Advances in Treatment of Transfusion-dependent Lower-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes / 肿瘤防治研究

At present, the patients with transfusion-dependent lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have limited treatment options when erythropoiesis-stimulating agent is ineffective or relapsed. With more understanding of the pathological and molecular genetics characteristics of MDS, the development of precise medical treatment of MDS has been promoted. Small-molecule inhibitors, such as transforming growth factor β inhibiter, telomerase inhibiter and hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, provide novel therapeutic strategies for patients. This article reviews the treatment of transfusion-dependent lower-risk MDS patients and discusses the latest clinical research and development of novel targeted agents.

A preliminary study on the outcome of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome by low-dose decitabine / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To assess the efficiency and safety of low-dose decitabine in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) to couple with the clinical significance of MDS-related gene mutations.@*Methods@#This study was done in 4 institutions in Zhejiang Province. A total of 62 newly diagnosed patients with lower-risk MDS were assigned to two groups of decitabine (12 mg·m-2·d-1 for 5 consecutive days) and best supportive care (BSC) . Their bone marrow samples were subject to examinations of MDS-related 15 gene mutations. The primary endpoints were the proportion of patients who achieved overall response (ORR) after at least two cycles and progression-free survival (PFS) , and their relevances to the gene mutations.@*Results@#Of 62 enrolled patients, and 51 cases were included in the final analysis. 16 of 24 patients (66.7%) in decitabine group achieved ORR versus 8 of 27 (29.6%) in BSC group (χ2=6.996, P=0.008) ; PFS prolongation of decitabine versus BSC was statistically significant (not reached vs 13.7 months, P=0.037) . Among 51 patients, at least one gene mutation was identified in 20 patients (39.2%) , including 4 single SF3B1 mutation. PFS in cases with gene mutations (not including single SF3B1 mutation) was significantly shorter than of no gene mutation (9.2 months vs 18.5 months, P=0.008) , but not for ORR (37.5% vs 58.1%, P=0.181) . Among 16 patients with mutated genes, ORR in decitabine and BSC groups were 75% (6/8) and 0 (0/8) , respectively. The most adverse events in decitabine group were grade 3 to 4 neutropenia (45.8%) and grade 3 to 4 infections (33.3%) .@*Conclusion@#This preliminary study showed that low-dose decitabine produced promising results with an acceptable safety in lower-risk MDS patients, especially for those with mutated genes. Further study targeting poor prognostic lower-risk MDS patients should be warranted.

The effect of oligohydramnios on the adverse perinatal outcome and clinical characteristics in uncomplicated term pregnancies / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the isolated oligohydramnios on the perinatal outcome in uncomplicated term pregnancies. METHODS: We used data from Jan 2002 to Dec 2005 in all uncomplicated pregnancies between 37 and 41weeks and 6 days of gestation with a singleton fetus, underwent monitoring with serial determination of AFI. Oligohydramnios was defined by ultrasonographic determination of AFI < or =5 cm. Exclusion criteria were PROM, maternal medical complications and fetal anomalies detected by prenatal ultrasound. We investigated the mode of delivery, birth weight, birth weight <10th percentile, 1 and 5 min Apgar score, umbilical cord pH and base excess, and meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). We also assessed the predictive value of obstetric factors associated with adverse perinatal outcome. We used statistics analysis by Chi-square test, independent-samples T test using SPSS 14.0 V. RESULTS: 2,491 patients met our inclusion criteria. Oligohydramnios was diagnosed in 8.63% (215/2,491). There was significantly difference in cesarean section for fetal distress between those with oligohydramnios vs. normal AFI (43.8% vs.4.1%). Patients with oligohydramnios had significantly lower SGA (15.3% vs. 5.7%), lower Apgar score at 1 min<7 (7.9% vs. 3.3%), and higher rate of MSAF (31.2% vs. 18.4%) than those with normal AFI. There were musculoskeletal abnormalities in 10/215 (4.6%) and urogenital abnomralites in 53/215 (24.6%). CONCLUSION: Isolated oligohydramnios in uncomplicated term pregnancies is associated with an increased adverse perinatal outcome. Nulliparity, advanced maternal age, MSAF, SGA, and lower BPP were significantly associated with the adverse perinatal outcomes.