Association between Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase Level and 30-day Mortality in Patients with Intracranial Hemorrhage with Acute Leukemia in the Induction Phase: A Cohort Study.

Objectives This study aimed to identify the association between lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and 30-day mortality in patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) with acute leukemia during the induction phase. Methods This cohort study included patients with acute leukemia with ICH during induction. We evaluated serum LDH levels upon admission. Multivariable Cox regression analyzed the LDH 30-day mortality association. Interaction and stratified analyses based on factors like age, sex, albumin, white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, and platelet count were conducted. Results We selected 91 patients diagnosed with acute leukemia and ICH. The overall 30-day mortality rate was 61.5%, with 56 of the 91 patients succumbing. Among those with LDH levels ≥ 570 U/L, the mortality rate was 74.4% (32 out of 43), which was higher than the 50% mortality rate of the LDH < 570 U/L group (24 out of 48) ( p = 0.017). In our multivariate regression models, the hazard ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals for Log2 and twice the upper limit of normal LDH were 1.27 (1.01, 1.58) and 2.2 (1.05, 4.58), respectively. Interaction analysis revealed no significant interactive effect on the relationship between LDH levels and 30-day mortality. Conclusions Serum LDH level was associated with 30-day mortality, especially in patients with LDH ≥ 570 U/L.

[Control study of melphalan instead of cyclophosphamide as a myeloablative conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for treatment of myeloid malignancies].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate melphalan instead of cyclophosphamide in modified busulfancyclophosphamide regimen as a new myeloablative conditioning regimen for the treatment of myeloid malignancies patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation （HSCT）. METHODS: The clinic data of 94 myeloid malignancies patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT were analyzed, of which 48 patients received Bu+Cy+Flu+Ara-C, 46 cases Bu+Mel+Flu+Ara-C regimens. Rregimen-related toxicity, engraftment, graft- versus-host disease（GVHD）, infection condition, non- relapse mortality, and overall survival were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: All patients achieved neutrophil engraftment. The incidence of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ oral mucositis and diarrhea in BMFA group was higher than in BCFA group（P<0.05）. The incidence of acute GVHD in BMFA group was also higher than in BCFA group but without statistically significant difference（36.5% over 56.5%, P=0.100）. With a median follow up of 42 months, the incidence of no relapse mortality in BCFA group was 12.5% and 19.6% in BMFA group（P=0.400）. The relapse rate in BMFA group（4.3%）was significantly lower than in BCFA group （25.0%, P=0.009）. The overall survival rates were（71.8±6.7）% and（76.1±6.3）%（P=0.852）, and diseasefree survival rates were（67.8±8.9）% and（76.1±6.3）%（P=0.567）were comparable between BCFA group and BMFA group. CONCLUSION: Melphalan instead of cyclophosphamide as a new myeloablative conditioning regimen had lower relapse and satisfied disease-free survival rates, but the risk of regimenrelated toxicity and GVHD should be taken into consideration.

[IL-18 single nucleotide polymorphisms in hematologic malignancies with HLA matched sibling donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of interleukin-18 (IL-18) single nucleotide polymorphisms on outcomes of hematologic malignancies with HLA-matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: Single- nucleotide polymorphisms in IL-18 promoter was detected by PCR-sequence-specific primer analysis (PCR-SSP) in 93 recipients and their HLA matched sibling donors. Hematopoietic reconstitution, incidences of graft versus host disease (GVHD) and infections, transplant related mortality (TRM), and disease free survival (DFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: In comparison with -137 G/C+C/C donor genotype, patients with -137 G/G donor genotype had shorter duration of neutrophil recovery [15(11-23) days vs 17(11-24) days, P=0.01], higher incidence of extensive chronic GVHD (20.6% vs 3.3%, P=0.029), but no difference in the interval of platelet recovery [20(11-46) days vs 20(7-38) days, P=0.844]. The incidence of extensive chronic GVHD in -607 C/C donor genotype (31.6%) was significantly higher than that (10.8%) in C/A + A/A donor genotype (P=0.024). Recipients with -607 C/C genotype also had higher incidence (33.3%) of extensive chronic GVHD than those with C/A+A/A genotype (10.7%, P=0.016). There were no differences in acute GVHD, TRM, and DFS between different genotypes. CONCLUSION: IL-18 -137 G homozygous genotype in donor facilitated neutrophil reconstitution, but increased the risk of extensive chronic GVHD in patients with allo-HSCT.

[Role of IFN-γ + 874 genetic polymorphisms in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of IFN-γ + 874 polymorphisms on the outcome in HLA matched sibling HSCT. METHODS: We used PCR-sequence-specific primer analysis (PCR-SSP) to analyze the polymorphisms of IFN-γ + 874 T/A in 80 recipient and donor pairs from October 2005 to March 2008. RESULTS: Recipients having donors who possessed IFN-γ + 874 A/A genotype had significantly earlier neutrophil recovery compared with those having donors with non-A/A genotype (15 (11 - 27) days vs 18 (12 - 30) days, P = 0.029). And IFN-γ + 874 A/A in both recipients and donors further facilitated neutrophil recovery compared with others (13 (11 - 25) days and 19 (12 - 31) days, P = 0.019). Besides, IFN-γ + 874 A/A in recipients increased the probability of grade II-IV acute graft versus disease (aGVHD) and cytomegalovirus viraemia compared with IFN-γ + 874 T/A or T/T genotype (20% vs 4% P = 0.041, 43.6% vs 16.0% P = 0.032), which lead to increased 5-year transplant-related mortality (TRM) (33.7% ± 6.8% vs 12.0% ± 6.5%, P = 0.050) and decreased 5-year event free survival (EFS) \[(58.2 ± 6.7)% vs (84.0 ± 7.3)%, P = 0.032\] compared with the latter. IFN-γ + 874 A/A in both recipients and donors also significantly increased the probability of grade II-IV aGVHD and cytomegalovirus viraemia compared with the other (21.7% vs 5.9%, P = 0.050; 45.7% vs 20.6%, P = 0.020), which caused increased 5-year TRM \[(31.6 ± 7.5)% vs (13.6 ± 6.5)%, P = 0.048\] and decreased 5-year EFS \[(56.8 ± 7.3)% vs (79.4 ± 6.9)%, P = 0.037\] compared with the other. CONCLUSION: In HLA-matched sibling HSCT setting, the presence of IFN-γ + 874 T allele in recipients or in both recipients and donors significantly decreased the risk of grade II-IV aGVHD and CMV infection and increased EFS. While IFN-γ + 874 A/A in donors or in both recipients and donors was associated with shorter duration to neutrophil recovery.

[Preliminary analysis of therapeutic efficacy and prognosis of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with advanced chronic myeloid leukemia].

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) at advanced and blastic phase is a disease with poor prognosis, for which allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is the only treatment choice with curative potential. This study was purposed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of allo-HSCT and prognosis of advanced CML patients. The 28 cases of CML in accelerated phase or blast crisis received allo-HSCT were analysed retrospectively in terms curative efficacy, basic characteristics before transplant and prognosis, therapeutic strategy before transplant and prognosis, events after transplant and prognosis. The results indicated that 10 out of 28 patients were in complete remission, showing a 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rate of 34.9% and 35.7% respectively; 18 patients died. Univariate analysis revealed that the clonal evolution and blast amount are baseline risk factor of poor prognosis, and combination of them can be used to predict the outcome of patients; application of imatinib before transplant and achievement of complete hematologic remission could not improve the prognosis; severe aGVHD among post-transplant events was proven to be a negative prognostic factor. It is concluded that for advanced CML patients received allo-HSCT, clonal evolution and blast percentage are prognostic factors, and the pre-transplant use of imatinib did not influence the outcome.

[Combination of rabbit antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine A as first-line therapy for adult severe aplastic anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy and side-effects of combination of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine A (CsA) as the first-line immunosuppressive therapy (IST) for adult severe aplastic anemia (SAA) patients. METHODS: Adult SAA or very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA) patients treated with rabbit ATG + CsA as first line therapy in our hospital from 2003 to 2008 were retrospectively analysed and the therapeutic response relevant factors were analysed. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were enrolled. Of all these patients, 6 died within 3 months after IST. The overall response rate was 82.2% and the median time to transfusion independent was 60 days. The therapeutic response rate in 32 SAA patients (100%) was significantly higher than that in 41 VSAA cases (68.3%) (P = 0.001). Patients with neutrophil response to G-CSF treatment had a higher IST response rate than those without response to G-CSF (100% vs 67.5%, P = 0.001). Sixty-one patients (77.2%) occurred serum sickness reaction. Three patients relapsed and two developed clonal hematological abnormalities after IST. The 3-year overall survival for all the patients was 88.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Rabbit ATG in combination with CsA as first-line IST for adult SAA can lead to excellent treatment outcomes with minor adverse effects.

[Risk factors and prognosis of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematological diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence, risk factors, prognosis and high risk patients of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in patients with hematological diseases. METHODS: : Over 2-week hospitalized patients from January 2007 to December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of IFI, and recursive partitioning to reveal high risk patients. Incidence of IFI was estimated by cumulative incidence function, and the prognosis by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 1048 assessable treatment cycles were recorded and 93 cases of IFI were diagnosed, with an incidence of 8.87 per 100 treatment cycles. Multivariate logistic regression revealed the following risk factors: age (OR 1.025, 95% CI 1.010-1.041, P = 0.002), duration of neutropenia (OR 1.028, 95% CI 1.014-1.042, P < 0.0001) and uncontrolled underlying diseases (OR 2.620, 95% CI 1.608-4.268, P = 0.0001). Recursive partitioning found two groups of high risk patients: (1) patients with uncontrolled underlying diseases and neutropenia duration > or = 58 days (7/12, 58.3%), (2) patients with uncontrolled underlying diseases and age > or = 33 years (40/208, 19.2%). At the end of follow-up, 111 cases of IFI were recorded in 451 patients, with a 1-year cumulative incidence of 27.1%. In patients with established IFI, overall survival rate and IFI related mortality rate at 12 weeks after diagnosis were 83.4% and 13.5% respectively. CONCLUSION: Age, duration of neutropenia and uncontrolled underlying diseases are risk factors of IFI; patients with uncontrolled underlying diseases and age > or = 33 years were at high risk of IFI and need major concern. IFI has a better prognosis and a lower related mortality in this study.

Secondary antifungal prophylaxis in hematological malignancies in a tertiary medical center.

To investigate the efficacy of secondary antifungal prophylaxis (SAP) in patients with hematological diseases, all medical records within two consecutive years were retrospectively reviewed. In all, 57 patients with a history of invasive fungal infections received 149 cycles of further therapy for their underlying hematological diseases. Logistic regression and recursive partitioning were used to discriminate high risk patients for failure of SAP. After a median follow-up period of 120 (12-1,080) days, 11 cases (7.4/100 cycles) experienced failure of SAP, including 5 cases during allo-SCT and 6 cases during chemotherapy, corresponding to cumulative incidence at 24.5%. Multivariate logistic regression revealed two risk factors for failure of SAP: use of high dose corticosteroid (OR 13.5, 95% CI 3.09-58.6, P = 0.0005) and duration of neutropenia ≥ 14 days (OR 7.47, 95% CI 1.69-32.9, P = 0.008). Recursive partitioning found that patients with these two risk factors were in high risk, with SAP failure rate as high as 50.0%. In conclusion, use of high dose corticosteroid and duration of neutropenia ≥ 14 days were risk factors of SAP failure. Patients with the two risk factors concurrently were in high risk and needed special concern.

[The influence of hepatitis B virus infection on patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognosis and hepatitis B serologic marker changes in patients with HBV infection or with HBV infected donors after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: The clinical outcomes of 79 patients receiving allo-HSCT, including 55 with HBV infection and 24 from HBV infected donors were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: (1) HBV infection did not interfere with the clinical outcome of allo-HSCT. (2) In 20 HBsAg(+) patients, 13(65.0%) developed HBV reactivation between 0.5 and 10 months after transplantation, 9(45.0%) developed HBV-related hepatitis. (3) For the 35 HBsAg(-) and HBcAb/HBeAb positive patients, 4 (11.4%) occurred HBV seroconversion, 1 of the 4 complicated with severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). (4) There was a significant difference in HBV reactivation rate between the HBsAg(+) and HBsAg-groups (P < 0.01). The incidence of hepatitis occurred within 100 days after HSCT was high in HBsAg(+) patients (P < 0.05). (5) Clearance of HBsAg was observed in 2 HBsAg(+) patients, both of whom received graft from HBsAb positive donors. CONCLUSIONS: Donors or recipients infected with HBV is not considered an absolute contraindication for HSCT, but HBsAg positivity is a high risk factor for HBV reactivation and prophylactic lamivudine treatment may be helpful. For patients with HBcAb/HBeAb positivity, seroconversion can be observed, especially after immunosuppressant withdrawal. Adoptive immunity is effective in clearing HBV in these patients.

[The significance of hematopoietic cell genetic instability in aplastic anemia.].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bone marrow hematopoietic cells genetic instability (BMHCGI) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA) and to explore its influence on immunosupressive therapy for AA and significance on late clonal hematologic disorders. METHODS: Genetic instability of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) was measured by Comet assay. The relationship between bone marrow failure parameters and genetic instability results was evaluated. The reciprocity of genetic instability and treatment responses to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) was investigated. RESULTS: Comet assay parameters \[tail moment (TM), olive TM (OTM), comet %\] of AA patients were significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistic correlation of comet parameters of severe AA (SAA) BM hematopoietic cells with age, gender and peripheral blood cell count (P > 0.05). For the treatment response rate at six months after IST there was no statistical difference between comet cells of < 21.64% and of >/= 21.64%, and so did between OTM < 1.58 and >/= 1.58 in SAA patients. IST had no effect on SAA BMHCGI, whereas, the Comet%, TM and OTM in SAA PR patients and Comet% in CR patients were significantly decreased than those before treatment. Comet parameters of two SAA patients were significantly increased before the development of clonal cytogenetic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Increased BMHCGI may be one of the elements in the pathogenetic mechanisms in AA. The genetic instability is irrelevant to the SAA patients overall response rate of IST at six months, but IST can alleviate the genetic instabilities in responded SAA patients.

[Allogeneic stem cell transplantation for 75 cases of acute myeloid leukemia in complete remission: outcome and prognostic analysis].

This study was purposed to evaluate the outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in complete remission, and to study the prognostic factors. 75 cases of AML in complete remission receiving allo-HSCT from January 2000 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Major end points of study included overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), relapse rate and transplantation related mortality (TRM). The results showed that 3-year OS and DFS of the study population reached to 58.4% and 53.9% respectively, and the relapse rate and TRM leaded to 16.9% and 29.9% respectively. Incidence of acute GVHD was 59.6%, with 18.7% II-IV aGVHD. Different prognosis was observed between HSCT recipients of alternative donor and HLA-matched related donor (MRD) (3-year DFS was 34.3% vs 60.0%, p = 0.019), between patients of refractory leukemia and the control (3-year DFS was 35.7% vs 58.2%, p = 0.048), between recipients with and without severe aGVHD (3-year DFS was 35.7% vs 54.4%, p = 0.059). Further analysis revealed significantly high TRM in recipients receiving allo-HSCT of alternative donor (p = 0.033) and high rate of severe aGVHD (p = 0.010). Multivariate analysis revealed three negative prognostic factors: donor availability (alternative vs MRD) (p = 0.049, RR = 2.09, 95%CI 1.01 - 4.36), refractory leukemia (p = 0.038, RR = 2.33, 95%CI 1.05 - 5.20) and severe aGVHD (p = 0.040, RR = 2.33, 95%CI 1.04 - 5.20). It is concluded that allo-HSCT is a choice for the AML case at complete remission and TRM is the major cause of the transplantation failure. Donor availability, refractory leukemia and severe aGVHD are confirmed as risk factors of poor prognosis for allo-HSCT patients with AML in CR.

[Combination of rabbit antithymocyte globulin plus cyclosporin A as first-line immunosuppressive therapy for the childhood with severe aplastic anemia.].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the efficacy and side-effects of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporin A (CsA) as the first-line therapy for childhood severe aplastic anemia (SAA). METHODS: Seventy-one childhood SAA patients treated with rabbit ATG + CsA as first line therapy were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Seventy-one SAA patients, including 38 SAA and 33 very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA), were enrolled. The median age was 12 years. Of these patients, 3 died within 3 months after the immunosuppressive therapy (IST). The overall response rate was 67.6% (46/68) and the median time to transfusion independent was 53 days. Thirty-three patients (48.5%) obtained remission in 3 months after the IST and 45 (67.2%) in 6 months. The response rates were 57.7% (15/26), 56.5% (13/23) and 94.7% (18/19) for patients less than 10 years old, 10 - 15 year-old and 15 - 18 year-old, respectively. Sixty patients suffered from serum sickness on the IST. Three patients relapsed and another 3 unrespond patients received retreatment of IST, and one patient progressed to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). CONCLUSION: Rabbit ATG in combination with CsA as first line therapy for childhood SAA/VSAA can lead to overall response rate of 67.6% with minor adverse effects.

[The clinical characteristics of T cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia associated with pure red cell aplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) secondary to T cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia (T-LGLL). METHODS: Fourteen patients with T-LGLL associated with PRCA between 2000 and 2006 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 61 years with equal gender distribution. The PRCA had indolent process, mainly presenting with anemia. Of the 14 patients, 9 had mild to moderate splenomegaly, one hepatomegaly and one lymphadenopathy. The median Hb level was 61.5 g/L and the median WBC count 4.3 x 10(9)/L. The median percentage and count of LGL in peripheral blood were 0.36 and 1.9 x 10(9)/L respectively. The median percentage of LGL in BM was 0.165 (0.085 - 0.410). Some patients had serologic abnormalities. All the 12 cases with available bone marrow cell cytogenetics showed normal karyotypes. With cyclosporine A or glucocorticoid immunosuppressive therapy, the overall response was 91%. CONCLUSION: T-LGLL was one of the major causes of acquired PRCA. This type of PRCA has the similar clinical and laboratory feature to that of other type of PRCA and has a good response to immunosuppressive therapy.

[The impact of immunosuppressive therapy on genetic instabilities of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in patients with aplastic anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of immunosuppressive therapy (IST) on genetic instabilities of bone marrow hematopoietic cells (BMHCs) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS: Comet assay as used to detect genetic instabilities of hematopoietic cells from patients, and the percent of DNA in comet tail (TDNA), tail length (TL), tail moment (TM), olive tail moment (OTM) and the rate of comet cells were measured. BMHCs from AA patients were examined with comet assay before and after IST, and the results were compared with those from controls. RESULTS: Comet parameters from 91 AA patients including TDNA, TL, TM, OTM comet cell percentage were (5.0 +/- 4.0)%, 11.3 +/- 7.2, 1.7 +/- 2.0, 1.5 +/- 1.4, (16.8 +/- 13.7)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those from control group (P < 0.05). There were statistical differences between the comet parameters of severe AA (SAA)/non-SAA (NSAA) and those of control group (P < 0.05), but no difference in the comet parameters between SAA and NSAA patients (P > 0.05). The TDNA, TL, TM, OTM and comet cells percentage were (4.4 +/- 3.6)%, 10.4 +/- 7.5, 1.4 +/- 1.6, 1.3 +/- 1.4 and (20.2 +/- 21.2)%, respectively at 3 months after IST in 53 SAA patients and were (3.7 +/- 3.3)%, 10.0 +/- 7.2, 1.2 +/- 1.8, 1.1 +/- 1.3 and (18.5 +/- 19.0)% respectively at 6 months after IST in 30 SAA patients, being no statistical difference from those of 58 SAA patients before IST (P values were all > 0.05). CONCLUSION: BMHCs of AA had inherent genetic instabilities which were not increased by recent IST. It indicated that there was no correlation between IST and the development of clonal hematologic disorders in AA.

[Development of Sweet syndrome in an acute promyelocyte leukemia patient during treatment with all-trans retinoic acid--case report and literature review].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the side effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), and improve early therapeutic response in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). METHOD: The first case of Sweet's syndrome (SS) developed in a APL patient treated with ATRA was reported in mainland of China, and reviewed correlative literature. RESULTS: Only 14 cases of SS associated with ATRA therapy in APL have been reported in the literature, including the present case. The median age was 49.5 years (9 -84) and 10 were women and 4 men. Of them, SS was restricted to the skin in 10 case, the other 4 muscle, fascia, kidney, and lung were involved. SS appeared after a median of 18 days of ATRA therapy (6 - 34 days). The median WBC count was 7.05 (0.80 - 23.00) x 10(9)/L. Four patients continued with the ATRA therapy without interruption, 13 patients treated with steroids and 12 responded. One patient improved without any treatment. Two cases of SS developed retinoic acid syndromes after ATRA therapy. CONCLUSION: Sweet's syndrome is a rare adverse effect of ATRA, and has similar features with inflammatory or infective dermatosis. The corticosteroids treatment could improve the systemic and cutaneous symptoms. When ATRA therapy was restarted after SS subsided, no recurrence of rashes was observed.

[Bone marrow microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in patients with aplastic anemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study the bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and their clinical significance in patients with aplastic anemia (AA). METHODS: Bone marrow biopsies in 51 newly diagnosed patients with AA were evaluated the MVD and VEGF expression by immunostaining with anti-factor VIII related antigen and VEGF monoclonal antibodies at regular time points after immunosuppressive therapy (IT). RESULTS: The mean bone marrow MVD in AA group was 5.5 +/- 3.5, being significantly lower than that in normal control group (8.7 +/- 3.4, P < 0.05). MVDs of SAA and NSAA patients were 7.4 +/- 2.9 and 4.3 +/- 3.4, respectively, being significantly different (P < 0.01). The VEGF expression in AA group was significantly lower than that in control group [(6.7 +/- 8.4)% vs (14.7 +/- 6.1)%, P < 0.01], but there was no difference between SAA and NSAA. Bone marrow MVD and VEGF were significantly increased after IT in 22 responded AA patients. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow MVD and VEGF expression are low in AA patients which may be one of pathophysiologic mechanisms of bone marrow failure in AA. Proangiogenic and ameliorating microcirculation agents together with IT might accelerate the recovery of hematopoiesis in AA patients.

[Acute arrest of hemopoiesis mimics aplastic anemia: 23 cases report].

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the clinical features of patients with acute arrest of hemopoiesis (AAH), and explore the dissimilarity between AAH, severe aplastic anemia (SAA) and very severe aplastic anemia (vSAA). METHODS: The clinical and laboratory features of 23 AAH patients diagnosed and treated in our hospital from May 1993 to May 2006 were analysed retrospectively and compared to the 111 cases of SAA and vSAA patients diagnosed at anaemia therapeutic centre of the hospital from Jul 2002 to May 2006. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients accorded with the criteria for AAH, and 16 of them with the criteria for severe acute arrest of hemopoiesis (SAAH). They could spontaneously reconstitute their bone marrow hematopoiesis at a median of 17 days (range, 8-50), and had remarkable older age (median age 35.5 vs 21), positive history of other disease and taking medication. Fever as one of presenting symptom were noticed in 10 of 16 STAA patients. The laboratory results were similar with SAA or vSAA, had more frequent decreased serum albumin level and total iron binding capacity and higher CFU-GM. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AAH often had similar clinical symptoms with SAA or vSAA. Although they were diagnosed retrospectively, identification of the pathogenesis and laboratory examination may help for the early diagnosis.

[Effects of mesenchymal stem cells on expansion potential and adhesion molecules expression of cord blood CD34+ cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on in vitro expansion potential, the adherent molecules expression of cord blood (CB) CD34(+) cells. METHODS: MSCs were obtained from human bone marrow and their differentiation function and phenotype were identified. CB CD34(+) cells were expanded in culture systems with or without MSC layer. Hematopoietic progenitor cells and adhesion molecules expression were assessed by semisolid culture assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Thy-1, SH2, SB10, CD44, CD13, CD49e and CD29 were highly expressed on MSCs with no expressions of CD34, CD45, HLA-DR, CD14 and CD31. The MSCs could differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts under specific induction conditions. After culturing on MSCs layer with supplement of cytokines for 8 days, the absolute numbers of nuclear cells, CD34(+), CD34(+)CD38(-), CD34(+)CD62L(+) cells and CFU-Cs were increased by 145.57 +/- 17.89, 37.47 +/- 13.78, 69.78 +/- 50.07, 10.74 +/- 5.89 and 20.73 +/- 5.54-folds, respectively, being significantly higher than that cultured with cytokines alone. The expression of ALCAM, VLA-alpha4, VLA-alpha5, VLA-beta1, HCAM, PECAM and LFA-1 on CD34(+) cells remained unaffected. The expressions of ICAM-1 and L-selectin were downregulated during expansion, while the absolute numbers of CD34(+)CD62L(+) and CD34(+)CD54(+) cells were increased. CONCLUSIONS: MSCs layer improves expansion of CB CD34(+) cells while inhibiting their differentiation and retaining their homing ability.

[T-bet gene expression in acute graft versus host disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the role of T-bet [a T helper 1 (Th1) lymphocyte transcription factor] gene expression in predicting acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and evaluate the correlation between T-bet gene and aGVHD. METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo. HSCT) entered this study. The expression of T-bet gene was examined with reverse transcription (RT)-PCR in bone marrow samples collected from patients on the day before conditioning, and day 0, day 14, day 28, and day 42 after HSCT. RESULTS: The expression level of T-bet in patients developed aGVHD was increased compared with that before conditioning (P = 0.043). The incidence of aGVHD was 91.7% in patients whose T-bet expression level was increased on day 14 after transplant while was 12.5% in those whose T-bet gene expression level was not increased on that day (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with increased expression levels of T-bet after allo-HSCT may have an increased possibility to develop aGVHD. T-bet expression level may serve as an advisable guide to the clinician in predicting aGVHD and monitoring treatment.