles and proteins in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice were higher than those in exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(2)Compared with the control group,the survival rate of mice in the PBS group was low,and lung inflammation was obvious at week 1 after irradiation,and the levels and mRNA expressions of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α were increased.Collagen deposition in lung tissues was observed at week 12 after irradiation,and the mRNA level of E-cadherin was decreased,while the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor-β1,and β-catenin were increased.(3)Compared with the PBS group,the survival rate of mice in the exosome group was significantly improved,and the level of proinflammatory factors and their mRNA expression were reduced at week 1 after irradiation,the mRNA level of E-cadherin was increased,and the mRNA levels of α-smooth muscle actin,transforming growth factor β1 and β-catenin were reduced at week 12 after irradiation.(4)Among all the above indicators,the therapeutic effect of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.(5)The results showed that exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of young mice contained more particles and proteins,and the effect of alleviating early inflammation and late fibrosis of radiation-induced lung injury in mice was better than that of exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells of old mice.

Objective We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shengxuebao Mixture in the treatment of cancer-related anemia(CRA)presenting with syndrome of deficiency of liver and kidney combined with syndrome of deficiency of both qi and blood.Methods A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,multicenter clinical trial was conducted.Eligible patients with malignant tumors meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled from 26 hospitals,including Dongzhimen Hospital,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Xiaogan Central Hospital,and Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,from June 1,2022,to September 30,2024.Patients were allocated 1:1 to either the experimental group receiving Shengxuebao Mixture or the control group receiving its simulator(placebo)using a block randomization method under double-blind conditions.Both groups received 15 mL orally three times daily for 28 consecutive days.The primary efficacy indicators included the hemoglobin(Hb)improvement rate(RHb)and the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome improvement rate(RTCM)at week 4 of treatment.The secondary efficacy indicators encompassed Hb and red blood cell(RBC)count,Karnofsky Performance Status(KPS)score,TCM syndrome score,individual TCM symptom scores,and changes in each of these indicators compared to the baseline period at weeks 2,4,and 6 of treatment.Safety evaluations were conducted at week 4 of treatment.Results A total of 239 patients were enrolled,with 225 cases included in the Full Analysis Set(FAS)(109 in the experimental group vs.116 control group),163 in the Per Protocol Set(PPS)(77 vs.86),and 225 in the Safety Set(SS)(109 vs.116).Baseline characteristics between groups showed no significant differences.Significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in RHb at week 4(FAS:49.51%vs.35.24%,P<0.05;PPS:53.25%vs.36.05%,P<0.05)and RTCM at week 4(FAS:61.54%vs.39.62%,P<0.01;PPS:64.94%vs.40.70%,P<0.01).At weeks 2,4,and 6,the experimental group showed greater improvements in Hb and RBC counts than the control group.Additionally,the TCM syndrome scores were lower in the experimental group than in the control group at these time points.Except for week 2 in PPS,the KPS improvement was better in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.05).The experimental group also demonstrated a greater reduction in scores for individual TCM symptoms such as spiritlessness and weakness,poor appetite and reduced food intake at weeks 4 and 6 compared to the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Furthermore,the reduction in vertigo score was more pronounced in the experimental group at week 6(P<0.01).For the score of pale and lusterless complexion,only in the PPS was the reduction from baseline more significant in the experimental group than in the control group at weeks 4 and 6(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in the incidence of all adverse events or drug-related adverse reactions.Conclusion Shengxuebao Mixture demonstrates significant efficacy in patients with CRA presenting syndrome of deficiency of liver and kidney combined with syndrome of deficiency of both qi and blood,effectively increasing Hb levels,ameliorating TCM syndromes,alleviating clinical symptoms,and enhancing functional status,with no significant difference in adverse drug reactions compared to the placebo.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of belimumab combined with glucocorticoids in the treatment of children with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods A total of 64 children with SLE were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,with 32 cases in each group.The control group was treated with oral prednisone tablets combined with hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets,while the observation group was treated with belimumab on the basis of treatment in the control group.After 6 months of treatment,the clinical efficacy,systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index(SLEDAI)scores and laboratory indicators[complement C3,complement C4,immunoglobulin IgG(IgG),B lymphocytes,white blood cell count(WBC),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),serum C-reactive protein(CRP),24-hour urine protein quantification(24 h UP),serum creatinine(SCr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)]were compared between the two groups.Results After 6 months of treatment,the total effective rate was higher in the observation group than that of the control group(93.8%vs.75.0%,P＜0.05).Compared with before treatment,both groups showed lower SLEDAI scores,IgG,B lymphocytes,ESR,CRP,SCr,24 h UP and BUN after treatment,while C3,C4 levels and WBC were higher.Moreover,the improvement of all indicators was better in the observation group than that in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Belimumab combined with glucocorticoids can improve the clinical efficacy,control disease activity and enhance immune function in children with SLE.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of immune-associated thyroid dysfunction caused by sintilimab treatment in solid tumors and construct a prediction model.Methods Medical records of patients diagnosed with solid tumors and treated with sintilimab at Peking University People's Hospital(Xizhimen Campus,Tongzhou Campus,Shijiazhuang Campus)from January 2023 to September 2024 were collected to explore the influencing factors that caused immune-related thyroid dysfunction using univariate and multifactorial binary logistic regression analyses and to establish a prediction model.The predictive effect of the model was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results A total of 120 patients were included,and 33 presented with immune-related thyroid dysfunction.Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH)[OR=2.470,95%CI=(1.279,4.771)]and treatment cycles[OR=1.298,95%CI=(1.117,1.509)]were independent risk factors for the occurrence of immune-associated thyroid dysfunction,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The area under the ROC curve was(0.897±0.043)[95%CI=(0.813,0.981)],the Yoden index was 0.703,and the model prediction accuracy was 86.5%.Conclusion The risk of immune-related thyroid dysfunction caused by sintilimab is high,and TSH and treatment cycle are the influencing factors,and the constructed model has certain predictive value and is of reference significance.

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical characteristics of Tropheryma whipplei(TW)infection and observe the application of pathogenic metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)in diagnosis of TW infection.METHODS The clinical data were collected from 1 patient who was diagnosed by mNGS in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University on Apr.9,2022.The data including the results of laboratory tests and treatment out-comes were summarized,and a literature review was conducted.RESULTS A 50-year-old woman presented to the hospital with chest tightness and chest pain lasting for 3 days,accompanied by dyspnea,palpitations,and expec-toration.The chest plain CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scan suggested a high probability of pul-monary infection.Normal flora were isolated by culture of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF);TW and human βherpes virus type 7 were detected in BALF by mNGS,with the sequence numbers 327 000 and 9,respectively.The pulmonary symptoms of the patient were improved after joint treatment of the infection with etimicin,levo-floxacin and minocycline.The patient repeatedly sought for medical treatment due to the pain of shoulder joint and limitation of motion.CONCLUSIONS TW is one of major pathogens leading to the infections of systemic multiple systems,and it is necessary to attach great importance to the diagnosis and treatment.The traditional laboratory test method can not achieve ideal diagnosis effect and is more likely to make a missed diagnosis.mNGS is more ac-curate and more efficient than the traditional detection method in diagnosis of TW-induced diseases.Early use of mNGS can make a rapid identification of pathogens and facilitate the reasonable clinical use of antibiotics.It is of great significance for control of the disease progression,improvement of prognosis and prevention of recurrence.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qixian Tongluo Formula in the treatment of post-cerebral infarction paralysis with kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome,and to preliminarily explore the molecular mechanism of Qixian Tongluo Formula in improving impaired motor function from the perspective of cross-kingdom regulation of Chinese medicine microRNA(miRNA).Methods A pragmatic randomized controlled trial was conducted with 102 patients in the recovery period of post-cerebral infarction paralysis with kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome in our hospital.Patients were randomly divided into trial group and control group,with 51 cases in each group.The control group received standard Western medicine standard treatment,while the trial group received Qixian Tongluo Formula in addition to the standard treatment,with one dose per day,boiled in water,and taken warm after breakfast and dinner for a course of 2 months.The disability rate was used as the main efficacy indicator,and the incidence of adverse reactions was used as a safety indicator.miRNA from patient serum and Qixian Tongluo decoction were extracted respectively,and high-throughput sequencing was performed.The two sequences were compared to screen out the cross-kingdom gene transfer of Chinese medicine miRNA.Finally,its target genes of miRNA were predicted,and GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out.Results A total of 67 patients completed the clinical trial,including 36 cases in the trial group and 31 cases in the control group;The disability rate in the trial group(13.9%)was lower than that in the control group(35.5%)(P<0.05);The incidence of adverse reactions was similar between the trial group(7.69%)and the control group(6.06%)(P>0.05);A total of 9530 Qixian Tongluo decoction miRNA sequences were screened,with 150 potentially involved in cross-kingdom gene transfer,including families such as miR-15 and miR-17;According to the target gene prediction of the top 10 miRNAs in cross-kingdom gene transfer of Chinese medicine,345 overlapping target genes were obtained;GO functional enrichment analysis revealed 16 biological processes,7 cellular components,and 2 molecular functions among the top 25 enriched functions,while KEGG pathway analysis mainly focused on the transforming growth factor-βsignaling pathway,neurotrophin signaling pathway,which are closely related to neural repair and functional recovery processes such as glial scar formation and synaptic plasticity after cerebral ischemia.Conclusion Qixian Tongluo Formula can significantly improve the functional independence level of patients with kidney deficiency and blood stasis syndrome in the recovery period of paralysis after cerebral infarction,offering a safe and effective treatment option for these patients;There were a large number of miRNAs in Qixian Tongluo decoction,some of which could cross-kingdom transferred into the human blood circulation,and promote the recovery of motor function in patients with cerebral infarction through multi-target,multi link and multi pathway gene network regulation.This study provides a new idea for subsequent clinical and basic research.

Objective:To investigate the contents of natural radionuclides in agricultural soils in some of Gansu Hexi area to accumulate the relevant basic data.Methods:A stratified sampling method was used to collect 146 soil samples in the area. ORTEC P-type HPGE gamma spectrometry system was used to measure radionuclides. The measurement data were collated and analyzed.Results:The activity concentrations measured were 232Th 18.94-108.39 Bq/kg, 226Ra 14.37-79.20 Bq/kg and 40K 440.03-1 358.18 Bq/kg, in turn with the mean values of (68.22±16.32), (47.90±11.12) and (763.90±133.93) Bq/kg, respectively. The difference in activity concentrations of 232Th, 226Ra and 40K in agricultural soils in different areas was statistically significant( H=50.87, 45.14, 40.28, P<0.05). Conclusions:The study on the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in agricultural soils provides basic information for the transfer of radionuclides to crops, which needs further investigation, monitoring and analysis.

Objective We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shengxuebao Mixture in the treatment of cancer-related anemia(CRA)presenting with syndrome of deficiency of liver and kidney combined with syndrome of deficiency of both qi and blood.Methods A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,multicenter clinical trial was conducted.Eligible patients with malignant tumors meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled from 26 hospitals,including Dongzhimen Hospital,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Xiaogan Central Hospital,and Yangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,from June 1,2022,to September 30,2024.Patients were allocated 1:1 to either the experimental group receiving Shengxuebao Mixture or the control group receiving its simulator(placebo)using a block randomization method under double-blind conditions.Both groups received 15 mL orally three times daily for 28 consecutive days.The primary efficacy indicators included the hemoglobin(Hb)improvement rate(RHb)and the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome improvement rate(RTCM)at week 4 of treatment.The secondary efficacy indicators encompassed Hb and red blood cell(RBC)count,Karnofsky Performance Status(KPS)score,TCM syndrome score,individual TCM symptom scores,and changes in each of these indicators compared to the baseline period at weeks 2,4,and 6 of treatment.Safety evaluations were conducted at week 4 of treatment.Results A total of 239 patients were enrolled,with 225 cases included in the Full Analysis Set(FAS)(109 in the experimental group vs.116 control group),163 in the Per Protocol Set(PPS)(77 vs.86),and 225 in the Safety Set(SS)(109 vs.116).Baseline characteristics between groups showed no significant differences.Significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in RHb at week 4(FAS:49.51%vs.35.24%,P<0.05;PPS:53.25%vs.36.05%,P<0.05)and RTCM at week 4(FAS:61.54%vs.39.62%,P<0.01;PPS:64.94%vs.40.70%,P<0.01).At weeks 2,4,and 6,the experimental group showed greater improvements in Hb and RBC counts than the control group.Additionally,the TCM syndrome scores were lower in the experimental group than in the control group at these time points.Except for week 2 in PPS,the KPS improvement was better in the experimental group than in the control group(P<0.05).The experimental group also demonstrated a greater reduction in scores for individual TCM symptoms such as spiritlessness and weakness,poor appetite and reduced food intake at weeks 4 and 6 compared to the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Furthermore,the reduction in vertigo score was more pronounced in the experimental group at week 6(P<0.01).For the score of pale and lusterless complexion,only in the PPS was the reduction from baseline more significant in the experimental group than in the control group at weeks 4 and 6(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed between the experimental and control groups in the incidence of all adverse events or drug-related adverse reactions.Conclusion Shengxuebao Mixture demonstrates significant efficacy in patients with CRA presenting syndrome of deficiency of liver and kidney combined with syndrome of deficiency of both qi and blood,effectively increasing Hb levels,ameliorating TCM syndromes,alleviating clinical symptoms,and enhancing functional status,with no significant difference in adverse drug reactions compared to the placebo.