Effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on hematopoietic stem cells in treating aplastic anemia in mice via MAPK pathway

BACKGROUND Aplastic anemia(AA)presents a significant clinical challenge as a life-threatening condition due to failure to produce essential blood cells,with the current the-rapeutic options being notably limited.AIM To assess the therapeutic potential of ginsenoside Rg1 on AA,specifically its protective effects,while elucidating the mechanism at play.METHODS We employed a model of myelosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide(CTX)in C57 mice,followed by administration of ginsenoside Rg1 over 13 d.The invest-igation included examining the bone marrow,thymus and spleen for pathological changes via hematoxylin-eosin staining.Moreover,orbital blood of mice was collected for blood routine examinations.Flow cytometry was employed to identify the impact of ginsenoside Rg1 on cell apoptosis and cycle in the bone marrow of AA mice.Additionally,the study further evaluated cytokine levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed the expression of key proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway via western blot.RESULTS Administration of CTX led to significant damage to the bone marrow’s structural integrity and a reduction in hematopoietic cells,establishing a model of AA.Ginsenoside Rg1 successfully reversed hematopoietic dysfunction in AA mice.In comparison to the AA group,ginsenoside Rg1 provided relief by reducing the induction of cell apoptosis and inflammation factors caused by CTX.Furthermore,it helped alleviate the blockade in the cell cycle.Treatment with ginsenoside Rg1 significantly alleviated myelosuppression in mice by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway.CONCLUSION This study suggested that ginsenoside Rg1 addresses AA by alleviating myelosuppression,primarily through modulating the MAPK signaling pathway,which paves the way for a novel therapeutic strategy in treating AA,highlighting the potential of ginsenoside Rg1 as a beneficial intervention.

Bowel inflammatory presentations on computed tomography in adult patients with severe aplastic anemia during flared inflammatory episodes

BACKGROUND Patients with severe aplastic anemia(SAA)frequently present with inflammatory episodes,and during flared inflammatory episodes,hematopoietic function is further exacerbated.The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site for infectious and inflammatory diseases,and its structural and functional features confer on it the most potent capacity to affect hematopoietic and immune functions.Computed tomography(CT)is a readily accessible approach to provide highly useful information in detecting morphological changes and guiding further work-ups.AIM To explore CT imaging presentations of gut inflammatory damage in adult SAA patients during inflammatory episodes.METHODS We retrospectively evaluated the abdominal CT imaging presentations of 17hospitalized adult patients with SAA in search of the inflammatory niche when they presented with systemic inflammatory stress and exacerbated hematopoietic function.In this descriptive manuscript,the characteristic images that suggested the presence of gastrointestinal inflammatory damage and related imaging presentations of individual patients were enumerated,analyzed and described.RESULTS All eligible patients with SAA had CT imaging abnormalities that suggested the presence of an impaired intestinal barrier and increased epithelial permeability.The inflammatory damages were concurrently present in the small intestine,the ileocecal region and the large intestines.Some readily identified imaging signs,such as bowel wall thickening with mural stratification(“water holo sign”,“fat holo sign”,intramural gas and subserosal pneumatosis)and mesenteric fat proliferation(fat stranding and“creeping fat sign”),fibrotic bowel wall thickening,“balloon sign”,rugged colonic configuration,heterogeneity in the bowel wall texture,and adhered and clustered small bowel loop(including various patterns of“abdominal cocoon”),occurred at a high incidence,which suggested that the damaged gastrointestinal tract is a common inflammatory niche responsible for the systemic inflammatory stresses and the exacerbated hematopoietic failure in patients with SAA.Particularly,the“fat holo sign”was present in 7 patients,a rugged colonic configuration was present in 10 patients,the adhesive bowel loop was present in 15 patients,and extraintestinal manifestations suggestive of tuberculosis infections were present in 5 patients.According to the imaging features,a suggestive diagnosis of Crohn’s disease was made in 5patients,ulcerative colitis in 1 patient,chronic periappendiceal abscess in 1 patient,and tuberculosis infection in 5 patients.Other patients were diagnosed with chronic enteroclolitis with acutely aggravated inflammatory damage.CONCLUSION Patients with SAA had CT imaging patterns that suggested the presence of active chronic inflammatory conditions and aggravated inflammatory damage during flared inflammatory episodes.

Leukemic transformation during anti-tuberculosis treatment in aplastic anemia-paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria syndrome:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence demonstrates that autoimmune hematopoietic failure and myeloid neoplasms have an intrinsic relationship with regard to clonal hematopoiesis and disease evolution.In approximately 10%-15%of patients with severe aplastic anemia(SAA),the disease phenotype is transformed into myeloid neoplasms following antithymocyte globulin plus cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy.In some of these patients,myeloid neoplasms appear during or shortly after immunosuppressive therapy.Leukemic transformation in SAA patients during anti-tuberculosis treatment has not been reported.CASE SUMMARY A middle-aged Chinese female had a 6-year history of non-SAA and a 2-year history of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria(PNH).With aggravation of systemic inflammatory symptoms,severe pancytopenia developed,and her hemoglobinuria disappeared.Laboratory findings in cytological,immunological and cytogenetic analyses of bone marrow samples met the diagnostic criteria for“SAA.”Definitive diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis was made in the search for infectious niches.Remarkable improvement in hematological parameters was achieved within 1 mo of anti-tuberculosis treatment,and complete hematological remission was achieved within 4 mo of treatment.Frustratingly,the hematological response lasted for only 3 mo,and pancytopenia reemerged.At this time,cytological findings(increased bone marrow cellularity and an increased percentage of myeloblasts that accounted for 16.0%of all nucleated hematopoietic cells),immunological findings(increased percentage of cluster of differentiation 34+cells that accounted for 12.28%of all nucleated hematopoietic cells)and molecular biological findings(identification of somatic mutations in nucleophosmin-1 and casitas B-lineage lymphoma genes)revealed that“SAA”had transformed into acute myeloid leukemia with mutated nucleophosmin-1.The transformation process suggested that the leukemic clones were preexistent but were suppressed in the PNH and SAA stages,as development of symptomatic myeloid neoplasm through acquisition and accumulation of novel oncogenic mutations is unlikely in an interval of only 7 mo.Aggravation of inflammatory stressors due to disseminated tuberculosis likely contributed to the repression of normal and leukemic hematopoiesis,and the relief of inflammatory stressors due to anti-tuberculosis treatment contributed to penetration of neoplastic hematopoiesis.The concealed leukemic clones in the SAA and PNH stages raise the possibility of an inflammatory stress-fueled antileukemic mechanism.CONCLUSION Aggravated inflammatory stressors can repress normal and leukemic hematopoiesis,and relieved inflammatory stressors can facilitate penetration of neoplastic hematopoiesis.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation of aplastic anemia by relative with mutations and normal telomere length: A case report

BACKGROUND Immunosuppressive therapy and matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(MSD-HSCT)are the preferred treatments for aplastic anemia(AA).CASE SUMMARY In this report,we describe a 43-year-old male patient with severe AA who carried BRIP1(also known as FANCJ),TINF2,and TCIRG1 mutations.Screening of the family pedigree revealed the same TINF2 mutation in his mother and older brother,with his older brother also carrying the BRIP1 variant and demonstrating normal telomere length and hematopoietic function.The patient was successfully treated with oral cyclosporine A,eltrombopag,and acetylcysteine,achieving remission 4 years after receiving MSD-HSCT from his older brother.CONCLUSION This case provides a valuable clinical reference for individuals with suspected pathogenic gene mutations,normal telomere length,and hematopoietic function,highlighting them as potential donors for patients with AA.

Construction of gene/protein interaction networks and enrichment pathway analysis for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and aplastic anemia

Background:To develop a protein-protein interaction network of Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria(PNH)and Aplastic anemia(AA)based on genetic genes and to predict pathways underlying the molecular complexes in the network.Methods:In this research,the PNH and AA-related genes were screened through Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM).The plugins and Cytoscape were used to search literature and build a protein-protein interaction network.Results:The protein-protein interaction network contains two molecular complexes that are five higher than the correlation integral values.The target genes of this study were obtained:CD59,STAT3,TERC,TNF,AKT1,C5AR1,EPO,IL6,IL10 and so on.We also found that many factors regulate biological behaviors:neutrophils,macrophages,vascular endothelial growth factor,immunoglobulin,interleukin,cytokine receptor,interleukin-6 receptor,tumor necrosis factor,and so on.This research provides a bioinformatics foundation for further explaining the mechanism of common development of both.Conclusion:This indicates that the PNH and AA is a complex process regulated by many cellular pathways and multiple genes.

A New Immunosuppressive Therapy for Very Severe Aplastic Anemia in Children with Autoantibodies

Objective At present,a number of very severe aplastic anemia(VSAA)patients cannot receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)or standard immunosuppressive therapy(IST)due to the high cost of therapy,shortage of sibling donors,and lack of resources to support the HSCT.In addition,some VSAA patients with autoantibodies have no life-threatening infections or bleeding at the time of initial diagnosis.Considering the disease condition,economics and other factors,the present study designed a new and relatively mild treatment strategy:cyclosporine A plus pulsed high-dose prednisone(CsA+HDP).Methods The present study retrospectively analyzed 11 VSAA patients,who were treated with CsA+HDP in our hospital from August 2017 to August 2019.Results The median follow-up time for these patients was 24.9 months.The overall response rate was 54.5%(6/11)at six months after the initiation of IST and 81.8%(9/11)at deadline.Five patients achieved complete remission and four patients met the criteria for partial response at the last follow-up.The median time to response for responders was 110 days.Three patients underwent HSCT due to the poor effect of CsA+HDP or to find a suitable transplant donor.Recurrence and clonal evolution were not found in any of these patients.The estimated 3-year overall survival rate and 3-year failure-free survival rate were 100.0%and 72.7%,respectively.In addition,the results revealed that the cyclosporine-prednisone-associated toxicity was mild and well-tolerated by most patients.Conclusion The novel CsA+HDP regimen has good therapeutic effect and safety for VSAA patients with autoantibodies,who have no serious life-threatening infections or bleeding at the time of initial diagnosis.

Therapeutic Effect of Shenfu Injection (参附注射液) on Secondary Aplastic Anemia of Tumor Patients after Chemotherapy

Objective: To explore the effect of Shenfu Injection (参府注射液, SFI) on the secondary aplastic anemia (AA) of tumor patients after chemotherapy (CT). Methods: The 15 cases of SFI treated group, 10 cases of control group, 25 cases of SFI + granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) treated group and the group of 23 GM-CSF-treated tumor cases of secondary AA after CT were compared, with their increasing rate and the rebound speed of neutrophil, platelet, bone marrow nucleated RBC, granulocyte, and megakaryocyte all being investigated. Results: The increasing rate and rebound speed of granulocyte, platelet, and the increasing rate of bone marrow nucleated RBC, granulocyte, megakaryocyte were obviously higher than those of the control, and the clinical manifestations were also obviously improved. The increasing rate of platelet, bone marrow nucleated RBC, megakaryocyte of the SFI + GM-CSF group were higher than those of the group which used GM-CSF alone, while the increasing rate of granulocyte in blood and bone marrow in both groups was similar. Conclusion: Significant efficacy was shown in SFI for the treatment of secondary AA of tumor patients after CT.

Expression of Adherent Molecule and Cyclin by Ligustrazine in Bone Marrow of Mice with Immune-Induced Aplastic Anemia

Summary: Mice with immune induced aplastic anemia (AA) were given 5 mg ligustrazine intraperitoneally twice a day. On the 14th day, the expression of CD 49d , CD 49e , cyclinD 2 in bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) was examined by flow cytometry, and VCAM 1 on stromal cells was immunohistochemically measured by Strept Avidin Biotin Complex (SABC). The expression of CD 49d , CD 49e , VCAM 1 and cyclinD 2 in ligustrazine treated group was significantly higher than that in AA group ( P <0 01), but the ratio of G 0+G 1 phase cells was significantly lower than that in AA group ( P <0.01).The results showed that ligustrazine could improve the expression of adherent molecule and cyclin D 2 in the bone marrow of mice with immune induced aplastic anemia, thereby promoting the growth of hematopoietic cells.

Yin and Yang of mesenchymal stem cells and aplastic anemia

Acquired aplastic anemia(AA) is a bone marrow failure syndrome characterized by peripheral cytopenias and bone marrow hypoplasia. It is ultimately fatal without treatment, most commonly from infection or hemorrhage. Current treatments focus on suppressing immune-mediated destruction of bone marrow stem cells or replacing hematopoietic stem cells(HSCs) by transplantation. Our incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of AA has limited development of targeted treatment options. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) play a vital role in HSC proliferation; they also modulate immune responses and maintain an environment supportive of hematopoiesis. Some of the observed clinical manifestations of AA can be explained by mesenchymal dysfunction. MSC infusions have been shown to be safe and may offer new approaches for the treatment of this disorder. Indeed, infusions of MSCs may help suppress auto-reactive, T-cell mediated HSC destruction and help restore an environment that supports hematopoiesis. Small pilot studies using MSCs as monotherapy or as adjuncts to HSC transplantation have been attempted as treatments for AA. Here we review the current understanding of the pathogenesis of AA and the function of MSCs, and suggest that MSCs should be a target for further research and clinical trials in this disorder.

Clinical Observation on Treatment of Chronic Aplastic Anemia by Shengxuening (生血宁) and Cyclosporin A

Objective： To explore the therapy to further elevate the efficacy of the treatment of chronic aplastic anemia （CAA）. Methods： Forty-five patients with CCA were assigned into two groups, the 26 patients in the treated group were treated by Shengxuening （ 生血宁, a Chinese herbal preparation） and cyclosporin A （CsA）, and the 19 patients in the control group were treated with androgen alone, with the therapeutic course lasting for over 3 months. Changes of peripheral blood picture, and the colony productivity of burst forming unit-erythroid （BFU-E）, colony forming unit-erythroid （CFU-E） and colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage （CFU-GM） in bone marrow were observed before and after 3 months treatment. The amount of erythrocyte and platelet infusion, frequency of infection, condition of hemorrhage and relevant death were also observed. The follow-up study was conducted for over half a year. Results： The total effective rate in the treated group was 84.6 %, which was significantly higher than that in the control group （52.6 %, P〈0.05）. Levels of hemoglobin, reticulocyte, neutrophil and platelet increased after treatment in the treated group, as compared with those before treatment, with significant difference （ P〈0.05）, and the colony productivity of BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-GM in bone marrow also got significantly increased （ P〈0.01 ）, and showed significant difference from those in the control group （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： Shengxuening-assisting CsA therapy is an effective measure for treatment of CAA.

Proliferation and Apoptosis of Bone Marrow CD4^+ T Cells in Patients with Aplastic Anemia and Impacts of the Secreted Cytokines on Hematopoietic Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood

Recent studies indicate that immune-associated aplastic anemia(AA)resembles such autoimmune diseases as insulin-dependent diabetes and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis that belong to organ-specific autoimmune diseases.Many independent investigation groups have successfully isolated the pathopoiesis-associated T cell clone causing hematopoiesis failure with a CD4 phenotype from peripheral blood and bone marrow(BM)in AA patients.In the current study,BM CD4+ T cells were isolated from AA patients and healthy con...

Role of Stem Cell Factor and Its Receptor in the Pathogenesis of Pediatric Aplastic Anemia

In order to investigate the levels of stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor c-kit protein and mRNA in pediatric aplastic anemia (AA) and their relevance to the pathogenesis, immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization were utilized to detect the expression of SCF and its receptor c-kit gene protein and mRNA, respectively in 59 children with AA and 51 normal controls. The relationship between SCF and c-kit and the pathogenesis of AA was analyzed subsequently. The results showed that the positive rate of SCF protein and mRNA expression in children with AA was significantly lower than that in healthy controls (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the positive rate of c-kit protein and mRNA expression between children with AA and control group (P>0.05). It was concluded that the expression of SCF is significantly decreased in children with AA, which may be closely associated with the pathogenesis of the AA. c-kit may be unrelated to the development of pediatric AA. Therefore, AA in children may have abnormalities at SCF/c-kit signal transduction levels.

Aplastic anemia and severe pancytopenia during treatment with peg-interferon,ribavirin and telaprevir for chronic hepatitis C

Telaprevir and Boceprevir are the first direct acting antivirals approved for chronic hepatitis C in combination with peg-interferon alfa and ribavirin.Pancytopenia due to myelotoxicity caused by these drugs may occur,but severe hematological abnormalities or aplastic anemia(AA) have not been described.We collected all cases of severe pancytopenia observed during triple therapy with telaprevir in four Spanish centers since approval of the drug in 2011.Among 142 cirrhotic patients receiving treatment,7 cases of severe pancytopenia(5%) were identified and three were consistent with the diagnosis of AA.Mean age was 59 years,five patients had compensated cirrhosis and two patients had severe hepatitis C recurrence after liver transplantation.Severe pancytopenia was diagnosed a median of 10 wk after the initiation of therapy.Three patients had pre-treatment hematological abnormalities related to splenomegaly.In six patients,antiviral treatment was interrupted at the onset of hematological abnormalities.Two patients died due to septic complications and one patient due to acute alveolar hemorrhage.The remaining patients recovered.Severe pancytopenia and especially AA,are not rare during triple therapy with telaprevir in patients with advanced liver disease.Close monitoring is imperative in this setting to promptly detect serious hematological disorders and to prevent further complications.

Early Detection of Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Leukemia-associated Mutations Using NGS Is Critical in Treating Aplastic Anemia

Distinguishing between aplastic anemia(AA)and hypoblastic myelodysplastic syndrome(hMDS)with a low percentage of bone marrow(BM)blasts(<5%)can be difficult due to the overlap in clonality and a spectrum of genetic alternations between the two subtypes of diseases.However,due to recent advances in DNA sequencing technology,both spectnim and frequency of mutations can be accurately determined and monitored by next-generation sequencing(NGS)at initial diagnosis and during immunosuppressive therapy(1ST)in patients with AA or hMDS.This improvement in acquiring a patient's genetic status and clonal evolution can provide more proper,precise,and on-time information to guide disease management,which is especially helpful in the absence of traditional morphologic/cytogenetic evidence.

Eff ects of continuous renal replacement therapy on infl ammation-related anemia, iron metabolism and prognosis in sepsis patients with acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND:This study aims to evaluate the eff ect of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)on inflammation-related anemia,iron metabolism,and the prognosis in sepsis patients with acute kidney injury(AKI).METHODS:Sepsis patients with AKI were prospectively enrolled and randomized into the CRRT and control groups.The clinical and laboratory data on days 1,3 and 7 after intensive care unit(ICU)admission were collected.The serum interleukin(IL)-6,hepcidin,erythropoietin,ferritin,and soluble transferrin receptor(sTfR)were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA)score and 28-day mortality were recorded.Data were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test(categorical variables),and Mann-Whitney U-test or t-test(continuous variables).RESULTS:The hemoglobin and serum erythropoietin levels did not signifi cantly diff er between the CRRT and control groups though gradually decreased within the first week of ICU admission.On days 3 and 7,the serum IL-6,hepcidin,ferritin,and red blood cell distribution width significantly decreased in the CRRT group compared to the control group(all P<0.05).On day 7,the serum iron was significantly elevated in the CRRT group compared to the control group(P<0.05).However,the serum sTfR did not signifi cantly diff er between the groups over time.In addition,the SOFA scores were signifi cantly lower in the CRRT group compared to the control group on day 7.The 28-day mortality did not signifi cantly diff er between the control and CRRT groups(38.0%vs.28.2%,P=0.332).CONCLUSION:CRRT might have beneficial effects on the improvement in inflammationrelated iron metabolism and disease severity during the fi rst week of ICU admission but not anemia and 28-day mortality in sepsis patients with AKI.

Excellent response of severe aplastic anemia to treatment of gut inflammation: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Cumulative evidence suggests that the aberrant immune responses in acquired aplastic anemia(AA) are sustained by active chronic infections in genetically susceptible individuals. Recently, the constant source to trigger and sustain the pathophysiology has been proposed to come from the altered gut microbiota and chronic intestinal inflammation. In this case, our serendipitous finding provides convincing evidence that the persistently dysregulated autoimmunity may be generated, at least in a significant proposition of AA patients, by the altered gut microbiota and compromised intestinal epithelium.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old Chinese male patient with refractory severe AA experienced a 3-month-long febrile episode, and his fever was refractory to many kinds of injected broad-spectrum antibiotics. When presenting with abdominal cramps, he was prescribed oral mannitol and gentamycin to get rid of the gut infection. This treatment resulted in a quick resolution of the fever. Unanticipatedly, it also produced an excellent hematological response. He had undergone three episodes of recurrence within the one-year treatment, with each recurrence occurring 7-8 wk from the gastrointestinal inflammation eliminating preparations. However,subsequent treatments were able to produce subsequent remissions and consecutive treatments were successful in achieving durative hematological improvements, strongly indicating an etiological association between chronic gut inflammation and the development of AA. Interestingly, comorbid diseases superimposed on this patient(namely, psychiatric disorders, hypertension,insulin resistance, and renal dysfunction) were ameliorated together with the hematological improvements.CONCLUSION Chronic gut inflammation may be responsible for AA pathogenesis. The comorbidities and AA may share a common etiological association.

Trichosporon asahii ankle cavity effusion infection in a patient with severe aplastic anemia

Rationale:Trichosporon,an anamorphic fungus,proliferates under high humidity,causing serious opportunistic infections collectively called trichosporonosis.Among the Trichosporon species causing trichosporonosis are Trichosporon(T.)asahii,T.asteroides,T.cutaneum etc.Patient concerns:A 38-year-old Chinese male with severe aplastic anemia was admitted due to multiple joints pain,poor appetite,and right ankle swelling.One year earlier he had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Diagnosis:T.asahii infection and severe aplastic anemia.Interventions:Combined treatment of amphotericin B liposomes(55 mg/24 h)and voriconazole(200 mg/12 h)for 8 days.Outcomes:The symptoms of the patient’s ankle were relieved and effusion cultures showed no T.asahii.Lessons:To the best of our knowledge,T.asahii ankle cavity effusion infections are rare.Trichosporon infections may be attributed to risk factors such as improper long-term use of antimicrobials for an underlying disease(e.g.,anemia,hypoalbuminemia).Attention should be paid to prevent and control Trichosporon infections in order to avoid comorbidities.

Effects of Serum from Aplastic Anemia patients on the Expression of Cyclin D3 Isoform in Umbilical Cord Blood CD34^+ Cells

Summary: The pathogenesis of aplastic anemia (AA) was explored and the effects of AA serum on the expression of crucial cyclin D isoform (cyclin D3) in umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were observed. The CD34+ cells were isolated from the cord blood with MIDI-MACS Semi-solid methylcellulose culture technique was used to measure the formation of CFU-GM; The expression level of cyclin D3 was assayed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blot after the hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were incubated in AA serum. The results showed that the AA serum could inhibit the formation of CFU-GM and down regulate the expression level of the cyclin D3 at the mRNA and protein level respectively. In conclusion, the AA serum could inhibit the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells and down regulate level of cyclin D3, which might be one mechanism of hematopoiesis inhibition in AA.

CONTENTS OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN THE HAIR OF APLASTIC ANEMIA PATIENTS AND THEIR TREATMENT BASED ON AN OVERALL ANALYSIS OF SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

The content of 12 trace elements in the hair of 20 aplastic anemia patients was determined and compared with that of normal subjects as control. The results showed that patients with deficiency of yin had a significant decrease in lithium, calcium, strontium, and chromium, those with deficiency of yang had a distinct decrease in zinc magnesium barium, strontium, calcium, and lithium, and those with deficiency of both yin and yang had a general decrease in all the 12 trace elements. Changes in trace element content in hair may serve as a guide to opening up new vistas in the treatment of aplastic anemia on the basis of an overall analysis of symptoms and signs.

Successful transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt in an ineligible liver transplant patient with primary biliary cirrhosis with refractory ascites and aplastic anemia

A transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic shunt (TIPS) is a standard way to decompress the portal system in cirrhotic patients as a bridge to orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Traditionally, TIPS has been indicated for certain portal hypertensive sequelae such as refractory ascites, varices treatment and even hepato-hydrothorax. Herein is a case report on the efficacy of TIPS in an OLT ineligible patient with primary biliary cirrhosis and aplastic anemia who had developed refractive ascites requiring serial paracentesis and esophageal varices. He survived 2.5 years post-TIPS placement and died from complications related to severe leucopenia and the development of sepsis.