[Risk Factors of Late-Onset Hemorrhagic Cystitis after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation].

To analyze the risk factors for late-onset hemorrhagic cystitis (LOHC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), the risk factors for the progression of LOHC to severe LOHC, and the effect of LOHC on survival. METHODS: The clinical data of 300 patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2015 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The relevant clinical parameters that may affect the occurance of LOHC after allo-HSCT were selected for univariate and multivariate analysis. Then, the differences in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) between different groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The results of multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors for LOHC after allo-HSCT were as follows: age≤45 years old (P =0.039), intensified conditioning regimen with fludarabine/cladribine and cytarabine (P =0.002), albumin≤30 g/L on d30 after transplantation (P =0.007), CMV-DNA positive (P =0.028), fungal infection before transplantation (P =0.026), and the occurrence of grade Ⅱ - Ⅳ aGVHD (P =0.006). In the transplant patients who have already developed LOHC, the occurance of LOHC within 32 days after transplantation (P =0.008) and albumin≤30 g/L on d30 after transplantation (P =0.032) were independent risk factors for the progression to severe LOHC. The OS rate of patients with severe LOHC was significantly lower than that of patients without LOHC (P =0.041). CONCLUSION: For the patients aged≤45 years old and with intensified conditioning regimen, it is necessary to be vigilant about the occurrence of LOHC; For the patients with earlier occurrence of LOHC, it is necessary to be vigilant that it develops into severe LOHC. Early prevention and treatment of LOHC are essential. Regular monitoring of CMV-DNA and albumin levels, highly effective antiviral and antifungal therapies, and prevention of aGVHD are effective measures to prevent the occurrence and development of LOHC.

Aberrant expression of SPAG6 may affect the disease phenotype and serve as a tumor biomarker in BCR/ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Sperm-associated antigen 6 (SPAG6) is a newly identified cancer-testis antigen that has been revealed to contribute to the occurrence and development of various types of human cancer, such as ovarian, bladder, breast and lung cancer. However, to the best of our knowledge, the expression levels of SPAG6 in breakpoint cluster region (BCR)/ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) have not been investigated previously. Using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and different tissue staining techniques, the present study revealed that SPAG6 was expressed by MPN cells, both at the mRNA and protein levels, and that nucleated erythroid precursors and megakaryocytes expressed the highest levels of SPAG6. In addition, SPAG6, which is known as a microtubule-associated protein, was found to exhibit nucleic, cytoplasmic or both cytoplasmic and nucleic subcellular localization patterns within the same patient or cell type; however, it did not always co-localize with ß-tubulin. Furthermore, SPAG6 expression was revealed to be associated with fewer splenomegaly [P=0.015 for polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET); and P=0.012 for primary myelofibrosis (PMF)] and myelofibrosis events (P=0.014 for PV and ET; and P=0.004 for PMF). In patients with PMF, upregulated expression levels of SPAG6 were also found to be associated with lower white blood cell counts (P=0.042) and lactate dehydrogenase levels (P=0.012), and higher hemoglobin levels (P=0.031) and platelet counts (P=0.025). In addition, the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that SPAG6 may be a potential biomarker for distinguishing MPN cases from healthy individuals. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to report that aberrant SPAG6 expression may affect the disease phenotype and serve as a tumor biomarker in BCR/ABL1-negative MPNs.

Posterior scleral reinforcement combined with patching therapy for pre-school children with unilateral high myopia.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to investigate the effect of posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR) combined with patching therapy for pre-school children with unilateral high myopia. METHODS: A total of 32 pre-school children with unilateral high myopia were recruited. They were randomly divided into the PSR and control group, each of which had 16 patients. The patients in the PSR group underwent the simplified PSR surgery followed by rigid gas permeable contact lens wear and traditional patching therapy, while the patients in the control group were only prescribed contact lens wear and patching. Patients were reviewed and the axial length, refraction, best-corrected visual acuity, and stereoscopic vision were respectively examined postoperatively at yearly intervals for three years. RESULTS: The best-corrected visual acuity was significantly higher in the PSR group than that in the control group at any study visit. A statistically significant difference in axial length was found between the PSR group (27.38 ± 1.30 mm) and the control group (28.29 ± 0.74 mm) at the postoperative three-year (p = 0.03) time point. There was a statistical difference in refractive error between the PSR group (-13.13 ± 2.55 D) and the control group (-15.42 ± 1.83 D) at 3-year follow-up. No significant difference was found between the two groups with respect to the stereoscopic vision by the end of follow-up at 3 years (p =0.103). CONCLUSIONS: PSR combined with the patching therapy has the potential to arrest the progression of high myopia and to help the treatment for amblyopia.

The synergistic anticancer effect of artesunate combined with allicin in osteosarcoma cell line in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Artesunate, extracted from Artemisia annua, has been proven to have anti-cancer potential. Allicin, diallyl thiosulfinate, the main biologically active compound derived from garlic, is also of interest in cancer treatment research. This object of this report was to document synergistic effects of artesunate combined with allicin on osteosarcoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: After treatment with artesunate and allicin at various concentrations, the viability of osteosarcoma cells was analyzed by MTT method, with assessment of invasion and motility, colony formation and apoptosis. Western Blotting was performed to determine the expression of caspase-3/9, and activity was also detected after drug treatment. Moreover, in a nude mouse model established with orthotopic xenograft tumors, tumor weight and volume were monitored after drug administration via the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route. RESULTS: The viability of osteosarcoma cells in the combination group was significantly decreased in a concentration and time dependent manner; moreover, invasion, motility and colony formation ability were significantly suppressed and the apoptotic rate was significantly increased through caspase-3/9 expression and activity enhancement in the combination group. Furthermore, suppression of tumor growth was evident in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that artesunate and allicin in combination exert synergistic effects on osteosarcoma cell proliferation and apoptosis.