1.Based on 16S rDNA Technology and TLRs/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway, Molecular Mechanism of Shenling Baizhusan Resistance to Diarrhea Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rats Was Investigated
Tengfei LYU ; Jingyu WANG ; Mingyue XIE ; Bin XI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):13-22
ObjectiveBased on 16S rDNA technology and molecular biology methods, the molecular mechanism of Shenling Baizhusan in the treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) was investigated. MethodsThe 42 SD rats with SPF were randomly divided into no control group, SLBZS-H, medium (SLBZS-M), low (SLBZS-L) dose group, positive control group and model group, with 7 rats in each group. The rat model of IBS-D was prepared by ice-cold senna (0.45 g∙mL-1) gavage (10 mL∙kg-1) combined with restraint stress for 14 consecutive days. After successful modeling, the corresponding drugs were given to each group with a gavage volume of 10 mL∙kg-1: The positive group was administered with 2.36 , 1.18, 0.59 g∙mL-1 of Shenling Baizhusan in the Positive group and the Model group with the same volume of normal saline for 14 d. The general condition of the rats: Weight, feces, mental state and death were observed and recorded. The body weight, abdominal wall retraction reflex score (AWR) and loose stool rate of rats in each group were measured before (the first day), after the model (day 14) and after treatment (day 28). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphological characteristics of colon tissues of experimental animals. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantitatively analyze the concentration of inflammatory mediators in the peripheral blood of experimental animals. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of key proteins of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in rat colon tissue. 16S rDNA technology was used to detect the structural changes of intestinal microbiota in rats. ResultsCompared with Control, the colon of the Model group showed partial mucosal epithelial shedding and inflammatory cell infiltration. The contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and 5-HT in serum increased (P<0.05), the protein expressions of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB in colon tissue increased (P<0.05), the diversity indices of Richness, Chao1, abundance-based coverage estimator(ACE) and Shannon decreased (P<0.05), and the phylum Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, The relative richness of Bacteroides-H, Lactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus decreased (P<0.05), while the relative richness of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Prevotella increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the colonic structure and organization of the SLBZS-H group, SLBZS-M group, SLBZS-L group and Positive group were clearer, and only a small number of inflammatory cells were present in some areas, and the serum contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and 5-HT were decreased (P<0.05), TLR2, TLR4, The protein expressions of MyD88 and NF-κB decreased (P<0.05), and compared with the model group, the diversity indices of Richness, Chao1, ACE and Shannon in the SLBZS-H, SLBZS-M and SLBZS-L groups increased (P<0.05), and the richness of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria increased (P<0.05). The richness of Proteobacteria and Prevotella decreased (P<0.05), and the abundance of Prevotella decreased (P<0.05), Bacteroides-H, Muribaculum, Lactobacillus and salivarius in the Positive group salivarius (P<0.05). ConclusionShenling Baizhusan can effectively treat IBS-D, and its molecular mechanism may be to play a therapeutic role by improving intestinal flora and inhibiting the TLRS/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to reduce inflammatory response.
2.A new method for flow cytometry-based detection of ABO antigen expression levels
Yuyu ZHANG ; Xi LIU ; Junhua XIE ; Bin CAO ; Jiewei ZHENG ; Xinyi ZHU ; Zhongying WANG ; Dong XIANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(5):665-672
Objective: To design and establish a new method for flow cytometry-based detection of commonly observed highly expressed antigens on red blood cells, and to further evaluate the differences and distribution characteristics of antigen expression levels between ABO blood type homozygotes and heterozygotes in healthy individuals. Methods: Residual blood samples after donor blood type identification by Shanghai Blood Center in April 2024 were collected. Among them, samples of 19 homozygous and 19 heterozygous individuals of type A and type B were selected. Then the expression level of ABO antigen on red blood cells were detected using the new method established in this study and the traditional aldehyde fixed red blood cell method. Both methods were tested independently three times and the results were compared. Results: The mean values of the three detection results of the new method was (×10
/RBC): AA homozygous 3.3±0.5, AO heterozygous 2.8±0.3, BB homozygous 3.6±0.3, BO heterozygous 3.1±2.8. The mean values of the three detection results of the aldehyde fixation method were AA homozygous 5.9±0.9, AO heterozygous 5.0±1.4, BB homozygous 3.8±0.6, and BO heterozygous 3.3±0.4. The average antigen distribution of each genotype followed a normal distribution. Comparing the average antigen expression levels of homozygotes and heterozygotes, both methods showed that A/B homozygotes had higher antigen levels than heterozygotes, with AA being 1.17 to 1.18 times that of AO and BB being 1.15 to 1.16 times that of BO. Comparing the inter batch differences in the three test results of two methods, the new method showed no significant difference in the three test results for four genotypes (P>0.05). The aldehyde fixation method showed significant differences in the test results for all three genotypes (P<0.01) except for BB homozygotes (P>0.05). The reliability and reproducibility of the new method were better than those of the traditional aldehyde fixation method. Conclusion: The antigen expression level of ABO homozygotes is higher than that of heterozygotes, and the difference in antigen level between type A homozygotes and heterozygotes is slightly higher than that of type B. The new method is superior to traditional aldolization fixation methods.
3.Epidemiological distribution characteristics and transmission patterns of Campylobacter in a Shandong broiler slaughterhouse
Shuai MIAO ; Xiu-mei HUANG ; Lin WANG ; Jun-hui LIU ; Jian-mei ZHAO ; Yu-bin GAO ; Shi-ping SONG ; Si-yu ZHANG ; Na LIU ; Ge ZHAO ; Xi-yue ZHANG ; Jun-wei WANG ; Juan WANG ; Zhi-na QU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(6):583-591
This research investigated the contamination level,distribution of drug-resistant strains,and molecular epidemiologi-cal characteristics of Campylobacter,and further explored transmission pathways and prevention strategies.Cecum,chicken carcass,chicken product,and environmental samples,as well as swabs from workers'hands,were collected from a slaughterhouse in a large broiler group in the Jiaodong area between August 2023 and July 2024.Quantitative contamination assessment of Campylobacter in chicken carcasses and chicken products was performed.After microbial mass spectrometry identification,the representative strains of different links were selected for drug resistance testing and whole genome sequencing(WGS).On the basis of the sequencing results,the resistance genes,virulence genes,multilocus sequence typing(MLST),and phylogenetic characteristics of representative strains were analyzed.Homology comparisons were performed between isolates and strains from patients with diarrhea in the NCBI database.A total of 297 Campylobacter strains were isolated from 806 samples,and the overall detection rate was 36.85%.The detection rate of Campylobacter was highest in the evisceration process(47.33%),followed by the cutting process(35.64%).Overall,the Campylo-bacter detection rate first increased,then decreased,and subsequently increased.Drug sensitivity testing revealed that 90 isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin,and 94.97%of isolates were resistant to tetracycline.WGS showed that both Campylo-bacter jejuni(C.jejuni)and Campylobacter coli(C.coli)carried many drug resistance and virulence genes.ST-14176 of C.jejuni was isolated for the first time herein.The predominant ST-8261 strain of C.jejuni and ST-860,ST-829,and ST-1586 strains of C.coli are known to cause human diarrhea.LOS expression genes associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome(GBS)were detected in both C.jejuni isolates from the slaughter chain and patients with GBS.Some strains exhibited close genetic relatedness to human-derived Campylo-bacter strains from the NCBI database.The detection rate of Campylobacter in the slaughterhouse first increased,then decreased,and subsequently increased,and the quantitative contamination level of each link was similar to the detection rate.Quantitative analysis of chicken carcasses/products revealed that the average bacterial load was highest in eviscerated carcasses(102.80 cfu/g),and the high-est amount of Campylobacter in chicken products reached 451.80 cfu/g.Abundant drug resistance genes and virulence genes were iden-tified,and the drug resistance genes were highly correlated with the drug resistance rate.Therefore,surveillance intensity and control measures for Campylobacter in slaughter processes should be strengthened.
4.Clinical efficacy analysis and learning curve of the robot-assisted Warshaw procedure using the da Vinci system
Hongliang LIU ; Qisheng HAO ; Xi WANG ; Mengxing CHENG ; Fabo QIU ; Lantian TIAN ; Bin ZHOU ; Hao ZOU
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2025;31(2):96-100
Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy and learning curve of robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure using the da Vinci system.Methods:Clinical data of 91 consecutive patients with pancreatic body and tail lesions undergoing robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital from October 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including 21 males and 70 females, aged (50.2±14.3) years. Patient characteristics, operative time, and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The learning curve was constructed using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis, with case number on the x-axis and CUSUM values on the y-axis. Linear fitting was performed, and the model with the highest determination coefficient was selected as the optimal fitting model. The learning process was divided into two phases based on the inflection point of the CUSUM learning curve: the learning phase and the proficiency phase. Perioperative outcomes were compared between these two phases.Results:All 91 procedures were successfully completed using the da Vinci robotic system with R0 resection margins. There were no perioperative mortalities or reoperations due to postoperative splenic infarction. The operative time was (227.84±76.68) min. The optimal fitting equation for the CUSUM learning curve was: CUSUM=0.005 640X 3-1.501X 2+ 92.59X-183.1. The CUSUM learning curve showed an inflection point at case 39, dividing the learning process into the learning phase (cases 1-39) and proficiency phase (cases 40-91). Compared to the learning phase, the proficiency phase demonstrated significantly shorter operative time [(203.0±75.6) min vs. (260.9±65.5) min], less intraoperative blood loss [50.0 (20.0, 50.0) ml vs. 100.0 (50.0, 100.0) ml], and reduced postoperative drainage duration [(8.7±2.4) d vs. (10.8±3.2) d] (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The robotic-assisted Warshaw procedure feasible for patients with pancreatic body and tail lesions. Surgeons require approximately 39 cases to complete the learning curve and achieve proficiency in this procedure.
5.Astragaloside IV delayed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in peritoneal fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of EGFR and PI3K-AKT pathways.
Ying HUANG ; Chen-Ling CHU ; Wen-Hui QIU ; Jia-Yi CHEN ; Lu-Xi CAO ; Shui-Yu JI ; Bin ZHU ; Guo-Kun WANG ; Quan-Quan SHEN
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(6):694-705
OBJECTIVE:
Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is an adverse event that occurs during long-term peritoneal dialysis, significantly impairing treatment efficiency and adversely affecting patient outcomes. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a principal active component derived from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, has exhibited anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects in various settings. This study aims to investigate the potential therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of AS-IV in the treatment of PF.
METHODS:
The PF mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 4.25% peritoneal dialysis fluid (100 mL/kg). The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HMrSV5 cells was induced by the addition of 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). The differentially expressed genes in HMrSV5 cells treated with AS-IV were screened using transcriptome sequencing analysis. The potential targets of AS-IV were screened using network pharmacology and analyzed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations.
RESULTS:
Administration of AS-IV at doses of 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg effectively mitigated the increase in peritoneal thickness and the development of fibrosis in mice with PF. The expression of the fibrosis marker α-smooth muscle actin in the peritoneum was significantly decreased in AS-IV-treated mice. The treatment of AS-IV (10, 20, and 40 μmol/L) significantly delayed the EMT of HMrSV5 cells induced by TGF-β, as demonstrated by the decreased number of 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine-positive cells, reduced migrated area, and decreased expression of fibrosis markers. A total of 460 differentially expressed genes were detected in AS-IV-treated HMrSV5 cells through transcriptome sequencing, with notable enrichment in the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) signaling pathway. The reduced levels of phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K) and p-AKT were detected in HMrSV5 cells with AS-IV treatment. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was predicted as a direct target of AS-IV, exhibiting strong hydrogen bond interactions. The activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway by the compound 740Y-P, and the activation of the EGFR pathway by NSC 228155 each partially counteracted the inhibitory effect of AS-IV on the EMT of HMrSV5 cells.
CONCLUSION
AS-IV delayed the EMT process in peritoneal mesothelial cells and slowed the progression of PF, potentially serving as a therapeutic agent for the early prevention and treatment of PF. Please cite this article as: Huang Y, Chu CL, Qiu WH, Chen JY, Cao LX, Ji SY, Zhu B, Wang GK, Shen QQ. Astragaloside IV delayed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in peritoneal fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of EGFR and PI3K-AKT pathways. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):694-705.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects*
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Animals
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Saponins/pharmacology*
;
Triterpenes/pharmacology*
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Mice
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Peritoneal Fibrosis/pathology*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
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ErbB Receptors/metabolism*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Male
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Humans
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Cell Line
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
6.Lung cancer death trends and differential decomposition of mortality in Gansu Province in 2014-2023
Jin-en XI ; Jing ZHANG ; Xiaolan REN ; Bin WANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(6):48-52
Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of lung cancer death in Gansu Province, and to provide a theoretical basis for formulating the prevention and control measures of lung cancer. Methods The lung cancer death data from national monitoring sites in Gansu Province from 2014 to 2023 were selected. Excel2013 and SPSS17.0 were used to calculate lung cancer mortality, standardized mortality, potential years of life lost (PYLL), potential years of life lost rate, standardized potential years of life lost rate, and average years of life lost (AYLL). The annual percent change (APC) of the crude lung cancer mortality rate and standardized mortality rate was calculated using Joinpiont 4.8.0.1 software. The mortality difference decomposition method was used to analyze demographic and non-demographic factors. Results From 2014 to 2023, the crude mortality rate of lung cancer among the residents of the monitoring sites in Gansu Province showed an increasing trend. The mortality rate of males was higher than that of females. The mortality rate in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas. The population structure was the main factor leading to the increase of lung cancer mortality rate in urban areas, while other non-demographic factors were the main factors leading to the increase of lung cancer mortality rate in rural areas. The crude lung cancer mortality rate was low at the age of < 30, and then the mortality rate increased with age. Lung cancer PYLL was higher in males than in females, and AYLL was higher in females than in males. Conclusion The mortality rate of lung cancer in the monitoring sites in Gansu Province is on the rise. The urban areas and male population are the key areas and groups for intervention. It is suggested to further strengthen the early screening and intervention of lung cancer to reduce the mortality rate of lung cancer.
7.Multi-gene molecular identification and pathogenicity analysis of pathogens causing root rot of Atractylodes lancea in Hubei province.
Tie-Lin WANG ; Yang XU ; Xiu-Fu WAN ; Zhao-Geng LYU ; Bin-Bin YAN ; Yong-Xi DU ; Chuan-Zhi KANG ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1721-1726
To clarify the species, pathogenicity, and distribution of the pathogens causing the root rot of Atractylodes lancea in Hubei province, the tissue separation method was used to isolate the pathogens from root rot samples in the main planting areas of A. lancea in Hubei. Based on the preliminary identification of the Fusarium genus by the internal transcribed spacer(ITS) sequence, three housekeeping genes, EF1/EF2, Btu-F-FO1/Btu-F-RO1, and FF1/FR1, were amplified and sequenced. Subsequently, a phylogenetic tree was constructed based on these TEF gene sequences to classify the pathogens. The pathogenicity of these strains was determined using the root irrigation method. A total of 194 pathogen strains were isolated using the tissue separation method. Molecular identification using the three housekeeping genes identified the pathogens as F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. commune, F. equiseti, F. tricinctum, F. redolens, F. fujikuroi, F. avenaceum, F. acuminatum, and F. incarnatum. Among them, F. solani and F. oxysporum were the dominant strains, widely distributed in multiple regions, with F. solani accounting for approximately 54% of the total isolated strains and F. oxysporum accounting for approximately 34%. Other strains accounted for a relatively small proportion, totaling approximately 12%. The results of pathogenicity determination showed that there were certain differences in pathogenicity among strains. The analysis of the pathogenicity differentiation of the widely distributed F. solani and F. oxysporum strains revealed that these dominant strains in Hubei were mainly highly pathogenic. This study determined the species, pathogenicity, and distribution of the pathogens causing the root rot of A. lancea in Hubei province. The results provide a scientific basis for further understanding the root rot of A. lancea and its epidemic occurrence and scientifically preventing and controlling this disease.
Plant Diseases/microbiology*
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Atractylodes/microbiology*
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Phylogeny
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Plant Roots/microbiology*
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Fusarium/classification*
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China
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Virulence
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Fungal Proteins/genetics*
8.Effects of Prognostic Nutritional Index and Systemic Inflammatory Response Index on Short-Term Efficacy and Prognosis in Patients with Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma.
Zi-Qing HUANG ; Yan-Hui LI ; Bin LYU ; Xue-Jiao GU ; Ming-Xi TIAN ; Xin-Yi LI ; Yan ZHANG ; Xiao-Qian LI ; Ying WANG ; Feng ZHU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1350-1357
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) for short-term efficacy and prognosis in newly treated patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).
METHODS:
The general data, laboratory indicators, disease stage and other clinical data of 91 newly treated PTCL patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2015 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the patients were stratified into groups based on these cutoffs to compare clinical features and short-term efficacy between the different groups. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors affecting overall survival (OS).
RESULTS:
The optimal cutoff values for PNI and SIRI were 45.30 and 1.74×109/L, respectively. Patients in different PNI groups showed statistically significant differences in age, Ann Arbor stage, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, international prognostic index (IPI), prognostic index for PTCL-not otherwise specified (PIT), pathological subtypes, and complete response (CR) rate (P < 0.05). PTCL patients in different SIRI groups exhibited significant differences in Ann Arbor stage, LDH level, IPI score, PIT score, and CR rate (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥60 years old (OR =2.750), Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ (OR =5.200), IPI score ≥2 (OR =7.650), low PNI (OR =3.296), and high SIRI (OR =3.130) were independent risk factors affecting treatment efficacy in PTCL patients (P < 0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that low PNI and elevated β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) levels were independent risk factors affecting OS (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
PNI and SIRI have certain application value in evaluating short-term efficacy and prognosis in patients with PTCL. Compared with SIRI, PNI demonstrates greater predictive value for patient prognosis.
Humans
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Prognosis
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Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral/therapy*
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Retrospective Studies
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Nutrition Assessment
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Male
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Female
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Middle Aged
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ROC Curve
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Inflammation
9.Effective Salvage Mobilization of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells with High-Dose Etoposide in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Who Failed Initial Mobilization with High-Dose Cyclophosphamide.
Yue-Qi WANG ; Shi-Hua ZHAO ; Yi MA ; Xi-Lin CHEN ; Shun-Zong YUAN ; Na-Na CHENG ; Guang-Ning SHI ; Wen-Rong HUANG ; Xiu-Bin XIAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1380-1385
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the safety and efficacy of high-dose etoposide (VP-16) combined with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) as salvage mobilization for peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients.
METHODS:
From April 2021 to May 2023, eight NDMM patients who had failed to yield sufficient PBSC during initial mobilization with high-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) combined with rhG-CSF underwent salvage mobilization with 1.2 g/m2 etoposide combined with rhG-CSF 10 μg/(kg·d). The effects and adverse reactions of initial mobilization and salvage mobilization were analyzed.
RESULTS:
For salvage mobilization and initial mobilization, the numbers of PBSC collections were 16 and 18, respectively. The mean value of total collected CD34+ cells were (11.90±5.75)×106/kg and (1.67±0.75)×106/kg (P =0.0010) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. The proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34+ cell count≥2×106/kg were 100% and 37.5% (P =0.0625), and the proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34+ cell count≥5×106/kg were 87.5% and 0% (P =0.0156) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. For five patients who underwent high-dose CTX initial mobilization but had a total CD34+ cell count < 2×106/kg, successful collection was achieved through salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16. Salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16 was scheduled 2-3 weeks after failure of CTX mobilization. Adverse reactions of high-dose VP-16 mobilization did not increase compared to the initial mobilization with high-dose CTX.
CONCLUSION
As a salvage mobilization regimen, VP-16 1.2 g/m2 combined with rhG-CSF is safe and highly effective in NDMM patients who failed to initial mobilization with high-dose CTX combined with rhG-CSF.
Humans
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Multiple Myeloma/therapy*
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Etoposide/therapeutic use*
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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization/methods*
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Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use*
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Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
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Salvage Therapy
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Peripheral Blood Stem Cells
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Female
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Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
10.Acupuncture as A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Tourette Syndrome: Modulation of Neurotransmitter Levels and Gut Microbiota.
Bing-Xin WU ; Jun-Ye MA ; Xi-Chang HUANG ; Xue-Song LIANG ; Bai-le NING ; Qian WU ; Shan-Ze WANG ; Jun-He ZHOU ; Wen-Bin FU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(8):735-742
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of acupuncture on the neurotransmitter levels and gut microbiota in a mouse model of Tourette syndrome (TS).
METHODS:
Thirty-six male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table method: 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) group, control group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, with 9 mice in each group. In the IDPN group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of IDPN (300 mg/kg body weight) for 7 consecutive days to induce stereotyped behaviors. Subsequently, in the acupuncture intervention group, standardized acupuncture treatment was administered for 14 consecutive days to IDPN-induced TS model mice. The selected acupoints included Baihui (DU 20), Yintang (DU 29), Waiguan (SJ 5), and Zulinqi (GB 41). In the tiapride group, mice were administered tiapride (50 mg/kg body weight) via oral gavage daily for 14 consecutive days. The control group, IDPN group, and acupuncture group received the same volume of saline orally for 14 consecutive days. Stereotypic behaviors were quantified through behavioral assessments. Neurotransmitter levels, including dopamine (DA), glutamate (Glu), and aspartate (ASP) in striatal tissue were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dopamine transporter (DAT) expression levels were additionally quantified through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Gut microbial composition was analyzed through 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, while metabolic profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
RESULTS:
Acupuncture administration significantly attenuated stereotypic behaviors, concurrently reducing striatal levels of DA, Glu and ASP concentrations while upregulating DAT expression compared with untreated TS controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Comparative analysis identified significant differences in Muribaculaceae (P=0.001), Oscillospiraceae (P=0.049), Desulfovibrionaceae (P=0.001), and Marinifilaceae (P=0.014) following acupuncture intervention. Metabolomic profiling revealed alterations in 7 metabolites and 18 metabolic pathways when compared to the TS mice, which involved various amino acid metabolisms associated with DA, Glu, and ASP.
CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture demonstrates significant modulatory effects on both central neurotransmitter systems and gut microbial ecology, thereby highlighting its dual therapeutic potential for TS management through gut-brain axis regulation.
Animals
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Tourette Syndrome/metabolism*
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome
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Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism*
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Acupuncture Therapy
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Male
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice


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