Objective To investigate the clinical significance of D-dimer in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods The study group comprised 261 SLE patients who were admitted in ward from 2005 to 2008 in Peking University People's Hospital Collect the clinical data to investigate the clinical significance of D-dimer. Results ( 1 ) The D-dimer levels of 56 patients were increased due to coexist reduced renal function, infections, disseminated intravascular coagulation ( DIC), liver disorders, pregnancy and injury. With the exception of above patients, 142 ( 69. 3 ) patients were increased in total 205 patients. (2)The level of D-dimer was positively correlated with SLE disease activity index( SLEDAI ) score ( r =0. 598,P =0. 000), and was associated with anti-dsDNA antibody, ESR, C-reactive protein(CRP) and complement C3 and C4. (3)D-dimer level was associated with important organ involvement. (4)All patients with thrombosis had increased D-dimer, but patients without thrombosis had normal or increased D-dimer levels. Conclusion The level of D-dimer elevates in patients with active disease or important organ involvement , it can not identify thrombosis. All patients with thrombosis had increased D-dimer levels.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of c-myb in reflux esophagitis, Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

METHODSThe expression levels of c-myb in the esophageal mucosa tissue of patients with reflux esophagitis, Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression levels of c-myb mRNA in Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal and reflux esophagitis esophageal tissue (P<0.05 or 0.01), and increased progressively with the development of reflux esophagitis into Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression level of c-myb mRNA is closely related with the development of Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, and may be used as a valuable index for monitoring the early onset and intervention of Barrett esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Barrett Esophagus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of gene mutations in unexplained infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EE).

METHODSA total of 47 infants with unexplained infantile EE were enrolled, and next-generation sequencing was used to analyze gene mutations in these infants and their parents.

RESULTSOf all 47 infants, 23 were found to have gene mutations, among whom 13 had de novo mutations and 10 had heterozygous mutations inherited from their father or mother. Among the 23 infants with gene mutations, 17 were found to have the gene mutations related to EE (among whom 14 had ion channel gene mutations), 2 had the gene mutations related to congenital inherited metabolic diseases, 2 had the gene mutations related to brain structural abnormality, and 2 had the gene mutations related to mental retardation.

CONCLUSIONSUnexplained infantile EE may have gene mutations, mainly ion channel gene mutations.

To explore the expression spectra of apoptosis-related gene pnas-2 in normal tissues and acute leukemia (AL) patient tissues, the expressions of pnas-2 gene in tissues including heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas, spleen, lymph node, thymus, leukocyte, bone marrow and fetal liver were detected by Northern blot. The expressions of pnas-2 in samples including 44 de novo, 9 non-CR, 27 CR and 12 relapsed AL patients were measured by real-time RT-PCR and Northern blot, and the expression levels of pnas-2 in normal and tumor tissues from 31 patients with malignancies were also detected. The results showed that pnas-2 was not expressed in the most tissues except in placenta. The results of real-time PCR indicated that pnas-2 expressions in samples of de novo, non-CR and relapsed patients ware significantly higher than that in CR, tumor tissues and normal tissues. In serial monitoring of 7 AL patients, the expression level of pnas-2 was high at first visit examination, but remarkably decreased after remission, and the pnas-2 expression level increased again when relapsed. It is concluded that the pnas-2 is specifically up-regulated in acute leukemia patients, which might be an oncogene and participate in leukemogenesis.
Acute Disease ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study directional differentiation of BMSCs guided by Desert living Cistanche (Herba Cistanches) which invigorates the kidney.

METHODSPrimary BMSCs were obtained by whole bone marrow culture and subcultured to the fourth generation by trypsin digestion, and than inoculated into two six-well plates at 5 x 10(6) cells per milliliter, all the plates were divided into three groups as blank group, Dexamethasone (DXM) group and Herba Cistanches group, three wells in each group, medium were changed at day 2. The blank group were changed with L-DMEM containing 10% FBS. The DXM group were changed with medium containing 10 mmol/L beta-sodium glycerophosphate, 0.1 micromol/L DXM and 50 mg/L vitamin C. The Herba Cistanches group were changed with medium containing 10% blood serum containing Herba Cistanches and L-DMEM. One of the six-well plates was stained by alkaline phosphatase (AKP) at the tenth day,the other one was stained by alizarin Bordeaux at the twentieth day.

RESULTSAt the tenth day DXM group and Herba Cistanches group were ALKP stained positive; from the 12th day,white calcium nodus could be seen at the surface of the wells; which alizarin stained positive by the twentyth day.

CONCLUSIONThe medium containing Herba Cistanches can guide BMSCs to differentiate into osteoblast, which promises a favorable prospect for the treatment of osteoporosis and bone fracture disunion.

Animals ; Cell Count ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cistanche ; Female ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo report two de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with t(11;22)(q23;q11.2) and summarize the clinical and biological characteristics.

METHODSBone marrow cells morphology, immunophenotype, chromosome karyotype, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), PCR and gene sequencing were performed. Clinical manifestation and routine laboratory tests were analyzed.

RESULTSThe patients were diagnosed as AML-M₂ and AML-M₅ by morphology and immunophenotype results. Both patients carried t(11;22)(q23; q11.2) and one of them carried an additional chromosome abnormality. MLL-SEPTIN5 fusion transcript was identified in two patients by RT-PCR and sequencing. The two patients got hematologic complete remission after induction chemotherapy with daunorubicin, homoharringtonine, and cytarabine (DHA) or daunorubicin and cytarabine (DA). One of them relapsed and died during consolidation therapy with intermediate-dose cytarabine.

CONCLUSIONLeukemia with t(11;22)(q23;q11.2) chromosome translocation met the clinical and laboratory manifestations of AML. The MLL-SEPTIN5 fusion transcript was the distinctively biological etiology. Patients with t(11;22)(q23;q11.2) were vulnerable to relapse after conventional chemotherapy and had poor prognosis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be recommended as early as possible.

Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Prognosis ; Translocation, Genetic

BACKGROUND:Internal and external fixation combined with autologous bone graft for treating atrophic nonunion has a long treatment cycle,and moreover,it cannot achieve a 100％ cure rate.Platelet-rich plasma contains a variety of growth factors and a large number of white blood cells,and contributes to tissue healing.However,there is no clinical study on the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma combined with conventional surgery in the treatment of atrophic nonunion.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of atrophic nonunion of femoral shaft fractures.METHODS:We conducted a prospective,open-label,randomized,controlled clinical trial at the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University,China.Ninety-two patients with atrophic nonunion of femoral shaft fractures were equally and randomly divided into control group and experimental group.Patients in the control group received conventional surgery.Patients in the experimental group were injected with autologous platelet-rich plasma on the basis of conventional surgery.The primary outcome was fracture healing rate at postoperative 9 months.The secondary outcomes were visual analogue scale scores in resting state and during passive motion,healing time,treatment costs,and adverse reactions.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University of China (approval number:QHG0223A) on May 20,2014.Written informed consent was provided by each patient and their family members after they fully understood the treatment plan.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Our partial results demonstrated that visual analogue scale scores and complications were similar between the two groups at postoperative 1-3 days.The healing rate was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group.The healing time was significantly shorter in the experimental group than in the control group.This trial will provide objective data for the clinical use of platelet-rich plasma combined with conventional surgery for the treatment of atrophic nonunion.

OBJECTIVETo investigate if CYP3A5 gene is involved in the molecular mechanisms for multiple drug resistance in leukemia cells.

METHODSA full length cDNA of CYP3A5 gene was cloned, and a recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid was constructed, then stably transfected cell lines were established. Furthermore, the sensitivity of those cell lines to several anticancer drugs were assessed by MTT and FCM assay.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid was designated as pcDNA3-CYP3A5. Transfecting HL-60 cells (which didn't show transcript of CYP3A5 gene) with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-CYP3A5 generated HL-60/CYP3A5 cell line, and transfecting of HL-60 cells with the parental pcDNA3 vector served as control HL-60/pc cell line. Daunorubicin induced remarkable apoptosis peaks in HL-60 and HL-60/pc cells, while such effect did not occur in HL-60/CYP3A5 cells (apoptosis cell percentage were 7.3%, 6.3% and 1.2%, respectively). Compared with HL-60 and HL-60/pc cells, HL-60/CYP3A5 cells were statistically significantly resistant to daunorubicin, aclacinomycin A, vincristine and harringtonine (resistance multiples were 2.89, 2.01, 4.05 and 2.79 times, respectively, P < 0.05), however the sensitivity to teniposide didn't change (resistance multiple was 1.04 times).

CONCLUSIONTranscription of CYP3A5 gene in leukemia cells directly induces resistance to anthracyclines and alkaloids, however the cells are still sensitive to epipodophyllotoxins. Therefore, our findings confirmed a new mechanism of multidrug resistance.

Aclarubicin ; pharmacology ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; genetics ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Transfection ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEQuercetin, a widely distributed natural flavonoid with a variety of biological functions, can reverse multidrug resistance (MDR) in leukemia according to recent researches. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of reversal of multi-drug resistance by quercetin mainly in respect of membrane transporters.

METHODSMTT cell viability assay was used to verify the chemo-sensitization to daunorubicin (DNR) by quercetin in HL-60/ADM cell line and determine the effective reversal concentration, the expression of MRP(1) gene and its protein product, multidrug resistant associated protein 1 by RT-PCR and flow cytometry By confocal laser scanning microscopy, the subcellular distribution of DNR in HL-60/S and HL-60/ADM cells was examined before and after quercetin exposure.

RESULTSCompared with HL-60/S, 20-40 micromol/L quercetin in vitro remarkably enhanced the sensitivity of HL-60/ADM cells to daunorubicin, down-regulated the expression of MRP(1) gene and its protein product MRP(1), restored the abnormal subcellular distribution of daunorubicin, so as to reverse MDR. Moreover, such an effective concentration of quercetin was non-toxic to the cells.

CONCLUSIONQuercetin could be a candidate of effective multidrug resistance-reversing agent with low toxicity in leukemia chemotherapy.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; drug effects ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; drug effects ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Quercetin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of 1q21 amplification and 1p12 deletion, and analyze the correlation between these aberrations with disease progression, prognosis and outcome in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSCytoplasm light chain immunofluorescence with simultaneous interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (cIg-FISH) was used to detecte the 1q21 amplification and 1p12 deletion in 48 patients with MM.

RESULTS1q21 amplification (≥ 3 red signals) was determined in 26 of 48(54.2%) cases. The mortality of patients with 1q21 amplification was significantly higher than that of those lacking 1q21 amplification (P < 0.05). The sex, age, D-S stage, subgroup and ISS stage between patients with and without 1q21 amplification had no significant difference (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference in D-S stage and mortality between patients with 3 and with 4 copies of 1q21 (P < 0.05). No significant difference in sex, age, subgroup, ISS stage, and isotype was found between them (P > 0.05). 1p12 deletion (< 2 green signals) was found in 14 of 48 (29.2%) cases. There was no significant difference in sex, age, D-S stage, ISS stage, isotype, subgroup, and mortality between patients with and without 1p12 deletion.

CONCLUSIONThe frequency of chromosome 1 aberrations in multiple myeloma is high and 1q21 amplification is a poor prognosis factor.

Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; Prognosis