ObjectiveTo investigate whether the effect of Taohong Siwutang on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion （CIRI） injury in rats is related to the regulation of astrocyte polarization and explore the related mechanism. MethodsEighty-four male SD rats were randomly assigned to the following groups： A sham operation group， a model group， Taohong Siwutang treatment groups （low dose， medium dose， and high dose）， ligustrazine phosphate tablet （LPT） group， and AG490 group. All groups， except for the sham operation group， underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） modeling and were treated for seven days. The neurological impairment was evaluated using the Longa score. The volume of cerebral infarction was assessed through 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot analyses were performed to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels of cortical complement 3 （C3）， S100 calcium-binding protein A10 （S100A10）， Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）， and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）. Additionally， protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A （VEGF-A） were assessed， and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors， including interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， were evaluated. Glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） and C3， S100A10 and Co-localization was detected via immunofluorescence double staining. Lastly， VEGF expression levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed a significant increase in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment （P<0.01）. C3 protein levels were elevated， while S100A10 levels were decreased. Pathway-related markers were significantly upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors was significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. Co-localization analysis showed significantly increased GFAP and C3 fluorescence intensity （P<0.01） and greatly decreased GFAP and S100A10 fluorescence intensity （P<0.01）. Additionally， VEGF content was significantly elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， medium- and high-dose Taohong Siwutang and LPT groups exhibited a significant reduction in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment （P<0.01）. Groups treated with low， medium， and high doses of Taohong Siwutang and LPT group exhibited a decrease in C3 protein expression levels and an increase in S100A10 expression levels （P<0.01）. In the high-dose Taohong Siwutang and AG490 groups， both protein and mRNA expression of C3 and pathway-related markers were significantly downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while S100A10 expression and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Additionally， the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The co-localization fluorescence intensity of GFAP and C3 significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while that of GFAP and S100A10 greatly increased （P<0.01）. Furthermore， VEGF content exhibited a marked elevation （P<0.01）. ConclusionTaohong Siwutang exerts a protective effect in rats with cerebral CIRI injury. The underlying mechanism is associated with the downregulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway， promotion of A2-type astrocyte polarization， reduction of inflammatory factor release， and enhancement of VEGF production.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether the effect of Taohong Siwutang on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion （CIRI） injury in rats is related to the regulation of astrocyte polarization and explore the related mechanism. MethodsEighty-four male SD rats were randomly assigned to the following groups： A sham operation group， a model group， Taohong Siwutang treatment groups （low dose， medium dose， and high dose）， ligustrazine phosphate tablet （LPT） group， and AG490 group. All groups， except for the sham operation group， underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion （MCAO/R） modeling and were treated for seven days. The neurological impairment was evaluated using the Longa score. The volume of cerebral infarction was assessed through 2，3，5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride （TTC） staining. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot analyses were performed to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels of cortical complement 3 （C3）， S100 calcium-binding protein A10 （S100A10）， Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）， and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3）. Additionally， protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor-A （VEGF-A） were assessed， and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors， including interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， were evaluated. Glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP） and C3， S100A10 and Co-localization was detected via immunofluorescence double staining. Lastly， VEGF expression levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group， the model group showed a significant increase in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment （P<0.01）. C3 protein levels were elevated， while S100A10 levels were decreased. Pathway-related markers were significantly upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors was significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. Co-localization analysis showed significantly increased GFAP and C3 fluorescence intensity （P<0.01） and greatly decreased GFAP and S100A10 fluorescence intensity （P<0.01）. Additionally， VEGF content was significantly elevated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， medium- and high-dose Taohong Siwutang and LPT groups exhibited a significant reduction in cerebral infarction volume and neurological impairment （P<0.01）. Groups treated with low， medium， and high doses of Taohong Siwutang and LPT group exhibited a decrease in C3 protein expression levels and an increase in S100A10 expression levels （P<0.01）. In the high-dose Taohong Siwutang and AG490 groups， both protein and mRNA expression of C3 and pathway-related markers were significantly downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while S100A10 expression and VEGF-A protein levels were significantly increased （P<0.01）. Additionally， the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The co-localization fluorescence intensity of GFAP and C3 significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while that of GFAP and S100A10 greatly increased （P<0.01）. Furthermore， VEGF content exhibited a marked elevation （P<0.01）. ConclusionTaohong Siwutang exerts a protective effect in rats with cerebral CIRI injury. The underlying mechanism is associated with the downregulation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway， promotion of A2-type astrocyte polarization， reduction of inflammatory factor release， and enhancement of VEGF production.

Background Mitochondrial biogenesis is pivotal in coal workers' pneumoconiosis fibrosis, yet the role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)-nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1)-mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) pathway inmitochondrial biogenesis remains elusive, warranting further investigation. Objective To elucidate the role of the PGC-1α-NRF1-TFAM pathway in mitochondrial biogenesis in a rat coal workers' pneumoconiosis model through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods (1)n vivo: twelve SPF male SD rats (200-220 g) were randomized into a control group and a coal dust group (n=6 per group). After acclimatization, the coal dust group received 1 mL 50 mg·mL⁻¹ coal dust suspension via intratracheal instillation; the controls received saline. Lung tissues were harvested after two months for histopathology [HE, Masson, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) ], protein and mRNA analysis, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) quantification by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). (2) In vitro: rat lung type II epithelial cells (RLE-6TN) cells were exposed to coal dust (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg·L⁻¹, 24 h). CCK-8 assay determined optimal doses. Ultrastructural changes were analyzed by TEM. Cells were transfected with OE-PGC-1α (PGC-1α overexpression) or shRNA-PGC-1α plasmids (PGC-1α knockdown), and the transfection efficiency was determined by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of alpah-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), citrate synthase (CS), PGC-1α, NRF1, TFAM, and fibronectin (Fn) proteins and their corresponding mRNA were detected using Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. The relative content of mtDNA was determined by qPCR. Results In vivo: the control group lung samples exhibited soft, pink parenchyma, while the coal dust-exposed lungs showed blackened surfaces with soft texture. The histopathological evaluation revealed intact alveolar walls in the controls versus structural destruction, micro-nodules, and fibrotic areas in the coal dust group. After Masson staining, coal dust deposits were found surrounded by blue collagen fibers in the exposed lungs, but absent in the controls. The coal dust group displayed significant upregulation of fibrotic marker α-SMA and downregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis markers (CS, PGC-1α, NRF1, TFAM) and mtDNA compared to the controls (P<0.05). In vitro: coal dust exposure reduced cell density and induced morphological alterations. TEM revealed evenly distributed normal mitochondria in controls versus mitochondrial swelling, disrupted cristae, and reduced numbers in exposed cells. The mitochondrial biogenesis markers were elevated in the coal dust + OE-PGC-1α group compared to the coal dust + OE-NC group (P<0.05); in contrast, they were decreased in the coal dust + shRNA-PGC-1α group compared to the coal dust + shRNA-NC group (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the expression levels of the fibrosis marker α-SMA mRNA and protein were increased in the coal dust group (P<0.05). Overexpression of PGC-1α reduced α-SMA expression, while downregulation of PGC-1α increased its expression (P<0.05). Conclusion Coal dust exposure induces mitochondrial dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro via the PGC-1α-NRF1-TFAM pathway dysregulation. Targeting this pathway may mitigate coal dust-induced fibrosis by restoring mitochondrial biogenesis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.019.].

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of eculizumab in treating hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) .Methods:This retrospective study included 11 patients who developed TA-TMA after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and subsequently received eculizumab treatment at Peking University People′s Hospital between June 2018 and May 2024. The incidence of TA-TMA, treatment details, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.Results:Among the 11 included patients [4 males, 7 females; median age: 29 years (range: 9-56) ], underlying diseases were severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in 5 patients, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 3 patients, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 3 patients. The median time to TA-TMA diagnosis was 48 days post-transplantation (range: 4-213 days), and all patients met the diagnostic criteria for high-risk TA-TMA. The median interval from TA-TMA diagnosis to the initiation of eculizumab treatment was 12 days (range: 1-56 days). Patients received a median of 3 doses of eculizumab (range: 1-14). Ten of the 11 patients were assessed as having no response (NR) to eculizumab at the end of treatment or at death. One patient achieved a partial response (PR) but subsequently died after TA-TMA relapsed due to infection. At the last follow-up, all patients were either lost to follow-up or had died. The median follow-up duration was 88 days (range: 33-326 days), and the median time from TA-TMA diagnosis to the last follow-up was 31 days (range: 21-113 days) .Conclusion:Eculizumab demonstrated poor efficacy in this TA-TMA cohort. This might be attributable to the critical and complex condition of the patients, delayed initiation of eculizumab treatment, and insufficient dosage.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) of throat swab samples for detecting community-acquired respiratory viruses (CARV) in patients with hematological diseases.Methods:Clinical and laboratory data from 64 episodes involving patients with hematological diseases and suspected infections—who underwent both pharyngeal swab tNGS and CARV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing concurrently—were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were drawn from the Department of Hematology, Peking University People’s Hospital, between September 2023 and April 2024. Concordance between tNGS and CARV PCR results, as well as the diagnostic performance of tNGS in detecting CARV, were evaluated.Results:Among the 64 episodes, 29 were clinically diagnosed with respiratory tract infections, including one case of cytomegalovirus pneumonia and 28 CARV-positive cases. The remaining 35 episodes involved patients with fever or respiratory symptoms attributed to other causes, including 14 with extrapulmonary infections and 21 with noninfectious etiologies. The median follow-up duration was 215.5 days (range: 7-271 days). PCR detected 24 strains of seven CARV types, whereas tNGS detected 25 strains of eight CARV types. Using PCR results as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of tNGS were 85.0%, 88.6%, 77.3%, 92.9%, and 87.5%, respectively. The two methods showed good concordance (Kappa=0.717, P<0.001) . Conclusion:Pharyngeal swab tNGS may serve as a viable alternative to PCR for diagnosing CARV infections in patients with hematological diseases.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of eculizumab in treating hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) .Methods:This retrospective study included 11 patients who developed TA-TMA after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and subsequently received eculizumab treatment at Peking University People′s Hospital between June 2018 and May 2024. The incidence of TA-TMA, treatment details, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.Results:Among the 11 included patients [4 males, 7 females; median age: 29 years (range: 9-56) ], underlying diseases were severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in 5 patients, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 3 patients, and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 3 patients. The median time to TA-TMA diagnosis was 48 days post-transplantation (range: 4-213 days), and all patients met the diagnostic criteria for high-risk TA-TMA. The median interval from TA-TMA diagnosis to the initiation of eculizumab treatment was 12 days (range: 1-56 days). Patients received a median of 3 doses of eculizumab (range: 1-14). Ten of the 11 patients were assessed as having no response (NR) to eculizumab at the end of treatment or at death. One patient achieved a partial response (PR) but subsequently died after TA-TMA relapsed due to infection. At the last follow-up, all patients were either lost to follow-up or had died. The median follow-up duration was 88 days (range: 33-326 days), and the median time from TA-TMA diagnosis to the last follow-up was 31 days (range: 21-113 days) .Conclusion:Eculizumab demonstrated poor efficacy in this TA-TMA cohort. This might be attributable to the critical and complex condition of the patients, delayed initiation of eculizumab treatment, and insufficient dosage.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic value of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) of throat swab samples for detecting community-acquired respiratory viruses (CARV) in patients with hematological diseases.Methods:Clinical and laboratory data from 64 episodes involving patients with hematological diseases and suspected infections—who underwent both pharyngeal swab tNGS and CARV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing concurrently—were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were drawn from the Department of Hematology, Peking University People’s Hospital, between September 2023 and April 2024. Concordance between tNGS and CARV PCR results, as well as the diagnostic performance of tNGS in detecting CARV, were evaluated.Results:Among the 64 episodes, 29 were clinically diagnosed with respiratory tract infections, including one case of cytomegalovirus pneumonia and 28 CARV-positive cases. The remaining 35 episodes involved patients with fever or respiratory symptoms attributed to other causes, including 14 with extrapulmonary infections and 21 with noninfectious etiologies. The median follow-up duration was 215.5 days (range: 7-271 days). PCR detected 24 strains of seven CARV types, whereas tNGS detected 25 strains of eight CARV types. Using PCR results as the reference standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of tNGS were 85.0%, 88.6%, 77.3%, 92.9%, and 87.5%, respectively. The two methods showed good concordance (Kappa=0.717, P<0.001) . Conclusion:Pharyngeal swab tNGS may serve as a viable alternative to PCR for diagnosing CARV infections in patients with hematological diseases.

Background::The correlation between metals and hypertension, such as sodium, zinc, potassium, and magnesium, has been confirmed, while the relationship between aluminum and hypertension is not very clear. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between plasma aluminum and hypertension in electrolytic aluminum workers by the Bayesian networks (BN).Methods::In 2019, 476 male workers in an aluminum factory were investigated. The plasma aluminum concentration of workers was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The influencing factors on the prevalence of hypertension were analyzed by the BN.Results::The prevalence of hypertension was 23.9% in 476 male workers. The risk of hypertension from plasma aluminum in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups was 5.20 (1.90-14.25), 6.92 (2.51-19.08), and 7.33 (2.69-20.01), respectively, compared with that in the Q1 group. The risk of hypertension from the duration of exposure to aluminum of >10 years was 2.23 (1.09-4.57), compared without aluminum exposure. Area under the curve was 0.80 of plasma aluminum and the duration of exposure to aluminum was based on covariates, indicating that aluminum exposure had important predictive value in the prevalence of hypertension in the occupational population. The results of the study using the BN model showed that if the plasma aluminum of all participants was higher than Q4 (≥47.86 μg/L) and the participants were drinking, smoking, diabetes, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and aged >50 years, the proportion of hypertension was 71.2%.Conclusions::The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly with the increase of plasma aluminum level.

Background::The correlation between metals and hypertension, such as sodium, zinc, potassium, and magnesium, has been confirmed, while the relationship between aluminum and hypertension is not very clear. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between plasma aluminum and hypertension in electrolytic aluminum workers by the Bayesian networks (BN).Methods::In 2019, 476 male workers in an aluminum factory were investigated. The plasma aluminum concentration of workers was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The influencing factors on the prevalence of hypertension were analyzed by the BN.Results::The prevalence of hypertension was 23.9% in 476 male workers. The risk of hypertension from plasma aluminum in the Q2, Q3, and Q4 groups was 5.20 (1.90-14.25), 6.92 (2.51-19.08), and 7.33 (2.69-20.01), respectively, compared with that in the Q1 group. The risk of hypertension from the duration of exposure to aluminum of >10 years was 2.23 (1.09-4.57), compared without aluminum exposure. Area under the curve was 0.80 of plasma aluminum and the duration of exposure to aluminum was based on covariates, indicating that aluminum exposure had important predictive value in the prevalence of hypertension in the occupational population. The results of the study using the BN model showed that if the plasma aluminum of all participants was higher than Q4 (≥47.86 μg/L) and the participants were drinking, smoking, diabetes, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and aged >50 years, the proportion of hypertension was 71.2%.Conclusions::The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly with the increase of plasma aluminum level.