Pediatric and adolescent chronic myeloid leukemia: A follow-up study in Western India

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is relatively rare in pediatric and adolescent age groups. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical, hematopathological, and biochemical parameters of CML in pediatric and adolescent age groups, along with an assessment of the treatment response with first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) and its correlation with the prognostic scoring systems of adults. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 44 Breakpoint Cluster Region-Abelson leukemia virus (BCR-ABL1)-positive pediatric and adolescent CML cases registered at our hospital was done. The clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated using hospital software. The treatment response was monitored and scoring was performed using mathematical calculations. Results: The mean age was 11.6 (±4.7) years. The median hemoglobin was 8.4 g/dL and 63.6% of the cases showed white blood cell (WBC) counts >250,000/?L. The average follow-up was 21 months. A total of 97.7 and 78.1% cases achieved complete hematological response (CHR) and molecular response, respectively, during the treatment course. The maximum number of patients had low Sokal and European treatment and Outcomes Study (EUTOS) scores. Seventy-five per cent of the cases achieved CHR at 3 months, while 73.6 and 78.6% CML-Chronic phase (CP) cases with low Sokal and EUTOS scores achieved CHR at 3 months, respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that the CML cases in pediatric and adolescent age groups are normally present with higher WBC counts at the time of diagnosis. The association of the prognostic scoring system with treatment response was statistically insignificant. However, a larger cohort study is needed to determine the treatment response of TKI in children and adolescent CML and its correlation with the prognostic scoring systems.

Coordinate production of cephamycin c and clavulanic acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus.

Production of cephamycin c and clavulanic acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus was investigated using different media in shake flask condition. Highest cell growth (3.8 g/L) was observed in glycerol, sucrose, proline and glutamic acid (GSPG) medium. Although, GSPG medium supported maximum growth, it was least effective for the synthesis of both cephamycin and clavulanic acid. Yield of cephamycin and clavulanic acid was maximum in dextrin and K medium, respectively. High and low level of constituents of dextrin medium, affected production of both cephamycin and clavulanic acid. Biosynthesis of clavulanic acid was associated with production of cephamycin c.

Agar immobilized yeast cells in tubular reactor for ethanol production.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were immobilized in agar gel and used in a tubular reactor for conversion of cane molasses to ethanol at 30 degrees C, pH 4.5. Reactor was used in a continuous operation to test the operational stability and ethanol productivity. After 100 days of continuous fermentation at a dilution rate of 0.67 hr-1, some deactivation of cells was observed, but ethanol productivity was recovered by reactivating the cells by sparging air intermittently. It was found that intermittent reactivation during continuous operation was very important for satisfactory performance of the reactor. During operation, gel beads maintained their rigidity. Maximum ethanol concentration (94.9 g/L) was obtained with a feed containing 255 g/L reducing sugar, at a dilution rate of 0.2 hr-1. Maximum volumetric productivity (79.5 g ethanol /L/hr), specific ethanol productivity (0.58 g ethanol/g cells/hr), specific sugar uptake rate (1.12 g sugar/g cells/hr) and ethanol yield coefficient (0.43 g ethanol/g sugar) were obtained with a feed containing 195 g/L reducing sugar at a dilution rate of 1.33 hr-1.