芪苈强联合强的松治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病随机平行对照研究

[目的]观察芪苈强联合强的松治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病疗效。[方法]使用随机平行对照方法,将56例住院患者按随机数字表法分为两组。对照组28例强的松,5mg/次,2次/d。治疗组28例芪苈强,1.2g/次,3次/d。西药治疗同对照组。连续治疗14d为1疗程。观测临床症状、性粒细胞/白细胞、补体、肺氧合能力、不良反应。治疗1疗程,判定疗效。[结果]治疗组治愈15例,好转12例,无效1例,总有效率96.43%。对照组治愈9例,好转11例,无效8例,总有效率71.43%。治疗组疗效优于对照组(P<0.05)。两组相关指标均有改善(P<0.05),治疗组改善优于对照组(P<0.05)。[结论]芪苈强联合强的松治疗慢性阻塞性肺疾病效果显著,值得推广。

Regulatory T cells in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases treated with adacolumn granulocytapheresis

AIM: To investigate if the clinical efficacy of granulocytes and monocytes by adsorption (GMA) is associated with an increased frequency of peripheral regulatory T cells (Tregs), as these cells have proven to be successful in suppressing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in animal models. METHODS: We report four cases of corticosteroid- dependent ulcerative colitis (UC) and two Crohn’s disease (CD) cases with severe cutaneous lesions who received GMA therapy. The frequency of CD4+ CD25high (Tregs) in peripheral blood was analyzed by flow cytometry and the expression of FoxP3 and TGF beta in purified CD4+ T cells was determined by real time PCR prior to and one month after the last apheresis session, and at the time of endoscopic and clinical assessing. RESULTS: Increased expression of Fox P3 mRNA was found in all five patients who responded to cytapheresis with remission of clinical symptoms, mucosal inflammation and cutaneous lesions, and an increased frequency of circulating Tregs was found in four patients. These changes were not observed in the patient with UC who did no respond to GMA. Variations in TGF-β (mRNA) did not parallel that of FoxP3 mRNA. CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of GMA on IBD and related extra intestinal manifestations was associated with an expansion of circulating CD4+ CD25+ Tregs and higher expression of FoxP3 in CD4+ T cells. Accordingly, an elevated CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3 may be a valuable index of remission in patients with IBD and other chronic relapsing-remitting inflammatory conditions during treatment with GMA.

Effects of anti-CXCR_4 monoclonal antibody 12G5 on proliferation and apoptosis of human acute myelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60

Objective：To investigate the expression of CXCR4 on HL-60 cell line and the proliferation, apoptosis of HL-60 cell line cocultured with bone marrow stromal cells, so as to assess the possibility of 12G5, an anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody, in eradicating the minimal residual disease. Methods：The activity of SDF-1 was inhibited by 10 μg/ml 12G5. After treatment with 12G5, the status of adhesion was observed, and the adhesion rates, apoptosis and cell cycles were detected after 24 h of treatment. Cell growth rates were measured by trypan blue exclusion. Cell growth curve was plotted, and the expression of PCNA and apoptosis related protein including PCNA, Bcl-2 and Fas were detected with immunohistochemical technique. Results：（1） There was middling degree expression of CXCR4 on HL-B0 membrane. From 0 h to 6 h, as the time of 12G5 incubation along, the expression of CXCR4 decreased gradually. （2） After treatment for 24 h, the adhesion rates in the experiment group and the control were （39.4±7.9）% and （51.4±5.9）%, respectively. （3）After treatment for 24 h, the percentage of HL-60 cells in G0/G1 phase were （55.21±4.9）%, and that in S phase and G2/M phase were （30.40±4.1）% and （14.39± 5.2）%, respectively, with the corresponding proportions being （44. 67±2.2）%, （45.30±3.7）%, and （10. 03±2.6）% in the control. （4） The percentage of apoptotic HL-60 cells was （8.95±1.7）% in the experiment group, compared to （3. 97±2. 4）% in the control. （5）The survival rates of HL-60 cells decreased markedly at 48 h to 96 h, and the proliferation slowed down at this time duration. （6）The expression of PCNA and Bcl-2 down-regulated significantly, but the Fas protein expression was up-regulated. Conclusion：12G5 could inhibit the capability of adhesion and proliferation of HL-60 cells and it can induce more cells to enter G0/G1 phase and promote apoptosis. It may be helpful by inhibiting the bioactivity of SDF-1 with 12G5 in the therapy of marrow residual disease.

Atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia with Trisomy 13: a Case Report

ATYPICAL chronic myeloid leukaemia （aCML）, which shows both myeloproliferative and mye- Iodysplastic features, is a type of myeloprolif- erative/myelodysplastic disease as defined bythe World Health Organisation （WHO） classification of the myeloid neoplasms. Because of the presence of neutrophilic leukocytosis, aCML may resemble chronic myeIogenous leukemia （CML）. However, in contrast with CML, aCML does not have the Philadelphia chromosome or the bcr/abl fusion gene.

The Influence of IFN-α on Blood Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia

OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of IFN on CML.METHODS Samples of 15 CML patients and 10 healthy controlswere studied. The flow cytometry was performed to identifycirculating pDCs. The concentration of IFN-α in serum and that inthe supernatant of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)cultured after stimulation with CpG ODN2216 were examinedboth in CML patients and in the healthy controlsRESULTS There was significant reduction in the numberof circulating pDCs, serum concentration of IFN-α and thecapacity of IFN-α producing PBMCs in CML patients comparedwith those in healthy control individuals (P < 0.001). After theactive treatment with IFN-α and hydroxyurea, the quantity andfunction of pDCs were increased in stabilized patients, especiallythe function of pDCs in 2 patients achieving major cytogeneticresponse (MCR). The proportion and function of pDCs and theserum levels of IFN were inversely correlated with both WBC andage of the patients with CML, and positively correlated with thestate of the illness.CONCLUSION CML patients had a reduced number anddysfunction of circulating pDCs. The active treatment with IFN inCML patients may be related to the restoration of pDCs.

Influence of Photoperiod over Morphometric and Hematological Parameters of Juvenile Piracanjubas （Brycon orbygnianus）

The aim of this study was to evaluate morphometric and hematological parameters of juveniles Piracanjubas treated with two distinct photoperiod. Twenty nine fish with 100 g, in a factorial design were performed in 18 h light：6 h dark （18L：6D） and 6L：lSD two different photoperiod, and morphometric and hematological parameters were evaluated at 45 d and 90 d after photoperiod treatment. Benzocaine 1% was used for euthanasia. Fish were weighed and measured, so as visceral fat, liver and gonads. Hematocrit, total count of white cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils were counted. Results showed that there was no significant relationship between bodyweight and standard length. Significant interaction （P = 0.00018） had been found between the fat index （FI） and gonado-somatic index （GSI） and the photoperiod and time. At 90 d, the fish kept in 18L：6D had a lower rate of fat than the fish kept in 6L：18D （P 〈 0.05）. The GSI was higher in the group 6L.＇18D compared with the 18L：6D （P 〈 0.005）. There was no interaction between photoperiod and period of treatment for total leukocyte count, however with 90 d, the total leukocyte count was decreased （P 〈 0.05）. Moreover, decrease of the hematocrit from 58.1% to 46.9% and an increase of lymphocytes from 31.5% to 43.5% had been found in fish kept in 18L：6D after 90 d （P 〈 0.05）. Fish kept in 6L：ISD presented an increase in segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes （P 〈 0.05）. It is concluded that photoperiod maintained at 6L： 18D for Piracanjubas permits a greater gonadal development and an amount of immune cells over the photoperiod maintained in 18L： 6D.

Serum-free culture of dendritic cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in vitro and estimation of their cytotoxicity

OBJECTIVE: To establish a serum-free culture system of dendritic cells (DCs) from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells so that DCs vaccine may be applied to the adoptive immunotherapy of CML in the near future. METHODS: Fetal calf serum, serum-free medium and autologous serum were used for culture of DCs. The usage of cytokines was classified into two groups: group A (stem cell factor, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating-factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-4) and group B (granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating-factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-4). The phenotypes of DCs were analyzed by using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Mixed leukocyte responses were performed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Chromosome analysis of DCs can be achieved by displaying G banding. T cells from CML patients were stimulated with autologous DCs and T-cell cytotoxicity was measured by (MTT) assay. RESULTS: CD34(+) cells or mononuclear cells were obtained from peripheral blood or bone marrow samples of eight patients of chronic-phase CML. Group A of serum-free medium was better than group B in expansion of total cell numbers and the rate of DCs. These results of serum-free medium were not significantly different from those of fetal calf serum medium, but the results of autologous serum medium were inferior to two groups above. The expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigen on the surface of DCs was notable (> 50%), but the expression of CD83 and the costimulatory molecules CD86 was not noticeable (10% - 50%). Although CD1a(+)/CD14(-) DCs were potent stimulators of allogeneic lymphocytes, expansion of T cells from normal volunteers were not significant (average 27.2 fold at DCs: T cells ratio of 1:10). At day 12, CD1a(+) cells from three patients were studied by displaying G banding and Ph(+) cells in these populations were 100%, 98% and 60%, respectively. At an effector: target ratio of 40:1, 32% to 45% cytotoxicity was noted with DC-stimulated T cells against autologous leukemia cells. CONCLUSIONS: A stable serum-free culture system of CML-DCs was established. The expression of CD83 and CD86 on the surface of CML-DCs and DCs' potent stimulation of allogeneic lymphocytes were not notable. DCs in CML patients can be derived from the malignant clone and these malignant DCs could induce anti-leukemic reactivity in autologous T lymphocytes without the necessity for additional exogenous antigens.

Human stem cell model to study signal transduction and molecular regulation mechanisms in CML

Abstract:Objective To develop a primary human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell model for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and study signal transduction and molecular regulation mechanisms in CML. Methods We developed a human model of p210BCR/ABL positive CML by transducing normal human umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells with a retroviral vector containing the b3a2 bcr/abl cDNA. We also examined whether this model recreated the cellular phenotype of CML by assessing cell adhesion, cell migration, cell proliferation and cell survival. Results We found that significantly more myeloid colony forming units grew from p210BCR/ABL expressing cells, adhesion of p210BCR/ABL expressing CD34+ cells to fibronectin was decreased but migration over fibronectin was enhanced compared with mock transduced CD34+ cells. In this model, we showed that the presence of p210BCR/ABL leads to elevated levels of p27kip in p210BCR/ABL expressing CD34+ cells. We also showed that multidrug resistance-1 (MDR-1) Pgp was upregulated in the p210BCR/ABL expressing cells which correlates with the expression of p210BCR/ABL. Conclusion This primary human CML model recreates most of the features of CML and provides a useful tool to study signal transduction and downstream molecular regulation drived by the p210BCR/ABL oncogene in normal CD34+ cells.

Atomic force microscopy imaging and mechanical properties measurement of red blood cells and aggressive cancer cells

Mechanical properties play an important role in regulating cellular activities and are critical for unlocking the mysteries of life. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables researchers to measure mechanical properties of single living cells under physiological conditions. Here, AFM was used to investigate the topography and mechanical properties of red blood cells (RBCs) and three types of aggressive cancer cells (Burkitt's lymphoma Raji, cutaneous lymphoma Hut, and chronic myeloid leukemia K562). The surface topography of the RBCs and the three cancer cells was mapped with a conventional AFM probe, while mechanical properties were investigated with a microsphere glued onto a tip-less cantilever. The diameters of RBCs are significantly smaller than those of the cancer cells, and mechanical measurements indicated that Young's modulus of RBCs is smaller than those of the cancer cells. Aggressive cancer cells have a lower Young's modulus than that of indolent cancer cells, which may improve our understanding of metastasis.

Fighting against hematological malignancy in China: from unique system to global impact

During recent decades, substantial progress has been made in clinical strategies for treating hematological malignancies. Not only did China benefit from the global progression in the management of acute promyelocytic leukemia, risk-stratification-directed strategies for acute or chronic leukemia and haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the unique system developed by Chinese doctors has also become inspiration for refining global clinical practice. The multicenter trials and collaborations adhering to international standards might further strengthen the global impact and lead the way in specific fields of research worldwide.