OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) (-634C/G) genetic polymorphisms and the pneumoconiosis.

METHODSA total of 104 male stage I pneumoconiosis patients diagnosed by the Pneumoconiosis Diagnosis Expert Panel according to the Chinese National Diagnosis Criteria of Pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70 - 2002) were selected. The pneumoconiosis comprised 66 silicosis and 38 coal worker' pneumoconiosis (CWP). A total of 122 workers exposed to same dusts as the patients but without pneumoconiosis including 77 exposed to silica dusts and 45 to coal dusts were selected. The patients and the controls had the same dust exposure history. The peripheral venous blood was drawn from each subject. The IL-6 (-634C/G) genetic polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) techniques.

RESULTSThe frequencies of IL-6 (-634C/G) (CC, CG and GG) genotypes were 66.7%, 19.7% and 13.6% in silicosis group, 42.9%, 42.9% and 14.2% in silica dust exposure group, 73.7%, 18.4% and 7.9% in CWP group, 51.1%, 35.6% and 13.3% in coal dust exposure group respectively. The statistical analysis indicated that there was significant difference in the frequencies of IL-6 (-634C/G) (CC, CG and GG) genotypes between silicosis patients and workers exposed to silica dusts (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIL-6 (-634 C/G) genetic polymorphisms might play a role in the occurrence of silicosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Male ; Matched-Pair Analysis ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Objective: Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) have impaired attention, inhibition control, and memory function. The aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2 ) gene has been associated with OUD and ALDH2 gene polymorphisms may affect aldehyde metabolism and cognitive function in other substance use disorder. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether ALDH2 genotypes have significant effects on neuropsychological functions in OUD patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). Methods: OUD patients undergoing MMT were investigated and followed-up for 12 weeks. ALDH2 gene polymorphisms were genotyped. Connors’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) were administered at baseline and after 12 weeks of MMT. Multivariate linear regressions and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to examine the correlation between the ALDH2 genotypes and performance on the CPTs and WMS-R. Results: We enrolled 86 patients at baseline; 61 patients completed the end-of-study assessments. The GEE analysis showed that, after the 12 weeks of MMT, OUD patients with the ALDH2 *1/*2＋*2/*2 (ALDH2 inactive) genotypes had significantly higher commission error T-scores (p = 0.03), significantly lower hit reaction time T-scores (p = 0.04), and significantly lower WMS-R visual memory index scores (p = 0.03) than did patients with the ALDH2 1 */*1 (ALDH2 active) genotype. Conclusion OUD patients with the ALDH2 inactive genotypes performed worse in cognitive domains of attention, impulse control, and memory than did those with the ALDH2 active genotype. We conclude that the ALDH2 gene is important in OUD and is associated with neuropsychological performance after MMT.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with decitabine (Dec)-conditioning regimen in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and MDS transformed acute myeloid leukemia (MDS-AML). METHODS: The characteristics and efficacy data of 93 patients with MDS and MDS-AML who received allo-HSCT in our center from April 2013 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were administered by myeloablative conditioning regimen containing Dec (25 mg/m² /d×3 d). RESULTS: Among the 93 patients, 63 males and 30 females, were diagnosed as MDS（n ＝77）, MDS-AML（n ＝16）. The incidence of I/II grade regimen-related toxicity (RRT) was 39.8%, and III grade RRT was only found in 1 patient (1%). Neutrophil engraftment was successful in 91 (97.8%) patients after a median neutrophil engraftment time of 14 (9-27) days; Successful platelet engraftment was achieved in 87 (93.5%) patients, with a median engraftment time of 18 (9-290) days. The incidence of acute graft versus host disease（aGVHD） and grade III-IV aGVHD was 44.2% and 16.2%, respectively. The incidence of chronic graft versus host disease（cGVHD） and moderate-to-severe cGVHD was 59.5% and 37.1%, respectively. Of the 93 patients, 54 (58%) developed posttransplant infections, among which lung infection (32.3%) and bloodstream infection (12.9%) were the most common. The median follow-up after transplantation was 45 (0.1-108) months. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate, disease-free survival (DFS) rate, treatment-related mortality, and cumulative incidence of relapse were 72.7%, 68.4%, 25.1%, and 6.5%, respectively. And the 1-year graft-versus-host disease/relapse-free survival rate was 49.3%. The patients in different group of relative high-risk prognostic scoring or low-risk prognostic scoring, with or without poor-risk mutation(s), with mutations number ≥3 or <3 had similar 5-year OS rate (more than 70%). Multivariate analysis showed that the incidence of grade III-IV aGVHD was the independent risk factor affecting OS（P =0.008）and DFS (P =0.019). CONCLUSION Allo-HSCT with Dec-conditioning regimen is feasible and effective in the treatment of patients with MDS and MDS-AML, especially those in high prognostic risk and with poor-risk mutations.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Decitabine ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Homologous/adverse effects* ; Transplantation Conditioning/adverse effects* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes/complications* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Chronic Disease ; Graft vs Host Disease/therapy* ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between NK cell count/activity and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSA total of 26 patients who had undergone allo-HSCT from January to July 2015 were enrolled in this study. The NK cell count/activity in the peripheral blood of recipients on day 30 after allo-HSCT were monitored by using 4-color flow cytometry. The incidence of aGVHD in patients was evaluated by clinical manifestation combinating with related pathologic indicators, and the relationship between NK cell count/activity and aGVHD were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the aGVHD group and the no-aGVHD group, the NK cell count and activity on days 30 after allo-HSCT were 655±216 cells/µl vs 1169±372 cells/µl(P=0.002) and 7.3±3.6% vs 9.0±3.6% (P=0.008). In the II-IV grade aGVHD group and the 0-I grade aGVHD group, the NK cell count/activity were 617±220 cells/µl vs 1081±399 cells/µl (P=0.001) and 4.2±1.7% vs 8.3±3.5%(P=0.001). As compared with the 0-I grade aGVHD group, patients in the II-IV grade aGVHD group had higher relapse rate (57% vs 5%)(P=0.010) , lower 1-year progression-free survival(PFS) rate (43% vs 84%)(P=0.010).

CONCLUSIONNK cell count/activity on day 30 after allo-HSCT were closely relates with aGVHD, which may be a potential marker for aGVHD and can provide a new target for aGVHD therapy.