Study of Cytogenetic Alterations and Association With Prognostic Factors in Indian Children With B-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

BackgroundAcute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous disorder with coexistence of multiple clones. The mortality rate in children with ALL has reduced to 15% to 20% in developed countries. However, it continues to be high in India (25%-35%), which may be attributed to ethnic variation and differences in disease biology. The treatment and outcome in ALL are dependent on risk stratification, which is derived from prognostic factors like leukocyte count, age at diagnosis, immunophenotypic subtypes and, most importantly, cytogenetic alterations. Chromosomal rearrangements are important initiating events in leukemogenesis.Approximately, 75% of children with ALL harbor a recurring chromosomal alteration detectable by karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization, or other molecular techniques. The present study was planned to compare the prevalence of various cytogenetic alterations with western.literature and to see the association of these cytogenetic alterations with other prognostic factors as well as survival outcome.MethodsWe enrolled, 117 children of 1 to 14 years of age with newly diagnosed B-cell ALL from August 2014 to Mar 2016 prospectively. Patients were monitored for response to prednisolone, postinduction complete morphological remission minimal residual disease assessment, and were followed for a minimum 2 years.Results and DiscussionWe observed that poor-risk cytogenetic alterations were more prevalent, whereas good-risk cytogenetic alterations were less frequent in our patient cohort as compared with western studies.ConclusionsWe observed that event-free survival is significantly less in those with poor-risk cytogenetics. We have also highlighted nonrecurrent alterations observed in our study group.     

丹参干燥前后游离型和结合型酚酸的比较研究

丹参干燥前后,新鲜和干燥丹参中酚酸成分含量有显著性差异,即在干燥过程中随脱水增加,丹参酚酸含量显著增加。为探究丹参干燥前后游离型和结合型酚酸含量的差异及转化,该实验对丹参酚酸水解方法、水解产物、水解规律等进行研究,采用UPLC测定丹参结合型酚酸4种主要水解产物丹参素、咖啡酸二聚体(SMND-309)、咖啡酸、甘西鼠尾草酸甲(原紫草酸)以及丹参中3种主要游离酚酸成分(迷迭香酸、紫草酸和丹酚酸B)的含量。结果显示,丹参酚酸的碱水解效果显著优于酸水解,优选的碱水解条件为用含有1%抗坏血酸的2 mol·L-1氢氧化钠溶液于70℃水解4 h;游离酚酸和结合酚酸的水解产物相同;新鲜丹参中游离酚酸含量较低,结合酚酸含量较高,而干燥丹参却相反。提示丹参生长过程中已积累储存了大量的结合型酚酸,主要以酯键与细胞壁多糖结合形成了不溶性酚酸,常规方法不易检出,在干燥脱水过程中,结合型酚酸或在相关酶的作用下转化生成大量的游离酚酸。     

Increased expression of thyroid hormone receptor alpha and estrogen receptor alpha in breast cancer associated with thyroid cancer

IntroductionBreast cancer co-occurred with thyroid cancer might be associated with thyroid hormone receptor (TR) and estrogen receptor (ER), but few have been reported. We aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of ERs and TRs in such settings.Material and methodsTissue microarrays were constructed from 75 patients with breast and thyroid cancer (BC + TC) who were retrospectively recruited between 1999 and 2012 and 147 with breast cancer only (BC controls). The ERα, ERβ, TRα, and TRβ expression levels were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.ResultsTRα expression was more frequently observed in the BC + TC group than the BC control group both in the normal (51.5% vs 23.3%, respectively, p = 0.009) and cancer tissues (21.6% vs 6.8%, respectively, p = 0.001). The BC + TC group showed greater ERα-positivity in the cancer tissues (79.7% vs 58.7%, respectively, p = 0.002) than the BC control group. The degree of ERα- and TRα-positivity was unchanged by radioactive treatment or serum thyroid stimulating hormone levels. In the BC + TC group, ERα-positivity was associated with earlier disease stage I/IIA (81.0% vs 50.0%; p = 0.031) and lower recurrence rates (8.5% vs 40.0%; p = 0.002). TRα-positivity alone was not associated with any recurrence-free survival-related differences, and ERα- and TRα-negativity were associated with significantly shorter recurrence-free survival (p < 0.001).ConclusionEnhanced ERα and TRα expression in breast cancer is associated with thyroid cancer occurrence, and the observed association with prognosis suggests the possible role of ERs and TRs in the link between breast cancer and thyroid cancer.     

Diagnosis of pituitary abscess and treatment via transsphenoidal surgery: experience from 15 cases

ObjectivePituitary abscess is an often misdiagnosed, rare clinical disorder. To improve diagnostic accuracy and the efficacy of surgical and antibiotic therapy for patients with pituitary abscess, herein, we retrospectively reviewed 15 patients who presented with pituitary abscesses from 2005 to 2022.DesignRetrospective study.PatientsFifteen patients underwent transsphenoidal surgery and received antibiotic treatment.MeasurementsComplete details regarding medical history, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, imaging studies, and treatment strategies were obtained for all patients.ResultsMost patients presented with hypopituitarism and headaches, while some presented with fever, visual disturbances, and diabetes insipidus (DI). Abscesses showed significant annular enhancement post gadolinium injection. In most patients, pituitary abscess can be cured via microscopic or endoscopic drainage of the abscess followed by antibiotic treatment. Complete cure of pituitary abscess was observed in nine patients, with six cases of prolonged hypopituitarism and only one case of recurrence. Long-term hormone replacement therapy was effective in the postoperative management of hypopituitarism.ConclusionsThe typical manifestations of pituitary abscess include hypopituitarism and headaches; the presence of an enhanced ring at the edge of the mass on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images (MRI) is highly suggestive of pituitary abscess. We recommend antibiotic treatment for 4–6 weeks postoperatively, based on the results of bacterial cultures or metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).     

高渗盐水联合依达拉奉治疗外伤性脑水肿的疗效及对患者神经功能的影响

目的探讨高渗盐水联合依达拉奉治疗外伤性脑水肿的疗效及对患者神经功能的影响。方法选取我科收治的90例外伤性脑水肿患者为研究对象,随机分为2组各45例。常规治疗基础上,对照组给予高渗盐水治疗,观察组在对照组基础上联合应用依达拉奉治疗。采用脑卒中神经功能缺损评分(NIHSS)评定神经功能。比较2组治疗后脑水肿体积、神经功能、氧自由基指标水平及不良反应发生情况。结果与对照组相比,观察组治疗后3d、7d和14d时脑水肿体积显著缩小,治疗后7d、14dNIHSS评分显著降低,差异均有统计学意义(P均0.05)。氧自由基指标方面,与对照组相比,观察组治疗后NO、LPO水平显著降低,SOD水平显著升高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗过程中,2组均未出现严重不良反应。结论高渗盐水联合依达拉奉治疗外伤性脑水肿疗效可靠,能够显著缩小脑水肿体积,减轻神经功能损害,降低体内氧自由基水平,且不良反应少,临床上值得进一步研究。     

EMMPRIN/CD147 is an independent prognostic biomarker in cutaneous melanoma

CD147 has been implicated in melanoma invasion and metastasis mainly through increasing metalloproteinase synthesis and regulating VEGF/VEGFR signalling. In this study, the prognostic value of CD147 expression was investigated in a cohort of 196 cutaneous melanomas including 136 consecutive primary malignant melanomas, 30 lymph nodes, 16 in‐transit and 14 visceral metastases. A series of 10 normal skin, 10 blue nevi and 10 dermal nevi was used as control. CD147 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the association of its expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of patients and survival was evaluated using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Univariate analysis showed that high CD147 expression was significantly associated with metastatic potential and with a reduced overall survival (P < 0.05 for both) in primary melanoma patients. CD147 expression level was correlated with histological factors which were associated with prognosis: Clark level, ulceration status and more particularly with Breslow index (r = 0.7, P < 10^?8). Multivariate analysis retained CD147 expression level and ulceration status as predicting factors for metastasis and overall survival (P < 0.05 for both). CD147 emerges as an important factor in the aggressive behaviour of melanoma and deserves further evaluation as an independent prognostic biomarker.