Long-term survival outcomes of patients with primary ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma: A large single-center cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Primary ocular adnexal extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (OAML) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and no consensus has been defined concerning the optimal treatment strategies. This study aims to investigate the associations of disease characteristics and different treatments with long-term outcomes of patients with localized OAML. METHODS: A large retrospective cohort study was conducted in a single-center of China, and 166 patients with newly diagnosed primary localized OAML were enrolled. Detailed data of disease characteristics at diagnosis and treatments were collected for all patients. We compared treatment response and progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with different characteristics and treatments. RESULTS: Of the 166 patients, 52 received complete resection of neoplasm, whereas 114 had residual lesion after surgery. Among the 114 patients, 61 underwent watchful waiting and 53 received further treatment including localized radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Median follow-up was 49 months. A total of 31 patients had disease progression or relapse, including four patients with such event more than five years after initial treatment. The 5-year PFS was 73.9%, 70.6%, and 85.9%, whereas the 10-year PFS was 69.3%, 59.2%, and 79.3%, among patients with complete resection of neoplasm, patients in the watchful waiting group and patients with further treatment, respectively. Patients with further treatment had longer PFS, compared with patients in the watchful waiting group (p = 0.011). Bilateral involvement at diagnosis was associated with significantly inferior PFS (p = 0.029), whereas age, IPI score, or TNM staging were not associated with PFS. No serious adverse reaction was reported among patients with further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral involvement was associated with poor prognosis. Among patients with residual lesions after surgery, further treatment was associated with improved survival. Patients with OAML might experience disease progression or relapse more than five years after initial treatment.

An Immune-Related Prognostic Classifier Is Associated with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma Microenvironment.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a life-threatening malignant tumor characterized by heterogeneous clinical, phenotypic, and molecular manifestations. Given the association between immunity and tumors, identifying a suitable immune biomarker could improve DLBCL diagnosis. METHODS: We systematically searched for DLBCL gene expression microarray datasets from the GEO database. Immune-related genes (IRGs) were obtained from the ImmPort database, and 318 transcription factor (TF) targets in cancer were retrieved from the Cistrome Cancer database. An immune-related classifier for DLBCL prognosis was constructed using Cox regression and LASSO analysis. To assess differences in overall survival between the low- and high-risk groups, we analyzed the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune infiltration in DLBCL using the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. WGCNA was applied to study the molecular mechanisms explaining the clinical significance of our immune-related classifier and TFs. RESULTS: Eighteen IRGs were selected to construct the classifier. The multi-IRG classifier showed powerful predictive ability. Patients with a high-risk score had poor survival. Based on the AUC for three- and five-year survival, the classifier exhibited better predictive power than clinical data. Discrepancies in overall survival between the low- and high-risk score groups might be explained by differences in immune infiltration, TME, and transcriptional regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study describes a novel prognostic IRG classifier with strong predictive power in DLBCL. Our findings provide valuable guidance for further analysis of DLBCL pathogenesis and clinical treatment.

LncRNA BCYRN1-induced autophagy enhances asparaginase resistance in extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Background: Asparaginase (ASP) is the cornerstone drug in the treatment of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL), and the mechanisms of resistance to ASP remain largely unknown. Long non-coding RNAs play important roles in chemotherapy resistance in various cancers. However, the expression of BCYRN1 and its role in ENKTCL still remain unidentified. Methods: Lentivirus-mediated BCYRN1 overexpression and knockdown were performed in SNK-6 cells. Cell autophagy was analyzed by adenovirus expressing GFP-LC3B fusion protein. RNA pull-down and RNA Binding Protein Immunoprecipitation Assay were performed to investigate the relationship between BCYRN1 and p53. Western blot analysis was performed to assess the effect of BCYRN1 on different autophagy pathways. Finally, in vivo xenograft tumor model was constructed to analyze the effect of BCYRN1 on tumor growth and ASP resistance. Results: BCYRN1 was overexpressed in ENKTCL than normal NK cells, and patients with higher expression had significantly inferior progression-free survival (PFS). The IC50 value of ASP was significantly increased in BCYRN1-overexpressed SNK-6 cells and BCYRN1 overexpression could resist the inhibitory effect of ASP on proliferation. ASP could induce concurrent apoptosis and autophagy in ENKTCL, and the latter process was enhanced by overexpression of BCYRN1, mainly through affecting both PI3K/AKT/mTOR and p53/mTOR pathways. BCYRN1 could induce the degradation of p53 via ubiquitination, thus resulting in enhancement of autophagy and ASP resistance, which could be reversed by drug-induced autophagy inhibition. The effect of BCYRN1 on tumor growth and autophagy were confirmed in vivo xenograft model. Conclusions: It was found that BCYRN1 was a valuable prognostic biomarker in ENKTCL. BCYRN1 could promote resistance to ASP by inducing autophagy, which could be reversed by inhibition of autophagy. Our findings highlight the feasibility of combining autophagy inhibition and ASP in the treatment of ENKTCL.

[Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on the Growth of Reeds in Wetland Soils with Different Salt Content].

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Claroideoglomus etunicatum (CE), Rhizophagus intraradices (RI), Funneliformis mosseae (FM) and Glomus versiforme (GV) on AM colonization rate, biomass, mineral nutrient uptake, C: N: P ratios and Na and Cl- concentrations of reeds (Phragmites australis) grown in saline and non-saline wetland soils. The aim was to provide a technical basis for the ecological revegetation and salinity restoration of wetland ecosystem. The results indicated that symbiotic associations were successfully established between the four isolates and reeds grown in the two types of wetland soils. The average AM colonization rates ranged from 2.5% to 38%. The mean root colonization rate of CE was significantly higher than those of the other three isolates. There were no significant differences in root colonization rates between saline and non-saline wetland soils. The biomass and nutrient contents of reeds grown in non-saline wetland soils were significantly higher than those grown in saline wetland soils. However, Na+ and Cl- concentrations of reeds grown in non-saline wetland soils were significantly lower than those grown in saline wetland soils. In non-saline wetland soils, inoculation with GV significantly increased the shoot dry weight and the shoot N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents of reeds. Inoculation with GV and RI significantly improved the root P and K contents of reeds. Inoculation with the four AM fungi significantly reduced the shoot N: P ratios. Inoculation with FM and GV significantly reduced the root C : N and C : P ratios. Inoculation with the four AM fungi significantly reduced the shoot Cl- concentrations. Inoculation with RI significantly reduced the shoot Na+ concentrations. In saline wetland soils, inoculation with AM fungi had no significant effect on the biomass, mineral nutrient uptake and Na+ and Cl- concentrations of reeds. The results demonstrated that the four AM fungi isolates had different effects on the growth of reeds in wetland soils with different salt contents. Inoculation with AM fungi played a more positive role in improving the growth of reeds in non-saline wetland soil than those in saline wetland soil. Further experiments should be conducted to screen optimal AM fungi isolates under field conditions and to evaluate the practical effects of AM fungi on the growth of reeds in wetland soils with different salt contents.

[Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the vegetation restoration of different types of coal mine spoil banks].

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus etunicatum (GE) and Glomus versiforme (GV) on the plant growth, nutrient uptake, C: N: P stoichiometric, uptake of heavy metals by maize (Zea mays L.) grown in three types of coal mine spoil banks. The aim was to provide a technical basis for the revegetation of coal mine spoil banks in grassland ecosystem. The results indicated that the symbiotic associations were successfully established between two isolates and maize grown in the three substrates, with an average mycorrhizal colonization rate ranging from 36% to 54%. The colonization of two AM fungi significantly increased the dry weight of maize grown in recent discharged and weathered coal mine spoils and GE increased those grown in weathered coal mine spoil. Inoculation with AM fungi promoted the uptake of N, P and K by maize to varying degrees. In addition, inoculation with GE and GV also decreased C: N: P ratios, supporting the growth rate hypothesis, and had significantly differences on concentrations of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in shoots and roots of maize. The results indicated that GE and GV had different mycorrhizal effects on maize in the three types of substrates. GV was more suitable for the revegetation of recent discharged coal mine spoil and weathered coal mine spoil, while GE was more suitable for the revegetation of spontaneous combusted coal mine spoil. The experiment demonstrates that AM fungi have a potential role for maize to enhance the ability to adapt the composite adversity of different types of coal mine spoil and play a positive role in the revegetation of different coal mine spoil banks. Further field experiments should be conducted to evaluate the practical effects of AM fungi on the vegetation restoration of different types of coal mine spoil under field conditions.

[Distribution characteristic and current situation of soil rare earth contamination in the Bayan Obo mining area and Baotou tailing reservoir in Inner Mongolia].

The pollution status and distribution characteristic of rare earth elements in soil were analyzed around Bayan Obo mining area and Baotou tailing reservoir located in Inner Mongolia grassland ecosystem, aiming at grasping the overall situation of grassland ecosystem pollution caused by rare earth elements and providing basic information as well as theoretical basis. The results indicated that seven rare earth elements in soils from different directions of Baotou tailing reservoir accumulated to a certain extent compared to the soil background value of Inner Mongolia. The pollution degree was Ce > La > Nd > Pr > Sm > Y > Eu. Within 50 m from the edge of tailing reservoir, soil rare earth contamination was the most serious, with the concentrations of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Y reaching 11,45.0 mg x kg(-1), 23,636.0 mg x kg(-1), 4568.16 mg x kg(-1) , 6855.51 mg x kg(-1), 582.18 mg x kg(-1), 94.21 mg x kg(-1)), and 136.25 mg x kg(-1), respectively. Owing to the dominant wind direction of northwest, soils from the southeast were contaminated most seriously. For Bayan Obo mining area, the concentrations of seven rare earth elements in soil from the mining area were significantly higher than those of other areas investigated, with the concentrations of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Y reaching 3112.56 mg x kg(-1), 7142.12 mg x kg(-1), 1467.12 mg x kg(-1), 2552.80 mg x kg(-1), 210.80 mg x kg(-1), 36.20 mg x kg(-1) and 63.22 mg x kg(-1), respectively. The soils of six areas of Bayan Obo mining area were all contaminated by rare earth elements, and the contamination degree was in the order of mining area > outside the dump > east side of the railway > the dump > outside the urban area > west side of the railway. Besides, the transportation of rare earth ore led to the soil rare earth contamination along the railway, and the distribution characteristic of rare earth elements in soils along the railway was affected by the dominant wind direction of northwest. Baotou tailing reservoir and Bayan Obo mining area had the same contamination characteristic, and the concentrations of rare earth elements were in accordance with those in the tailings. The health and stabilization of local grassland ecosystem are being threatened by excessive soil rare earth elements.

[Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and rare earth elements uptake of soybean grown in rare earth mine tailings].

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus versiforme on the plant growth, nutrient uptake, C: N: P stoichiometric, uptake of heavy metals and rare earth elements by soybean (Glycine max) grown in rare earth mine tailings. The aim was to provide a basis for the revegetation of rare earth mine tailings. The results indicated that soybean had a high mycorrhizal colonization and symbiotic associations were successfully established with G. versiforme, with an average rate of approximately 67%. The colonization of G. versiforme significantly promoted the growth of soybean, increased P, K contents, and decreased C: N: P ratios, supporting the growth rate hypothesis. Inoculation with G. versiforme significantly decreased shoots and roots La, Ce, Pr and Nd concentrations of soybean compared to the control treatment. However, inoculation with G. versiforme had no significant effect on the heavy metal concentrations, except for significantly decreased shoot Fe and Cr concentrations and increased root Cd concentrations. The experiment demonstrates that AM fungi have a potential role for soybean to adapt the composite adversity of rare earth tailings and play a positive role in revegetation of rare earth mine tailings. Further studies on the role of AM fungi under natural conditions should be conducted.

[Characteristic and evaluation of soil pollution by heavy metal in different functional zones of Hohhot].

The residential areas, cultural and educational areas, city parks, commercial areas, urban roads, industrial zones, and development zones in Hohhot were selected as the research objects. Sixty-two soil samples were collected by triple subsampling technique in the seven functional zones. The aim of this study is to control the soil heavy metal pollution of Hohhot and provide the basic information. To investigate and analyze the heavy metal pollution in soil in different functional zones of Hohhot, the pollution of heavy metal was assessed with single factor pollution index and Nemerow integrated pollution index, and the pollution sources were discriminated by Principal Component Analysis. Contents of seven kinds of heavy metals were analyzed in different functional zones of Hohhot. The mean contents of heavy metals in soil samples exceeded the corresponding background values in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The mean contents of Cu and Zn were 2. 33 and 1. 85 times, respectively, as high as the soil background values of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Single factor pollution index showed that the urban soil in Hohhot has been polluted by heavy metals. The Cu pollution was the most severe in commercial areas, and the pollution degree was in the following order: Cu > Zn > Cr > Mn > As > Ni > Pb. Nemerow integrated pollution index showed that soils from the commercial areas were seriously contaminated by heavy metals. The soil of urban roads was moderately polluted. The soils from cultural and educational areas and the city parks were slightly polluted. The Nemerow integrated pollution index of the seven areas ranked as follows: commercial areas (3.03) > urban roads (2.12) > residential areas (1.98) > cultural and educational areas (1.81) > industrial zones (1.72) > development zones (1.36) > city parks (1. 28). The results of Principal Component Analysis showed that the heavy metals in soil of Hohhot came from different sources. Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn were mainly originated from anthropogenic sources while Ni and As were mainly controlled by natural sources. The healthy development of urban ecosystem has been threatened by soil heavy metal pollution in Hohhot.