[Analysis of the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis for acute myeloid leukemia M2a patients treated by IA and DA regimens].

This study was purposed to compare the therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia M2a (AML-M2a) patients treated by idarubicin (IDA) combined with cytarabine (Ara-C) (IA) and daunorubicin (DNR) combined cytarabine (Ara-C) (DA) regimens. The clinical data of 65 patients with AML-M2a in our hospital were collected from May 2009 to May 2013 and analyzed. The results indicated the complete remission in IA group was slightly higher than that in DA group, there was no statistically significant difference(P > 0.05); leukocyte minimum value in IA group [(0.58 ± 0.40)×10(9)/L] was obviously lower than that in DA group [(0.99 ± 0.67)×10(9)/L] (P < 0.05); neutrophil minimum value in IA group [(0.19 ± 0.09)×10(9)/L] was significantly lower than that in DA group [(0.21 ± 0.16)×10(9)/L] (P < 0.05); the neutropenia duration in IA group (12.59 ± 5.31)d was much longer than that in DA group (9.17 ± 7.04)d (P < 0.05). The median survival time of patients in IA group was 36.67 months, which was obviously longer than that of patients in DA group (21.45 months) (P < 0.05). The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) value and chemotherapy regimens were the independently risk factor affecting the prognosis of AML-M2a patients. It is concluded that as compared with DA regimen, the IA regimen can prolong the median survival time and has better long-term therapeutic efficacy, thus it can be used as the first chemotherapy regimen for treatment of AML-M2a.

Characterization of patients and its relationship with medical complaints.

BACKGROUND: Patient characteristics may be an internal factor influencing patient complaints, but in China patient characterization is restricted to patient satisfaction surveys, and few studies have considered the relationship between patient characteristics and patient complaints. The aim of this research was to determine the reasons for complaints. METHODS: In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of hospitalized patients and explored their relationship with medical complaints. RESULTS: The significant factors were age (P = 0.045), hospital cost (P = 0.003), household nature (P < 0.001), and education (P < 0.001). The complaint rate decreased when the patients' age increased (regression coefficient, -0.606; OR, 0.545, and 95%CI, 0.301 - 0.987). The complaint rate increased with an increase in hospital cost (regression coefficient, 0.818; OR, 2.266; and 95%CI, 1.320 - 3.889). Patients from non-agricultural households had a higher complaint rate (regression coefficient, 1.051; OR, 2.861; and 95%CI, 1.611 - 5.082). Patients with higher education levels had lower complaint rates (regression coefficient, -0.944; OR, 0.389; and 95%CI, 0.234 - 0.647). CONCLUSION: The survey confirms that older patients and patients with higher education levels had lower complaint rates, while non-agricultural population and patients with higher hospital expenses had higher complaint rates.

[Stratification therapy in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia after a complete remission by all-trans retinoic acid].

OBJECTIVE: To explore an efficacious protocol for the patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) after a complete remission (CR) by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). METHODS: A total of 32 APL patients with an induction of CR by ATRA at our hospital from January 2000 to October 2007 received conventional standard chemotherapy as a consolidation regimen. Stratified according to age, those under 50 years old received an intermediate dose of cytarabine(IDAra-C)and over 50 years old non-IDAra-C regimen. Maintenance regimen: all patients received ATRA, arsenic trioxide (As2O3) and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) + methotrexate (MTX) alternately and sequentially for 3 years. The efficacy and side effects of these chemotherapies were observed. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 72 (40 - 124) months. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates of under 50 years old and over 50 years old were 94.7% and 92.3% respectively. The difference was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). One patient relapsed after a consolidation therapy and so did another on a maintenance regimen. Thirty patients achieved a constant CR. And 16 of 30 patients completed chemotherapy beyond 5 years and survived disease-free. The 5-year DFS rate of 32 patients was 93.8%. CONCLUSION: After the achievement of CR with ATRA, all APL patients have a higher rate of DFS after stratification. The side effects are generally mild. Thus a stratification therapy is both feasible and efficacious.

Cloning of the full length cDNA for a novel leukemia relapse-associated candidate gene LRP15 / 中国实验血液学杂志

To clone the full length cDNA of a novel leukemia relapse-associated candidate gene (LRP15), the human ESTs (Expression Sequence Tags) fragments obtained from electronic hybridization were assembled by a 1.8 kb DNA probe, which was only methylated in relapsed leukemia. Then the primers were designed for rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE). Bioinformatic data of High Throughout Genomic Sequences (HTGS) and Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) were used for chromosome localization and tissue expression analysis. The results showed that the full-length cDNA of the novel gene had an open reading frame of 780 bp encoding a 259 amino acid protein of unkown functions. LRP15 gene expressed in many different tissues was localized in chromosome 3p24. It is concluded that RACE is an effective method to clone novel genes and LRP15 may be a leukemia relapse-associated candidate gene playing an important role in carcinogenesis.