HIV-negative plasmablastic lymphoma: report of 8 cases and a comprehensive review of 394 published cases

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare entity of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The clinicopathological features of and optimal treatment for HIV-negative PBL remain largely unknown.METHODS: To gain insight into this distinct lymphoma, we summarized the clinicopathologic characteristics of 8 unpublished HIV-negative PBLs and performed a comprehensive review of 394 published cases.RESULTS: Of the 8 unpublished PBLs, the median patient age was 53.0 years. Four patients presented with stage IV disease. All 8 patients showed a plasma cell-like immunophenotype. Of the six patients who received anthracycline-based chemotherapy, including two who received bortezomib, three patients achieved a continuous complete response, two patients died due to disease progression, and one patient was lost to follow-up. The other two patients achieved continuous complete response after receiving chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and surgery. Of the 402 patients, the majority were male, with a mean age of 58.0 years. EBV infection was detected in 55.7% of the patients. The median survival times of the patients who received CHOP or CHOP-like regimens and intensive regimens were not reached and 23.0 months, respectively, and the intensive regimen did not improve the survival outcome (P=0.981). Multivariate analysis showed that EBER remained the only independent factor affecting overall survival (OS).CONCLUSION: HIV-negative PBL is a distinct entity with a predilection for elderly and immunosuppressed individuals. Intensive chemotherapy had no apparent survival benefits over the CHOP regimen in terms of OS; the prognosis of this disease is poor with current chemotherapy methods, and treatment remains a challenge.

Preliminary observation of acupoint-like and meridian-like structures on the body surface of the zebrafish / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe whether there are acupoint-like and meridian-like structures on the body surface of the zebrafish.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult zebrafish were put into a 10 micromol/L DiA water solution and then anaesthetized for observation under a fluorescent microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The labeled substance appeared in round bright spots and some of them gather together to form a cluster which distributed through the body surface orderly. The labeled clusters along the long axis of the body distributed in four lines, dorsal line, dorsal lateral line, lateral line and ventral line. The lateral line could be divided into two lines, lateral superior line and lateral inferior line; and the ventral line into ventral lateral line and ventral line based on their nerve connection under high power microscope.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sensory organs of the zebrafish distributed orderly and formed clusters appearing orderly in lines throughout the body surface, which are much like acupoints and meridians described in traditional Chinese medicine.</p>