OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thiotepa (TT)-containing conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). METHODS: Clinical data of 22 children with IEI who underwent HSCT were retrospectively reviewed. Survival after HSCT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Nine patients received a traditional conditioning regimen (fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide/etoposide) and underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Thirteen patients received a TT-containing modified conditioning regimen (TT + fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide), including seven PBSCT and six umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) cases. Successful engraftment with complete donor chimerism was achieved in all patients. Acute graft-versus-host disease occurred in 12 patients (one with grade III and the remaining with grade I-II). Chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in one patient. The incidence of EB viremia in UCBT patients was lower than that in PBSCT patients (P<0.05). Over a median follow-up of 36.0 months, one death occurred. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 100% for the modified regimen and 88.9% ± 10.5% for the traditional regimen (P=0.229). When comparing transplantation types, the 3-year OS rates were 100% for UCBT and 93.8% ± 6.1% for PBSCT (P>0.05), and the 3-year event-free survival rates were 100% and 87.1% ± 8.6%, respectively (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS TT-containing conditioning for allogeneic HSCT in children with IEI is safe and effective. Both UCBT and PBSCT may achieve high success rates.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation Conditioning/methods* ; Thiotepa/therapeutic use* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Child ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on immune mediators dysregulation in severe infection after chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 36 AML patients with severe infection (AML-SI) and 29 AML patients without infection (AML-NI) after chemotherapy were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from August 2022 to June 2023. In addition, the peripheral blood of 21 healthy subjects from the same period in our hospital was selected as the control group. The mRNA expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 were detected by RT-qPCR technology, and the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. Leukemia-derived THP-1 cells were selected and constructed as AML disease model. At the same time, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) from AML-SI patients were co-cultured with THP-1 cells and divided into Mono group and Co-culture group. THP-1 cells were treated with different concentration gradients of HCQ. The cell proliferation activity was subsequently detected by CCK-8 method and apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry. ELISA was used to detect the changes of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels in the supernatant of the cell co-culture system, RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression changes of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis, and Western blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis regulatory molecules and related signaling pathway proteins. RESULTS: CXCL12, CXCR4, CXCR7, as well as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were all abnormally increased in AML patients, and the increases were more significant in AML-SI patients (P <0.01). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences between AML-NI patients and AML-SI patients (all P <0.05). HCQ could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of THP-1 cells, but the low concentration of HCQ had no significant effect on the killing of THP-1 cells. When THP-1 cells were co-cultured with BM-MSCs of AML patients, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the supernatance of Co-culture group were significantly higher than those of Mono group (all P <0.01). After HCQ intervention, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in cell culture supernatant of Mono group were significantly decreased compared with those before intervention (all P <0.01). Similarly, those of Co-culture group were also significantly decreased (all P <0.001). However, the expression of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis was weakly affected by HCQ. HCQ could up-regulate the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, down-regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, as well as simultaneously promote the hydrolytic activation of Caspase-3 when inhibiting the activation level of TLR4/NF-κB pathway, then induce the programmed death of THP-1 cells after intervention. CONCLUSION The core members of CXCL12-CXCR4/7 axis and related cytokines may be important mediators of severe infectious immune disorders in AML patients. HCQ can inhibit cytokine levels to reverse immune mediators dysregulation and suppress malignant biological characteristics of leukemia cells. The mechanisms may be related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, hydrolytically activating Caspase-3 and inhibiting the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology* ; Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology* ; Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Chemokine CXCL12/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Receptors, CXCR/metabolism* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; THP-1 Cells

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture. METHODS: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation. The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells (MCs) or blocking tibial nerve. RESULTS: Deep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex (M1), periaquaductal gray matter (PAG), and pontine micturition center (PMC). It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC. Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes. Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P, and histamine in the tissues around BL40. Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats. CONCLUSION Deep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve, thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract. Please cite this article as: Liu X, Zhang CY, Du XY, Li SS, Wang YQ, Zheng Y, Deng HZ, Fang XQ, Li JY, Wang ZQ, Xu SF, Mi YQ. Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 46-55.
Animals ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive/physiopathology* ; Mast Cells/physiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Female ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Rats ; Brain/physiopathology* ; Tibial Nerve/physiopathology* ; Acetic Acid ; Urinary Bladder/physiopathology*

OBJECTIVE: Comorbid pain and depression are common but remain difficult to treat. Electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively improve symptoms of depression and relieve pain, but its neural mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to detect cerebral changes after initiating a mouse pain model via constriction of the infraorbital nerve (CION) and then treating these animals with EA. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups: control, CION model, EA, and sham acupuncture (without needle insertion). EA was performed on the acupoints Baihui (GV20) and Zusanli (ST36) for 20 min, once a day for 10 consecutive days. The mechanical withdrawal threshold was tested 3 days after the surgery and every 3 days after the intervention. The depressive behavior was evaluated with the tail suspension test, open-field test, elevated plus maze (EPM), sucrose preference test, and marble burying test. The rs-fMRI was used to detect the cerebral changes of the functional connectivity (FC) in the mice following EA treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the CION group, the mechanical withdrawal threshold increased in the EA group at the end of the intervention (P < 0.05); the immobility time in tail suspension test decreased (P < 0.05); and the times of the open arm entry and the open arm time in the EPM increased (both P < 0.001). There was no difference in the sucrose preference or marble burying tests (both P > 0.05). The fMRI results showed that EA treatment downregulated the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and regional homogeneity values, while these indicators were elevated in brain regions including the amygdala, hippocampus and cerebral cortex in the CION model for comorbid pain and depression. Selecting the amygdala as the seed region, we found that the FC was higher in the CION group than in the control group. Meanwhile, EA treatment was able to decrease the FC between the amygdala and other brain regions including the caudate putamen, thalamus, and parts of the cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION EA can downregulate the abnormal activation of neurons in the amygdala and improve its FC with other brain regions, thus exerting analgesic and antidepressant effects. Please cite this article as: Yin X, Zeng XL, Lin JJ, Xu WQ, Cui KY, Guo XT, Li W, Xu SF. Brain functional changes following electroacupuncture in a mouse model of comorbid pain and depression: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 159-168.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Male ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Depression/diagnostic imaging* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice ; Pain/diagnostic imaging* ; Acupuncture Points

Objective : To analyze the difference of urinary iodine level in Hashimoto thyroiditis ( HT) patients， and to explore the possible relationship between urinary iodine level and HT under different iodine nutritional sta- tus，so as to provide some references for reasonable iodine intake in HT patients． Methods : A total of 101 hospi- talized HT patients were selected as HT group and divided into 3 groups according to thyroid function : HT group with hyperthyroidism (41 cases) ．There were 25 cases in HT group with normal thyroid function．There were 35 cases in HT combined with hypothyroidism group．In addition，30 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) ，triiodothyronine(T3 ) ，thyroxine (T4 ) ，thyroid peroxidase an- tibody (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibody (ATG) were detected by chemiluminescence assay．The size and mor- phological structure of thyroid organs were examined by ultrasonography．Urinary iodine was determined by catalytic spectrophotometry with arsenic and cerium．The nutritional status of iodine was classified into iodine deficiency ( < 100 μg/ L) ，iodine adequacy( 100 －199 μg/ L) ，iodine adequacy (200 －299 μg/ L) and iodine excess ( ≥ 300 μg/ L) ．Non-parametric test was used to compare urinary iodine level between HT group and control group，one- way ANOVA and t test were used to compare urinary iodine level between HT group and control group ，and Spearman correlation analysis was used to compare the correlation between urinary iodine level and T3 ，T4 ，TSH， ATG and TPOAb under different iodine nutrition status. Results : Compared with control group，ATG and TPOAb levels in HT group increased (P＜0. 001) ，and urinary iodine levels increased (P＜0. 05) ，with statistical signifi- cance．Compared with the control group in different thyroid function states，only the HT group with hypothyroidism increased the urinary iodine level (P＜0. 01) ，and the difference was statistically significant．Spearman correlation analysis showed that urine iodine level was positively correlated with ATG and TPOAb levels in iodine excess condi- tion (P＜0. 05) ，and urine iodine level was positively correlated with TSH level in iodine sufficient condition and iodine excess condition in HT patients (P＜0. 05) ． Conclusion The urinary iodine level of HT patients was high- er than that of normal people．When the urinary iodine level of residents is ≥ 300 μg/ L，iodine intake is prone to HT．When the urinary iodine level of HT patients is ≥ 200 μg/ L，iodine consumption is prone to hypothyroidism， and iodine intake should be limited.

Objective To clarify the high-touch surface in oral diagnosis and treatment procedures,provide basis and guidance for cleaning and disinfection.Methods The direct observation method was used to investigate the tou-ch time and frequency of environmental surfaces in 7 outpatient departments of a tertiary stomatology hospitals in Beijing.The average touch frequency,95％confidence interval and cumulative touch rate were calculated.Results In oral diagnosis and treatment procedures,the average touch frequency of the environmental surface was 26.75 times per procedure,with the highest in endodontics(46.25 times per procedure)and the lowest in the oral mucosal specialty(10.19 times per procedure).The high-touch surface consisted of the shadowless lamp handle,manipula-tion panel and handle on dental unit(doctor's side),computer keyboard and mouse,handle and line front end of three way syringe,as well as dental high speed handpiece and line front end,with average touch frequencies of 3.99,3.85,2.65,1.86,and 1.40 times per procedure.The high-touch surface in all stomatology specialties in-cluded the manipulation panel and handle on dental unit(doctor's side),75％of specialties included computer key-board and mouse,and the shadowless lamp handle has the highest touch frequency in 50％of specialties.The ave-rage touch frequency of the environmental surface was highest(113.50 times per procedure)during crown prepara-tion procedure,and the lowest(8.50 times per procedure)during the orthodontic consultations.Conclusion The high-touch surface of different dental specialties and different diagnosis and treatment procedures are different.Me-dical institutions should take corresponding cleaning,disinfection and management measures according to the actual situation of high-touch surface in stomatology departments,so as to effectively improve the quality of environmental cleaning and disinfection.

The payment methods,such as Diagnosis Related Group(DRG)for hospitalization and capitation for outpatient treat-ment,have achieved positive results in protecting the rights and interests of insured persons and improving the efficiency of the use of medical insurance funds.However,for patients with chronic diseases and rehabilitation nursing,the hospitalization period is long and the conditions complicated,and the payment method of DRGs is not reasonable.It analyzes the experiences of paying for long-term hospital cases in the US.and Germany from the aspect of reform process,payment method and regulatory measures.In order to pro-vide references for the reform of per-diem payment in rehabilitation nursing and other long-term hospitalized cases,it puts forward suggestions from aspects of realizing value care,reflecting individual differences,exploring complex payment methods,improving data quality and establishing constraint mechanism.

Professional personnel stands as not only a crucial indicator of a hospital's comprehensive strength but also the primary resource driving high-quality development.In constructing the hospital's personnel highland,Chenzhou First People's Hospital adhered to the principle of"Party exercising leadership over personnel",improved its management mechanism,and pro-posed a new policy of 20 articles for the personnel.These means intensified a clear categorization of personnel,emphasized the integrity,capability,and contribution,and established a comprehensive personnel categorization evaluation system.With these efforts,the hospital is actively constructing a personnel highland in prefecture-level hospitals to provide talent support for the high-quality development of the hospital.

When partial nephrectomy is performed by posterior abdominal approach, the surgical field is poorly exposed, resulting in increased surgical difficulty and risk of injury.In this study, 28 patients with T 1a stage kidney tumors underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Intraoperatively, exposure of the surgical field was achieved using the percutaneous puncture of the renal fascia suspension technique. There were no dissatisfactory exposures due to peritoneal damage during the surgery, no additional tubes were inserted, and no conversions to open surgery were needed. The operation time was (76.5±20.3) minutes, blood loss was (92.1±18.7) ml, renal artery clamping time was (19.5±4.3) minutes. Postoperatively, there were no complications such as bleeding, infection, or hematuria.