Value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in children with hematological malignancies complicated with infections / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To explore the value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the pathogen identification in children with hematological malignancies complicated with infections.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data and pathogenic test results of 43 children with hematological malignancies who underwent microbial culture and mNGS due to infections in the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between June 2020 and July 2022. Differences in detection rates and characteristics of pathogenic microorganisms detected by mNGS and microbial culture were compared.@*RESULTS@#A total of 54 specimens were examined, and the overall detection rate of pathogen by mNGS (80%, 43/54) was significantly higher than that by microbial culture (30%, 16/54) (P<0.001). The most commonly detected infection type by mNGS was viral infection, followed by fungal infection combined viral infection, while that by microbial culture was bacterial infection, followed by fungal infection. The detection rate of fungi by mNGS (33%, 18/54) was higher than that by microbial culture (6%, 3/54) (P<0.001). The detection rate of two or more pathogenic microorganisms by mNGS was higher at 48% compared to microbial culture at 9% (P<0.05). The detection rate of two or more types of pathogenic microorganisms by mNGS was also significantly higher at 33% compared to microbial culture at 2% (P<0.05). The most commonly detected bacteria and fungi by mNGS were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida tropicalis, respectively, in peripheral blood, while Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pneumocystis jirovecii were most commonly detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Treatment adjustments based on mNGS results were beneficial for 35% (15/43) of the cases.@*CONCLUSIONS@#mNGS has a higher detection rate than microbial culture and has obvious advantages in diagnosing mixed and fungal infections, making it a useful supplementary diagnostic method to microbial culture.

Application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for pathogen detection in childhood agranulocytosis with fever / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for pathogen detection in childhood agranulocytosis with fever.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was performed on the mNGS results of pathogen detection of 116 children with agranulocytosis with fever who were treated from January 2020 to December 2021. Among these children, 38 children with negative mNGS results were enrolled as the negative group, and 78 children with positive results were divided into a bacteria group (n=22), a fungal group (n=23), and a viral group (n=31). Clinical data were compared between groups.@*RESULTS@#For the 116 children with agranulocytosis and fever, the median age was 8 years at diagnosis, the median turnaround time of mNGS results was 2 days, and the positive rate of mNGS testing was 67.2% (78/116). Compared with the negative group, the bacterial group had a higher procalcitonin level (P<0.05), the fungal group had higher level of C-reactive protein and positive rate of (1,3)-β-D glucan test/galactomannan test (P<0.05), and the fungal group had a longer duration of fever (P<0.05). Among the 22 positive microbial culture specimens, 9 (41%) were consistent with the mNGS results. Among the 17 positive blood culture specimens, 8 (47%) were consistent with the mNGS results. Treatment was adjusted for 28 children (36%) with the mNGS results, among whom 26 were cured and discharged.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The mNGS technique has a shorter turnaround time and a higher sensitivity for pathogen detection and can provide evidence for the pathogenic diagnosis of children with agranulocytosis and fever.

Recent progress on anti-Candida natural products / 中国天然药物

Candida is an intractable life-threatening pathogen. Candida infection is extremely difficult to eradicate, and thus is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Morevover, the rapid spread of drug-resistant fungi has led to significant decreases in the therapeutic effects of clinical drugs. New anti-Candida agents are urgently needed to solve the complicated medical problem. Natural products with intricate structures have attracted great attention of researchers who make every endeavor to discover leading compounds for antifungal agents. Their novel mechanisms and diverse modes of action expand the variety of fungistatic agents and reduce the emergence of drug resistance. In recent decades, considerable effort has been devoted to finding unique antifungal agents from nature and revealing their unusual mechanisms, which results in important progress on the development of new antifungals, such as the novel cell wall inhibitors YW3548 and SCY-078 which are being tested in clinical trials. This review will present a brief summary on the landscape of anti-Candida natural products within the last decade. We will also discuss in-depth the research progress on diverse natural fungistatic agents along with their novel mechanisms.

Management plan for prevention and control of novel coronavirus pneumonia among children in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University / 中国当代儿科杂志

@#Since December 2019, an epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia (NCP) has occurred in China. How to effectively prevent and control NCP among children with limited resources is an urgent issue to be explored. Under the unified arrangement of the Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, the Department of Pediatrics has formulated an action plan with Xiangya unique model to prevent and control NCP among children according to the current epidemic situation and diagnostic and therapeutic program in China.

Value of S100A8 in evaluating the prognosis of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the association between S100A8 expression and prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 377 children with ALL who were treated with the CCLG-2008-ALL regimen were retrospectively reviewed. ELISA and PCR were used to measure serum protein levels and mRNA expression of S100A8. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and a Cox regression analysis was also performed.@*RESULTS@#The children were followed up for 56 months, and the overall survival rate of the 377 children was 89.1%. The prednisone good response group had significantly lower S100A8 protein and mRNA levels than the prednisone poor response group (P<0.01). In the children with standard or median risk, both S100A8 protein and mRNA levels were associated with event-free survival rate (P<0.05). There were significant differences in S100A8 protein and mRNA levels between the children with different risk stratifications (P<0.01). The children who experienced events had significantly higher S100A8 protein and mRNA levels than those who did not (P<0.01). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox regression model suggested that S100A8 overexpression was an independent risk factor for the prognosis of children with ALL.@*CONCLUSIONS@#High S100A8 expression may be associated with the poor prognosis of children with ALL and is promising as a new marker for individualized precise treatment of children with ALL.

Clinical and genetic analyses of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical and genetic features of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) and the association between genotype and prognosis. Methods The clinical data of 15 children who were diagnosed with JMML were collected. Next-generation sequencing was used to detect common gene mutations of JMML.@*RESULTS@#The male/female ratio was 6.5:1, and the age of onset was 19 months (range 2-67 months). Of the 15 children, 11 (73%) experienced disease onset before the age of 4 years, with abdominal distension and pyrexia as initial symptoms. All children had hepatosplenomegaly and superficial lymphadenectasis, with a number of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of >1.0×10/L and a percentage of juvenile cells of 1%-7% in peripheral blood smear. The percentage of bone marrow blasts + juvenile cells was <20%, and the percentage of monoblasts + promonocytes was 1%-10%. Of the 15 children, 10 (67%) had a higher level of hemoglobin F than the normal level at the corresponding age, with the highest level of 62.5%. All 15 children had the absence of Philadelphia chromosome, and one child had chromosome 7 deletion. All 15 children had a negative result of BCR/ABL fusion gene detection. PTPN11 gene mutation was found in 5 children (33%), NF1 mutation in 4 children (27%), CBL mutation in 3 children (20%), and RAS mutation in 3 children (20%). No children received regular chemotherapy, and one child underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The median follow-up time of 15 children was 18 months (range 1-48 months). Among the 15 children, 8 died (among whom 4 had PTPN11 gene mutation, 3 had NF1 mutation, and 1 had RAS mutation) and 7 survived. The children with PTPN11 mutation had the worst prognosis and the highest mortality rate, and those with CBL or NRAS mutation had a relatively good prognosis. The level of hemoglobin F was negatively correlated with survival time (r=-7.21, P=0.002).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In children with JMML, the type of gene mutation is associated with prognosis. The children with PTPN11 mutation often have a poor prognosis, and those with CBL or NRAS mutation have a relatively good prognosis.

Research Advances in Lysine-specific Demethylase 6A and Its Application in Treating Leukemia / 中国医学科学院学报

Leukemia is a disease featured by the malignant proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells or progenitor cells in the blood system.While chemotherapy remains its mainstream treatment,disease relapse and drug resistance are still challenging problems.As one of the epigenetic mechanisms,histone methylation is involved in cell proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis by regulating gene transcription.Recent studies have found that the histone demethylase lysine-specific demethylase 6A(KDM6A),also known as ubiquitously transcribed tetratricopeptide repeat on chromosome X(UTX),is closely related to the occurrence of a variety of tumors,especially leukemia.KDM6A activates gene expression by demethylating H3K27me3 to H3K27me2 or H3K27me1.Besides,KDM6A can regulate the activation of the target gene transcription through its non-demethylase functions.It can serve as the subunit of complex of proteins associated with Set1,thus getting involved in the regulation of H3K4me1.It can be combined with yeast mating type conversion/sucrose unfermented complex family to promote the formation of an open chromatin conformation.Finally,it can promote the production of H3K27ac.This article reviews the recent studies on the structure and biological activity of histone demethylase KDM6A(UTX)and its role in treating leukemia,thus providing a new research direction for targeted treatment of leukemia.

Recurrent pulmonary infection and oral mucosal ulcer / 中国当代儿科杂志

An 8-year-old girl who had experienced intermittent cough and fever over a 3 year period, was admitted after experiencing a recurrence for one month. One year ago the patient experienced a recurrent oral mucosal ulcer. Physical examination showed vitiligo in the skin of the upper right back. Routine blood tests and immune function tests performed in other hospitals had shown normal results. Multiple lung CT scans showed pulmonary infection. The patient had recurrent fever and cough and persistent presence of some lesions after anti-infective therapy. The antitubercular therapy was ineffective. Routine blood tests after admission showed agranulocytosis. Gene detection was performed and she was diagnosed with dyskeratosis congenita caused by homozygous mutation in RTEL1. Patients with dyskeratosis congenita with RTEL1 gene mutation tend to develop pulmonary complications. Since RTEL1 gene sequence is highly variable with many mutation sites and patterns and can be inherited via autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance, this disease often has various clinical manifestations, which may lead to missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis. For children with unexplained recurrent pulmonary infection, examinations of the oral cavity, skin, and nails and toes should be taken and routine blood tests should be performed to exclude dyskeratosis congenita. There are no specific therapies for dyskeratosis congenita at present, and when bone marrow failure and pulmonary failure occur, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and lung transplantation are the only therapies. Androgen and its derivatives are effective in some patients. Drugs targeting the telomere may be promising for patients with dyskeratosis congenita.

Painless skin nodules and ecchymosis in a school-aged girl / 中国当代儿科杂志

A 7-year-old girl was admitted to Xiangya Hospital due to systemic lymphadenectasis for 2 months and skin ecchymosis for 3 days. Nine months ago, the girl experienced painless nodules in the left lower extremity with no apparent causes. Three months later, dermatorrhagia and ecchymosis occurred in many regions such as the periocular areas, conjunctiva, oral mucosa, perineal area, and groin, with a "raccoon sign" in both eyes; superficial lymphadenectasis and hepatosplenomegaly were also observed in many regions. The pathological sections for the skin nodules showed malignant tumors in lymphohematopoietic cells, and in combination with clinical manifestations, immunohistochemistry, and positive results for CD4, CD56, and CD123 by bone marrow flow cytometry, the girl was diagnosed with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. Then high-risk ALL regimen was applied as the chemotherapy for this girl. At present, the girl has been followed up for 3 months; ecchymosis has disappeared, and the enlarged lymph nodes have shrunk. No abnormal cells have been found in bone marrow morphological examination, and bone marrow flow cytometry has shown that primitive precursor cells account for 1.5% and express CD33, CD34, CD123, and CD117.

H nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics reveals sex-specific metabolic changes of gastrodin intervention in rats

OBJECTIVES@#To explore (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics on sex-specific metabolic changes of gastrodin intervention in rats.@*METHODS@#In this research, (1)H NMR-based metabolomics was used for the first time to investigate metabolic changes following chronic intervention with gastrodin in rats.@*RESULTS@#24 endogenous metabolites were identified. Body weight, daily diet and the total volume of urine in in each day of each rat were measured synchronously. Modifications in 12 metabolites were observed following gastrodin intervention, indicating gastrodin-induced alterations in carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Interestingly, these metabolic changes were not totally identical in female and male rats. Some metabolic changes arising from gastrodin intervention showed sexual dimorphism including LDL/VLDL and lactate which were on the decrease in the female but on the increase in the male, together with arginine/ornithine, creatine, and glycerol which were on the increase in the female but on the decrease in the male. While the decrease in pyruvate, succinate and glutamate was only shown in the male and the increase in valine, α-ketoglutarate, glycine and glucose was only in the female.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This research shows the sex-specific metabolic response to GAS intervention, weather GAS is a healthy dietary supplement for the male merits further investigation.

Experimental study of up-regulating PTEN gene on increasing the chemosensitivity in K562/ADM cells / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of decreasing the K562/ADM cells chemosensitivity by up-regulating expression of PTEN gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>K562/ADM cells were transient transfected with pGFP-PTEN or vector. The level of PTEN in K562/ADM cells was assayed by Western blot and RT-PCR. Cell viability on K562/ADM was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. Activity of caspase-3 by Caspase Colorimetric Assay Kit. The proteins expression of LC3-I/II, Beclin1, p-Akt, p-p70S6K by Western blot. The autophagic vacuoles by MDC stain and Electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The mRNA and protein levels of PTEN in K562/ADM cells transfected with pGFP-PTEN were significantly increased compared with the control (untreated and transfected with empty vector). (2) Enhanced expression of PTEN by gene transfection resulted in a reversal of resistance to ADM. Compared with empty vector group, cell viability decreased from (94.07 ± 2.6)% to (53.83 ± 4.2)%, the cell apoptotic rate increased from (11.89 ± 1.7)% to (43.69 ± 2.3)%, meanwhile, pretreated with caspase-3 inhibitor (Z-DEVE-FMK) didn't completely inhibit the cytotoxicity of ADM to K562/ADM cells. (3) After treated with ADM for 12 and 24 h, the activities of caspase-3 in PTEN-transfected K562/ADM cells increased compared with those in pGFP-transfected K562/ADM cells \[(2.27 ± 0.13) vs (1.19 ± 0.14)\] at 12h, \[(3.15 ± 0.08) vs (1.48 ± 0.05)\] at 24 h (P < 0.05). (4) The protein levels of LC3-II and Beclin1 in K562/ADM cells transfected with pGFP-PTEN were increased by 83% and 18% respectively, and the protein levels of p-Akt and p-p70S6K were declined by 96% and 87% respectively, compared with those in K562/ADM cells transfected with pGFP plasmid. (5) The upregulation of PTEN in K562/ADM cells improved the number of autophagic vacuoles compared with the empty vector group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The upregulation of PTEN expression increases the chemosensitivity of K562/ADM to ADM, which may related with the inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway induced by PTEN gene transfection.</p>

Interaction of WAVE1 and genes involved in multiple drug resistance in children with acute myeloblastic leukemia / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the primary causes of suboptimal outcomes in chemotherapy of children with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). The mechanisms of drug transport resistance may chiefly contribute to MDR. Expression and/or activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), multiple resistance-associated protein-1 (MRP1), lung-resistance related protein (LRP) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) have been considered to be associated with unfavourable outcomes in pediatric AML patients. In previous studies, we found WASP-family verprolin-homologous protein-1 (WAVE1) was involved in the MDR mechanisms in K562/A02 leukemia cells. To investigate the expression of WAVE1, P-gp, MRP1, LRP/MVP and BCRP; and if WAVE1 is involved in MDR of human leukemia cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>WAVE1, P-gp, MRP1, LRP, BCRP mRNA and protein expression in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR) and Western blot in a cohort of 52 children with acute myeloblastic leukemia. During follow-up, of the 52 patients, 21 were documented as being relapsing or refractory, and 31 were induced into complete continuous remission. Furthermore, HL60 cells and HL60/ADR cells were transiently transfected with PCDNA3.1-WAVE1 reconstructed plasmid and specifically siRNA to WAVE1 respectively, and the expression of WAVE1, MRP1 and BCRP before and after transfection was assessed by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The expression levels of WAVE1, P-gp, MRP, LRP and BCRP in refractory/relapsing group were much higher than that in complete continuous remission (CCR) group. (2) WAVE1 mRNA and protein expression in BMMCs of children were at higher levels when they were newly diagnosed or relapsed, compared with complete continuous remission. (3) The WAVE1 expression at mRNA and protein level in HL60/ADR cells was increased by about 353% and 95% respectively as compared with that in HL60 cells. (4) Overexpression of WAVE1 in HL60 cell lines upregulated the expression levels of MRP and BCRP (MRP mRNA and protein level were increased by about 16.54 times and 129% respectively, BCRP was increased by 4.93 times and 96%); whereas suppression of WAVE1 expression by RNA interference downregulated the expression levels of MRP1 and BCRP (MRP mRNA and protein level was only 11% and 43% of pre-disturbance respectively, BCRP was 14% and 71%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Higher levels of WAVE1 in the BM indicate an unfavorable prognosis in children with AML. WAVE1 is related to the development of AML and involved in the MDR mechanisms, and regulates the level of MRP1 and BCRP.</p>

Role of WAVE1 in K562 leukemia cells invasion and its mechanism / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate role of WASP family verprolin homologous protein 1 (WAVE1) in K562 leukemia cell invasion and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the distribution of WAVE1 and MMP-2 in the cells. K562 cells were transfected with pcDNA3. 1-WAVE1 reconstructed plasmid or with specific siRNA to WAVE1 gene. The invasion ability of K562 cells was examined by Transwell assay. The expression level of WAVE1 and MMP-2 in K562 cells was assayed by real-time PCR and Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) WAVE1 and MMP-2 mainly expressed and co-localized in the cell membrane; (2) 24 h and 48 h after transfected with pcDNA3. 1-WAVE1, the MMP-2 mRNA level in K562 cells increased by 295% and 198% while its protein increased by 80% and 23% respectively as compared with control K562 cells. At the same time point after transfected with specific siRNA, the MMP-2 mRNA level decreased by 81% and 28%, and its protein decreased by 36% and 53% respectively as compared with control. (3) The invasion ability of K562 cells was enhanced after transfected with pcDNA3. 1-WAVE1 and depressed after transfected with the specific siRNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The co-localization of WAVE1 and MMP-2 in K562 cells suggests they coordinate in functions; WAVE1 may involve in the migration and invasion of K562 cells through regulating the expression level of MMP-2.</p>

Expression of WAVE1 and p22phox in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia and the relationship of WAVE1 with oxidative stress / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of WAVE1 and p22phox in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and the relationship of WAVE1 with oxidative stress.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Real-time PCR was used for detecting WAVE1 and p22phox expression in PBMCs in 41 children with ALL and 10 normal controls. Plasma activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was measured by the xanthine oxidase method. Plasma activity of GSH-Px was measured by the DTNB reaction test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of WAVE1 and p22phox was significantly higher in the active ALL groups (newly diagnosed and relapse ALL) than that in the normal control and the complete remission (CR) ALL groups (<0.01). The CR ALL group showed increased WAVE1 and p22phox expression than those in the normal control group (<0.05). Plasma activities of SOD (22.62+/-7.39 U/mL) and GSH-Px (91.73+/-28.88 micromol/L) in the active ALL group were significantly lower than those in the normal control (166.35+/-27.93 U/mL and 490.94+/-39.38 micromol/L, respectively) and the CR ALL groups (107.11+/-28.57 U/mL and 267.56+/-82.64 micromol/L, respectively) (<0.01). WAVE1 expression was positively correlated with p22phox expression (r=0.34, <0.05) but negatively correlated with plasma activities of SOD and GSH-Px ( r=-0.336 and-0.408, respectively; <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>WAVE1 and p22phox expression in PBMCs increased and was associated with the disease course in children with ALL. Oxidative stress may be involved in the regulation of WAVE1 expression in ALL children.</p>

Efficacy and prognosis analysis in 188 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia of China / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the therapeutic effect and the influencing factors of event-free survival (EFS) of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All the patients adopted chemotherapy according to therapeutic guideline revised by the Subspecialty Group of Hematology, The Society of Pediatrics, Chinese Medical Association for the second-time in 1998 (the Rongcheng ALL-98 Protocol). Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival rates of 188 patients who received therapy with good compliance. The differences of EFS between groups were assessed by Log-rank test. The independent influencing factors on EFS were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards regression model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After receiving inductive treatment, 354 of 374 (93.6%) patients demonstrated a complete remission; 188 patients who received complete courses of treatment with good compliance showed (68.1 +/- 5.6)% five-year EFS. Meanwhile, the five-year EFS in standard-risk (SR) group and high-risk (HR) group were (75.2 +/- 6.0)% and (47.6 +/- 11.6)%, respectively. The total relapse rate was 10.6% and the median time to relapse was 13 months. Twenty-nine of 188 patients (15.4%) were dead, and 13 patients (7.0%) died from treatment-related complications. Independent adverse prognostic factors included risk grouping, t (9; 22)/bcr-abl gene and leukocyte count.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The total EFS of childhood ALL patients treated with Rongcheng ALL-98 Protocol in two hospitals was close to 70%. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate risk factors and consider the grouping in more detail to reduce the treatment-related mortality and to increase the compliance of treatment which can ultimately improve the EFS.</p>

Detection of human cyclin C gene expression in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between human cyclin C (CCNC) gene and childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The total RNA isolated from myeloid tissues of normal children and of children with newly diagnosed ALL and from ALL cell line 6T-CEM was reversely transcribed into cDNA. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to detect CCNC gene expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CCNC was expressed in myeloid tissues of normal children and of children with newly diagnosed ALL as well as 6T-CEM. The relative expression level of CCNC gene in children with newly diagnosed ALL was significantly lower than in normal controls (2.35 +/- 0.83 vs 13.5 +/- 0.30; P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CCNC gene shows lower expression in children with newly diagnosed ALL, suggesting that it may be a tumor suppressing gene in childhood ALL.</p>

Allelic loss of 6q16.3 microsatellite DNA in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and bioinformatics analysis / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To locate the cluster region of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and explore the new tumor suppressor gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Allelic loss was analyzed by PCR with 15 microsatellite markers mapping on 6q16.3. The LOH was analyzed by bioinformatics. The relationship between LOH and clinical factors was further analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequency of LOH at least at one loci on 6q16.3 was 32.7%. The LOH in relapsed patients was higher than those in not relapsed. The higher frequency of LOH was observed in two regions of D6S1709-D6S1028 and D6S2160-D6S1580 at 6q16.3. GRIK2 may be a candidate of tumor suppressor gene. There are 12 ESTs may carry out new anti-oncogene. Patients with 6q LOH had higher WBC counts (P < 0.01), blast cells percentage (P < 0.01), relapse rate (P < 0.05) and chromosomal aberration (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>D6S1709-D6S1028 and D6S2160-D6S1580 are two regions of minimus deletion on 6q16.3 in which tumor suppressor gene may exist. The LOH on 6q16.3 may be a prognostic index of children with ALL.</p>

Effect of Kunyining capsule on reproductive endocrine-immune functions in ovariectomized rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic mechanism of Kunyining (KYN) on the climacteric syndrome and provide the pharmacodynamic basis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Ovariectomized rats were used as model to observe the effect of KYN on weight and the index of the organ of OVX rats. The concentration of E2, FSH, LH, PRL, BGP and IL-2 in serum were measured by competitive radio-immunological methods.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>KYN could obviously increase the index of uterus and adrenal gland in OVX rats, and enhance the contents of E2, IL-2 and BGP. The level of FSH, LH, PRL in serum were decreased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>KYN can regulate beneficially the unbalanced reproductive endocrine-immune network, which is the pharmacological basis of KYN treating climacteric syndrome.</p>

Evaluation of in vitro/in vivo correlation for three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To evaluate the in vitro/in vivo correlation for three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The characteristics of in vivo release were calculated by deconvolution method using the data of plasma concentration of three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations in healthy dogs, in which the in vivo results of nitrendipine solution after oral administrated to dogs were used as weight function. It was the compared with characteristics of in vitro release to assess the in vitro/in vivo correlations.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The good correlations of in vitro/in vivo were shown in three kinds of self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations using deconvolution method.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The deconvolution method exhibited advantage in evaluation of in vitro/in vivo correlation for self-designed sustained-release nitrendipine formulations.</p>