Application of artificial intelligence assists bone marrow cytomorphology analysis in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myeloid leukemia / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the value of artificial intelligence (AI) cytomorphologic analysis system in the cytomorphological diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Methods:Bone marrow smear samples were collected from 150 patients with newly diagnosed and treated acute myeloid leukemia who were inpatients and outpatients at the Department of Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College from June 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022 for retrospective analysis. Among them, there were 50 patients in the newly diagnosed group, including 28 males and 22 females, with the onset age of 43.5(32.3,58.8)years. There were 100 patients in the post-treatment group, including 36 males and 64 females, with the onset age of 34.5(23.0,47.0)years. The results from cytomorphology expert were used as the gold standard and the Python 3.6.7 was used for analysis to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the AI cytomorphologic analysis system for blast cell recognition in AML diagnosis and treatment.Results:The proportion of blasts in AI analysis of 50 samples in the newly diagnosed group was≥20%, which met the diagnostic criteria of AML. AI analysis of blasts had an accuracy of 90.3%, sensitivity of 85.5%, and specificity of 98.0%. The correlation coefficient between AI and the proportion of blasts analyzed by experts was positively correlated( r=0.882, P<0.001). Meanwhile, in the post-treatment group, the sensitivity and specificity of AI analysis of blasts were 89.7% and 99.2%, respectively. The correlation coefficient between AI and the proportion of blasts analyzed by experts was positively correlated( r=0.957, P<0.001). According to AI analysis data, there are 8 samples in this group whose AI efficacy evaluation results on AML are inconsistent with expert analysis. Conclusion:AI cytomorphologic analysis system has high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for blast cell recognition in AML morphological diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation.

Application of Next-generation Sequencing Detecting Gene Mutation in Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Current Situation and Problems / 肿瘤防治研究

The next-generation sequencing detecting gene mutation has been recommended for the routine diagnosis of suspicious myelodysplastic symdromes patients. Recently, several pre-MDS conditions, a new subtype MDS with SF3B1, gene mutations integrated prognosis scores and gene mutations-based clinical decision-making and treatment choice were proposed. Nowadays, it is a big problem to standardize the generation, analysis, clinical interpretation and reporting of NGS data in China. It will open new horizons for individualized medicine of patients with MDS in the future by implementing integrated genomics into the diagnostic and treatment algorithms.

X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome with T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia: report of one case and review of literature / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, the key point of diagnosis and treatment methods of X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (XHIGM).Methods:The clinical characteristics and laboratory data of a patient aged 23 years who was diagnosed as XHIGM complicated with T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (TLGLL) in Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital in March 2020 were analyzed retrospectively, and the literatures were reviewed.Results:This male patient presented with recurrent infection when he was 17 years old, and was found neutropenia, anemia accompanied by obvious splenomegaly, lower level of IgG and IgA after the visit. The level of IgM was lower than the normal level and the typical XHIGM was manifested with the normal or increased level of IgM, however CD40L homozygous mutation (chromosome: chrX; location: 135730438; variation of amino acid: NM_000074:exon1:c.31C>T:p.R11X; nonsense mutation) was confirmed by next generation sequencing. CD40L heterozygous mutation was detected in his mother, but it was not in his father. The patient was diagnosed as XHIGM. Anemia and neutropenia were alleviated after splenectomy in the patient, who was diagnosed as T-cell large granular lymphocyte elevation and clonal proliferation by flow cytometry, TCR gene rearrangement positive and bone marrow histopathological immunohistochemistry results because of the increasing leukocyte. The patient was eventually diagnosed as XHIGM complicated with T-LGLL.Conclusions:A small number of patients with XHIGM may develop symptoms in adulthood and may present with atypical clinical features of significant reduction in IgG, IgA, and IgM. The confirmed diagnosis of XHIGM is established by identification of CD40L gene mutation. XHIGM gene screening is required in male patients with recurrent infection, IgG level lower than normal and neutropenia. A few XHIGM patients are complicated with T-LGLL.

Mean corpuscular volume ≤100 fl was an independent prognostic factor in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and bone marrow blast<5 percent / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore the prognostic effects of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) .@*Methods@#321 newly diagnosed, untransfused primary MDS patients who administered from December 2009 to December 2017 were enrolled. The association of MCV with prognosis and several clinical features and genetic mutations were analyzed.@*Results@#Patients were divided into MCV≤100 fl (n=148) and MCV>100 fl (n=173) cohorts. Median overall survival of patients with MCV≤100 fl was shorter than their counterparts (27 months vs 72 months, P<0.001) . In subgroup analysis, MCV≤100 fl patients had worse survivals in bone marrow blast <5% cohort (34 months vs not reached, P=0.002) , but not so in ≥5 % cohort (17 months vs 20 months, P=0.078) . MCV≤100 fl was still an independent adverse variable (HR=1.890, 95%CI 1.007-3.548, P=0.048) after adjusting for clinical and laboratory variables and mutation topography in bone marrow blasts<5% cohort. In bone marrow blasts<5% cohort, patients with MCV≤100 fl had higher hemoglobin levels [90 (42-153) g/L vs 78.5 (28-146) g/L, P=0.015].The proportions of Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) high/very high risks and poor/very poor IPSS-R karyotypes were higher in MCV≤100 fl cohort (28.8% vs 10.8%, P=0.003; 24.7% vs 12.9%, P=0.049) . MCV≤100 fl cohort had more genetic mutations than those with MCV>100 fl though without significance (0.988 vs 0.769, P=0.064) . Mutated SF3B1 was less frequently in MCV≤100 fl cohort (4.7% vs 15.4%, P=0.018) .@*Conclusion@#MCV≤100 fl was an independent adverse variable after adjusting for clinical and laboratory variables and mutation topography in MDS patients with bone marrow blasts<5%.

Analysis of clinical characteristics, treatment response rate and survival of 77 myelodysplastic syndrome patients with del (5q) syndrome / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To observe the clinical characteristics, treatment responses and prognosis of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) -del (5q) syndrome who met WHO (2016) diagnostic typing criteria.@*Methods@#A total of 77 patients with del (5q) syndrome, according to WHO (2016) classification, were retrospectively analyzed between January 2008 and April 2018 in the Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Clinical characteristics, lenalidomide (LEN) efficacy and survivals were compared between the patients with del (5q) alone and those with one additional cytogenetic abnormality (ACA) with the exception of monosomy 7 or del (7q) . Treatment response and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients who were treated with LEN and traditional non-LEN drugs.@*Results@#Of 77 patients, 64 were isolated del (5q) and 13 were del (5q) with ACA. There were significant differences of the median age and percentage of patients who had small megakaryocytes in bone marrow smear by immunohistochemistry (CD41) between the patients with isolated del (5q) and the patients with del (5q) + ACA[58 (29-64) years old vs 63 (31-82) years old, z=2.164, P=0.030; and 91.7%vs 60.0%, P=0.046, respectively]. The overall hematological response rate (78.9%vs 80.0%) , complete hematological remission (CR) rate (57.9% vs 60.0%) , cytogenetic response (CyR) rate[69.2% (9/13) vs 66.7% (4/6) ] and complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) rate [61.5% (8/13) vs 33.3% (2/6) ] of LEN were similar between the patients with isolated del (5q) (n=19) and with del (5q) + ACA (n=10) , as well as the median Overall survival (OS) between these two groups of patients (62 months vs 78 months, P=0.388) . The hematological response rate (79.3% vs 36.0%) , CR rate (58.6% vs 8.0%) , CyR rate [68.4% (13/19) vs 11.1% (1/9) ] and CCyR rate [52.6% (10/19) vs 0 (0/9) ] were higher among patients treated with LEN (n=29) than those treated with non-LEN therapy (n=25) . There was no statistically significant difference in OS between the patients with LEN or non-LEN therapy (78 months vs 62 months, P=0.297) .@*Conclusion@#Comparing del (5q) syndrome patients with isolated del (5q) or with del (5q) + ACA, two groups of patients had similar clinical characteristics, median OS and LEN efficacy. LEN showed better treatment response than traditional drugs in patients with del (5q) syndrome.

The impact of meisoindigo on apoptosis and proliferation of SET2 cell line by JAK-STAT pathway / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To observe the effect of meisoindigo on apoptosis and proliferation of JAK2/V617F heterozygous mutation cell line-SET2 cell line to further explore the role of JAK-STAT pathway in this effect.@*Methods@#Cell apoptosis after treated with different concentration of meisoindigo (0, 5, and 10 μmol/L) was evaluated by flow cytometry at different time points (24, 48, 72 h). Cell proliferation with CCK8 test was evaluated at different time points (24, 48, 72, 96 h) after administered with different concentration of meisoindigo (0, 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L). After treatment with different concentration of meisoindigo (0, 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L), SET2 cells were collected after 12 h, and then cultured in incomplete methylcellulose-based medium for clone formation. JAK-STAT signaling pathway and apoptosis related protein by Western blot test were evaluated 12 h after administered with different concentration of meisoindigo (0, 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L).@*Results@#At different time points after treated with meisoindigo, the apoptosis rate of SET2 cell lines increased (P<0.01) with the inhibited proliferation (P<0.01), and the decreased clone formation rate of SET2 cell lines [0 μmol/L meisoindigo: (4.48±1.19)%, 20 μmol/L meisoindigo: (2.55±0.36)%; Dunnett P=0.020] in the presence of augmented concentrations of meisoindigo. At 12 hours after administration with meisoindigo, the reduced expressions of JAK2, P-JAK2, P-STAT1, P-STAT3, P-STAT3, STAT5, the decreased anti-apoptosis proteins BCL-2, BCL-XL and the increased pro-apoptosis protein BID, BIM were observed in the presence of increased concentrations of meisoindigo.@*Conclusion@#Meisoindigo played an important role during the apoptosis and the inhibition of proliferation in ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm cell-SET2 cell lines, which might be related to the inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling pathway with up-regulation of pro-apoptosis protein and down-regulation of anti-apoptosis protein.

Ruxolitinib combined with prednisone, thalidomide and danazol for treatment of myelofibrosis: a pilot study / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of ruxolitinib combined with prednisone, thalidomide and danazol for treatment of in myelofibrosis (MF).@*Methods@#Patients of MF according to the WHO 2016 criteria, received ruxolitinib (RUX) combined with prednisone, thalidomide and danazol (PTD). The response, changes of blood counts and adverse events were evaluated.@*Results@#Six PMF and one post-ET MF patients were enrolled. Four patients presented JAK2V617F mutation, one CALR mutation, one MPL mutation, one triple-negative. Responses per IWG-MRT criteria were clinical improvement in 5 patients, stable disease in 2 ones, spleen response in 6 ones. All of 7 patients were symptomatic responses, four patients achieved at least 50% improvement from baseline on MPN-SAF TSS. Three patients initially treated with RUX alone, all of 3 patients experienced treatment-associated anemia and thrombocytopenia. Then these 3 patients received RUX combined with PTD, both hemoglobin and platelet increased significantly. Four patients initially treated with RUX combined with PTD. Increased levels of hemoglobin and platelet were seen in all of 7 patients received RUX combined with PTD with maximum increased hemoglobin of 30(18-54) g/L and maximum increased platelets of 116(13-369)×109/L, respectively from baseline. The treatment dose of RUX increased due to improved platelet count in 3 patients. The frequent non-hematologic adverse events grade 1-2 were constipation, abdominal distension, crura edema and increased ALT.@*Conclusions@#RUX combined with PTD for treatment of MF may modulate initial hematologic toxicity observed when RUX alone, and may increase response due to improved levels of hemoglobin or platelet.

A study of clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary myelofibrosis patients with thrombocytopenia in varied degrees / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To evaluate clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary myelofibrosis (PMF) patients with thrombocytopenia in varied degrees.@*Methods@#Clinical features and survival data of 1 305 Chinese patients with PMF were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic value of thrombocytopenia in patients with PMF was evaluated.@*Results@#320 subjects (47%) presented severe thrombocytopenia (PLT<50×109/L), 198 ones (15.2%) mild thrombocytopenia [PLT (50-99)×109/L] and 787 ones (60.3%) without thrombocytopenia (PLT ≥ 100×109/L). The more severe the thrombocytopenia, the higher the proportions of HGB<100 g/L, WBC<4×109/L, circulating blasts ≥ 3%, abnormal karyotype and unfavourable cytogenetics (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.004, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively) were observed in this cohort of patients. The more severe the thrombocytopenia, the lower the proportion of JAK2V617F positive (P<0.001) was also noticed. Platelet count was positively correlated with splenomegaly, HGB and WBC (P<0.001, correlation coefficients were 0.131, 0.445 and 0.156, respectively). Platelet count was negative correlated with constitutional symptoms and circulating blasts (P=0.009, P=0.045, respectively; correlation coefficients were -0.096 and -0.056, respectively). The median survival of patients with severe thrombocytopenia, mild thrombocytopenia and without thrombocytopenia were 32, 67 and 89 months, respectively (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis identified thrombocytopenia in varied degrees (HR=1.693, 95%CI 1.320-2.173, P<0.001) and Dynamic Internation Prognostic Scoring System(DIPSS) prognostic model (HR=2.051, 95%CI 1.511-2.784, P<0.001) as independent risk factors for survival.@*Conclusion@#PMF patients with severe thrombocytopenia frequently displayed anemia, leucopenia, circulating blasts and short survival, so active treatment measures should be taken especially in these patients.

Clinical implications and prognostic value of TP53 gene mutation and deletion in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore the clinical implications and prognostic value of TP53 gene mutation and deletion in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) .@*Methods@#112-gene targeted sequencing and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to detect TP53 mutation and deletion in 584 patients with newly diagnosed primary MDS who were admitted from October 2009 to December 2017. The association of TP53 mutation and deletion with several clinical features and their prognostic significance were analyzed.@*Results@#Alterations in TP53 were found in 42 (7.2%) cases. Of these, 31 (5.3%) cases showed TP53 mutation only, 8 (1.4%) cases in TP53 deletion only, 3 (0.5%) cases harboring both mutation and deletion. A total of 37 mutations were detected in 34 patients, most of them (94.6%) were located in the DNA binding domain (exon5-8) , the remaining 2 were located in exon 10 and splice site respectively. Patients with TP53 alterations harbored significantly more mutations than whom without alterations (z=-2.418, P=0.016) . The median age of patients with TP53 alterations was higher than their counterparts[60 (21-78) years old vs 52 (14-83) years old, z=-2.188, P=0.029]. TP53 alterations correlated with complex karyotype and International prognostic scoring system intermediate-2/high significantly (P<0.001) . Median overall survival of patients with TP53 alterations was shorter than the others[13 (95%CI 7.57-18.43) months vs not reached, χ2=12.342, P<0.001], while the significance was lost during complex karyotype adjusted analysis in multivariable model.@*Conclusion@#TP53 mutation was more common than deletion in MDS patients. The majority of mutations were located in the DNA binding domain. TP53 alterations were strongly associated with complex karyotype and always coexisted with other gene mutations. TP53 alteration was no longer an independent prognostic factor when complex karyotype were occurred in MDS.

The anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of JAK1 inhibitor SHR0302 versus Ruxolitinib in SET2 cell line and primary cells / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To explore the effects and molecular mechanism of the selective JAK1inhibitor SHR0302 and Ruxolitinib on myeloproliterative neoplasms (MPN) cell line SET2 and primary cells in vitro.@*Methods@#Cell proliferation was detected by CCK8 kit. Colony forming experiment was conducted to evaluate erythroid burst colony formation unit (BFU-E) of primary cells from MPN patients. Multi-factor kits were used to detect six inflammatory cytokines. Phosphorylated proteins of Jak-Stat signaling pathway were tested by Western blot.@*Results@#At different time points after treated with SHR0302 and Ruxolitinib, the inhibition of cell proliferation was dose dependent by both drugs (P<0.01) . The inhibitory rates of 2.5 μmol/L SHR0302 and 0.1 μmol/L Ruxolitinib on SET2 cells for 72 h were comparable, i.e. (59.94±0.60) % and (64.00±0.66) %, respectively, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of SHR0302 was weaker than that of Ruxolitinib. Similarly, both SHR0302 and Ruxolitinib inhibited BFU-E in primary marrow cells from MPN patients in a dose-dependent manner. SHR0302 1.0 μmol/L produced similar degree of inhibition compared to Ruxolitinib 0.2 μmol/L. Except IL-12, the expression of other 5 cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8) was significantly inhibited by 1.6 μmol/L SHR0302 in SET2 cells at 24 h (P<0.01) , while Ruxolitinib 1.0 μmol/L had the same effect. Several phosphorylated molecules of Jak-Stat signaling pathway were significantly inhibited by SHR0302 in SET2 cells only for 3 h. P-stat1 (Tyr701) , p-stat3 (Tyr705) were down-regulated when treated with SHR0302 1.0 μmol/L (P<0.05) , p-jak1 (tyr1022/1023) and p-stat5 (Tyr694) were inhibited at 5.0 μmol/L (P<0.05) . Ruxolitinib significantly inhibited the downstream STAT protein at 0.1 μmol/L. Again, the inhibitory effect of SHR0302 on protein expression was weaker than that of Ruxolitinib.@*Conclusion@#SHR0302 can effectively inhibit the proliferation of MPN cell line and patients' primary cells, as well as the expression of inflammatory factors. The molecular mechanism is possibly related to the down-regulation of phosphorylated proteins of Jak-Stat signaling pathway. Overall, the anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of SHR0302 are weaker than those of Ruxolitinib.

Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and FGFR1 rearrangement: 5 cases report and literatures review / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinic-pathological features, diagnosis and treatment of 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS) .@*Methods@#Five patients diagnosed as EMS from Jan 2014 to May 2018 at Blood Disease Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were enrolled. The clinical manifestations, laboratory characteristics, treatment and outcome of these patients were summarized.@*Results@#The peripheral blood leukocyte count of 5 patients with EMS increased significantly, accompanied with an elevated absolute eosinophils value (the average as 18.89×109/L) . The hypercellularity of myeloid cells was common in bone marrow, always with the elevated proportion of eosinophils (the average as 17.24%) , but less than 5% of blast cells. The chromosome karyotype of the 5 cases differed from each other, but presenting with the same rearrangement of FGFR1 gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization technology. The average interval between onset and diagnosis was 4.8 months with a median survival of only 14 months.@*Conclusion@#EMS was a rare hematologic malignancy with poor prognosis and short survival. It was commonly to be misdiagnosed. Analysis of cytogenetics and molecular biology were helpful for early diagnosis.

Targeted sequencing analysis of hyper-eosinophilic syndrome and chronic eosinophilic leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#Analysis of the molecular characteristics of eosinophilia. @*Methods@#Targeting sequence to 24 patients with chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL) with rearrangement of PDGFRA, PDGFRB, or FGFR1 and 62 patients with hyper-eosinophilic syndrome (HES). Mutation annotation and analysis of amino acid mutation using authoritative databases to speculate on possible pathogenic mutation. @*Results@#Thirty-seven kinds of clonal variant were detected from 17 patients with CEL, no recurrent mutation site and hot spot region were found. No pathogenic mutation was detected in 19 patients with PDGFRA rearrangement, but pathogenic mutations of ASXL1, RUNX1 and NRAS were detected from 2 patients with FGFR1 rearrangement who progressed to acute myeloid leukemia and 1 patient with PDGFRB rearrangement who progressed to T lymphoblastic lymphoma, respectively. One hundred and two kinds of clonal abnormalities were detected in 49 patients with HES. The main hot spot mutation regions included: CEBPA Exon1, TET2 Exon3, ASXL1 Exon12, IDH1 Y208C, and FGFR3 L164V. CRRLF2 P224L and PDGFRB R370C point mutations were detected separately in 2 patients with HES who treated with imatinib monotherapy and achieved hematologic remission. @*Conclusion@#The pathogenesis of CEL with PDGFRA, PDGFRB or FGFR1 rearrangement is usually single, and the progression of the disease may involve other driver mutation. A variety of genes with hot mutation regions may be involved in the pathogenesis of HES, and some mutation sites are sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

The Study of the Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoction in ShangHanLun / 浙江中医药大学学报

Objective]To investigate the thought of manipulating The Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions(Taohe Chengqi Decoction, Di Dang Decoction, Di Dang Pills) of ZHANG Zhongjing.[Method]Collect and analyse the explanations of the scriptures involving the Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions of ShangHanLun interpreters from past to nowadays, combine with the theory said in Huang Di Nei Jing, knowledge of exegetics and personal view, in order to summarise the original intention of manipulating the Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions by ZHANG Zhongjing. [Result] The main purpose of Taohe Chengqi Decoction is to purge heat, since heat is the main reason of stagnation of blood. It applies to the preliminary stage of combination of heat and blood clot. The main purpose of Di Dang Decoction is to attack the rigid blood-heat stagnation in lower-energizer, it is applied to the late stage of combination of heat and blood clot. Di Dang Pill is the milder prescription of Di Dang Decoction, which is applied to the milder situation of blood-heat combination. [Conclusion]Comparing the Three Blood Statsis Removal Decoctions,“ Superficial”and“ deep”words should be used to differentiate the application of Taohe Chengqi Decoction and Di Dang Decoction, while“ light”and“ severe”words should be used to differentiate that of Di Dang Decotion and Di Dang Pills.

Gene mutations from 511 myelodysplastic syndromes patients performed by targeted gene sequencing / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To study the characteristics of gene mutations in Chinese myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients.@*Methods@#A total of 511 Chinese patients with MDS performed 112-gene targeted sequencing were retrospectively analyzed.@*Results@#Eighty-three distinct mutant genes were found in 511 patients with MDS. Amongst these, the most frequent mutations was associated with epigenetics (50%) , followed by spliceosome (37%) , signal transduction (34%) , transcription factors (24%) and cell cycle/apoptosis (17%) . 439 subjects (86%) had at least one gene mutation. The mean number of mutations in refractory anemia with unilineage dysplasia (RCUD) was 1.25, refractory anemia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) was 1.73, refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS) was 2.79, refractory anemia with excess blasts-1 (RAEB-1) was 2.22, RAEB-2 was 2.34, MDS with isolated 5q- was 2.67, MDS, unclassified (MDS-U) was 2.00. U2AF1 mutant subjects were more likely to have isolated+8[Q<0.001, OR=4.42 (95% CI 2.23-8.68) ]and less likely to have complex karyotypes[Q=0.005, OR=0.22 (95% CI 0.04-0.72) ]. According to the number of gene mutations, all subjects were categorized into three groups, namely group with 0-1 mutation, with 2 mutations and with three or more mutations. There was a significant difference in overall survival (OS) among three groups (P=0.041) .@*Conclusion@#About 90% patients with MDS have at least one gene mutation. Genes associated with epigenetics and spliceosome are most common mutated genes in MDS. The increased numbers of gene mutations accompany with disease evolution and associate with poor prognosis.

The efficacy and safety of the patients of myelodysplastic syndromes-refractory anemia with excess blasts treated with decitabine alone or CAG/HAG regimen / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of the patients of myelodysplastic syndromes-refractory anemia with excess blasts (MDS-REAB) treated with decitabine alone or based on low dose cytarabine (Ara-C) regimen CAG/HAG [aclarubrci (ACR) /homoharring-tonine (HHT) +cytarabine+granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) ].@*Methods@#Totally 121 patients with MDS-REAB were retrospectively analyzed, including 59 patients treated with decitabine alone (20 mg·m-2·d-1 for 5 days) , the rest 62 ones treated with low-dose Ara-C-based regimen CAG/HAG. Overall response rate (ORR) , overall survival (OS) and adverse events of the two groups were analyzed and compared retrospectively.@*Results@#The ORR of decitabine alone or CAG/HAG were 66.2% and 56.4% respectively, with no statistically significant differences (χ2=1.185, P=0.276) . Initial response rate detected by the end of first cycle of CAG/HAG was higher than that of decitabine alone (94.3% vs 69.2%) , there was statistically significant difference in the overall comparison of two groups (χ2=7.612, P=0.009) . The median OS of decitabine alone was 19.5 (95% CI 10.5-28.4) months, the median OS of CAG/HAG was 20.3 (95% CI 10.7-29.9) months, with no statistically significant differences (χ2=0.004, P=0.947) . Grade 3-4 cytopenia and infection were the most prevalent adverses of two group patients. Grade 3-4 cytopenia rate of CAG/HAG was higher than that of decitabine alone (100.0% vs 64.4%, P<0.001) . The infection rate detected at third cycle of CAG/HAG was higher than that of decitabine alone (52.9% vs 15.2%, P=0.008) .@*Conclusion@#The efficacy of treating MDS-RAEB with decitabine alone or CAG/HAG was equivalent. CAG/HAG treatment came into effect faster, but decitabine alone treatment was safer.

Analysis of clinical efficacy of recombinant activated factor Ⅶ on bleeding in patients with hematologic disorders / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the treatment efficacy of recombinant activated factor Ⅶ (rFⅦa) for bleeding among patients with hematologic disorders.@*Methods@#A total of 38 times of bleeding in 31 patients with hematological disease treated with rFⅦa were analyzed retrospectively.@*Results@#The clinical effective rate of rFⅦa for bleeding management in acquired hemophilia A (AHA) patients/hemophilia patients with inhibitor, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) patients and patients with non-APL leukemia was 90% (9/10) , 71.4% (5/7) and 60.0% (3/5) , respectively, which was higher than that in patients following HSCT (30.8%) . The clinical effective rate of rFⅦa for patients with bleeding score of 2 (100.0%) was higher than that with 3 (66.7%) and 4 (54.1%) . The effective rate of rFⅦa was 25.0% (2/5) in 5 patients with cerebral hemorrhage, 66.7% (6/9) in 9 patients with hematuria and 41.7% in 12 patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The curative effect for 3 patients with joints and muscle bleeding and 5 patients with skin, nasal, pharyngeal and gum bleeding was excellent. Following HSCT, among patients with bleeding score of 4 points, high dose and repeated use of rFⅦa did not necessarily achieve a good effect. Among AHA/hemophilia patients with inhibitors and patients with acute leukemia who had bleeding score of 4 points, the use of low dose FⅦa could achieve good therapeutic effect, however the efficacy of lowest dose (22.5 μg/kg) rFⅦa was poor.@*Conclusions@#The hemostasis efficacy of rFⅦa is affected by various factors such as diseases, bleeding sites, bleeding score and so on. The use of rFⅦa can achieve good efficacy for bleeding management in AHA patients/hemophilia patients with inhibitor, APL patients and patients with non-APL leukemia. However the efficacy of rFⅦa for bleeding of patients after HSCT is poor. Early use of rFⅦa is important for successful hemostatic treatment. Management of underlying condition is as important as hemostatic treatment.

The clinical characteristics, gene mutations and prognosis of chronic neutrophilic leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical manifestation, cytogenetics, gene mutations and prognostic factors of chronic neutrophilic leukemia (CNL) .@*Methods@#16 CNL cases, according to WHO (2016) -definition, were reviewed retrospectively. Identifications of the CSF3R, ASXL1, SETBP1, CALR and MPL mutations were performed by direct sequencing. JAK2 V617F mutation was detected by AS-PCR.@*Results@#Of the 16 CNL patients, the median age was 64 (43-80) years with a male predominance of 75% (12/16) . The median hemoglobin was 114 (81-154) g/L, with median WBC of 41.20 (26.05-167.70) (109/L and median PLT of 238 (91-394) ×109/L.The median level of marrow fibrosis (MF) was 1 (0-3) degree. There was no other cytogenetic abnormalities except t (1;7) (p32;q11) , +21 and 14ps+ for each. All the 16 CNL patients harbored CSF3R T618I mutation. ASXL1 mutations were identified in 81% (13/16) , while SETBP1 mutations were confirmed in 63% (10/16) . The CALR K385fs*47 mutation was found. There was no mutation in JAK2 V617F or MPL in the above 16 patients. The median overall survival (OS) of patients presented with WBC≥50×109/L at diagnosis (11 months) was significantly shorter than of WBC<50×109/L (39 months, P=0.005) .@*Conclusion@#CSF3R T618I mutation was specific for CNL. The median OS of CNL patients was 24 months, and WBC≥50×109/L at diagnosis was an unfavorable prognostic factor.

The assessment of symptomatic burden among Ph/BCR- ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasm patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of myeloproliferative neoplasms Symptom Assessment Form total symptom score (MPN-SAF-TSS)in assessing constitutional symptoms among Ph/BCR- ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN)patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cohort of 628 MPN patients were evaluated by MPN- SAF- TSS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fatigue was the most common symptom (76.0%, 76.2%vs 89.9%)and the highest average severity of all the symptoms (3.46±2.97, 3.47±2.99vs 4.74±3.04 scores)among polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET)and primary myelofibrosis (PMF)patients. Using the MPN- SAF- TSS analysis, PMF patients showed highest burden of symptoms (28.9 ± 19.1), followed by PV patients (19.2 ± 16.8), and finally ET patients (17.1 ± 15.3). Instinct differences were observed between PMF and PV patients (χ(2)=6.371,P=0.021), PMF and ET patients (χ(2)= 14.020,P<0.001). No significant difference was found between PV and ET patients (χ(2)=2.281,P=0.191).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MPN- SAF- TSS was effective in evaluating the symptomatic burden among Ph/BCRABL negative MPN patients and could be used for serial assessment in this clinical setting.</p>

Long-term outcomes of homoharringtonine, cytarabine, daunorubicin or idarubicin (HAD/HAI) as induction chemotherapy in de novo acute myeloid leukemia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To estimate the long-term outcomes and the prognostic factors of homoharringtonine, cytarabine, daunorubicin or idarubicin (HAD/HAI) as induction chemotherapy in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CR rate, overall survival (OS) rate, relapse free survival (RFS) rate were retrospectively assayed in 143 de novo AML patients who received the HAD/HAI induction chemotherapy. The outcomes were compared among prognostic groups according to world health organization (WHO) classification, genetic prognosis and initial white blood cell (WBC) count. The role of consolidation chemotherapy consisting of middle-dosage Ara-C (MD-Ara-C) on long term survival was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 143 patients, 112 (78.3%) achieved CR after the first course of HAD/HAI induction treatment, and early death occurred in only one case. Notably, the CR rate of patients with an initial WBC count ≥100×10(9)/L was not significantly different from those with an initial WBC count<100× 10(9)/L (70.4% vs 80.2%, P=0.266). The CR rate for the patients with favorable, intermediate and unfavorable integrated genetics risk factors was 93.7%, 71.4% and 61.3%, respectively, the difference between groups was statistically significant (P=0.001). Patients with FLT3-ITD mutation obtained similar CR rate (70.6%) to that of patients with FLT3 wild type (79.3%, P=0.528).The estimated 5-year OS rate and 5-year RFS rate for all patients was 40.0% and 37.0%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 24 (range 1-104) months. The median survival time was 30 [95%CI (12, 48)] months. 5-year OS and 5-year RFS of the 96 patients who achieved CR after first course chemotherapy without undergoing allo-HSCT in complete remission was 47.0% and 38.0%, respectively. 5-year OS was significantly higher in MD-Ara-C consolidation group than in no MD-Ara-C consolidation group among CR patients without allo-HSCT (58.0%, 19.0%, respectively, P=0.004). In patients who obtained CR after first course and received MD-Ara-C consolidation without allo-HSCT, the 5-year OS of patients with hyperleukocytosis was not significantly lower than that of patients without hyperleukocytosis (55.5%, 58.8%, respectively,P=0.419). FLT3-ITD mutation patients showed similar 5-year OS to that of wild type FLT3 patients (51.4%, 60.2%, respectively, P=0.482). And furthermore, 5-year OS of favorable, intermediate and unfavorable integrated genetics groups were 59.1%, 62.5%, 51.9%, respectively (P=0.332) in this subgroup.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HAD/HAI induction chemotherapy with sequential consolidation of MD-Ara-C could obtain satisfactory CR rate and long-term survival rate in de novo AML, especially for patients with hyperleukocytosis or FLT3-ITD mutation. It yet remains to be verified by large sample, prospective studies.</p>

Clinical and laboratory characteristics in patients of myelodysplastic syndrome with PNH clones / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical, laboratory characteristics and PIG-A gene mutations in patients of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with PNH clones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>218 MDS patients diagnosed from August 2013 to August 2015 were analyzed. The PIG-A gene mutations were tested in 13 cases of MDS with PNH clones, 17 cases of AA-PNH and 14 cases of PNH selected contemporaneously by PCR and direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>13 (5.96%) MDS patients were detected with PNH clones (13/218 cases). 9 patients were treated with cyclosporin A (CsA). Patients showed hematological improvement (HI). There were significant differences between MDS-PNH and PNH patients in terms of granulocyte clone size, red cell clone size and LDH levels [19.2% (1.0%-97.7%) vs 60.2% (3.1%-98.0%), P=0.007; 4.3% (0-67.2%) vs 27.9% (2.5%-83.6%), P=0.026; 246 (89-2014) U/L vs 1137 (195-2239) U/L, P=0.049], while the differences were not statistically significant in patients between MDS-PNH and AA-PNH patients [19.2% (1.0%-97.7%) vs 23.2% (1.5%-96.0%), P=0.843; 4.3% (0-67.2%) vs 14.4% (1.1%-62.8%), P=0.079; 246 (89-2014) U/L vs 406 (192-1148) U/L, P=0.107]. PIG-A gene mutations were detected in 7 MDS-PNH patients, of them, six were missense mutations, one were frameshift mutation and four cases with the same mutation of c.356G>A (R119Q). The PIG-A gene mutations were also detected in 9/11 AA-PNH patients and 11/14 PNH patients, both of them had the mutation of c.356G>A (R119Q). The PIG-A gene mutations of MDS-PNH, AA-PNH, PNH patients were all small mutations, the majority of those (59%) were missense mutation and mainly located in exon 2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MDS patients with PNH clones had better response to CsA, smaller PNH clone size. The PIG-A gene mutations of MDS-PNH patients mainly located in exon 2, which could be a mutational hotspot of these patients.</p>