[Predictive Value of Acute Phase Proteins on the Prognosis of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the predictive value of acute phase proteins (APPs) on the prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: 293 AML patients who met the study requirements from January 2015 to April 2021 were collected, their clinical characteristics and pre-treatment APPs levels ï¼»including albumin (ALB), fibrinogen (FIB), C-reactive protein (CRP), Ferritin (FER)ï¼½ were followed up and investigated. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between APPs. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for mortality in AML patients. ROC curve was used to analyze the predictive value of APP for mortality in AML patients, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the effect of APPs on complete remission (CR) rate, overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and progression-free survival rate (PFS) of AML patients. RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis showed that there were negative correlations between ALB and CRP (r=-0.134, P=0002), as well as ALB and FER (r=-0.148, P=0.001). There were correlations between FER and CRP (r=0361, P＜0.001), as well as FER and FIB (r=0.293, P＜0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (>50 years) (OR=1.87, 95% CI=1.25-2.15, P＜0.001), relapse after treatment (OR=2.11, 95% CI=111-3.18, P=0.003), FLT3-ITD mutation (OR=2.59, 95% CI=1.10-4.12, P＜0.001), CRP≥524 mg/L (OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.02-2.14, P=0.024), CFA (CFA=CRP*FIB/ ALB)≥3 (OR=2.41, 95% CI=1.65-6.47, P＜0.001), and FER≥1145.58 mg/ml (OR=1.67, 95% CI=1.15-3.75, P＜0.001) were the risk factors for the survival of AML patients. ROC curve analysis showed that FER (AUC=0.752, 95% CI=0.681-0823, P＜0.001, the best cut-off value=1220.56 mg/ml) and CFA (AUC=0.804, 95% CI=0.741-0.868, P＜0.001, the best cut-off value=3.00) had higher predictive value for the survival of AML patients. The remission rate, PFS, DFS, and OS in the low CFA group (CFA≤3) were significantly higher than those in the high CFA group (CFA＞3), and the overall mortality rate was lower than that in the high CFA group; the remission rate, PFS, DFS, and OS in the low FER group (FER≤1220.56 mg/ml) were significantly higher than those in the high FER group (FER＞1220.56 mg/ml), while the overall mortality rate was lower than that in the high FER group, and the difference is statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The CFA value and FER level before treatment in AML patients can independently predict the prognosis of patients, and high levels of CFA and FER are associated with poor prognosis of AML patients.

[Assay of 18 amino acids in Chuanmingshen violaceum roots by pre-column derivative HPLC].

The roots of Chuanmingshen violaceum is a commonly used Chinese herb and food, which contains rich amino acids. However, the kinds and amounts of amino acids are variety in this herb among the geographical location and ecological environment. Therefore, this study firstly developed a new pre-column derived HPLC method to quantify the levels of 18 amino acids in Ch. violaceum roots. Then 24 Ch. violaceum samples were harvested from its main cultivating areas in Sichuan, China. These samples were divided into 4 producing areas based on their geographical sites. The 18 kinds of amino acids were quantified in these sample by the developed method. The differences of these amino acids were further analyzed among these herbal samples and the 4 producing areas by t-test and principal component analysis(PCA). The result indicated the peaks of the 18 kinds of amino acids were separated well in 70 min.The correlation coefficients between peak areas and concentration of these amino acids were more than 0.999 1(n=6). All of their recoveries were in the range of 97.38%-101.3%(n=6).Their detection limit was in the range of 0.003-0.379 µg·mL~(-1).It demonstrates that the developed HPLC method can accurately quantify the amounts of multi-amino acids in this herb. The results of t-test analysis showed the contents of histidine, cystine, leucine, valine, tryptophan, phenylalanine and threonine were significantly different(P<0.05) among the 4 producing areas. But the differences of other amino acids were not significant.The first five factors were extracted by PCA to calculate the comprehensive score. The order of comprehensive score for the 4 producing areas was B(0.603, n=10), C(0.206, n=3), A(-0.283, n=7) and D(-1.167, n=4). The total content of amino acids in Ch. violaceum collected in B producing area was largest(12.5 mg·g~(-1)). It is concluded the Ch. violaceum contains multi-kinds of amino acids. On the basis of amino acid amount, Langzhong city and Cangxi county in Sichuan province(producing area B) is the suitable areas for cultivating Ch. violaceum.

Distinguishing iron deficiency anemia from thalassemia by the red blood cell lifespan with a simple CO breath test: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Extant indices for distinguishing between iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and thalassemia (Thal) have substantial practical limitations. The aim of this pilot study was to assess the predictive value of red blood cell lifespan (RBCLS), as determined by an automated CO breath test analysis approach, in the differential diagnosis of these two common forms of microcytic hypochromic anemia (MHA). METHODS: RBCLS measurements were conducted in 35 healthy controls (HCs) and 114 patients diagnosed with MHA (IDA, N = 59; and Thal, N = 55) with ELS TESTER that provides a direct RBCLS value read-out. RBCLS between IDA and Thal was compared and evaluated by referring to normal cut-off from the instrument. RESULTS: Compared with that in HCs, RBCLS in IDA and Thal groups was shortened; and median RBCLS was shorter in the Thal group than that in IDA group (33 d versus 79 d, p < 0.001). The median RBCLS in IDA patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding was shorter than that those without GI bleeding (38 d versus 100 d, p < 0.001). Using 75 d as a cut-off, RBCLS had a sensitivity of 96.4% and a specificity of 50.8% for detecting Thal. When GI bleeding patients were excluded from the IDA group, discriminant efficiency of RBCLS was further improved. CONCLUSIONS: MHA with a normal RBCLS is suggestive of IDA, whereas MHA with a significantly shortened RBCLS without signs of chronic GI bleeding is suggestive of Thal.

[Effects of Synthetic Long-Chain Polyphosphate on Blood Coagulation and Platelet Aggregation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of synthetic long-chain polyphosphate on blood coagulation and platelet aggregation. METHODS: The effect of artificial synthetic long chain poly phosphate on blood coagulation and platelet aggregation was detected by coagulation tests, coagulation factor activity detection and platelet aggregation test, and its mechanism was explored by ELISA, flow cytometry and high content imaging system. RESULTS: The long chain polyphosphates prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, decreased coagulation factor FⅧ, FⅨ, FⅪ and FⅫ activity, blocked ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and decreased the concentration of calcium and TXA2 in platelet. CONCLUSION: The synthetic long-chain polyphosphate can inhibit endogenous coagulation and inhibit platelet aggregation, which may be related with the inhibition of intracellular calcium and TXA2.

High-Performance Integrated Self-Package Flexible Li-O2 Battery Based on Stable Composite Anode and Flexible Gas Diffusion Layer.

With the rising development of flexible and wearable electronics, corresponding flexible energy storage devices with high energy density are required to provide a sustainable energy supply. Theoretically, rechargeable flexible Li-O2 batteries can provide high specific energy density; however, there are only a few reports on the construction of flexible Li-O2 batteries. Conventional flexible Li-O2 batteries possess a loose battery structure, which prevents flexibility and stability. The low mechanical strength of the gas diffusion layer and anode also lead to a flexible Li-O2 battery with poor mechanical properties. All these attributes limit their practical applications. Herein, the authors develop an integrated flexible Li-O2 battery based on a high-fatigue-resistance anode and a novel flexible stretchable gas diffusion layer. Owing to the synergistic effect of the stable electrocatalytic activity and hierarchical 3D interconnected network structure of the free-standing cathode, the obtained flexible Li-O2 batteries exhibit superior electrochemical performance, including a high specific capacity, an excellent rate capability, and exceptional cycle stability. Furthermore, benefitting from the above advantages, the as-fabricated flexible batteries can realize excellent mechanical and electrochemical stability. Even after a thousand cycles of the bending process, the flexible Li-O2 battery can still possess a stable open-circuit voltage, a high specific capacity, and a durable cycle performance.

DDT, DDD, and DDE in soil of Xiangfen County, China: Residues, sources, spatial distribution, and health risks.

We collected and analyzed 128 surface soil samples from Xiangfen County for dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). Total DDT concentrations (DDTs; sum of p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDT) ranged from ND to 427.81 ng g(-1) (dry weight, dw), with a mean of 40.26 ng g(-1) (dw). Among the three compounds, p,p'-DDD was the most dominant. The DDTs in Xiangfen County soils mainly originated from historical DDT use, but there were also new inputs likely related to dicofol use. The DDTs in Xiangfen County soils were mainly degraded under anaerobic conditions, and direct degradation to DDD was the main degradation route. Regions with relatively high concentrations of DDTs were mainly located in North and South Xiangfen County. In these regions, many soil samples contained p,p'-DDT as the predominant pollutant, suggestive of extensive new inputs of DDT. A health risk assessment revealed that there are no serious long-term health impacts of exposure to DDTs in soil, for adults or children.

MiR-122 increases sensitivity of drug-resistant BEL-7402/5-FU cells to 5-fluorouracil via down-regulation of bcl-2 family proteins.

To investigate the changes in drug sensitivity of miR-122 transfected BEL-7402/5-FU cells. MiR-122 and negative miRNA expression vectors were constructed and stably transfected into BEL-7402/5-FU cells. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the level of miR-122, Bcl-XL, Bcl-2 and P53 mRNA. Western Blotting was used to detect Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and P53 protein expression. Drug sensitivity of the cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was analyzed with MTT and flow cytometry. Compared with negative miRNA transfectants or untreated cells, mRNA and protein expression level of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL in stable miR-122 transfectants were decreased. Accordingly, P53 protein expression showed a significant up-regulation; MTT results showed that after incubation with 5-FU, miR-122 transfectants had higher cell inhibitory rates than negative miRNA or untreated cells; flow cytometry results demonstrated that apoptosis rate increased in miR-122 transfected cells, compared with negative miRNA or untreated cells. After addition of 5-FU (10 and 100 micromol/I), miR-122 transfected cells showed higher apoptosis rate than negative miRNA or untreated cells. MiR-122 can specifically down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL, and increase P53 activity in BEL-7402/5-FU cells, which increased cells spontaneous apoptosis and sensitize cells to 5-FU. Therefore, MiR-122 can be used as a potential therapy agent against human hepatoblastoma.

[Expression and clinical significance of angiopoietin-1 in multiple myeloma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and its receptor Tie-2 in multiple myeloma (MM) patients and RPMI8226 cells, and analyze the significance of Ang-1 expression and its relevance to the tumorigenes and development of MM. METHODS: RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Ang-1 and Tie-2 in bone marrow (BM) samples from 112 MM patients and 24 control subjects, and in RPMI8226 cells. The expression levels of Ang-1 in different groups and disease stages were analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rate and expression level of Ang-1 were significantly higher in MM group than in control group (P < 0.05). The positive rates of Ang-1 were not significantly different between newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory MM groups, but its expression level was significantly higher in the latter group than in the former group (P < 0.05). Tie-2 was detected only in 12 MM patients and did not in control group and RPMI8226 cells. Microvessel density in BM samples were significantly higher in MM group than in control group (25.21 ± 0.80 vs 5.23 ± 0.20, P < 0.01), and were higher in Ang-1-positive MM group than in Ang-1-negative MM group (32.98 ± 1.70 vs 16.55 ± 1.30, P < 0.05). The positive rates of Ang-1 protein were not significantly different between stage II and stage III MM (52.1% vs 60.9%, P > 0.05), but the expression level of Ang-1 protein was higher in stage III than that in stage II MM (0.40 ± 0.07 vs 0.22 ± 0.04, P < 0.05). In the newly diagnosed MM patients, the positive rate of Ang-1 protein in PD patients was significantly higher than in PR and MR patients (70.0% vs 19.1%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: High expression of Ang-1 is found in MM patients and RPMI8226 cells, and its expression is associated with the disease stage, prognosis and targeted therapy of MM.

[The role of PTEN-FAK signaling pathway in metastasis and invasive ability of leukemia cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the wild type phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN), a tumor-suppressor gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells line (K562) in vitro and explore the influence of PTEN-FAK signaling pathway on invasion and metastasis of leukemia cells. METHODS: The recombinant Ad-PTEN gene containing green fluorescent protein gene (Ad-PTEN-GFP) or the empty vector (Ad-GFP) was transfected into K562 cells and fresh leukemia cells from CML patients in blast crisis. The growth of K562 cells was assayed by MTT assay; the apoptosis rate was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). PTEN and FAK mRNA levels were detected by real-time fluorescent relative- quantification reverse transcriptional PCR (FQ-PCR) and its protein levels by Western blot. The metastasis and invasive ability was examined by transwell chamber assay. RESULTS: The growth of K562 cells was suppressed markedly when Ad-PTEN-GFP was transfected into K562 cells at the 200 multiplicity of infection (MOI). The maximum growth inhibition rate was 35.2%. Transwell results showed the number of cells entered the lower chamber in Ad-GFP group was 9.1 fold more than that in Ad-PTEN-GFP group;The ability of metastasis and invasion of fresh leukemia cells was also suppressed after transfection with Ad-PTEN-GFP. FAK and p-FAK proteins were down-regulated by 0.72 and 0.16 fold lower after transfected with Ad-PTEN-GFP compared with Ad-GFP group. CONCLUSIONS: PTEN gene might inhibit the proliferation, metastasis and invasive ability of leukemia cells via down-regulating FAK expression.