OBJECTIVE: To analyze the reliability of the Water Tank Scale for assessing recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. METHODS: Thirty-six adult female SD rats were randomly divided into SCI and sham-operated groups (n= 18). The recovery of the hind limb motor function was assessed using Water Tank scoring, BBB scoring, and motor-evoked potentials (MEP) at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 days after SCI. MEP was used as the gold standard for analyzing and comparing differences between the two scoring methods. RESULTS: The Water Tank scores of the rats were significantly higher than the BBB scores on day 3 (0.22±0.43 vs 0, P < 0.05) and also on days 5, 7 and 14 after SCI (0.67±0.49 vs 0.11±0.32, 4.33±1.19 vs 2.83±1.04, 8.61± 1.20 vs 7.06±1.0, P < 0.01). On day 21 after SCI, the scores of the Water Tank Scale of the rats did not significantly differ from the BBB scores (14.78±1.06 vs 14.50±1.47, P>0.05). Neurophysiological monitoring showed that both the Water Tank score and BBB score were significantly correlated with MEP latency, but the Water Tank score had a greater correlation coefficient with MEP latency (r=-0.90). CONCLUSION Compared with the BBB scale, Water Tank scoring allows more objective and accurate assessment of functional recovery of the spinal cord in early stages following SCI in rats, and can thus be used as a reliable method for assessing functional recovery of the hind limbs in rat models of acute SCI.
Female ; Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Water

Objective: To comprehensively assess the current status of extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in very preterm infants (VPI) and its associated factors in Chinese neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Methods: In this cohort study, 6 179 preterm infants born at <32 weeks' gestation were included, who were admitted to 57 hospitals in the China Neonatal Network in 2019 and hospitalized for ≥7 days. EUGR was evaluated by a cross-sectional definition (weight at discharge<10^th percentile for postmenstrual age), a longitudinal definition (decline in weight Z score>1 from birth to discharge), and weight growth velocity. The comparison between infants with and without EUGR was conducted by t-test, Mann-Whitney U test or χ² test as appropriate. Multivariable Logistic regression models were used to evaluate associations between EUGR with different definitions and maternal and neonatal factors, clinical practices, and neonatal morbidities. Results: A total of 6 179 VPI were enrolled in the study, with a gestational age of (29.8±1.5) weeks and birth weight of (1 365±304) g; 56.2% (3 474) of them were male. Among them, 48.4% (2 992 VPI) were cross-sectional EUGR and 74.9% (4 628 VPI) were longitudinal EUGR. Z score of weight was (0.13±0.78) at birth and decrease to (-1.35±0.99) at discharge. The weight growth velocity was 10.13 (8.42, 11.66) g/(kg·d). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that among the influential factors that could be intervened after birth, late attainment of full enteral feeds (OR_adjust=1.01, 95%CI 1.01-1.02, P<0.001; OR_adjust=1.01, 95%CI 1.01-1.02, P<0.001), necrotizing enterocolitis≥Ⅱstage (OR_adjust=2.64, 95%CI 1.60-4.35, P<0.001; OR_adjust=1.62, 95%CI 1.10-2.40, P<0.001) and patent ductus arteriosus (OR_adjust=1.94, 95%CI 1.50-2.51, P<0.001; OR_adjust=1.63, 95%CI 1.29-2.06, P<0.001) were all associated with increased risks of both cross-sectional and longitudinal EUGR. In addition, late initiation of enteral feeds (OR_adjust=1.06, 95%CI 1.02-1.09, P=0.020) and respiratory distress syndrome (OR_adjust=1.45, 95%CI 1.24-1.69, P<0.001) were all associated with cross-sectional EUGR. Breast milk feeding (OR_adjust=1.33, 95%CI 1.05-1.68, P<0.001) was associated with a higher risk of longitudinal EUGR. Conclusions: The incidence of EUGR in VPI in China is high. Some modifiable risk factors provide priorities to improve postnatal growth for VPI. Nutritional management of VPI and the efforts to decrease the incidence of complications are still the focus of clinical management in China.
Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Cohort Studies ; East Asian People ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal

OBJECTIVE: The leukemia cells from patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) were inoculated into NCG mice to establish a stable human T-ALL leukemia animal model. METHODS: Leukemia cells from bone marrow of newly diagnosed T-ALL patients were isolated, and the leukemia cells were inoculated into NCG mice via tail vein. The proportion of hCD45 positive cells in peripheral blood of the mice was detected regularly by flow cytometry, and the infiltration of leukemia cells in bone marrow, liver, spleen and other organs of the mice was detected by pathology and immunohistochemistry. After the first generation mice model was successfully established, the spleen cells from the first generation mice were inoculated into the second generation mice, and after the second generation mice model was successfully established, the spleen cells from the second generation mice were further inoculated into the third generation mice, and the growth of leukemia cells in peripheral blood of the mice in each group was monitored by regular flow cytometry to evaluate the stability of this T-ALL leukemia animal model. RESULTS: On the 10th day after inoculation, hCD45⁺ leukemia cells could be successfully detected in the peripheral blood of the first generation mice, and the proportion of these cells was gradually increased. On average, the mice appeared listless 6 or 7 weeks after inoculation, and a large number of T lymphocyte leukemia cells were found in the peripheral blood and bone marrow smear of the mice. The spleen of the mice was obviously enlarged, and immunohistochemical examination showed that hCD3⁺ leukemia cells infiltrated into bone marrow, liver and spleen extensively. The second and third generation mice could stably develop leukemia, and the average survival time was 4-5 weeks. CONCLUSION Inoculating leukemia cells from bone marrow of patients with T-ALL into NCG mice via tail vein can successfully construct a patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDTX) model.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Heterografts ; Bone Marrow ; Disease Models, Animal ; T-Lymphocytes ; Mice, SCID

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and survival of venetoclax based (VEN-based) regimen in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia（AML）. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in patients who received VEN-based regimen and completed at least 1 course of efficacy evaluation at the The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from July 2019 to July 2022. The incidence of complete remission （CR）/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery （CRi） rate, objective remission rate（ORR） and survival of patients with different risk strati- fication and gene subtypes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients were enrolled, including 43 patients with newly diagnosed unfit AML （unfit AML） and 36 relapsed/refractory AML (R/R AML). The median age of the patients was 62(14-83) years old. 36 out of 79 patients achieved CR/CRi and the ORR of the whole cohort was 64.6%. The CR/CRi rate of unfit AML patients was significantly higher than that of R/R AML patients (60.5% vs 27.8%, P=0.004). In unfit AML cohort, the patients with NPM1 and IDH1/2 mutations were benefited, 8 out of 9 patients ahcieved CR/CRi, 7/8 and 5/8 patients achieved minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, respectively. Six out of 9 patients with TET2 mutation achieved CR/CRi, 3/6 patients achieved MRD negativity. In R/R AML cohort, 2 out of 3 patients with RUNX1 mutation achieved CR/CRi, without MRD negative, while the CR/CRi rate of patients with other gene mutations was lower than 40%. The median follow-up time was 10.1(95%CI: 8.6-11.6) months. In whole cohort, the median overall survival (mOS) time was 9.1 months and the relapse free survival (RFS) time was not reached. The mOS and RFS of unfit AML patients were significantly longer than those of R/R AML patients (14.1 vs 6.8 months, P=0.013; not reached vs 3.3 months, P=0.000). In unfit AML cohort, the mOS of patients with NPM1 or IDH1/2 mutations was not reached, while that of patients without NPM1 or IDH1/2 mutations was 8.0 months (P=0.009; P=0.022). Furthermore, the mOS of patients with TP53 mutaion was significantly shorter than that of patients without TP53 mutation (5.2 vs 14.1 months， P=0.049). In R/R AML cohort, there was no significant difference in mOS between patients with mutation in each gene subtype and those without gene mutation (P>0.05). All patients had hematology adverse reactions, 91.1% patients had AE grade≥3. The most common non-hematology adverse reactions was infection, with an incidence of 91.1%. VEN-based regimen was tolerable for AML patients. CONCLUSION VEN-based regimen can achieve a high response rate, especially in unfit AML with acceptable safety, and some patients can achieve MRD negative. It is also effective in NPM1-, IDH1/2-positive patients with long survival time.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Retrospective Studies ; Nucleophosmin ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/adverse effects* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Recurrence ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*

Objective:To assess the feasibility of the designed dual-isocenter IMRT plans based on Halcyon 3.0 linear accelerator in postoperative radiotherapy of radical mastectomy for left side of breast cancer.Methods:A total of sixteen patients received the postoperative radiotherapy of radical mastectomy for left side of breast cancer at Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2022 to June 2023 were retrospectively selected.The dual-isocenter plans based respectively on Halcyon 3.0 linear accelerator and Truebeam linear accelerator were designed,and the dosimetric parameters included conformity index(CI)values of target region,homogeneity index(HI)values and doses to organs at risk(OAR)of the two plans were calculated as statistic method.And then,the dosimetric performance of Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plan was compared and analyzed.Utilizing two dose verification tools,ArcCHECK and Portal Dosimetry,to assess the precision of beam delivery of Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plan.Results:The Halcyon dual-isocenter plan and the Truebeam single-isocenter plan had similar plan quality.There were not statistically significant differences(P>0.05)in dosimetric parameters such as CI,HI,exposure dose to 2%of the target volume(D2%)and exposure dose to 98%of the target volume(D98%).Compared to the average monitor unit(MU)of Truebeam single-isocenter plan,the MU values of Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plan increased by 366 MU,while the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plan provided comprehensive protection for OAR,which was better than that of the Truebeam single-isocenter plan.The values of the left side of lung volume(V20)that were covered by 20 Gy dose of the Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plan and the Truebeam single-isocenter plan were respectively 20.41%±1.56%and 24.88%±2.95%,and the difference was statistically significant(t=6.413,P<0.05).There were not significant differences in other OAR dosimetric parameters between the two kinds of plans(P>0.05).The verification pass rates of the Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plans on the ArcCHECK and Portal Dosimetry platforms were respectively 97.6%-98.9%and 98.1%-100%when the ratio of dose tolerance(DT)to distance to agreement(DTA)was set at 2%/2 mm.The verification pass rates of the Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plans on the ArcCHECK and Portal Dosimetry platforms were respectively 99.1%-100%and 99.7%-100%when DT/DTA was set at 3%/3 mm.The beam delivery precision of the Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter plan could meet verification standards of clinical treatments.Conclusion:The Halcyon 3.0 dual-isocenter IMRT plan demonstrates a higher feasibility in the postoperative radiotherapy of radical mastectomy for left side of breast cancer.The precision of dose delivery of plan is high,and the dose of target area is sufficient,uniform and favorable conformability.It can effectively limit the OAR exposure dose at the same time.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of celastrol on the proliferation and apoptosis of human multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines, reveal the relationship between IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway and celastrol regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells, and explore whether celastrol combined with bortezomib has synergistic effect. METHODS: CCK-8 method was used to detect the viability of MM cell lines H929 and ARP-1 treated by different concentrations of celastrol, bortezomib, and their combination, and the synergistic effect was determined by Kim's formula. The apoptosis rate of H929 cells and necrosis rate of ARP-1 were detected by Annexin V/PI method. The expression of key proteins and apoptosis proteins in IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Celastrol could significantly inhibit the proliferation of H929 and ARP-1 cells (r=0.9018, r=0.9244) and induce apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Compared with the control group, celastrol could significantly up-regulate the expression of PARP and cleaved caspase-3 while down-regulate the expression of p-IRAK4, p-ERK, and p-p38 in H929 and ARP-1 cells. Celastrol and bortezomib alone inhibited the proliferation of H929 and ARP-1 cells. Compared with celastrol and bortezomib alone, their combination had lower cell survival rate and higher apoptosis rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Celastrol can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells, which may be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of IRAK4 and blocking the activation of IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway. Celastrol combined with bortezomib has synergistic effect, which can more effectively inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells.
Apoptosis ; Bortezomib/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases ; Multiple Myeloma ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and types of thalassemia in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. METHODS: Automatic capillary electrophoresis was used to screen the thalassemia phenotypes of 22 940 blood samples of pregnant women and puerperants collected in our hospital and some other medical institutions in the prefecture during 2017-2019, among which there were 3 356 cases of Tujia ethnicity, 2 821 cases of Miao ethnicity, and 2 233 cases of Han ethnicity included, whose ethnicity were indicated. The samples with positive result would undergo further genetic testing. RESULTS: There were 2 314 cases of suspicious thalassemia were screened from 22 940 cases by the electrophoresis, thus the positive rate was 10.1% (hematological phenotypes from some other institutions were not included). Specifically, there were 1 706 cases with HBA₂ less than 2.5%, 255 cases with HBA₂ ranged from 2.5% to 3.5%, which displayed abnormal hematology (MCV or/and MCH) or other abnormal bands, and 353 cases with HBA₂>3.5%. There were 436 suspected positive patients in 2 314 suspicious samples received further thalassemia gene testing in our hospital, among them 48 cases were diagnosed with α-thalassemia, 85 cases with β-thalassemia, and 2 cases as compound type. The positive diagnosis rate of α-thalassemia gene test was 11.0%, β-thalassemia was 19.4%, and positive pregnant women was 31.0%. CONCLUSION The positive rate of thalassemia screening in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture is roughly the same as that in other regions of Hunan. The positive predictive value of β-thalassemia screening is as high as 86%. Compared with the missed screening data, it is recommended to use hematology (MCV, MCH) method combined with capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis for thalassemia screening.
Ethnicity ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Hemoglobin A2/analysis* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution characteristics of thalassemia genotype in Han Population in Sanya of Hainan Province. METHODS: Gap PCR and reverse dot hybridization were used to detect and analyze the thalassemia gene in 572 suspected thalassemia carriers of Han Population in Sanya. RESULTS: Among the 572 Han Population in Sanya, 271 cases of thalassemia gene abnormality were detected, among which 161 cases were founded to be carriers of α-thalassemia gene. A total of 9 genotypes were detected, in the following order of the detection rate was －－^SEA/αα，－α^3.7/αα，－α^4.2/αα，－－^SEA/－α^3.7，－－^SEA/－α^4.2，－α^4.2/－α^4.2，－α^3.7/－α^4.2，－α^3.7/－α^3.7，－－^SEA/－－^SEA. Among them, the deletion type (－－^SEA/αα) in southeast Asia was the most common, accounting for 66 cases. 99 cases of β-thalassemia were detected, there were 7 genotypes, all of which were heterozygous. The order of the detection rate was CD41-42/βN, IVS-II-654/βN, CD17/βN, CD71-72/βN, -28/βN, －29/βN, CD27-28/βN. Among them, CD41-42/βN was the most common, accounting for 51 cases. In addition, 11 cases of combined α and β thalassemia were detected. Five kinds of genotypes were checked out, the order of detection rate was －α^3.7/αα composite CD41-42/βN, －－^SEA/αα composite IVS-II-654/βN, －α^4.2/－α^4.2 composite CD41-42/βN, －α^4.2/αα composite －29/βN , －－^SEA/ －α^4.2 composite CD41-42/βN. CONCLUSION Han Population in Sanya of Hainan Province is a high-risk population of thalassemia, the genotype characteristics are different from other areas with high incidence of thalassemia in China. The main type of α-thalassemia is the deficiency mutation of southeast Asia, while CD41-42 heterozygous mutation is the main type of β-thalassemia.
China/epidemiology* ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; beta-Thalassemia

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of hypoxia on the chemosensitivity of B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia （B-ALL） cells to Vincristine (VCR) and the mechanisms. METHODS: B-ALL cells SUP-B15, Nalm-6 and RS4;11 were selected as the research objects. The cells were divided into the control group and the hypoxia mimic group (CoCl₂ pretreatment). The two groups were treated with VCR at different concentrations for 24 hours, CCK-8 was used to detect cell viability, flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis, and Western bolt method was used to detect hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1α), BAX, Bcl-2 and β-actin protein expression. Quantitative real-time fluorescent PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect BAX and β-actin mRNA levels. RESULTS: CoCl₂ could simulate hypoxic environment to induce the expression of HIF-1α. The cells SUP-B15 and RS4;11 of the hypoxia mimic group were lower sensitivity to VCR as compared with the control group; the apoptosis rate of the hypoxia mimic group was lower than that of the control group after 80 nmol/L VCR treatment. The expression levels of BAX protein and mRNA in the hypoxia mimic group were lower than those of the control group, and there was no significant difference in the expression levels of Bcl-2 protein between two groups. CONCLUSION Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1α may mediate VCR resistance in B-ALL cells by downregulating the pro-apoptotic protein BAX.
Actins/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; RNA, Messenger ; Vincristine/pharmacology* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein/pharmacology*

Actinin/genetics* ; Anemia ; Blood Platelets/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Megakaryocytes ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Thrombocytopenia/genetics*