BACKGROUND: Benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is the most common type of childhood idiopathic focal epilepsy. BECTS is associated with pervasive cognitive deficits and behavior problems. While seizures can be easily controlled, it is crucial to select anti-epileptic drugs that do not impair cognition, do not cause psychosocial effects, and improve the quality of life. Previous studies showed effects of oxcarbazepine (OXC) monotherapy on the cognitive and psychosocial profiles of patients with BECTS. Here, we studied the effects of OXC monotherapy on the neuropsychologic profiles and quality of life in patients with BECTS in China. METHODS: Thirty-one patients aged 6 to 12 years newly diagnosed with BECTS were recruited. A psychometric assessment was performed before and during the follow-up of OXC monotherapy with Cognitive Computerized Task Battery, Depression Self-Rating Scale for children, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, and Quality of Life in Epilepsy-31 (QOLIE-31). The results of the assessments were compared to explore the effect of OXC monotherapy in patients with BECTS. RESULTS: Thirty children with BECTS completed the study. Five of ten cognitive test scores improved after treatment via OXC monotherapy, including visual tracing (F = 14.480, P < 0.001), paired associated learning (language) (F = 6.292, P < 0.001), paired associated learning (number) (F = 9.721, P < 0.05), word semantic (F = 6.003, P < 0.05), and simple subtraction (F = 6.229, P < 0.05). Of the neuropsychology data concerning the quality of life, statistically significant improvements were observed in emotion (F = 4.946, P < 0.05), QOLIE-social (F = 5.912, P < 0.05), and QOLIE-total (F = 14.161, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS OXC is safe and does not impair neuropsychologic functions, with no obvious mood burden on children with BECTS. Most importantly, OXC has positive impacts on children's perception of quality of life, especially in terms of happiness and life satisfaction.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experiences and outcomes of 108 robot-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries conducted by a single surgeon. METHODS: We consecutively and retrospectively reviewed 108 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries by a single surgeon from November 2018 to January 2020. The patient demographics, perioperative variables, postoperative complications and follow-up data were recorded. Fifty-three modified dismembered pyeloplasties (MDP), 11 spiral flap pyeloplasties (SFP), 11 ure-teroureterostomies (UUT), 4 lingual mucosal onlay graft ureteroplasties (LMU), 5 appendiceal onlay flap ureteroplasties (AU), 11 ureteral reimplantations (UR), 6 Boari flap-Psoas hitch surgeries (BPS) and 7 ileal ureter replacements (IUR) were enrolled finally. The success was defined as the improvement in subjective pain levels, and the improvement in the degree of hydronephrosis at ultrasound. RESULTS: All the surgeries were successfully completed without open or laparoscopic conversion. The median operative time was 141 min (range: 74-368 min), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-350 mL) and median hospital stay was 4 d (range: 3-19 d) in MDP group, with the success rate of 94.3%. The median operative time was 159 min (range: 110-222 min), median blood loss was 50 mL (range: 20-150 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 3-8 d) in SFP group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 126 min (range: 76-160 d), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-50 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 4-9 d) in UUT group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 204 min (range: 154-250 min), median blood loss was 30 mL (range: 10-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 6 d (range: 4-7 d) in LMU group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 164 min (range: 135-211 min), median blood loss was 75 mL (range: 50-200 mL) and median hospital stay was 8.5 d (range: 6-12 d) in AU group, with the success rate of 100%. The median operative time was 149 min (range: 100-218 min), median blood loss was 20 mL (range: 10-50 mL) and median hospital stay was 7 d (range: 5-10 d) in UR group, with the success rate of 90.9%. The median operative time was 166 min (range: 137-205 min), median blood loss was 45 mL (range: 20-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 5 d (range: 4-41 d) in BPS group, with the success rate of 83.3%. The median operative time was 270 min (range: 227-335 min), median blood loss was 100 mL (range: 10-100 mL) and median hospital stay was 7 d (range: 5-26 d) in IUR group, with the success rate of 85.7%. CONCLUSIONS The surgeon performed and modified numerous complicated upper urinary tract reconstruction surgeries by the robotic platform, which facilitated the development of the standardized upper urinary tract reconstruction surgical technique.
Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Surgeons ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureter

Objective: To investigate the efficiency and safety of domestic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) dasatinib (Yinishu) as second-line treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP). Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical data of CML-CP patients who received domestic dasatinib as second-line treatment in the CML collaborative group hospitals of Hubei province from March 2016 to July 2018 was performed. The optimal response rate, the cumulative complete cytogenetic response (CCyR), the cumulative major molecular responses (MMR), progression free survival (PFS), event free survival (EFS) and adverse effects (AEs) of the patients were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Results: A total of 83 CML-CP patients were enrolled in this study. The median follow-up time was 23 months. The optimal response rates at 3, 6 and 12 months in 83 CML-CP patients treated with dasatinib were 77.5% (54/71), 72.6% (61/75) and 60.7% (51/69), respectively. By the end of follow-up, the cumulative CCyR and MMR rates were 65.5% (55/80) and 57.1% (48/73), respectively. The median time to achieving CCyR and MMR was 3 months. During follow-up time, the PFS rate was 94.0% (79/83) and the EFS rate was 77.4% (65/83). The most common non-hematological AEs of dasatinib were edema (32.5%), rash itching (18.1%) and fatigue (13.3%). The common hematological AEs of dasatinib were thrombocytopenia (31.3%), leukopenia (19.3%) and anemia (6.0%). Conclusion: Domestic dasatinib was effective and safe as the second-line treatment of CML-CP patients and it can be used as an option for CML-CP patients.
Antineoplastic Agents ; Dasatinib/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this paper was to explore the effects and possible mechanisms in vitro of tea polyphenols (TP) delaying human glomerular mesangial cells (HGMCs) senescence induced by high glucose (HG). HGMCs were cultured in vitro and divided into the normal group (N, 5.5 mmol·L⁻¹ glucose), the mannitol group(MNT, 5.5 mmol·L⁻¹ glucose plus 24.5 mmol·L⁻¹ mannitol), the high dose of D-glucose group (HG, 30 mmol·L⁻¹ glucose), the low dose of TP group (L-TP, 30 mmol·L⁻¹ glucose plus 5 mg·L⁻¹ TP) and the high dose of TP group (H-TP, 30 mmol·L⁻¹ glucose plus 20 mg·L⁻¹ TP), which were cultured in 5% CO₂ at 37 °C, respectively. Firstly, the effects of TP on the cell morphology of HGMCs were observed after 72 h-intervention. Secondly, the cell cycle, the positive rate of senescence-associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining and the telomere length were detected, respectively. Finally, the protein expressions of p53, p21 and Rb in the p53-p21-Rb signaling pathway were investigated, respectively. And the expressions of p-STAT3 and miR-126 were examined severally. The results indicated that HG not only arrested the cell cycle in G₁ phase but also increased the positive rate of SA-β-gal staining, and shortened the telomere length. HG led to the protein over-expressions of p53, p21 and Rb and HGMCs senescence by activating the p53-p21-Rb signaling pathway. In addition, L-TP delayed HGMCs senescence by improving the cell cycle G₁ arrest, reducing SA-β-gal staining positive rate and lengthening the telomere length. L-TP reduced the protein over-expressions of p53, P21 and Rb induced by HG and inhibited the telomere-p53-p21-Rb signaling pathway. Moreover, the expression of p-STAT3 was increased and the expression of miR-126 was decreased in HGMCs induced by HG. L-TP reduced the expression of p-STAT3 and increased the expression of miR-126 in HGMCs. In conclusion, HG could induce HGMCs senescence by activating the telomere-p53-p21-Rb signaling pathway in vitro. L-TP could delay HGMCs senescence through regulating STAT3/miR-126 expressions and inhibiting the telomere-p53-p21-Rb signaling pathway activation. These findings could provide the effective interventions in clinic for preventing and treating renal cell senescence in diabetic kidney disease.
Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; Glucose ; Humans ; Mesangial Cells ; MicroRNAs ; Polyphenols ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; Tea ; Telomere ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Background:Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is frequently associated with paraneoplastic inflammatory syndrome (PIS). This study aimed at exploring the connections between the survival rate and specific gene alterations and the potential mechanism.

Methods:We retrospectively studied 69 surgical RCC cases from August 2014 to February 2016, including 18 cases of clear cell RCC (ccRCC) demonstrating elevated pretreatment serum C-reactive protein (CRP, Group A). Twelve of the 18 cases were symptomized with febrile episode. We also selected 49 cases of ccRCC with normal pretreatment CRP (Group B). Using 22 microsatellite markers, we compared the incidence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) between Group A and Group B. All statistical tests are two-sided.

Results:The 3p LOH was common in both Group A (89%) and Group B (92%). The frequency of 14q LOH in Group A (16 of 18) was higher than Group B (4 of 49, χ= 40.97 P < 0.0001). The 3p and 14q LOH were the characteristics of ccRCC with elevated acute phase reactants, including PIS, regardless of the presence of metastasis. On the contrary, 14q LOH was a rare genomic alternation in advanced-staged ccRCC without PIS. The overall survival of patients with elevated CRP (33.3%) was lower than its counterparts (6.1%, hazard ratio=1.852, P < 0.0001) in Kaplan-Meier curve.

Conclusions:The results imply that the disruption of a 14q gene(s) might result in not only the inflammatory manifestations in the tumor host but also the poor survival rate as well. The isolation of the gene(s) on 14q might be a vital goal in the treatment of PIS-associated RCC.

BACKGROUNDA survey of early stage follicular lymphoma(FL) revealed that the rigorously staged FL patients at first diagnosis had a better outcome as compared with non-rigorous staged FL patients, but there were no similar reports in China.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the rigorous staging at first diagnosis and the prognosis of FL patients at different stages.

METHODSThe clinical data of 111 patients with newly diagnosed FL from 2008 to 2014 year were collected and analyzed. The rigorous staging included: (1) bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, (2) imaging examination of whole body including CT and ultrasounic scan, or PET/CT, either or both is defined as rigorous staging, or else as non-rigorous staging.

RESULTSThe FL patients at I-II stages by rigorous staging showed a superior progression-free survival(PFS) compared with non-rigorous staging patients(P=0.048). For all the patients, the age, serum LDH, bone marrow lesion and more than 3 foci of diameter larger than 3 cm correlated with prognosis in univariate analysis, and multivariate analysis revealed that the age, serum LDH and bone marrow imolvement were the independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONRigorous staging leads to better outcomes, suggesting that accurate and appropriate testing is important for the patients at the first treatment. The close correlation of bone marrow with prognosis indicates that the evaluation of bone marrow is very important for the daily clinical practice.

Objectve: To investigate the feasibility of establishing xenografted leukemia model by zebrafish, so as to provide the more direct model in vitro and experimental evidence for study of acute myeloid leukemia and screening of the drugs for targeting therapy.

METHODSAcute myeloid leukemia cell line KG-1a was labeled with red fluorescent dye-MitoRed, then the labeled cells were injected into the yolk sac of zebrafish embryos. Morphological observation, cell count and histopathological detection were used to analyse the infiltration and metastasis of KG-1a cells in zebrafish.

RESULTSKG1a cells could proliferate and gradually spread to the entire abdominal cavity of the zebrafish after KG-1a cells were injected into the yolk sac during 1-7, the results of cell counting in vitro also proved a significant proliferation of KG-1a cells in zebrafish, suggesting that the implanted leukemia stem cells could survive, proliferate and spread in zebrafish. Further study showed that the implanted cells could be transfered to the liver of zebrafish, these cells displayed the signature of KG-1a cells by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining.

CONCLUSIONSHuman acute myeloid leukemia cells KG1a can survive, proliferate and migrate in zebrafish, suggesting xenografted leukemia model of zebrafish has been successfully established. This model may be benefitcial for the study of acute myeloid leukemia and the screening of the drugs for targeting therapy of acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUNDThe molecular genetic research showed the association between X-linked hearing loss and mutations in POU3F4. This research aimed to identify a POU3F4 mutation in a nonsyndromic X-linked recessive hearing loss family.

METHODSA series of clinical evaluations including medical history, otologic examinations, family history, audiologic testing, and a high-resolution computed tomography scan were performed for each patient. Bidirectional sequencing was carried out for all polymerase chain reaction products of the samples. Moreover, 834 controls with normal hearing were also tested.

RESULTSThe pedigree showed X-linkage recessive inheritance pattern, and pathogenic mutation (c.499C>T) was identified in the proband and his family member, which led to a premature termination prior to the entire POU domains. This mutation co-segregated with hearing loss in this family. No mutation of POU3F4 gene was found in 834 controls.

CONCLUSIONSA nonsense mutation is identified in a family displaying the pedigree consistent with X-linked recessive pattern in POU3F4 gene. In addition, we may provide molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling for this family.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Deafness ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hearing Loss ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; POU Domain Factors ; genetics ; Pedigree

Objective To develop a cellular shear stress loading system with an adjustable stress mode and relevant parameters, and subsequently verify the effectiveness and feasibility of this system. Methods The hardware of the system was developed by using a peristaltic pump and self-designed multi-channel flow chamber, and the mode control program of shear stress based on LabVIEW was designed to control the device via RS485 interfacing and Modbus protocol. Additionally, the relationship between the shear stress and system parameters was calibrated, and finite element analysis was also conducted. Finally, the feasibility of the system was confirmed via the in vitro cell experiment. Results The mode and magnitude of shear stress of the system could be controlled via either the peristaltic pump or computer, and the cellular long-term effect was also able to be detected. The calibration results of the system indicated that the level of shear stress exhibited significantly linear positive correlation with the revolution of the peristaltic pump (P<0.001). Finite element analysis demonstrated that the level of shear stress on the slide was uniformly distributed and the result of simulation was accordant with calibration. Cytoskeleton staining suggested that cellular morphology of MLO-Y4 cells was changed, and microfilament increased and arrayed along fluid flow direction. Conclusion The system is stable and reliable enough to provide different loading modes and magnitude of cellular shear stress to offer a convictive platform of the research for different cellular stress signal transduction mecha-nisms.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safety and effectiveness of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) using tumor-ablative conditioning regiment for patients with refractory/relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

METHODSThe clinical data of 16 patients with refractory/relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma received above-mentioned therapeutic regimen from January 2013 to July 2015 was analyzed retrospectively, and conditioning-related toxicity, engraftment, infection, relapse and survival rate were evaluated.

RESULTSNo conditioning-related organs' failure and mortality were found. Only 1 patient had not been engrafted, and the engraftment rate was 93.7%. The incidence of serious infection was 31.2%. The median follow-up was 20.5(1-30) months, and 3 patients died, out of them 2 patients died of relapse. Two year overall survival (OS) , disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse rates were 80.2%, 74.5% and 20.6% respectively.

CONCLUSIONAuto-HSCT using tumor-ablative conditioning regimen is safe and effective for patients with refractory/relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and it possess a certain effect for reducing disease relapse after transplantation.