Improvement of optical properties of InGaN-based red multiple quantum wells.

The realization of red-emitting InGaN quantum well (QW) is a hot issue in current nitride semiconductor research. It has been shown that using a low-Indium (In)-content pre-well layer is an effective method to improve the crystal quality of red QWs. On the other hand, keeping uniform composition distribution at higher In content in red QWs is an urgent problem to be solved. In this work, the optical properties of blue pre-QW and red QWs with different well width and growth conditions are investigated by photoluminescence (PL). The results prove that the higher-In-content blue pre-QW is beneficial to effectively relieve the residual stress. Meanwhile, higher growth temperature and growth rate can improve the uniformity of In content and the crystal quality of red QWs, enhancing the PL emission intensity. Possible physical process of stress evolution and the model of In fluctuation in the subsequent red QW are discussed. This study provides a useful reference for the development of InGaN-based red emission materials and devices.

A Flexible Sensor with Excellent Environmental Stability Using Well-Designed Encapsulation Structure.

The hydrogel-based sensors suffer from poor stability and low sensitivity, severely limiting their further development. It is still "a black box" to understand the effect of the encapsulation as well as the electrode on the performance of the hydrogel-based sensors. To address these problems, we prepared an adhesive hydrogel that could robustly adhere to Ecoflex (adhesive strength is 4.7 kPa) as an encapsulation layer and proposed a rational encapsulation model that fully encapsulated the hydrogel within Ecoflex. Owing to the excellent barrier and resilience of Ecoflex, the encapsulated hydrogel-based sensor can still work normally after 30 days, displaying excellent long-term stability. In addition, we performed theoretical and simulation analyses on the contact state between the hydrogel and the electrode. It was surprising to find that the contact state significantly affects the sensitivity of the hydrogel sensors (the maximum difference in sensitivity was 333.6%), indicating that the reasonable design of the encapsulation and electrode are indispensable parts for fabricating successful hydrogel sensors. Therefore, we paved the way for a novel insight to optimize the properties of the hydrogel sensors, which is greatly favorable to developing hydrogel-based sensors to be applied in various fields.

Application of quantitative orbital analysis to assess the activity of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of uptake ratios in the extraocular muscles (EOMs), lacrimal glands, and optic nerves to detect the inflammation activity of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) using quantitative analysis of 99m technetium (99mTc)-labeled diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) orbital single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) images. The patients were categorized into an active stage (clinical activity score ≥ 3/7, n=23) or an inactive stage (clinical activity score < 3/7, n=38), based on their clinical activity score. The uptake ratio was manually determined by placing a region of interest within the area of highest uptake, as agreed upon by consensus, in the EOMs, lacrimal gland, and optic nerve on SPECT images corrected for CT attenuation. Patients with active GO exhibited significantly higher uptake ratios in the EOMs, lacrimal glands, and optic nerves compared to patients with inactive GO (all P < 0.01). These parameters have been proven effective in differentiating between active and inactive disease.

[The Role and Mechanism of Tfh and B Cell in Human Chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease].

AbstractObjective: To investigate the role and mechanism of circulating follicular helper T cells (cTfh), extrafollicular helper T cells, B cells and their subsets in chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after transplantation. METHODS: Peripheral blood of cGVHD 64 patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from 2016 to 2019 were collected. The percentage of cTfh cells, extrafollicular helper T cells, B cells and subsets were detected by flow cytometry. The healthy donors were detected as control. Percentage of each cell subpopulation between the two groups were compared by the two-tailed Students' T test. RESULTS: The percentage of circulating follicular helper T cells (cTfh, CD4+CXCR5+) was markedly decreased in patients with cGVHD as compared with that in the healthy donors (0.53%±0.10% vs 3.91%±0.60%, P<0.001). The percentage of extrafollicular helper T cells (CD44hiCD62LloPSGL-1loCD4+T) of the patients in cGVHD and the healthy donors were 8.86%±0.45% and 5.38%±0.79% (P=0.003). A significant change in B cell subsets was found in the patients with cGVHD. The two types of antigen-stimulate CD27+ B cell: the percentages of pre-GC B cells (CD19+IgD+CD38hiCD27+) and plasmablast/plasma cells (PB/PC, CD19+IgD-CD38hiCD27+) of patients with cGVHD were 20.91%±2.70% and 41.05%±5.00%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in healthy donors (P=0.005, P=0.014). Meanwhile, the percentage of unstimulated CD27- B cells in patients with cGVHD was significantly reduced, especially the naive B cells (CD19+IgD+CD38loCD27-, 12.59%±2.63%, P=0.025). There was a positive correlation between the percentage of extrafollicular helper T cells and plasmablast/ plasma cells (PB/PC) in cGVHD patients (r=0.43). CONCLUSION: Compared with healthy donor, cTfh cells, extrafollicular helper T cells and B cell subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with cGVHD after transplantation changed in varying degress.

Mussel-inspired nano-silver loaded layered double hydroxides embedded into a biodegradable polymer matrix for enhanced mechanical and gas barrier properties.

In this paper, a facile, green and mussel-inspired method is presented to prepare silver loaded layered double hydroxides (Ag-LDHs@PDA and Ag-LDHs@TA-Fe(iii)) using a pre-synthesis polydopamine (PDA)/tannic acid (TA)-Fe(iii) layer as a nanoscale guide and PDA/TA itself as a reducing reagent to form uniform silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the surface of modified LDHs. Meanwhile, another kind of LDH, Ag-LDHs(PVP), was prepared via the direct reduction of the precursor [Ag(NH3)2]+ with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). And three kinds of Ag-LDHs/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanocomposite were prepared by blending Ag-LDHs and pure PCL via a solution casting method to obtain homogeneous films. It is shown that the obtained AgNPs are distributed on the LDH surfaces uniformly. And the high loading and medium size of the AgNPs present in Ag-LDHs(PVP) give it the best antibacterial properties. However, compared with Ag-LDHs(PVP), the better dispersibilities of Ag-LDHs@PDA and Ag-LDHs@TA-Fe(iii) contribute to the greater aspect ratios of Ag-LDHs in the matrices, resulting in an increase in the number of tortuous paths for gas diffusion. Meanwhile, Ag-LDHs@PDA and Ag-LDHs@TA-Fe(iii) have stronger interactions with the PCL matrix, which is favorable for the existence of less interface defects in the matrix, resulting in an improvement in the mechanical and gas barrier properties. Therefore, mussel-inspired antibacterial Ag-LDHs/PCL nanocomposites show preferable mechanical and gas barrier properties.

Benzoic acid as a selector-modulator in the synthesis of MIL-88B(Cr) and nano-MIL-101(Cr).

The concentration of benzoic acid was found to exercise efficient control over the formation of either MIL-101(Cr) or MIL-88B(Cr) under otherwise similar hydrothermal synthetic conditions. Nanocrystals of MIL-101(Cr) with ∼100 nm average size and excellent SBET = 3467 m2 g-1 are obtained at lower concentrations of benzoic acid, while at higher concentrations the microparticulated MIL-88B(Cr) product is formed. Hereby a new efficient synthetic method towards the elusive MIL-88B(Cr), yet reported only once without synthetic details, is proposed. The obtained MIL-88B(Cr) has an interesting and potentially valuable property of retaining its high-volume form (Vcell ∼ 2000 Å3) after thermal activation. The degassing of MIL-88B(Cr) in a vacuum at 250 °C yields a porous material with a SBET area of 1136 m2 g-1, which is around the theoretical maximum. The transition to the denser 'closed' form (Vcell ∼ 1500 Å3) occurs only at 350 °C, when all of the benzoate/benzoic acid, hindering the process, is removed.

Pattern and prognostic value of FLT3-ITD mutations in Chinese de novo adult acute myeloid leukemia.

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in hematological malignancies. FLT3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) mutations located in juxtamembrane domain (JMD) and tyrosine kinase domain 1 (TKD1) regions account for two-thirds of all FLT3 mutations. The outcome of patients remains unsatisfactory, with low survival rates. It is not yet known whether the different mutations within the FLT3 gene are all associated with patient outcome. In addition, the cause of FLT3-ITD in-frame duplication events remains unknown. Although there are some published studies investigating the FLT3-ITD mutation and its clinical implications in Chinese acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, sample sizes tend to be small and detailed molecular profiles of FLT3 mutations are lacking in these studies. In our study, 227 FLT3-ITD sequences were analyzed from 227 Chinese de novo AML patients. ITD were next classified into 3 types based on molecular profiles of insertion DNA sequences: DNA complete duplication (type I), DNA partial duplication (type II) and complete random sequence (type III). From the 154 patients, we confirmed that high ITD allelic ratio (≥.5) and allogeneic stem cell transplant treatment under CR1 are independent prognostic factors. We also presented evidence that ITD integration sites in the hinge region or beta1-sheet region are an unfavorable prognostic factor in adult AML patients with FLT3-ITD mutations. These findings may help to decipher the mechanisms of FLT3-ITD in-frame duplication events and stratify patients when considering different therapeutic combinations.

[Status of Polygonati Rhizome industry and suggestion for its sustainable development].

Field surveys and literatures show that Polygonati Rhizome (Huangjing) was firstly recorded in Shen Nong&s Herbal Classic, and widely used as a medicinal and edible plant. It has a long history of cultivation, and the researches on chemistry have made some progress. The future development is prospected on health market. But the Polygonati Rhizome industry has faced a lot of problems, including the resource depletion, unstable quality, low-tech in cultivation and germplasm confusion, unclear of functional composition, decentralized, small scaled and primary processing products. The suggestion for sustainable development are listed below. First, the relevant researches should focused on material basis and biological mechanism of core effects. To speed up the selection and breeding of improved varieties, ensure the supply of high-quality seedlings and eliminate the unauthentic species are the most important measures. Secondly, to strengthen the conservation and rational use of wild resources, break through the key technologies of high-quality artificial cultivation on light regulation, site control, density control and precision harvesting are also very important. Thirdly, to reveal the toxicity-reducing-and-efficacy-enhancing mechanism of processing, optimize the parameters and setup the standard operating procedure are indispensable. Fourthly, that full advantage of the root, leaf, flower and fruit resources should be strengthened for enlarged health products based on the development of exact functional factors. Above all, Polygonati Rhizome could be a growing market in the future driven by the technological innovation, cultural creativity, integration of three industries, brand strategy and internet+technique.

[Influence of HLA-E polymorphism on cytomegalovirus infection after HLA-matched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

This study was aimed to explore the potential association of HLA-E polymorphism with the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after HLA-matched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 119 HLA-genoidentical sibling pairs for HLA-E polymorphism were analyzed, HLA-E DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the amplified DNA products was also sequenced directly after purification to confirm the genotype. The results showed that the homozygous HLA-E*0101/0101 accounted for 20.17%, the homozygous HLA-E*0103/0103 accounted for 27.73%; heterozygous HLA-E*0101/0103 accounted for 52.10%; in homozygous HLA-E*0101/0101 group, 15 cases were infected with CMV and the CMV infection rate was 62.50%; in homozygous HLA-E*0103/0103 group, 16 cases were infected with CMV and the CMV infection rate was 48.48%; in heterozygous HLA-E*0101/0103 group 20 cases were infected with CMV and the CMV infection rate was 32.25%. As compared with the homozygous HLA-E*0101/0101 group, the CMV infection rate in HLA-E*0103 group displays statistical significance (P = 0.0295). The CMV infection rate occurred higher and its significance is statistical (P = 0.0074). It is concluded that the HLA-E gene polymorphism is associated with CMV infection after HLA-genoidentical bone marrow transplantation.

Long-term survey of outcome in acute promyelocytic leukemia: a single center experience in 340 patients.

The aims of this study are to investigate the outcome and prognostic factors influencing long-term survival on patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). A total of 340 APL patients admitted to the Department of Hematology from January 1988 to December 2009 were enrolled in this study. All patients received all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and/or arsenic trioxide (ATO) with anthracycline-based induction therapy. After three courses of consolidation chemotherapy, 279 patients received 2 years of maintenance therapy. Survival analyses were carried out using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox regression model. In total, 288 achieved CR with the CR rate of 84.7%, and 50 patients died during induction therapy. Univariate analysis identified the following three risk factors for hemorrhagic mortality: fibrinogen level (<1.0 g/l) (P = 0.0007), initial peripheral WBC count(>4 × 10(9)/l) (P = 0.0001), as well as the presence of coagulopathy(P < 0.0001). With a median follow-up of 49 (6-255) months, the estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were (89.0 ± 2.4)% and (83.7 ± 2.6)%, respectively. Cox regression analysis of the 290 patients showed initial WBC count, years of diagnosis, and the status of PML-RARα in remission seemed to be independent prognostic indicators for OS and RFS (P = 0.03, P < 0.01 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Cytogenetics in addition to above three variables remained significant for RFS (P = 0.01). Our retrospective observations suggest that the combination of ATRA and/or ATO with anthracycline-based therapy may have useful implications in the perspective of long-term prognosis for adult APL.

[Clinical study of imatinib for treatment of Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and therapeutic outcome of imatinib combined with chemotherapy or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: Thirty patients from Jan 2006 to Mar 2009 were enrolled in this study. All patients received CDOLP induction chemotherapy regimen. Sixteen patients insensitive to chemotherapy were given imatinib simultaneously. Eleven of 30 patients underwent HSCT. The other 19 cases received consolidation therapy including HD-Ara-C, HD-MTX and HD-CTX. Maintenance therapy regimens were VP combined with imatinib. RESULTS: The white blood cell (WBC) count in 17 patients was higher than 30 x 10(9)/L. Of 30 patients, 29 were B cell phenotype and 1 T cell phenotype, 24 had additional chromosomal abnormalities. The overall complete remission (CR) rate was 96.7%. The median CR duration was 9 (2 - 20) months. The 1-year and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were (64.7 +/- 9.8)% and (30.0 +/- 12.4)%, and the event free survival (EFS) rates were (28.8 +/- 9.5)% and (19.2 +/- 10.1)%, respectively. The bcr-abl transcripts in 13 of 30 patients were continuous negative. The OS rate in patients with negative bcr-abl transcripts was higher than that with positive bcr-abl (70.7% vs 61.3%) (P = 0.189). The EFS rate of patients with continuous negative bcr-abl transcripts was significantly higher than that of patients with continuous positive bcr-abl transcripts (P = 0.01). The median overall survival duration of higher WBC count group and normal WBC count group were 10 (4 - 18) and 29(5 - 36) months, respectively. The patients of higher WBC count had lower OS and EFS rates than that of normal WBC count (46.9% and 15.5% vs 83.5% and 50.8%, respectively) (P = 0.003 and 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: Imatinib can significantly improve molecular CR rate and CR duration for Ph(+) ALL patients. Imatinib combined with allo-HSCT is expectable to improve the curative ratio of these patients.

[Clinical study of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for relapsed/refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and toxicity of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for relapsed/refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: Forty-seven patients with relapsed/refractory ALL received allo-HSCT, which containing 19/47 from HLA-identical sibling donors (sib-HSCT), 18/47 from HLA-identical unrelated donors (URD-HSCT) and 10/47 from haplo-identical donors (Hi-HSCT). Conditioning regimens included "TBI plus Cyclophosphamide (Cy) (42/ 47)" or "busulfan (Bu) plus Cy (5/47)". Cyclosporine (CsA) combined with a short-course Methotrexate (MTX) were used for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. In addition, patients receiving URD-HSCT or Hi-HSCT were given mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and anti-thymocyte immunoglobulin (ATG). Patients with molecular or cytogenetic relapse tendency on minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring received donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). RESULTS: All patients tolerated the therapy well except for mucositis. Renal dysfunction occurred in 2 patients on CsA therapy. Epilepsy occurred in 1 patient, fatal infectious complications in 9 (including 3 interstitial pneumonia), grade III-IV acute GVHD (aGVHD) in 7, chronic GVHD (cGVHD) in 22 and hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in 4 patients. Thirteen patients relapsed after transplantation. The median time of hematopoietic reconstitution was + 17 ds. Nineteen patients received DLI, and 6 of them had no disease progression. With a median follow-up duration of 43 (10-77) months, the estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) rates were 49.65% and 46.55%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Allo-HSCT is an effective therapy for relapsed/refractory ALL. Relapse after transplantation, fatal infection, and severe acute GVHD are the main causes for failure. DLI might decrease the relapse rate after transplantation.

[Clinical and laboratory features of patients with CD34(+) acute promyelocytic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of CD34 in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and investigate the clinical and laboratory features of CD34(+) APL patients. METHODS: 262 APL patients diagnosed by chromosome analysis and/or fusion gene examination in the last five years were retrospectively analyzed in this study. To survey the expression of CD34 in those patients, all the cases were divided into two groups (CD34(+) APL vs. CD34(-) APL). The clinical features including age, gender, abnormal values of the peripheral hemogram before treatment, the complete remission (CR) rate and the incidence of DIC and laboratory data such as the results of morphology, immunology, cytogenetics and molecular biology (MICM) between those two groups were compared. RESULTS: Of the 262 APL patients, 38 (14.5%) cases were positive for CD34 expression. There were no statistically significant differences between CD34(+) APL and CD34(-) APL groups in gender and age (P > 0.05). Before treatment, the median level of WBC in CD34(+) APL was 25.92 x 10(9)/L, which was significantly higher than that of CD34(-) APL (5.3 x 10(9)/L, P < 0.05). CD34(+) APL by morphology classification were mostly of the subtypes M3b and M3v (65.8%), while these subtypes in CD34(-) APL (40.3%) were significantly less (P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups compared in respect of complete remission (CR) rate and the incidence of DIC (P > 0.05). The expression level of CD34 in APL had correlation to the expression level of CD2, CD7 and CD117; the latter three phenotypes in CD34(+) APL were significantly higher than those in CD34(-) APL (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between those two groups by chromosome analysis, but there was more PML-RAR-alpha transcript short form in CD34(+) APL than that in CD34(-) APL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: CD34(+) acute promyelocytic leukemia is a unique subtype of APL with different biological characteristics.

[Surgical treatment and pathological findings of hematological malignancies patients complicated with lung diseases.].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pulmonary pathological changes in hematological malignancy patients with pulmonary complications. METHODS: 17 hematological malignancy patients underwent surgical treatment were evaluated retrospectively. The pathological changes of all the surgical specimens were examined postoperatively by standard hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. RESULTS: Pathological examination confirmed: aspergillus infection in 9 patients, sub-acute inflammation (fibrosis and hematoma formation) in 3, and each in 1 of pulmonary infarction with granulomatous tissue in the periphery; granulomatous inflammation with calcified tubercle; alveolar dilation and hemorrhage, interstitial fibrosis and focal vasculitis; intercostal neurilemmoma; and moderate-differentiated adenocarcinoma accompanied by intrapulmonary metastasis. And several operative complications (1 case of fungal implantation, 3 pleural effusion and adhesions and 2 pulmonary hematoma) were occurred. The coincidence rate of pre- and post-operative diagnosis was 9/14 (64.3%). After surgery, 8 patients were received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT, allo-gene or autologous), with 7 succeeded. On effective secondary antifungal prophylaxis, 4 of 5 patients of aspergillosis succeeded in transplantation with free from mycotic relapse, one patient died from fungal relapse. CONCLUSION: Hematological malignancies with persistent and/or resistant pulmonary infection, hemoptysis, or unexplained lung diseases, should be treated in time by surgery operation to effectively eliminate residual disease and obtain a definitive diagnosis, so as to create a prerequisite condition for the following treatments. Moreover, the secondary antifungal prophylaxis can provide active roles for patients scheduled for chemotherapy and/or HSCT.

[The clinical and laboratory features of acute promyelocytic leukemia: an analysis of 513 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and laboratory features of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). METHODS: 513 APL patients in the last two decades were retrospectively analyzed in this research. We investigated the clinical features including age, sex, abnormality of peripheral hemogram before treatment, therapeutic effect and follow-up and laboratory data such as morphology, immunology, cytogenetics and molecular biology (MICM). RESULTS: The median age of the APL patients was 33 years old and the ratio of male and female was 1.21:1. Before treatment, the median level of WBC was 4.3 x 10(9)/L and the detection rate of abnormal promyelocyte on blood film was 85.8%; with immunophenotypic detection, the expression levels of CD117, CD34, HLA-DR, CD7, CD14 and CD19 in APL were found to be lower and the expression levels of CD2, CD33 and MPO higher than those in other subtypes of acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) (both P < 0.01). Specific abnormal chromosome t (15;17) was detected in 91.7% of the patients, of whom 75.9% had standard translocation of t (15;17), being the most common one and 15.8% of the patients had t (15;17) with additional abnormal chromosome. There was only 7.5% of the patients with normal karyotype. However, the presence of both simple translocation and complex translocation was seldom seen. With molecular biological detection, PML/RARalpha fusion gene positive rate was 99.6%. In a relatively long clinical follow-up, we found that the complete remission (CR) rate in APL patients was 84.7%, incidence of DIC was 13.4% and five-year survival rate was 30.7%. The median count of WBC in CR group was lower than that non-remission group (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences on expressions of CD34 and CD2 and changes of cytogenetics between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive evaluation of MICM could be of important significance in the diagnosis and prognosis judgment for APL patients. The CR rate in these patients with high WBC count was considerable low.

[Prevalence and clinical significance of FLT3 mutations in acute promyelocytic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of Fms-Like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations including internal tandem duplication (ITD) of juxtamembrane region and point mutation in the second tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and its clinical significance. METHODS: Bone marrow mononuclear cells from 160 newly diagnosed APL patients were analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect FLT3-ITD mutations, FLT3-ITD positive samples were further analyzed for the ITD allelic ratio (ITD-AR, mutant-wild type ratio). The FLT3-TKD mutation was analyzed by PCR amplification of exon 20 followed by EcoR V digestion and sequencing. RESULTS: Out of 160 patients, 30 (18.75%) patients were FLT3-ITD positive, 17 (10.62%) were FLT3-TKD positive, 2 had both of mutations. The initial WBC count and the ratio of short type PML-RAR alpha isoforms in FLT3-ITD positive and FLT3-TKD positive patients were all higher than that in patients with wild-type FLT3 (FLT3-wt) (P < 0.05). For FLT3-ITD positive patients, the incidences of retinoic acid syndrome (RAS) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were 41.7% and 65.4%, respectively, being higher than that of FLT3-wt patients, while their complete remission (CR) rate was lower (69.2% vs 90.3%, P < 0.05). For FLT3-TKD positive patients, the incidence of RAS, DIC and CR rate were not significantly different from that of FLT3-wt patients (P > 0.05). FLT3-ITD positive patients had a shorter overall survival (OS) (P < 0.05), but not disease-free survival (DFS) (P > 0.05) as compared with FLT3-wt patients. There was no significant difference in either OS or DFS between FLT3-TKD positive and FLT3-wt patients. The ITD-AR of 30 FLT3-ITD positive patients varied from 0.11 to 6.55 with a median of 1.0. The initial WBC count, incidence of RAS and DIC, CR rate were not significantly different between the patients with ITD-AR greater than 1.0 and lower than 1.0 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FLT3 mutations (FLT3-ITD or FLT3-TKD) are frequently identified in patients with newly diagnosed APL, both mutations are associated with higher initial WBC and short type PML-RAR alpha isoforms. FLT3-ITD mutation is more frequent than FLT3-TKD mutation, and predicts a poorer prognosis, whereas FLT3-TKD mutation does not show the same unfavorable prognostic effect on APL patients.

[The role of CD4+ CD25+ T cell and FOXP3 in hsot acute graft rejection].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship among CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cell, the expression of FOXP(3) mRNA levels of donor bone marrow (BM) and graft versus host disease (GVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: (1) Thirty patients undergoing allo-HSCT were enrolled in this study. The levels of donor CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell were compared in the patients with GVHD and those without GVHD with immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. (2) The donor BM expressions of FOXP(3) mRNA levels were analyzed by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: (1) All patients achieved engraftment. The median time for ANC > or = 0.5 x 10(9)/L and PLT > or = 20 x 10(9)/L were attained at day 14 (range, 12-15) and day 18 (range, 15-25) respectively. With a median follow-up of 12.8 (8-16) months, acute GVHD (aGVHD) occurred in 15 of the 30 patients (50.0%) with grade II-IV aGVHD (40.0%). Chronic GVHD developed in 6 (extensive 2, limited 4) out of the 30 patients (20.0%). (2) The levels of donor CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cell pre-and post-mobilization were (2.67 +/- 0.38)% and (5.01 +/- 1.33)% respectively; no difference was observed (P > 0.05). (3) Patients with I-II aGVHD demonstrated higher donor-type CD4+CD25+ immune regulatory T cell level than those with III-IV aGVHD. Patients with III-IV aGVHD showed much lower donor-type CD4+CD25+ immune regulatory T cell level than those without GVHD. No difference was observed between the patients withI-II aGVHD and those without aGVHD. (4) The transcripts of FOXP(3) donor BM were detected in seven donors for the thirty recipients who received allo-HSCT. Among the seven patients who received stem cells from these donors five had no GVHD after transplantation and the remaining two developed I aGVHD. Donor BM FOXP(3) transcripts were never detected in patients with II-IV aGVHD. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Donor-type CD4+CD25+ immune regulatory T cell level was related to recipient II-IV aGVHD. Up-grade donor-type CD4+CD25+ immune regulatory T cell level could reduce the incidence of aGVHD. (2) Donor BM FOXP(3) transcripts were detected in patients without serious aGVHD after transplantation.

[Pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation--a case report and literature review].

OBJECTIVE: To report a case with pulmonary disease caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), with a literature review. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: A patient with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia was treated by allo-HSCT. Her NTM lung disease developed after HSCT was successfully treated with a 3 antimicrobials combination of clarithromycin, levofloxacin and capreomycin for 10 months. CONCLUSION: NTM infections are infrequent in allo-HSCT recipients and have a good clinical prognosis if correctly treated.

[Seventeen cases of nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation using a conditioning regimen containing fludarabine].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficiency and toxicity of non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation (NAST) for hematological disease. METHODS: Seventeen patients, including 3 acute myeloid leukemia, 6 chronic myelogenous leukemia, 4 severe aplastic anemia, 2 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 multiple myeloma and 1 myelodysplastic syndromes received NAST from HLA-identical sibling donors. Peripheral blood stem cells were mobilized by G-CSF 300 microg/12 hours x 5 d. (2.15 -10.01) x 10(6) CD(34)(+) cells/kg were transplanted. A non-myeloablative conditioning regimen included fludarabine 30 mg.m(-2).d(-1) x 6 d;busulfan 4 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) x 2 d or cyclophosphamide 50 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) x 2 d and antilymphocytic globulin 12 approximately 15 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) x 4 d. Cyclosporin A was used to prevent graft versus host disease (GVHD) alone and no G-CSF was administered after NAST. RESULT: Hematopoiesis reconstitution resumed on day 8 to day 19 (average of day 13). Severe mucositis was absent. Hepatic venoocclusive disease did not occur. Infectious complications were rare. Acute and chronic GVHD each occurred in 5 patients. Idiopathic pneumonia was developed in 5 patients. In the follow-up duration of 120 to 425 days, 16 of the 17 cases had a stable mixed or complete chimerical states. Fourteen of 17 patients are alive. CONCLUSION: NAST is an effective therapy in the treatment of hematological diseases with less complications, less blood transfusion and lower cost.