Prolonged chronic phase in chronic myelogenous leukemia after homoharringtonine therapy

Background Homoharringtonine （HHT） is effective in treating late stage chronic myelogenous leukaemia （CML）, but little is known about long term maintenance during complete cytogenetic response. Long term efficacy and toxicity profiles of low dose HHT were evaluated in this study. Methods One hundred and six patients with CML received 1.5 mg/m^2 of HHT alone by continuous daily infusion for seven to nine days every four weeks. Of 79 patients in the control group, 31 were treated with interferon α （IFN-α） and 48 with hydroxycarbamide. For 17 patients who failed to achieve cytogenetic response within 12 months＇ treatment of IFN-α, HHT was administered. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the BCR-ABL mRNA expression in 36 Philadelphia positive CML patients enrolled after 2007. Haematological and cytogenetic responses were evaluated in all patients at the 12th month of follow-up. Long term efficacy was assessed in a follow-up with a median time of 54 months （12 months-98 months）. Results After 12 months of therapy, cytogenetic response rate of the HHT, IFN-α and hydroxycarbamide groups were 39/106, 14/31 and 3/48, and corresponding molecular cytogenetic response rates 6/18, 3/8 and 0. Of the 17 patients who received HHT as salvage treatment, 6 achieved cytogenetic response （3 major）. At the 48 months＇ follow-up, cytogenetic response was maintained in 32/39 patients treated with HHT. Patients who had cytogenetic response in HHT group or treated with IFN-α also showed longer median chronic durations, which were 45 months （12 months-98 months） and 49 months （12 months-92 months） respectively, indicating a longer survival time. Conclusions Low dose HHT alone showed considerable short term and long term efficacy in the treatment of late stage CML. It may also be a good choice for patients who have failed imatinib, IFN-α treatment or haematopoietic stem cell transplantation or cannot afford these treatments.

Finger millet porridges subjected to different processing conditions showed low glycemic index and variable efficacy on plasma antioxidant capacity of healthy adults

Finger millet porridges(FMP),rich in nutrient and non-nutrient compounds have been used in the traditional food cultures in Asia.The aims of the study were to determine the effect of different processing conditions of finger millet grains on glycemic response,phenolic content and the antioxidant activities of FMP and to determine the short term and long term efficacy of its consumption on plasma antioxidant levels of healthy adults.Twelve types of FMP were prepared combining different processing conditions.Phenolic content of porridges as well as antioxidant activities were determined.The glycemic index(GI)and glycemic load(GL)values of FMP were also evaluated.The long term efficacy of FMP consumption on plasma glucose(PG),total cholesterol(TC)levels and plasma antioxidant capacity(PAC)of 18 subjects were investigated using a 24 weeks randomized cross-over study.The short term efficacy of porridge consumption on AC was determined.PAC was measured by trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity(TEAC)and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power(FRAP).All FMP exhibited low GI values(<55)except the raw roasted flour which showed high and medium GI values for both particle sizes used.Parboiling of finger millet grains with 15 min steaming produced FMP with low glycemic response and possessed high PAC.Compared to baseline,PAC measured using FRAP and TEAC assays increased after 8 weeks consumption of porridge though significant changes were not observed for PG and TC levels.Furthermore,PAC was increased by 23 and 14%after 2 h of porridge consumption as measured by TEAC and FRAP,respectively.FMP consumption increased the plasma total antioxidant capacity of healthy adults.Further research on examining the potential of FMP on improving the antioxidant capacity in patients with diabetes is warranted.