Objective:To analyze the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening status and the resulting residual risk (RR) among blood donors across 17 provincial blood centers in China.Methods:This study used a cross-sectional study. Data on HIV infection markers per 100 000 first-time donors (FD) and repeat donors (RD) from January 2015 to December 2024 were extracted from the National Blood Establishment Performance Comparison Information Management System. Questionnaires were used to collect each center′s HIV screening strategy, algorithm, serological test (ST) kit manufacturers, gray-zone setting for ST, and nucleic acid test (NAT) modality, method, and platform. The incidence-window-period model was used to calculate the residual risk for first-time donors (RR FD), repeat donors (RR RD), and total donors (RR TD) at each center. Horizontal and vertical analysis of RR FD, RR RD, and RR TD across centers and years were performed. Results:All 17 centers applied the same HIV screening strategy which was two rounds of ST followed by one round of NAT. Eight of them operated a single screening algorithm, six employed two algorithms and three used three. Eleven centers used both imported and domestic ST kits, five relied on domestic ST kits only, and one used imported ST kits only, while four centers never set a grey zone for ST throughout the decade. For NAT modalities, eight centers adopted both individual nucleic acid test (ID-NAT) and minipool nucleic acid test (MP-NAT), eight used MP-NAT only and one used ID-NAT only. Seven centers combined transcription mediated amplification (TMA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nine used PCR only and one used TMA only, and fourteen centers ran both imported and domestic NAT systems, two used imported systems only and one used a domestic system only. Over the ten-year period, the mean RR FD across the centers ranged from 2.22 to 12.33 per 10 6 person-years, RR RD from 0.83 to 3.29 per 10 6 person-years and RR TD from 1.59 to 9.29 per 10 6 person-years, with center Z4 consistently showing the lowest values for all three metrics and center U4 recording the highest RR FD and RR TD, while center D2 had the highest RR RD. In 2024 compared with 2015, eleven centers achieved a lower RR FD and ten centers achieved lower RR RD and RR TD. The RR FD and RR TD of centers W2 and U4 displayed pronounced fluctuations and an upward trend in recent years. Conclusions:The 17 provincial blood centers maintain consistent HIV screening strategies, while demonstrating variations in screening algorithm, ST kit manufacturers, NAT modalities, methods, and platform. And the RR FD, RR RD, and RR TD differ across centers. Although most centers show declining trend in RR over the ten-year period, some centers exhibite data fluctuations with a rising trend, suggesting potential for further optimization of HIV screening protocols.

Objective: To investigate the distribution of IgM anti-A/B titers among group O whole blood donors in Jiangsu, establish a low-titer threshold, and analyze the demographic characteristics of low-titer donors, so as to provide data for recruiting low-titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) donors. Methods: Plasma samples from 1 009 group O whole blood donors were tested for IgM anti-A and anti-B titers using the microplate technique. The distribution of antibody titers was analyzed to establish a low-titer threshold. The distribution trends of titers across different demographic groups were also analyzed. Results: The peak titer for anti-A, anti-B were 64 (31.5%), 4 (23.8%), respectively, The proportion of donors with both anti-A and anti-B titers below 64 was 97.3% (982/1 009). The mean anti-A titer was higher than anti-B titer. Anti-A titers were higher in female donors than in male donors (P<0.05). The anti-A titers differed significantly among different age groups (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in titers was observed based on the number of donations (P>0.05). Conclusion: A titer of 64 can be used as the reference threshold of LTOWB in Jiangsu. Male donors of appropriate age are more suitable than female donors for establishing an emergency panel of LTOWB mobile donors.

BACKGROUND: T cell dysfunction, which includes exhaustion, anergy, and senescence, is a distinct T cell differentiation state that occurs after antigen exposure. Although T cell dysfunction has been a cornerstone of cancer immunotherapy, its potential in transplant research, while not yet as extensively explored, is attracting growing interest. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) has been shown to play a pivotal role in inducing T cell dysfunction. METHODS: A novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin, targeting IRF4 inhibition, was employed to investigate T cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine secretion, expression of T-cell dysfunction-associated molecules, effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, and allograft survival in both in vitro and BALB/c to C57BL/6 mouse cardiac transplantation models. RESULTS: In vitro , blockade of IRF4 in T cells effectively inhibited T cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and significantly upregulated the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), Helios, CD160, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA-4), markers of T cell dysfunction. Furthermore, it suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17. Combining ultra-low-dose Trametinib (0.1 mg·kg -1 ·day -1 ) and Rapamycin (0.1 mg·kg -1 ·day -1 ) demonstrably extended graft survival, with 4 out of 5 mice exceeding 100 days post-transplantation. Moreover, analysis of grafts at day 7 confirmed sustained IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) inhibition, enhanced PD-1 expression, and suppressed IFN-γ secretion, reinforcing the in vivo efficacy of this IRF4-targeting approach. The combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically inhibited the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to a more pronounced suppression of IRF4 expression. CONCLUSIONS Targeting IRF4, a key regulator of T cell dysfunction, presents a promising avenue for inducing transplant immune tolerance. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically suppresses the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to profound IRF4 inhibition, promoting allograft acceptance, and offering a potential new therapeutic strategy for improved transplant outcomes. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying pharmacological mechanisms and facilitate translation to clinical practice.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Interferon Regulatory Factors/metabolism* ; Heart Transplantation/methods* ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Sirolimus/therapeutic use* ; Pyridones/therapeutic use* ; Graft Survival/drug effects* ; Pyrimidinones/therapeutic use* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Objective:To analyze the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening status and the resulting residual risk (RR) among blood donors across 17 provincial blood centers in China.Methods:This study used a cross-sectional study. Data on HIV infection markers per 100 000 first-time donors (FD) and repeat donors (RD) from January 2015 to December 2024 were extracted from the National Blood Establishment Performance Comparison Information Management System. Questionnaires were used to collect each center′s HIV screening strategy, algorithm, serological test (ST) kit manufacturers, gray-zone setting for ST, and nucleic acid test (NAT) modality, method, and platform. The incidence-window-period model was used to calculate the residual risk for first-time donors (RR FD), repeat donors (RR RD), and total donors (RR TD) at each center. Horizontal and vertical analysis of RR FD, RR RD, and RR TD across centers and years were performed. Results:All 17 centers applied the same HIV screening strategy which was two rounds of ST followed by one round of NAT. Eight of them operated a single screening algorithm, six employed two algorithms and three used three. Eleven centers used both imported and domestic ST kits, five relied on domestic ST kits only, and one used imported ST kits only, while four centers never set a grey zone for ST throughout the decade. For NAT modalities, eight centers adopted both individual nucleic acid test (ID-NAT) and minipool nucleic acid test (MP-NAT), eight used MP-NAT only and one used ID-NAT only. Seven centers combined transcription mediated amplification (TMA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nine used PCR only and one used TMA only, and fourteen centers ran both imported and domestic NAT systems, two used imported systems only and one used a domestic system only. Over the ten-year period, the mean RR FD across the centers ranged from 2.22 to 12.33 per 10 6 person-years, RR RD from 0.83 to 3.29 per 10 6 person-years and RR TD from 1.59 to 9.29 per 10 6 person-years, with center Z4 consistently showing the lowest values for all three metrics and center U4 recording the highest RR FD and RR TD, while center D2 had the highest RR RD. In 2024 compared with 2015, eleven centers achieved a lower RR FD and ten centers achieved lower RR RD and RR TD. The RR FD and RR TD of centers W2 and U4 displayed pronounced fluctuations and an upward trend in recent years. Conclusions:The 17 provincial blood centers maintain consistent HIV screening strategies, while demonstrating variations in screening algorithm, ST kit manufacturers, NAT modalities, methods, and platform. And the RR FD, RR RD, and RR TD differ across centers. Although most centers show declining trend in RR over the ten-year period, some centers exhibite data fluctuations with a rising trend, suggesting potential for further optimization of HIV screening protocols.

Background::Homoharringtonine (HHT) is an effective anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor protein synthesis inhibitor that has been applied clinically. Here, we explored the therapeutic effects of HHT in a mouse heart transplant model.Methods::Healthy C57BL/6 mice were used to observe the toxicity of HHT in the liver, kidney, and hematology. A mouse heart transplantation model was constructed, and the potential mechanism of HHT prolonging allograft survival was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis, immunostaining, and bulk RNA sequencing analysis. The HHT-T cell crosstalk was modeled ex vivo to further verify the molecular mechanism of HHT-induced regulatory T cells (Tregs) differentiation. Results::HHT inhibited the activation and proliferation of T cells and promoted their apoptosis ex vivo. Treatment of 0.5 mg/kg HHT for 10 days significantly prolonged the mean graft survival time of the allografts from 7 days to 48 days ( P <0.001) without non-immune toxicity. The allografts had long-term survival after continuous HHT treatment for 28 days. HHT significantly reduced lymphocyte infiltration in the graft, and interferon-γ-secreting CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the spleen ( P <0.01). HHT significantly increased the number of peripheral Tregs (about 20%, P <0.001) and serum interleukin (IL)-10 levels. HHT downregulated the expression of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling pathway-related genes ( CD4, H2-Eb1, TRAT1, and CD74) and upregulated the expression of IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF) -β pathway-related genes and Treg signature genes ( CTLA4, Foxp3, CD74, and ICOS). HHT increased CD4 + Foxp3 + cells and Foxp3 expression ex vivo, and it enhanced the inhibitory function of inducible Tregs. Conclusions::HHT promotes Treg cell differentiation and enhances Treg suppressive function by attenuating the TCR signaling pathway and upregulating the expression of Treg signature genes and IL-10 levels, thereby promoting mouse heart allograft acceptance. These findings may have therapeutic implications for organ transplant recipients, particularly those with viral infections and malignancies, which require a more suitable anti-rejection medication.

Objective To investigate the role of sea-level cerebral blood flow(CBF)in predicting acute mountain sickness(AMS)using three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling(3D-pCASL). Methods Forty-eight healthy volunteers reached an altitude of 3,650 m by air after undergoing a head magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)including 3D-pCASL at sea level.The CBF values of the bilateral anterior cerebral artery(ACA),middle cerebral artery(MCA),posterior cerebral artery(PCA),and posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA)territories and the laterality index(LI)of CBF were compared between the AMS and non-AMS groups.Statistical analyses were performed to determine the relationship between CBF and AMS,and the predictive performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves. Results The mean cortical CBF in women(81.65±2.69 mL/100 g/min)was higher than that in men(74.35±2.12 mL/100 g/min)(P<0.05).In men,the cortical CBF values in the bilateral ACA,PCA,PICA,and right MCA were higher in patients with AMS than in those without.Cortical CBF in the right PCA best predicted AMS(AUC=0.818).In women,the LI of CBF in the ACA was different between the AMS and non-AMS groups and predicted AMS with an AUC of 0.753. Conclusion Although the mechanism and prediction of AMS are quite complicated,higher cortical CBF at sea level,especially the CBF of the posterior circulatory system,may be used for prediction in male volunteers using non-invasive 3D-pCASL.

Purpose/Significance To explore the application and predictive accuracy of various models in predicting the risk of ather-osclerosis in diabetic patients.Method/Process Based on the biochemical data table from the"Diabetes Complications Warning Dataset"provided by the National Population Health Science Data Center,MATLAB software is used to construct risk prediction models for diabe-tes-induced atherosclerosis.The models are built by using k-nearest neighbors(KNN),decision trees,backpropagation(BP)neural networks,and Naive Bayes algorithms,and which are subjected to comparative analysis.Result/Conclusion In terms of effectiveness,the predictive accuracy of Naive Bayes algorithm is the highest(61.6％),followed by the decision tree model(58.2％),the KNN mod-el(57.7％),and the BP neural network model(55.9％).The results of the confusion matrix and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve indicate that the Naive Bayes model performs best.When comparing the models in terms of effectiveness,performance and stability,the Naive Bayes model is superior.

Background:The overall Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection rate in China is relatively high,with significant regional variations.Currently,there is a lack of large-sample surveys on the Hp infection rate in the general population of Xinjiang.Aims:To explore the Hp infection rate in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and provide a reference for the prevention and control strategies of Hp infection in this region.Methods:A stratified random cluster sampling method was used to select 4 361 individuals from the general population in 15 regions of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Hp antibody testing was performed to assess Hp infection status.Results:The overall Hp infection rate in Xinjiang was 71.57％(3 121/4 361).The Hp infection rate showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with age,but the difference was not statistically significant(x2=11.992,P＞0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in the Hp infection rate among different residential areas(x2=250.316,P＜0.01).The Hp infection rates among ethnic minorities such as Uyghurs and Tajiks were significantly higher than those among Han and Hui ethnic groups,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=200.797,P＜0.01).The Hp infection rate gradually increased with the increase in altitude,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=33.366,P＜0.01).Conclusions:This study revealed that the overall Hp infection rate in Xinjiang is relatively high,with obvious differences in residential areas,ethnic groups,and altitudes.More powerful publicity and education,screening methods,and eradication strategies should be implemented for ethnic minorities in different regions.

Background:The overall Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection rate in China is relatively high,with significant regional variations.Currently,there is a lack of large-sample surveys on the Hp infection rate in the general population of Xinjiang.Aims:To explore the Hp infection rate in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and provide a reference for the prevention and control strategies of Hp infection in this region.Methods:A stratified random cluster sampling method was used to select 4 361 individuals from the general population in 15 regions of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Hp antibody testing was performed to assess Hp infection status.Results:The overall Hp infection rate in Xinjiang was 71.57％(3 121/4 361).The Hp infection rate showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with age,but the difference was not statistically significant(x2=11.992,P＞0.05).There was a statistically significant difference in the Hp infection rate among different residential areas(x2=250.316,P＜0.01).The Hp infection rates among ethnic minorities such as Uyghurs and Tajiks were significantly higher than those among Han and Hui ethnic groups,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=200.797,P＜0.01).The Hp infection rate gradually increased with the increase in altitude,and the difference was statistically significant(x2=33.366,P＜0.01).Conclusions:This study revealed that the overall Hp infection rate in Xinjiang is relatively high,with obvious differences in residential areas,ethnic groups,and altitudes.More powerful publicity and education,screening methods,and eradication strategies should be implemented for ethnic minorities in different regions.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis (UC) in Han and Uyghur patients in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Method:Data of UC patients hospitalized at the People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2015 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected, with a focus on the differences in basic information, extraintestinal manifestations and biochemical laboratory indicators between Han and Uyghur patients.Results:A total of 315 UC patients were included, with 172 Han cases (54.6%) and 143 Uyghur cases (45.4%) . Compared to the Han group, the Uyghur group had a higher proportion of females, a lower average age, and lower rates of smoking and alcohol consumption (all P<0.05) . The Uyghur group showed a higher prevalence of hepatobiliary diseases and joint injuries as extraintestinal manifestations, although the differences were not statistically significant ( P all>0.05) . The Han group had a statistically significant higher level of intraepithelial neoplasia (χ 2 = 5.075, P<0.05) . The Uyghur group exhibited significantly higher levels of white blood cell count, platelet count, neutrophils, lymphocyte count, globulin, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, highly sensitive C-reactive protein, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, and H.pylori antibodies compared to the Han group (all P<0.05) . Both Han and Uyghur UC patients achieved satisfactory clinical efficacy. Conclusion:Uyghur UC patients have distinct characteristics, including a younger age of onset and more severe disease course, yet appropriate treatment can lead to satisfactory clinical outcomes.