Objective:To compare the performance of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing in investigating somatic hypermutation (SHM) status of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) genes. It specifically focuses on identifying key factors contributing to discrepancies between the two methods, particularly under complex clonal backgrounds, to inform optimized strategies for clinical application.Methods:This retrospective analysis included 53 samples, comprising 43 identified as non-monoclonal and 10 as monoclonal using Sanger sequencing. All samples were further analyzed using NGS to assess IGHV SHM. The two methods were used for systematic comparison. For discordant cases, in-depth attribution analysis was conducted, considering factors, including clonal abundance quantification, differences in primer design, and interpretation criteria.Results:Among the 53 patients who underwent both Sanger and NGS testing, 36 were male and 17 were female, with a median age of 64 years (range: 33–88). Diagnoses included chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 35 (66.0% ), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 9 (17.0% ), follicular lymphoma in 3 (5.7% ), mantle cell lymphoma in 3 (5.7% ), and other types in 3 (5.7% ) cases. In the 43 cases with non-monoclonal profiles using Sanger sequencing, NGS revealed 23 cases as biclonal or polyclonal, 17 as monoclonal, and 3 with no detectable clonality. The primary discrepancies between the two methods involved variations in clonality assessment, IGHV gene rearrangement types, and mutation rates. Among the 10 cases identified as monoclonal using Sanger sequencing, NGS detected biclonality and markedly different IGHV rearrangement types in 2 and 4 cases, respectively. Minor differences were observed in SHM percentage between the two methods; however, these did not substantially affect the overall determination of mutational status.Conclusion:Compared with Sanger sequencing, NGS exhibits superior performance in assessing IGHV SHM status under complex clonal conditions. It provides greater sensitivity and accuracy in detecting subclonal components and quantifying clonal proportions, thereby providing a more precise molecular basis for diagnosing and prognostically assessing lymphoid malignancies, including CLL.

The cooccurrence of NPM1, FLT3-ITD, and DNMT3A mutations (i.e., triple mutation) is related to dismal prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving chemotherapy alone. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we aimed to identify whether allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) could overcome the poor prognosis of DNMT3A^mutNPM1^mutFLT3-ITD^mut AML across four transplant centers in China. Fifty-three patients with triple-mutated AML receiving allo-HSCT in complete remission were enrolled. The 1.5-year probabilities of relapse, leukemia-free survival, and overall survival after allo-HSCT were 11.9%, 80.3%, and 81.8%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that more than one course of induction chemotherapy and allo-HSCT beyond CR1 were associated with poor survival. To our knowledge, this work is the largest study to explore the up-to-date undefined role of allo-HSCT in patients with triple-mutated AML. Our real-world data suggest that allo-HSCT could overcome the poor prognosis of DNMT3A^mutNPM1^mutFLT3-ITD^mut in AML.
Humans ; Nucleophosmin ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/mortality* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods* ; Male ; Female ; DNA Methyltransferase 3A ; Adult ; China ; Retrospective Studies ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3/genetics* ; Mutation ; Young Adult ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Adolescent ; Aged

Migraine is a complex chronic central nervous system disorder with a gradually increasing prevalence rate around the world， causing a significant healthcare burden.Recent studies have shown that gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the pathophysiological process of migraine through the bidirectional communication network of the gut-brain axis. This article systematically reviews the association and mechanisms between the gut microbiota-gut-brain axis and migraine， in order to provide new perspectives for in-depth research and clinical prevention and treatment of migraine.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal malignant proliferative blood disease, which has a wide range of genomic changes and molecular mutations. The human mixed-linage leukemia (MLL) gene can produce partial tandem duplications (MLL-PTD), which is associated with a poor prognosis. This paper elaborates on the pathogenesis of MLL-PTD and its mechanism as well as therapeutic targets.

Objective:To investigate the consistency and sensitivity of minimal residual disease (MRD) detected by multicolor flow cytometry (FCM) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accompanied by monocytic differentiation after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. A total of 218 patients diagnosed with AML accompanied by monocytic differentiation who underwent allo-HSCT in Peking University People's Hospital between January 2017 and December 2021 were included. MRD was detected by using bone marrow FCM and RQ-PCR at predefined intervals (at 1-, 2-, 3-, 4.5-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month before and after transplantation). Patients were grouped based on AML-related specific genes, and dynamic changes in MRD results detected by FCM and RQ-PCR after transplantation were analyzed to evaluate the correlation with post-transplant relapse.Results:A total of 218 enrolled patients included 114 males and 106 females, with the median age of 32 years (1-65 years). The median follow-up duration was 218 d (21-1 541 d). Hematologic relapse occurred in 26 patients (12.7%), with a median relapse time of 272 d (83-934 d); 35 patients (15.9%) died, including 15 (6.9%) due to leukemia relapse and 20 (9.2%) due to transplant-related mortality. Predictive markers for relapse included once WT1 positive (WT1+once), twice WT1 positive (WT1+twice), CBFβ::MYH11 fusion genes positive, mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL)-related fusion genes positive, AML1::ETO fusion genes positive, and once FCM positive (FCM+once), twice FCM positive (FCM+twice). The overall consistency rate between FCM and RQ-PCR for MRD detection in AML patients accompanied by monocytic differentiation after transplantation was 75.7% (165/218). The consistency rate of MRD detection results in WT1+once, WT1+ twice, MLL-related fusion gene positive, and NPM1 gene mutation positive with FCM was higher than the average value (>75.7%), while the consistency rate of MRD detection results in AML1::ETO and CBFβ::MYH11 fusion gene positive with FCM was lower than the average value (<75.7%). Notably, persistent low-level positivity without relapse after transplantation occurred in cases with WT1 (15 patients), NPM1 (2 patients), CBFβ::MYH11 (11 patients), or AML1::ETO (2 patients); in contrast, MLL-related fusion genes (particularly MLL::AF6 and MLL::AF9) positive after transplantation indicated relapse in patients. The sensitivity and specificity of RQ-PCR for MRD monitoring varied by genetic markers: WT1+once and WT1+twice (sensitivity: 66.7%, 50.0%; specificity: 84.5%, 91.1%, respectively), AML1::ETO (sensitivity: 100.0%; specificity: 50.0%), CBFβ::MYH11 (sensitivity: 100.0%; specificity: 58.6%), MLL-related fusion genes (sensitivity: 75.0%; specificity: 96.4%), and NPM1 (sensitivity: 75.0%; specificity: 91.7%).Conclusions:The sensitivity and specificity of AML-related genetic markers for recurrence prediction show differences. Discrepancies between RQ-PCR and FCM in MRD detection are notable in AML with monocytic differentiation after transplantation. FCM exhibits relatively lower sensitivity for MRD monitoring in this subtype, while RQ-PCR based on AML-related genes may compensate for FCM limitations.

Objective:To compare the performance of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing in investigating somatic hypermutation (SHM) status of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) genes. It specifically focuses on identifying key factors contributing to discrepancies between the two methods, particularly under complex clonal backgrounds, to inform optimized strategies for clinical application.Methods:This retrospective analysis included 53 samples, comprising 43 identified as non-monoclonal and 10 as monoclonal using Sanger sequencing. All samples were further analyzed using NGS to assess IGHV SHM. The two methods were used for systematic comparison. For discordant cases, in-depth attribution analysis was conducted, considering factors, including clonal abundance quantification, differences in primer design, and interpretation criteria.Results:Among the 53 patients who underwent both Sanger and NGS testing, 36 were male and 17 were female, with a median age of 64 years (range: 33–88). Diagnoses included chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 35 (66.0% ), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in 9 (17.0% ), follicular lymphoma in 3 (5.7% ), mantle cell lymphoma in 3 (5.7% ), and other types in 3 (5.7% ) cases. In the 43 cases with non-monoclonal profiles using Sanger sequencing, NGS revealed 23 cases as biclonal or polyclonal, 17 as monoclonal, and 3 with no detectable clonality. The primary discrepancies between the two methods involved variations in clonality assessment, IGHV gene rearrangement types, and mutation rates. Among the 10 cases identified as monoclonal using Sanger sequencing, NGS detected biclonality and markedly different IGHV rearrangement types in 2 and 4 cases, respectively. Minor differences were observed in SHM percentage between the two methods; however, these did not substantially affect the overall determination of mutational status.Conclusion:Compared with Sanger sequencing, NGS exhibits superior performance in assessing IGHV SHM status under complex clonal conditions. It provides greater sensitivity and accuracy in detecting subclonal components and quantifying clonal proportions, thereby providing a more precise molecular basis for diagnosing and prognostically assessing lymphoid malignancies, including CLL.

Objective:This study aimed to analyze the clinical manifestations of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection within 100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and to investigate the association of HHV-6 viral load with clinical outcomes as well as the effect of antiviral treatment on the course of HHV-6 infection.Methods:This retrospective study included patients who tested positive for HHV-6 within 100 days after allo-HSCT at the Peking University Institute of Hematology from February 2016 to February 2023. The study analyzed the patients' baseline characteristics, including age and transplantation type, as well as their clinical manifestations. Additionally, post-transplant complications were examined.Results:This study detected that 305 patients with HHV-6 infection were positive with a median time of 20 days post-transplant. Fifteen patients were asymptomatic, whereas the remaining patients exhibited the following symptoms: fever, rash, diarrhea, hemorrhagic cystitis, delayed platelet engraftment, central nervous system symptoms, abdominal pain, pneumonia and perioral numbness. Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was diagnosed in 189 patients, with 45 cases of HHV-6 infection occurring before the onset of aGVHD and 120 cases occurring after aGVHD developed. Quantitative HHV-6 detection was available for 45 patients, and no statistically significant differences were found in the clinical manifestations according to the viral titer. A total of 108 (35.41%) patients experienced coactivation with other viruses, including cytomegalovirus, BK virus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Notably, coinfection with EBV was determined as an independent risk factor for overall survival (OS). No statistically significant difference in the time to HHV-6 viral clearance was observed between the antiviral treatment and non-treatment groups [7 (5-10) days vs 8 (4-14) days, P=0.199]. Similarly, the 5-year OS rates between the two groups were not significantly different [ (82.7 ± 2.6) % vs (91.3 ± 3.1) %, χ2=3.304, P=0.069]. Discussion:The most prevalent clinical manifestations were fever, rash, and diarrhea in patients with HHV-6 infection after allo-HSCT. No significant correlation was found between the severity of the clinical symptoms and the viral titer. Additionally, no significant differences in the time to HHV-6 clearance or 5-year OS were observed between patients who received antiviral treatment and those who did not.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in patients following the hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and exploring the risk factors for death.Methods:Patients who had RSV infection after undergoing HSCT from October 2023 to January 2024 in the hematology department of Peking University People’s Hospital were enrolled in the study. The clinical characteristics of the participating patients were summarized. The clinical characteristics of the surviving and the dying patients were compared, and the risk factors of death were analyzed by binary logistic regression.Results:Among the 43 RSV-positive HSCT patients, 20 (46.5%) were hypoxemic, six (14.0%) were admitted to the ICU for further treatment, four (9.3%) required tracheal intubation assisted ventilation, and seven patients (16.3%) died. A comparison of the clinical features of the surviving patients and the deceased patients demonstrated that the deceased patients had a lower PLT when infected with RSV [74.5 (8.0-348.0) ×10 9/L vs 15.0 (10.0-62.0) ×10 9/L, P=0.003], a higher incidence of simultaneous bacterial infections (85.7% vs 41.7%, P=0.046), and a higher rate of hematological recurrence (71.4% vs 13.9%, P=0.004). Hematological recurrence ( OR=15.500, 95% CI 2.336-102.848, P=0.005), influenza A viral infection ( OR=14.000, 95% CI 1.064-184.182, P=0.045), and low PLT at the time of RSV infection ( OR=0.945, 95% CI 0.894-0.999, P=0.048) were the factors associated with death following HSCT. Conclusion:Patients infected with RSV after undergoing HSCT have a poor prognosis, and active prevention and treatment of RSV in the autumn and winter requires urgent attention.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell therapy has achieved remarkable success in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Measurable/minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring plays a significant role in the prognostication and management of patients undergoing CAR-T-cell therapy. Common MRD detection methods include flow cytometry (FCM), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and next-generation sequencing (NGS), and each method has advantages and limitations. It has been well documented that MRD positivity predicts a poor prognosis and even disease relapse. Thus, how to perform prognostic evaluations, stratify risk based on MRD status, and apply MRD monitoring to guide individual therapeutic decisions have important implications in clinical practice. This review assesses the common and novel MRD assessment methods. In addition, we emphasize the critical role of MRD as a prognostic biomarker and summarize the latest studies regarding MRD-directed combination therapy with CAR-T-cell therapy and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), as well as other therapeutic strategies to improve treatment effect. Furthermore, this review discusses current challenges and strategies for MRD detection in the setting of disease relapse after targeted therapy.