Transient spontaneous remission of childhood acute leukemia: report of 3 cases and review of literature / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and possible causes of transient spontaneous remission of childhood acute leukemia.Methods:The data of 3 children with acute leukemia who had transient spontaneous remission before standardized chemotherapy in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in July 2018, May 2019 and October 2020 were collected. Moreover, the related influencing factors of spontaneous remission in leukemia were discussed by review of the literature.Results:All 3 children had fever at the onset of the disease, and they achieved transient spontaneous remission after anti-infection therapy. Case 1 obtained partial remission after the initial diagnosis of acute B lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL), leukemia gene test showed E2A-PBX1 fusion, and relapsed after 12 days. Case 2 obtained spontaneous remission after the initial diagnosis of B-ALL, leukemia gene test showed p16 gene deletion and NRAS and EP300 genes mutation, and relapsed after 20 days. Case 3 obtained spontaneous remission after the initial diagnosis of acute monocytic leukemia, leukemia gene test showed MLL-ENL fusion and NRAS gene mutation, and relapsed after 30 days. A review of the literature showed that the main influencing factors of spontaneous remission in leukemia were Down syndrome, infection and blood transfusion. Other influencing factors included leukemia-related genes, termination of pregnancy and application of drugs.Conclusions:Transient spontaneous remission of childhood acute leukemia is rare in clinical practice, and the possible mechanism is related to infection-induced immune abnormalities. It is recommended that leukemia patients with spontaneous remission should be closely monitored for minimal residual disease.

Clinical analysis of three cases with beta-thalassemia / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To study the diagnostic strategy of β-thalassemia through retrospective analysis of 3 cases of β-thalassemia.@*Methods@#Three patients were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2014 to June 2015. The clinical manifestations, hemoglobin electrophoresis and gene detection of these patients and their parents were analyzed, diagnostic ideas and key points were discussed when beta thalassemia gene detection did not explain clinical manifestations or hemoglobin electrophoresis.@*Results@#Case 1, boy, 5 years old, was diagnosed as compound heterozygotes of β41-42 and IVS-Ⅱ-654 with hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin(HPFH) according to the clinical manifestations of mild anemia, normal size of liver and spleen, 92.8% fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and gene analysis. Case 2, girl, 3 years old, was confirmed the diagnosis of thalassemia intermedia with β41-42 heterozygote compound and αααanti3.7 heterozygote in accordance with the manifestations of severe anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, 8.6% HbF, 4.1% hemoglobin A2(HbA2) and gene analysis. Case 3, girl, 3 years old, with severe anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, 51.2% HbF and 3.7% HbA2, was diagnosed as thalassemia major with compound heterozygotes of PolyA (T→C) and β17 by DNA sequencing.@*Conclusion@#The diagnosis of β-thalassemia should be confirmed by clinical manifestations of hemolytic anemia, hemoglobin electrophoresis, gene diagnosis and family survey.

A clinical analysis of micafungin treatment of pulmonary invasive fungal infection in pediatric patients with acute leukemia or post hematopoietic stem cells transplantation / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the efficacy and safety of micafungin (MCF) for pulmonary invasive fungal disease (PIFD) in pediatric patients with acute leukemia or post hematopoietic stem cells transplantation.@*Method@#Twenty-five neutropenic PIFD children with acute leukemia or post hematopoietic stem cells transplantation in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were selected from January 2012 to June 2015, including 12 males and 13 females, age range 2-15 (average 6.2±2.0) years. There were 12 cases of acute leukemia (AL) after chemotherapy, 4 cases of acute leukemia (AL) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and 9 cases of β-thalassemia major after allo-HSCT. All children received MCM for the treatment of PIFD, the dosage of MCM was 3-4 mg/ (kg·d) , once a day. The children received 2 to 6 courses of treatment, individually with a course of 7 days. 1, 3-β-D glucan assay (G test), galactomannan antigen test (GM test), high-resolution CT and the biochemical indexes for organ functions were closely monitored.@*Result@#Twenty-five cases were diagnosed as PIFD, including 2 patients diagnosed as proven, 6 as probable and 17 as possible. Of the 25 cases, 1 was confirmed aspergillus by biopsy pathology and 1 was candida albicans by blood culture. The G and GM test with positive results was 5 and 2 respectively. Chest CT scans of the 25 cases had obvious lesions: air crescent sign and cavitation in 4 cases, diffuse ground glass change in 9 cases, double lung scattered patchy, small nodules and cord like high density shadow in 7 cases, unilateral or bilateral chest wall wedge-shaped consolidation edge in 5 cases and pleural effusion in 5 patients. The effective rate of MCF in treatment of PIFD was 68% (17/25), including 13 cases cured, 4 cases improved, 4 cases were improved clinically and in 4 cases the treatment was ineffective. Eight cases were effective in MCF monotherapy group (12 cases) and nine were effective in MCF combined therapy group(13 cases), respectively. Side-effects including allergies, gastrointestinal side effects, electrolyte disturbances, impairment of liver and kidney function, and myelosuppression were not found in those children treated with MCF.@*Conclusion@#Micafungin is effective and safe in the treatment of pulmonary invasive fungal disease in pediatric patients with acute leukemia or post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Analysis of the influence of iron overload in glucose metabolism in thalassemia major patients / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#This study aimed at determining the characteristics of the glucose homeostasis and its relationship with iron overload of the patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).@*Method@#From Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital between January 2014 and December 2015, a total of 57 transfusion-dependent β-TM patients with 5-18 years old were enrolled in this study and fasting blood glucose(FBG) and insulin level, serum ferritin (SF), serum iron, transferrin, total iron binding capacity, unsaturated iron binding capacity were determined.Insulin resistance index (IRI), insulin sensitivity index and β-cell function index (BFI) were also estimated. Besides, in 36 patients cardiac T2* and liver T2* were estimated.@*Result@#(1) Four patients(7%) with β-TM were diagnosed diabetes mellitus, and 14(24%) had impaired fasting glucose. (2) The incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism was significantly different according to levels of SF and degrees of the cardiac iron overload(χ2=9.737, P<0.05; χ2=17.027, P<0.05). It rose while the level of SF increased and the degree of cardiac iron overload aggravated. (3) The incidence of abnormal glucose level was not significantly different in cases with different degree of liver iron overload.The severe group of liver iron overload had significantly higher levels of INS, HOMA-βFI, HOMA-ISI, HOMA-βFI than the non-severe group (Z=-2.434, -2.515, F=8.658, all P<0.05), while no differences were found in the level of FBG, HOMA-βFI between two groups. (4) The result of logistic regression analysis indicated that the cardiac T2* was a significant predictor for the incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism in TM patients (P=0.035, OR=1.182%, 95%CI=1.048 to 1.332).@*Conclusion@#The high prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in β-TM patients was mainly closely related with the internal iron overload, especially in organs.The cardiac T2* was an independent risk factor for the incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism in TM patients.

A novel double heterozygote of HBB c.219T>A;220G>T: gene diagnosis and pedigree analysis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify a novel hemoglobinopathy applied by direct sequencing and clone sequencing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EDTA anticoagulated blood of proband and his parents were analyzed by hematology analyzers and Capillarys hemoglobin electrophoresis (CE). Then thalassemia genetypes were screened by gap-PCR and reverse dot blot (RDB). Proband was suspected with abnormal hemoglobin combine alpha beta compound thalassemia. The mutation of beta-globin was identified by direct sequencing and clone sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hb analysis showed that probands Hb A2 variant was eluted in Z (C) zone and his father's in Z (A2) zone on CE,and proband's mother elevated HbA2 of 4.6%. Screened by RDB, the proband was CD71-72(+A) homozygote and showed the mismatch with his parents. Through direct sequencing and clone sequencing, we deduced that our proband inherited the mutations of HBB c.[219T>A;220G>T] from his father and inherited the Southeast-Asian deletion and HBB c.216-217insA from his mother.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A novel double heterozygote of HBB c.[219T>A; 220G>T] was identified in south China. This mutation enriches the beta-thalassemia gene mutation spectrum in Chinese population.</p>

Correction of β-thalassemia mutant by base editor in human embryos

β-Thalassemia is a global health issue, caused by mutations in the HBB gene. Among these mutations, HBB -28 (A>G) mutations is one of the three most common mutations in China and Southeast Asia patients with β-thalassemia. Correcting this mutation in human embryos may prevent the disease being passed onto future generations and cure anemia. Here we report the first study using base editor (BE) system to correct disease mutant in human embryos. Firstly, we produced a 293T cell line with an exogenous HBB -28 (A>G) mutant fragment for gRNAs and targeting efficiency evaluation. Then we collected primary skin fibroblast cells from a β-thalassemia patient with HBB -28 (A>G) homozygous mutation. Data showed that base editor could precisely correct HBB -28 (A>G) mutation in the patient's primary cells. To model homozygous mutation disease embryos, we constructed nuclear transfer embryos by fusing the lymphocyte or skin fibroblast cells with enucleated in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes. Notably, the gene correction efficiency was over 23.0% in these embryos by base editor. Although these embryos were still mosaic, the percentage of repaired blastomeres was over 20.0%. In addition, we found that base editor variants, with narrowed deamination window, could promote G-to-A conversion at HBB -28 site precisely in human embryos. Collectively, this study demonstrated the feasibility of curing genetic disease in human somatic cells and embryos by base editor system.

Combination antifungal therapy for invasive fungal disease in children with hematologic disease / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate antifungal combination strategy in children with hematologic diseases and invasive fungal disease( IFD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective clinical study was performed based on 67 childhood patients with hematologic diseases and IFD who firstly accepted combination antifungal therapy for ≥ 7 days during January 2012 and December 2014. Of them, 11 cases received combination of echinocandin with azole, 10 cases received combination of echinocandin with amphotericin B, and 46 cases received combination of azole with amphotericin B.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overall response rate was 79.1%. Univariate analysis revealed that granulocyte recovery (P=0.031), status of underling disease (P=0.023) and the duration of the therapy (P=0.046) were significantly associated with efficacy. Multivariate analysis showed that the independent prognostic factor was the duration of combination antifungal therapy (OR=0.229, 95% CI 0.061- 0.863, P=0.029). The response rates of echinocandin combined with azole, echinocandin combined with amphotericin B and azole combined with amphotericin B were 81.8%, 60.0% and 82.6%, respectively (P>0.05), and 12-week survival rates were 81.8%, 80.0% and 86.5%, respectively (P>0.05). The drug- related adverse reactions occurred 59 times in 34 patients. BUN increasing, hypokalemia and abnormal liver functions were considered the main side effects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>For IFD in children with hematologic disease, to extend the duration of treatment (≥ 14 days) could significantly improve the curative effect. Combinations of echinocandin with azole, echinocandin with amphotericin B and azole with amphotericin B can be used as a combination treatment options. Combination of Azole with amphotericin B is efficacious, safe and economic treatment option considering efficacy, survival rate, cost and dosage form.</p>

Drug susceptibility and UL97 gene mutation analysis of cytomegalovirus in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To monitor human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) drug resistance in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by phenotypic and genotypic methods.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HCMV clinical isolates was isolated from the urine of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients treated with GCV. Tissue cell infection median dose (TCID50) of the isolates was calculated using Reed-Muench method, and their drug susceptibility was determined by plaque reduction assay. We amplified the UL97 DNA fragment of the virus by nested PCR followed by automated DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HCMV clinical strain isolated from the urine samples of the recipients using a human fibroblast cell line showed a TCID50 value of 10(-4.618)/0.1 ml and a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) to GCV of 5.847 µmol/L, suggesting its sensitivity to GCV. Alignment with the AD169 DNA reference sequence identified 4 point mutations of the virus at 1509 (T-C), 1575 (C-T), 1794 (T-C), and 1815 (C-G), and only the last mutation resulted in one amino acid mutation to D605E. No gene mutation was found in relation to GCV resistance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Phenotypic and genotypic assays were established to examine antiviral drug resistance of HCMV in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We did not find any drug resistance of the clinical HCMV isolate.</p>

Effect of fungus on expression of interferon-γ and interleukin-4 in natural killer cells / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans on the expression of endocellular interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in cytokineinduced natural killer (NK) cells.Methods NK cells were cultured with Aspergillusfumigatus or Candida albicans by non-contact or direct-contact methods with a ratio of NK cells to fungus of 10 ∶ 1.The expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 in NK cells were evaluated by flow cytometry after co-cultured for 6 h.Analysis of variance or SNK-q test was used to compare the expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 among different groups.Results The IFN-γexpression rates in NK cells with direct contacting to Aspergillus fumigatus hyphae,or to different morphotypes of Candida albicans were (20.12 ± 0.53) ％,(20.69 ± 0.34) ％ and (20.8 ±0.37)％ respectively,while IFN-γexpression in NK cells with indirect contacting to fumigatus hyphae,or to different morphotypes of Candida albicans were (21.40 ± 0.53) ％,(20.57 ± 1.09) ％ and (20.20 ±0.51) ％ respectively,and all were significantly higher than that in the blank group [(15.11 ± 2.60) ％,all P ＞ 0.05].The IFN-γ expression rates in the Aspergillus fumigatus spores direct and indirect contacting groups were (14.33 ± 0.98) ％ and (14.97 ± 1.53) ％,which were not of significant difference compared with the blank group (P ＞ 0.05).The IL-4 expression rates in NK cells with direct contacting to different morphotypes of Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans were (1.25 ± 0.06) ％,(1.21 ± 0.03) ％,(1.22 ± 0.46) ％ and (1.26 ± 0.11) ％,while those in indirect contacting groups were (1.21 ± 0.06) ％,(1.25 ±0.04)％,(1.27 ±0.03)％ and (1.26 ±0.1)％,which were not of significant difference compared with the blank group [(1.23 ± 0.05) ％,all P ＞ 0.05].Conclusion Fungus stimuli can reduce the secretion of IFN-γ in NK cells,but have not significant influence on the secretion of IL-4.

Liver and heart iron deposition status in patients with β thalassemia major: a multicenter study / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the status of iron deposition in patient with β thalassemia major, and to formulate appropriate treatment strategies.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The data of status of transfusion and chelation in 135 patients aged from 6 years and 4 months to 17 years and 11 months with β thalassemia major were collected and analyzed. Serum ferritin levels were determined and cardiac and hepatic iron deposition was determined using MRI T2(*) technology.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Of the 135 cases studied, 66 were male, and 69 were female, their average age was 12.1 years. Serum ferritin (SF) was determined for 111 cases, it varied from 1 086.8 µg/L to 15 011.5 µg/L. Among them, 16 cases had SF level <2 000 µg/L (14.5%) , in 41 cases SF were between 2 000 and 4 000 µg/L (36.0%) ;in 54 cases SF >4 000 µg/L (48.7%) . Liver MRI T2(*) results showed that in only 8 cases (5.9%) iron content in the liver was in normal range, 19 cases (14.9%) showed mild liver iron deposition;34 (25.2%) moderate and 74 (54.8%, the youngest one was only 6 years and 4 months of age) had severe iron deposition respectively. Cardiac MRI T2(*) showed that in 89 cases (65.9%) iron content in the heart was in normal range;19 cases (14.1%) had mild cardiac iron deposition and 27 (20.0%) presented severe iron deposition (the youngest one was only 9 years and 3 months of age) . SF level was obviously related to liver and cardiac iron deposition (MRI T2(*)) r and P value were -0.284, 0.003 and -0.374, 0.000 respectively. In 108 cases regular transfusion and chelation were delayed due to financial problem. The late and insufficient dosage administered and irregular chelation caused the higher SF level and the severe iron deposition.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The survival status of β thalassemia major in China is worrisome. Majority of them had not received regular transfusion and chelation. Liver and cardiac iron deposition occur early and had a high incidence.</p>

Antiviral activity research of artesunate against human cytomegalovirus by fractionation dosage method in vitro / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To research the antiviral activity of artesunate (ART) in vitro fighting against both standard laboratory strains and ganciclovir(GCV)-resistance strains of human cytomegalovims(HCMV) and to explore whether fractionation dosage method can obviously enhance the antiviral effect of ART.Methods 1.Cytotoxicity assay to ART was performed by the use of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetry.The 0％ toxic concentration (TC0) were determined,and median cytotoxic concentration (TC50) was calculated with Probit regression method.2.Antiviral activity assays of ART against HCMV:human embryonic lung fibroblast cells (HELs) were infected with standard laboratory strains and GCV-resistance strains of HCMV,respectively,after which virus was removed and overlays of dulbecco's modified eagle medium(MEM) containing different antiviral drugs were added to the wells.All cells were cultured continuously at 37 ℃ in a 50 mL/L CO2 humidified atmosphere for 7-10 days and the cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed under a microscope.When the degree of CPE was clear (+ + +-+ + + +),the values of absorbency at 490 nm of all cell wells were measured by MTT colorimetry.The cell survival rate (CSR)and drug inhibitory rate (IR) for HCMV were calculated.By Probit regression method,the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2 drugs was calculated respectively.3.To explore whether fractionation dosage method could obviously enhance the antiviral effect of ART against HCMV,the experiment was divided into 3 groups and compared with GCV group,respectively:Group 1:ART antiviral compounds were added to cell layers by one dosage.Group 2:Total drug dosage was divided into 3 parts,and each part was added to cell layers once a day for 3 days.Group 3:Total antiviral compounds were divided into 6 and delivery 2 times a day.The values of absorbency at 490 nm of all cell wells were measured by MTT colorimetry.The CSR and viral inhibitory rates were calculated.All data were statistically analyzed by One-Way ANOVA analyzing using SPSS 18.0 statistical software.P value of ＜0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.Results 1.Cytotoxicity assay showed that cytotoxicity was not found in the relevant range of ART concentrations under 62.5 μmol/L.TC0 and TC50 value of ART were 62.5 μmol/L and 171.7 μmol/L.2.In concentration of 5 μmol/L,15 μmol/L and 30 μmol/L,ART and GCV could obviously inhibit growth of HCMV AD169 strains.There was no significant difference between them.The value of GCV IC50 was 3.49μmol/L,and the value of ART IC50 was 2.17 μmol/L.Treatment index (TI) of ART was 28.8,and GCV was 716.3.ART could still obviously inhibit growth of HCMV resistant strains,but GCV couldn't.Differences between them were statistically significant.The value of GCV IC50 to HCMV resistant strains was 44.4 μmol/L,and the value of ART IC50 was 2.5 μmol/L.3.Fractionation dosage method (2 times a day) of ART could improve the inhibition rate of virus significantly compared to that used once a day and single dose method.Difference was statistically significant(P ＜ 0.01).GCV delivered as the same method had little different changes in virus suppression ratio(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions 1.Cytotoxicity was not found in the relevant range of ART concentrations under 62.5 μmol/L.2.ART could obviously inhibit growth of HCMV resistant strains and standard laboratory strains.3.Fractionation dosage method (2 times a day) of ART could improve the inhibition rate of virus significantly compared to that used once a day and single dose method.4.Because the action mode of ART is different from other anti-HCMV drugs,and ART has a high biological activity and fewer side effects,it is expected to become a kind of new antiviral drugs for HCMV infections.

Effects of bone marrow stromal cells and antibody against late antigen-4 combined with Ara-C on proliferation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To explore the bone marrow stromal cells,anti-late antigen-4 (VLA-4) antibody (aVLA-4),cytarabine (Ara-C) on the proliferation and apoptosis of leukemia HL-60 cells.Methods The experiment was divided into five groups:HL-60 cells were cultured alone (control group),HL-60 cells and stromal cells group (stromal cells group),HL-60 cells + stromal cells + aVLA-4 (antibody group),HL-60 cells + stromal cells + Ara-C group (drug group),HL-60 cells + stromal cells + aVLA-4 + Ara-C group (antibody +drug group).Cell proliferation or inhibition rate was detected by CCK-8 method,the HL-60 cells apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.The expression of anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 in HL-60 cells was determined by Western blot.Results After 24 h and 48 h,treatment,the number of the stromal cells group HL-60 cells were higher than that of the control group with significant difference cultured [(7.2±0.3)×1O5/ml vs (5.3±0.4)×105/ml,(8.4±0.2)×105/ml vs (6.8±0.3)×105/m1,P ＜ 0.001],while the HL-60 cell proliferation inhibition rate [(24.3±2.1) ％,(37.0±2.6) ％,(65.6±3.8) ％] and apoptosis rate [(5.7±0.6) ％,(8.0±0.5) ％,(10.4±0.9) ％,(16.5±0.7) ％] of antibody group,drug group,antibody + drug group were higher than the control group with a difference of statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05),and the increase of antibody + drug group was most obvious.With the decreasing of the bcl-2 protein expression,which was most the decrease of antibody + drug group was most obvious.Conclusion Bone marrow stromal cells can stimulate the proliferation of leukemia cells,aVLA-4 interference the interaction between stromal cells and leukemia cells can enhance the chemosensitivity of leukemia cells to Ara-C.

The detection of antiviral susceptibilities of HCMV clinical isolates to ganciclovir from the patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 中国基层医药

Objective To investigate the susceptibilities of HCMV clinical strains isolated to ganciclovir from the patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Methods Eight HCMV clinical isolates were isolated from the blood or the urine of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients who had been treated with GCV.Tissue cell infection median dose(TCID50) were calculated by Reed-Muench method.Drug susceptibility was determined by MTT assay.Results TCID50 values of eight HCMV clinical strains were 10-4.12/0.1ml,10-4.29/0.1ml,10-4.3/0.1ml,10-4.4/0.1ml 10-4.42/0.1ml,10-4.5/0.1ml,10-4.52/0.1ml and 10-4.62/0.1ml respectively.50％ inhibitory concentration(IC50) to GCV of eight HCMV clinical strains were 0.638,1.438,0.965,0.698,0.482,1.167,1.519,1.511 mg/L respectively.Conclusion Our results suggest that resistant HCMV strains are not prevalent in Guangzhou.Continuous monitoring of HCMV is needed to understand the antiviral resistance status of the virus in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and guide its clinical management.

Clinical observation of fiudarabine, cytarabine and granulocytecolony-stimulating factor regime in the treatment of children with refractory and relapsed acute leukemia / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and adverse reaction of the combination of fiudarabine,cytarabine and granulocytecolony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (FLAG regime) therapy for refractory and relapsed acute leukemia in children. Methods From 2004 to date, a total of 9 patients with relapsed and refractory acute leukemia patients in our hospital accepted the treatment, in 9 cases 8 cases were AML,1cases were ALL; in 9 cases 5 cases were refractory acute leukemia, 4 cases were recurrent acute leukemia.Results Among the 9 cases,6 cases with 1 cycles of chemotherapy achieved complete remission (CR),CR rate was 66.7 ％ (6/9); partial remission (PR) rate was 22.2 ％ (2/9),total efficiency (CR+PR) was 88.9 ％.In 6 CR patients 2 underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, are disease-free survival; this regimen' s main adverse reactions were infection,bone marrow depression and gastrointestinal reaction.Conclusion The remission rate of FLAG regimen in the treatment of children with refractory and relapsed acute leukemia is relatively high, adverse reactions were tolerable; the FLAG program is a choice for the treatment of children with refractory and relapsed acute leukemia,which provides the opportunity for subsequent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Influence of serum complement and IgG on rituximab-dependent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity to Raji cells / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To determine the influence of serum complement and IgG on rituximabdependent NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity to Raji cells in vitro.Methods FcγR Ⅲ a (CD16a) polymorphism of NK cells were detected by nest-PCR. Effects of serum IgG on FcγRⅢ a expression of NK cells in vitro were analyzed by flow cytometry.The target cells(Raji cells) were stained with DIO,cultured with effector cells(NK cells) and rituximab with or without serum IgG/complement,and finally stained with propidium iodide (PI),then these cells were tested by flow cytometry and the cytotoxic index was calculated as well. Results The cytotoxic indexes of the ADCC +CDC groups were higher than those of ADCC groups, but the serum IgG groups were lower than the ADCC groups. In FcγRⅢa-158Ⅴ/Ⅴ groups, the cytotoxic indexs of the ADCC+ CDC groups,the serum IgG groups and the ADCC groups were (94.25±1.79) ％,(59.79±0.66) ％ and(69.05± 2.38) ％,respectively,and the differences among the groups were statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).In FcγRⅢ a-158Ⅴ/F groups,the cytotoxic indexs of these three groups were (66.71±5.57) ％,(18.13±2.99) ％ and (39.63±3.86) ％, respectively, and the differences among the groups were also statistically significant (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Complement may enhance the rituximab-mediated NK cell cytotoxicity to Raji cells, whereas,serum IgG may weaken the cytotoxicity against Raji cells. It is clued up that for patients treated by tumorspecific monolonal antibody (MAb), combined infusion of fresh frozen plasma could promote its anti-tumor effect,however,MAb combined with IVIG may impair its anti-tumor effect.

Hemorrhagic cystitis in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation Clinical characteristics and risk factors / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is one of common complications in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). It is of great value for improvement in the HSCT outcome to describe the clinical characteristics of HC and risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of HC in children after HSCT, and to analyze its clinical characteristics and risk factors.DESIGN: Case analysis SETTING: Center of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.PARTICIPANTS: Experiments were performed at the Center of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics of Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from October 1998 to June 2004. Eighty-eight patients receiving umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) were enrolled; 49 were males and 39 were females. The age ranged from 2 to 18 years with an average of 8.0 years. Guardians of child patients signed informed consents. The experimental procedures were approved by Medical Ethics Committee.METHODS: ①Conditioning regimens included combination of cyclophosphamide (CY, 120-200 mg/kg) with busulphan (BU, 14-20 mg/kg)-based chemotherapy and combination of CY with total body irradiation (TBI, 2-8 Gy) or total lymphoid irradiation (TLI, 2-8 Gy)-based radiotherapy. ②HC was defined according to the criteria proposed by references 7 and 8. The incidence, clinical characteristics, laboratory examination, treatment and outcome for HC were described. The association of various clinical factors including age, gender, human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typing, diseases for transplant, the type of stem cell, the type of transplantation, the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with the development of HC were examined.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Incidence of HC, ②HC patient characteristics and laboratory examination, ③HC treatment and outcome, and ④risk factors analysis. RESULTS: All 88 patients were included in the final analysis. ①The incidence of HC: 16 patients (18.2%, 16/88) developed HC post-transplant with the severity graded as mild in 11 cases (68.7%) and severe in 5 cases (31.3%). ②HC patient characteristics and laboratory examination: All had hematuria and 8 cases (50.0%) had typical pollakisuria, urinary urgency, odynuria and gross hematuria; 10 cases (62.5%) had gross hematuria and 11 had proteinuria (+ to +++); Leucocytes were detected in 7 cases. ③Treatment and outcome: All patients recovered at a median of 13.5 days (range 2-53 days). ④Risk factors analysis: The incidence of HC was significantly higher in the group of ≥ 6 years old, presence of aGVHD and development of cytomegalo-virus (CMV) infection (P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSION: ①HC has its own clinical characteristics following HSCT in children but with good prognosis. ②The risk factors for HC are ≥ 6 years old, presence of aGVHD and CMV infection.

Thalassemic serum panel reaction antibody inhibits proliferation and differentiation of cord blood hematopoetic stem cells in children patients / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Panel reaction antibody (PRA) plays an important role in rejection of recipients undergoing solid organ transplantation, which has a positive effect on nonfunction of implant. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of thalassemic serum-specific PRA on the proliferation and differentiation of umbilical cord blood hernatopoetic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPCs) in children patients with thalassemia. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The in vitro cytology experiment was performed at the Experimental Research Center, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan University from January 2006 to August 2007. MATERIALS: Five samples of umbilical cord blood from healthy full-term birth puerperants (each 80 100 mL) were used in this study. PRA serum samples of children patients with thalassemia after repetitive blood transfusion, five samples of AB blood grouping serum, and six samples of positive anticoagulation vein blood (10 mL) were used in the study. METHODS: Mononuclear cells were harvested from umbilical cord blood by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient centrifugation. 1 × 105 rnononuclear cells from umbilical cord blood were incubated with different levels of experimental or AB control serum (0, 50, 100 μ L) from healthy children. The mixture mentioned above was incubated with rabbit complement for semisolid colony culture.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Colony-forming units (CFU) were counted and observed after 7 days and 14 days of culture under an inverted microscope.RESULTS: After incubation with HSC/HPCs PRA serum, total number of CFUs and varied CFUs decreased to different extents, of which the total number of CFUs and CFU- granulocyte-rnacrophages (CFU-GM) had significant differences (P < 0.01). Moreover, there were negative correlations between different levels of serum PRA and the followings: number of total colonies, CFU- GM, CFU- granulocyte-erythrocyte-monocyte-megakaryocytes, CFU-erythroids, burst forming unit-megakaryocytes, and CFU-megakaryocytes (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: The thalassemic serum PRA has an apparent inhibitory effect on the proliferation and differentiation of cord blood HSC/HPCs in vitro, an effect that may be pronounced with increasing serum PRA.

Nosocomial Infection in Children with Malignancies During Neutropenia Stage: A Clinical Investigation / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristic and prognosis of nosocomial infection in children patients with malignances during deficiency stage of neutropenia. METHODS The clinical characteristic of infections and efficiency of antibiotics were analyzed retrospectively in 174 malignances children with nosocomial infection from Jan 2000 to Jun 2005. RESULTS The incidence rate of nosocomial infection in children patients with malignances during deficiency stage of neutropenia was 67.4%.Nosocomial infection was occurred mainly in the respiratory tract,oral cavity,blood,skin,and intestinal tract of patients.The main pathogens were bacteria(86.8%),and fungal infection was 13.2%.The Gram-negative bacilli were relatively sensitive to imipenem,amikacin,ceftazidine,piperacillin/tazobactam,and ticarcillin/clavulanic acid.The Gram positive cocci were sensitive to vancomycin,imipenem,meropenem,ampicillin/sulbactam,ciprofloxcin and clindamycin.The death rate due to nosocomial infection was 44.4%. CONCLUSIONS There is higher incidence of nosocomial infection in children patients with malignances during the neutropenia stage.Good nursing,intestines disinfection,the usage of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor,a reasonable usage of antibiotics and preventing the fungal infection are good to control nosocomial infection in children malignances.

Transplantation with Combination of Umbilical Cord Blood and Neonatal Peripheral Blood in the Treatment of A Patient with β-thalassemia Major / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

【Objective】To observe the efficacy and side effects of hematopietic stem cell transplantation with combination of umbilical cord blood(UCB) and neonatal peripheral blood(NPB) in the treatment of β-thalassemia major.【Methods】28 mL NPB was drawn from a HLA identical neonate within 5 hours after his birth to complement stem cell of the UCB he donated for transplantation to his sibling with β-thalassemia major.Various items of hematopoiesis reconstruction were detected in UCB and NPB respectively.After conditioning with chemotherapy by using busulfan 20 mg/kg,cyclophosphamide 200 mg/kg,melphalan 90 mg/m2 and antithymocyte globulin(ATG) 90 mg/kg,the patient received the 53 mL UCB and 28 mL NPB,achieving 5.7×107/kg nucleated cells(NC),93×105/kg CFU-GM and 3.1×105/kg CD34+CD38- cells from his HLA-identical sibling.【Results】Absolute nucleated cell(ANC) reached 0.5×109/L on 14th day post transplant,and platelets reached 20×109/L on 34th day after transplant.The heterozygosity of β-654 mutation point was detected by the PCR-RDB.The sexual chromosome changed from XX pretransplant to XY posttransplant.The patient was free red blood cell transfusion from 14th day post transplant.Her hemoglobin rose progressively from 86 g/L to 110 g/L.The patient survived for 197 days free from disease after transplantation.Following up for 9 months, the donor grew and developed normally.【Conclusion】The NPB contains a lot of stem cells.The transplantation with combination of suitable NPB and UCB is an effective tactics when the UCB cells are deficient.

Xaf1 regulates TNFR signal pathway and induces apoptosis / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:Xaf1-Saos inducible cell lines,which contain "gene switch" system were used to detect the effect of Xaf1 on tumor necrosis factor receptor(TNFR) signal pathway and to investigate the mechanism of cooperation between Xaf1 and TNF-? in inducing cell apoptosis.METHODS:Xaf1 on TNFR1 expression was measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting.The effect of NF-?B on Xaf1 induced apoptosis was detected by DNA content flow cytometry after co-transfection.DNA binding activity of NF-?B was identified by gel mobility shift assay and transcription activity of NF-?B was analyzed by luciferase assay and RT-PCR.SAPK/JNK activity was checked by SAPK/JNK assay.RESULTS:Xaf1 did not modulate TNFR1 at protein and mRNA levels.Increased NF-?B activity in cells inhibited Xaf1 induced apoptosis.Expression of Xaf1 impaired modestly TNF-? induced NF-?B DNA binding activation and transcription activation,also modestly reduced SAPK/JNK activity.CONCLUSION:Xaf1 inhibits TNFR signal pathway,partly contributing to cooperation with TNF-? to induce apoptosis.