Findings in epigenetic changes in meylodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and the development of demethylating drugs provide a new approach to the treatment of MDS. We used standard-dose decitabine for treatment of MDS in an elderly patient with an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of moderate risk group 2, and achieved a complete response in the first course. We report our experience with this case and review the relevant literatures.
Azacitidine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; DNA Modification Methylases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy

Aim To study the effect of astragaloside (AS-Ⅳ) in CLP-induced septic mice.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham group, CLP group and CLP+ AS-Ⅳ group.Two days before operation, AS-Ⅳ (10 mg·kg-1) solution was intragastrically administered into CLP +AS-Ⅳ group, and the other groups were treated with normal saline.A sepsis model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).Blood, peritoneal fluid and tissue organs were collected at 6 h and 24 h.Neutrophils of blood were purified by Percoll density gradient.Transwell was used to detect the chemotaxis function of neutrophils.The killing activity of neutrophils was detected by coculture with E.coli.Results The survival rate of AS-Ⅳ-pretreated septic mice significantly increased.The number of neutrophils in peritoneal fluid was enhanced markedly.The number of bacteria in the peritoneal fluid, blood and tissue organs such as liver, lung and kidney significantly decreased after AS-Ⅳ pretreatment.The chemotaxis and killing activity of neutrophils increased significantly in AS-Ⅳ-treated mice (P<0.05).Conclusion Astragaloside displays an immunoprotective effect in CLP-induced septic mice, which is related to the upregulation of CXCR2 expression on neutrophils and the increase of neutrophil antibacterial activity.

Objective To investigate the effect of simulated microgravity on the proliferation and differentiation of the human megakaryocyte cells in vitro. Methods The fourth generation rotating cell culture system (RCCS-4) was used to generate the simulated microgravity environment. The cell viability was assessed by trypan blue staining method. The proliferation of cells was assessed by cell counting method and CCK8 method. The CD41+/CD61+ cells rate and the cells cycle were detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of thrombopoietin receptor (c-mpl) and transcription factors were detected with RT-PCR. Results After 24, 48, 72 h, culture under simulated microgravity resulted in a significant decrease in the cell number , proliferative activity, cells in the G2/M phase and levels of c-mpl mRNA expression in comparison with that under the normal gravity (P < 0.05). After 48 h and 72 h culture, CD41+/CD61+ cells ratio decreased and RUNX-1 mRNA expression was down-regulated in cells of the group SMG compared with that of the group NG (P < 0.05). Conclusion Microgravity can inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of human megakaryocyte cells in vitro. The mechanism may be that TPO/c-mpl pathway was inhibited by down regulating the expression of c-mpl which transcriptional inhibition lead to.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics, outcomes and prognostic factors of primary bone lymphoma (PBL).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 31 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of PBL initially treated at our hospital between 1992 and 2010. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and Cox regression model used for analyzing the prognostic factors.

RESULTSThe median age of the patients was 46 years. The most common sites of involvement were the femur (29%) and the spine (29%). Sixteen (52%) patients underwent chemoradiotherapy, and the other 15 (48%) received chemotherapy. With a median follow-up of 49 months, the patients showed an overall response rate of 94% (including a complete response rate of 68% and a partial response rate of 26%). The median overall survival (OS) of the patients was 71 months (95% CI: 36-106 months) with a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 47 months (95% CI: 30-64 months). Univariate analysis identified the use of rituximab, radiotherapy, and an international prognostic index (IPI) score of 0-2 as the favorable prognostic factors for OS and PFS. Multivariate analysis showed that the use of rituximab and IPI score were independent prognostic factors of the OS and PFS, and radiotherapy was the predicting factor for PFS but not for OS.

CONCLUSIONThe use of rituximab can improve the OS or PFS of patients with PBL, and radiotherapy offers additional benefits for PFS but not for OS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; therapeutic use ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Rituximab ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

We report two cases of rituximab (RTX)-induced interstitial pneumonia in two lymphoma patients receiving RTX treatment. Interstitial pneumonia was successfully managed in these two cases after a one-week-long intervention with corresponding treatments without affecting further treatment of the primary disease. RTX-induced interstitial pneumonia is characterized by a latent onset with an unclear pathological mechanism and absence of typical symptoms. High-resolution CT scan can provide valuable evidence for early diagnosis of RTX-induced interstitial pneumonia, which might be attributed partially to an increased susceptibility to P. jirovecii and fungal infection due to prolonged RTX treatment.

We report two cases of rituximab (RTX)-induced interstitial pneumonia in two lymphoma patients receiving RTX treatment. Interstitial pneumonia was successfully managed in these two cases after a one-week-long intervention with corresponding treatments without affecting further treatment of the primary disease. RTX-induced interstitial pneumonia is characterized by a latent onset with an unclear pathological mechanism and absence of typical symptoms. High-resolution CT scan can provide valuable evidence for early diagnosis of RTX-induced interstitial pneumonia, which might be attributed partially to an increased susceptibility to P. jirovecii and fungal infection due to prolonged RTX treatment.

Objective:To improve the understanding of adult primary hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) with aggressive natural killer cell leukemia (ANKL).Methods:The clinicopathological data of one adult patient with suspected primary HPS complicated with ANKL in Huiqiao Medical Center, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University in October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and literatures were reviewed.Results:A 21-year-old male patient presented with persistent fever, hemocytopenia, splenomegaly, low fibrinogen, a significant increase in ferritin, hemophagocytes in bone marrow, decreased natural killer (NK) cell activity, and increased soluble CD25. Flow cytometry detection showed that the expression of NK cells was abnormal, and there were familial lysosomal trafficking regulator (LYST) and UNC13D gene defects. He was suspected of primary HPS complicated with ANKL. The patient was given 4 courses of EPOCH+PEG-Asp (etoposide, dexamethasone, vindesine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome, pegaspargase) regimen chemotherapy, 20 mg of citalopidine twice a week maintenance therapy and matched unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. After 35 months of follow-up, he got sustained remission.Conclusions:Even if there are secondary causes of adult HPS, it is necessary to screen out related genes to avoid misdiagnosis. HPS patients with ANKL progress rapidly, and the early mortality is high. EPOCH+ PEG-Asp regimen induction therapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be used as early as possible after diagnosis.