OBJECTIVEIt was revealed that t(8; 21) (q22; q22) was one of the most common chromosomal aberrations in acute non-lymphoid leukemia. The translocation was found to be involved in the AML1 gene on the chromosome 21 and the ETO gene on the chromosome 8, and resulted in the formation of AML1/ETO fusion gene on the derivative chromosome 8. The fusion gene was a transcription factor and played a direct role in the leukemogenesis. The translocation was mainly observed in M(2), accidentally in M(4) and M(1) and rarely in MDS. Here we studied the main clinical data in children with acute non-lymphoid leukemia (ANLL) carrying the AML1/ETO fusion gene. In addition, we discussed the significance of the detection of AML1/ETO fusion gene in the diagnosis and prognosis of children with ANLL.

METHODSThe authors investigated 29 patients in our hospital from December 2000 to March 2002. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A included 21 patients, 14 males and 7 females. They were 3.6 to 14 years old and the median was 9. Group B included 8 patients, 6 males and 2 females. They were 0.8 to 14 years old and the median was 6. Diagnosis was made according to FAB and MIC criteria and the expression of AML1/ETO fusion gene was detected with nested RT-PCR. The patients were treated according to DA, DAE or BFM regimen, respectively. The main clinical indexes including age, Hb, white blood count, platelet, blasts in PBC and BM, and time of arrival at complete remission (CR), were compared statistically between the two groups with t test of independent samples.

RESULTSAll the 21 patients in group A were found carrying AML1/ETO, and 17 patients (81%) were classified as M(2), the other 4 cases were of M(2) developed from MDS-RAEB-T, M(4Eo), M(5) and eosinophil leukemia, respectively. Eighteen out of 20 patients whose effects could be assessed reached CR, and the CR ratio was 90%. Two patients in group B were of AML-M(1), 3 M(2), 1 M(3), 1 M(4), and 1 M(5), respectively. None of them was found carrying AML1/ETO. Seven cases reached CR and the ratio was 87.5%. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the above clinical indices.

CONCLUSIONSBetween the two groups of patients there was no significant difference in the above clinical indices. RT-PCR for the detection of AML1/ETO in children with ANLL was quick, convenient and sensitive, and could be regarded as a useful method for the diagnosis and prognosis of ANLL.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; classification ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Prognosis ; RNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; metabolism ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the morbidity, burdens caused and risk factors of injuries among children and to provide information for policy making on prevention.

METHODSBy PPS sampling method, we selected 28 000 households in Beijing and using a questionnaire developed by UNICEF, TASC and China CDC.

RESULTSThe morbidity of child injury in Beijing was 2.25%, higher than that of adults (1.56%) with 6-9 year group the highest (2.83% ). The morbidity of boys was 3.04% higher than that of girls (1.37%). Among the 7 death cases, 3 were caused by injury(2 RTA, 1 drowning). The three leading causes of injuries were fall, animal bite and road traffic accident in children. Among children aged 0-5 years, fall, animal and burn/machine injuries were the leading causes. Among children aged 0-5 years, the leading causes were hurt by animals, fall and RTA with the leading causes as fall, sprain and RTA. The average medical cost of injury cases was 1617.57 Yuan. There were 3500 children (injured orphan) whose parents were injured leading to death or disability in Beijing in 2003.

CONCLUSIONInjury was the leading cause of child deaths in Beijing with children of 6-9 years old having the highest morbidity with RTA the most severe type of injuries in Beijing which affects both children and their parents.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Morbidity ; Risk Factors ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of integrin beta1 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and explore the relationship between stem cell marker and SCC.

METHODSThe expressions of integrin beta1 in SCC tissues and SCC cell strain A431 were detected with immunohistochemical methods and cell staining method. The differentiation of SCC cells were induced with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). The changes of integrin beta1 levels before and after induction were detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTSIn highly differentiated SCC tissues, integrin beta1 was constantly expressed in the basal-like cells in the edge of tumor; some cells inside arranged as island also showed positive integrin beta1 expression. In poorly differentiated SCC tissues, island-like integrin beta1-positive cells remarkably increased and distributed in a diffuse way. In SCC A431 cells, integrin beta1 was expressed unevenly in tumor cells. After treatment by ATRA, level of integrin beta1 mRNA in A431 cells significantly decreased compared with untreated control (P < 0.05), and the ratios between the intensity values of integrin beta1 to beta-actin were 0.071 +/- 0.025 and 0.029 +/- 0.018 at 24 h and 48 h, respectively, whereas in controls were 0.148 +/- 0.027 and 0.136 +/- 0.011 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIntegrin beta1 is heterogeneously expressed in both SCC tissues and SCC A431 cells. The expression of Integrin beta1 decreases when the differentiation level of tumor cells increase, indicating that integrin beta1 is closely related with the initiation of SCC and potential cancer stem cells in SCC.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Humans ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDBacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common infectious diseases among sexually active women and is associated with the increased acquisition of a variety of sexually transmitted diseases. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of a non-antibiotic sucrose gel against an antibiotic metronidazole gel for the treatment of BV.

METHODSA randomized, double-blinded, multi-center, parallel-group, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial was conducted at eight hospitals in China. A total of 560 subjects with clinically diagnosed BV were randomly assigned into three groups for vaginally receiving sucrose, metronidazole, and placebo gels, respectively, twice daily for five consecutive days. The efficacy of therapeutic cure, defined as an achievement of both microbiologic cure (a Nugent score of 3 or less) and clinical cure (a resolution of the clinical findings from the baseline visit), was evaluated at the 1st and 2nd test-of-cure (TOC) visits at 7-10 and 21-35 days after the start of treatment, respectively.

RESULTSTherapeutic cure rates for sucrose, metronidazole, and placebo gel groups were 83.13%, 71.30% and 0.92%, at the 1st TOC, and 61.04%, 66.67% and 7.34%, at the 2nd TOC, respectively. While there was no significant difference between the sucrose and metronidazole gel groups at the 2nd TOC (P = 0.305), and sucrose gel was more effective than metronidazole gel at the 1st TOC (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that sucrose gel restores normal vaginal flora more rapidly than metronidazole gel and can be used as a novel treatment for BV.

Administration, Intravaginal ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Metronidazole ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Sucrose ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaginosis, Bacterial ; drug therapy ; Young Adult