BACKGROUND: Delayed platelet engraftment is a common complication after umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), and there is no standard therapy. Avatrombopag (AVA) is a second-generation thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that has shown efficacy in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, few reports have focused on its efficacy in patients diagnosed with thrombocytopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China to evaluate the efficacy of AVA as a first-line TPO-RA in 65 patients after UCBT; these patients were compared with 118 historical controls. Response rates, platelet counts, megakaryocyte counts in bone marrow, bleeding events, adverse events and survival rates were evaluated in this study. Platelet reconstitution differences were compared between different medication groups. Multivariable analysis was used to explore the independent beneficial factors for platelet implantation. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were given AVA within 30 days post-UCBT, and the treatment was continued for more than 7 days to promote platelet engraftment (AVA group); the other 13 patients were given AVA for secondary failure of platelet recovery (SFPR group). The median time to platelet engraftment was shorter in the AVA group than in the historical control group (32.5 days vs . 38.0 days, Z  = 2.095, P  = 0.036). Among the 52 patients in the AVA group, 46 achieved an overall response (OR) (88.5%), and the cumulative incidence of OR was 91.9%. Patients treated with AVA only had a greater 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than patients treated with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) only or rhTPO combined with AVA (95.2% vs . 84.5% vs . 80.6%, P  <0.001). Patients suffering from SFPR had a slightly better cumulative incidence of OR (100%, P  = 0.104). Patients who initiated AVA treatment within 14 days post-UCBT had a better 60-day cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment than did those who received AVA after 14 days post-UCBT (96.6% vs . 73.9%, P  = 0.003). CONCLUSION Compared with those in the historical control group, our results indicate that AVA could effectively promote platelet engraftment and recovery after UCBT, especially when used in the early period (≤14 days post-UCBT).
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Thrombocytopenia/etiology* ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Thiazoles/adverse effects* ; Platelet Count ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin/agonists* ; Child ; Thiophenes

Background::With an increasing number of patients with hematological malignancies being treated with umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), the correlation between immune reconstitution (IR) after UCBT and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) has been reported successively, but reports on double-negative T (DNT) cell reconstitution and its association with acute GVHD (aGVHD) after UCBT are lacking.Methods::A population-based observational study was conducted among 131 patients with hematological malignancies who underwent single-unit UCBT as their first transplant at the Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, between August 2018 and June 2021. IR differences were compared between the patients with and without aGVHD.Results::The absolute number of DNT cells in the healthy Chinese population was 109 (70-157)/μL, accounting for 5.82 (3.98-8.19)% of lymphocytes. DNT cells showed delayed recovery and could not reach their normal levels even one year after transplantation. Importantly, the absolute number and percentage of DNT cells were significantly higher in UCBT patients without aGVHD than in those with aGVHD within one year ( F = 4.684, P = 0.039 and F = 5.583, P = 0.026, respectively). In addition, the number of DNT cells in the first month after transplantation decreased significantly with the degree of aGVHD increased, and faster DNT cell reconstitution in the first month after UCBT was an independent protective factor for aGVHD (HR = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.93; P = 0.031). Conclusions::Compared to the number of DNT cells in Chinese healthy people, the reconstitution of DNT cells in adults with hematological malignancies after UCBT was slow. In addition, the faster reconstitution of DNT cells in the early stage after transplantation was associated with a lower incidence of aGVHD.

Objective:To evaluated the clinical efficacy of a reduced-intensity preconditioning regimen for single non-blood-related umbilical cord blood transplantation (sUCBT) in the treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) .Methods:The clinical data of 63 patients with SAA who underwent sUCBT from January 2021 to July 2023 at the Department of Hematology of the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-two patients received total body irradiation/total bone marrow irradiation (TMI) combined with fludarabine or a cyclophosphamide- conditioning regimen (non-rATG group) , while 11 patients received rabbit anti-human thymocyte immunoglobulin (rATG) combined with TMI, fludarabine, or the cyclophosphamide-conditioning regimen (rATG group) . All patients received cyclosporine A and mycophenolate mofetil for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Complications post-transplantation and long-term survival were compared between the two groups.Results:The baseline parameters were balanced between the two groups ( P>0.05) . In the rATG group, all patients achieved stem cell engraftment, and in the non-rATG group, five patients had primary graft failure. There was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment at 42 days after transplantation or platelet engraftment at 60 days between the two groups. The incidence of grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD in the rATG group was significantly lower than in the non-rATG group (10.0% vs. 46.2% , P=0.032) , and the differences in the cumulative incidences of grade Ⅲ/Ⅳ acute GVHD and 1-year chronic GVHD were not statistically significant ( P=0.367 and P=0.053, respectively) . There were no significant differences in the incidences of pre-engraftment syndrome, bacterial bloodstream infections, cytomegalovirus viremia, or hemorrhagic cystitis between the two groups ( P>0.05 for all) . The median follow-up time for surviving patients was 536 (61-993) days, and the 1-year transplantation related mortality (TRM) of all patients after transplantation was 13.0% (95% CI 6.7% -24.3% ) . Among the patients in the non-rATG and rATG groups, 15.5% (95% CI 8.1% -28.6% ) and 0% ( P=0.189) , respectively, had mutations. The 1-year overall survival (OS) rate of all patients after transplantation was 87.0% (95% CI 75.7% -93.3% ) . The 1-year OS rates in the rATG group and non-rATG group after transplantation were 100% and 84.5% , respectively (95% CI 71.4% -91.9% ) ( P=0.198) . Conclusion:The preliminary results of sUCBT with a low-dose irradiation-based reduced-intensity conditioning regimen with fludarabine/cyclophosphamide for the treatment of patients with SAA showed good efficacy. Early application of low-dose rATG can reduce the incidence of acute GVHD after transplantation without increasing the risk of implantation failure or infection.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is strongly associated with sleep disturbances. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the main treatment to improve the reflux symptoms in GERD patients. Aims: To investigate the efficacy of PPIs on nighttime reflux symptoms and associated sleep disturbances in general GERD population in North China. Methods: In this multicenter, prospective observational study, adult GERD patients with nighttime heartburn or regurgitation were recruited from 11 tertiary hospitals in North China during July 2017 to March 2018. All the patients received oral PPIs treatment. Data on nighttime reflux symptoms and associated sleep disturbances were obtained by patient diary and self-report questionnaire, the quality of sleep was defined by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The efficacy of PPIs was estimated by the relief rate after 4-week treatment. Results: Of the 750 GERD patients analyzed, 585 (78.0%) reported nighttime reflux-associated sleep disturbances, and 427 (56.9%) were defined as poor sleepers with a PSQI score >5. After 4-week PPIs treatment, 51.3% of the patients achieved a relief of nighttime reflux symptoms. The complete relief rates for nighttime reflux symptoms and associated sleep disturbances were 32.5% and 51.5%, respectively. PSQI score was significantly improved from 6.82 ± 3.38 at baseline to 4.56±2.50 after 4-week PPIs treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: PPIs treatment provides an effective relief of nighttime reflux symptoms and associated sleep disturbances and improving the sleep quality in general GERD population in North China.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and efficacy of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).Methods:From May 2014 to December 2019, clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 7 PNH patients undergoing UCBT. The grades were severe ( n=6) and extremely severe ( n=1). The causes were primary PNH ( n=4) and PNH-aplastic anemia (AA) syndrome ( n=3). There were 5 males and 2 females with a median age of 29 (20-47) years, a median weight of 60(50-71) kg and a median time from diagnosis to transplantation of 62.5(7.7-171) months. All of them were accompanied by transfusion dependence. Myeloablative ( n=6) and reduced-intensity ( n=1) pretreatment was offered. The regimen of preventing GVHD was cyclosporine A plus short-term mycophenolate mofetil without ATG. The median number of input nucleated cells was 2.4(1.71-4.28)×10 7/kg and the median number of CD34+ cells 1.58(0.88-3.02)×10 5/kg. Results:Neutrophil and erythroid engraftment was obtained with a median neutrophil engraftment time of 17(15-21) days and a median erythroid engraftment time of 27. Engraftment time of 37(25-101) days for platelets >20×10 9/L and 62(27-157) days for platelets >50×10 9/L. The incidence of 100-day acute GVHD was 28.6%(95%CI 0-55.3%). The severity of GVHD was grade Ⅱ° acute ( n=2) and mild ( n=1). The median follow-up period was 13.5(3-71.4) months. Six patients survived while another with PNH-AA syndrome with iron overload died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The 2-year overall survival rate was 83.3%(95%CI 27.3-97.5%). Conclusions:With excellent engraftment and survival in the treatment of PNH, UCBT is indicated for patients without HLA full-match donor. PNH-AA syndrome with iron overload may be one of the important prognostic factors.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical outcomes of single unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in children with high risk and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) .Methods:Between June 2008 and December 2018, a total of 160 consecutive pediatric patients with AML received single UCBT (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia) . Myeloablative conditioning (MAC) regimen were applied. All patients received a combination of cyclosporine A (CsA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for the prophylaxis of graft -versus- host disease (GVHD) .Results:The cumulative incidence of neutrophil cells engraftment at day +42 and platelet recovery at day +120 was 95.0% (95% CI 90.0%-97.5%) at a median of 16 days after transplantation (range, 11-38 days) and 85.5% (95% CI 83.3%-93.4%) with a median time to recovery of 35 days (range, 13-158) , respectively. Incidence of grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ and Ⅲ-Ⅳ acute GVHD and chronic GVHD were 37.3% (95%CI 29.3%-45.2%) , 27.3% (95% CI 20.0%-35.0%) and 22.4% (95% CI 15.5%-28.7%) , respectively. The transplant-related mortality (TRM) at 360 day was 13.1% (95% CI 8.4%-18.9%) . The 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 13.8% (95% CI 8.5%-20.3%) . The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 71.7% (95% CI 62.7%-77.8%) and 72.2% (95% CI 64.1%-78.7%) , respectively. The 5-year GVHD and relapse free survival (GRFS) was 56.1% (95% CI 46.1%-64.9%) . The 5-year cumulative recurrence rates of CR1, CR2, and NR groups were 5.3%, 19.9%, and 30.9% ( P=0.001) , and the 5-year OS rates were 79.9% (95% CI 70.3%-86.7%) , 71.1% (95% CI 50.4%-84.4%) and 52.9% (95% CI 33.0%-69.3%) ( χ2=7.552, P=0.020) , respectively. Conclusions:For pediatric patients with high risk and refractory AML, UCBT is a safe and effective treatment option, and it is favorable to improve the survival rate in CR1 stage.

Objective To evaluate the effect of pretransplant iron overload on the clinical efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Methods Clinical data of 80 SAA recipients who underwent allo-HSCT for the first time were retrospectively analyzed. According to the incidence of iron overload, all recipients were divided into the iron overload group (n=20) and non-iron overload group (n=60). The engraftment rate, incidence of postoperative complications and clinical prognosis of the recipients afterallo-HSCT were statistically compared between two groups. The influencing factors of 2-year overall survival (OS) and 180 d transplantation related mortality (TRM) were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results The engraftment rate of neutrophils in the non-iron overload group was 98% (59/60), significantly higher than 75% (15/20) in the iron overload group (P < 0.05). The engraftment rate of platelet in the non-iron overload group was 90% (54/60), significantly higher than 65% (13/20) in the iron overload group (P < 0.05). The incidence rate of bloodstream infection in the non-iron overload group was 23% (14/60), remarkably lower than 40% (8/20) in the iron overload group (P < 0.05). The 180 d TRM of the recipients in the non-iron overload group was 17%, significantly lower than 45% in the iron overload group (P < 0.05). The 1- and 2-year OS of the recipients in the non-iron overload group were 82% and 80%, significantly higher than 50% and 44% in the iron overload group (both P < 0.05). Iron overload or not was an independent risk factor of the OS and TRM of the recipients (both P < 0.05). Conclusions Iron overload can affect the OS and TRM of SAA patients after allo-HSCT.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is more and more widely used as a radical treatment for acute leukemia, but its therapeutic effect in different leukemias has not been compared. By comparing the efficacy of diseases, it can guide different patients to choose the transplantation method.OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the therapeutic effect of umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia. METHODS: Clinical data of 306 cases of acute leukemia treated by unrelated umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were retrospectively analyzed, including 112 patients with acute myeloid leukemia and 194 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. All patients received myeloablative conditioning without antithymocyte, and the prevention of graft-versus-host disease was cyclosporine combined with mycophenolate mofetil. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Except that the relapse rate after acute lymphoblastic leukemia transplantation was slightly higher than acute myeloid leukemia, the efficacy of the two groups of patients after receiving unrelated umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was basically the same. (2) In the group of adolescents and young adults (aged 15-39 years), the rate of neutrophil and platelet implantation in acute myeloid leukemia was faster than in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Among them, CD34+ cell number and pretreatment program were independent influencing factors for neutrophil implantation, while CD34+ cell number was also an independent influencing factor for platelet implantation. In this age group, the recurrence rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients after transplantation was still higher than that of acute myeloid leukemia, in which chronic graft-versus-host disease was an independent influencing factor. (3) Immune reconstruction testing after transplantation suggests that cord blood CD8+ T cell reconstruction in patients with acute myeloid leukemia was better than in acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients 4 months after transplantation. (4) The above data show that pre-treatment of unrelated cord blood transplantation without antithymocyte globulin has a good effect on acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Department of Hematology of The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China is qualified for stem cell transplantation.

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from HLA-matched sibling donors (MSD-HSCT) in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome-EB (MDS-EB) or acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes (AML-MRC) . Methods: A cohort of 64 patients (including 38 cases of MDS-EB and 26 cases of AML-MRC) who received UCBT/MSD-HSCT from February 2011 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: ①Compared with MSD-HSCT group, UCBT group had a higher proportion of AML-MRC patients [52.8% (19/36) vs 25.0% (7/28) , P=0.025], and a lower median age [13 (1.5-52) years vs 32 (10-57) years, P=0.001]. ②The engraftment of neutrophils both in UCBT and MSD-HSCT groups on +42 d was 100%, and the median engraftment time was 17.5 (11-31) d and 11.5 (10-20) d, respectively. The engraftment of platelet at +100 d in UCBT group was 91.4%, the median engraftment time was 40 (15-96) d; The engraftment of platelet at +100 d in MSD-HSCT group was 100%, and the median engraftment time was 15 (11-43) d. ③There were no statistically significant differences in terms of the cumulative incidence of Ⅱ-Ⅳ and Ⅲ/Ⅳ aGVHD of 100 d and transplant related mortality (TRM) of 180 d, relapse rate, overall survival (OS) , disease-free survival (DFS) between UCBT and MSD-HSCT groups (P>0.05) . ④The 3-year cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) and severe chronic GVHD in UCBT group were lower than of MSD-HSCT group [28.3% (95%CI 13.4%-45.3%) vs 67.9% (95%CI 46.1%-82.4%) , P=0.002; 10.3% (95%CI 2.5%-24.8%) vs 50.0% (95%CI 30.0%-67.1%) , respectively, P<0.001]. The cumulative 3-year incidence of GVHD-free and relapse-free survival (GRFS) of UCBT group was significantly higher than of MSD-HSCT group [55.0% (95%CI 36.0%-70.6%) vs 28.6% (95%CI 13.5%-45.6%) , P=0.038]. Conclusion UCBT could obtain better quality of life after transplantation than MSD-HSCT in treatment of MDS-EB/AML-MRC.

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in the treatment of refractory and relapsed acute leukemia (AL) patients. Methods: The clinical data of 22 refractory and relapsed AL patients who were treated with UCBT as salvage therapy from November 2009 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received a myeloablative conditioning regimen for prevention of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with cyclosporine A (CSA)/short course of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Results: ①Of 22 patients, 9 cases were male and 13 female. The median age was 23 (15-44) years and median weight of 52.5 (43-82) kg. All patients were transplanted with a median umbilical cord blood nucleated cells of 3.07 (1.71-5.30)×10⁷/kg (by weight), the median CD34⁺ cells was 1.60 (0.63-3.04)×10⁵/kg (by weight). ②The myeloid cumulative implantation rate was 95.5% (95%CI 45.2-99.7%) after transplantation of 42 d, with the median implantation time of 19 (13-27) d. The platelet cumulative implantation rate after transplantation of 120 d was 81.8% (95%CI 54.2-93.6%), the median implantation time of 42 (20-164) d. ③The incidence of Ⅱ-Ⅳ, Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD and the 2 year cumulative incidence of cGVHD were 36.4%, 13.6% and 40.3% respectively. ④ The transplant related mortality (TRM) after transplantation of 180d was 22.7%, 2 year cumulative rate of relapse was 18.7% (95%CI 3.6-42.5%), 2 year disease-free survival rate (DFS) and overall survival rate (OS) were 53.7% and 58.1%, respectively. Conclusion The preliminary results show that the use of UCBT is safe and effective for refractory and relapsed AL patients who fail to respond to conventional chemotherapy.