OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative effect of combined transplantation of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling in children with β-thalassemia major.METHODS: Eight thalassemia major patients undergoing combined transplantation of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling aged from 4.0 to 7.5 years, 5 boys and 3 girls, were recruited at the Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital,Southem Medical University from January 2005 to March 2009. The patients were classified into three classes according to Pesarothalassamia classification, class Ⅰ to class Ⅱ 7 cases and class Ⅲ 1 case. Donors ranged 1-4 years received 10 μg/kg per day of subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 5 consecutive days. Bone marrow was harvested on the fifth day. Bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of the same sibling then were transfused into the patient.RESULTS: Recovery of hematopoiesis was gained in all patients 4 weeks following transplantation. Seven patients suffered from infection of different degree. Four patients developed mild venous occlusive disease. Two patients developed grade Ⅰ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and one developed grade Ⅰ chronic GVHD. Seven patients were alive and one died of pulmonary infection and heart failure 32 days following transplantation.CONCLUSION: Combined transplantation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor primed bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling in children with β-thalassemia major is safe and effective with promising results. However, complications should be paid high attention following transplantation.

AIM:To study the expression of signal transduction molecules in the striatum G protein protein 4 (RGS4) and dopamine D2 receptor (D2) in conditioned place preference (CPP) rats treated with methamphetamine (meth).METHODS:METH dependence CPP model was established (1 week and 2 weeks of METH dependence groups),The protein expression of RGS4 and D2,inhibitory G protein alpha-subunit (Gαi),mitogenactivated protein kinase (MAPK) in striatum were determined by Western blotting (WB).The changes of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content in striatum of rats were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).RESULTS:Compared with saline control group,the average time of rats in the methamphetamine-paired chamber for two groups was increased (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with saline control group,RGS4 protein expressions in the two METH dependent groups were reduced (P ＜0.01);compared with 1 week of METH dependence group,that of 2 weeks group was reduced significantly(P ＜ 0.05).D2,Gαi,MAPK protein and cAMP expressions in the two METH dependent groups were increased (P ＜ 0.01);compared with 1 week of METH dependence group,those of 2 weeks were increased significantly (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION:RGS4 and D2 receptor signaling pathways in striatum have changed in METH dependent rats,RGS4 may be involved in the regulation of METH-dependent D2 receptor signaling pathway in METH dependent rats.