tRF2Cancer: A web server to detect tRNA-derived small RNA fragments (tRFs) and their expression in multiple cancers.

tRNA-derived small RNA fragments (tRFs) are one class of small non-coding RNAs derived from transfer RNAs (tRNAs). tRFs play important roles in cellular processes and are involved in multiple cancers. High-throughput small RNA (sRNA) sequencing experiments can detect all the cellular expressed sRNAs, including tRFs. However, distinguishing genuine tRFs from RNA fragments generated by random degradation remains a major challenge. In this study, we developed an integrated web-based computing system, tRF2Cancer, to accurately identify tRFs from sRNA deep-sequencing data and evaluate their expression in multiple cancers. The binomial test was introduced to evaluate whether reads from a small RNA-seq data set represent tRFs or degraded fragments. A classification method was then used to annotate the types of tRFs based on their sites of origin in pre-tRNA or mature tRNA. We applied the pipeline to analyze 10 991 data sets from 32 types of cancers and identified thousands of expressed tRFs. A tool called 'tRFinCancer' was developed to facilitate the users to inspect the expression of tRFs across different types of cancers. Another tool called 'tRFBrowser' shows both the sites of origin and the distribution of chemical modification sites in tRFs on their source tRNA. The tRF2Cancer web server is available at http://rna.sysu.edu.cn/tRFfinder/.

ZIF-8 derived graphene-based nitrogen-doped porous carbon sheets as highly efficient and durable oxygen reduction electrocatalysts.

Nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) materials have been proposed as next-generation oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts to significantly improve scalability and reduce costs, but these alternatives usually exhibit low activity and/or gradual deactivation during use. Here, we develop new 2D sandwich-like zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) derived graphene-based nitrogen-doped porous carbon sheets (GNPCSs) obtained by in situ growing ZIF on graphene oxide (GO). Compared to commercial Pt/C catalyst, the GNPCSs show comparable onset potential, higher current density, and especially an excellent tolerance to methanol and superior durability in the ORR. Those properties might be attributed to a synergistic effect between NC and graphene with regard to structure and composition. Furthermore, higher open-circuit voltage and power density are obtained in direct methanol fuel cells.

[Quantitative monitoring of blood cytomegalovirus after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factor for cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia and its impact on the survival of patients after allogeneic hematological stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: Quantitative fluorescence PCR was used to examine the quantity of CMV in mononuclear cells. All patients were tested weekly after allo-HSCT within 3 months. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the risk factors of CMV viremia. Five-year overall survival rate was compared and analyzed between the patients with or without CMV viremia. RESULTS: The incidence of CMV viremia was 72.1% (132/183). Of which, 59.1% (78/132) occurred post one month after transplantation, 40.9% (54/132) occurred within one month and 27.9% (51/183) sustained negative within three months. Two cases were clearly diagnosed as CMV disease with a incidence of 1.1%. Both univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that transplant methods and blood cyclosporine A (CsA) concentration were significantly correlated with CMV viremia. When pairwise compared the results between the different transplant methods, significant differences of CMV viremia were found between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched sibling and HLA mismatched relatives, unrelative donor or cord blood (all P values < 0.05). There was no significant difference between HLA mismatched relatives and unrelative donor or cord blood. Further analysis showed that the incidence of CMV viremia was much higher in those who had used antithymocyte globulin (ATG) then those not used ATG. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed there was no significant difference between the groups with and without CMV viremia. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CMV viremia after allo-HSCT is 72.1%. Administration of ATG during conditioning regimen and blood CsA concentration > 300 µg/L are the main risk factors for CMV viremia. There is no significant effect of CMV viremia on the cumulative overall survival, while prompt treatment of CMV viremia is a crucial way to prevent CMV disease.

Low-Dose 5-Aza and DZnep Alleviate Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease With Less Side Effects Through Altering T-Cell Differentiation.

Objective: Previous studies showed that hypomethylating agents (HMAs) could alleviate acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD), but affect engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The combination of two different HMAs in lower doses might overcome this problem. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment effect of the combination of two HMAs-azacitidine (5-Aza) and histone H3K27 methyltransferase inhibitor 3-deazaneplanocin (DZNep)-for the prophylaxis of aGvHD after allo-HSCT and to explore the possible mechanisms. Methods: We first optimized the concentrations of individual and combinational 5-Aza and DZNep treatments to ensure no obvious toxicities on activated T cells by evaluating T-cell proliferation, viability, and differentiation. A mouse model of aGvHD was then established to assess the prophylactic efficacy of 5-Aza, DZNep, and their combination on aGvHD. The immunomodulatory effect on T cells and the hematopoietic reconstruction were assessed. Additionally, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. Results: Compared with single treatments, the in vitro application of 5-Aza with DZNep could more powerfully reduce the production of T helper type 1 (Th1)/T cytotoxic type 1 (Tc1) cells and increase the production of regulatory T cells (Tregs). In an allo-HSCT mouse model, in vivo administration of 5-Aza with DZNep could enhance the prophylactic effect for aGvHD compared with single agents. The mechanism study demonstrated that the combination of 5-Aza and DZNep in vivo had an enhanced effect to inhibit the production of Th1/Tc1, increase the proportions of Th2/Tc2, and induce the differentiation of Tregs as in vitro. RNA-seq analysis revealed the cytokine and chemokine pathways as one mechanism for the alleviation of aGvHD with the combination of 5-Aza and DZNep. Conclusion: The combination of 5-Aza and DZNep could enhance the prophylactic effect for aGvHD by influencing donor T-cell differentiation through affecting cytokine and chemokine pathways. This study shed light on the effectively prophylactic measure for aGvHD using different epigenetic agent combinations.

[Clinical Efficacy of the MDS Patients Treated by Allo-HSCT].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical effectiveness of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients treated by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and to investigate new therapy strategy for the treatment of relapse after allo-HSCT. METHODS: 72 MDS patients treated by HSCT in our hospital from April 2013 to November 2019 were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. The effect of allo-HSCT was summarized. The risk factors affecting the survival and relapse of the patients were investigated. RESULTS: Among 72 patients, the median follow up was 37(12-111) months. 57 patients survived（79.2%），while 15 patients died（20.8%）. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate were 76.6% and 62.3%, respectively. IPSS-R, TP53 mutation and chronic graft versus-host-disease (cGVHD) were the risk factors affecting the OS of the MDS patients after treated by allo-HSCT. IPSS-R, TP53 mutation and Ⅲ-Ⅳ° acute graft versus-host-disease (aGVHD) were the risk factors affecting the DFS of the MDS patients after treated by allo-HSCT. After transplanted, 19 patients (26.4%) emerged aGVHD, and 5 patients (6.9%) emerged Ⅲ-Ⅳ° aGVHD, 25 patients (34.7%) emerged cGVHD, while 4 patients (5.6%) emerged extensive cGVHD. 17 patients (23.3%) relapsed, and the 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) rate was 27.5%. IPSS-R, TP53 mutation and cGVHD were the risk factors affecting the relapse of the patients. The median survival time after relapse was 9 months. There were 7 out of 17 relapsed patients survived without disease, while 10 patients died. The OS rate of patients treated with maintained hypomethylation agents(HMA) combined with G-CSF mobilized donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) was significantly higher than the patients without HMA (80.0% vs 10.0%, P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Allo-HSCT is an effective therapy for intermediate and high risk MDS patients. But relapse after HSCT is still a major problem that affecting the survival of the patients. Maintenance treatment of HMA combined with DLI may improve the long-time survival of MDS patients with relapsed after treated by allo-HSCT.

[Clinical Analysis for Patients with AML Treated after Allo-HSCT].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze risk factors that affect survival and relapse of AML patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and to investigate the therapy choices after AML relapse. METHODS: Clinical data of 180 AML patients achieved complete remission (CR) before HSCT from January 2009 to December 2018 treated in our center were analyzed retrospectively. Risk factors for survival and relapse after allo-HSCT were analyzed by COX regression. RESULTS: Among 180 AML patients, 134 survived (74.4%), 46 patients died (25.6%), and 40 patients relapsed (22.2%). The rate of overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and cumulative rate of relapse in 5-years was 74.3%、42.5% and 25.0%, respectively. High-risk, adverse cytogenetics, CR2 at HSCT and no cGvHD were independent risk factors that affect OS. CR2 at HSCT, high-risk were independent risk factors that affect EFS. High-risk, MRD+ after one course of induction therapy, adverse cytogenetics and no cGVHD were independent risk factors that affect relapse. The OS rate of relapse patients could be improved by the usage of hypomethylation agents combined with G-CSF mobilized donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), and 2-year OS rate was 62.5%. CONCLUSION: The survival rate of AML is greatly improved by allo-HSCT, but relapse is still one of the most important factors that influence survival of the AML patients. The maintenance therapy of hypomethylation agents combined with DLI may be a new effective treatment option for patients who relapse after HSCT.

Impact of Low-Dose rATG Prior to Matched Sibling Donor Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancies: Reduced Risk of Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease and Improved Survival Outcomes.

PURPOSE: To explore the efficacy of low-dose rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) in matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (MSD-HSCT) for patients with acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 79 patients with hematologic malignancies who received MSD-HSCT. All patients received standard graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis comprising cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and short-term methotrexate. Among them, 38 were administered 5 mg/kg rATG as part of GVHD prophylaxis. Clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), GVHD and relapse were analyzed. RESULTS: No graft failure occurred in the antithymocyte globulin (ATG) or non-ATG group. The cumulative incidences of grade 2-4 and 3-4 acute GVHD at day +100 were 13.3% versus 19.5% (p=0.507) and 5.7% versus 15.2% (p=0.196), respectively. The 2-year cumulative incidences of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) were 35.4% and 60.4% (p=0.039), and those of extensive cGVHD were 12.9% and 40.0% (p=0.015), respectively. In a multivariate analysis, the use of low-dose rATG was an independent protective factor for extensive cGVHD (hazard ratio [HR] 0.256; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.080 to 0.822, p=0.022). The 2-year OS was 88.1% and 68.4% (p=0.038), respectively, and the use of low-dose rATG was the only protective factor in the multivariate analysis (HR 0.216; 95% CI, 0.059 to 0.792, p=0.021). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse, leukemia-free survival or GVHD-free and relapse-free survival. CONCLUSION: Low-dose rATG used in MSD-HSCT as part of the conditioning regimen results in a reduced incidence of cGVHD and improves survival outcomes.

[Clinical Analysis of Dasatinib and Chemotherapy Followed by Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Treatment of Patients with Philadelphia Chromosome Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy, related side-effectt and long-term survival condition of Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) patients treated with second generation TKI dasatinib and chemotherapy followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: Clinical data of 19 newly diagnosed as Ph+ ALL patients treated by dasatinib, chemotherapy and allo-HSCT from January 2012 to September 2018 were collectd and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 10 males and 9 females with median age of 29 years old. 14 patients were BCR/ABL P190 positive while 5 with BCR/ABL P210 positive. Three patients had complex karyotype, and 3 cases were confirmed to have central nervous system leukemia. All the patients received treatment with the induction chemotherapy regimen of VDCLP and consolidation regimens such as HD-MTX and MAE. 11 patients (57.9%) received dasatinib during induction chemotherapy, 3 patients (15.8%) received dasatinib after remission and 5 patients (26.3%) received dasatinib to replace imatinib. Side-effect appeared in 3 patients including rash, edema and nausea. All the patients got morphological remission and 7 patients(63.6%) got MMR after 4 weeks of induction chemotheraphy. 17 patients (89.5%) got MMR and 15 patients(78.9%) got CMR before allo-HSCT. All the patients received related bone marrow and peripheral hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from related donors, the median time of WBC and platelet engraftment were 12 d and 14 d after transplantation, respectively. The incidence rate of aGVHD and cGVHD were 42.1% and 57.9% respectivety. 13 patients received therapy of dasatinib after HSCT but 7 patients discontinued because of severe headache, vomiting and serious effusions. All the patients were followed-up for the median time of 42 months, the 3-year and 5-year OS both were 94.4%, and 3-year and 5-year RFS of 81.9% and 71.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: First-line administration of dasatinib and chemotherapy followed by allo-HSCT for treatment of Ph+ALL is effective and patients can well-tolerate, the patients long-tern survival maybe superior to that of the patients treated with first generation TKI.

[Analysis of Decitabine Therapeutic Effeicacy for Patients with Relapsed MDS/AML and High-Risk AML Patients after HSCT].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of using decitabine as maintenance therapy for patients with relapsed MDS/AML and as prophylactic therapy for patients with high-risk AML after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: Clinical data of 10 patients with MDS/AML from November 2016 to May 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 10 patients there were 4 cases of AML, 2 cases of MDS, and 4 cases of AML transformed from MDS (t-AML). The 10 patients were devided into 2 groups: the relapsed group (n=8) and the prophylactic group (n=2). In relapsed group the decitabine was used as maintenance therapy after achieved complete remission (CR) with decitabine chemotherapy. In prophylactic group the decitabine was used as prophylactic therapy if the patients didn't appear the symptom of graft-versus- host-disease (GVHD) during 30 to 45 d after allo-HSCT. Eight patients received G-CSF-mobilized donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). The dosage of decitabine for maintenance therapy and prophylactic therapy was 5 mg/m2 for 7 to 10 days every 4 to 6 weeks, as 1 cycle, amount to 3 to 7 cycles. The dosage was adjusted by the endurance of patients. RESULTS: Until Nov 30, 2018, 7 out of 10 patients survived. The average survival time was 15.5±1.9 months. 1-year OS rate was 64.0%. Six patients appeared aGVHD, and four patients appeared cGVHD. CONCLUSION: The usage of decitabine combined with DLI in patients with relapsed MDS/AML and high-risk AML after allo-HSCT can prolong lives of patients, reduce relapsed rate, and provide the probability for long time survival.

Decitabine-Containing Conditioning Regimen for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Intermediate- and High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Potential Decrease in the Incidence of Acute Graft versus Host Disease.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of Decitabine in the allo-HSCT conditioning regimen for intermediate- and high-risk patients with MDS or AML. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of data pertaining to 76 intermediate- and high-risk patients with MDS or AML who underwent allo-HSCT between December 2005 and June 2018 at the Peking University First Hospital. Forty patients received Decitabine-containing conditioning regimen before transplantation, while thirty-six patients received regimen without Decitabine. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 40 months (range, 1 to 155), the cumulative incidence of grade II to IV acute graft versus host disease was 12.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.9-30.9%] in the Decitabine group and 41.5% (95% CI 28.1-61.2%) in the non-Decitabine group (P=0.005). On multivariate analysis, Decitabine-containing conditioning regimen was found to protect against grade II to IV aGVHD (HR=0.279, 95% CI 0.102-0.765, P=0.013). Incidence of respiratory infection in the Decitabine and non-Decitabine groups was 22.5% and 52.78%, respectively (P=0.012). No significant between-group difference was observed with respect to 3-year OS, DFS, or RR (P=0.980, 0.959, and 0.573, respectively), while the median relapse time was longer in the Decitabine group [7 months (range, 2-12) versus 3 months (range, 2-4), P=0.171]. Decitabine-containing conditioning showed a tendency for lower relapse rate among higher risk patients, as assessed by IPSS R; however, the between-group difference was not statistically significant (P=0.085). CONCLUSION: Inclusion of Decitabine in the conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT in intermediate- and high-risk patients may lower the incidence of aGVHD and respiratory infections, and contribute to longer median relapse time.

[Preliminary Study on the Characteristic of Plasma Cytokine Profiles in Patients with Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman Diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristic changes of the plasma cytokine profile in Chinese patients with idiopathic multicentric Castleman diseases (iMCD). METHODS: The plasma samples from 22 patients with confirmed diagnosis of iMCD were collected before treatments; Specimens from 17 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, 10 non Hodgkin's lymphoma, and 15 healthy donors were used as control. Seventeen kinds of cytokines were measured by cytokine beads array (CBA) and ELISA respectively. RESULTS: Six cytokines were measured by ELISA. The concentrations of IL-2, IL-6, IL-21 and VEGF were significantly higher in the plasma of iMCD patients than those of the healthy donors (P＜0.01) and the level of IL-21 was highest in the iMCD group. There was no significant difference in the levels of IL-1ß and IL-4 between the iMCD and healthy donor groups. Thirteen cytokines were measured by CBA assay, besides IL-6 level was confirmed to be higher in iMCD group than that in healthy controls (P＜0.01）, IL-12-p70 and IL-33 levels were also higher in iMCD group than those in control group (P＜0.05）, no significant difference of the rest cytokines was found between iMCD and the control group. CONCLUSION: IL-6 and VEGF has shown to involved in the pathogenesis of iMCD, the results of preliminary study imply the role of IL-2 、IL-21、IL-12-p70 and IL-33 in this rare lymphoproliferative disease. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of these cytokines, which may shed some light on the identification of novel therapeutic targets against iMCD.

[Pathological Features, Treatment Options and Prognosis Assessment of Patients with Bone Lymphoma in Real-World].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical manifestations pathologic features, treatment options and prognosis of patients with bone lymphoma. METHODS: The clinical characteristics, pathologic features, treatment and prognosis of 34 BL patients diagnosed by histopathologic method or/and PET-CT and treated in first hospital of peking university from January 2004 to April 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The median age of 34 BL patients was 56 years old, the male and female ratio was 1.43∶1 (24 /10). Among 34 patients, the patients with primary bone lymphoma(PBL) were 8 cases, the patients with secondary bone lymphoma(SBL) was 26 cases, the PBL and SBL ratio was 0.31∶1. Bone lymphoma lacks typical systemic symptoms, and its onset began mostly from bone pain and pathologic bone fracture. The most frequent pathological type of bone lymphoma in our study was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), accounting for 55.88%. At present, the conventional treatment for bone lymphoma includes chemotherapy, or chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy and surgery, as well as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The average and median OS time of BL patients were 349 years and 3 years respectively, meanwhile the OS rate for three years and two years were 56.25% and 78.16%, respectively. Factors that affect survival of BL patients were PBL and SBL classification, pathological type, blood LDH level, and treatment methods. CONCLUSION: Bone lymphoma is usually concealed onset，an adequate and adequate combination therapy can improve the survival rate and transplantation therapy plays an important role. Primary bone lymphoma is rare, the prognosis of patients with primary bone lymphoma is good, whereas the prognosis of patients with secondary bone lymphoma is poor.

Effects of salicylic acid on alternative pathway respiration and alternative oxidase expression in tobacco calli.

The alternative pathway (AP) respiration of plants is a cyanide-resistant and non-phosphorylating electron transport pathway in mitochondria. Alternative oxidase (AOX) is the terminal oxidase of the AP and exists in plant mitochondria as two states: the reduced, noncovalently linked state or the oxidized, covalently cross-linked state. In the present study, the effects of 20 microM exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on both AP activity and AOX expression in mitochondria of tobacco (Nicotiana rustica L. cv. yellow flower) calli were investigated. The results showed that SA treatment enhanced the AP activity. During the process of SA treatment, the AP activity increased dramatically and achieved the peak value after 8 h of treatment. Then it declined until 16 h, and maintained a steady level between 16 and 24 h. Changes in both the total AOX protein level and the reduced state were in accordance with the AP activity, but the oxidized state changed differently. The aox1 gene transcript level also showed a similar change as the AP activity and AOX protein level. The induction of AOX expression by low concentrations of SA was inferred through a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-independent pathway. These results indicate that the enhancement of AP activity in response to SA is correlated to the expression of AOX, and the reduced, non-covalently linked state of AOX plays an important role during this process.

[Candida species distribution in the patients with high risk of deep fungal infections and relevant risk factors: a prospective cohort study].

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution of Candida spp. in the patients with high-risk of fungal infection and the risk factors of deep candidiasis. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was performed among 440 consecutive hospitalized patients admitted to the hematology wards, geriatric wards, and ICUs from May 2004 to April 2005. Stool, urine, and saliva were cultured during the period 72 - 96 h after hospitalization for the first time and then once a week till the patient was discharged or by the end of the sixth week. If deep fungal infection was suspected culture of blood, sputum, bacterium-free body fluid, and/or biopsy specimens were cultured. Medical records were reviewed to analyze the possible risk factors. RESULTS: 426 strains of Candida spp. were isolated from 152 patients, with Candida albicans accounting for 67.4% and other Candida spp for 32.6%. 61 patients were discovered to express Candida colonization. The major species isolated from patients with Candida colonization was Candida albicans. The risk factors identified included two or more broad-spectrum antibiotic administration (odds ratio 16.204; 95% confidence interval, 2.005 to 130.980), Candida colonization (10.636; 3.743 to 30.222), and urinary canal administration (4.285; 1.399 to 13.127). CONCLUSION: Candida albicans is still the major organism isolated from the high risk fungal infection patients. Two or more broad-spectrum antibiotic administration, Candida colonization, and urinary canal administration are proved to be the risk factors, with the broad-spectrum antibiotic administration exhibiting more influence than Candida colonization and urinary canal administration.

Computational Approaches to tRNA-Derived Small RNAs.

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tDRs) are a group of small, non-coding RNAs derived from transfer RNAs (tRNAs). They can be classified as tRNA halves and tRNA-derived small RNA fragments (tRFs). Accumulating experimental evidence suggests their functional roles in cells and in various biological processes. Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques allow a large amount of small RNA deep-sequencing data to be generated. To investigate tDRs from these data, software to identify tDRs and databases to retrieve or manage tDR data have been devised. In this review, we summarized the tools and databases for tDR identification and collection, with the aim of helping researchers choose the best tools for their analysis and inspiring the invention or improvement of tools in the field.

[Salvage Trerapy for Patients with Relapsed and Refractory Lymphoma by Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in treating patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoma. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma received allo-HSCT. Used conditioning regimens included conditioning based on BEAM regimen(12 cases), conditioning based on modified Bu/Cy regimen(11 cases), conditioning based on Cy/TBI regemen(6 cases) and conditioning of Bu/Cy regimen(1 case). For provention of GVHD, the MMF was used on the basis of classcal protocol consisting of CsA combined with MTX. The infused HSC included the HLA-matched related HSC(11 cases), HLA nonidentical related HSC(13 cases) and HLA-matched unrelated HSC(6 cases). The bone marrow plus peripheral blood HSC were infused in 21 cases, while only peripheral blood HSC were infused in 9 cases. Among the 31 cases of relapse/refractory lymphoma, 18 patients were male and 13 were female, 4 cases were Hodgkin's lymphoma and 27 cases were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. ALL of the 31 patients were qualified, as they were not in complete remission (CR) or in advanced stage at the time of transplantation. RESULTS: Twenty-seven evaluable patients showed the engraftment of both neutrophil and platelet at a median of 12 days(range 10-20) and 13 days(range 9-34) respectively, 9 cases developed II-IV aGVHD, and cGVHD was observed in 3 patients, 5 patients can not achieve CR at 3 months after transplantation, and 6 patients relapsed after CR, the median follow-up of all the 31 patients after transplantation was 11.5 months (ranged, 0-141 months), and the 2-year OS was 46.1%±9.5% with median survival of 40 (9-141) months in the 15 survivors. The age (P<0.05), disease status before transplantation (P=0.020) and remission after transplantation(P=0.000) were significantly related with survival. Cox's proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that the age (P=0.041) and disease statue (P=0.020) before allo-HSCT were independent predictive factors for survival. CONCLUSION: Allo-HSCT is an optimal treatment strategy for the patients with relapsed and refractory lymphoma who failed to most, if not all, available options.

[Values of Different Evaluation Criteria of Interim 18F-FDG PET/CT Scan for Prediction of Prognosis in Patients with DLBCL].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the prognostic value of interim 18F-FDG PET/CT (i-PET/CT) scan for the patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: A total of 70 cases of initially diagnosed of DLBCL by 158 18F-FDG PET/CT scans in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The 5-point scale, the Lugano classification and maximum standardized uptake value induction (ΔSUVmax) criteria were used respectively to assess i-PET/CT scans. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine an optimal cutoff for ΔSUVmax. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were estimated as prognostic indicators using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. RESULTS: Optimal cutoff to predict progression or death was 62% for ΔSUVmax. The positive predictive value (PPV) for 2-year PFS and OS of i-PET/CT diagnosed by 5-point scale was low, and could be improved by using the Lugano classification with decreased sensitivity or ΔSUVmax criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the Lugano classification and ΔSUVmax were good predictors for PFS and OS, respectively, while the 5-point scale could only predict OS. Cox regression univariate analysis showed that the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score was better to predict PFS than 5-point scale, but worse than the three assessments in predicting OS. COX regression multivariate analysis showed that ΔSUVmax<62% was an independent risk factor of prognosis, while the Lugano classification was only the OS independent prognostic predictor. CONCLUSION: Assessing i-PET/CT by 5-point scale is a limited value for predicting PFS and OS in DLBCL patients. The Lugano classification is recommended to discriminate the patients with poorer outcomes. The ΔSUVmax criteria for i-PET/CT of DLBCL patients is an independent prognostic predictor for PFS and OS, better than the IPI score.

HLA disparity is not crucial for the survival rate and severity of chronic health conditions in adult recipients following family donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The shortage of HLA-identical siblings or unrelated donors has restricted the application of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Few studies have systematically assessed survival and chronic health conditions (CHCs) in the same cohort of patients after HLA-mismatched/haploidentical (mismatched) family donor transplantation. In the present study, we retrospectively analyzed the survival of 127 adult patients receiving either HLA-matched (71 cases) or HLA-mismatched (56 cases) family donor transplantation. Of 127 patients, 81 patients survived at least 2 years after HSCT and were still alive until the present investigation. We evaluated the CHCs in 76 survivors (41 matched and 35 mismatched). CHC-related information was scored according to the Bone Marrow Transplant Survivor Study questionnaire. There was no significant difference in overall survival or disease-free survival between HLA-matched and -mismatched transplant recipients. The CHCs were less severe in HLA-mismatched recipients than in matched cohorts. Multivariate analysis identified that age over 40 years at transplantation and presence of chronic graft-versus-host disease were independent risk factors for CHCs, while anti-thymocyte globulin-containing conditioning regimens might be protective. However, HLA disparity was not crucial for either the survival rate or CHCs. In conclusion, HLA-mismatched family donor transplantation can achieve comparable therapeutic effects to HLA-identical sibling transplantation.

[Clinical and pathological analysis of 236 patients with primary extranodal lymphoma].

This study was aimed to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with primary extranodal lymphoma (PENL). A total of 236 patients with PENL were enrolled to evaluate the clinical and pathological features. The clinical data of 236 patients with PENL confirmed by pathological and immunohistochemical methods between January 2001 and March 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The results indicated that: (1)236 patients with PENL accounted for 40.7% of lymphoma over the same period. Median age was 55 years old (from 16 to 91 years old) . There were 153 males and 83 females(ratio 1.8: 1). (2)The common sites of involvement were gastrointestinal tract, nasal cavity, tonsil, mediastinum, skin, spleen, testis, bone and soft tissue, central nervous system, which accounted for 30.1% (71/236), 10.6% (25/236), 8.9% (21/236), 5.9% (14/236), 5.1% (12/236), 4.7% (11/236), 4.2% (10/236) , 4.2% (10/236) , 3.0% (7/236) respectively. (3)Symptoms of PENL did not have special characteristics, however its signs usually manifested with the enlargement or mass of organs, which accounted for 66.9% (158/236) in this study. (4)According to WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues in 2008, the common pathological type of gastrointestinal lymphoma was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma; the common pathological type of nasal lymphoma was extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma; the common pathological type of tonsillar lymphoma, testicular lymphoma, CNS lymphoma was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. It is concluded that the primary extranodal lymphoma is not rare, it is alert to PENL while organs enlarge or mass forms, so that clinical physician should pay attention to tissue biopsy.

[Clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up of 29 patients with primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma].

This study was aimed to investigate the clinical manifestation, pathological features, treatment and related prognosis factors of primary mediastinal large B cell lymphoma (PMLBCL). The clinical data of 29 PMLBCL patients admitted in Peking University First Hospital were summarized and the related factors were analyzed retrospectively from January 2000 to November 2013. The results showed that 29 patients with the median age 32 were all pathologically diagnosed as PMLBCL. The main clinical features included mediastinal bulk mass (72.4%), superior vena caval syndrome (51.7%), dyspnea (62.1%), serous membrane fluid (48.3%), with 62.1% extranodal invasion and 62.1% extra-thoracic involvement. According to Ann-Arbor stage, 16 patients (55.1%) were classified to stage I/II and 13 patients (44.9%) to stage III/IV, 12 patients (41.4%) had B symptoms. Among the 29 patients, 2 patients failed to be followed and the others were followed for the median time of 29 months, 17 patients achieved CR, 5 patients achieved PR, 1 patient replaced and 4 patients died of disease progression. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS) was 85.2%, in which RCHOEP regimen group patients had OS 94.4% and CHOEP group patients had OS 75%; 8 patients underwent auto-HSCT and 1 patients underwent allo-HSCT who kept in CR state. Univariate analysis by log-rank test showed albumin level and LDH ≥ 2ULN, the initial therapy response and IPI score were prognostic factors , but neither were independent prognostic factors by Cox Regression Model. It is concluded that PMLBCL has distinct clinical features. RCHOEP chemotherapy regimen can achieve satisfactory results, but needs to be explored by further clinical trials.