Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms: are morphology and immunophenotyping still relevant?

The term myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) refers to a group of clonal hematopoietic neoplasms with overlapping clinical, morphologic and genetic myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative features observed at the time of first presentation. Impaired hematopoiesis morphologically associated with evidence of myelodysplasia manifests clinically with cytopenia/s. Simultaneously, myeloproliferation is seen within the bone marrow and leads to cytosis in the peripheral blood.The diagnostic category of MDS/MPN encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases which share similarities among them, but at the same time have distinct clinical and pathologic features and eventually diverse prognosis; such differences justify their separation in a classification scheme.In the era of genetic and genomic tests, their distinction from conventional myelodysplastic syndromes or myeloproliferative neoplasms still relies on close clinocopathological correlation, with evaluation of both peripheral blood and bone marrow samples being essential in this sense. A multiparametric integration of clinicopathologic data and cytogenetics and molecular genetics results is the preferred diagnostic approach.     

Trajectory of ambulatory blood pressure after adenotonsillectomy in children with obstructive sleep apnea: comparison at three- and six-month follow-up

ObjectiveLimited information is currently available on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) changes after adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this study, the trajectory of 24-h ABP changes after surgery in children with OSA was examined at three-month and six-month follow-up.MethodsChildren aged 4–16 years with clinical symptoms of OSA and polysomnography (PSG)-diagnosed OSA (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] >1) were included. All the children received T&A. PSG was conducted before and after surgery. Twenty four hour ABP was monitored using the linear mixed model before, three months after, and six months after surgery.ResultsIn total, 122 children were examined (mean age: 7.9 years; 71% were boys). The AHI significantly decreased from 12.7 ± 16.7 to 2.4 ± 3.2 events/h after T&A (P < 0.001). Overall diastolic blood pressure (DBP; from 65.1 to 63.4 mmHg, P = 0.01) and night-time DBP (from 57.4 to 55.4 mmHg, P = 0.032) decreased nonsignificantly during the six-month postoperative period. The OSA children with presurgical hypertension exhibited significant reductions in overall systolic blood pressure (SBP), overall DBP, daytime DBP, night-time SBP, and night-time DBP at the three-month and six-month postoperative follow-up (all P < 0.05). The three-month and six-month ABP data did not differ significantly in the entire cohort, even between children with presurgical hypertension and non-hypertensive children.ConclusionThe 24-h ABP decreased significantly in the OSA children with hypertension at three and six months after surgery. Moreover, ABP findings did not differ significantly between the three- and six-month follow-up.     

代谢组学在高血压研究中的应用

高血压是一种最常见的慢性病,是多种心、脑血管疾病的重要危险因素。由于其多基因、多因素及异质性的特征,病理机制尚未完全阐明,也未收到令人完全满意的疗效。代谢组学以整体的视角对生物体的代谢网络变化进行研究,并将代谢物与生物过程关联起来,揭示机体变化。近年来,研究者们将代谢组学方法运用于高血压的研究,分别从发病机制、潜在生物标志物、生活方式干预的影响、降压药物起效机制等方面,以人或动物的血液、尿液或组织中代谢产物为研究对象,运用非靶向或靶向的思路开展研究。肠道菌群、氧化应激、脂肪酸、氨基酸等代谢通路成为新的关注点,由此发现的代谢物(组)有可能作为潜在的生物标志物,进一步成为高血压早期诊断的依据以及治疗的靶点。此外,中医药无论在辨证或者治疗上都是一个整体复杂系统,代谢组学与之十分契合,中医药工作者也将该方法运用于高血压中医辨证分型的生物学基础及降压中药作用机制的阐明。不同证型之间代谢物组有明显差异,中药治疗可以在很大程度上恢复高血压带来的代谢物扰动,这很可能是中药降压的药理途径之一。近年来高血压代谢组学研究已取得诸多进展,但在数据分析与整合(不同研究之间、不同组学之间)及因果关系的探讨等方面仍面临挑战。     

基于聚类分析和因子分析的肺小结节患者中医证候特点研究

目的分析肺小结节患者中医证候分布特点,为中医治疗肺小结节提供参考依据。方法收集385例肺小结节患者中医四诊信息,运用聚类分析、因子分析方法对肺小结节患者的中医证候特点和分布规律进行分析。结果肺小结节患者中医症状以虚为主,神疲乏力、夜寐不安、舌红、咳嗽、口渴、口干咽燥、面萎黄、气短、脉细弱、食少纳呆等居多。中医证候以肺脾气虚证最多,占52.2%,其余依次为肺阴亏虚证、气虚血瘀证、肝肾不足证。肺脾气虚证主症为喘息、大便稀溏、腹胀、食少纳呆、神疲乏力、自汗、舌淡红、齿痕舌、苔薄白、脉细弱,次症为夜寐不安、面萎黄;肺阴亏虚证主症为口干咽燥、口渴、咳嗽、痰少难咳、盗汗、痰中血丝、裂纹舌、苔少、脉细,次症为烦躁易怒、面红润、舌红;气虚血瘀证主症为头晕、胸痛、气短、面晦黯、舌黯红,次症为心悸;肝肾不足证主症为胸胁隐痛、喜太息、脉细弦、苔白、腰膝酸软、胸闷、耳鸣、便秘,次症为浮肿。结论肺小结节中医证候以肺脾气虚证、肺阴亏虚证、气虚血瘀证、肝肾不足证为主,正气亏虚是肺小结节变化发展的主要病机。     

Mevalonic aciduria: Does stem cell transplant fully cure disease?

MA is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by episodes of inflammation and periodic fevers. In its most severe form, it can result in facial dysmorphism, growth inhibition, ataxia, liver dysfunction, intellectual disability, and at times can be fatal. A number of case reports exist stating that SCT is curative in these patients. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with MA at birth, who underwent SCT at the age of 14 months with intent to cure. She achieved complete engraftment and urine mevalonate became undetectable. However, 18 months following transplant, she developed frequent episodes of fevers, rashes, arthritis, and a rising urinary mevalonate. She was subsequently diagnosed with relapse. She now requires treatment with steroids and canakinumab to manage her disease. This case is the first report of disease relapse following transplant for MA. It runs contrary to prior reports that SCT is fully curative of MA and suggests that transplant may instead provide a means of decreasing disease severity without entirely eradicating the condition.     

Investigation and management of adrenal tumours

Disorders of the adrenal gland are rare and complex, with many potential pitfalls in management. An understanding of embryology, anatomy, physiology and biochemistry is crucial. There has been a dramatic increase in the incidental detection of adrenal lesions on cross sectional imaging in recent years. Surgical treatment may be required for syndromes of hormonal excess and/or suspicion of malignancy.     

Mutation status and burden can improve prognostic prediction of patients with lower‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Patients with lower‐risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR‐MDS) as defined by the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) have more favorable prognosis in general, but significant inter‐individual heterogeneity exists. In this study, we examined the molecular profile of 15 MDS‐relevant genes in 159 patients with LR‐MDS using next‐generation sequencing. In univariate COX regression, shorter overall survival (OS) was associated with mutation status of ASXL1 (P = .001), RUNX1 (P = .031), EZH2 (P = .049), TP53 (P = .016), SRSF2 (P = .046), JAK2 (P = .040), and IDH2 (P = .035). We also found significantly shorter OS in patients with an adjusted TET2 variant allele frequency (VAF) ≥18% versus those with either an adjusted TET2 VAF <18% or without TET2 mutations (median: 20.4 vs 47.8 months; P = .020; HR = 2.183, 95%CI: 1.129‐4.224). After adjustment for IPSS, shorter OS was associated with mutation status of ASXL1 (P < .001; HR = 4.306, 95% CI: 2.144‐8.650), TP53 (P = .004; HR = 4.863, 95% CI: 1.662‐14.230) and JAK2 (P = .002; HR = 5.466, 95%CI: 1.848‐16.169), as well as adjusted TET2 VAF ≥18% (P = .008; HR = 2.492, 95% CI: 1.273‐4.876). Also, OS was increasingly shorter as the number of mutational factors increased (P < .001). A novel prognostic scoring system incorporating the presence/absence of the four independent mutational factors into the IPSS further stratified LR‐MDS patients into three prognostically different groups (P < .001). The newly developed scoring system redefined 10.1% (16/159) of patients as a higher‐risk group, who could not be predicted by the currently prognostic models. In conclusion, integration of the IPSS with mutation status/burden of certain MDS‐relevant genes may improve the prognostication of patients with LR‐MDS and could help identify those with worse‐than‐expected prognosis for more aggressive treatment.     

Acute Coronary Syndrome Does Not Have a Negative Impact on Outcomes after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Left Main Disease

Purpose: Early and long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with left main disease (LMD) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have never been assessed.Methods: Between September 2004 and April 2012, 459 patients with LMD underwent first-time isolated CABG. Of those, 191 patients had ACS and 268 did not. Early and late postoperative outcomes were compared between two groups.Results: Patients in the LMD+ACS group were older and more likely to be female. Left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in the LMD+ACS group. In both groups, bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts were used in over 90% of patients and off-pump technique in over 95%. Operative death rate was not significantly different between the groups (LMD+ACS: 2.1% vs. LMD–ACS: 0.4%). Log-rank test revealed that the actuarial survival rate (79.2 ± 3.7% vs. 81.5 ± 3.5%) and freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) (69.2 ± 4.2% vs. 67.0 ± 4.1%) were similar between groups at 7 years. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that ACS was not identified as an independent predictor of operative death, late mortality, and late MACCE.Conclusion: ACS did not have a negative impact on early and late outcomes of CABG in patients with LMD.