[Evaluation and Comparison of Thromboelastography and Conventional Coagulation Tests for Blood Coagulation Function in Children with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of disease control, survival time and safely in treatment of newly diagnosed multiple mycloma patients with different dose of tenalidomide regimens. METHODS: The clinical data of 116 patients with multiple myeloma from June 2011 to June 2015 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. According to doses of used lenalidomide based on dexamethasone plus lenalidomide regimen 116 patients were divided into 2 groups: conventional dose group (58 cases) and low dose group (58 cases). The ORR, PFS rate and OS rate during followed-up for 3 years, KPS score, RNS score and immunophenotypic index before and after treatment and drug toxicity incidence were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS: The ORR for 2 treatment courses of low dose group was significantly lower than that in conventienal dose group (P＜0.05). The ORR for 4 and 6 treatment courses was not significantly different between 2 groups (P＞0.05). The PFS rate and OS rate during followed-up for 3 years was no significantly different between 2 groups (P＞0.05). The KPS score and RNS score after treatment of low dose group were significantly better than those in conventional dose group and before treatment (P＜0.05). The levels of immunophenotypic index after treatment of both groups were significantly better than those before treatment (P＜0.05). The incidence of III-IV grade hematological toxicity, pulmonary infection and herpes were not significantly different between 2 groups (P＞0.05). The incidence of peripheral neuropathy and gastrointestinal reactions in the low dose group were significantly lower than that in conventional dose group (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION: Conventional and low doses of lenalidomide possess the same control effects and survival time for treatment of newly dingnosed patients with multiple myeloma; Despite, the initiation of effects from the low dose lenalidomide is relatively slower, it contributes to raise the overall quality of life and reduce the risk of drug toxicity.

[Effects of mTOR Inhibitor Rapamycin on Burkitt's Lymphoma Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of mTOR inhibitor rapamycin on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of Burkitt's lymphoma cell line Raji and CA46 cells and its mechanism, so as to provide the experimental evidence for a therapeutic target of Burkitt's lymphoma. METHODS: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay was performed to assess the inhibitory effect of rapamycin on proliferation of Burkitt's lymphoma cell line Raji and CA46 cells. The cell cycle distribution of Raji and CA46 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry with propidium iodide(PI) single staining. The cell apoptosis of Raji and CA46 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry with FITC Annexin V+PI double staining. The expressions of RPS6, p-RPS6, survivin and caspase-3 proteins were detected by Western blot after treating with rapamycin. RESULTS: Rapamycin markedly inhibited the proliferation of both Raji and CA46 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manners, showing good biological activity, the cell proliferation inhibition rate reached about 20% after treatment with 1 nmol/L rapamycin. After treatment with different concentrations of rapamycin for 24 and 48 hours, the proportion of both cells in G1/G0 phase in the treated groups was significantly increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manners in comparison with the solvent control group. With regard to the cells in S and G2/M phase, the decreased population was accompanied by the increase of G1/G0 phase cells. After treatment with 100 nmol/L rapamycin for 48 hours, both Raji and CA46 cells demonstrated an apparent apoptosis,especially late apoptosis by flow cytometry with Annexin V+PI staining. After treatment with rapamycin, the expression of p-RPS6 and survivin of Raji and CA46 cells was obviously down-regulated, the expression of caspase-3 was obviously up-regulated in a time- and dose-dependent manners. However, rapamycin did not obviously affect the expression of RPS6. CONCLUSION: The rapamycin can effectively inhibit cell proliferation, arrest Raji and CA46 cells in G1/G0 phase, and this effect associates with inhibiting the activation of mTOR/RPS6 signal pathway through down-regulating the expression of phosphorylated RPS6, i.e. mTOR downstream signal pathway. It also can induce apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of anti-apoptotic protein survivin and activating the intrinsic pro-apoptotic protein caspase-3.

Serum-free media and the immunoregulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells in vivo and in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells are capable of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. They are used extensively to treat several diseases. Traditionally, mesenchymal stem cells are cultured in serum-containing media, typically supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, the variability of FBS is likely to skew experimental results. Although serum-free media used to expand mesenchymal stem cells has facilitated remarkable achievements, immunomodulation of these cells in under serum-free conditions is poorly understood. We hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cells expanded in serum-free media will retain powerful immunoregulatory functions in vitro and in vivo. DESIGN AND METHODS: Immunosuppressive activity and the immunomodulatory cytokines produced by mesenchymal stem cells in serum-free media were characterized in vitro. Immunomodulation by serum-free mesenchymal stem cell expansion in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension was explored in vivo. RESULTS: Similar to cells in serum-containing media, mesenchymal stem cells expanded in serum-free media inhibited proliferation and apoptosis of CD4(+)T cells. They also exhibited strong immunosuppressive activities and secreted high levels of immunomodulatory cytokines such as PGE2, IDO1, COX2, IL-6, and IL-1ß, but not HGF. On the other hand, growth of mesenchymal stem cells in serum-free media attenuated pulmonary vascular remodeling and inhibited mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-18. CONCLUSIONS: Mesenchymal stem cells in serum-free media maintained powerful immunomodulatory function in vitro and in vivo; serum-free media may replace serum-containing media for basic research and clinical applications.