[Analysis of 9 cases of pediatric-type follicular lymphoma].

Objective: To summarize the pathological diagnosis, clinical features, treatment methods and outcomes of pediatric-type follicular lymphoma (PTFL). Methods: Clinical data including the pathology, clinical features, treatment methods, and follow-up results of 9 PTFL patients admitted to Henan Cancer Hospital from February 2017 to February 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The age of onset in 9 children was 6 to 18 years, all the patients were males. The clinical manifestation was local painless lymph node enlargement in the head and neck, with a stage of Ⅰ-Ⅱ. The histomorphological characteristics of PTFL were similar to those of classic follicular lymphoma (FL). The germinal center of most follicles were enlarged, the mantle zone disappeared, centroblasts were easily visible, and the histological grade were mostly grade Ⅲ, which may be accompanied by the "starry sky" phenomenon. Monoclonal peaks can be seen in B cell clonal rearrangements (BCR). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed CD20 positive, CD10 positive, Bcl-6 positive, Bcl-2 negative, C-myc negative, and Ki-67 was 70%-95%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test was negative for t (14, 18), Bcl-2 translocation, and C-myc translocation. Six cases underwent surgical resection, and 3 cases underwent surgical resection combined with chemotherapy. Up to February 2023, with a follow-up time of 45 to 72 months, all children survived without any recurrence and were in a complete remission state. Conclusions: PTFL is mainly characterized by adolescent male onset, with early clinical manifestations and pathological manifestations of high-level histological status, high proliferation index, and lack of t (14; 18)/Bcl-2 translocation and Bcl-2 expression. It is mainly treated by localized surgical excision and has a good prognosis.

[Comparative study of benign and malignant parotid gland tumors by infrared thermal imaging].

Objective: To analyze the temperature difference of benign and malignant parotid gland tumors in preoperative infrared thermography (IRT), and to provide the basis for predicting tumor properties. Methods: The clinical data of 98 patients with parotid gland tumor admitted to the Department of Oral and maxillofacial Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, from May 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 61 males and 37 females, aged (51.1±16.0) years (10-86 years). In addition to routine examination, the temperature difference between the lesion site of parotid gland and the contralateral mirror area was measured by infrared thermal imager in all patients one day before surgery. The maximum diameter (dmax) and location of the tumor (deep or superficial lobe) were recorded according to preoperative clinical examination and imaging examinations such as CT and ultrasound. The patients were divided into three groups by tumor size: dmax≤2 cm, 2 cm4 cm. The patients were also divided into different groups: deep lobe group and superficial lobe group (according to the tumor location), benign group and malignant group (according to postoperative pathological results). The relationship between temperature difference, pathology, size and location was analyzed. Results: There were 79 cases in the benign group and 19 cases in the malignant group. The temperature difference of the healthy and affected side in the malignant group [(1.73±0.21) ℃] was significantly higher than that in the benign group [(0.73±0.32) ℃] (t=16.70, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in temperature difference between the healthy and affected sides of tumors with different diameters (P>0.05). The temperature difference of healthy and affected side of tumor in superficial lobe [(0.97±0.50) ℃] was significantly higher than that in deep lobe [(0.67±0.44) ℃] (t=2.24, P=0.028). Conclusions: The difference of temperature difference between benign and malignant parotid gland tumors detected by IRT is statistically significant, which can be used to predict tumor properties, and has certain clinical application value.

[The impact of low T3 syndrome on the prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma].

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between low T3 syndrome (LT3S) and the prognosis of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients. Methods: A retrospective examination of 211 NDMM patients treated at the Department of Hematology, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital from July 2009 to December 2020 was performed, and all patients received thyroid function testing to determine if they had LT3S. We investigated the relationship between LT3S and clinical features, as well as its impact on MM prognosis. Results: Of the 211 patients, 119 were males, and 92 were females, with a median age of 60 (33-86) years. Patients with LT3S had significantly higher levels of ß(2)-microglobulin, C-reactive protein, and blood creatinine compared to those with normal T3 levels. They also had lower levels of hemoglobin, platelets, and serum albumin, as well as more advanced ISS stages (P<0.001) . Patients with LT3S had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) (16 months vs 30 months, P=0.003) and overall survival (OS) (57 months vs 75 months, P=0.004) than patients without LT3S. LT3S was found to be a standalone unfavorable factor in multivariate analysis, LT3S was an independent unfavorable factor in predicting both PFS (HR=2.114, 95% CI 1.271-3.516, P=0.004) and OS (HR=2.231, 95% CI 1.088-4.577, P=0.029) . Conclusions: Low T3 syndrome was an independent unfavorable prognostic predictor for NDMM.

[Clinical analysis of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for seven cases of acute myeloid leukemia with BCR::ABL1 fusion].

Objective: To explore the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with BCR::ABL1 fusion. Methods: The clinical data of seven AML patients with BCR::ABL1 fusion from November 2012 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, and their survival status was followed up. Results: The median age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 35 years. Four cases (57.1%) were diagnosed with high leukocyte counts. All cases were assayed as BCR::ABL1 positive and accompanied by four types of gene mutations (NPM1, RUNX1, ASXL1, PHF6) . Seven patients received tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined with induction chemotherapy and bridged to allo-HSCT, and six patients received maintenance therapy with TKI. Before allo-HSCT, six patients achieved complete remission, and four patients achieved complete molecular remission (CMR) . After allo-HSCT, the three remaining cases also achieved CMR. All patients were in remission post-allo-HSCT. One case died of infection, and the remaining cases survived without relapse. The 3-year cumulative overall survival rate was (80.0±17.9) %. Conclusions: TKI combined with traditional chemotherapy could achieve a high response rate in AML patients with BCR::ABL1 fusion. In addition, allo-HSCT could enhance the molecular response rate. Maintenance therapy post-HSCT with TKI could improve prognosis.

[Clinicopathological features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma pattern â ].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma pattern Ⅰ (AITL Pattern Ⅰ). Methods: The clinicopathological data of 11 AITL Pattern Ⅰ cases that were diagnosed at the Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University (10 cases) and Beijing Lu Daopei Hospital (1 cases) from January 2019 to October 2021 were retrospectively collected. Immunophenotype, Epstein-Barr virus infection status and T cell receptor (TCR) clonality of the tumor cells were tested, and clinicopathological features of cases were analyzed. Results: Among the 11 AITL Pattern Ⅰ cases, the male to female ratio was 1.2∶1.0. The median age was 59 years (range 47-78 years). Seven cases had B symptoms, while eleven cases presented with systemic lymphadenopathy. According to Ann Arbor system staging, two cases were classified as stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, and 9 cases as stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ. Hepatosplenomegaly was present in two cases (2/11), three cases (3/11) had skin rash and pruritus, and two cases (2/11) had pleural effusion. Previously, 6 cases (6/11) were diagnosed as reactive hyperplasia, 1 case (1/11) as EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder, and 4 cases (4/11) as hyperplasia of lymphoid tissue, which was unable to exclude lymphoma. Histologically, all the 11 cases showed hyperplastic follicles in the paracortical regions with well-formed germinal centers. The hyperplastic follicles showed ill-defined borders and attenuated mantle zones in 7 cases. Mantle zones completely disappeared in 4 cases. The follicles were surrounded by a thin layer of atypical lymphocytes with bright or faintly stained cytoplasm. In 2 cases, the clear cells were located between the germinal centers and the thin residual mantle cell layers, showing a circular growth pattern. The cells were medium in size, with irregular karyotype, coarse chromatin and indistinct nucleoli. Immunohistochemically, CD21 staining showed that the meshworks of follicular dendritic cells(FDC)were mainly confined to the follicles. There was a subtle expansion of the meshworks of FDC in 4 cases with ill-defined borders. The atypical cells surrounding the follicles expressed CD3 (11/11), CD4 (11/11), PD-1 (11/11), CXCL13 (6/11), ICOS (10/11) and CD10 (7/11). PD-1 staining showed a strong perifollicular pattern, and a small number of positive cells were scattered around the high endothelial veins in the interfollicular region. CXCL13, ICOS and CD10 showed similar distribution patterns. EBV-encoded small RNA probe (EBER) in situ hybridization showed that EBER positive B lymphocytes were scattered in the interfollicular region (5-20/HPF) in all cases. T cell receptor gene rearrangement was monoclonal in all cases. Conclusions: Diagnosing AITL Pattern Ⅰ may be challenging and requires comprehensive analysis of clinical manifestations, histological morphology, immunophenotype and gene rearrangement results.

[Otologic disorders and management strategies in Turner syndrome].

Objective: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of otologic disorders in patients with Turner syndrome (TS), so as to provide management strategies for ear health. Methods: This study is a prospective study based on questionnaires and a cross-sectional study. The TS patients who visited our hospital from 2010 January to 2021 March were included (A total of 71 patients with TS were included in this study. the age of TS diagnosed was 3- to 11-year-old, age of visiting ENT department was 4- to 27-year-old) and the incidence of otologic diseases in different age groups was investigated by questionnaires. The cross-sectional study included ear morphology and auditory function assessment, and further analysis of the risk factors that related to ear disease. Prism was used for data analysis. Results: The investigation found that the incidence of acute otitis media in patients aged 3-6 and 7-12 years was higher than that of patients over 12 years old, which was 33.8%(24/71), 42.9%(30/70)and 23.5%(8/34), respectively; 21.1% (15/71) of patients were recurrent acute otitis media in patients aged 3-6 years, and about 46.6% (7/15)of them persisted beyond 6-year. The prevalence of otitis media with effusion in the three groups was 32.4%(23/71), 34.3%(24/70)and 38.2%(13/34), respectively; the recurrence rate of tympanocentesis was 100%(7/7), 42.9%(3/7)and 50.0%(1/2), which was significantly higher than that of grommet insertion. For age groups of 3-6 and 7-12 years, the prevalence of acute otitis media and secretory otitis media was lower in the X chromosome structure abnormal patients; while for patients older than 12 years, otitis media with effusion was the highest prevalence in Y-chromosome-containing karyotypes. In addition, the prevalence of acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion in patients with other system diseases were increased significantly. A cross-sectional study found that 7.0% (5/71)of the lower auricular, 4.2% (3/71)of the external auditory canal narrow, and 38.0% (27/71)of the tympanic membrane abnormality. 35.2%(25/71) had abnormal hearing, including 17 cases of conductive deafness, 6 cases of sensorineural hearing loss, and 2 cases of mixed deafness. The rest of the patients had normal hearing, but 6 of them had abnormalities in otoacoustic emission. Eustachian tube function assessment found that the eustachian tube dysfunction accounted for 38%(27/71). Hearing loss and abnormal Eustachian tube function were not significantly related to karyotype(Chi-square 2.83 and 2.84,P value 0.418 and 0.417), but significantly related to other system diseases(Chi-square 13.43 and 7.53,P value<0.001). Conclusions: The incidence of TS-related otitis media and auditory dysfunction is significantly higher than that of the general population. It not only occurs in preschool girls, but also persists or develops after school age. Accompanied by other system diseases are risk factors for ear diseases. Clinicians should raise their awareness of TS-related ear diseases and incorporate ear health monitoring into routine diagnosis and treatment.

[Value of serum YKL-40 in the diagnosis of anti-MDA5-positive patients with dermatomyositis complicated with severe pulmonary injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) chitinase-3-like-1 protein (YKL-40) in the diagnosis of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5)-positive dermatomyositis (DM) patients complicated with serious pulmonary injury, including rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) and pulmonary infection. METHODS: Anti-MDA5 antibodies positive patients with DM who were hospitalized in the Department of Rheumatology of China-Japan Friendship Hospital from 2013 to 2018 were involved in this study. Demographic information, clinical, laboratory and imaging data were retrospectively collected. ELISA was used to detect the serum and BALF levels of YKL-40. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under ROC curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum YKL-40 for pulmonary injury.Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was confirmed by chest high-resolution CT (HRCT). RP-ILD was defined as progressive respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea and hypoxemia within 3 months, and/or deterioration of interstitial changes or appearace of new pulmonary interstitial lesions on chest HRCT. Pulmonary infection was considered as positive pathogens detected in qualified sputum, blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or lung biopsy specimens. RESULTS: A total of 168 anti-MDA5-positive DM patients including 108 females and 60 males were enrolled in the study. Of these patients, 154 had ILD, and 66(39.3%) of them presented RP-ILD. Seventy patients with pulmonary infection were confirmed by etiology. In the patients with RP-ILD, 39 (59.1%) of them were complicated with pulmonary infection. While only 31 cases(30.4%) had pulmonary infection in the non-RP-ILD patients. The incidence of pulmonary infection in the patients with RP-ILD was significantly higher than that of those with non-RP-ILD (P < 0.001). The serum YKL-40 levels in the RP-ILD patients with pulmonary infection were the highest compared with RP-ILD without pulmonary infection, non-RP-ILD with pulmonary infection and non-RP-ILD without pulmonary infection groups among all the patients [83 (42-142) vs. 42 (21-91) vs. 43 (24-79) vs. 38 (22-69), P < 0.01].The sensitivity, specificity and AUC of serum YKL-40 in the diagnosis of RP-ILD complicated with pulmonary infection were 75%, 67%, and 0.72, respectively. The AUC of diagnosed of anti-MDA5 positive DM patients complicated with RP-ILD and pulmonary infection was higher than that of patients complicated with only RP-ILD and only pulmonary infection (0.72 vs. 0.54 and 0.55, Z=2.10 and 2.11, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prognosis of anti-MDA5-positive DM patients with RP-ILD and pulmonary infection were poor. Serum YKL-40 level can be used as a helpful tool for the diagnosis of coexistence of these conditions in the patients.

[Efficacy and safety analysis of eltrombopag and recombinant human thrombopoietin combined with immunosuppressive therapy for severe aplastic anemia].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of eltrombopag, recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) , and standard immunosuppressive therapy (IST) for severe aplastic anemia (SAA) . Methods: A total of 16 cases with SAA treated with IST combined with eltrombopag and rhTPO were retrospectively analyzed. Results: At 3 months, the total response rate was 81.3%, and the complete hematological response rate was 37.5%. At 6 months, the total response rate was 87.5%, and the complete hematological response rate was 50.0%. The median time of platelet transfusion independence was 35 (16-78) days, the median time of red blood cell transfusion independence was 47.5 (15-105) days, the median platelet transfusion was 5.5 (3-20) U, and the median red blood cell transfusion was 6.5 (2-16) U. Conclusion: The combination of eltrombopag and rhTPO can improve the hematological response rate of IST for SAA and the quality of hematological remission with minimal toxic effects.

[The change of quality of life in 52 patients with non-severe aplastic anemia after cyclosporine A therapy].

Objectives: To explore changes in the quality of life(QoL)in patients with non-severe aplastic anemia(NSAA)after 2 years of cyclosporine A(CsA)therapy, and possible factors may affect the QoL. Methods: Patients with de novo NSAA from January 2014 to 2016 who had been treated with only CsA for at least 2 years in the outpatient department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were instructed to fill-in the SF-36 form before and after 2 years of CsA treatment. Data from NSAA were compared with those of normal controls; patients' information such as age, sex, education, annual income, type of payment, and compliance were collected, disease severity and response to treatment were also evaluated. Results: A total of 52 patients were included in our study with 27(51.9%)men and 25(48.1%)women, with the medium age of 48(21-85)years. After 2 years of treatment, 15(28.8%)patients achieved complete response(CR), 25(48.1%)achieved partial response(PR), and 12(23.1%)patients had no response(NR). The overall response rate(ORR)was 76.9%. Before the therapy, SF-36 scores in patients with NSAA were significantly lower than that of normal controls either in physical or mental component summaries(P<0.05). However, after 2 years of therapy, patients with NSAA had significant improvement of mental component summaries and recovered to normal with even higher scores in mental health(MH)(65.9±17.6 vs 59.7±22.9, P=0.014)and energy/vitality(VT)(58.8±20.1 vs 52.3±20.9, P=0.023)compared with normal controls, although they still had comparatively lower scores in physical component summaries. No associations were found between QoL and age, sex, educational level, family income, type of payment, patient adherence, or transfusion dependency. Patients with higher ECOG (the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score)at the beginning experienced greater progress in QoL compared to those with lower ECOG. Both patients with CR and PR had shown significant improvement in QoL. Conclusion: Patients with NSAA had impaired QoL compared with normal patients. CsA treatment can improve the QoL, especially in mental component summaries. Patients can benefit from the treatment regardless of their social status, and patients with lower ECOG at the beginning seem to benefit more from the therapy.

[Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma with extramedullary disease].

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma(NDMM)with bone-related extramedullary(EM-B)disease and those with extraosseous extramedullary(EM-E)disease and to address their prognostic factors. Methods: The clinical features, outcomes, and prognostic factors were retrospectively analyzed in 80 patients with NDMM with extramedullary disease. Results: Among 80 patients with extramedullary disease, 51 had EM-B and 29 EM-E. The level of ß(2)-microglobulin(5.82 mg/L vs 3.99 mg/L, P=0.030), lactate dehydrogenase(256 U/L vs 184 U/L, P=0.003), 1q21 amplification rate(78.6% vs 53.1%, P=0.035), and Ki-67 proliferation index(50% vs 25%, P=0.002)in the EME group were significantly higher than those in the EM-B group. The posieive rate of CD56(14.3% vs 66.7%)and overall response rate(60% vs 82.3%)in EM-E group were significantly lower than those in EM-B group. The median overall survival (OS)of patients with EM-E and EM-B was 14.5 and 49.5 months, and the median progression-free survival(PFS)of the two groups was 9.0 and 18.0 months. Patients with EM-E had a significantly shorter OS(P=0.035)and PFS(P < 0.001)than those of patients with EM-B, whereas the PFS did not significantly differ(P=0.263)when patients accepted proteasome inhibitor(PI)-based regimens for induction therapy. Multivariate analysis with Cox model showed the best response that did not achieve partial response(PR)was an independent poor prognostic factor for both OS and PFS in NDMM patients with EM-E(P=0.031, P=0.005), ISS-III, and the best response that did not achieve PR were independent prognostic factors for the shorter OS in patients with NDMM with EM-B(P=0.009, P=0.044). Conclusions: The clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with NDMM with EM-E are different from patients with EM-B. Outcomes of patients with EM-E is significantly poor. PI induction therapy improved the PFS of patients with EM-E.

[Reevaluation of equivocal HER2 status detected by immunohistochemistry according to the 2019 guidelines for HER2 detection].

Objective To understand the effects and clinical significance of the 2019 guidelines for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) detection. Methods: According to the 2014 guidelines, 548 cases of invasive breast cancer with equivocal HER2 (2+) detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in Taizhou Enze Medical Center, Zhejiang Province, China from 2013 to 2019 were selected. The results of IHC and HER2/CEPl7 double-probe were reevaluated and divided into groups according to the 2019 guidelines for the comparative analysis. Results: Among the 548 IHC HER2 (2+) invasive breast cancers, the number of positive, equivocal and negative cases for HER2 were 96 (17.52%), 81 (14.78%) and 371 (67.70%), respectively, according to the 2014 guidelines. However, according to the 2019 guidelines, 10 cases (1.82%) were reclassified as IHC 1+, 2 cases in the group 2 were reclassified as negative, and all the originally equivocal cases in group 4 were reclassified as negative. Finally, the total number of positive and negative cases for HER2 were 94 (17.15%) and 454 (82.85%), respectively. Conclusions: After applying the 2019 guidelines, the number of IHC 2+ cases decreases, and the positive rate for HER2 also decreases slightly due to the reevaluation change in groups 2 and 4, leading to reclassification of the cases that were deemed equivocal according to the 2014 guidelines. In general, the new 2019 guidelines are more reasonable and easier to use.

Heterogeneity of enhancement kinetics in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and implication of distant metastasis in invasive breast cancer.

AIM: To investigate the heterogeneity of enhancement kinetics for breast tumour in order to demonstrate the predictive power of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features for distant metastasis (DM) in invasive breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Time-signal intensity curve (TIC) patterns from 128 patients with invasive breast cancer were analysed by a pixel-based DCE-MRI analysis. This MRI technique enabled pixels with varying TIC patterns (persistent, plateau, washout and non-enhancement) to be categorised semi-automatically and the percentage of different TIC patterns in each breast tumour to be calculated. The percentage of TIC patterns was compared between the DM and non-DM groups. DM-free survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: This study demonstrated a larger percentage of persistent TIC and non-enhancement TIC was associated with DM in invasive breast cancer. The cut-off values of persistent TIC and non-enhancement TIC were 22.5% and 2.5%. Combining TIC patterns and traditional predictors (tumour size and axillary lymph node status) can improve the prediction efficiency. The multivariable model yielded an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.87 with 0.70 sensitivity and 0.87 specificity in leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). These predictors showed significant differences in DM-free survival by Kaplan-Meier analysis. CONCLUSION: This study shows that breast tumours with higher heterogeneity are more likely to metastasise, and pixel-based TIC analysis has utility in predicting distant metastasis of invasive breast cancer.

[Impact of gender on hepatic pathology and antibody - mediated immunity caused by Schistosoma japonicum infection in C57BL/6 mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of gender on hepatic pathology and antibody-mediated immunity in Schistosoma japonicum-infected C57BL/6 mice. METHODS: Female and male C57BL/6 mice were infected with S. japonicum, and the hepatic pathological changes were observed using HE and picrosirius red staining in mice 8 weeks post-infection. The serum specific IgG antibody levels against the soluble adult worm antigen (SWA) and soluble egg antigen (SEA) were measured in mice using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the percentages of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells were detected in mouse spleen and lymph nodes using flow cytometry. RESULTS: HE staining showed no significant difference in the mean area of a single hepatic egg granuloma between female and male mice 8 weeks post-infection with S. japonicum [(28.050 ± 3.576) × 104 µm2 vs. (26.740 ± 4.093) × 104 µm2; t = 0.241, P = 0.821], and picrosirius red staining revealed no statistical differences between female and male mice in terms of the mean proportion of picrosirius red stained hepatic tissues [(7.667 ± 1.856)% vs. (7.667 ± 1.764)%; t = 0, P = 1] or the mean optical density [(0.023 ± 0.003) vs. (0.027 ± 0.007); t = 0.447, P = 0.678]. ELISA detected no significant differences in the serum IgG antibody levels against SWA [(2.098 ± 0.037) vs. (1.970 ± 0.071); t = 1.595, P = 0.162] or SEA [(3.738 ± 0.039) vs. (3.708 ± 0.043); t = 0.512, P = 0.623] between female and male mice 8 weeks post-infection with S. japonicum. Flow cytometry detected significantly greater percentages of Tfh cells in the spleen [female mice, (8.645 ± 1.356)% vs. (1.730 ± 0.181)%, t = 5.055, P = 0.002; male mice, (8.470 ± 1.161)% vs. (1.583 ± 0.218)%, t = 5.829, P = 0.001] and lymph nodes [female mice, (3.218 ± 0.153)% vs. (1.095 ± 0.116)%, t = 11.040, P < 0.001; male mice, (3.673 ± 0.347)% vs. (0.935 ± 0.075)%, t = 8.994, P = 0.001) of both female and male mice 8 weeks post-infection with S. japonicum than in uninfected mice; however, no significant differences were seen between female and male mice 8 weeks post-infection with S. japonicum in terms of the percentages of Tfh cells in the spleen [(8.645 ± 1.356)% vs. (8.470 ± 1.161)%; t = 0.098, P = 0.925] or lymph nodes [(3.218 ± 0.153)% vs. (3.673 ± 0.347)%; t = 1.332, P = 0.241]. There was no significant difference in the proportion of Treg cells in the spleen of male mice between infected and uninfected mice [(10.060 ± 0.361)% vs. (10.130 ± 0.142)%; t = 0.174, P = 0.867], while a higher proportion of Treg cells was seen in the spleen of female mice 8 weeks post-infection with S. japonicum than in uninfected mice [(10.530 ± 0.242)% vs. (9.450 ± 0.263)%; t = 3.021, P = 0.023]. There was no significant difference in the proportion of Treg cells in the spleen between female and male mice infected with S. japonicum [(10.530 ± 0.242)% vs. (10.060 ± 0.361)%; t =1.077, P = 0.323]. In addition, the proportions of Treg cells were significantly greater in the lymph node of S. japonicum -infected female [(17.150 ± 0.805)% vs. (13.100 ± 0.265)%; t = 4.781, P = 0.003] and male mice [(18.550 ± 0.732)% vs. (12.630 ± 0.566)%; t = 6.402, P = 0.001] than in uninfected mice; however, no significant difference was seen between female and male mice 8 weeks post-infection [(17.150 ± 0.805)% vs. (18.550 ± 0.732)%; t = 1.287, P = 0.246]. CONCLUSIONS: There are no gender-specific hepatic pathological changes or antibody-mediated immunity in C57BL/6 mice post-infection with S. japonicum.

[Outcomes of 138 myelodysplastic syndrome patients with HLA-matched sibling donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients who received HLA-matched sibling donor allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (MSD-PBSCT) . Methods: The clinical data of 138 MDS patients received MSD-PBSCT from Sep. 2005 to Dec. 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and the overall survival (OS) rate, disease-free survival (DFS) rate, relapse rate (RR) , non-relapse mortality (NRM) rate and the related risk factors were explored. Results: ①After a median follow-up of 1 050 (range 4 to 4 988) days, the 3-year OS and DFS rates were (66.6±4.1) % and (63.3±4.1) %, respectively. The 3-year cumulative incidence of RR and NRM rates were (13.9±0.1) % and (22.2±0.1) %, respectively. ②Univariate analysis showed that patients with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) or hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT-CI) ≥2 points or patients in very high-risk group of the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) had significantly decreased OS[ (42.9±13.2) %vs (72.9±4.2) %, χ(2)=8.620, P=0.003; (53.3±7.6) %vs (72.6±4.7) %, χ(2)=6.681, P=0.010; (53.8±6.8) %vs (76.6±6.2) %vs (73.3±7.7) %, χ(2)=6.337, P=0.042]. For MDS patients with excess blasts-2 (MDS-EB2) and acute myeloid leukemia patients derived from MDS (MDS-AML) , pre-transplant chemotherapy or hypomethylating agents (HMA) therapy could not improve the OS rate[ (60.4±7.8) %vs (59.2±9.6) %, χ(2)=0.042, P=0.838]. ③Multivariate analysis indicated that the HCT-CI was an independent risk factor for OS and DFS (P=0.012, HR=2.108, 95%CI 1.174-3.785; P=0.008, HR=2.128, 95%CI 1.219-3.712) . Conclusions: HCT-CI was better than the IPSS-R in predicting the outcomes after transplantation. The occurrence of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ aGVHD is a poor prognostic factor for OS. For patients of MDS-EB2 and MDS-AML, immediate transplantation was recommended instead of receiving pre-transplant chemotherapy or HMA therapy.

[A Chinese consensus statement on the clinical application of transesophageal echocardiography for critical care (2019)].

Transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) is valuable in intensive care unit (ICU) because its application meets the requirements of diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients.However, the current application has not fully adapted to the specialty of critical care. TEE could be more valuablein ICU when used with a new way that under the guidance of the theory of critical care and embedded into the treatment workflow. We have expanded and improved the application of traditional TEE and integrated the concept of critical care, established the concept of transesophageal echocardiography for critical care (TEECC). Chinese Critical Ultrasound Study Group (CCUSG) organized experts in the area to form the consensus based the previous studiesand the long term practice of critical care ultrasound and TEE, aiming at clarifying the nature and characteristics of TEECC, promoting the rational and standardized clinical application and the coming researches.The consensus of Chinese experts on clinical application of TEECC (2019) were 33 in total, of whichthe main items were as follows: (1) TEECC is a significant means, which is expanded and improved from the traditional transesophageal echocardiography according to characteristics of critically ill patients and is applied in ICU based on critically clinical scenarios and requirements by the critical care physician, to promote visualized, refined and precisely management of critically ill patients.(2) TEE possesses distinctive superiority in implementation in ICU. It has characteristics of images with good quality, operations with good stability and low-dependent of operators, monitoring with continuity, and visualization with all-dimensional and detail of heart and blood vessels.(3)As a means of refined monitoring that could resulted in precise diagnosis and treatment, TEECC expands the dimension of intensive monitoring and improves the performance of critical care. (4) Indications of TEECC application include clinical etiological searching and invasive procedures guiding when it acted as a traditional role; and also refined hemodynamic monitoring based on critical care rationale and over-all management under specific critical clinical scenarios. (5) TEE and TTE assessments are complementary; they are not alternative. Integrated assessment of TTE and TEE is required under many critical clinical scenarios.(6) TEE should be a necessary configuration in ICU. (7) All-round and significant information regarding to the mechanism of acute circulatory disorders can be provided by TEECC; it is a non-substitutable means of identifying the causes of shock under some special clinical scenarios. (8) Focal extracardiac hematoma can be accurately and rapidly detected by TEE in patients with open-thoracic cardiac surgery or severe chest trauma when highly suspected pericardial tamponade.(9) The priority of pathophysiologic mechanism of septic shock can be rapidly and accurately identified by TEE; even if its pathophysiological changes are complex, including hypovolemia and/or vasospasm and/or left and right heart dysfunction. (10) Causes of hemodynamic disorders can be rapidly and qualitatively evaluated so that the orientation of treatment can be clarified by TEECC. (11) A full range of quantitative indicators for refined hemodynamic management in critically ill patients can be provided by TEECC. (12) TEECC helps to accurately assess volume status and predict fluid responsiveness.(13) TEECC is specially suitable for accurate quantitative assessment of cardiac function.(14) Mini TEE provides long-term continuous hemodynamic monitoring. (15) Standard views are easy to be acquired by TEECC, which is a premise for accurate and repeatable measurements, and a guarantee for assessment of effect and risk of therapy. (16) Compared with invasive hemodynamic monitoring, TEECC is minimally invasive, with low infection risk and high safety.(17) In patients with acute cor pulmonale (ACP) under condition of right ventricular dysfunction and low cardiac output, TEECC is a key tool for assessment. (18) TEECC should be implemented actively when suspicious of left to right shunt in critically ill patients who occurred hypotension that hard to explain the cause. (19) TEECC should be implemented actively when suspicious of right to left shunt in critically ill patients who occurred hypoxemia that hard to explain the cause. (20) TEECC is preferred in hemodynamics monitoring under prone position of ventilated patients.(21) TEECC is an imperative means to achieve over-all management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, especially for all-round hemodynamic monitoring. (22) Three basic views is recommended to be used to simplify TEE assessment during cardiac arrest so that reversible causes could be identified, and resuscitation could be guided. (23) The flow related echodynamic evaluation (TEECC-FREE) workflow is preferred in refined hemodynamics monitoring and therapy. (24) Simple workflow of TEECC could be implemented in special critical clinical scenarios. (25) Application of TEECC is highly secure; however, impairments of procedure should also be alert by operators. (26) Pitfalls in application of TEE should be paid attention to by the critical care physician. (27) Timely and rationally application of TEECC is in favor of diagnosis and treatment of critically ill patients and may improve the prognosis.

[Long-term clinical outcome of children and adolescents with Burkitt's lymphoma treated with rituximab combined with modified NHL-BFM-90 regimen].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab combined with the modified NHL-BFM-90 protocol in childhood and adolescence with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL). Methods: A retrospective analysis of 67 untreated childhood and adolescence patients with BL was made. All patients were treated with the modified NHL-BFM-90 protocol with or without rituximab. Results: The 64 patients (95.52%) achieved complete remission (CR), 3 patients (4.48%) partial remission (PR), and the overall response rate (CR+PR) was 100%. 67 patients were followed up for a median of 44 (3-89) months. The 3 and 5-year overall survival (OS) were 92.54% and 88.98%, respectively. The 3 and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) were all 90.34%. The 5-year OS were 100%,91.7% and 80.0% in low risk, moderate risk and high risk group, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.048). Of the 67 patients, 55 patients (82.09%) were treated with rituximab plus chemotherapy. Compared with the 5-year OS and PFS of 74.3% and 78.6% in the chemotherapy group, the 5-year OS and PFS in the rituximab plus chemotherapy group were 95.2% and 95.5%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P value was 0.021, and 0.036, respectively). Major toxicity was myelosuppression and mucositis. No treatment related death was found. Conclusions: Rituximab combined with the modified NHL-BFM-90 protocol was highly effective for children and adolescents with BL, and significantly improved long-term survival.