Objectives:To investigate the value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) .Methods:The data of 98 patients with suspected pulmonary infection after allo-HSCT who underwent pathogen detection from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid between June 2016 and August 2023 at Nanfang Hospital were analyzed. The diagnostic performance of mNGS, conventional methods, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for PJP were compared.Results:A total of 12 patients were diagnosed with PJP, including 11 with a proven diagnosis and 1 with a probable diagnosis. Among the patients with a proven diagnosis, 1 was positive by both conventional methods and qPCR, and 10 were positive by qPCR only. Pneumocystis jirovecii was detected by mNGS in all 12 patients. The diagnostic sensitivity of mNGS for PJP was 100%, which was greater than that of conventional methods (8.3%, P=0.001) and similar to that of qPCR (91.6%, P=1.000) . A total of 75% of the patients developed mixed pulmonary infections, and cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus were the most common pathogens. Mixed infection was detected in eight patients by mNGS and in five patients by qPCR, but not by conventional methods ( P=0.008) . Conclusions:mNGS had good sensitivity for diagnosing PJP after allo-HSCT and was advantageous for detecting mixed infectious pathogens; therefore, mNGS might be an effective supplement to regular detection methods and qPCR.

The pandemic of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues, which shows the concentrated or sporadic cases in multiple places. Current COVID situation is still complex. During the COVID-19, routine diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer patients has been affected in different degrees. Under the premise of following the treatment guidelines, how to reduce the risk of infection of patients and medical staff, utilize limited medical resources to maximally ensure anti-tumor treatment and related emergency treatment, and help patients get through the epidemic period is a problem for liver oncologists. Thus, experts of liver cancer treatment related disciplines of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University have written the Expert guidance on overall management of liver cancer during the COVID-19, which aims to provide references for liver oncolo-gists to conduct clinical work safely and effectively under the epidemic prevention and control, and to help patients fight against the epidemic smoothly.

Background::Compared with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor (MSD) transplantation, it remains unclear whether haploidentical donor (HID) transplantation has a superior graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect for Philadelphia-negative (Ph-) high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). This study aimed to compare the GVL effect between HID and MSD transplantation for Ph- high-risk B-ALL.Methods::This study population came from two prospective multicenter trials (NCT01883180, NCT02673008). Immunosuppressant withdrawal and prophylactic or pre-emptive donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) were administered in patients without active graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) to prevent relapse. All patients with measurable residual disease (MRD) positivity posttransplantation (post-MRD+) or non-remission (NR) pre-transplantation received prophylactic/pre-emptive interventions. The primary endpoint was the incidence of post-MRD+.Results::A total of 335 patients with Ph- high-risk B-ALL were enrolled, including 145 and 190, respectively, in the HID and MSD groups. The 3-year cumulative incidence of post-MRD+ was 27.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.2%-34.7%) and 42.6% (35.5%-49.6%) in the HID and MSD groups (P = 0.003), respectively. A total of 156 patients received DLI, including 60 (41.4%) and 96 (50.5%), respectively, in the HID and MSD groups ( P= 0.096). The 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 18.6% (95% CI: 12.7%-25.4%) and 25.9% (19.9%-32.3%; P = 0.116) in the two groups, respectively. The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 67.4% (95% CI: 59.1%-74.4%) and 61.6% (54.2%-68.1%; P = 0.382), leukemia-free survival (LFS) was 63.4% (95% CI: 55.0%-70.7%) and 58.2% (50.8%-64.9%; P= 0.429), and GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS) was 51.7% (95% CI: 43.3%-59.5%) and 37.8% (30.9%-44.6%; P= 0.041), respectively, in the HID and MSD groups. Conclusion::HID transplantation has a lower incidence of post-MRD+ than MSD transplantation, suggesting that HID transplantation might have a superior GVL effect than MSD transplantation for Ph- high-risk B-ALL patients.Trial registration::ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01883180, NCT02673008.

Objective:To explore risk factors for relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in adult Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-ALL).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed for 65 adult Ph-ALL patients undergoing initial allo-HSCT from 2016 to 2018. The effect of baseline level and treatment pre-transplantation for relapse after allo-HSCT was analyzed.Results:There were 37 males and 28 females with a median age of 25(14-58) years during allo-HSCT. And the median follow-up period was 27 months post-HSCT. The 2-year overall survival (OS) was 78.8%(95%CI 67.8%-89.8%) and the 2-year relapse-free survival (RFS) 70.7% (95%CI 58.2%-83.2%). Pre-transplant chemotherapy was offered for 3 to 7 courses and the median dose of polyethylene glycol-conjugated asparaginase (PEG-ASP) was 3 doses (2 000 IU/m 2 per dose). Multiariate analysis revealed that the regimen included more than 4 doses of PEG-ASP pre-HSCT (HR=4.067, P=0.046) was a protective factor for post-transplant relapse (HR=0.193, P=0.009). High-risk chromosome karyotype was a risk factor for relapse (HR=0.193, P=0.009). The 2-year RFS rate was 90.0%(95%CI 79.2%-100.0%) for intensive PEG-ASP group and 56.9%(95%CI 39.1%-74.7%) for control group ( P=0.01). No significant inter-group difference existed in overall survival (OS)( P=0.079). The 2-year OS was 90.6% (95%CI 80.4%-100.0%) in intensive PEG-ASP group and 72.1% (95%CI 56.6%-87.6%) in control group. Conclusions:For adult ph-ALL patients, a higher dose of PEG-ASP in pretransplant chemotherapy regimens may improve post-transplant RFS and achieve a better outcome.

Objective To detect the content of plasma ctDNA and the mutation rate of BRAF V600E in plasma of patients with thyroid carcinoma ,and to explore its clinical significance. Methods Plasma ctDNA was extracted from 16 patients with thyroid carcinoma and 59 patients with benign thyroid nodules by using the blood genomic DNA Extraction Kit. The ctDNA content was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR ,and the mutation of circulating BRAF V600E was detected by PCR and sequencing. Then the clinical significance was analyzed by combined detection analysis. Results The content of ctDNA in thyroid cancer group was significantly higher than that in benign nodule group (P < 0.01). BRAF V600E mutation detection showed that the mutation rate was 43.75%,but benign nodules had no mutation. Parallel combined detection improved the sensitivity and the specific-ity of the combined detection was higher. Conclusion Combined detection of ctDNA and BRAF V600E in plasma is helpful for differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules.

Objective To investigate the effects of different clipping time of first time using permanent aneurysm clips on common carotid artery wall in rabbitsMethods Sixty healthy male Japanese white rabbits were selected.The first time permanent aneurysm clips were used to clip common carotid artery for 30 min or 60 min respectively according to the random number method (n=30 in each group).Thirty segments of common carotid artery specimens clipped by aneurysm clips were collected respectively.Mean-Whitney U test was used to conduct the comparison of histopathological damage grade of vascular wall.Results The aneurysm clips were use to clip 30 min and 60 min caused vascular wall injury could observe the middle elastic plastic plate deformation and endothelial denudation.The vascular walls in the clipping 60 min group had local necrosis with inflammatory response,and even rupture of vascular wall.There were significant differences in overall damage degree of vascular wall (U=324.00,P=0.045) and severe injury rate (0%[0/30] vs.20.0%[6/30],P=0.031) between the clipping 30 min group and the clipping 60 min group (all P<0.05).Conclusion The vascular wall injury of using disposable permanent aneurysm clips for clipping 60 min was more severe than 30 min.Attention should be paid to shortening the time of carotid artery occlusion in operation.

Objective To retrospectively compared the hospitalization days and hospitalization costs of patients with thyroid tumor and breast cancer between patients who accepted selective hospitalization management and patients who accepted routine hospital management, and analyze the effect of selective hospitalization management to shorten the average hospitalization days.Methods A total of 419 patients with thyroid tumor and 318 patients with breast cancer who were treated in Fujian Provincial Hospital from March 2013 to February 2016 were chosen as the study object, and they were divided into the control group and the study group according to whether accepting the selective hospitalization management. Evaluating indicators included the total hospitalization days, preoperative hospitalization days, postoperative hospitalization days and hospitalization costs.Results Compared with the control group, the average total hospitalization days [(6.56±2.94)d vs (8.09± 3.71)d,(12.44±3.91)d vs (14.73±6.66)d)] and preoperative hospitalization days[(2.42±1.94)d vs (4.17± 2.68)d,(2.98±1.70) vs (5.29±4.00)d] in the study group were all reduced (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the postoperative hospitalization days and the average hospitalization costs between two groups ( P > 0. 05 ) . Conclusions Selective hospitalization management could effectively shorten the hospitalization days of patients undergoing selective operation, and increase beds turnover rate. So the new management method would produce good social and economic benefits for the hospital.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effects of c-Met on the proliferation and the sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs of triple negative breast cancer cells.METHODS: Doxorubicin-resistant cells ( MDA-MB-231/ADR) were estab-lished.The expression of c-Met at mRNA and protein levels in the MDA-MB-231/ADR cells and parental MDA-MB-231 cells was detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting.c-Met siRNA and plasmid or AKT siRNA were transfected into the cancer cells.The cell proliferation and the sensitivity to doxorubicin were determined by MTT assay.RESULTS:The expression of c-Met at mRNA and protein levels in MDA-MB-231/ADR cells was significantly higher than that in parental MDA-MB-231 cells.Transfection with pBABE-puro TPR-MET plasmid into the MDA-MB-231 cells induced cell prolifera-tion and resistance to doxorubicin.Meanwhile, inhibition of c-Met in the MDA-MB-231/ADR cells by siRNA reversed the doxorubicin-resistance.In addition, over-expression of c-Met led to higher phosphorylation level of AKT, which was in-volved in the effects of c-Met on the MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and doxorubicin-resistance.CONCLUSION: c-Met may have the potential as a therapeutic target in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer.

Objective To establish rabbit model of scoliosis induced with stable asymmetric lumbar loads. Methods Scoliosis was induced in 10 two-month-old New Zealand rabbits using 316L stainless steel springs placed between the unilateral transverse processes of L2 and L5. Serial radiographs were documented before and at 1, 4, 8, 9 and 12 weeks after the operation. At weeks, the rabbits were randomly divided into SR group (n=5) with the spring removed and SK group (n=5) without spring removal. Results All the rabbits survived the experiment with Cobb angle all greater than 10°at the end of the experiment. Significant changes were found in the Cobb angles and kyphotic angles at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation (P<0.05). At 8 weeks, the Cobb angle, the kyphotic angle and the length of the spring were similar between SR and SK groups (P>0.05), and in the 4 weeks following spring removal in SR group, the Cobb angle and the kyphosis decreased significantly compared with those in SK group (P<0.05). Micro-CT showed that the BV/TV of the concave side was greater than that of the convex side. The length of the spring did not show obvious changes during the experiment (P>0.05). Conclusion Asymmetric lumbar loading is a convenient, time-saving, and highly reproducible approach for establishing rabbit models of scoliosis.

Objective To establish rabbit model of scoliosis induced with stable asymmetric lumbar loads. Methods Scoliosis was induced in 10 two-month-old New Zealand rabbits using 316L stainless steel springs placed between the unilateral transverse processes of L2 and L5. Serial radiographs were documented before and at 1, 4, 8, 9 and 12 weeks after the operation. At weeks, the rabbits were randomly divided into SR group (n=5) with the spring removed and SK group (n=5) without spring removal. Results All the rabbits survived the experiment with Cobb angle all greater than 10°at the end of the experiment. Significant changes were found in the Cobb angles and kyphotic angles at 1, 4 and 8 weeks after the operation (P<0.05). At 8 weeks, the Cobb angle, the kyphotic angle and the length of the spring were similar between SR and SK groups (P>0.05), and in the 4 weeks following spring removal in SR group, the Cobb angle and the kyphosis decreased significantly compared with those in SK group (P<0.05). Micro-CT showed that the BV/TV of the concave side was greater than that of the convex side. The length of the spring did not show obvious changes during the experiment (P>0.05). Conclusion Asymmetric lumbar loading is a convenient, time-saving, and highly reproducible approach for establishing rabbit models of scoliosis.