Basiliximab Treatment for Patients With Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following Matched Sibling Donor Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Basiliximab is an important treatment for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD). We performed this retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of basiliximab treatment in SR-aGVHD patients following matched sibling donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (MSD-HSCT) (n = 63). Overall response rate (ORR) was 63.5% and 54% at any time and at day 28 after basiliximab treatment. Grade III-IV aGVHD before basiliximab treatment predicted a poor ORR after basiliximab treatment. The rates of virus, bacteria, and fungi infections were 54%, 23.8%, and 3.1%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 730 (range, 67-3,042) days, the 1-year probability of overall survival and disease-free survival after basiliximab treatment were 58.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 47.6%-72.2%) and 55.4% (95% CI = 44.3%-69.2%), respectively. The 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse and non-relapse mortality after basiliximab treatment were 18.9% (95% CI = 8.3%-29.5%) and 33.8% (95% CI = 21.8%-45.7%), respectively. Comorbidities burden before allo-HSCT, severity of aGVHD and liver aGVHD before basiliximab treatment showed negative influences on survival. Thus, basiliximab was safe and effective treatment for SR-aGVHD following MSD-HSCT.

Roles of hsa-miR-12462 and SLC9A1 in acute myeloid leukemia.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival and may be useful for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we defined a novel miRNA, hsa-miR-12462, through small RNA sequencing of the bone marrow (BM) cells from 128 AML patients. Overexpression of hsa-miR-12462 in AML cells (U937 and HL-60) significantly decreased their growth rate when compared with those of the wild-type and MOCK controls. In a xenograft mouse model, tumor weight and size in the mice bearing the U937 cells with hsa-miR-12462 overexpression were significantly reduced when compared with those bearing the mock cells. The AML cells overexpressing hsa-miR-12462 had increased sensitivity to cytarabine chemotherapy. Combining the data from the MiRDB, an online microRNA database ( http://mirdb.org ), with the RNA-sequencing results, SLC9A1 was predicted to be one of the targets of hsa-miR-12462. hsa-miR-12462 was further confirmed to bind exclusively to the 3'UTR of SLC9A1 in U937 cells, leading to downregulation of SLC9A1. In summary, a higher level of hsa-miR-12462 in AML cells is associated with increased sensitivity to cytarabine chemotherapy via downregulation of SLC9A1.

3D Matrix-Arranged AuAg Nanoclusters As Electrochemiluminescence Emitters for Click Chemistry-Driven Signal Switch Bioanalysis.

We hereby described an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for glutathione (GSH) based on a 3D DNA matrix with ordered binding sites and cavity structure that self-assembled from tetrahedral DNA blocks (TDBs). First, the alkyne-labeled TDBs were employed to build an alkyne-rich 3D matrix (C≡C-3DM) on the electrode surface. Then, the GSH-induced click chemistry was triggered as a signal switch to introduce the large amounts of N3-DNA decorated AuAg nanoclusters (N3-AuAg NCs) into C≡C-3DM for signal output. In particular, the presence of GSH could induce the formation of GSH-Cu(I) complex by the redox reaction between GSH and Cu(II), which could act as an initiator to link the N3-AuAg NCs with C≡C-3DM according to the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. By this way, numerous N3-AuAg NCs were orderly bonded to the 3D matrix to effectively reduce their agglomeration and inner filter effect, achieving a remarkable ECL enhancement. As a result, the proposed GSH biosensor showed a wide linear range from 5 to 200 µM with a low detection limit of 0.90 µM. In general, this work provided a rapid, highly efficient, and convenient signal amplification for small-molecule detection and broadened the application of TDBs in biosensing.

[Differentiation of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and acute bilirubin encephalopathy with magnetic resonance imaging in neonates].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion weighed imaging (DWI) in the differentiation of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and acute bilirubin encephalopathy in neonates. METHODS: The MRI findings along with DWI characteristics in 15 neonates with HIE involving basal ganglia and in 18 neonates with acute bilirubin encephalopathy between November 2006 and June 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: On T1WI, only 5 patients presented hyperintensity in the globus pallidus in the HIE group, but 16 in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group (p<0.01). Nine patients in the HIE group showed hyperintensity in the putamen, but the hyperintensity in the putamen was not found in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group. The frequency of hyperintensity in the subthalamus in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group (55.6%) was significantly higher than that in the HIE group (13.3%) (p<0.05). Eight patients in the HIE group showed abnormal signals in the other regions on T1WI, but only two patients in the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group (p<0.05). On DWI, 7 out of 11 patients with HIE presented hyperintensity in the basal ganglia, while all 10 patients of the acute bilirubin encephalopathy group presented normal in the basal ganglia. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional MRI along with DWI is useful in differentiating HIE from acute bilirubin encephalopathy in neonates.