BACKGROUND:For pediatric patients with aplastic anemia in China, it is difficult to find human leucocyte antigen-matched sibling donors that are mostly replaced by parental donors.
OBJECTIVE:To retrospectively analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of parental haploidentical peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cel transplantation in children with relapsed and refractory severe aplastic anemia.
METHODS:Seventeen children with relapsed and refractory severe aplastic anemia who had no matched sibling or unrelated donor and failed to respond to immunosuppressive therapy were subjected to parental haploidentical peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cel transplantation. A conditioning regimen of fludarabine+cyclophosphamide+rabbit anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin antibody and the triple therapy of methotrexate, cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil were applied to prevent graft-versus-host disease.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Of the 17 children, 16 cases (94%) reached hematopoietic reconstitution, and the median time of neutrophils≥ 0.5×109/L and platelets≥ 20×109/L was 13 (11-15) days and 17 (12-28) days, respectively. (2) Incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease was 47% (8 of 17 cases), including 29% (5/17) of grades I-II and 18% (3/17) of grades III-IV. Incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease was 41% (7/17). (3) With a median folow-up duration of 268 (43-753) days, the overal survival rate was 70.6% (12/17). Five dead cases (29%) belonged to transplantation-related death, including one case of fungal skin infections, one case of graft-versus-host disease, three cases of severe lung infection. No relapse case was reported. These findings indicate that if there are no matched sibling or unrelated donors and the immunosuppression effect is poor, parental haploidentical peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cel transplantation is a safe and effective salvage treatment for children with relapsed and refractory severe aplastic anemia.

Aim To explore the effect of Cx43 over-expression on proliferation of C6 cells and its mechanisms by transfecting pCMV-Cx43cDNA plasmid into C6 cells.Methods pCMV-Cx43cDNA plasmid was transfected into C6 cells by liposome to up-regulate the expression of Cx43, and C6 cells with over-expression of Cx43 was stably cloned by using G418.Determination of cell doubling time and soft agar colony formation assay to detect the degree of cell proliferation.The cells were treated with ERK1/2 specific blocker PD98059(30 μmol·L-1) and p38MAPK specific blocker SB202190(10 μmol·L-1)respectively, the expression of Cx43, p-Cx43, p-ERK1/2 and p-p38MAPK of each group were detected by Western blot, and the activity of each group was detected by MTT Assay.Results pCMV-Cx43cDNA plasmid was transfected into C6 cells successfully.Cell lines with over-expression Cx43(C6-Cx43) or empty vector (C6-pCMV) were stably selected by using G418.Determination of cell doubling time and soft agar colony formation experiments showed that the proliferative rate and the colony number of C6-Cx43 group were significantly decreased, compared with that of C6 group and C6-pCMV group(P<0.01);ERK1/2, p38MAPK specific blockers were treated with each group,Western blot showed that the expression of Cx43 protein was increased(P<0.01), while p-Cx43 protein was decreased (P<0.05) in C6-Cx43+PD98059 group and C6-Cx43+SB202190 group,compared with that of C6-Cx43 group.Conclusion Cx43 may decrease the proliferation of glioma cells through ERK1/2, p38MAPK pathways.

Objective: To compare different specimen types of lung adenocarcinoma in the detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and to correlate EGFR mutations with patient clinical features. Methods: One hundred lung adenocarcinoma cases were collected from June to December in 2015, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University.Of the 100 lung adenocarcinoma samples, 43 were male and 57 were female. The age was from 40 to 88 years old, and the average age was 66 years. One hundred lung adenocarcinoma cases were divided equally into two groups. Mutation analysis of EGFR gene by real-time PCR was performed using biopsied tissue and paired blood samples in one group (n=50) and using pleural effusion and paired blood samples in the other group (n=50). Results: The mutation rate of EGFR gene in biopsy samples was 54% (27/50) , higher than that of blood samples (46%, 23/50), but without statistical differences (χ²=0.640, P=0.424). In contrast, mutation rate of EGFR gene in pleural effusion samples (42%, 21/50) was higher than that of blood samples (34%, 17/50), but without statistical differences(χ²=0.679, P=0.409). Two patients had EGFR mutation detected in paired blood samples but not in the corresponding biopsy samples, and four patients had EGFR mutation detected in pleural effusion samples but not in their paired blood samples. The mean progression-free survival of patients with detectable EGFR mutation were 9.5 months (tissue samples), 8.6 months (pleural effusion) and 8.5 months (blood). However, there was no statistical difference. Conclusions Blood samples may be used to assess EGFR mutations for patients with lung adenocarcinoma. However, further studies are needed to improve the sensitivity and accuracy in the detection of EGFR mutations using blood samples.

Objective:To explore the value of X-ray signs with applying low dose of contrast agent to confirm successful puncture in direct shoulder MR arthrography.Methods:In total 669 patients who underwent shoulder MR arthrography in Peking University Third Hospital from January 2016 to August 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received the anterior approach puncture in shoulder arthrography. X-ray films were taken after 1-2 ml contrast agent was injected. Six X-ray signs of contrast agent distribution were recorded. MR arthrography findings were used to confirm whether the puncture was success. Kappa analysis was used to verify the consistency between each 2 signs. The accuracy rate of each X-ray sign to confirm the successful puncture was calculated. X-ray signs were paired to define the best diagnostic index of successful puncture.Results:Successful puncture was performed in arthrographies for all 669 cases .The displaying rates of six signs were as follows. Contrast agent distribution at overlapping humeral head away from the needle was 66.8% (447/669), in axillary recess was 64.7% (433/669), in glenohumeral space was 93.9% (628/669), in subscapular bursa was 69.8% (467/669), in sheath of long head tendon of biceps brachii (LHBT) was 1.9% (13/669), between LHBT and supraspinatus tendon was 17.2% (115/669). Consistency of each 2 signs was poor (Kappa<0.2), in which the poorest consistency was found between contrast agent overlapping humeral head away from the needle and contrast agent in glenohumeral space (Kappa=-0.115). With combining the above 2 signs, the accuracy rate for defining successful puncture was 100% (669/669).Conclusion:In direct shoulder arthrography by anterior approach, X-ray signs with low dose of contrast agent can be regard as the method to confirm successful puncture. The accuracy rate of the signs of contrast agent distribution at overlapping humeral head away from the needle or in glenohumeral space to define a successful puncture is 100%.

The prognosis for diffusely infiltrating gliomas at World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2-4 remains dismal due to their heterogeneity. The rapid development of genome-wide molecular-profiling-associated studies has greatly promoted the accuracy of glioma classification. Thus, the latest version of the WHO classification of the central nervous system tumors published in 2021 has incorporated more molecular biomarkers together with histological features for the diagnosis of gliomas. Advanced usage of molecular pathology in clinical diagnostic practice provides also new opportunities for the therapy of patients with glioma, including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and more precision clinical trials. Herein, we highlight the updates in the classification of gliomas according to the latest WHO guidelines and summarize the clinically relevant molecular markers by focusing on their applications in clinical practice. We also review the advances in molecular features of gliomas, which can facilitate the development of glioma therapies, thereby discussing the challenges and future directions of molecular pathology toward precision medicine for patients with glioma.

Objective: To investigate the point mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and clinicopathologic characteristics in patients with non-small cell lung cancers(NSCLC)of Xinjiang region. Methods: Five-hundred and eighty-two cases of paraffin-embedded tissue in patients with NSCLC were collected between January 2013 and December 2015 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University. The DNA was extracted from these tissues by Qiagen kit, to test thirty-two mutations in EGFR exons 18, 19, 20 and 21 using fluorescent quantitative qRT-PCR technology by TaqMan probe; the clinicopathologic features of patients were analyzed according to the mutation status of EGFR. Results: There were 173 cases with EGFR gene mutation in 582 cases of paraffin-embedded tissue in patients with NSCLC, and the mutation rate was 29.7%(173/582). There were statistical difference in female patients (50.5%, 98/194), no history of smoking(47.3%, 96/203), high differentiation(6/9), adenosquamous carcinoma(6/11), peripheral location (34.9%, 88/252), and surgical specimens(38.2%, 83/217), respectively (P<0.05). Multiple factors Logistic analysis showed that gender, degree of differentiation, and pathologic types had statistical differences to EGFR when α=0.05. There were no statistical differences between other variants. Conclusions There are higher rate EGFR gene mutation in women patients, non-smokers, and well-differentiated, adenocarcinoma. Gender, degree of differentiation and pathological patterns are independent influencing factors on EGFR mutation status.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of zinc ions on human umbilical vein endothelial cells biological functions. Methods: The primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured with the ECM medium, and cells were divided into 8 groups: the control group(routine culture,n=3), 20 μmol/L zinc group(20 μmol/L zinc chloride solution was added into the cell medium, n=3), 40 μmol/L zinc group(40 μmol/L zinc chloride solution was added into the cell medium, n=3),80 μmol/L zinc group(80 μmol/L zinc chloride solution was added into the cell medium, n=3), 100 μmol/L zinc group(100 μmol/L zinc chloride solution was added into the cell medium, n=3), 200 μmol/L zinc group(200 μmol/L zinc chloride solution was added into the cell medium, n=3),300 μmol/L zinc group(300 μmol/L zinc chloride solution was added into the cell medium, n=3), 500 μmol/L zinc group(500 μmol/L zinc chloride solution was added into the cell medium, n=3). The cell proliferation curve was derived from real time cell analysis (RTCA). The viability value was obtained via CCK-8 reagent, and the migration distance was tested by scratch-wound assay while the adhesion function was detected by RTCA. Results: (1)After 18 hours, RTCA showed that the proliferation cell indexes were 4.5±0.6, 3.7±0.4, 3.6±0.3, 2.5±0.4, and 2.5±0.4 in the 20, 40, 80, 100, and 200 μmol/L zinc groups, as compared with 3.5±0.3 in the control group (all P<0.05). Proliferation cell indexes were 0 in both of the 300 μmol/L and 500 μmol/L zinc groups. (2)After 96 hours, the viability were 1.21±0.05, 1.10±0.03, 0.99±0.05, 0.62±0.02, 0.45±0.04, 0.11±0.01, and 0.12±0.06, respectively in the 20, 40, 80, 100, 200, 300, and 500 μmol/L zinc groups, as compared with 0.75±0.05 in the control group (all P<0.05). (3)After 12 hours, the migration distances were (0.56±0.11),(0.96±0.07),(0.49±0.02), and (0.29±0.01)mm in the 20, 40, 80, and 100 μmol/L zinc groups, as compared with (0.24±0.04)mm in the control group (all P<0.05). (4)After 18 hours, the adhesion cell index were 0.40±0.05, 0.31±0.01, 0.38±0.05, and 0.40±0.03 in the 20, 40, 80, and 100 μmol/L zinc groups, as compared with 0.24±0.04 in the control group (all P>0.05). Conclusions Zinc ions at lower concentration (≤80 μmol/L) can promote proliferation, viability and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, but the adhesion function was not significantly affected by zinc ions. Zinc ions at higher concentration (≥200 μmol/L) can inhibit the cellular function of the human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

In this study, we investigated how empathic neural responses unfold over time in different empathy networks when viewing same-race and other-race individuals in dynamic painful conditions. We recorded magnetoencephalography signals from Chinese adults when viewing video clips showing a dynamic painful (or non-painful) stimulation to Asian and White models' faces to trigger painful (or neutral) expressions. We found that perceived dynamic pain in Asian models modulated neural activities in the visual cortex at 100 ms-200 ms, in the orbitofrontal and subgenual anterior cingulate cortices at 150 ms-200 ms, in the anterior cingulate cortex around 250 ms-350 ms, and in the temporoparietal junction and middle temporal gyrus around 600 ms after video onset. Perceived dynamic pain in White models modulated activities in the visual, anterior cingulate, and primary sensory cortices after 500 ms. Our findings unraveled earlier dynamic activities in multiple neural circuits in response to same-race (vs other-race) individuals in dynamic painful situations.
Adult ; Humans ; Brain Mapping ; Pain ; Empathy ; Racism ; Gyrus Cinguli/physiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Brain/physiology*