Acute pleural and pericardial effusion induced by chemotherapy in treating chronic myelocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Report of a rare and serious complication of chemotherapy with daunorubicin and cytarabine (DA regimen). METHODS: We report a special case of a patient diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with accelerated phase, who simultaneously suffered from acute pleural and pericardial effusion while receiving chemotherapeutic treatment with DA regimen. RESULTS: Following treatment with DA regimen, the patient had the symptoms of chest distress and shortness of breath, followed by respiratory failure and pericardial tamponade. The patient's condition was improved when treated with the puncturation through the pericardium and pleural cavity, coupled with glucocorticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians should be made aware of the potential for emergency pleural and pericardial effusion caused by daunorubicin and cytarabine in order to accurately diagnose and treat these conditions and thereby decrease mortality related to chemotherapy.

Temporal thermal response of Type II-IR fiber Bragg gratings.

We use the phase mask method to investigate both experimentally and theoretically the temporal thermal response of Type II-IR fiber Bragg gratings inscribed by a femtosecond laser. A fast testing system is developed to measure the thermal response time by means of periodic CO2 laser irradiation, which creates a rapid temperature change environment. The temporal thermal response is found to be independent of the heat power and the heat direction, although the grating produced destroys the axial symmetry of the fiber. The measured values of the temporal thermal response are approximately 230 ms for heating and approximately 275 ms for cooling, which different from the simulation results obtained from a lumped system equation. The causes of such differences are investigated in detail.

Cloning of anti-lPS factor cDNA from Tachypleus tridentatus, expression in Bombyx mori larvae and its biological activity in vitro.

In this article we report the cloning and expression of a cDNA encoding Tachypleus anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) factor, which is of interest for use as a potential inhibitor of the common core subunit of Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins. First, two degenerate primers were designed based on the sequence homology of anti-LPS factors purified from different species of horseshoe crab. The total RNA was extracted from amebocytes of Tachypleus tridentatus. The cDNA was then obtained by using the RT-PCR methods. Second, the cDNA of Tachypleus anti-LPS factor (TALF) was expressed in Bombyx mori larvae using baculovirus expression system, which showed a yield of up to 600 mg/L. Last, we determined the biological activity of the recombinant proteins by LPS neutralization assay and bacteriostatic assay in vitro.

Expression of an antimicrobial peptide identified in the male reproductive system of rats.

Bin1b is a beta-defensins-like molecule originally isolated from the rat epididymis. Owing to its bactericidal activity, Bin1b may have therapeutic properties suitable for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases. The amino terminus of the mature Bin1b peptide contains a conserved myristoylated Gly residue. We studied the requirement of the terminal myristoylated Gly residue in the bactericidal activity of Bin1b and found that the terminal myristoylated Gly residue is not essential for the bactericidal activity. In addition, we expressed the tandem repeats of Bin1b in Escherichia coli and found that two tandem repeats of Bin1b protein were successfully expressed. The bacterially expressed tandem Bin1b repeats may be used in a diverse array of biochemical and cell biological studies.

[Cloning and expression of Tachypleus tridentatus factor C].

Factor C is an endotoxin-sensitive, intracellular serine protease zymogen which initiates the coagulation cascade system in the horseshoe crab hemolymph. The special lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding activation of FC makes it a potential drug for anti-LPS treatment and has a high commercial value. Based on the sequence of reported FC from Japan horseshoe crab, two pairs of primers were designed. The total RNA was extracted from amebocytes of Chinese Tachypleus tridentatus and the cDNA was separated into two parts and were cloned using RT-PCR, respectively. FCs from different geographical areas showed high homology in sequence. The whole FC cDNA was cloned into pET-28a (+) containing T7 promoter and recombinant expression plasmid pET-FC was constructed. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). Recombinant FC was expressed as inclusion body when the expression strain was induced with 1 mmol/L IPTG. Refolded recombinant FC was confirmed to be active by bacteriostatic assay in vitro. The results of Western blot also suggested the recombinant FC may be able to cleave itself partly and produced an extra immunoblot band.

ATO/ATRA/anthracycline-chemotherapy sequential consolidation achieves long-term efficacy in primary acute promyelocytic leukemia.

The combination of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3, ATO) has been effective in obtaining high clinical complete remission (CR) rates in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but the long-term efficacy and safety among newly diagnosed APL patients are unclear. In this retrospective study, total 45 newly diagnosed APL patients received ATRA/chemotherapy combination regimen to induce remission. Among them, 43 patients (95.6%) achieved complete remission (CR) after induction therapy, followed by ATO/ATRA/anthracycline-based chemotherapy sequential consolidation treatment with a median follow-up of 55 months. In these patients, the estimated overall survival (OS) and the relapse-free survival (RFS) were 94.4% ± 3.9% and 94.6 ± 3.7%, respectively. The toxicity profile was mild and reversible. No secondary carcinoma was observed. These results demonstrated the high efficacy and minimal toxicity of ATO/ATRA/anthracycline-based chemotherapy sequential consolidation treatment for newly diagnosed APL in long-term follow-up, suggesting a potential frontline therapy for APL.

[Construction of genetically modified dendritic cell vaccine expressing bcr/abl fusion gene and inducing specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes to kill K562 cells in vitro].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Specific immunological effect mediated by T lymphocytes plays an important role in treating chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Dendritic cells (DCs)-based immunotherapy has become popular in treating tumors. This study was to construct DC vaccines by transducing with replication-defective recombinant adenoviruses expressing bcr/abl fusion gene of CML, observe the lethal effects of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) triggered by genetically modified DC vaccines expressing bcr/abl fusion gene against K562 cells in vitro. METHODS: DNA fragment of bcr/abl fusion gene was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to construct a recombinant adenovirus vector and produce recombinant adenoviruses. DCs were induced from peripheral blood monocytes in vitro, and transfected with recombinant adenoviruses or pulsed with peptide to induce specific CTLs. The lethal effect of CTLs against leukemic K562 cells in vitro was observed. RESULTS: We successfully constructed the replication-defective recombinant adenoviral vector expressing bcr/abl fusion gene. The recombinant adenoviruses we produced had a high virus titer of 2.0 x 10(10) pfu/mL. Transfection efficiency of DCs in vitro was 50%-60%. DC vaccines expressing bcr/abl fusion gene were successfully prepared and used to induce specific CTLs. With effector:target cell ratios of 40:1 and 20:1, the killing rates of K562 cells by CTLs were (47.6+/-4.7)% and (47.5+/-1.6)% in genetically modified DCs group, (25.8+/-4.4)% and (24.6+/-6.3)% in peptide-pulsed DCs group, and were (5.7+/-1.3)% and (4.5+/-1.6)% in control DCs group. The differences between every two groups were significant (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Genetically modified DC vaccine expressing bcr/abl fusion gene has a stronger contribution than peptide-pulsed DCs in triggering specific CTLs against K562 cells.

Asymmetric transverse-load characteristics and polarization dependence of long-period fiber gratings written by a focused CO(2) laser.

Asymmetric transverse-load characteristics and the polarization dependence of long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) written by high-frequency CO(2) laser pulses are investigated in detail. It is demonstrated that the resonant wavelength is dependent on the direction of the applied force and on the polarization state of the input light; however, the coupling strength is independent of these parameters. When a transverse load is applied along different orientations of the LPFG, the resonant wavelength may be shifted toward the longer wavelength, the shorter wavelength, or hardly shifted, whereas the absolute value of peak transmission attenuation is linearly decreased with an increase of the applied transverse load, with almost no sensitivity to the load direction. These unique transverse-load characteristics and the polarization dependence are due to the load-induced birefringence that leads to the rotation of optical principal axes in the LPFG.

Measuring optical fiber length by use of a short-pulse optical fiber ring laser in a self-injection seeding scheme.

A method for measuring the length of an optical fiber by use of an optical fiber ring laser pulse source is proposed and demonstrated. The key element of the optical fiber ring laser is a gain-switched Fabry-Perot laser diode operated in a self-injection seeding scheme. This method is especially suitable for measuring a medium or long fiber, and a resolution of 0.1 m is experimentally achieved. The measurement is implemented by accurately determining the pulse frequency that can maximize the output power of the fiber ring laser. The measurement results depend only on the refractive index of the fiber corresponding to this single wavelength, instead of the group index of the fiber, which represents a great advantage over both optical time-domain reflectometry and optical low-coherence reflectometry methods.

CO2 laser-grooved long period fiber grating temperature sensor system based on intensity modulation.

A long period fiber grating (LPFG) temperature sensor system based on intensity modulation is developed. The LPFG employed is fabricated by the use of a focused CO2 laser beam to carve periodic grooves on the fiber. The temperature measurement resolution of up to 0.1 degrees C has been obtained within the temperature range between 20 degrees C and 100 degrees C. The system uses a simple intensity measurement method and exhibits the advantages of convenient intensity measurement, double temperature sensitivity, high resolution, simple configuration, and low cost.

Generation of continuously wavelength-tunable optical short pulses by use of two self-seeded Fabry-Perot laser diodes and an optical switch.

Generation of wavelength-tunable optical short pulses by use of two self-seeded Fabry-Perot laser diodes in a parallel configuration is described. The system supports continuous wavelength tuning in a relatively wide range of 42 nm. The side-mode suppression ratio achieved is 35 dB across the entire wavelength tuning range. The system is convenient for continuous wavelength tuning.

[Expression of MUC1 gene and MDR1 gene in non-M3 subtype acute leukemia and their correlations to clinical treatment efficacy].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Mucin 1 (MUC1) gene is expressed in various tumors, and overexpressed in acute leukemia. This study was to evaluate the expression of MUC1 gene and multidrug-resistance protein-1 (MDR1) gene in non-M3 subtype acute leukemia and their correlations to clinical treatment efficacy. METHODS: The expression of MUC1 and MDR1 genes were measured in 34 patients with non-M3 subtype acute leukemia by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); their correlations to clinical treatment efficacy were observed. RESULTS: The positive rate of MUC1 gene in the 34 patients was 50.0%, and the positive rate of MDR1 gene was 29.4%. The positive rate of MDR1 was significantly higher in MUC1-positive patients than in MUC1-negative patients (52.9% vs. 5.9%, P=0.003). Complete remission (CR) rate was significantly higher in MUC1-negative patients than in MUC1-positive patients (94.1% vs. 52.9%, P<0.01). CR rate was significantly higher in MDR1-negative patients than in MDR1-positive patients (91.7% vs. 50.0%, P<0.05). In 9 patients with positive expression of both MUC1 and MDR1, the CR rate was 55.6%; while in 16 patients with negative expression of both MUC1 and MDR1, the CR rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: The non-M3 subtype acute leukemia patients with positive expression of MUC1 have high positive rate of MDR1. The patients with negative expression of both MUC1 and MDR1 have high CR. Co-detection of MUC1 gene and MDR1 gene can predict treatment efficacy on non-M3 subtype acute leukemia.

Tunable dual-wavelength optical short-pulse generation by use of a fiber Bragg grating and a tunable optical filter in a self-seeding scheme.

A simple self-seeding scheme is developed to generate tunable dual-wavelength optical short pulses in a flexible manner and with an increased wavelength-tuning range. The wavelength selection and tuning are achieved by simultaneous use of a fiber Bragg grating and a tunable optical filter. The side-mode suppression ratio of the output pulses is better than 30 dB over a wavelength-tuning range of 33.8 nm. The system is compact and convenient for dual-wavelength tuning.

[Research on TALF expression in Escherichia coli].

The expression of cDNA encoding Tachyleus auti-lipoposaccharide (LPS) factor, which is of interest for use as a potential inhibitor of the common core subunit of Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin. First, the TALF gene was inserted into expression vectors pGEX-4T-2, pET22b and pET28a to construct recombinant expression plasmids. The recombinant plasmids were transformed to E. coli BL21 (DE3) and the expression of TALF was examined. Results show that TALF in pET22b and pET28a vectors can't be expressed. Only the fusion protein GST-TALF was expressed in E. coli BL21 existing as inclusion bodies. From 1 liter of culture, about 4mg of fusion protein GST-TALF with 91% purity was finally obtained. No apparent bactericidal activity and LPS neutralizing activity of the fusion protein GST-TALF were found. After digested with thrombin, the fusion protein GST-TALF exhibited strong bactericidal activity and LPS neutralizing activity.