Objective:To investigate the transcriptional level expression of olfactomedin-like protein 2A (OLFML2A) in peripheral blood of patients with acute leukemia (AL) and its diagnostic and prognostic evaluation value.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 34 patients with AL (AL group) admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang from January 2019 to March 2023 were selected, including 26 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (non-acute promyelocytic leukemia) and 8 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Another 15 healthy subjects who underwent the physical examination during the same period were selected as the healthy control group. Among 26 patients with AML, 18 were males and 8 were females. The median age [ M (IQR)] was 59 (9) years; 5 cases relapsed. Among 8 patients with ALL, 4 were males and 4 were females. The median age was 48 (12) years; 1 case relapsed. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) medthod was used to detect the relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA in peripheral blood of each group. The relative expression levels of OLFML2A mRNA among the different patients stratified by clinicopathological factors were compared. Taking bone marrow smear cytology or bone marrow biopsy as the gold standard, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the diagnostic effect of the relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA on AML and ALL. According to the median relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA in AL patients, the patients were divided into the high expression of OLFML2A mRNA (≥ the median) and the low expression of OLFML2A mRNA (< the median) groups. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of both groups were analyzed by using Kaplan-Meier curve. The log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. Results:The median relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA in AL group was higher than that in the healthy control group [3.53 (8.19) vs. 0.27 (0.23)], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = 4.38, P < 0.001). The median relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA in AML group was higher than that in ALL group [4.92, (9.80) vs. 1.60 (4.35)], which were higher than that in the healthy control group; and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA among AML patients with different prognosis risk stratification, fusion gene positive or not, whether there was chromosome abnormality, and whether the average daily hospitalization cost was < 2 500 yuan (all P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA among ALL patients with different prognostic risk stratification, whether there was fusion gene and whether there was chromosome abnormality (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for the diagnosis of AML based on the relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA was 0.936 (95% CI: 0.862-1.000), and the optimal cut-off value was 0.780; the area under the curve for the diagnosis ALL was 0.767 (95% CI: 0.535-0.998), and the optimal cut-off value was 0.558. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 3-year PSF rate in AL patients with high expression of OLFML2A mRNA (17 cases) and low expression of OLFML2A mRNA was 20.5% and 30.6%, respectively, and PFS in AL patients with low expression of OLFML2A mRNA was superior to those with high expression, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.64, P = 0.031). The 3-year OS rates in AL patients with high and low expression of OLFML2A mRNA was 40.4% and 33.3%, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference in OS between the 2 groups ( χ2 = 1.55, P = 0.213). Conclusions:The relative expression level of OLFML2A mRNA is high in AL patients, and it is more significant in AML patients. The level of OLFML2A gene has a certain value in the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of AL.

Objective:To explore the relationship between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation and clinical features and prognosis in HBV-infected non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients and influencing factors of HBV reactivation.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 80 NHL patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive (which was defined as HBV positive) who were admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang and Jiangsu Province Hospital from December 2012 to October 2022 were selected. All patients were divided into EBV-positive group and EBV-negative group according to EBV DNA results, and further grouped into the HBV reactivation group and the non-reactivation group according to whether HBV were reactivated after chemotherapy. The clinical characteristics of patients among groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing HBV reactivation. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients, and the log-rank test was used for inter-group comparison.Results:Among NHL patients with HBV positive, 27 cases (33.8%) were EBV-positive and 29 cases (36.3%) were HBV reactivation. Compared with the EBV-negative group, the proportion of patients with Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ [92.6% (25/27) vs. 66.0% (35/53)], elevated β 2-microglobulin level [88.9% (24/27) vs. 62.3% (33/53)], bone marrow involvement [40.7% (11/27) vs. 15.1% (8/53)], and HBV reactivation [51.9% (14/27) vs. 28.3% (15/53)] was higher in the EBV-positive group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the composition of patients stratified by age, gender, pathological type, B symptom, lactate dehydrogenase level, international prognostic index score, number of extranodal involvements, liver involvement, hepatitis outbreak, prophylactic anti-HBV therapy, hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), rituximab therapy, and the last chemotherapy effects between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05). Compared with the HBV non-reactivation group, the proportion of patients undergoing hepatitis outbreak [48.3% (14/29) vs. 17.6% (9/51)], not receiving prophylactic anti-HBV therapy [65.5% (19/29) vs. 39.2% (20/51)], HBsAb negative [79.3% (23/29) vs. 21.6% (11/51)], EBV positive [48.3% (14/29) vs. 25.5% (13/51)], receiving rituximab [82.8% (24/29) vs. 60.8% (31/51)] was higher in the HBV reactivation group, and the differenves were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); while there were no statistically significant differences in the composition of patients stratified by the other clinical characteristics between the 2 groups (all P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that EBV-positivity was an independent risk factor for HBV reactivation after chemotherapy in NHL patients with HBsAg positive ( OR = 7.073, 95% CI: 1.613-31.010, P = 0.009), while HBsAb positive ( OR = 0.038, 95% CI: 0.008-0.186, P < 0.001) and preventive anti-HBV therapy ( OR = 0.172, 95% CI: 0.039-0.756, P = 0.020) were independent protective factors. The last follow-up was in December 2023 and the median follow-up time was 36.5 months. There were no statistically significant differences in PFS and OS between the EBV-positive group and the EBV-negative group, HBV reactivation group and the non-reactivation group (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:Among HBV-infected NHL patients, those with concurrent EBV infection have a more advanced clinical stage and are very prone to bone marrow invasion, and they also show a higher probability of HBV reactivation; HBV reactivation may be related to whether receiving preventive anti-HBV therapy and rituximab therapy. EBV infection may increase the risk of HBV reactivation in NHL patients; EBV infection and HBV reactivation may not be relevant to the prognosis of patients.

Acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a hematopoietic malignancy, and in recent years, with the advancement of combined chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the prognosis of T-ALL has improved significantly, but for patients with primary drug resistance or relapsed/refractory disease the prognosis is still poor. The plant homeodomain finger 6 (PHF6) is a tumor suppressor protein, it plays a pivotal role in T cell differentiation, epigenetic regulation and oncogenic pathway synergy, and its mutations and deletions are commonly associated with the development of T-lymphocytic leukemia. However, the underlying mechanism of PHF6 in the pathogenesis of T-ALL remains unclear. This article reviews the structure, function and mechanism of action of PHF6 in T-ALL, the important coexisting genes associated with the progression of T-ALL, and the research progress in targeted therapy.

Objective:To investigate the factors influencing the right heart dysfunction in myloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients with BCR::ABL fusion gene-negative.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted. A total of 130 MPN patients with BCR::ABL fusion gene-negative admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as the study objects. The general data, laboratory indexes and cardiac function parameters were collected. All patients were divided into the control group (non-right heart function injury, 96 cases) and the observation group (right heart function injury, 34 cases) according to whether there was right heart dysfunction judged by ultrasonic cardiogram. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent influencing factors of right heart dysfunction in MPN patients with BCR:: ABL fusion gene-negative. Taking right heart dysfunction judged by ultrasonic cardiogram as the gold standard, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to predict right heart dysfunction according to independent influencing factors, and the diagnostic efficacy of the factors was analyzed.Results:The median age was 57 years old (range 19-76 years); among the 130 patients, 62 cases were male and 68 cases were female. There were 69 cases of primary thrombocytosis, 35 cases of polycythemia vera and 26 cases of primary myelofibrosis. The proportions of patients with age > 60 years old, hypertension, embolism history, pulmonary hypertension in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the composition of patients with gender, body mass index > 28 kg/m2, smoking, drinking, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and different pathological types between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The white blood cell count, neutrophil count, basophil count, monocyte count, red blood cell count, hematocrit (Hct), CD34+ cell count and platelet count in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in lymphocyte count, eosinophilic count, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and high sensitive C-reactive protein levels between the two groups (all P > 0.05). The cardiac ejection time in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group, but the transverse diameter of right atrium, anteroposterior diameter of right ventricle, anterior wall thickness of right ventricle, isovolumic systole time, isovolumic diastole time and right ventricular Tei index in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age > 60 years (OR = 1.520, 95% CI: 1.250-1.692, P = 0.002), embolism history (OR = 1.765, 95% CI: 1.302-2.020, P = 0.001), pulmonary arterial hypertension (OR = 1.555, 95% CI: 1.303-1.702, P = 0.001), elevated Hct (OR = 1.900, 95% CI: 1.587-2.269, P = 0.002), the increased density of CD34+ cell (OR = 1.400, 95% CI: 1.158-1.630, P = 0.001), and increased Tei index of right ventricle (OR = 2.269, 95% CI: 1.700-3.568, P = 0.001) were independent risk factors of right heart dysfunction in MPN patients with BCR::ABL fusion gene-negative. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of age > 60 years old, embolism history, pulmonary arterial hypertension, Hct, the density of CD34+ cell, and Tei index of right ventricle, in predicting right heart dysfunction in MPN patients with BCR-ABL fusion gene-negative was 0.780 (95% CI: 0.690-0.925), 0.657 (95% CI: 0.533-0.740), 0.728 (95% CI: 0.660-0.813), 0.619 (95% CI: 0.510-0.708), 0.777 (95% CI: 0.720-0.809), 0.822 (95% CI: 0.749-0.886), respectively. The area under the curve of the 6 combined items was 0.930 (95% CI: 0.850-0.987). The sensitivity and specificity were 89.69% and 96.38% respectively when the optimum critical value was reached.Conclusions:Age > 60 years old, embolism history, pulmonary arterial hypertension, elevated Hct, the increased density of CD34+ cell and increased Tei index of right ventricle are independent risk factors of right heart dysfunction in MPN patients with BCR::ABL fusion gene-negative.

Purpose: This study aims to explore whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy with immunotherapy (NACI) leads to different tumor shrinkage patterns, based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) alone in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Additionally, the study investigates the relationship between tumor shrinkage patterns and treatment efficacy was investigated. Methods: This retrospective study included patients with TNBC patients receiving NAC or NACI from January 2019 until July 2021 at our center. Pre- and post-treatment MRI results were obtained for each patient, and tumor shrinkage patterns were classified into three categories as follows: 1) concentric shrinkage (CS); 2) diffuse decrease; and 3) no change.Tumor shrinkage patterns were compared between the NAC and NACI groups, and the relevance of the patterns to treatment efficacy was assessed. Results: Of the 99 patients, 65 received NAC and 34 received NACI. The CS pattern was observed in 53% and 20% of patients in the NAC and NACI groups, respectively. Diffuse decrease pattern was observed in 36% and 68% of patients in the NAC and NACI groups. The association between the treatment regimens (NAC and NACI) and tumor shrinkage patterns was statistically significant (p = 0.004). The postoperative pathological complete response (pCR) rate was 45% and 82% in the NAC and NACI groups (p < 0.001), respectively. In the NACI group, 17% of patients with the CS pattern and 56% of those with the diffuse decrease pattern achieved pCR (p = 0.903). All tumor shrinkage patterns were associated with achieved a high pCR rate in the NACI group. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the diffuse decrease pattern of tumor shrinkage is more common following NACI than that following NAC. Furthermore, our findings suggest that all tumor shrinkage patterns are associated with a high pCR rate in patients with TNBC treated with NACI.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significances of evaluation indexes of right heart function injury in patients with BCR-ABL-negative myroproliferative neoplasms (MPN).Methods:The clinical data of 208 patients with BCR-ABL-negative MPN diagnosed in the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang and Jiangsu Province Hospital from January 2015 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 63 cases of primary myelopathic fibrosis (PMF), 39 cases of polycytosis vera (PV) and 106 cases of essential thrombocythemia (ET). The clinical characteristics of patients and the examination results of hematological related indicators were compared among the three groups. The examination results of indexes of right heart function injury were analyzed, including echocardiography, brain natriuretic peptide, soluble growth stimulation expression gene-2 (sST-2), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer, ferritin, β 2-microglobulin, peripheral blood WT1 gene, CD34 + cell count, etc. Results:Of the 208 patients, 109 were male and 99 were female; the median age was 62 years old (23 years old, 89 years old). The differences in levels of hemoglobin, platelet count, D-dimer, LDH and ferritin among PMF, PV and ET patients were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Color echocardiography was performed in 87 patients, including 26 cases of PMF, 19 cases of PV and 42 cases of ET. Pulmonary artery pressure increased in 69 cases (79.3%), left atrial diameter increased in 76 cases (87.3%), and diameter increased during right ventricular diastolic period in 59 cases (67.8%). There were significant differences in pulmonary artery pressure, left atrial diameter and diameter during right ventricular diastolic period among PMF, PV and ET patients (all P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that pulmonary artery pressure was positively correlated with ferritin, LDH, sST-2 and age ( r values were 0.796, 0.768, 0.915 and 0.734, all P<0.05), while it was negatively correlated with platelet count ( r = -2.330, P = 0.034). Conclusions:For BCR-ABL-negative MPN patients, the increase of pulmonary artery pressure, ferritin and LDH and the decreased platelet count and hemoglobin may increase the probability of right heart function impairment. For BCR-ABL-negative MPN patients with the higher levels of ferritin, LDH, sST-2, age, and the lower level of platelet count, the pulmonary artery pressure may be higher.

OBJECTIVE To explore the relationship between the ANKK1 rs1800497 polymorphism and atypical antipsychotic drug-induced metabolic syndrome （MS）. METHODS Totally 94 patients with schizophrenia were included， and ANKK1 rs1800497 genotypes of patients were detected by micro-fluorescence immunoassay； social demographic information， clinical characteristics and other data were collected. The χ2 test was used to compare the correlation between the sex of patients and the occurrence of MS， and the correlation between gene polymorphism and the occurrence of MS and its risk factors.RESULTS Totally 94 patients included 24 cases （25.53%） of GG， 51 cases （54.26%） of GA and 19 cases of AA （20.21%）. Among them， there were 45 cases （47.87%） of MS， and the incidence of MS in male was higher than that in female （P＜0.05）. Genotype analysis showed that ANKK1 rs1800497 polymorphism was not associated with MS （P＝0.452）. ANKK1 rs1800497 A allele was significantly associated with hyperglycemia （χ2＝4.379， P＝0.036）， while it was not related to abdominal obesity， hypertension， high level of TG and low level of HDL-C （P＞0.05）， suggesting that for patients with schizophrenia， allele A was a relative risk factor for inducing hyperglycemia [OR＝2.008，95%CI（1.039， 3.881）]. CONCLUSIONS ANKK1 rs1800497 polymorphism has no correlation with the induction of MS by atypical antipsychotics， while the schizophrenia patients with A allele are more likely to induce hyperglycemia. The incidence of MS in male patients is significantly higher than that in female patients.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of taurine regulating the polarization of M2 macrophages by mitophagy. Methods THP-1 cells were divided into four groups: M0 group (THP-1 cells were treated by 100 nmol/L phorbol myristate ester for 48 hours to polarize into M0), M2 group (THP-1 cells were induced to polarize into M2 macrophages by 20 ng/mL interferon-4 (IL-4) for 48 hours), M2 combined with taurine groups (added with 40 or 80 mmol/L taurine on the basis of M2 macrophages). The mRNA expression of mannose receptor C type 1(MRC-1), C-C motif chemokine ligand 22(CCL22) and dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3 grabbing non-integrin (CD209) in M2 macrophages were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Mitochondrial and lysosome probes were used to detect the number of mitochondria and lysosomes by multifunction microplate reader and confocal laser scanning microscope. The level of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected by JC-1 MMP assay kit. The expression of mitophagy-related proteins PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) were detected by Western blot analysis. Results Compared with M0 group, the expression of MRC-1, CCL22, CD209 and PINK1, the number of mitochondria and the level of MMP in M2 group were significantly increased, whereas the number of lysosomes and LC3II/LC3I ratio were decreased. Compared with M2 group, the expressions of MRC-1, CCL22 and CD209, the number of mitochondria and the level of MMP in M2 combined with taurine group dropped significantly while the number of lysosomes was found increased, and the protein expression of PINK1 and LC3II/LC3I ratio were also increased. Conclusions The polarization of M2 macrophages is regulated by taurine to prevent excessive polarization via reducing the level of MMP, improving the level of mitophagy, reducing the number of mitochondria, and inhibiting the mRNA expression of polarization markers in M2 macrophages.
Mitophagy ; Taurine ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of pomadomide combined with cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (PCD) in the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:The clinical data of 20 relapsed/refractory MM patients receiving PCD regimen in the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang Affiliated to Bengbu Medical College from March 2021 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed; and 29 relapsed/refractory MM patients receiving other regimens including DECP (dexamethasone+etoposide+cyclophosphamide+cisplatin, 13 cases) and VCD (bortezomib+ cyclophosphamide+ dexamethasone, 16 cases) during the same period were treated as the control group. The efficacy and adverse effects of both groups were compared after 4 cycles of treatment.Results:After 4 cycles of treatment, the overall response rate (ORR) and the clinical benefit rate (CBR) of 20 cases in PCD group was 70.0% (14/20) and 85.0% (17/20), respectively; among 20 cases, there were 5 cases of complete response (CR), 4 cases of very good partial remission (VGPR), 5 cases of partial remission (PR), 3 cases of minimal remission (MR), 2 cases of stable disease (SD), 1 case of the progression of the disease (PD). ORR and CBR of 29 cases in the control group was 41.4% (12/29) and 65.5% (19/29), respectively; among 29 cases, there were 2 cases of CR, 3 cases of VGPR, 7 cases of PR, 7 cases of MR, 5 cases of SD, 5 cases of PD. There was a statistically significant difference in ORR of both group ( χ2 = 3.89, P = 0.048), while the difference in CBR of both group was not statistically significant ( χ2 = 2.30, P = 0.129). There were 2 patients with renal impairment achieving CR in PCD group and 1 patient with renal impairment achieving CR in the control group ( P = 0.152); 1 genetically high-risk patient achieved CR in PCD group and none of patients in the control group achieved CR, and the difference was statistically significant ( P>0.05). The common hematological adverse effects of two groups were anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia; the common non-hematological adverse effects were malaise, infection and fatigue, and the differences were statistically significant (all P>0.05). The incidence of grade 3-4 infection was 25.0% (5/20) in PCD group and the disease was under the control after anti-infective therapy, and the incidence of grade 3-4 infection was 24.1% (7/29) in the control group; and the difference was not statistically significant ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:PCD regimen has good clinical efficacy and safety in treatment of relapsed/refractory MM.

Objective:To investigate the changes of related indicators of right heart hypofunction in patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF).Methods:The clinical data of 55 PMF patients in the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province and Jiangsu Province Hospital from January 2015 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The differences in right heart function-related echocardiographic indexes and biochemical indexes between pre-fibrosis/early stage fibrosis patients and obvious stage fibrosis patients were compared. Single factor linear regression method was used to analyze the correlations of pulmonary artery pressure with biochemical indexes.Results:The hemoglobin level [119 g/L (47-224 g/L) vs. 78 g/L (33-182 g/L)] and platelet count [233×10 12/L (5×10 12/L-984×10 12/L) vs. 117×10 12/L (7×10 12/L-731×10 12/L)] of patients in the pre-fibrosis/early stage fibrosis group were higher than those in the obvious stage fibrosis group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Among 22 patients with complete results of cardiac ultrasound, 90.9% (20/22) patients had increased pulmonary artery pressure, 72.7% (16/22) patients had increased left atrial diameter, and 90.9% (20/22) patients had increased right ventricular diastolic diameter. There were no patients with abnormal ejection fraction. The pulmonary artery pressure [48 mmHg (46-90 mmHg) vs. 33 mmHg (20-50 mmHg) (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa)], left ventricular diastolic diameter [46 mm (36-50 mm) vs. 47 mm (43-53 mm)] and fractional shortening rate [38.1% (36.0%-38.9%) vs. 35.4% (32.7%-37.8%)] of patients in the pre-fibrosis/early stage fibrosis group were higher than those in the obvious stage fibrosis group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The pulmonary artery pressure of patients had positive correlations with age ( r = 0.590), serum ferritin (SF) ( r = 0.608), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ( r = 0.711) and soluble growth-stimulating expression gene 2 (ST-2) ( r = 0.580)(all P<0.05), and had negative correlation with platelet count ( r = -0.596, P = 0.003). Conclusion:PMF patients are prone to right heart hypofunction, the pulmonary artery pressure is higher in older patients and patients with high SF, LDH and ST-2 levels and low platelet count.