Design of a Sub-6 GHz Dielectric Resonator Antenna with Novel Temperature-Stabilized (Sm1-xBix)NbO4 (x = 0-0.15) Microwave Dielectric Ceramics.

Microwave dielectric ceramics exhibiting a low dielectric constant (εr), high quality factor (Q × f), and thermal stability, specifically in an ultrawide temperature range (from -40 to +120 °C), have attracted much attention. In addition, the development of 5G communication has caused an urgent demand for electronic devices, such as dielectric resonant antennas. Hence, the feasibility of optimizing the dielectric properties of the SmNbO4 (SN) ceramics by substituting Bi3+ ions at the A site was studied. The permittivity principally hinges on the contribution of Sm/Bi-O to phonon absorption in the microwave range, while the reduced sintering temperature results in a smaller grain size and slightly lower Q × f value. The expanded and distorted crystal cell indicates that Bi3+ doping effectively regulates the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF) by adjusting the strains (causing the distorted monoclinic structure) of monoclinic fergusonite besides correlating with the permittivity. Moreover, a larger A-site radius facilitates the acquisition of near-zero TCF values. Notably, the (Sm0.875Bi0.125)NbO4 (SB0.125N) ceramic with εr ≈ 21.9, Q × f ≈ 38 300 GHz (at ∼8.0 GHz), and two different near-zero TCF values of -9.0 (from -40 to +60 °C) and -6.6 ppm/°C (from +60 to +120 °C), respectively, were obtained in the microwave band. A simultaneous increase in the phase transition temperature (Tc) and coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) by A-site substitution provides the possibility for promising thermal barrier coating (TBC) materials. Then, a cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (CDRA) with a resonance at 4.86 GHz and bandwidth of 870 MHz was fabricated by the SB0.125N specimen. The exceptional performance shows that the SB0.125N material is a possible candidate for the sub-6 GHz antenna owing to the advantages of low loss and stable temperature.

First Detection of Hb Cenxi [ß46(CD5)Gly→Arg (GGG>CGG), HBB: c.139G>C] by Capillary Electrophoresis.

We report a novel mutation on the ß-globin gene in a female of the Chinese population. This mutation produces a ß-globin variant that can be detected by the capillary electrophoresis (CE) method, but coelutes with Hb A2 by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). DNA sequencing showed a mutation of codon 46 and it was named Hb Cenxi [ß46(CD5)Gly→Arg (GGG>CGG), HBB: c.139G>C] for the city of birth of the proband. She presented normal hematological parameters.

Elevated serum ferritin levels in patients with hematologic malignancies.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively analyze variability and clinical significance of serum ferritin levels in Chinese patients with hematologic malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum ferritin were measured by radioimmunoassay, using a kit produced by the Beijing Institute of Atomic Energy. Patients with hematologic malignancies, and treated in the Department of Hematology in Nanjing First Hospital and fulfilled study criteria were recruited. RESULTS: Of 473 patients with hematologic malignancies, 262 patients were diagnosed with acute leukemia, 131 with lymphoma and 80 with multiple myeloma. Serum ferritin levels of newly diagnosed and recurrent patients were significantly higher than those entering complete remission stage or in the control group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Serum ferritin lever in patients with hematologic malignancies at early stage and recurrent stage are significantly increased, so that detection and surveillance of changes of serum ferritin could be helpful in assessing conditions and prognosis of this patient cohort.

Bortezomib in combination with thalidomide or lenalidomide or doxorubicin regimens for the treatment of multiple myeloma: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of bortezomib-based regimens for the treatment of multiple myeloma through meta-analysis. The literature on three classes of bortezomib-based regimens - bortezomib and thalidomide (VT), bortezomib and lenalidomide (VR) and bortezomib and doxorubicin (VD) - was systematically retrieved and analyzed. The initial search yielded 4896 citations, of which 14 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (a total of 5379 patients enrolled) met the pre-specified inclusion criteria. The results indicated that the VT regimen had an improved benefit in complete remission (CR) and overall response rate (ORR), but not in progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and major grade III/IV adverse events such as peripheral neuropathy, thrombotic events and infection. In contrast, the VD regimen had an improved CR with fewer thrombotic events, while PFS, OS, ORR and the other adverse events showed no significant difference. No significant difference was observed in CR, ORR and major grade III/IV adverse events when comparing the VR regimen with bortezomib and cyclophosphamide (VC), but patients receiving VR regimen therapy had obviously longer PFS and OS.

[Methylation of FHIT gene promoter region in DNA from plasma of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and demethylating effect of decitabine].

This study was aimed to detect the methylation status of FHIT gene promoter region in the DNA from plasma of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and to investigate the demethylating effect of decitabine. Methylation-specific PCR method was used to detect the methylation status of FHIT gene promoter region in the DNA from plasma of 4 patients with MDS before and after treatment with decitabine plus semis CAG therapy (among them, 1 case of newly diagnosed MDS, 3 cases progressed into acute leukemia). The results indicated that 3 cases were found to have an increased methylation in the promoter region. After treatment with decitabine plus semis CAG, increased methylation was reversed in 2 cases. In 4 cases, 2 cases displayed clinical response. It is concluded that FHIT gene hypermethylation is associated with MDS pathogenesis. Decitabine has demethylating effect on the FHIT gene hypermethylation of plasma from MDS patients. Detecting the methylation status of FHIT gene in DNA from plasma may play a role in MDS auxiliary diagnosis or prognosis.

Phase II study on voriconazole for treatment of Chinese patients with malignant hematological disorders and invasive aspergillosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of voriconazole in treating Chinese patients with hematological malignancies and invasive aspergillosis. METHODS: From March 2007 to April 2012, patients with diagnoses confirmed by CT, GM test and/or PCR assays, were recruited into this study. Aspergillosis of all patients were treated with voriconazole 6 mg/kg intravenous infusion (iv) every 12 h for 1 day, followed by 4 mg/kg IV every 12 h for 10-15 days; Then, switch to oral administration that was 200 mg every 12 h for 4-12 weeks. Efficacy and safety were evaluated according to Practice Guideline of Infectious Diseases Society of America. RESULTS: The overall response rate of 38 patients after voriconazole treatment was 81.6%. The median time to pyretolysis was 4.5 days. Treatment related side effects were mild and found in only 15.8% of cases. No treatment related deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Voriconazole can considered to be a safe and effective front-line therapy to treat patients with hematological malignancies and invasive aspergillosis. Alternatively it could be used as a remedial treatment when other antifungal therapies are ineffective.

[Detection of molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in 30 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia by fluorescence in situ hybridization].

This study was aimed to investigate the significance of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in detecting +12, del (13q14), p53 and atm gene deletion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). FISH and a panel of probes (CEP 12, LSI D13S319, LSI p53, LSI atm) were used to detect molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in 30 patients with CLL. Cytogenetic aberrations and their relation with some other prognostic factors (peripheral lymphocyte count, Binet stage, LDH level, ZAP-70 and so on) were analyzed. The results indicated that out of the 30 CLL patients, molecular cytogenetic aberrations were found in 19 (63.3%) cases and 7 (23.3%) patients showed more than two kinds of abnormalities. The most frequent abnormality detected was del (13q14) (43.3%), followed by trisomy of chromosome 12 (23.3%), del (atm) (13.3%) and del (p53) (10.0%). There were no significant differences between molecular cytogenetic aberrations and sex, age, Binet stage, peripheral lymphocyte count, or the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG), or ZAP-70. The incidence of atm gene deletion was higher in the group of CD38 high expression than that in the group of low expression (p = 0.035). It is concluded that FISH is a rapid and sensitive technique in analysing molecular cytogenetic abnormalities, but its prognostic significance in CLL needs to further investigate.

Clinical observation on treatment of chronic aplastic anemia by Shengxuening and cyclosporin A.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapy to further elevate the efficacy of the treatment of chronic aplastic anemia (CAA). METHODS: Forty-five patients with CCA were assigned into two groups, the 26 patients in the treated group were treated by Shengxuening (a Chinese herbal preparation) and cyclosporin A (CsA), and the 19 patients in the control group were treated with androgen alone, with the therapeutic course lasting for over 3 months. Changes of peripheral blood picture, and the colony productivity of burst forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E), colony forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E) and colony forming unit-granulocyte macrophage (CFU-GM) in bone marrow were observed before and after 3 months treatment. The amount of erythrocyte and platelet infusion, frequency of infection, condition of hemorrhage and relevant death were also observed. The follow-up study was conducted for over half a year. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treated group was 84.6%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (52.6%, P < 0.05). Levels of hemoglobin, reticulocyte, neutrophil and platelet increased after treatment in the treated group, as compared with those before treatment, with significant difference (P < 0.05), and the colony productivity of BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-GM in bone marrow also got significantly increased (P < 0.01), and showed significant difference from those in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Shengxuening-assisting CsA therapy is an effective measure for treatment of CAA.

[Detection of residual leukemic cells after complete remission of patients with acute myeloid leukemia].

The aim was to study minimal residual disease (MRD) in blood and bone marrow after complete remission of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and explore the role of MRD in detecting relapse of acute myeloid leukemia. The blood and bone marrow samples from 33 AML patients who had been in complete remission were determined for residual leukemic cells (RLC) with flow cytometry. The results showed that RLC in AML group of complete remission was higher than that of normal group both in blood by (4.7518 +/- 4.1537)% vs (0.4835 +/- 0.2005)% and bone marrow by (17.9082 +/- 20.4819)% vs (0.7285 +/- 0.2209)%, while the RLC in relapsed group was higher than that in non-relapsed group both in blood by (2.233 +/- 1.5923)% vs (10.2369 +/- 9.4714)% and bone marrow by (4.779 +/- 3.0336)% vs (38.0685 +/- 19.4295)%. In conclusion, early detection of leukemic residual cells with flow cytometry contributes to treatment of relapse in time.