Distinct clinico-biological features in AML patients with low allelic ratio FLT3-ITD: role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in first remission.

The mutant burden of FLT3-ITD modulates its prognostic impact on patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, for patients with low allelic ratio (AR) FLT3-ITD (FLT3-ITDlow, AR < 0.5), clinical features, as well as genomic and transcriptomic profiles remain unclear, and evidence supporting allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in first complete remission (CR1) remains controversial. This study aimed to elucidate the genomic features, prognosis, and transplantation outcome of FLT3-ITDIow in AML patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics. FLT3-ITDlow was associated with a negative enrichment of the leukemic stem cell signature, a marked enrichment of the RAS pathway, and with higher frequencies of RAS pathway mutations, different from those with FLT3-ITDhigh. Concurrent CEBPA double mutations were favorable prognostic factors, whereas MLL-PTD, and mutations in splicing factors were unfavorable prognostic factors in FLT3-ITDlow patients. Patients with FLT3-ITDlow had a shorter overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) than those with FLT3wt. Allo-HSCT in CR1 was associated with a significantly longer OS and EFS compared with postremission chemotherapy in patients with FLT3-ITDlow. In conclusion, FLT3-ITDlow is associated with different mutational and transcriptomic profiles compared with FLT3-ITDhigh. The presence of concomitant poor-risk mutations exert negative prognostic impacts in patients with FLT3-ITDlow, who markedly benefit from allo-HSCT in CR1.

Clinical implications of sequential MRD monitoring by NGS at 2 time points after chemotherapy in patients with AML.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been applied to measurable/minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring after induction chemotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but the optimal time point for the test remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of NGS MRD at 2 different time points. We performed targeted NGS of 54 genes in bone marrow cells serially obtained at diagnosis, first complete remission (first time point), and after the first consolidation chemotherapy (second time point) from 335 de novo AML patients. Excluding DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1 mutations, which are commonly present in individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential, MRD could be detected in 46.4% of patients at the first time point (MRD1st), and 28.9% at the second time point (MRD2nd). The patients with detectable NGS MRD at either time point had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of relapse and shorter relapse-free survival and overall survival. In multivariate analysis, MRD1st and MRD2nd were both independent poor prognostic factors. However, the patients with positive MRD1st but negative MRD2nd had a similar good prognosis as those with negative MRD at both time points. The incorporation of multiparameter flow cytometry and NGS MRD revealed that the presence of NGS MRD predicted poorer prognosis among the patients without detectable MRD by multiparameter flow cytometry at the second time point but not the first time point. In conclusion, the presence of NGS MRD, especially after the first consolidation therapy, can help predict the clinical outcome of AML patients.

Magnetism-assisted modification of screen printed electrode with magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes for electrochemical determination of dopamine.

A simple and sensitive dopamine (DA) electrochemical sensor was fabricated based on magnetism-assisted modification of screen printed electrode (SPE) with magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (mMWCNTs). The mMWCNTs modified electrodes (mMWCNTs/SPE) combines the advantages of SPE and the simultaneous contribution of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and MWCNTs, increasing sensitivity and selectivity of DA detection. The linearity was found between 5µM to 180µM, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.43µM. In the mean time, this modified electrode exhibited excellent selectivity for DA detection with almost no interference from ascorbic acid (AA), which co-exists with DA in many bio-samples and causes common interference. Finally, this novel electrode has been applied to determine DA concentration in spiked human blood serum and satisfactory recovery was found in the range of 97.43-102.94% with the RSDs of less than 2.27%. This work developed a sensitive and reliable electrochemical analytical method based on mMWCNTs/SPE, which exhibits great potential for diagnosis of the diseases related to DA.

Degradation of pentachlorophenol by potato polyphenol oxidase.

In this study, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was extracted from commercial potatoes. Degradation of pentachlorophenol by potato PPO was investigated. The experimental results show that potato PPO is more active in weak acid than in basic condition and that the optimum pH for the reaction is 5.0. The degradation of pentachlorophenol by potato PPO reaches a maximum at 298 K. After reaction for 1 h, the removal of both pentachlorophenol and total organic carbon is >70% with 6.0 units/mL potato PPO at pH 5.0 and 298 K. Pentachlorophenol can be degraded through dechlorination and ring-opening by potato PPO. The work demonstrates that pentachlorophenol can be effectively eliminated by crude potato PPO.

Solvothermal synthesis of bismuth molybdate hollow microspheres with high photocatalytic activity.

Bi2MoO6 hollow microspheres were successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal process without using any hard template or surfactant. The effect of solvent and urea on the morphology of the samples was studied systematically. The results indicate that the composition of the mix ethylene glycol/absolute ethanol solvents and the urea content play a key role in the final formation of hollow microspheres. Based on the experimental results, the formation mechanism of the hollow interior by an EG-induced Ostwald ripening process was proposed for the Bi2MoO6 hollow microspheres. The Bi2MoO6 hollow microspheres exhibit higher catalytic activity than the Bi2MoO6 particles for degradation of Rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation (lambda > 420 nm). Further investigation revealed that the surface area, grain size, and hollow structure of the as-prepared Bi2MoO6 microspheres are responsible for the improvement of the photocatalytic activity.

Degradation of rhodamine B by Fe(0)-based Fenton process with H2O2.

Degradation of rhodamine B by Fe(0)-based Fenton process with H(2)O(2) was investigated. The effects of H(2)O(2) dose, Fe(0) dose, initial concentration of rhodamine B and initial pH value on the degradation of rhodamine B were examined. The results showed that the degradation and mineralization of rhodamine B occurred with low dose of H(2)O(2) and Fe(0). The intermediates of rhodamine B were analyzed with UV-Vis spectrophotometry and ion chromatography and the mechanism of oxidative degradation of rhodamine B was also discussed. The reactive oxygen species (·OH) produced in Fe(0)-based Fenton process with H(2)O(2) is the key to the degradation of rhodamine B by ways of N-de-ethylation, chromophore cleavage, ring-opening and mineralization.

Removal of rhodamine B using iron-pillared bentonite.

The iron-pillared bentonite (Fe-Ben) was prepared by ion-exchange using the natural bentonite (GZ-Ben) from Gaozhou, China, at room temperature without calcination. Both Fe-Ben and GZ-Ben were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N(2) adsorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the d(001) value and surface area of the bentonite material increased after iron pillaring. Fe-Ben adsorbed much more Rhodamine B (RhB) than GZ-Ben, which can be ascribed to the special surface properties and large surface area of Fe-Ben. The optimum pH value for the adsorption of RhB on Fe-Ben is 5.0. The adsorption of RhB onto Fe-Ben can be well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the intraparticle diffusion kinetic model. The adsorption isotherm of RhB onto Fe-Ben matches well with the Langmuir model.

The effect of erbium on the adsorption and photodegradation of orange I in aqueous Er3+-TiO2 suspension.

Pure TiO(2) and erbium ion-doped TiO(2) (Er(3+)-TiO(2)) catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method were characterized by means of XRD and diffusive reflectance spectra (DRS). The XRD results showed that erbium ion doping could enhance the thermal stability of TiO(2) and inhibit the increase of the crystallite size, and the DRS results showed that the optical absorption edge slightly shifted to red direction owing to erbium ion doping and the Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts had three typical absorption peaks located at 490, 523 and 654 nm owing to the transition of 4f electron from (4)I(15/2) to (4)F(7/2), (2)H(11/2) and (4)F(9/2). With a purpose of azo dyes degradation, orange I was used as a model chemical. And the adsorption isotherm, degradation and mineralization of orange I were investigated in aqueous suspension of pure TiO(2) or Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts. The results showed that Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts had higher adsorption equilibrium constants and better adsorption capacity than pure TiO(2). The adsorption equilibrium constants (K(a)) of Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts were about twice of that of pure TiO(2). The maximum adsorption capacity (Q(max)) of 2.0% Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst was 13.08x10(-5)mol/g, which was much higher than that of pure TiO(2) with 9.03x10(-5)mol/g. Among Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts, 2.0% Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst achieved the highest Q(max) and K(a) values. The kinetics of the orange I degradation using different Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalysts were also studied. The results demonstrated that the degradation and mineralization of orange I under both UV radiation and visible light were more efficient with Er(3+)-TiO(2) catalyst than with pure TiO(2), and an optimal dosage of erbium ion at 1.5% achieved the highest degradation rate. The higher photoactivity under visible light might be attributable to the transitions of 4f electrons of Er(3+) and red shifts of the optical absorption edge of TiO(2) by erbium ion doping.