[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia arising from malignant tumors].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, cytogenetics, molecular biology, treatment, and prognosis of patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia (t-MDS/AML) secondary to malignancies. Methods: The clinical data of 86 patients with t-MDS/AML in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2010 and April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics, primary tumor types, and tumor-related therapies were analyzed. Results: The study enrolled a total of 86 patients with t-MDS/AML, including 67 patients with t-AML, including 1 patient with M(0), 6 with M(1), 27 with M(2), 9 with M(3), 12 with M(4), 10 with M(5), 1 with M(6), and 1 with M(7). Sixty-two patients could be genetically stratified, with a median overall survival (OS) of 36 (95% CI 22-52) months for 20 (29.9%) patients in the low-risk group and 6 (95% CI 3-9) months for 10 (14.9%) in the intermediate-risk group. The median OS time was 8 (95% CI 1-15) months in 32 (47.8%) patients in the high-risk group. For patients with non-acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and AML, the median OS of the low-risk group was 27 (95% CI 18-36) months, which was significantly longer than that of the non-low-risk group (χ(2)=5.534, P=0.019). All 9 APL cases were treated according to the initial treatment, and the median OS was not reached, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 100.0%, (75.0±6.2) %, and (75.0±6.2) % respectively. Of the 58 patients with non-APL t-AML (89.7%), 52 received chemotherapy, and 16 achieved complete remission (30.8%) after the first induction chemotherapy. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates of the non-APL t-AML group were (42.0 ± 6.6) %, (22.9±5.7) %, and (13.4±4.7) %, respectively. The median OS of patients who achieved remission was 24 (95% CI 18-30) months, and the median OS of those who did not achieve remission was 6 (95% CI 3-9) months (χ(2)=10.170, P=0.001). Bone marrow CR was achieved in 7 (53.8%) of 13 patients treated with vineclar-containing chemotherapy, with a median OS of 12 (95% CI 9-15) months, which was not significantly different from that of vineclar-containing chemotherapy (χ(2)=0.600, P=0.437). In 19 patients with t-MDS, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were (46.8±11.6) %, (17.5±9.1) %, and (11.7±9.1) % with a median OS of 12 (95% CI 7-17) months, which was not significantly different from that in t-AML (χ(2)=0.232, P=0.630) . Conclusions: Breast cancer, bowel cancer, and other primary tumors are common in patients with t-MDS/AML, which have a higher risk of adverse genetics. Patients with APL had a high induction remission rate and a good long-term prognosis, whereas patients without APL had a low remission rate and a poor long-term prognosis.

[Efficacy of GLIDE chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage or relapsed/refractory extranodal natural killer cell lymphoma].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of gemcitabine, asparaginase , ifosfamide, dexamethasone and etoposide (GLIDE) combination for patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage or relapsed/refractory extranodal natural killer cell lymphoma (ENKL). Methods: Fourty-two newly diagnosed advanced-stage or relapsed/refractory ENKL were enrolled from March 2010 to March 2016. Patients were treated with GLIDE for median 3 (2-6) cycles. Complete response (CR) rate, early CR (after 2 cycles) rate were evaluated after all treatment finished. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate by Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Thirty-one (73.8%) patients achieved CR with 22 (52.4%) in early CR after 2 cycles of GLIDE, and 14 underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after achieved CR. One year PFS and OS were 65.6% and 82.7%, 4 year PFS and OS were 48.2% and 63.1%, respectively, with a median PFS of 30.5 months. Multivariate analysis indicated ECOG score 0-1 and ASCT after CR were independent prognostic factors for less relapse and longer survival. Conclusion: GLIDE is an effective regiment for newly diagnosed advanced-stage and relapsed/refractory ENKL.

Functional analysis of the cellulose gene of the pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, using RNA interference.

Cellulases are pathogenic substances suspected to be responsible for the development of the early symptoms of nematode disease. The pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Parasitaphelenchidae), is the causal agent of pine wilt disease, which kills millions of pine trees. We used RNA interference (RNAi), a reverse genetic tool, to analyze the function of the endo-ß-1,4-glucanase gene of B. xylophilus, which causes the most serious forest tree disease in China and the rest of eastern Asia. Silencing of this gene was detected through real-time PCR and cellulase activity assays after soaking for 24 h in dsRNA. The cellulase gene silencing effects differed among various siRNAs. The propagation and dispersal ability of these nematodes decreased when the endo-ß-1,4-glucanase gene was silenced. It is important to select an effective siRNA before performing an RNAi test.

Thermal and Visual Observation of Water and Acetone Oscillating Heat Pipes.

A visual and thermal experimental investigation of four oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) was conducted to observe fluid flow of liquid plugs and vapor bubbles in the OHP and its effect on the temperature distribution and heat transfer performance in an OHP. These four OHPs consist of an open loop water OHP, an open loop acetone OHP, a closed loop water OHP, and a closed loop acetone OHP. These copper OHPs were constructed identically with all six turns in the same plane. They were constructed out of 1.65 mm inner diameter copper tubing and copper heat spreading plates in the evaporator and condenser regions. The heat pipes were charged at a filling ratio of about 50%. The results show that the acetone OHP at low power performs better than the water OHP, while at high power the water OHP exceeds the acetone OHP. The experimental results show that both the acetone and water closed loop OHPs had reduced movement in the connecting turn between the two sides. However, in the water closed loop OHP, this prevented circulation altogether. Comparing the water closed loop OHP to the water open loop OHP, their flow patterns were similar. Therefore, improving the flow in this turn should increase the closed loop OHP's performance.

Heat Transport Capability and Fluid Flow Neutron Radiography of Three-Dimensional Oscillating Heat Pipes.

An experimental investigation into the parameters affecting heat transport in two three-dimensional oscillating heat pipes (OHPs) was implemented. A three-dimensional OHP is one in which the center axis of the circular channels containing the internal working fluid do not lie in the same plane. This novel design allows for more turns in a more compact size. The OHPs in the current investigation is made of copper tubings (3.175 mm outside diameter, 1.65 mm inside diameter) wrapped in a three-dimensional fashion around two copper spreaders that act as the evaporator and condenser. The two OHPs have 10 and 20 turns in both the evaporator and condenser. The 20-turn OHP was filled to 50% of the total volume with a high performance liquid chromatography grade water. Transient and steady state temperature data were recorded at different locations for various parameters. Parameters such as heat input, operating temperature, and filling ratio were varied to determine its effect on the overall heat transport. Neutron radiography was simultaneously implemented to create images of the internal working fluid flow at a rate of 30 frames per second. Results show the average temperature drop from the evaporator to condenser decreases at higher heat inputs due to an increase in temperature throughout the condenser region due to greater oscillations. These large oscillations were visually observed using neutron radiography. As the operating temperature is increased, the thermal resistance is reduced. A decrease in filling ratio tends to create more steady fluid motion; however, the heat transfer performance is reduced.

Experimental investigation of cryogenic oscillating heat pipes.

A novel cryogenic heat pipe, oscillating heat pipe (OHP), which consists of an 4 × 18.5 cm evaporator, a 6 × 18.5 cm condenser, and 10 cm length of adiabatic section, has been developed and experimental characterization conducted. Experimental results show that the maximum heat transport capability of the OHP reached 380W with average temperature difference of 49 °C between the evaporator and condenser when the cryogenic OHP was charged with liquid nitrogen at 48% (v/v) and operated in a horizontal direction. The thermal resistance decreased from 0.256 to 0.112 while the heat load increased from 22.5 to 321.8 W. When the OHP was operated at a steady state and an incremental heat load was added to it, the OHP operation changed from a steady state to an unsteady state until a new steady state was reached. This process can be divided into three regions: (I) unsteady state; (II) transient state; and (III) new steady state. In the steady state, the amplitude of temperature change in the evaporator is smaller than that of the condenser while the temperature response keeps the same frequency both in the evaporator and the condenser. The experimental results also showed that the amplitude of temperature difference between the evaporator and the condenser decreased when the heat load increased.

[Significance of hepatitis B virus PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, large protein, PreS2-Ab detection and the prediction of HBV DNA replication.].

BACKGROUND: To explore the significance of hepatitis B virus PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, large protein (LP) detection and the prediction of viral replication. METHODS: PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, LP and HBV markers were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 201 cases of infected serum. Serum HBV DNA level was quantitatively detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: There were significant differences in positive rate between the PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, LP, and HBsAg; the positive rate of PreS2-Ag and LP were higher than that of the HBeAg. No significant differences were found in the positive rates between LP and the levels of HBV DNA and there was a positive correlation between quantitations of HBV DNA and HBV-LP. CONCLUSION: Serum PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag and LP were laboratory markers that can accurately reflect HBV DNA reproduction, and were helpful complementarity to traditional HBV M. There is a close correlation between the number of copies of HBV DNA and the levels of HBV-LP.

Characterization and application of two novel monoclonal antibodies against 2IgB7-H3: expression analysis of 2IgB7-H3 on dendritic cells and tumor cells.

2IgB7-H3 has recently been identified as a new member of the B7 family. Its expression at the protein level remains largely unknown due to the lack of the specific monoclonal antibody (mAb). To characterize the expression of 2IgB7-H3, we newly generated two mouse antihuman 2IgB7-H3 mAbs (4H7 and 21D4). We found the constitutive expression of 2IgB7-H3 on a series of tumor cell lines. Furthermore, the expression was examined on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DCs) and DCs from CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) by means of mAb staining. The results showed that 2IgB7-H3 was expressed on Mo-DCs at a high and stable level during differentiation in vitro. With the maturation of DCs from CD34(+) HPCs, the expression of the molecule was upregulated. However, the 2IgB7-H3 was not expressed on fresh isolated T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, or CD34(+) HPCs. These results suggested that 2IgB7-H3 may be a valuable surface antigen for the detection of DCs.

A low consumption air-segmented sequential injection vapor generation system for the determination of mercury by atomic absorption spectrometry.

A sequential injection system for the determination of mercury by vapor generation atomic absorption spectrometry (VGAAS) using tetrahydoborate reductant was developed, characterized by prevention of sample and reagent mixing in the holding coil using small air segments and initiation of the vapor generation in a flow-through gas-liquid separator. Extremely small volumes of reductant of 15-30 mul (0.2-1.0% NaBH(4)) and sample acidity as low as 0.05 mol l(-1) HCl were sufficient for achieving performance similar to flow injection (FI) VGAAS systems. A sample throughput of 90 h(-1) was achieved with 400 mul samples with a precision of 2.0% RSD at 10 mug l(-1)Hg, and a detection limit of 0.1 mug l(-1) (3sigma). Reagent consumption was reduced by a factor of 25 in comparison to the FI-VGAAS system. Good agreement with the certified value was obtained for the determination of mercury in seawater in a standard reference sample.

Hantavirus infection among Rattus norvegicus in Japan.

Seroepizootiological study of hantavirus infection among 393 urban rats (Rattus norvegicus) captured in six regions in Japan during the period from 1990 to 1994 was carried out by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and Western blot (WB). Fifteen out of 393 (3.8%) rat sera were antibody-positive by IFA, i.e., Tokyo Port (12.8%, 6/47), Shimizu Port (5.7%, 2/35), Otaru Port (1.5%, 1/65) and Nagoya City (3.6%, 6/167). In two other regions, i.e., Kasai Seaside Park and Haneda Airport, rat sera were antibody-negative. One serum with a lower IFA titer, 1:64, from Otaru Port was confirmed to be antibody-positive by WB, while two sera from Shimizu Port (IFA titer, 1:32 and 1:64) were not. In Nagoya City, one out of four sera (IFA titer, 1:32) and one of two sera (IFA titer, 1:64) were also confirmed to be antibody-positive by WB. Continuous hantavirus infection among rats in Tokyo Port, Shimizu Port and Nagoya City and the existence of hantavirus among rats in Otaru Port were demonstrated.