ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of modified Huangqi Jianzhong decoction （HQJZ） on gastric precancerous conditions （GPC）. MethodsIn the cell experiment， human gastric mucosal epithelial cells underwent malignant transformation induced by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine （MNNG） for the modeling of GPC （MC cells）. The cells were allocated into four groups： control ， model， low-dose HQJZ （HQJZ-L）， and high-dose HQJZ （HQJZ-H）. The control and model groups were cultured with the complete medium， while HQJZ-L and HQJZ-H groups received additional interventions with HQJZ at low （0.5 g·L^-1） and high （1.0 g·L^-1） doses， respectively. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to evaluate cytotoxicity， Transwell assay to assess cell invasion， Annexin V-FITC/PI staining to detect apoptosis， immunofluorescence assay to analyze reactive oxygen species （ROS） expression and mitochondrial autophagy， and Western blot to verify expression of proteins in key pathways. In the animal experiment， the GPC model was established in healthy BALB/c mice through MNNG induction. Twenty-four mice were allocated into four groups： control， model， HQJZ-L， and HQJZ-H. Control and model groups received normal saline （10 mL·kg^-1·d^-1） orally， while HQJZ-L and HQJZ-H groups were administrated with low-dose （6.24 g·kg^-1·d^-1） and high-dose （12.48 g·kg^-1·d^-1） HQJZ， respectively. After treatment， hematoxylin‑eosin （HE） staining and AB-PAS staining were performed to observe histopathological changes in the gastric tissue. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect reactive oxygen species （ROS） and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3） levels in the gastric mucosa， TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） staining to assess apoptosis rates， and Western blotting and immunohistochemistry （IHC） to analyze the expression levels of Ki67， proliferating cell nuclear antigen （PCNA）， and foxhead box O3 （FoxO3）. ResultsCell viability assays showed that HQJZ dose-dependently reduced MC cell viability compared with the control group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Transwell assays revealed that the model group exhibited enhanced cell invasion compared with the control group （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， HQJZ treatment attenuated the cell invasion （P<0.05）. Gastric mucosal pathology in mice demonstrated that compared with the control group， the model group showed elevated HE and AB-PAS pathological scores （P<0.05）， while HQJZ treatment reduced these scores （P<0.05）. Transmission electron microscopy revealed increased mitochondrial number and volume in the model group compared with the control group. HQJZ treatment resulted in abnormal mitochondrial structure and significant alterations in rough endoplasmic reticulum morphology and distribution， presenting as dilated and hollow forms. Mitochondrial and apoptosis assessments indicated that compared with the control group， the model group exhibited enhanced Mito Tracker Green fluorescence （P<0.05）， no significant change in DCFH-DA fluorescence， Mito Tracker Red CMXRos fluorescence， ROS immunofluorescence， or malondialdehyde （MDA） level， increased GSH level （P<0.05）， enhanced LC3 fluorescence （P<0.05）， no significant change in apoptosis rate， and elevated ATP content in cells and mouse serum （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， HQJZ treatment reduced Mito Tracker Green fluorescence （P<0.05）， increased DCFH-DA fluorescence， Mito Tracker Red fluorescence， MDA level， LC3 fluorescence， and apoptosis rate （P<0.05）， and decreased cellular ATP content （P<0.05）. The HQJZ-L group showed no significant change in ROS immunofluorescence or GSH level， whereas the HQJZ-H group demonstrated enhanced ROS immunofluorescence and glutathione （GSH） level （P<0.05）. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting revealed that compared with the control group， the model group exhibited increased numbers of PCNA- and Ki67-positive cells （P<0.05） and elevated protein levels of FoxO3， sirtuin 1 （SIRT1）， and B-cell lymphoma 6 （Bcl-6） （P<0.05）. HQJZ treatment reduced the numbers of PCNA- and Ki67-positive cells （P<0.05） and lowered the protein levels of FoxO3， SIRT1， and Bcl-6 （P<0.05）. ConclusionHQJZ alleviates the progression of gastric precancerous lesions by regulating mitochondrial function via the FoxO3/ROS pathway and promoting apoptosis of GPC-malignant cells.

ObjectiveThe theory of homotherapy for heteropathy is one of the classical rules in traditional Chinese medicine. Taking this theory as a breakthrough point， this study employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） to elucidate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of Zhuyuwan on both intrahepatic cholestasis （IC） and ulcerative colitis （UC） from the viewpoint of serum metabolic homeostasis. MethodsThe rat models of α-naphthylisothiocyanate （ANIT）-induced cholestasis and 2，4，6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid （TNBS）-induced UC were treated with low （0.6 g·kg^-1） and high （1.2 g·kg^-1） doses of Zhuyuwan by gavage. In the experiment regarding IC， 24 Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly assigned into four groups： normal， ANIT model， low-dose Zhuyuwan， and high-dose Zhuyuwan. In the experiment regarding UC， 24 SD rats were randomly allocated into four groups： normal， TNBS model， low-dose Zhuyuwan， and high-dose Zhuyuwan. Firstly， the two disease models and the intervention effects of Zhuyuwan on the two diseases were evaluated based on serum levels of biochemical indicators ［alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase （AST）， γ-glutamyltranspeptidase （γ-GT）， and total bile acid （TBA）］， colon damage score， colon weight index， disease activity index， and histopathological changes in rats. Secondly， the rat serum samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） to screen the common core pathways of the two disease models， and the expression of core genes in the pathways was determined by Real-time PCR， on the basis of which the biological mechanism of the treatment of the two disease models by Zhuyuwan was ultimately elucidated. ResultsThe results of the experiment regarding IC showed that the ANIT model group had higher ALT， AST， γ-GT， and TBA levels than the normal group （P<0.01）. Compared with the ANIT model group， the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showed declined ALT and TBA levels （P<0.01） and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed lowered ALT， TBA， AST， and γ-GT levels （P<0.01）. The results of the experiment regarding UC showed that compared with the normal group， the TNBS model group presented increases in the colonic damage score， colon weight index， and disease activity index （P<0.01）. Compared with the TNBS model group， the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showcased declines in colon weight index （P<0.01） and disease activity index （P<0.05）， and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed reductions in the colon damage score， colon weight index， and disease activity index （P<0.01）. GC-MS metabolomics analysis combined with qRT-PCR demonstrated that Zhuyuwan had a similar inverse regulatory effect on arginine metabolism disruption in the above two disease models. ConclusionZhuyuwan exhibited definite therapeutic effects on both IC and UC， and the regulation of arginine biosynthesis pathway is the core mechanism for the treatment of both diseases by Zhuyuwan.

ObjectiveThe theory of homotherapy for heteropathy is one of the classical rules in traditional Chinese medicine. Taking this theory as a breakthrough point， this study employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） to elucidate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of Zhuyuwan on both intrahepatic cholestasis （IC） and ulcerative colitis （UC） from the viewpoint of serum metabolic homeostasis. MethodsThe rat models of α-naphthylisothiocyanate （ANIT）-induced cholestasis and 2，4，6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid （TNBS）-induced UC were treated with low （0.6 g·kg^-1） and high （1.2 g·kg^-1） doses of Zhuyuwan by gavage. In the experiment regarding IC， 24 Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly assigned into four groups： normal， ANIT model， low-dose Zhuyuwan， and high-dose Zhuyuwan. In the experiment regarding UC， 24 SD rats were randomly allocated into four groups： normal， TNBS model， low-dose Zhuyuwan， and high-dose Zhuyuwan. Firstly， the two disease models and the intervention effects of Zhuyuwan on the two diseases were evaluated based on serum levels of biochemical indicators ［alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate transaminase （AST）， γ-glutamyltranspeptidase （γ-GT）， and total bile acid （TBA）］， colon damage score， colon weight index， disease activity index， and histopathological changes in rats. Secondly， the rat serum samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） to screen the common core pathways of the two disease models， and the expression of core genes in the pathways was determined by Real-time PCR， on the basis of which the biological mechanism of the treatment of the two disease models by Zhuyuwan was ultimately elucidated. ResultsThe results of the experiment regarding IC showed that the ANIT model group had higher ALT， AST， γ-GT， and TBA levels than the normal group （P<0.01）. Compared with the ANIT model group， the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showed declined ALT and TBA levels （P<0.01） and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed lowered ALT， TBA， AST， and γ-GT levels （P<0.01）. The results of the experiment regarding UC showed that compared with the normal group， the TNBS model group presented increases in the colonic damage score， colon weight index， and disease activity index （P<0.01）. Compared with the TNBS model group， the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showcased declines in colon weight index （P<0.01） and disease activity index （P<0.05）， and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed reductions in the colon damage score， colon weight index， and disease activity index （P<0.01）. GC-MS metabolomics analysis combined with qRT-PCR demonstrated that Zhuyuwan had a similar inverse regulatory effect on arginine metabolism disruption in the above two disease models. ConclusionZhuyuwan exhibited definite therapeutic effects on both IC and UC， and the regulation of arginine biosynthesis pathway is the core mechanism for the treatment of both diseases by Zhuyuwan.

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:Most of the formulas for the clinical treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency have evolved from the basic formula of Liuwei Dihuang Pills,and have achieved good therapeutic efficacy.Currently,most of the experimental studies on Liuwei Dihuang Pills focus on morphological observations and physiological and biochemical detection of in vivo animal models,while fewer studies on molecular mechanisms have been reported. OBJECTIVE:To explore the molecular mechanism of Liuwei Dihuang Pills in the treatment of premature ovarian insufficiency based on the receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha/mitochondrial transcription factor A/reactive oxygen species pathway. METHODS:Premature ovarian insufficiency model was established in mice by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg combined with busulfan 12 mg/kg,and then Liuwei Dihuang Pill suspension was used to intervene in premature ovarian insufficiency mice.After 12 weeks of intervention,the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,estradiol,anti-Mullerian hormone,8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine,total antioxidant capacity and reactive oxygen species in serum of mice were detected by ELISA method.The morphological changes in mouse ovaries were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The ultrastructure of mouse follicular granulosa cells and the apoptosis of granulosa cell mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy.The expression levels of receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha and mitochondrial transcription factor A in mouse ovarian granulosa cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group,serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone,luteinizing hormone,reactive oxygen species,and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were decreased in the experimental group(P＜0.05),and the levels of estradiol,anti-Mullerian hormone,and total antioxidant capacity were increased(P＜0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that in the model group,there were more atretic follicles and corpus luteum forms,some secondary follicles,and interstitial fibrosis and hyperplasia;in the experimental group,a large number of atretic follicles,few corpus luteum forms,primordial follicles were observed at the edges but there were few secondary follicles and no mature follicles.Transmission electron microscopy showed that the organelles in ovarian granulosa cells of mice in the experimental groups were relatively intact.Immunohistochemical results showed that compared with the model group,the expression level of receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha in the ovarian tissue of mice increased slightly in the experimental group at the 4th week,and there was no significant change at the 8th and 12th weeks.The expression level of mitochondrial transcription factor A in the ovarian tissues of mice in the experimental group was transiently increased at the 4th week,and then slightly decreased,which were all significantly different from those of the model group.To conclude,Liuwei Dihuang Pills inhibit ovarian granulosa cell apoptosis in mice with premature ovarian insufficiency to a certain extent through the receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha/mitochondrial transcription factor A/reactive oxygen species signaling pathway,thereby improving the endocrine function of the ovary,enhancing the antioxidant capacity,and attenuating the degree of oxidative stress damage.

Objective To compare the effects of ginsenosides Rg1 and Rb1 on depression-and anxiety-like behaviors in chronic unpredictable stress-induced rats.Methods Seventy male SPF grade SD rats were tested for sugar and water preference after 5 days of adaptation and divided into seven groups according to their preference index:a control group,model group,fluoxetine hydrochloride group,ginsenoside Rg1 24 mg/kg group,ginsenoside Rg1 48 mg/kg group,ginsenoside Rb1 33 mg/kg group,and ginsenoside Rb1 67 mg/kg group.All rats,except for the control group,were subjected randomly to one or two different stimulating factors every day for a total of 35 days.On the 36th day,behavioral experiments including sugar and water preference,open field,novel environment feeding inhibition,elevated cross maze,and forced swimming experiments were conducted to investigate the anti-depression and anti-anxiety effects of the treatments.Serum and hippocampal levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α and serum corticosterone were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with the model group,ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 significantly increased sucrose consumption in the sucrose preference test and decreased immobility in the forced swimming test.Ginsenoside Rg1(48 mg/kg)significantly reduced the latency to eat in the novelty-suppressed feeding test,and ginsenoside Rg1(24 and 48 mg/kg)significantly increased the percentage of open arm entries and time in the elevated cross maze test.Serum corticosterone levels were significantly decreased in the ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 groups,serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels were significantly decreased in the ginsenoside Rg1(48 mg/kg)group,serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly decreased in the ginsenoside Rb1(33 mg/kg)group,and IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α levels in the hippocampus were significantly decreased in the ginsenoside Rg1(48 mg/kg)and Rb1(67 mg/kg)groups.Conclusions Both ginsenosides can regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inhibit neuroinflammation,improving depression-and anxiety-like behaviors in rats induced by chronic unpredictable stress.Ginsenoside Rg1 has a significantly better anti-anxiety effect than Rb1.

Human parvovirus B19 (HPVB19) belongs to Parvoviridae, a genus of erythrovirus, and has been associated with various human diseases, and HPVB19 infection is one of the most important causes of refractory anemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). This study retrospectively analyzed 24 patients with HSCT combined with HPVB19 infection to collate and summarize the clinical presentation, treatment, and regression of patients with combined HPVB19 infection after allo-HSCT and provide experience in the management of HPVB19 infection after allo-HSCT. The median age of the patients with HPVB19 infection was 25 years, and the median time of infection occurrence was +107 days after transplantation, and 22 (91.7% ) had anemia with a median hemoglobin (HGB) level of 77.5 (46-149) g/L, and 13 (54.2% ) had new-onset anemia or persistent decline in HGB. The median length of hospital stay was 19 days. Among patients with new-onset anemia or persistent decline in HGB, the mean increase in HGB after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and/or antiviral therapy was 15.69 g/L, and treatment was effective in 10 (76.92% ) patients. HPVB19 infection should be alerted to the development of refractory anemia after HSCT; despite the lack of specific treatment, the overall prognosis of HPVB19-infected patients is good.